by Jarod Meyer
William looked up. Did he hear that correctly? The man in the middle was now standing next to him. Strange, he’d just been across the room a moment ago.
“William of Archonia, if you truly wish to live with us in our world, then you must still prove your worth. I declare that you shall take the Path of the Sentinel. Learn our ways and laws, and help to protect this world from the evils that you faced on Earth. Do this and I will count you as a brother,” the man said in a voice barely above a whisper.
William was bewildered. Not only was he still in shock over the events that had just passed, but he was thoroughly confused by this new chain of events. He did not know what to say so he simply nodded.
William was certain that the path set before him would not be an easy one. It was a future, however, and that seemed better than the alternative. A brief wave of relief washed over him, but was swept away when a voice issued forth crisply, and defiantly.
“My lords this is most unjust,” stated the man William had seen when he first came to this world. He entered the center of the circle, and stood just a few feet from William.
He was no longer wearing his armor. Now he was dressed head to toe in garb that was as elegant as the Synods. William thought that the look suited him far more than armor. His body was leaner than the soldiers standing around. His greasy black hair hung just above his shoulders, and had been tucked behind his ears
For some reason, Meredox seemed to hate him. William couldn’t understand why. He had done nothing to him. Hell, he hadn’t even known his name until a few hours ago.
The Synod member who was sitting next to the elder in the center stood, looking menacing. William had not noticed it before, but his robes were black, and he wore much silver and red. His dark features accented his angry stare, and he spoke with a booming voice that seemed to shake the walls around him.
“Meredox, you defy the Synod’s decision?” he asked.
Meredox seemed to wilt under the Synod member’s glare, and lowered his head. “No, my lord. Of course not. I only argue the point of our past. We have tried this before, and as the Synod knows, it did not end well.”
“That was many years ago, and it happened differently if you remember, Grand Justicar,” the woman in red said.
“I remember it very clearly,” Meredox said through clenched teeth.
“This Synod’s decision is final, and you should remember your place, Adjudicator,” the man in burgundy added.
Meredox bowed low, but the anger on his face could not be mistaken.
“Then it is settled. Gabriel of Archonia you are sentenced to ferry souls from the mortal plane in punishment for your transgression. William shall be appointed a Guardian companion to help him down his new path,” the elder said, after waiting for Meredox’s charade to play out.
William looked over at Gabe, who whispered something to Brock. Brock ran forward a moment later, before bowing to the Synod members.
“I will watch over him, great Synod,” he said, his voice gruff.
“So be it, Guardian. This Synod is adjourned,” the elder declared with hesitation.
Chapter Four
The Fountain
Everyone moved all at once. Brock grabbed William by the arm and jerked him up from his knees. They made their way through the Procession.
“I have to talk to Gabe,” William said to Brock, trying to catch sight of Gabe.
“Not possible. He has gone to take care of his part of the deal,” Brock said, not stopping.
“What deal?” William demanded.
“He gave you a chance to live here and learn our ways. He gave up his place here for you. Were you not listening?” Brock asked, sighing impatiently.
“But, why? Why would he do such a thing?” William asked.
Brock shrugged his broad shoulders.
“Perhaps he believes you are special, or maybe he was just using you to prove the Synod wrong,” Brock said pointedly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Gabriel thinks that their laws are too rigid, and that many are not given a fair chance to come live amongst us. Just the simple fact that you are here is astounding. A tainted soul has not been within these walls for over a thousand years,” Brock said, gesturing to the building around them.
William’s stomach lurched.
“You think I am tainted as well?” he asked solemnly.
“Forgive me, friend. It is just a figure of speech. You will soon have to accept the fact however, that your soul is not pure. And the purity of one’s soul is the most important thing in this life,” Brock said.
They talked and walked, continuing through the vast corridors, before coming to another pair of double doors that dwarfed them. Brock strode forth and pushed open the massive doors. William watched in amazement. They looked like they weighed a ton each.
William was having trouble grasping the physical laws of this world, or lack thereof. Light poured over them as the doors swung open, temporarily blinding William. When his eyes finally adjusted, he took in a sight that left him speechless. Sprawling before them was what looked to be a town square. Buildings made of white stone shot into the sky. William had never seen buildings so ornately made before. The size of them alone would have taken hundreds of men decades or possibly even centuries to construct.
There were people everywhere, dressed in garments of many different styles, each one more exquisite than the last. Groups of people walked around the courtyard, while others flew through the air. An upbeat melody filled the air, coming from a group of men playing strange instruments. Some looked like string instruments and horns he’d seen before, yet they were all different. One man was making the most wonderful sound simply with his voice, though it did not sound like singing. People laughed and played. They seemed to be the same age. Each one was radiant and beautiful.
“These people, they are all the same age?” William asked Brock
“We are all a projection of our soul. No matter what you looked like in the mortal world, you’re beauty is limited only by your mind in Archonia,” Brock said.
William followed his large companion into the warm light. Turning his head to the sky to bask for a moment in the warmth, he felt that he would never be cold again. This warmth did not feel hot like a tropical place. More like a warm blanket on a cold night.
He smiled at a group of people passing by, but they recoiled at the sight of him. A wave of panic rushed over him as he realized what he looked like. His long scraggly beard hung from his face while his unkempt hair fell all about. His dirty old clothes were stained with aggregate from his previous life
“Brock, I don’t think they like me very much,” William said.
“That is because they are judging you by the way you look, young one. Do not despair, they will soon respect you as a soldier of Archonia,” Brock replied, smiling and winking at him.
“Well that is a very inspiring sentiment, Brock, but is there any chance I could get cleaned up a little?” William asked.
Brock just chuckled, and said, “Of course, my friend. Follow me.”
They set off down a winding street, and began to talk again.
“Was it Gabe that brought you here?” William asked.
Brock nodded. “Yes. He saved me many hundreds of years ago. I once had a home in Germania. It was along the river called Rhine and we worked the fertile land around it. Our ways were simple but peaceful. One warm day that all changed. We were invaded by an army from the south. They wore metal upon their bodies and fought with fierce machines that shot fire. I took the lives of many men, but at long last I was felled. When I thought my life had all bled away I saw Gabe descend from the sky, and hit the ground like a lightning bolt. He grabbed a handful of people out of the field and the next thing I knew, I was here,” Brock finished.
William didn’t know what to say, so he changed the subject.
“Gabe had a lot of influence at the Synod,” he said. “Is he important?”
Brock lau
ghed heartily, and looked down at William.
“I should hope so. He is an Archon, my young brother,” Brock said.
William furrowed his brow. “Aren’t you an Archon as well?” he asked.
“We all have an Archonian body, that is true, but he was one of the original nine. It was he and his brothers who created us. He is a father to us all. Not only this, he also helped the Synod write the Hosei, which are the many laws we live by. There was a time when the people of Archonia wanted Gabe to be their king. He refused of course. He truly is a great man,” Brock said beaming.
Gabe had made no indication that he was better or above anyone else. William immediately gained new respect for Gabe. Not only had he saved his life, but he was practically royalty.
Brock stopped, and grabbed William by the arm.
“Here we are,” he said pulling him through an archway.
The archway looked to be sculpted from a single piece of beautiful stone, and was covered with intricate carvings. Figures of ancient peoples bathing and dancing in water were displayed in relief. The archway led them into a large clearing, surrounded by the mountains of looming buildings around. A stair led downward into plush looking green grass. A small tree sat to the right of the clearing, blooming beautifully in large, colorful flowers.
A wide pool of aqua blue colored liquid lay at the center of the clearing. A small whirlpool spun at the center of the pool, noiselessly churning the extraordinarily clear water around it.
William looked between the pool and Brock.
“What is this place?” he asked.
“The Fountain of Cleansing,” Brock said, before turning to leave.
“Wait. Where are you going?” William asked quizzically.
“I have some errands to attend to,” he said, smiling, his bald head gleaming in the bright sun.
“What am I supposed to do?” William asked in a sudden panic.
“Well, clean yourself up a bit,” Brock replied simply.
It was becoming apparent that William was going to have to figure many things out on his own. Brock was a rather poor teacher. He sighed, and looked down.
Next to the fountain, William spotted a plate containing several very odd looking instruments made of silver and gold.
“What are these?” he asked Brock, slowly holding one up to inspect it.
“Grooming equipment. And there are some clothes that should fit you well,” The large man said, pointing towards a towel, and a pair of linen garments. They were off-white, and looked very soft.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so. I have some business in the marketplace. Do not wander off, little brother,” Brock said, leaving nothing but a trail of dust as he disappeared at an incredible speed. People in this world moved so fast. William had barely blinked and his guardian was gone.
After Brock left, William settled onto the grass and picked up the instruments off the plate. Were they just for him? Or were they always out and available? It was strange. It took him some time, but he managed to shave, using the frightening looking razor. He moved to remove his grimy clothes, but became self-conscious, expecting someone to come through the open archway at any moment.”
Finally, William stripped off his old raggedy clothes, and dipped a toe into the water. Strange. It wasn’t cold as he’d expected, but very hot. Stranger yet, the toe he had just dipped in looked perfectly clean. The small bit of black grime from his toe floated in the water, drifting towards the swirling whirlpool in the pool’s center. Finally, the circling current caught and sucked it in.
William smiled and waded into the pleasantly hot water. The grime clinging to his body seemed to peel away. Even when he waded back through the black tar-like substance that had come off of him it would not cling back onto his skin. The water was waist-deep, so he decided to swim a little, playfully kicking around for a few minutes just out of pure pleasure.
William felt a slight tingling sensation as he swam in the water. He put his face down so it was just above the steaming surface, and drew in a breath through his nose. It smelled subtly like perfume. He found the scent attractive and wonderfully complex. It was not overpowering, but still strong enough to evoke many base emotions. William could not help but smile.
He walked out of the pool feeling cleaner than he had in years. He toweled off with the cloth left for him, his skin rejoicing at the silken towel’s touch. It was the softest thing that had ever touched his body. William couldn’t help but laugh.
He chose to shave his head to match his face. It seemed like an appropriate thing to do.
A fresh look for a fresh start, he thought.
He looked at himself in a small hand mirror, admiring his new look.
William slowly donned the clean clothing, and sat down by the fountain. He found that he was in no hurry to leave the small clearing. It was wonderfully peaceful. Brock walked back just a few moments later.
“Perfect timing,” William said,
“No. I just wanted to give you some privacy,” he replied, looking William over. “Well, the fountain of cleansing has done a fine job on you, little one.”
“Yeah!” William exclaimed, “That water is amazing!”
“Well to be honest, I do not believe that it is actually water,” Brock said.
“Really?” William asked with a nervous chuckle
Brock furrowed his brow as if he was trying to remember something. William looked at the strange pool again, a grotesque, squirming feeling rising up inside.
“Well, it does not appear to have done you any harm anyhow. You look like a new man,” Brock roared, patting William on the back so hard he nearly keeled forward.
“Woah! Take it easy,” William said, regaining his balance.
“My apologies, I forgot you are not used to our strength yet. This is too much for your mind all at once. Well, let us go,” Brock stated.
They left the courtyard, passing back through the archway, Brock walking incredibly fast.
“So if that wasn’t water, what was it?” William asked.
“The fountain of cleansing was created many hundreds of years ago by a very talented Archonian. He saw that everyone who came into our world was very dirty. The stench of the mortal world clung to their bodies, because it was still in their mind. The fountain works because it washes these memories away. The dirt that you saw washed away by the liquid was a reflection of that. Your mind created this when your Archonian essence was formed,” Brock said.
William shook his head trying to make sense of it all as they continued down the magnificent looking streets. Large tiles made up the streets, perfectly placed and gleaming in the light. Each tile had its own etching scrolled into its surface. William could barely comprehend the attention to detail, not to mention the time needed for such a task.
His eyes darted around, taking in wondrous new sights. There were people of all sizes, shapes, and colors. They flooded the street with music and laughter. Brock slowed, and smiled back at William, who had become lost in the sights and sounds of the city.
Brock walked over to a stand, where a dark-skinned man was displaying odd looking produce. They were small and round, about the size of his palm, and green with white stripes. They looked strangely like a tiny watermelon. Brock waved William over.
“Zunga fruit are delicious. Try one, William,” the big man said.
“I don’t have any money,” William said, chuckling nervously.
“There is no such thing as currency here, friend,” Brock responded with a huge grin, before grabbing a zunga fruit from the stand, and taking a large bite.
William’s mouth instantly began to water. He cast a glance to the man tending the stand, who gave him a genuine smile and held up one of the unusual fruits.
”Thank you,” William said, accepting it and nodding at the merchant. He examined the fruit briefly, before taking a slow bite.
Flavors exploded in William’s mouth. It was sweet and juicy, like William had just taken a drink of pure sugar. And yet, t
he tiniest hint of sour complimented the almost overpowering sweetness, giving it wonderful balance.
“This is amazing!” William exclaimed, turning to Brock. The big man laughed warmly.
William started asking questions as soon as they resumed their walk.
“Why does he even tend the stand if there is no money to collect?”
“He likes to see people enjoying his fruit. It brings him joy. There is also the possibility people might show their appreciation with gifts of their own sometimes,” Brock said with a smile.
“It just surprises me. He must work very hard to plant and grow such fruit, and people don’t have to pay for it,” William said.
“Well I am sure it did take him quite a few tries to get that fruit tree growing properly, but the people here do not need to eat, so it would be rude of him to charge for it,” Brock said.
“Wait…we don’t need to eat?” William asked incredulously.
“No, little brother. Flavor is just one of the joys of living, and so your mind makes it real here,” Brock said.
“What keeps people going then?” William asked.
“I do not want to overwhelm you to quickly little brother. Our Archonian bodies are not biological therefore they need no sustenance.”
“You can’t get something from nothing though. What are we made from?” William asked.
“To be honest it is a little beyond my comprehension as well. Suffice it to say that our minds draw energy from a nearly infinite source of power that this world is made up of,” Brock said.
A group of children ran by, moving faster than any children he’d ever seen. They were dressed up in funny looking costumes, shouting, and playing.
“Children? Brock, can people have children here?” William asked, shocked.
Brock looked at the kids.
“No, William, they cannot. Your soul cannot reproduce. Those are children from the mortal world who died before their time,” Brock said, shaking his head.
