by Jeremy Dwyer
“Welcome, Father Isaac,” Sebastian said.
Father Isaac walked through the newly formed entrance to reach the interior of the wall and approached the trio.
Cassius then twisted the rod that he held and the clear crystal doorway closed behind Father Isaac.
“I thank you for allowing my visit. There are matters of great importance, and we must speak at once,” Father Isaac said.
“The world has faced many dangers – the inferno and the tempest. They ended many lives and caused suffering for those who lived – I can still feel the despair. Now, there are more perils around us: the king in the south, and the darkness in the skies. But we’re safe here, all of us,” Sebastian said.
“And we’ve been expecting many visitors – many more than just you,” Cassius said.
“Indeed, the dangers are growing, and quickly. King Xander has now entered Waderav, and will subjugate that land soon enough, if he hasn’t already. He has horrid plans, and will murder the world to achieve them,” Father Isaac said.
“What are these plans?” Cassius asked.
Sebastian knew, but wanted to hear the old man say it.
“This king has conquered before – he lives and dies and lives again – and this is his ninth arrival. I have spoken to truly ancient ones – next to whom even my age pales in comparison. His spirit returns by the powers of those who drink the Zovvin waters, enabling him to inhabit the body of another. His heralds seduce the world with song, to make them vulnerable to the spiritual powers, so that legions of restless spirits will come and inhabit them, as well, and form an army of slaves. He uses illusions and more songs to deceive all the others, and thereby rapidly subdues each nation and kingdom. Of this much, we can be certain, as it even occurs today. Yet there is an uncertain part,” Father Isaac said.
“Anyone who is certainly dangerous brings great uncertainty – the question of just how much damage they will do before someone can obstruct them,” Cassius said.
“Xander is from the later days of the first age of existence. He believes that – and I am not certain of this part being true or false – that in the earliest days of that first age, there was a unified ocean, whose waters had all the powers, like those of every ocean today. He enslaves each nation to search for it,” Father Isaac said.
“Nothing I have ever read in Emeth suggested that such a thing ever existed. Many seek the means of drinking multiple waters, or overcoming their waterbinding to try another, only to fail. Yet, the concept of a unified ocean has only been expressed as a desire, with no evidence of its existence,” Fantine said.
“Emeth has stood for three hundred fifty (350) millennia. It is not even half of my own age. This king is from millions of years ago,” Father Isaac said.
“That he has been here before and I have not heard of him suggests that his illusions and other deceptions have been designed to conceal his prior arrivals. No lasting monument of King Xander comes to my own recollection,” Cassius said.
“That is because he uses mere illusions of great architecture and opulence to enchant and to deceive others into following him. He does not leave enduring monumental structures – nor will he leave the world alive. The unified water – if it ever did exist – would still be subject to the waterbinding laws. Since King Xander himself already has a waterbinding, he cannot take the unified water in this life. If and when the many laborers in the subjugated nations find it, he will have to die and return to take it on as his new waterbinding,” Father Isaac said.
“In between his death and his rebirth through spirit magic, some of his lieutenants and courtiers may avail themselves of the unified ocean, if they do not already have their own waterbindings,” Cassius said.
“King Xander does not surround himself with anyone who is not waterbound – they would have no powers by which to serve him. Yet, he will murder everyone who might know of the discovery, or who could have the first drink of the unified waters before him. And when he returns to waterbind to it, that will begin his final kingdom, a kingdom of cruelty that does not end, as he subjugates the world for all ages, sparing only those whom he finds useful, if any,” Father Isaac said.
“You believe the unified water might actually exist,” Sebastian said.
“I fear that it just might, but I have no proof either way. Still, the risk is great, and it would be best to save as many lives as possible, protecting them from his warpath,” Father Isaac said.
“Protecting them here, you mean,” Sebastian said.
“Yes. I came to ask you to welcome them into this walled city you have built,” Father Isaac said.
“I will absolutely welcome them. I am ready for them now, to come and work and live as part of this land. Protecting the vulnerable from the hatred and destruction of the world is the very purpose of the wall,” Sebastian said.
“You intend to bring a great number of them, no doubt,” Cassius said.
“Millions, I would hope. Or even billions, from the many islands and land bridges, as well as from the other continents not yet subdued. They have no adequate defenses against this king, and they cannot easily see in the darkness. Many do not drink the waters of light, so they will need guidance,” Father Isaac said.
“Bring them. We are ready now,” Sebastian said.
“I thank you. They’re coming…very soon,” Father Isaac said.
~~~
Neva’Raka boarded the Amber Lantern and left Loravixian Island in the Ikkith Tar Ocean, sailing west. She converted the ship to an airship and elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude to travel over the Wandering of Shadows land bridge and then returned to sea level in the Atrejan Ocean. She approached Nivi Peta Island after her four (4) day voyage.
On the Redfire Sentinel outpost on Nivi Peta Island, Inlanokus looked out over the waters by his powers of light and saw her ship over three hundred fifty (350) miles in the distance and said: “A courier from the Order is coming.”
Three (3) hours later, Neva’Raka arrived and was greeted by the members of the Order stationed there: Inlanokus, Meriniala and Tosko’Lajin.
“Neva’Raka, what news do you have for us?” Inlanokus asked.
“Beyond the darkness in the skies, which you can plainly see, and the pain you certainly feel when listening to the sounds of the stars, there is greater danger. A tyrant from ages past – King Xander – has returned. He has taken Waderav, as well as Ihalik and Meridianus before it, and intends to conquer the world. He uses music and illusions and tricks of the mind to press people into great labors in search of a greater power. Father Isaac has visited us, and directed us to send this message to the islands and land bridges of the world, that they should seek refuge, and we should guide those who are willing to go. There is a luminous city in Baradaxa – the entire continent has been enclosed in a wall – and safety can be found there,” Neva’Raka said.
“I knew the skies were getting worse, and it was only a matter of time before we would have to give even more of ourselves. Yet, I didn’t know that there was a place where they could be sent, or a tyrant who intended to subjugate them. I knew only that they would need someone to give greater guidance while traveling the seas,” Tosko’Lajin said.
“I can give light, but not to all places at once. I will do as much as possible, and notify everyone I see traveling within range of this island,” Inlanokus said. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial and was energized. He then used his powers of light to shine lights upon the ocean, signaling to ships along the way to share the message.
“I have a song to lead them, but now I will have to give it greater meaning, because of the danger they face. They will hear it far and wide. Take me on your ship, so that we can lead them to this safe city, protected by a wall,” Tosko’Lajin said.
“I only wish that I could help, but I still cannot use the stars to guide,” Meriniala said.
“You need only maintain readiness. That is what Father Isaac has told us,” Neva’Raka
said.
Tosko’Lajin drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean and was energized. He began thinking of new verses to add to his song, and he changed the ones that were already composed, so that the song would have greater impact and meaning.
“If you’re ready, we’ll go now,” Neva’Raka said.
“I am ready,” Tosko’Lajin said.
Neva’Raka and Tosko’Lajin then boarded the Amber Lantern and sailed across the Atrejan Ocean, and Tosko’Lajin sang his song as they went:
You are haunted in your dying lands.
Now your joy has turned to fright.
You are broken by tyranny's demands.
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
You are besieged and driven to your graves,
Now ruled by a king of vicious might.
Your once free nations are now his slaves.
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
You are tricked by lies of royal pride,
Now forced to think that wrong is right.
You live in lands where truth has died.
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
You hear songs that promise life.
Now trusting his illusions bright,
You exalt the king who then brings strife.
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
Your stolen wealth bejewels his throne.
Now prosperity has turned to plight.
Your harvest is no more your own.
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
Your sky has lost nearly all stars.
Now day is darker than the night.
Your flesh is torn with battle scars.
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
You exist in toil and in hate,
Now ruled by the bringer of this blight.
To a distant place with freedom great,
Come follow this, true freedom’s light.
The song carried far and wide, and many on board ships sailing in the Atrejan Ocean, and in the islands in that ocean, and on the surrounding lands – including the northwestern portions of the continent of Javanda and the Wandering of Shadows land bridge, and the northern regions of the continent of Nataloridivu and the Solkidian Trail land bridge far to the west – could hear Tosko’Lajin’s True Freedom’s Light song.
Many boarded their own ships – tens of millions of people – and began following the Amber Lantern, which traveled over land and sea. The ship traveled south over the Atrejan Ocean, briefly converting to an airship to travel over Nataloridivu, and then returned to sea level in the Lujladia Ocean.
Tosko’Lajin again drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from his vial and was further energized. He thus continued singing True Freedom’s Light, and those on ships and islands in the Lujladia Ocean, as well as those on the Elaja’s Walkway land bridge in the west, the Jeshirinko Barrier land bridge to the south and the southwestern regions of the Wandering of Shadows land bridge in the east could also hear, and still more of them followed.
The Amber Lantern continued its travels south over the Lujladia Ocean, briefly converting to an airship again to travel south over the Jeshirinko Barrier land bridge and returning to sea level in the Zovvin Ocean, sailing southeast over that ocean.
Tosko’Lajin continued drinking of the Pirovalen waters from his vial and singing the song, so that it could be heard by many ships sailing the Zovvin Ocean, and those living on islands in that ocean. The song could also be heard by those who were on the Way of Raza’Deptorum land bridge in the west and the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge in the east. Many people on the southwestern coast of the continent of Revod heard this warning, but most of them waited, believing that the Jenaldej Empire would withstand any assault by the king.
However, many people on the northwestern coast of the continent of Ihalik heard and followed in their ships – they were awakened from their state of enchantment by Tosko’Lajin’s song.
The Amber Lantern then briefly traveled as an airship eastward over the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge and returned to sea level in the Kazofen Ocean.
Tosko’Lajin continued drinking of the Pirovalen waters from his vial and singing the song, calling as many people as he could, guiding them to follow the Amber Lantern.
From there, the song was heard by still many more people: those sailing in ships or living on islands in the Kazofen Ocean, as well as many people living along the southern coast of the continent of Revod, many people living along the northeastern coast of the continent of Ihalik, and some living along the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge to the west, and more living along the Glivoran Trail land bridge to the east.
The Amber Lantern continued traveling east across the Kazofen Ocean and briefly converted to an airship to travel east over the Glivoran Trail land bridge, returning to sea level in the Trerada Ocean.
Tosko’Lajin persisted in drinking anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean, and the Amber Lantern then followed a course southeast over the Trerada Ocean, so that the song was heard by those who sailed on ships or lived on islands in that ocean, as well as those along the coast of the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge to the west, the Farmer’s Road land bridge to the east, and the southeastern coast of the continent of Ihalik and the northern coast of the continent of Meridianus, many of whom were freed from the enchantments under which they had been placed.
The Amber Lantern continued its voyage southeast – traveling briefly as an airship over the Farmer’s Road land bridge – and then returned to sea level in the Pirovalen Ocean. From there, Tosko’Lajin drew fresh waters to replenish his supply and drank of them, but they were not as pure, and his song was weaker now.
The song did not carry as far, but he did his very best to reach those who sailed that ocean and those who lived on its many islands, and more of those who were in the nearby Farmer’s Road land bridge to the west and the Scholar’s Path land bridge to the east, as well as those who lived along the northeastern coast of the continent of Meridianus.
The Amber Lantern traveled east over the Pirovalen Ocean and briefly returned to airship form to travel over the Scholar’s Path land bridge, returning to sea level in the Ursegan Ocean.
From there, the song reached some who sailed that ocean and lived on its islands, and more of those along the coast of the Scholar’s Path land bridge to the west and some even who lived on the Bazavadoran Isthmus to the northeast, and others who lived along the western coast of the continent of Waderav, and still others on the Colossal March Warpath land bridge to the northwest.
The Amber Lantern then sailed north across the Ursegan Ocean, converting to an airship briefly to travel over the Bazavadoran Isthmus and returning to sea level in the Nabavodel Ocean.
From there, the song reached people in ships sailing that ocean and living on its islands, as well as a scant few along the western coast of the continent of Volaraden, the northwestern coast of the continent of Waderav and a few more along the Bazavadoran Isthmus to the west, the Colossal March Warpath land bridge to the northwest and the Crypt Trail land bridge to the northeast.
The Amber Lantern continued its voyage, traveling northeast – briefly as an airship to cross the Crypt Trail land bridge – and returning to sea level in the Dead Waters Ocean.
From there, the song reached people in ships sailing that ocean and living on its islands, as well as a scant few more along the northern coast of the continent of Volaraden and a small number in the Crypt Trail land bridge.
Then, the Amber Lantern traveled north across the Dead Waters Ocean and planned to travel north over the continent of Baradaxa, but they could not, because of the height of the great and luminous wall.
“The skies are darkened, I know, but the suns do give off some scant light, and untold heat. Because of that, the ship cannot safely ascend above one hundred twenty (120) feet in altitude. The wall is double that in height, so we need to change course to go farther north, and circumnavigate the wall,” Neva’Raka said
.
However, by this time, the ships that they had notified – over two hundred and thirty thousand (230000) vessels of various types and size, with over thirty-four million (34000000) people on board – had followed them. These ships touched down along the southern coast of the continent of Baradaxa and the people on board were greeted and welcomed into the walled city-continent through temporary gateways formed in the crystal wall by those within.
The Amber Lantern changed course, sailing southwest over the Dead Waters Ocean, briefly converting to an airship and crossing over the northern extent of the Crypt Trail land bridge, then returning to sea level in the Medathero Ocean.
Tosko’Lajin continued drinking the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from his vial and singing the song, which reached others sailing on the Medathero Ocean and living on its islands. It also reached some who were on the Glivoran Trail land bridge to the west, the Colossal March Warpath land bridge to the south, Emeth to the southwest – although no one fled from there, as they were in no danger – and the Crypt Trail land bridge to the southeast and the Prince Jalvin’s Crossroads land bridge to the north.
After this, the Amber Lantern sailed north across the Medathero Ocean, briefly converting to an airship and crossing the Prince Jalvin’s Crossroads land bridge, and the song reached the eastern coast of Revod along the way. They returned to sea level in the Ikkith Tar Ocean.
From there, the song reached the ships sailing in that ocean and living on its islands, as well as those on the southern coast of the continent of Javanda to the north, the Prince Jalvin’s Crossroads land bridge to the south and the Dark Platinum Road land bridge to the east. They sailed east over the Ikkith Tar Ocean and crossed the Dark Platinum Road land bridge briefly as an airship, returning to sea level in the Elanatin Ocean.
Next, they sailed east and the song reached what ships it could which were sailing in the Elanatin Ocean, in addition to those living on the islands of that ocean, as well as those in the Solkidian Trail land bridge to the east and more of those in the Dark Platinum Road land bridge to the west.
