The small Llums cried looking up at him, then at each other, then down at themselves.
“What is this?!”
Rosie asked, with her voice cracking. Zech’s wings appeared; they had their normal pattern but were painted the same color as his new Vie.
“M-my wings are back…”
Deon stood up and looked down at the smaller creatures.
“Be not afraid, children. This is wonderful news.”
With his words, they seemed to slow down their breathing. They sat down and looked as Deon’s smile returned to his face. He quickly walked to the back wall of the altar. On the other side of the wall, the one facing away from where the crowd would sit, were several stone slabs that seemed implanted into the marble.
“The scripture…When the time comes, Llums will unite as one. This is the first sign that his return is upon us. Llums must be ‘as one’ so that he may come and take their souls up with him. And you two….”
He turned to look at Zech and Rosie, who had followed him closely.
“Clearly, you’ve united blue and red somehow. What if this is just the start, and everyone else is next?”
Zech wanted to growl, he wanted to scream at him. Why was it that everything he ever said, everything he ever did was always just about his stupid god? He thought to himself. But he knew he wouldn’t get anywhere, and just closed his eyes and remained calm. Deon continued.
“We must remain calm…and wait until we can talk with the council. This is exciting.”
He smiled wider.
“To think I live to witness his return…! What a blessing. For now, young ones…Rosie, you can go back home but I beg you to hide your Vie. We don’t want to cause a panic or bring unnecessary attention just yet; you know how fragile Llums’ minds are. Zech… I ask you to spend the night here. If you were to go back home you’d need to fly, and we can’t risk anyone seeing your purple light. We’ll meet again here tomorrow with the council and figure out what’s next, yes?”
Rosie and Zech looked at each other with a slight hint of worry, but more calm now. They nodded.
“T-thank you, Deon…maybe this is a good thing, hm?”
Rosie smiled lightly.
“I…hope so…it is kind of cool I guess, we’re special. Oh! Do you think we have any new abilities? Ones never seen by any Llums ever!”
Zech cheered himself up with his words; now he was smiling sincerely. Deon looked down at him and smiled; though he wouldn’t show it or admit it, he felt fearful. Zech’s voice from before, strong enough to counter his light, still echoed in his mind.
“Alright, Children. It’s late. Come, Zech. I’ll show you our living spaces. Rosie, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Zech approached Rosie and nuzzled her, they both smiled lightly.
“It’ll all be ok, Z. We’ll…see what happens now. I hope you can get some rest. Thank you, Deon.”
Rosie spoke warmly, taking another look at her friend before turning and walking away; her mind flooded with new ideas of what this may entail.
“Alright then, this way…”
Zech walked closely behind the priest as they headed through a hallway behind the altar. At many points it split into different directions. The white marble halls were decorated with flowers and engraved texts, lit only by their Vie as they walked.
“I know this is not thrilling for you, being here. But I thank you for bearing with me.”
The young Llums just nodded lightly. They reached a larger hall with many doorways. The ceiling displayed an impressive work of art, showing Llums, glyphs that to him were incomprehensible…it seemed to be telling a story. He recognized some of the events and figures from tales that were told at sermons, but at the center, there was a shape. His eyes widened. It was a triangular shape, similar to the one he encountered earlier that day but with parts missing. He remained silent.
“Here. You can use this room for the night. It’s been vacant for a while but it’s ready.”
Deon pushed the door gently, it slid back, letting the pair in. Zech walked in shyly. It was a cozy room; White marble as the rest of the structure, it had some wooden boxes, sheets of fabric that hung from the walls, and a silk bed. It seemed almost otherworldly to him, who was so used to sleeping on the floor with some leaves for a cushion.
“Rest as much as you need. I will tell the council that you’re here, and about your light at the earliest tomorrow. I will leave you now but if you need anything, you know…”
Zech nodded.
“Thank you. Sorry for all this…”
Deon shook his head and gave him a warm smile.
“Please don’t be sorry. It is my pleasure.”
The larger Llums then left. Zech sat on the floor, lost in thought. He looked at the bed, then at the hanging fabric. He sat there contemplating for several minutes.
“Hypocrite.”
His ears perked up, and he quickly looked around to find the voice that had just spoken.
“He says it’s his pleasure to help, hm? And then sleep on silk while you lay on the dirt. I hate hypocrites.”
The voice echoed, but Zech couldn’t find the source. Tired and scared, he crawled back to the corner of the room, curling up in a ball.
“L-leave me alone…”
He muttered as his consciousness began to fade.
The next day came about quickly. Zech found it pleasantly surprising that he managed to sleep at all after everything that happened. He stood up and stretched, accidentally bumping into one of the walls.
“Huh, clumsy.”
Not entirely awake, he walked out of the room, pushing the door. He didn’t recall having to lean down as much to make it through it last night, but maybe he hadn’t been paying enough attention. He walked through the large hall, taking a second to admire the ceiling art properly.
“I need to tell Deon about that shape…”
He looked around at the maze-like hallways. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to figure out the way back to the main altar, he exited to one of the gardens. He shook a bit and readied up, lighting up his markings and spreading his wings. This happened in a second like usual, but unlike the familiar buzz the Vie made, it sounded like broken static, the crackling of glass, which surprised him.
“Right…purple…”
He approached one of the channels that carried water throughout the temple, and looked at his reflection. Startled, he let out a yelp and jumped back.
“H-huh?!”
He stood up on his hind legs and looked down at his body. He was taller, and much thinner. His body looked long and malnourished, as if he hadn’t had a drink in weeks. He could see his bones, and his fur seemed to have gotten shorter.
“Gah!”
In a panic, he jumped and took off. He quickly flew up, and then towards the large front gate of the temple. There was a small crowd, which was usual. He paid no mind to formalities, and bursted into the main hall, his Vie and wings in full view of everyone.
“Deon!”
He called as he flew towards the altar, where the priest was. He quickly landed in front of him. He could hear the crowd gasping. The council; the six Llums that sat behind the altar, looked down at him with shock. One of them seemed more awestruck.
“What is that monstrosity?! How dare he step here and speak?!”
One of them protested. Deon looked at Zech with wide eyes. Though he was larger than the night before, he was still recognizable.
“Saints… This is the light that I spoke of.”
The white-furred Llums turned back to look at the six who stared back in disbelief.
“Deon, what is happening to me?!”
Zech yelled, the crowd behind him just stared. The voice he heard the night before came from within his head once more, but louder and more powerful. His Vie flickered unnaturally.
“You seek answers from this scum? You should be turning to me.”
“Shut up!”
Zech yelled seemingly at nothing. Deon stood up on his hind legs, extending his wings in a show of might.
“Please stop! We…we need to talk about this!”
The six behind him stood up as well.
“There is nothing to talk about. This creature has surely been cursed! We must cast him out immediately!”
One from the council protested. On the opposite end of their altar, the one who seemed much less hostile then spoke.
“Nonesense, we can’t rush to decisions like that. This could be a miracle, Aigaion works in mysterious ways. We must settle down and work to understand this!”
Deon bowed his head.
“I beg you, listen to Lucian if not me. Let’s not be so hasty.”
Zech began breathing heavily and coughing, his head hung low as if he was sick and had run a marathon. Some from the crowd turned to walk out, but suddenly stopped in their tracks as another Llums walked through the front gate, walking down the hall and through the middle of the crowds gathered at each side. Zech felt nauseous, and slowly turned to watch. Rosie, now much bigger and with a clearer coat of thicker fur, walked down the middle of the hall as her light shone purple.
“R-Rosie…? You are…”
Behind her, her mother and little sister followed with their heads down. Rosie approached the altar, with tears in her eyes.
“Zech, I…heard it last night. She’s…she speaks to me.”
“So that’s where she is.”
The otherworldly voice said within the boy. The council spoke.
“They speak of voices they hear. Their Vie is unnatural, and their bodies are twisting. They have forgone their souls. It’s clear, they’ve dealt with demons.”
Lucian sat amongst them, but was the only one aside from Deon that showed concern instead of rejection. Zech growled. Bit by bit, he seemed to be losing more control over his body, as his limbs twitched and his vie flickered. He turned around to face the council, his face contorted in anger, gritting his teeth. He spoke with a powerful voice that froze even the saints in place.
“I will end all of you, filth.”
The words echoed as if many had said them at once. Deon and the council recoiled. The crowd had dispersed and fled away from the temple, only a couple individuals remained in the hall. Zech came back to his senses, his body trembled.
“N-no…what’s wrong? I can’t control my body…I’m sorry…that wasn’t me.”
Rosie looked at him with the face of a worried mother. She tried to approach to nuzzle her friend, but an invisible force prevented her from coming any closer. Zech raised his head, looking at his friend with tears in his eyes. He whimpered, stretching his paw to reach Rosie and touch her, but controlled by an unseen force his wings extended once more. He jumped and flew away in a split second, leaving behind a purple trail that lingered for just a second before fading.
“W-wait, Zech! C-come back…”
Rosie cried. Deon stood there, looking at Rosie with concern, readying himself in case of another outburst. Rosie walked towards him and stood next to him at the altar; now almost as tall as Deon was, and with fur almost as clear.
“Deon. I don’t know what’s going on but…someone is speaking to us. There's a voice and I don’t know if I should believe her or…or pray or…what do I do? Is Zech going to be ok?”
She then heard the gentle voice within herself again.
“I’m sorry, love. I just need a little bit more time…I will explain but I need more strength. Keep your family safe just a little longer, until I can. Do not seek your friend.”
The priest took a deep breath. Lucian jumped down from his side of the altar, not looking back at the other five, and stood in front of Rosie and next to Deon, who took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
I’m also very intrigued to see where this is going to go from here. I also worry for Zech, even if he may have possibly ticked off Agaion, I don’t think he deserves this happening to him.
This was another solid chapter Flame, and I thank you for sharing this story with us all.
Very interesting to hear this. I’m also very intrigued to see where this is going to go from here.
