The Return pt.13
The sun was beginning to rise in the east when Lucien opened his eyes to the sight of the last few stars hanging in the early morning sky. The large pale emerald moon was trailing behind the smaller ruby moon as the two glided through the sky towards the west. How he fell asleep or even how long he slept, Lucien did not know. It was not until he looked over and saw Arcia still lying where he left her that he breathed heavily in relief. During his eight centuries of self-imposed imprisonment the vast majority of his time was spent staring ahead at the floor of his throne room. Only once during that time does he remember falling asleep and to him it felt like closing his eyes for a mere moment before opening them to find two centuries had passed.
As he stared up at the sky Lucien could finally hear Arcia stirring a little from her sleep. The previous day had been exhausting for someone like her and had surprised Lucien with how worn he felt after what used to be easy work for someone like him.
It was then that Lucien heard Arcia ask through her slowly awakening voice “What in the hells was that, Lucien?”
“What are you referring to?”
She rolled onto her back and looked up at the dawning sky as she continued “Well what was that magic you used? I’ve never heard of something like that. And why did you mention Arden? What’s he got to do with all of this?”
Without any exaggerations Lucien explains “The magic is called Tilberates. It is the purifying flames of Arden. During my time it was one of the magics known as the Ancient Curses.”
Terror began to creep into Arcia as she heard this, but it would only grow as Lucien continued “The magic was created by Arden for us in the mortal realm to use his personal flames from Gihen to purify our enemies.”
The terror that was in Arcia’s mind only grew further upon hearing this. Arden was ruler of the Second Hell Gihen and as she was taught an extremely evil being. Lucien using magic developed by Arden was utterly terrifying for her and led her to question much. But her curiosity was strong and only continued to grow the more she thought. Now she had to know “Are you a servant of the demon Arden? I thought you worshipped the demon Moriena and God Panno given your mentions of them.”
Sudden confusion caused Lucien to hesitate for but a moment causing Arcia to worry for that moment before he answered with a question of his own “Where did you learn that Arden and Moriena were demons?”
Now was Arcia’s time confusion as she sat up on one arm and looked over at Lucien “That’s common knowledge. All the rulers of the six hells are powerful demons wanting to corrupt and take over all of existence.”
Laughter came from Lucien as he continued to stare up at the dawning sky. He had never heard of such before and could not help but feel it foolish.
“No Arcia, Arden and Moriena are not demons. They are gods. Arden rules the Second Hell Gihen and Moriena rules the Sixth Hell Margus.”
Arcia was even more confused now. Growing up in the orphanage she was always taught that the rulers of the six hells were vile demons that wanted nothing but evil for all and the destruction of the Gods of the Seven Heavens. Even in the penal village that belief was held true. No one she had ever met or knew of had anything to do with the hells and their rulers. But the calm confidence Lucien spoke with was convincing and that bothered her.
“I’ve always been taught that the rulers of the Six Hells were absolute evil beings. And that the Gods of the Seven Heavens fought against them, not only for the purity of their creations but also for the evil perpetrated on Vyria.”
Beginning to understand a little of what has happened to the beliefs of humanity outside of the immortal kingdoms since his self-imprisonment, Lucien wanted a little more clarification before he spoke much more and so asked “What do you know about Vyria and Moriena?”
Disbelief came over Lucien as he listened to Arcia regale him with what she had learned about Moriena and Vyria. In the version Arcia retold, Moriena was a vile and evil being that tricked Vyria into abandoning her twin brother Ry’ges and their Seventh Heaven Meso, alongside her lover and betrothed Syver, God of the Fifth Heaven of Ami’yer. That Moriena manipulated Vyria into fleeing to his realm the Sixth Hell Margus by proclaiming his love for her. Once he had her Moriena would viciously abuse and torture her in attempts to break her and turn her into a force of the hells against the heavens. But when she proved too strong for his vile machinations, Moriena tossed her aside. In her shame Vyria refused to return to the heavens and chose to reside in the mortal plain taking the world for her own, naming it Vyrna after herself.
Laughter would not come this time. This time the disbelief controlled Lucien. How could the truth be distorted so drastically that it does not even resemble it anymore? But now he understood the disconnect. Now he could begin to help Arcia learn the actual truth of the gods and the world.
Settling in with his armored hands behind his head, Lucien continued to look up towards the dawning sky as began to teach Arcia the reality of the gods.
Moriena, while certainly a god of war, blood, murder, slaughter, death and power, he is also a god of honor, life, beauty and love. Unlike how Arcia was taught he does not manipulate. Then there is Vyria. While she is the twin sister of Ry’ges and supposed to be his co-ruler over the Seventh Heaven Meso, she was never betrothed to Syver, nor was she ever his lover. And despite being a goddess of love, beauty, nature, creation, family, fertility and childbirth, she is also a goddess of vengeance, hate, wrath and spite.
Lucien further explained that upon first laying eyes upon the beautiful and handsome Moriena, Vyria fell in love with him. She would spend her time dreaming of him as Syver unsuccessfully courted her. At times when they were able to meet in private Vyria and Moriena became secret lovers as the god of war had fallen for her upon seeing her the first time. Tiring of Syver’s advances and wishing to be with her beloved, Vyria fled the heavens and joined Moriena in Margus. There they were content and joyful with their life together, but the others were not.
The Gods of the Second, Third and Fourth Hells, Arden, Draekia and Cossis saw this as an excuse to war against Moriena and the Seven Heavens in their own ways. The God of the First Hell Piramess, Narssees wanted to tempt the two lovers into his realm of pleasure and indulgence. And Moriena’s sister Sha’nagurath the Goddess of the Fifth Hell Eava questioned her brother’s reasoning for acting so openly with his love while knowing what it would cause.
Then there were the Gods of the Seven Heavens, Syver’s lies spread quickly amongst them and soon they were ready for war. All of them except one, Panno. The Goddess of the Third Heaven Kurrgan, Panno from her home in the city of Gerlornus amongst the plains of her heavenly realm questioned Syver’s story and sought out Vyria for herself. Learning the truth of the matter Panno threw her support behind the two lovers, alongside Sha’nagurath but it would not be enough. There were still six heavenly gods and three hellish ones closing in around them.
Seeing the awaiting destruction for not only their realms but the mortal one that had been painstakingly created through the combined efforts of all fourteen of them, Moriena regretfully cast aside Vyria. In the name of peace between the gods and the survival of all they made, Moriena broke with his own desires, his own wishes, his own love, his very being, to save all.
Enraged by this, Vyria did not return to the heavens. Instead, she claimed the void itself and the world in it that she came to name after herself. Since then, she has done nothing but work towards vengeance against all but three of her fellow gods while continually proclaiming her love for Moriena. All her creations since have been made to enact her vengeance against all perceived enemies or to aid the children and creations of Moriena, Panno and Sha’nagurath; including opening her personal sanctuaries on Vyrna to them.
Panno became a recluse out of embarrassment and rage she felt towards her fellow heavenly gods falling for Syver’s deceit. Now she very rarely leaves her realm of the Third Heaven Kurrgan, preferring the company of her horses, the spirits that serve her and the souls of her Dharan children; though she occasionally has to chase away a conniving Syver with her storms as he continues to try his manipulations on her.
Silence hung for some time as Arcia’s mind thought over everything she had just been told. How could what she was taught be so different from what someone as powerful as Lucien was telling her? And why did Lucien’s version seem more convincing now than what she had been taught? It was with these thoughts rushing through her mind that she asked “What about Arden then? You said he wasn’t a demon but a god. Explain him now that you’ve explained the truth of Moriena and Vyria.”
For but a moment Lucien hesitates, wondering how best to phrase his answer.
“As you know, Arden is the ruler of the Second Hell Gihen. Like the other hellish gods, he rules over some of the darker aspects of existence like death, destruction, pain, and suffering; but he is also the god of purity, life, magic and fire. Every bit of flame, even this campfire here between us, is worship of Arden. Even if you did not mean it to be. And he allows no one into Gihen that has not been cleansed by fire. The only souls Arden ever claims are those killed by fire as he views fire as the only way to true purity.”
Arcia was quick to comment “I knew fire was associated with Arden but I thought Esahilia ruled over it and it’s sustainment of life?”
Lucien finally turns his head allowing him to look at Arcia as he answers “While she is a god of fire, that is by association. Her domain with fire is the hearth and sustainment. Unlike Arden she does not rule over fire itself. And while she shares dominion over fire with Arden, Esahilia is but a claimant to fire. Arden is its maker.”
Allowing herself to relax, Arcia lay back down and turned her gaze to the now starless sky. Why was she so easily believing Lucien’s stories when everyone she knew was taught what she had now once believed? This confusion was only furthered by Lucien spoke again “I believe I understand how you outside of the Immortal Kingdoms came to believe the way you do. Tell me Syver’s position.”
Hesitantly Arcia answered “He’s a highly regarded god and holds a prominent place in most cities.”
Lucien audibly mocked this with false laughter before saying “That damned trickster really worked one over. Bastard really is the lowest of them all.”
Confusion once more fell over Arcia. Why was someone as devout in the gods as Lucien cursing a god, calling him a bastard?
“Oh, you do not know.” Lucien began explaining without needing prompting as he realized Arcia would not understand. “Syver is the lowest of the gods. He is a trickster and nothing more. He lies, he deceives, and he manipulates all he engages with. He is the truest hypocrite there could be.”
While rolling his eyes Lucien continued “While yes, he is a god of wisdom, protection, compassion, growth, healing and a great many other good. He is also the god of pride and deceit. Those two are his two main domains. Being a god of such, how much he rules over the good is debatable. I for one do not acknowledge him as more than a god of lies, deceit and vanity. And I knew a great many others outside my people who saw him the same.”
Silence came over them both once more as the sun rose higher and higher in the sky. Arcia had a great many things to think about now and her mind was so focused on her own thoughts that she could not ask any further questions.
It was then Lucien offers one further teaching about the gods “One more thing Arcia. There is no unified force of the six hells. The Gods of the Six Hells do not get along and tend to engage in constant machinations against each other, nearly as much as they do against the Seven Heavens. Very few have armies ready to fight for them. Only souls they allow, reside in their realms for eternity.”
This new information became just another thing for Arcia’s already overwhelmed mind. She had learned from others in Salver and the penal village that the six hells were evil and conspiring to corrupt the world, turning it from the light of the seven heavens but now she was most confused. The demons were supposed to rule the hells but now it’s gods? Her mind could not process fast enough as she asked in a fit of desperation to rationalize her old beliefs “What about demons then? Are they not real?”
Lucien looked back towards the sky as he answered “They are real, but they live here on Vyrna with us. They are the creations of Narsees and no other. But do not fear them. They are not plentiful enough to be a concern for humanity overall and prefer living lives of pleasure and indulgence, much like their creator.”
With that silence returned as Lucien let Arcia sort her thoughts while he went to gather firewood. With the exhaustion Arcia and the horses had, Lucien knew that they would not be ready to move until later in the day.
It would be after midday when Lucien and Arcia began to saddle the horses so that they may resume their journey to Salver. As she secured the saddle to her horse Arcia asked “Could you use your magic to prevent the river from doing all of that?”
Understanding where the question was coming from, Lucien had an easy answer for her “Yes but I would have to live in the mountains to keep the lake ice from damming itself during winter.”
Now that she had heard the answer it seemed obvious that it should be done and that only left her with more questions. “Has it ever been done?”
Looking over his horse at her, Lucien answers “Yes. Karshen’s people kept it from ever happening until I came along with my armies.”
This caught her attention and caused her to turn around and look at Lucien. “Explain.”
“Well, you see during my time the people that lived along the river kept a small force of people high up in the Aser Mountains, near the lake that serves as the source of the river. There they would use magic throughout the winter to keep the ice dam from forming, unless I wanted to destroy the entire lake.”
A sigh escapes from Arcia as her gaze falls to her boots before turning to resume saddling her horse. “Have you ever seen this happen before then?”
“Only twice.”
Even with her back turned towards him Lucien could tell Arcia tensed up at his answer. Then without need for prompting and no desire to hide the truth, Lucien tells her the stories of how each event occurred.
First mentioned was Lucien’s time in the region, conquering all the land surrounding this section of the river. He had begun the war early in the winter, across three fronts, forcing all of Karshen’s forces into battle including those that maintained the river at the source in the mountains. By the middle of spring, Lucien had forced a decisive battle against the river and Karshen surrendered.
It was when visiting the capital city that Lucien saw the people evacuating with all their belongings and after questioning this, was first informed of the dangers of what he knows as the Liascon River. It was already too late to remedy the problem.
Months later he would be standing alongside Karshen as the ice dam gave way and the water, ice and stone rushing down from the mountain destroyed everything in its path. That was the first time Lucien saw the destructive fury of the Liascon and after, he saw to it that the tending of the river would forever continue.
But he would find himself in need of that destructive force centuries later. A foreign army from across the western oceans had arrived with a massive force that dwarfed all native armies on Rylocke. Lucien had his armies slowly retreat back to Arlorne, drawing the enemy forces deeper and deeper into the valley. At several times he would smash the invading army but continued to retreat after each battle.
He had timed this retreat to the winter and used the winter to allow the ice to damn the lake in the mountains as he pulled his armies and the people along the river back to safety. With this, he continued to slowly pull his forces back as he set his trap for the invaders. Eventually ceasing his retreat, Lucien forced the invaders to make their main army’s camps around the river, while a small, unnoticed force loyal to him made their way up the mountains to the source of the river.
Then as spring began and the warring season returned properly, Lucien signaled his men in the mountains to destroy the dam, unleashing the river’s fury. The invaders were helpless in the face of the destructive force of nature Lucien had unleashed upon them. Once the river had swept away most of the army and split the remnants in two, Lucien ordered his army forward and crushed the two halves in order, beginning the route of the invading force.
“Those are the only two times I know of the river raging as such before last night.”
Climbing into the saddle Arcia looks to Lucien and asks, “Do you think King Richard would send men to prevent it from happening?” Clearly, she had been disturbed by what she had witnessed and wished for no one else to suffer it.
After seemingly floating into his saddle Lucien answers “I am sure he could if prompted but I have a feeling the local politics are more complicated than that of the nobility of Salver being corrupt and abusive of their stations. After all a count with guard made of two separate knightly orders came to me about Duke Castellen.”
Arcia knew Lucien was correct. The politics of Reval were a complicated mess at the moment and such a mess that no one would willingly spare forces for land that was uninhabited in such wilderness. And remembering what he had said the day prior to the knights, Arcia lightly spurs her horse forward saying, “You did mention Count Draeken yesterday.”
Speaking a single Dharan word Lucien orders the horse beneath him forward as he nods his head in response to Arcia, before speaking to her directly “Yes, I did. He and two companies of knights came to my home and informed me that my servant Morrigan had been captured and forced into slavery by a Duke Castellen.”
“She’s probably enjoying her life there. Even with his strange reputation, all the rumors say he can be quite persuasive and giving to those around him.”
Lucien looks over at Arcia and this look alone is enough to force a quiet apology from her. He then tells her “Do not think we Dharans are like other humans. We are loyal to a fault. We do not betray another Dharan. And Morrigan is a true Dharan. She will be waiting for me in Salver if she is not killed before I arrive.”
Arcia did not want to ask the next question but did so anyways “What will you do if she’s dead?”
Lucien’s gaze returned forward as his voice grew colder than she had ever heard it in this short time together “I remove Salver from existence.” That was all Arcia needed to hear on the matter as silence returned over them for some time.
