965. Serpenterre, 2
(Rose)
I shared with my old friends what I could. They mocked me a little again.
M - Endless strife for you, roses and lights.
R - I promised Nokaranlık after this one, I wouldn’t move away for a while. I owe her that.
Z - You seem immortal, but I don’t feel like I should envy you...
R - I sure am aging faster than you.
I manage to laugh it off.
At some point, the chains of consequences and repercussions should calm down. Right?
All I know is what I must do now. Sanïssia agreed to give me a hasty ride. Myls and Zes bid me farewell and goodbye.
Z - Let us know when you’re back in one piece?
M - See you in the next life Blume.
I smile bittersweetly. They’re not holding back on the tease nor holding me back from going. They’re not eager to join me either, for good reasons.
I nod to them and climb onto the huge and cute abomination. I reach the top of its head where some feathers are tied together into harness and saddles. I caressed the beast holding me like a fly.
R - Thank you for your help Sanïssia. I’m counting on you.
The beast meowed and moved around. It pumped fluids and ichor differently inside its arteries.
Its wings stretched and I held on.
The rush began and I felt the wind augmenting my resulting weight immensely.
~
The giant snake flapped its numerous wings in sequences, raising itself high. It spiralled above the island for a while, and then headed west over the sea.
I held my nausea from the peculiar ascension and then followed the oscillating rhythm of its segments. The head could be more still than any other behind, but still had its movements.
I wondered how long it would take it or her to fly full speed across the ocean.
It was likely faster than any sea dragon could swim and pull a boat.
I had enough time to think about everything I had left behind over time, leaving the bird carrying me.
As night eventually fell, catching back on us, I looked at the stars.
The moon wasn’t visible yet, but I could still wonder. About her. About everything.
As distance stretched, I looked behind to the filament from Little Line behind me. I wondered.
I daydream from what I learned from her, before and after. I wish she hadn’t left, but through our remaining connection, I think she was somewhat like me. She didn’t leave so suddenly as Selya rose by mere volition. Something had been stirring and calling her to act, even if it had little chance of having an easy way back.
Now I sympathise with them... Having a friend rushing away like that.
This time, this last time, I just need to knock again some sense in Night’s head, so she wouldn’t blow open a new continental volcano like other selfish gods did in the past.
From the few things I managed to read from the monster’s brain, they are building something akin to that in what probably was Colorado. I can only guess why.
But it didn’t seem like another Kosmos being built unfortunately. It looked crude.
As if she had scrapped the Jovian dream for something else entirely... Because of me.
I will hate myself for that. If I spoiled her cheer, her good will, and her endless potential; because of my stupidity past.
I want to promise to Nightmare the same thing as Nok. Please, just stop, and I will stop doing reckless things. I will listen to you and live with you in the kingdom. I won’t ever be a threat to you anymore. I won’t abandon you anymore.
I want to live with you...
I will stay... I will find my purpose in the kingdom with both of you, if you would please... Please, please stop these dreadful things you’re doing and return home with me.
My heart aches as my mind wanders. I hope I will recall these better words when I face her.
I hope she doesn’t cause senseless destruction we would feel guilty for.
But they are I fear, building something really worth stopping before it fires off.
All I saw was blurred intentions, since this dragon had not seen it itself. But it had been tasked of kidnapping and carrying a conduit to that place, to that thing being built in haste over there apparently.
Something that looks like a collection of rockets, with enormous reactors.
As if another mountain was meant to fly once more, only this time purely on chemical power.
No T.I. Just pure older matter. No matter the yield, the outbursts or the consequences after. It was as if Nightmare had decided to build the biggest fireworks, into a cannon aimed at the ground. Its explosion and destruction of the land would propel some weight upward.
It’s something immense to carry a heavy load out of here, but at the cost of blowing away a wide land, possibly rupturing the continental ground to the mantle. This might cause other volcanic chambers around the continent to rupture in reaction. My inner Blume assesses with pessimistic views quite a desolation. My inner Rose feels overwhelmed but encourages me to reach out to Nightmare before it is too late.
I keep thinking about it through the night, as Sanïssia flies without a rest across the ocean.
Whatever she thinks right now... I know we could imagine better ways to reach a fruitful conclusion.
~
I’m woken up by the snake’s voice. I can’t believe I managed to fall asleep over its head while it flew. It is warm below the feathers. I don’t know how such an immense dinosaur regulates its temperatures reliably, but it’s something Nightmare figured out tricks for a decade or more ago.
Anyway, with its hum, the warmth and the slow oscillation, eventually I had been lulled.
I wake up properly and look around, but it’s still fully night time.
R - What is it?
S - Myuu.
I don’t get it. I keep looking.
Eventually I notice the coastline against the night sky over the horizon.
She’s a real modern plane it seems... now the world feels a little small.
I guess Earth isn’t that big nor endless a planet. It shocks me a little.
And it confirms that having a supreme being reigning over all isn’t far-fetched anymore. I just hope Selya will become as careful and wise as she could be kind.
R - She wasn’t that kind to me, but she was losing herself inside the source at the time, and afraid.
S - Myuu?
R - never mind. I’m just... Praying, for the future.
Praying to whom I should ask.
For now... To Nightmare, to hear my plea and cease her wrathful endeavour before it burns some innocents. Because I fear right now she has turned more biblical than ever before.
We’re reaching the new world. Funny how I still intuitively refer to the Americas as such. It’s been nearly a millennium.
R - Maybe you should stop and rest where it’s easy for you. I won’t mind that you lift me further, closer to the new ziggurat. But there’s no good reason to rush for it tonight. Have some rest too alright?
S - Myuu.
The huge things agreed. It lands over the shallow waters of the bay soon after, and gently swims to shore.
I climb down and my shoes hit the wet sand.
I hear the song of the eastern shore and waves surrounding me.
I crouch to touch the ground, trying to realise that I’m on the other continental chain already.
I’m a little dizzy.
~
