Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  The clerk handed over the documents – the bankruptcy filings – to Senator Nova.

  “This is quite serious,” Senator Nova said as she examined the documents.

  Senator Paion looked over Senator Nova’s shoulder and saw the documents. “Is this accurate? Or is it an estimate?” he asked.

  “Senator Nova, Senator Paion. I regret to inform you that our districts are bankrupt. I’ve calculated the numbers and optimistically assessed the trend lines. The situation is about to become much worse. We are here to secure your assistance before matters get out of hand, extending to the entire Ihalik Empire in a ripple effect. The economic models indicate we have little time. The central bank has locked us into dangerous contracts with unfavorable terms. Furthermore, they’ve not even delivered resources to the quality and purity standards dictated in those contracts. We have the testimony of Captain Gijsbert here to prove they’ve manipulated prices illegally,” Commissioner Hannah said.

  “The central bank ordered me to sell a shipment of gems at higher prices to closer destinations. The cargo belongs to them, so I follow their orders. But that is what they demanded,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “What prices? Which destinations? Who is in charge?” Senator Paion asked.

  “Governor Aranka, on Haza’Kedro’Maral Island, gave me the shipping order. Here it is, signed,” Captain Gijsbert said. He reached into his coat pocket and opened up the notebook to the page with the signed order, then showed it to Senator Paion and Senator Nova.

  “This is interesting, and somewhat suspicious,” Senator Paion said.

  “It is very suspicious,” Senator Nova said.

  “Senator Nova, we need to conduct an investigation into the central bank itself. The problems affect multiple districts. We don’t have time to wait,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “I agree, Commissioner Wallace,” Senator Nova said.

  “I am willing to agree…if what you say is accurate. Do you swear to this, under oath and facing the penalty of perjury, that these bankruptcy filings are accurate?” Senator Paion asked.

  Commissioner Wallace didn’t actually think that he was bankrupt, but he did question the quality of precious gems that had entered his district without his knowing, since he could not personally inspect every single shipment. Still, he hesitated before answering.

  “I swear, under oath, that we have been economically and legally defrauded by the actions of the central bank. Mathematically, we can only intercept and audit less than one in eight thousand (1/8000) shipments and transactions that occur within our districts. The fraud and illegal labor contracts we have already caught are substantial enough to demand our attention and corrective action. The infractions we haven’t caught will destroy the national economy,” Commissioner Hannah said.

  “You have all witnessed Commissioner Hannah’s statement under oath. I recommend an investigation into the central bank,” Senator Paion said.

  “I concur and recommend the investigation into the central bank,” Senator Nova said.

  The bank clerk busily recorded all of this into a small notebook he carried.

  CHAPTER 18: Mountain of Stars and Spirits

  Polyxene stood on the crystal floor of her fortress and watched a familiar blackness swirl within the first ruby spire. Though she had survived over four million three hundred thousand (4300000) years of life and anticipated many more, she grew impatient while awaiting a report that was delayed fewer than sixty (60) days. Her diamond armor afforded her protection from the flow of time, refracting and redirecting it so that her aging process was greatly slowed. Yet, she did not feel comforted by her own longevity: immediate gratification was still the greatest good, and patience was not always a virtue, if it ever was at all.

  She created an aperture in the segment of the diamond armor that covered her mouth and drank a highly purified potion of Kazofen Ocean waters from her vial to be energized with the powers of crystal and stone. After this, she manipulated the diamond armor again, to seal the aperture and fully protect herself. Time had little meaning, insofar as it could age her body. However, path of temporal refraction was such that it did not slow down her mental processes, or her blood flow, or her absorption of the Kazofen waters, or her ambitions. The temporal refraction was not along a singular path, but consisted of many curves and angles, surrounding her cells and preventing their decay.

  Polyxene placed her hands on the first ruby spire and the swirling blackness within came to a standstill. “Do you have a report for me, Evethixomar?” she asked.

  “I regret to inform you that the attack failed. We will have to stage another,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the first ruby spire.

  Polyxene began to manipulate the low-level structure of the first ruby spire, twisting it in various ways designed to cause pain.

  “Stop! Stop! I’ve done all that I can! I do not have all power! I cannot fight the battle for you. I am trapped here, by you, limiting my influence!” the voice of Evethixomar screamed, vibrating through the first ruby spire.

  “I commanded you to defeat a single duke in Waderav and seize his territory. You could not direct your minions to accomplish even that?! It is no wonder I trapped you so easily! You are supposedly the demon of war. Yet, you could not win a single battle against a mortal adversary,” Polyxene said.

  “My spirit minion swayed Countess Eurybia to mount the attack against the Duchy of Velten. That territory is currently lorded over by Duke Jovan. Eurybia’s soldiers were heavily armed with strong blades, and they outnumbered Jovan’s troops, thirty-five thousand (35000) against two thousand one hundred (2100). It was not for lack of preparation that they failed,” the voice of Evethixomar said, weakly vibrating through the first ruby spire.

  “Then why did they fail? What is your excuse?” Polyxene asked. She relented in her manipulation of the first ruby spire, only to allow the demon to speak more clearly.

  “Duke Jovan is a master of music. He weakened the enemy soldiers with a song, stealing their strength until they offered no resistance, and so they were cut down quickly,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the first ruby spire.

  “More music?! Not again! I’ve heard too many songs throughout the eons! I tire of music. Its power is excessive, and often made to serve my enemies. I will have to make a point of slitting this Duke Jovan’s throat before long. Soon, I will send someone against him personally. Not you, however. You are unreliable, pathetic demon,” Polyxene said.

  “I could do so much more for you, if only you would release me,” the voice of Evethixomar said, vibrating through the first ruby spire.

  “You aren’t worth the trouble you would cause, pathetic demon,” Polyxene said.

  “You’ve caused far more trouble than any demon throughout the ages, Polyxene,” a familiar voice said. A spirit – that of an older man with flowing robes – appeared before her, floating above the crystal fortress floor.

  “Elaja! It is so unpleasant to see you again! Even as a ghost, you are most unwelcome,” Polyxene said.

  “Your destructive actions are to blame for much of what is unpleasant in this world, Polyxene. Many of your luminaries have been found and lit by other heartless people who thirst only for more power. Those people are too much like you, seeking advantage at all costs,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “The luminaries served a useful purpose. They were designed to gather energy so that I could discover hidden truths,” Polyxene said.

  “You claim to seek truth, yet the flames of your luminaries burn false, and they darkened all the remaining suns of the sky for a time. The darkness brought havoc, making everyone’s journeys more difficult and dangerous. I acted to conceal some of the luminaries. It is fortunate that the remainder were extinguished for now, hopefully by more righteous persons,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “You can’t conceal the luminaries from me forever, Elaja. I will reclaim them when I need them. The luminaries still belong to me,” Polyxene sa
id.

  “The damage they have already enabled you to cause is immense. More than anything, the guilt still belongs to you,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “If I am guilty of anything, then you share in my guilt for assisting me,” Polyxene said.

  “You deceived me into helping you focus on the many suns. Your promise was to build a map of the sky that anyone could follow, ensuring safe navigation for all. Instead, your machine stole the fire of the greatest of the stars. The three (3) violet suns are no longer in their proper places, nor are the green, orange or indigo stars. Most people are unaware of the true history of the sky. The grand indigo suns burned only briefly, and are not even recalled by those who remember the giant violet stars or believe in them as legends. All those suns guarded this world and its oceans. Since then, outsiders have come to seize the waters and misuse them,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Did you already forget the first age, Elaja? The sky was ablaze with inferno after inferno. The giant violet suns aligned with the green, orange and indigo suns to create a devastating burning sickness. Billions of innocent people died. You, the Prince of Stargazers, readily admitted that you were helpless to protect the world from the danger or guide the multitudes to safety. You asked for my help, Elaja. Using tools of my own design and construction, I saved billions more people by harnessing the solar power – quickly and safely – and eliminating the danger those suns posed. The six (6) grand indigo suns – though second in size – were the most lethal and had to be removed before all others. I am the architect of the world’s survival. The world owes me. And the world is well-protected by the seventy (70) suns that remain. Your gratitude is lacking. And your fears, as usual, are unfounded,” Polyxene said.

  “My trust in you was unfounded. My fears are for good reason. The oceans are coveted by ruthless leaders of distant worlds. Now, some of those outside adversaries have acquired small portions of the ocean waters, and have access to the energies they contain. Their powers will be used against everyone who lives here,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Not against me, Elaja,” Polyxene said.

  “You underestimate the enemy, Polyxene,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “No. You underestimate me, Elaja. Remember – not all of us have the same innate potential for using the powers of the ocean waters. Few besides me can channel the Kazofen waters so effectively and bend crystals to slow time. My talents are extraordinary, and my eons of experience make my powers far greater,” Polyxene said.

  “Yet, you are still limited by your waterbinding. The laws of the oceans cannot be overcome by your talents or experience. Only a single water’s power is under your command, so you cannot do all things. Twelve (12) great enemies could each take a different waterbinding. If they become allies to each other and act against you, their advantage will be considerable,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “The limit of a single waterbinding will apply to each of them, as well. Their powers will be inferior. I have defeated every enemy – of every sort of waterbinding, even the same Kazofen waters that I drink – who has directly faced me. Few can even find me,” Polyxene said.

  “I found you, and I am not the only one who knows where this mountain fortress is located,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “I am not fearful of any living being. I am especially not fearful of your spirit, Elaja. You are long dead, which makes you less capable of acting against me than when you were among the living. Even when you were alive, in the first age, you were only a small threat to me,” Polyxene said.

  “You were not the only elite from the first age. King Xander found a path to power, and he returned from the grave many times,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “And he failed every time. Xander never found his prize. The so-called ‘unified waters’ do not exist. They are a myth, and he was foolish enough to believe in that myth. He desperately wanted the ‘unified waters’ to exist. Yet, they are nowhere to be found. Xander’s wishful thinking made him vulnerable to deceptions and empty promises, and that was his downfall,” Polyxene said. She did not consider the various powers – which could supposedly be gained from the splitting of the Dead Waters using the yellow-green gems – to be equivalent to the ideal of the ‘unified waters’ which Xander had sought. The splitting process was volatile, still unproven and it had an unfortunate dependency on the limited supply of those gems.

  “Yet, there is no mathematical proof that the ‘unified waters’ cannot exist. What if King Xander was correct? His reign and his quest are neither secret nor forgotten events. Despite his reputation as a tyrant, others have been inspired by Xander’s determination. The Explorers of the Quiet Sea still travel the world in search of arcane knowledge, and they will never relent in their pursuit of power,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Elaja, neither you nor I are mathematicians. Do not use that argument to try to convince me of anything. I have lived over four million three hundred thousand (4300000) years, owing to my ingenious use of the Kazofen waters. During that time, I have consulted my many sources and searched the world in search of any sign of these ‘unified waters’ to no avail. If I thought that there was any hope of finding them, I would leave no mountain unturned in my pursuit. I say with nearly perfect certainty that the ‘unified waters’ do not exist,” Polyxene said.

  “Nearly perfect certainty is not proof. If there is the slightest chance you are wrong, the danger is immense. Were the ‘unified waters’ to exist, and be acquired by outsiders, even you would be found and destroyed. This world would be embroiled in a bitter war like no other. The many suns from the first age were our defense against invasion from outside worlds. Your inventions and your ambitions have endangered everyone here, including you. Because of your actions, the entire world has come closer to ruin,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Your worries depend on many unlikely events occurring. Fear has gotten the better of you, Elaja. That is why I could never love you,” Polyxene said.

  “Fear of evil is a pillar of wisdom. Your love of power is why you never loved me or anyone else. You only pretended to care for me. I know you murdered our children. Their spirits have ascended. Yours will descend, unless you choose the path to redemption,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Our children conspired to kill me, because you turned them against me! They were traitors beyond redemption! I defended myself, so I need no redemption. Power is all that matters. Even these demons know that truth. Look into the ruby spires. See the demons I have captured. They obey me. They cannot trouble the world unless I allow it. The world is safer because of me. Does your God make the world safer? Remember that your God didn’t protect the world from any inferno. Remember that your God didn’t protect the world from the tempest. Remember that your God didn’t prevent King Xander from conquering the world again and again. Yet, you still rely on your God? Why?” Polyxene said.

  “You credit yourself as a protector of the world, yet you have commanded these demons to bring trouble rather than to remain still. You think yourself to be like God. Yet, you are a creation, not The Creator. You are sinful, and need redemption. He can give it to you. He already has, if only you will accept the Sacrifice made by His Son,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Who are you talking about? Who is this Son of God? What is this redemption? Another lie from a man too weak to win a battle? Another miscalculation by a man who didn’t see the danger? You couldn’t save yourself, Elaja. I am more powerful than you. Neither God nor the Son of God saved you from my wrath when I learned of your plans to destroy me with the help of our children. Yet, you – the traitor – are here to lead me to redemption? What kind of a fool do you think I am?” Polyxene asked.

  “The Son of God is the Perfect, Truthful Innocent One, who suffered for our sins, and returned from the grave, thereby cleansing us of our sins. His Sacrifice redeems us. Yet, we must believe and accept this truth. I am here to tell you of this good news. Your eons of cruelty and selfishness weigh heavily on you and on
the world. Yet, He can forgive you. You need to admit your need for redemption, and confess the Son of God as your Savior. The Perfect, Truthful Innocent One will redeem you,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “Stop lying to me, Elaja. I’m not fool enough to believe you. You are the fool to think I will embrace your fables about God or the Son of God, or redemption. This is a world ruled by power, and the oceans are the keys to unlocking that power,” Polyxene said.

  “You are lying to yourself, Polyxene. The oceans were created by the One True God, and given to us as a gift. We still answer to Him for our deeds. He will judge us all. You are facing condemnation, and you can only delay it for a little while longer. Eternity awaits, and you cannot save yourself from God’s Judgment. Yet, the Son of God, in His Perfection, Truth and Innocence, has already paid the price for your sins by suffering in your place. You need to accept His Sacrifice to be saved,” the spirit of Elaja said.

  “I need no saving, Elaja. Soon, however, you will,” Polyxene said. She created another aperture in her diamond armor around her mouth. Again, she drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from her vial to be energized with the powers of crystal and stone. Then, she sealed the aperture in her diamond armor to protect herself from the flow of time. After this, she glided across the crystal fortress floor toward the seventh ruby spire. Inside that spire, there was no swirling darkness or any energy whatsoever. Polyxene touched the spire and began to manipulate its low-level structure, creating a passageway for energy to enter.

  The spirit of Elaja began to fade and move toward the seventh ruby spire. “I will leave you now. Remember the warning, and the good news,” the spirit said and vanished before being drawn into the crystal.

  “You are still a coward, Elaja. You didn’t believe you could rely on your God to rescue you, so you disappeared without a fight,” Polyxene said, despite the spirit of Elaja already having vanished. She touched the seventh ruby spire once again, altering its low-level structure and sealing it for later use.