Once Forgotten 3.0

"Look, Gartrand, we've been here for two days now, and there have been no signs of demonic activity!" Lirand said irritably, pacing about the room. It was a small tavern room, with two cots on both sides.

Gartrand sat on his cot, a mug in one hand and a book in the other. He took a sip and looked up. "So? Your point is?"

"You'ld think they'd show themselves by now." Lirand sighed.

Gartrand nodded. "Perhaps. But it's Beraneathan that we are dealing with. He controls famine and droughts and such. Of course he won't show his face. Unless we interfere with his work."

"And how, pray tell, do you suggest we do that?" Lirand asked.

Gartrand rolled his eyes. "You know, you really did hide as Kadic for too long. You're thinking like a wizard. All power, no brain." He set down his book and took a long gulp of his drink. "I use my affinity."

"How will that work?" Lirand frowned.

"Simple. He makes the crops not grow, but I can use the earth element to counteract that." Gartrand answered. "I've been trying to sense his presence, but he hasn't done anything. I fear he is planning something. This does not bode well."

Lirand rubbed his temples. "That is what I was saying earlier! He is not going to do anything. Not for a while. He will try to dispose of us more than anything."

Gartrand sighed. "The best we can do is try to undo some of the damage already done."

"Yes, that will draw his attention. Get on it. I'll be sensing for any Darke presences." Lirand said. Gartrand nodded and returned to his book.
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Rya opened her eyes to the sun shining through a window. The sky seemed to glow with the purest blue she had ever seen it. She frowned as she realized she was lying on her stomach. Movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention, and her eyes widened. Gently, she reached and touched the wing. Her wing. With conscious thought, she moved it, flapping it gently. She sat up, wrapping the sheet about her. The door opened and Alda stepped in. The Katar gave her a smile.

"It is good to see you up. We feared you wouldn't wake." She said.

Rya frowned. "How long was I unconscious?"

Alda set the tray of food down on the small table. "Two days you have slept." She turned and gave a small frown that turned to a smile. "Your eyes, they are quite different."

"My eyes?" She glanced in the mirror Alda gave her. With a gasp, she almost dropped it. Her once violet eyes were now flecked with faint blue lines. Her hand trembled as she set it down. "I-I grow wings. My b-blood glows. Now my eyes have changed." Alda put her arms about her and held the trembling girl. "What's happening to me?"

Alda gently stroked a wing. "You have been touched, dear child. I always knew you were special, but I did not realize that it was to such a level as this."

"What do you mean? You've said that before. I was touched?" The girl frowned.

"Sometimes, some are born that have great power. They were touched by the Great Goddess. The Mother. And she has touched you, Rya. There is no doubt about it." She gave the girl a hug and released her. "Now, eat. You need food. Brint and I have had the tailors refit your clothes to accommodate your wings." She held up a shirt. Two holes had been cut on either side, held together by straps. "They can stretch out without tearing. Made with elastic strips."

Rya nodded. "Thank you. It must have been expensive…"

Alda chuckled. "Not at all. The tailors donated everything. Come, you need to eat."

Rya pulled the shirt over her head, the strips stretching to allow her wings to push through. She spread them about herself, admiring them. "They're so beautiful."

Alda chuckled. "Yes, they are lovely, no? They should help you greatly." The Katar gave a sigh. "Oh to have seen Nadarin's wings. They were said to have shone with the purest white."

Rya frowned. "But the temple didn't depict him as having wings."

Her remark earned her a glare. "Neither is he worshipped as the God he truly is. They call him the Balancer, yet none now know what that truly means, save a certain few. They depict him as cold. Heartless. A cruel God that allows things to happen just to keep things running. But that is not who he is." The Katar said, indignation evident in her voice. Her green eyes brightened. "But you, you are beginning to understand, no? He is not a cold God. He cares for us, for the Realm. While The Mother has been sustaining, he took it upon himself to watch over his brethren."

"Yet he struck Ariadni." Rya pointed out, taking a bite of food.

"But think of the strain he was under. We had just placed the Seal on his Gyckma, destroying the already tipping balance. Oh yes, the imbalance had already begun long before the Sealing. It began with the Warlords, and their devastating war. Now think how Ariadni's actions affected the balance." Alda said patiently.

Rya froze, and her face paled. "It would have nearly destroyed it."

Alda nodded. "Yes, you understand now, no? The Great Demon was nearly released. How Nadarin managed to restore things is a great mystery, but it explains his actions." She eyed Rya's empty plate. Gathering up the tray, she head for the door. "You will be wanting out of this room, yes?"

Rya smiled. "Yes. That would be great."

Alda nodded and chuckled. "I imagine the people will throw themselves before your feet, begging for mercy." The Katar laughed again as she left. Rya took a deep breath and looked in the floor length mirror within the wardrobe in her room, which was quite spacious. She suspected that Brint and Alda had done their best to prevent anything extravagant, for which she was thankful.

Her appearance shocked her, and for a brief second, she truly thought an angel was in her mirror. Such things had happened. Her light blue hair had a silvery sheen to it, which brought out the blue streaks in her eyes and went well with her feathers. She sighed and finished dressing, both eager and dreading to go outside her room. She grabbed her scythe, and out of curiosity, she flicked the blade out and inspected her appearance again. She couldn't help but think of angels and shuddered, snapping the blade closed.

A knock on her door drew her attention. She opened it to see Brint. He looked up and smiled. "Alda said you wanted to get out?" She nodded and took his offered arm. Brint chuckled. "Alda was right. They are beautiful."

She blushed. "Thank you." She glanced at him then looked forward. "You and Alda have been working nonstop to protect me, haven't you?"

Brint sighed. "You wouldn't believe it! We've been hard pressed to keep them outside. Lucky for us, the owner is one of the few rational people left."

They walked down the steps and into the main area. Several soldiers stood and bowed in respect. One of them approached. "Overseer," he began, "I'm sorry for my comments on the LG. I was wrong to think you just a simple girl."

Rya smiled. "I accept your apology."

"The people have brought you tribute. The main idea is that you are an emissary sent by the Gods. Alacandis is the God mentioned the most." The soldier said.

"What's your name?" Rya asked.

"Argin, Miss." The soldier answered. He turned to Brint. "Sir, the Emperor has sent word that he wishes to meet with the Overseer."

"Did he give a specific time?" Brint asked.

"He wishes to meet with her this afternoon." Argin answerd.

Rya sighed. "That's all I need. An audience with a powerful man who thinks that I'm an emissary from Alphairria."

Argin shrugged. "He may even wish to know where the Door is."

"The Door to Alphairria?" Brint asked. "That's just a myth."

"Not necessarily." Rya said. "In the Book of the Damned, Chiel theorized that if there is a way into Xophaltez, then there could very well be a way into Alphairria. Either way, I'm going to have to play the part."

"What do you mean?" Argin asked.

She stepped away from Brint and spread her wings. "For whatever reason, I have been blessed, or touched, by The Mother. To that end, I suppose I am a type of emissary. An emissary that doesn't even know her mission."

"I suppose we will find out someday. Most likely soon. But The Mother knows what she is doing." Brint said.

Rya raised an eyebrow. "You're a believer now? What brought this on?"

Brint gently touched her feather. "Two days ago, I witness wings bursting out of my best friend's back, and now she looks like an angel sent to walk among us. If this isn't some type of divine intervention, then I'm a complete moron."

Rya laughed. "That's still debatable. But now, we need to prepare for our meeting." The three of them fell to talking, Alda joining them.
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Salazar glared at the God before him. "You! You're breaking your own rules now? Direct intereference?"

Nadarin stood to his feet. His hood fell to reveal short gold hair. A jagged scar ran down the right side of his face. "As I said, you know nothing of Gods. Think, fool! Thyninairnn has been saturated by the Gyckma! I am essentially within my own will."

Salazar continued to glare. "Perhaps, but you're still the weakling Lord Gairi made you out to be!" With a roar, he summoned his sword to his hand and charged at the Fallen God.

Nadarin threw his hand out, took the black blade in his hand, and snapped it clean off at the hilt. Continuing with his movement, his other hand come up and grabbed the man by the throat, holding him off the ground. With disdain, he threw him into the wall. "Salazar, you think you understand power, but you don't. And to think you understand my brethrens' true nature is to be foolish."

Salazar picked himself up, wiping the blood from his face. "This isn't over, Nadarin. My Lord will have his vengeance upon you!" He vanished into the shadows.

Nadarin sighed. He glanced down at the two halves of his mask. He smirked. Two halves. He turned his attention to why he had come here. Glowing within its icy prison, a solid black gem gleamed. "The Jewel of Darkeness. It holds such a horrid beauty…" He reached out and lightly touched the ice, causing it to crumble to powder. He reached out and took the gem. A Darkeness began to spread out from it, trying to consume his arm. Without a conscious thought, he blocked its ill effects, unharmed by it. "Though born imperfect, they were certainly born with power, no doubt there. Combining their own power with my will, they created magycks that were not intended for them. How ingenious."

"Nadarin!" a faint voice called out. He turned and beheld a ghostly image. An angel stood before him, her gold wings drooping, torn and bloody, her black hair framing a battered and bruised face. Dull sapphire eyes gazed at him.

"Helix…" He started to reach out to her, but let his hand fall. "Have you reaped the consequences of your actions?"

"I was foolish… Oh Nadarin! What have I done?!" The angel cried.

Nadarin's face gentled. "Soon, my dearest niece, you will be free from that prison. I understand why you did what you did, but now you see the foolishness of your choices. I am pleased to see you survived."

"Did I?" The angel asked.

Nadarin nodded. "You haven't fallen. Not completely. I sense much of The Mother left within you, and as you have learned from your mistake, I doubt that it will diminish. However, there will be due retribution. Your mother is still slightly fuming."

"I would expect nothing more of her. Nadarin, I haven't much time. Gairi is away from the temple, but he will soon return." She glanced over her shoulder at some unseen thing. "Their…creature is nearly complete! Nadarin, Gairi plans to use it as a means of breaking into Thyninairinn! He means to invade with the whole of Xophaltez! He hasn't quite gotten everything finished, but they are quickly nearing…!!!" She screamed and vanished. Nadarin rushed forward, his hand held out. Trembling with barely contained wrath, he shoved the black Jewel into his robes.

His eyes burning with anger, he began his ascent, leaping from wall to wall. "Soon, my fallen brother, you and I will meet in battle. Where I failed to vanquish our Father, I will not fail to disperse whatever soul you may have!"