LIGHTNOVELONLINE Issue 183: What Dwells in the Dark
Issue 4: What Dwells in the Dark
No one cycle controls the past or future. It is the Weave and the Highest that sees all. To think otherwise creates more corruption for Unity. That is the initial failure. TO reach beyond. The Veil of Creation is not meant for us.–Markav Collective Testament.
Ikaris was ancient when our people reached the stars. Anyone who went there came back changed. Including us.—Sy’ra
My first taste of the Convergence happened that day. Long ago for me. But I see the truth of it now. –Di’axi
Doc didn’t talk much about what happened during her stay at Tarkanan. I don’t blame her but she eventually told me of Ikaris. I had gotten the hearsay from my mother. What the legends didn’t mention: it was a nexus. Past, present, and a multitude of futures.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 23rd century (vol 3)
Ikaris Solundra
Gateway Primordial
Time Artifacts Detected, Notify CTT Archivists.
Di’axi whirled. Aether and his mother were gone.
An endless sea of birds flew around him.
Their white feathers gleaming like white dwarf stars.
A cacophony of voices bellowed, “You have failed Scholar. The Key is ours! See the might of What Was!”
He saw twin figures sitting on a throne of bones. The man held a bloody knife. His crimson eyes glaring into Di’axi, “Do you think Unity would cave in? Without the father you are nothing!” At his side was a woman. A misshapen vile shape of the female form. Her black hair had been long. Now it lay in tatters around her head. By the color of her skin, he noted with horror the texture of it.
Void Walker. Keeper. The failed J’kua.
Her pitch-black eyes held him motionless.
“You are the one who started all this. Hiding Black and White within defective parts.”
Di’axi shouted, “I reject you!” His defiance splitting the ground open. Rotted hands pulled him under. A multitude of faces mocked him.
“We rest here because of you!”
These faces were unknown to him. The only empires under the vast expanse of stars were….
Di’axi snapped, “Who are you!?”
The array of golden and emerald eyes mocked him.
*****
Sy’ra sank to her knees. The liquid below her was oddly warm.
Aether hissed, “Blood. Endless.”
They had no idea where Di’axi was. The white crystalline city had disappeared. She rose to her feet. Clutching her beads. Their light blue glow warming the coldest part of her soul.
“He lies. He always lies.”
Aether screwed his eyes shut. Unable to get the sickly sweet scent out of his head.
He muttered, “I must endure. For the Wall endures.”
Sy’ra’s presence faded.
He was alone.
Liquid poured from the sky.
A rough deep masculine voice intoned, “Ahh. The Teacher. The one who opened the Gates of Forever.” Aether pushed onward as the man laughed.
“You will fail.”
Aether retorted, “The Wall Endures.”
The voice persisted.
“An empty threat of a bygone world.”
The figure melted. Chronos’ face appeared.
“I saw it, my old friend. What lies beyond the Path of Ancients. The first gateways. We delved too deep. But you already knew that didn’t you?” Black ichor rose above Aether’s head. Submerging him within complete darkness.
He knew. His people were the first of the eldest to reach the stars.
Chronos gloated, “Wrong. We are the first sinners. Hidan’s people obeyed.”
Aether screamed as the black tendrils poured into his mouth.
Within the dreaded pressure, a picture formed.
Two statuesque men stared out from a viewport. Their golden wings spread wide. Drinking in the energy of the stars. The ship was made of fine material. Of the very cosmos itself. Clear in its intensity. In the dim glow, he could see it expand. The view became a theater. The expanse of stars twinkling around him. As the men walked the ship warped alongside their gait. Taking the form of a triangle. Its black matted surface changing to clear crystal so they could observe their trajectory from every angle.
Hidan asked his brother, “The Highest has given us a wonder. Where shall we plant the first seeds?” The other replied, “Near the core. Then we will spread outward!”
Aether watched as the J’kua rose.
His breath hitched.
Three were made that day. In the image of the Highest.
The J’kua. Their Intelligence.
The Markav. Their Endurance.
And another race:
Humans. Their Courage.
The unfamiliar words formed through his thoughts. Chronos cruelly stated, “You didn’t know. How could you? The Weave made sure to hide those humans from Unity. Within the bloom of Eden. Across all time and space. The Markav Followed.”
Chronos morphed into a giant bird. Its black beak opening wide. “Yet they never stepped within the Path of Ancients. The first dominion. The last light. The sin must be cleansed.”
Aether unclenched his fists.
His heart thudded heavily in his chest.
“When am I? WHO ARE YOU!”
The shadows condensed around an emaciated figure. His cloak was made of pure starlight. An elderly woman held out a flower. Its petals were in the shape of stars. A deep purple color. “The one who awaits you. Give this flower to her. You will know her as the Lily. From the Line of Humanity. Say nothing to Di’axi and Sy’ra. Their path is set. As is yours.”
The man brought forth a silver branch, “Good. You are learning.”
Aether watched as Humanity grew far from the origin point. Never knowing the secrets of the Path. The elderly woman said, “Many Markav will fall. Yet many more shall live. Their souls reforged into the new world. One that will be strong enough.”
An image burned itself into Aether’s consciousness.
A human with a tan suit smiled at him. A strange flag of red, white, and blue behind him.
“Having old dreams my friend?”
*****
Sy’ra pressed her forehead into the sandstone.
Her homeworld burned around her.
Matarn had failed to kill Unity yet hope remained.
Two women sat next to her. The ashes swirling around them. One was in a silver cloak. The other wore a common straw hat. Her features were alien yet familiar to Sy’ra. The Dreaming. She rose from her prayer.
“I have failed you.” She watched as the aspect of the Weave considered her words.
She dared not look at the older woman. Such would be blasphemy. Those features were made in the image. The mirror of the soul. The Greater Soul of the Dreaming. She was in the presence of the Highest. The elderly woman pulled Sy’ra to her feet. Resting a warm hand on her shoulder, “I will ask much of you. You must protect. Guide the stone. Shape it well.”
The Silver Lady added, “So we all may live. To be reborn.”
A human with black hair and green eyes materialized. The scholar blurted out, “They exist yet…” Sy’ra clutched her right hand over her chest. “An endless dream. Caught in amber. The mirror will reflex its true self.”
Sy’ra asked, “Why was humanity protected? The J’kua should have known better!”
The Highest brought forth the Aspect of Man.
His void black cloak dancing with the light of millions of stars.
“The Markav heeded the Warning. They sent out arks. Across all gateways. Sealing their world from calamity. We gave this warning to the J’kua as well. They rejected it.” His words were soft. There was no rancor there. Just sadness. A fourth figure joined them. The Weave was a reflection of the Highest. All four voices rose, “The first of our children shall be saved by the last. Riding on the sea of stars, Humanity will bring forth the Convergence, gifted by Wheel of Creation.”
She saw as humanity emerged from their primitive ways.
Those with mysterious powers commanding whole landmasses.
Many stepped forth on the path of the righteous. Tempered by a noble purpose.
Sy’ra asked, “What must I do?”
The Void Man replied, “When your son’s life stands in the balance, choose to go with the Enemy. It fears Matarn still. Your husband will be reunited mind and soul. The Body no longer follows time’s current. It will not fade.”
The last thing she heard was the Highest, “I will walk with you. Always.”
*****
Di’axi blinked.
The calm soothing chimes of the crystal city awakening him.
He rose and found his mother and Aether slumped next to him. The fresh spray of water coloring the area. A gleaming fountain made of brass. He drank deeply from the water. He brought some of the water to his mother’s lips. Her eyes snapped open and she drank. Her eyes focused on his face. “We must reflect on what we learned here.”
Aether came around with a groan. He leaned over the fountain’s edge and let the cool waters wash away his terror. He knew. This place would have to be guarded.
Secret.
The image of the strange woman came to his mind once more. She would use the mirrors to reach this place. A woman of two worlds. One old. One draped in Twilight. Where others couldn’t walk. Di’axi took some of the water and poured it on the ground. It glowed under the remaining light of the sun. He asked his mother, “This place isn’t meant for us.”
“No,” she agreed. “Yet guard it we must.”
Ather said, “I will lock it away. No record of it will be found in the Ur.”
Earth (Edenverse)
Marshall Residence
Present Day
“Having old dreams my friend?”
Fredrick Marshall was no longer the US President. Which meant he could spend his days working on his other favorite project: Getting Aether to Laugh. It was quite a challenge. Marshall’s signet ring warmed. The Arcade Council was paging him once more. He focused on his reply, <
The reply was swift, <
The J’kua smiled. The warmth reaching his eyes for once.
Aether responded, “Remembering old debts.”
Marshall grabbed his favorite brandy. Sniffing at it delicately.
Indeed. We all will face the Wall. Humanity will answer the call of the stars.
The J’kua reached out to pluck a leather-bound book from Fredrick’s desk. The alien couldn’t help but laugh, “Area 51: Wine, Women, and Song!”
The J’kua held it up, “Earth’s number 1 best seller!”
Marshall lit a cigar. Motioning to the room with the giant fireplace.
Aether followed. Taking the book with him.
The J’kua’s darker thoughts receded. The warning remained. He waited until Marshall sat. Then joined him. He tapped one long gray digit along the spine, “This was enough to convince most?”
Marshall nodded vigorously. “With Eliza to collaborate on parts. It sold the story. Granted she only knew the basics but we do have unfriendly eyes casing the planet.”
Aether frowned and stifled a groan as Marshall shook a finger at him, “Now now! Time for a drink! I so do love the effects this stuff has on your system!”
Aether held out a glass, “Only a half dose! I want to remain somewhat functional!”
*****
Proctor Ganysis watched from his haven.
He waved a hand and the scene around Marshall’s fireplace faded.
He had one precious artifact. A hand mirror. Gifted to him from Hidan. Its silver surface shimmered. He peeked in on Eliza, noting that her appearance was on the mend. She had let the worries of the here and now clutter her thoughts. He sent warnings out on threads of silver. Yes, the enemy had the Dark Mirrors but like everything else, they copied from the true source. No matter how much they detested it.
He touched his signet necklace, hidden as a common thread of twine with a simple charm, <
Those within the Order responded, <
He patted the golden retriever next to him.
Mr. Crockett responded with many happy barks.
“Crockett!” The golden glanced up. Waiting expectantly.
“Go tell the corgis the good news!” He handed his K-9 friend a basket. Filled with goodies.
Things Robin would need to defend his friends and planet.
The days of fire were ahead.