Chapter 18: The Brotherhood Chapter XVIII

 

“The gods Naveyk and Skailer started taking a more personal interest in their creations.  With the Ai’lea thrown into the mix, the bonds of love were formed.  Suddenly we had families and children filling our great cities.  For the first time since our inception, the gods saw us as more than just a means to an end.  They finally realized their creations were capable of so much more than just war.  Now the gods were looking at us thru the eyes of a parent.”

“And as parents, they began loving you as one does a child, didn’t they?”  I asked.

“Yes,” Q answered with a slight nod.  “Their curiosity reached a whole new level.  Instead of wondering who would be triumphant in battle, they questioned who would bond with whom.  What would they be like as parents?  How would their kids grow up?  What path would they take when they reached adulthood?  With free will, nothing was written in stone.”

“So basically, it was like playing The Sims but with real people,” I said matter-of-factly.

“You aresimple!” Q laughed.

“What?  I’m just saying.  Contrary to what my parents might say, gaming isn’t a total waste. I get what you’re saying.”  

Q just smiled, but it was that ‘you’re cute’ smile that made my cheeks heat up.  I changed the subject.

“I bet he Goddess wasn’t happy.”

“Not ven a little bit.  Aal’ee did not want to share their love and affection, but that’s precisely what happened.  Each day, she watched as their love grew for their respective children.  Ultimately, she was forced to take a backseat as they devoted all their attention to us.

“They even began appearing among us from time to time.  Until then, they spoke to us through the erected temples built in their honor.  And I mean thatliterally.  Naveyk’s voice echoed from his statue seated upon its eiyrlin throne.  It was the only way he communicated with us.  One day he decided to appear when the Nave were gathered in worship.

“Of course, my people were ecstatic.  To be able to touch the hand of one’s creator…there was no greater honor.  More often than not, Naveyk roamed Aquaiia as a regular Nave.  He hid his true identity to get a real feeling of what it was like to live like one of his children.  At one point, he became a sculptor of eiyrlin statues.  He learned to fuse the different colored crystals to create some of the most famous sculptures in our history.   If all accounts are accurate, Naveyk never used his godly powers.  All his accomplishments were made as a simple Nave.

“Everything was going great until he came across a young Ai’lea named Lisuri.  He was utterly taken by her.  He lived among many Ai’lea during his Nave years without developing unique bonds.  No one knows what made Lisuri different.  His friendship with her began innocently enough, but his desires for her grew.  Every moment they shared, every touch, every smile…even the briefest glance between them…stoked Naveyk’s passion.

“And this was a problem?” I asked.

“Yes, a big one, and it was twofold.  First, Naveyk was truly a God, even in his Nave form.  Second, Lisuri was already bonded to Ajus, a soldier in the King’s army.  Bonding is serious.  When El’odians bond, they bond for life. Only the death of a mate can break that bond.”

“So literally till death do you part,” I said.

“Exactly. We took our commitments way more seriously than you humans do today.”

“Zing and ouch!” I protested.  “That’s a bit harsh, wouldn’t you say?”

“Is it?” Q smirked, placing his hand on the back of my neck and massaging it a bit.  “Were you always faithful to Alexandra?”

I felt my face go hot with embarrassment.  “Um…so what were you saying about this Lisuri person?”

“I thought so,” he laughed again.  “And for the record, if you ever pulled anything like that….”

“I wouldn’t!”  I was quick to respond.  I felt my heart miss a beat.  My biggest regret would be to have Q think for even a second that I would go behind his back and betray his trust.  “Not to you…never to you.”

With a smile that made it clear he believed me, kissed me, and made me feel much better.  I think my heart started beating normally again.

“As I said, the El’odian bond is powerful, but Naveyk could care less.  The vanity and decadence of the gods knew no bounds.  His desire turned into an obsession; more than anything, Naveyk was determined to have Lisuri.

“So one night, he came to her in the guise of her beloved Ajus and shared her bed. It was the first and only coupling between a god and a mortal…that we know of.  He kept up his nightly visits.  Every night Ajus was away, Naveyk took advantage of Lisuri…essentially raping her without a second thought.

“The wonders of being a god, I suppose.”   There was a hint of disgust in his tone, not to mention anger as well.  “They do what they want and take what they want without regard for the consequences of their actions.  Frankly, they’re more trouble than they’re worth.”

“Am I detecting a little bit of rage coming from you?”

Q continued without acknowledging my comment.

“Life went on for Lisuri and Ajus.  They never knew of Naveyk’s cruel actions.  Eventually, he ended his secret visits when the couple showed up at his temple seeking his blessing.  It was rare, but every once in a while, Naveyk would appear before a Nave to bestow his blessing upon them, especially if they are with child.”

“You mean she was pregnant?  Was it Naveyk’s?”

“He had but to lay his hand on her stomach to know the unborn child was his.  This posed a severe problem, for there was no telling what this meant.  A child born of an El’odian and a God?  The ramifications of such an offspring were immeasurable.  Not to mention how Skailer and Aal’ee might react.

“Naveyk had a decision to make.  It was within his power to ensure the child never saw the light of day.  Yet despite everything, including the voice that was probably screaming in his head telling him it was a bad idea, I think the prospect of being a father was too enticing for him.  He wasn’t about to let it slip thru his fingers.

“Of course, he had to remain hands-off.  So as I said, the visits to Lisuri stopped.  Secrecy was now his number one priority.  He had to make sure the other Gods did not find out about his unborn son, for if they had…well…I’m sure you get the idea.”

I nodded.

“Naveyk knew the care of Lisuri and the birth of his child would be a delicate matter.  So regardless of his need for secrecy, he confessed everything to the Great Mother.  He had no choice. The Ai’lea were responsible for overseeing the birth of El’odian children after all.  The Great Mother shared his concerns and agreed to help conceal the child’s true lineage.  She enlisted the aid of three of her most trusted priestesses and revealed Naveyk’s secret to them.

“Now, it was customary for expecting mothers to be taken to Cyprinia to give birth, for all children were born in the Great Mother’s city.  What was unusual was that the Great Mother had Lisuri moved to Cyprinia months before she was due, and Ajus wasn’t allowed to see her but for a handful of times.  They couldn’t take any chances, for there was no way to predict what might happen during this highly unusual pregnancy.

“As it turned out, there was no need for all the extra precautions.  Lisuri carried the child for the entire four months without incident.  Even so, when it came time to deliver, only the Great Mother and the three priestesses were allowed in the room with Lisuri.  From what I understand, Ajus was upset that he couldn’t be present during the birth of his son, but he respected the wishes of the Great Mother.

“It was a good thing too because the delivery was anything but ordinary.  The child was born in the middle of the night, yet it was said that when he came into this world, there was a halo of light so bright it turned night into day.  Needless to say, after that little stunt, they had no choice but to reveal the truth to Lisuri, for they would need her help to keep the child’s true lineage a secret.

“As one can imagine, poor Lisuri went thru a whirlwind of emotions when she learned the truth.  I couldn’t even begin to pretend to understand the fear she felt, the uncertainty of her child’s future, and not to mention the betrayal of being used in such a way.  Her anger towards Naveyk scared her the most.  To harbor such ill will toward a God was considered the ultimate sin. 

“Despite it all, from the way the Great Mother tells it, she took one look at the child and saw him for what he truly was – a miracle from heaven.  She loved that child with every fiber of her being.  It killed her to keep the truth from her beloved Ajus, but she had no choice.  The fewer who knew the truth, the safer it was for everyone involved, so she allowed Ajus to believe it was his son.

“The Great Mother insisted mother and child remain in Cyprinia for a few months before rejoining Ajus in Aquaiia.  They had to keep an eye on the child to see if he manifested any abilities that could give away his bloodline. The priestesses were appointed guardians of the boy while he remained in the city and were charged with helping Lisuri raise the child. Their time spent in Cyprinia was reasonably uneventful.  The boy’s infancy progressed normally, and eventually, the Great Mother saw no harm in allowing Lisuri and her son to return to Aquaiia.

“The priestesses kept their vigil, the Great Mother stopped by from time to time, Naveyk became an absentee father, and so was life for Lisuri and her family. The boy grew up in a great home and was loved very much.  Ajus was never the wiser and was a great father to the boy.  I suspect even if Ajus knew the truth, he would’ve been every bit the father Naveyk never was.”

I watched Q closely.  The way his gaze was fixed on some point in the distant night made me think something weighed heavily on his mind.  Yet a little smile did appear on his lips as if a fond memory suddenly came to the surface.  At that moment, he had a sweetness, an innocence customarily reserved for children.  Not that I needed another reason, but it made me love him more.

“What was the boy’s name?” I asked.  Q didn’t answer right away.  He was still out there in nowhere land.  I had to lean into him a little bit to bring him back to me.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he shook his head.  “What did you say?”

“His name.  What was the baby boy’s name?”

“Qua’quelle.”

“It was you?” I whispered.  “You were that little boy?  Lisuri’s son?”  I had to pause for a moment because the magnitude of what I would say next was mind-blowing.  “You’re the son of a God?”

“Trust me; it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.  I’d gladly trade Naveyk for Ajus any day, but that’s neither here nor there.  Ajus loved me with everything he had; in the end, that’s all that matters.”

“Oh my god!” I shouted suddenly, interrupting his flow.  “In the library with your dad, I was talking to an actual God.” The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. “A God!”

I was blown away.

“Are you okay now?” Q laughed. “Should I continue, or do you need a moment?”

“You don’t seem to get the implications, Q! I was talking to a living, breathing God!”

“So, you’re going to need a minute, is what you’re saying?”

He was looking at me like I was crazy. I get this was his reality. But to me? My god! How does one wrap their head around that?

Q was still staring at me like I was having a mental breakdown. And maybe I was!

“Forget it,” I finally said. “Sorry, go on. What happened to them?  What happened to your parents?”

“As I said, they were great parents and gave me a normal Nave childhood. The only thing abnormal was the level of interest the priestesses took in my development, especially the Great Mother.  After the birth of a child, it was customary for the priestesses to follow up a few times to ensure everything was going okay.  But with me, it was like they became part of the family.  It seemed they were always around.  They probably drew more attention to my family and me than they intended.  Others couldn’t help but wonder what made us so special.  But no one ever questioned the Great Mother, so I guess that worked in their favor.

“When I was around six, my parents added a new addition to the family with the birth of my younger brother Azajin.  I was beyond excited.  A little brother I could help raise, guide, and take under my wing was a dream come true.  It was around this time I started to develop particular abilities.  I was becoming the only other El’odian to wield the power of the gods.

“I spent some time in Cyprinia with the Great Mother, learning to control my developing powers.  She taught me the greatest lesson of all; to guard my abilities and never use them in a way that might give me away. You have no idea how hard that is for a young boy to do.”

I laughed.  “I bet.”

“It wasn’t until I was older that my true lineage was revealed.  It wasn’t easy to hear that the man I knew as my father wasn’t my father at all.  And to top it all off, my actual father was our creator.   Someone whose voice echoed the halls of his temple, someone who appeared to bless those who called upon him, someone who couldn’t find the time to say so much as a hello to his only son…someone who could do that to my mother.”

I placed my hand over his balled-up fists and draped my left arm over his back.  I pressed my lips to his temple and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Q turned, so his forehead was pressed against mine.  “You’re sweet, Jacob, but you have nothing to be sorry about.”  He kissed me and caressed the side of my face.  “But thank you all the same.”  Q kissed me again on the forehead and continued with his story.

“I grew up with no desire to know Naveyk.  I stopped showing up at his temple altogether.  Ajus was the only father I knew…the only father I needed.  It was just the four of us, and we were happy, but even in paradise, one is forced to weather a storm or two.

“Once the Great Mother felt confident I had my powers under control, and there was little risk of exposure, she freed the three priestesses of their responsibilities to me.  T’mynn, one of the priestesses, left the priesthood altogether to start her own family.

“Her every attempt was met with tragedy.  You have to understand that a miscarriage among the Ai’lea was unheard of, but the chances of four in a row were incalculable. Add the death of her beloved from a mysterious illness and one might start to believe she was cursed.”

“Or being punished,” I added.

“Exactly right.  For years T’mynn protected my identity and Naveyk’s indiscretions, and now it appeared, at least to her, that she was paying the price for betraying Aal’ee.  So she did what was expected when one has slighted their god, she….”

“Begged for forgiveness,” I jumped in.

“Right again.  T’mynn went to Aal’ee’s temple in Cyprinia and threw herself at the mercy of her Goddess.  Kneeling before Aal’ee’s statue, she confessed everything.  Naveyk’s nightly visits to my mother, my birth, the Great Mother’s evolvement…everything.  Now gods are prayed to practically every day, and there’s no telling when and if they decide to listen, but on that particular day, Aal’ee was all ears.

“You’ve heard the phrase hell have no fury like a woman scorn?”

“Heard it?  It was Alexandra’s mantra.”

“Well, imagine a Goddess scorned.  The very foundation of Eiyr trembled under her rage.  The idea that one of her suitors could give his love, a love rightly reserved for her and her alone, to one of her Ai’lea was the utmost betrayal. 

“And it could only be forgiven with blood.

“Coincidently, it was the first time Naveyk showed himself to me.  I was as you see me now, except I was a high-ranking member of the King’s elite Royal Guard.  I was on my way home to see my family after spending some time in Cyprinia, where the Great Mother was trying to quell a dispute between the Nave and Skai.

“I was standing on the doorstep of the house I grew up in.  I looked over my shoulder for a second and then turned back to knock on the door….”  Q paused for a moment, looked at me, and let out a sort of cynical laugh.  “And there he stood.  My god Jacob, he was standing as close to me as you are now, and I stood there staring at him with the words caught in my throat.

“‘Son,’ was all he said to me before taking my arm and whisking us away in a brilliant flash of light.  I have no idea where he took me or if we were even on Eiyr anymore.  We were in an open field with bright green grass as far as the eye could see.  We stood under the only tree in sight.

“‘Why did you bring me here?’ I asked.

“‘It’s good to see you finally, Qua’quelle, face to face, that is, for I have always kept a close eye on you.’

“‘And yet I find little comfort in that.’ I think my insolence took him by surprise. It surprised me.  ‘Why did you bring me here?’

“‘Does a father need a reason to visit with his son?’

“‘My father, Ajus, is free to visit me anytime he wishes.  You, on the other hand, I don’t know.  I would ask that you tell me what you want from me or take me back to Aquaiia.’”

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted, “but I have to ask.  Weren’t you the least bit scared about mouthing off not only to your father but God of all people?”

A devilish grin appeared across his face.  “I wouldn’t say I was scared, but I was anxious standing there next to him.  I was playing up the tough guy act.  If truth be told, I was curious about Naveyk, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he ever even crossed my mind.  In the end, I was still angry.

“‘You have a lot of fire in you,’ Naveyk said.  ‘You remind me a lot of your mother in that way.  It’s that same spark that’s allowed you to do so well for yourself.  To be the youngest Nave ever to reach the ranks of the King’s Royal Guard is no small feat.  And to do it all without ever once using your divine gifts makes it even more impressive.  If I recall that particular achievement, the King’s Royal Guard, has always eluded Ajus, did it not?”

“‘You insult my father?’

“‘Not at all,’ he insisted.  ‘I was merely putting your accomplishments in perspective.  I am quite proud of you, Qua’quelle.’

“‘Your approval has never been required or sought, so do not bother yourself now.’

“‘Oh come now,’ he laughed, ‘we both know that is not true.  I recall a young Qua’quelle entering my temple daily to boast about his latest deeds, hoping I would smile down on him with my blessing.’

“‘Yes, I remember that boy too,’ I conceded.  ‘I also remember how many of the other boys had their prayers answered from time to time.  His never were, and so he grew up.’

“‘I had to protect and keep you safe,’ was his excuse.

“The way he looked at me when he said that raised a red flag.  It put me on the defensive more so than I already was.  I didn’t trust his intentions.

“‘Clearly, I wasn’t in danger, so why did you decide to bring me here now?  Do you know something that…?’  I got a sick feeling in my stomach.  Something wasn’t right.  My family instantly popped into my mind. 

“‘Take me back to Aquaiia,’ I demanded.  ‘Take me back to my family!’

“‘You are with your family, my son.’

“My demands and protest fell on deaf ears.  He kept insisting his actions were for my good, making me more suspicious of his motives and timing.  Eventually, the fear for my family became overwhelming. Unwittingly, I tapped into my power, which I only evoked in my youth while training with the Great Mother, and teleported myself to my family.

“I appeared amid a mob of my people surrounding my home.  My sudden appearance drew an even larger crowd.  The house I grew up in lay in ruin as if a mighty hammer fell from the sky and smashed it like glass.  I rushed to the debris, calling out for my loved ones only to find the broken bodies of my parents and younger brother.”

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“I don’t know how long I stood there staring down at their dead bodies before my strength left me, and I fell to my knees.  It seemed so surreal.  Yes, I was there witnessing the horror, but I wasn’t.  Everything I knew was gone, and I felt like nothing but a shadow vanishing under a setting sun.”

My heart broke for Q.  I would have given anything to take away his pain.  In a way, I suppose I was fortunate.  I had no memory of my family, so I have no real feelings of loss as it pertained to them.  My memory problem was more about losing myself.  Yet all I had to do was look at his face to understand his anguish.  It was unsettling to see Q like this, for at that moment, that hardcore persona he naturally gives off melted away, and he was just a “guy” missing his family.

“I was on my knees beside Azajin’s broken body; my mother’s just a few feet away,” Q continued, pulling me back into his story even though his words were barely above a whisper.  “I hardly recognized what was left of my father.  My life was torn to shreds in a blink of an eye.”

 He stopped for a moment, and I wasn’t sure if I should say something to try to console him.  But what could I possibly say that he hasn’t heard a thousand times before? A million times, considering who I’m talking about.  What could be said that doesn’t sound like every other line one tells the bereaved?  How would it sound any different coming from me?

“I slipped my hand between my brother’s curled fingers.  He was cold…so very cold.  My grief took on a life of its own.  I lost it.  Fueled by my Nave power, I was engulfed by a white flame and let out a cry that was said to be heard throughout Eiyr. The very foundation of Aquaiia shook as if struck by a powerful earthquake, which is saying a lot considering it was a floating city.  The Nave energy within me was building to extreme levels putting all of Aquaiia at risk.”

“You were a ticking bomb….” I added.

“I was,” Q nodded.  “I can’t even imagine what my people were thinking.  I know they were terrified and confused.  There I was, the only other El’odian besides the Great Mother who possessed the power of the gods. I’m sure they had no idea what to make of me then.  I was no longer the Qua’quelle they knew.  I was someone else…something else.   And that something was threatening to destroy our beloved city.

“That’s when I heard him.  He uttered my name.

“‘Qua’quelle.’

“His voice pierced thru my grief, and suddenly I had a focal point, a target, to direct all my rage.  With tears streaming from my eyes, I stood to face Naveyk.  There was a burning inside me, a heat I had never felt before.  It was out of my control…the energy within me exploded towards Naveyk with enough force to destroy Aquaiia ten times over.

“When it was over, I fell to my knees wholly spent, smoke curling up from my body, and the ground around me webbed with deep cracks and scorched black.  I looked up to see Naveyk standing just a few feet away from me unscathed, but at least Aquaiia was saved, for he absorbed all my energy into himself. 

“Silver lining, I suppose.

“‘You did this,’ I accused as I staggered back to my feet.

“‘I did nothing of the sort,’ he said matter-of-factly.  ‘Aal’ee discovered I had a son with an Ai’lea and was furious.  This is the result of her fury which would not be satiated with anything less than blood; the blood of my first born.’

“‘Why didn’t she come for me?  Why harm my family?’

“‘As far as Aal’ee knows, she did.’  I followed his eyes as he glanced at my dead brother.  ‘She knows not who you are or what you look like.  She only knows that you were the son of Lisuri.  She also did not know Lisuri had two sons.  She was never one to bother with the details or lives of her creations.’

“‘She killed my parents.  My brother!  Their blood is on your hands.  The Nave cannot be harmed by the other gods, which means you removed whatever sorcery protected my father and brother.  You allowed her to slaughter them.’  His silent stare was all the confirmation I needed of my suspicions.

‘Their blood is on your hands,’ I spat.

“‘And I will wash my hands of it and suffer no regrets for what I did to protect you.  My son!’

“Before I could say anything else, he was gone.  I was left with three bodies to burn in the ceremonial pyres of Aquaiia, and a city looking at me in wonder.

“After the funeral, I retreated into myself for days.  I was absent from court and neglected my duties as one of the King’s Royal Guard.  I even went as far as to ignore several summonses from my King.  I admit I wasn’t too concerned about any repercussions considering that everyone knew my birth father was Naveyk.  My solitude didn’t last long.  Unfortunately, all El’odians, Nave, and Skai would soon share my grief.

“Naveyk was wrong.  So wrong.  Aal’ee’s fury was not satiated – not even close.  She confronted the Great Mother for her role in my birth and concealing it from her Goddess.  She was determined to make an example by punishing all Ai’lea.  The twist was she would not carry out the punishment herself.  Nooooo…. that would be too easy.  She made the Great Mother do it, promising that if she did not carry out the sentence as instructed, the retribution she would carry out on all her daughters would be infinitely worse.

“One night, the Great Mother sent out a wave of light that traveled all of Eiyr.  Many of my people stood at the city's edge, sta, ring out at the horizon and watching this energy wave coming towards Aquaiia.  We had no idea the wave originated from the Great Mother.  It struck and took only a few minutes to travel through the city, but when it was gone, what it left in its wake was horrifying.”

Q stopped, covering his face with his hands and taking a deep breath.  “All Ai’lea were turned to statues.  Mothers, daughters, and sisters all appeared as if they were chiseled out of eiyrlin crystal.”

“All of them?” I asked.

“Every last one.  The city as a whole was in shock.  We didn’t know what to make of it.  We had very little time to process it.   What happened was bad enough, but nothing could prepare us for what came next.

“The Great Mother turned all her daughters to eiyrlin statues in the hopes the Goddess Aal’ee would allow her to turn them back one day.  But again, the Goddess had no such intentions.  The Goddess slammed her hands together in a thunderous clap that produced a second wave that followed closes behind the first.  It ripped through Eiyr, shattering every last Ai’lea statue and turning them to dust. Much of it rained down to the earth below from Aquaiia.  There was nothing left of them.

“Nothing…”

“My god!” I exclaimed in shock.  “She killed her own….”  I couldn’t even finish my sentence.

“The whole city fell into a state of mourning, one I’ve never seen before or since.  Some were so devastated they took their own lives, throwing themselves off the city’s edge to the ground below.  It was painful and surreal.

“Aal’ee got her revenge, more so than many realized at first.  Yes, she killed her daughters, but her actions sealed the fates of all El’odians.  That was her intention from the beginning.  It was never about just punishing the Great Mother and her daughters.  It was about returning to the natural order as she saw it.   It was about reclaiming Naveyk and Skailer for herself so that they might reclaim the cosmos as their playground.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t follow.  How does killing her kind accomplish any of that?”

“By destroying the Nave and Skai.”

“But I thought you were protected?”  I was having a hard time picking up what Q was putting down.  “I thought Aal’ee couldn’t harm the Nave or Skai because she had no hand creating either race.”

“Very true,” Q smiled and patted me on the back.  I think he was impressed at how closely I was paying attention.  “But you have to remember, Jacob, we may have been long-lived, but we were still mortal like you back then.  With the Ai’lea gone, so was any chance of procreation and continuing the races.”

“Ah…”  It finally clicked.  “No women equal no sex, which equals no kids, so eventually the Nave and Skai would die out into extinction.”

“With us gone, I’m assuming Aal’ee figured everything would return to how it was before our creation.  The three would gallivant across the universe with Naveyk and Skailer fawning over Aal’ee.”

“Why couldn’t they just create more of you?  In the beginning, each side started with some 33,000, right?  Why wouldn’t the gods just snap their fingers or whatever they did to create another 33,000?”

“They could and even tried after the loss of the Ai’lea, but they couldn’t capture the essence of what we became.  All they could reproduce was a Nave or Skai from the original ‘blueprint,’ so to speak.   It was the blueprint for an El’odian driven by hate and a lust for conquest to please their God with no fundamental understanding of family, compassion, or love.  That’s who we were in the beginning.  But that El’odian no longer had a place within either society.  We evolved beyond that because of the Ai’lea.

“And now they were gone.  It might have taken a few centuries, but we would have joined them eventually.  Of course, the Goddess wasn’t willing to wait that long.  To hurry things along, she provoked the Skai by pointing out who was to blame – Naveyk and his bastard son. Aal’ee gave them a target for all their grief and anger.  The Goddess was more than willing to let the Nave know they were coming.

“Before long, both sides were preparing for war.

“For days and nights, the fires churned as the smiths busied themselves, creating new eiyrlin weapons and armor.  Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from Aquaiia for miles.

“I finally returned to court to take my place as a King’s Royal Guard member.  I wanted to fight.  Like a modern-day Special Forces team, the Royal Guard was the best of the best and would be on the frontlines right in the thick of things.

“But there was something unusual in the air when I walked into the throne room. I’d been there thousands of times with the rest of the royal court.  This time around, I could sense the apprehension in the air. Our King, Villari Zet, summoned me forward.  I immediately went on guard.  Had I not known the people in the room, I would’ve prepared myself to draw my sword at any moment.

“I stood at the foot of the steps leading up to the throne where the King sat and was ready to bow as I’d done countless times.  The king did something I did not expect.  He stopped me and bowed himself.  No King of Aquaiia as ever bowed to another El’odian.  Before I could say anything, the whole room followed his lead.  At first, I was at a loss for words but quickly recovered and insisted the King, not bow.  That’s when he informed me of his plans to surrender his crown to me, for in his eyes and the eyes of our people, I was the rightful ruler of Aquaiia.  The son of Naveyk should be King.

“I would not hear of it, which ignited a debate that lasted for days.  Here we were preparing for war and now stuck in this political gridlock.  Since the dawn of our civilization, the line of Kings has never been broken.  I would not allow it to happen now.  We finally reached a compromise where I agreed to stand by the King’s side as he proclaimed me Kyrios, the Sovereign Son of Aquaiia.  It basically…”

“You’re Kyrios!” I jumped up in excitement.  I would’ve startled any average person, but Q just laughed at me.  “I knew it!”

“No, I’m not Jacob,” he snickered and grabbed my arm to prevent me from jumping anymore.  “I was the first to hold the title millions of years ago, but I don’t anymore.   So you need to calm down.  Since I had no family, the King adopted me as part of his family.  Should Aquaiia ever find herself without a King, should the House of Zet ever fall, I would become its ruler.  In the meantime, I became the most powerful and influential Nave in all of Aquaiia, second only to the King himself.

“With the debate behind us, we focused on what was coming. 

“War.

“On the night of the battle, the King stepped out onto the balcony to address his army, and I stood faithfully by his side.  As the King gave his speech, I looked at what looked like a sea of Nave.  It was shoulder to shoulder Nave as far as the eye could see.  Our eiyrlin weapons sparkled like moonlight dancing on the surface of a pond.  It was a breathtaking sight, to be sure.  But as I stood there, I could not help but wonder how many of my brethren would not be making it back to Aquaiia.

“Yelling out his final words, ‘FOR THE LOVE OF AQUAIIA,’ the King stepped off the ledge and dove down towards his army like an arrow.  I followed right behind him, and we waited for the last moment to extend our wings and pull up.  We flew over our men, and with a roar, the sea of Nave came alive and flew up behind us.

“The city emptied.  Only the very young and old were left behind.  That’s not to say they weren’t willing to pick up a sword and join us.

“We flew out to the site of the first epic battle between the two races.  As if perfectly choreographed, the Skai arrived just as we did.  There was about a mile or so between us when we stopped to make final preparations.  I wondered if they knew of my capabilities. Honestly, I didn’t even know what I was truly capable of, but I knew it gave my side a huge advantage.  I’m sure Aal’ee didn’t tell them I possessed the power of the Gods.  Not that I think it would have made much difference.  The hatred had reached the boiling point.

“We heard the Skai’s battle cry and let out one of our own before flying towards them in full force – swords were drawn and shields at the ready.  As the two great armies were about to clash, there was an explosion of light between us that knocked everyone back.

“The light took form, and the image of the Great Mother appeared.  She was larger than life but with a deep and undeniable sadness.  The image spoke, and the message was simple.  The Great Mother was calling for peace.  She lost her daughters and could not bear the thought of losing her sons.

“‘Honor the memory of our mothers, daughters, and sisters,’ her voice boomed across the battlefield.  ‘Honor their death by living….’

“And just like that, the image was gone.  There wasn’t even a question of whether to respect her wishes or not.  There was no other El’odian the Nave or Skai loved and respected more than the Great Mother.  And considering all that was lost…all she lost, even the Kings would bow to her will.

“The armies retreated without striking a single blow.

“We arrived back in Aquaiia to be greeted by Naveyk, who called for an audience with his sons.  I could not stomach the sight of him and went back to the palace.  I guess it was his turn to give his speech.  Despite not being there, there was nowhere in Aquaiia I could hide where I couldn’t hear his voice or the crowd cheering for their God.

“Naveyk and Skailer united against Aal’ee and were able to imprison and banish her from Eiyr so she could not harm another El’odian again.  Even I have to admit that I was surprised.  For them to turn on one of their own for a race of mortals showed how much they had indeed grown to love what they created. 

“In an uncharacteristic display of compassion, he acknowledged our loss and regretted his part in it but would never regret the birth of his son.  Naveyk made it clear that he would not sit idly by and watch his creation die out.  He told the crowd it was time for him to sacrifice for his children.

“I stepped out onto the same balcony I was on earlier that night and stared at the masses once again.  This time, I was alone.  As much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help but be drawn into what Naveyk was saying.  I had not expected to hear such words coming from him.  He was done by the time I got there, but I could see him transform into a sphere of light and ascend into the heavens.

“Night turned to day as it began to rain across Aquaiia and beyond.  But it wasn’t raindrops falling from the sky. It was droplets of light.  We were bathing in Naveyk’s radiance, so the Nave were imbued with his power and the wisdom to weld it.”

“He made you all immortal,” I added.

“Yes,” Q nodded.  “Because of his selfless gift, my people were able to survive.  Even I was gifted with a clear understanding of my powers and how to use them.”

“What ended up happening to Naveyk?”

“He gave up much of his power, a lot of what he was to make us immortal, leaving him a shadow of his former self.  He disappeared from Eiyr, and we didn’t see him again until after the Great Awakening.

“We suspected Skailer would not be outdone by Naveyk and did something similar for his sons in Asevaya, for he disappeared around the same time.

“From that moment, life for all El’odians changed forever, but most importantly, life went on.”

“What about the Great Mother?”

“She remained in the empty city Cyprinia, her solitude, and grief her sole companion.  She would stay in Aquaiia for days or weeks at a time, as I’m sure she visited Asevaya to be with the Skai.  That’s not to say we didn’t try to get her to stay with us full-time, but it was a no-go.  Cyprinia was her home.  She continued to offer her guidance and wisdom to both sides, never taking a side and forever remaining neutral.  She alone helped maintain a tenuous peace for many thousands of years. 

“Hers was not an easy task.  I don’t envy her.  Despite our progress, we were still designed for war against one another.  Although we had each other for love and companionship, without the Ai’lea to steady our hands and focus our hearts, the itch for conquest grew ever stronger.  I have to give her credit, though, for the Great Mother certainly got creative.  She instituted a yearly tournament in Cyprinia where the best of the best battled it out to earn the title of Champion of the El’odian.”

“I have to say I’m kind of surprised she would go that far,” I admitted.  “The Great Mother doesn’t strike me as someone who’s okay with you guys killing yourself for sport and glory.”

“And you’d be right, Jacob.  There were special rules in place to prevent that from happening.  It was forbidden to imbue our weapons with our power.  Only the Great Mother’s essence was allowed to flow through them, making them painful but not deadly.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Here, take a look,” he said, gesturing for me to stand in the middle of the balcony, leaving a reasonable distance between us.  Q put out his hands, and a swirl of energy came up from his palms producing two beautifully crafted swords.  “These are my blades.”  The swords slowly spun and hovered over his hands.  “They were a gift from the King when I joined his guard.  I was the only one to receive such a gift, by the way.”

“Of course,” I laughed and rolled my eyes.

From what Q described, the hilts were made from pure lusinite, a platinum-looking alloy from his day.  It was trimmed with gold, and a purple jewel was on the bottom of each hilt.  The blade itself was crafted entirely of the crystal they call eiyrlin.  The color matched the gems on the handle.  Maybe they were the same thing, but I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t think to ask.  They were broad and appeared heavy; I could easily see how they could inflict massive damage.

“These are our weapons, and we have all different kinds.  We crafted it first: axes, spears, daggers, maces, you name it.  I never liked carrying around a shield, so I mastered the art of dual-wielding two swords, and they’ve served me well over the years.  But once the El’odians became immortal, we couldn’t be harmed by them any longer. They couldn’t even pierce the skin.  That is, of course, until we learned this trick.”  Gripping the hilts of his swords, Q pulled them from the air and swung them around until the blades formed an X over his head.  His energy flowed from his arms into his hands and up into the blades.  They glowed and pulsated with power.  I could see the energy jumping around within the eiyrlin as if I was looking at lightning trapped within a glass bottle.  It was amazing.

“Imbued with our powers, our weapons became deadlier than ever.  Nave and Skai energy don’t play well together. If I struck a Skai with these, my energy would flow into them and easily kill them.  Our powers are the only thing in Eiyr that can harm or kill an El’odian.  Empowered by us, our weapons have become our instruments of destruction.”

“Can I hold them?”

“Um…no,” he laughed, making them vanish just as they appeared.  “Besides, in the hands of a mortal, they would revert to their normal state.  Only the touch of an El’odian can fuel them.

“But during the tournaments, the Great Mother blessed our weapons with her power.  So if we landed a lethal blow, it would hurt like hell but not kill us.  It was easy to see who the victor was when the loser was on the ground thrashing in pain.  It was always a fantastic sight to behold these tournaments.  Imagine a coliseum-style arena filled with El’odian cheering for their brethren; one side filled with Nave, the other with Skai and the Great Mother right in the middle keeping the peace.

“Despite her efforts, the hatred between the Nave and Skai was forever present.  And like always, there were random encounters away from the arena where one side provoked the other, and a fight broke out.  Both sides were careful not to seriously harm or kill someone from the opposing side, for it would surely lead to war.  No one wanted to be the one to pull that trigger.

“For thousands of years, we lived as immortals; watched and felt our powers grow and evolve as immortals.  Then it happened….”

“What?”

“My god Jacob!”  He was beaming suddenly.  Placing his hand over mine, he gently squeezed.  “The most amazing thing happened to us.”

“What?”  I was shaking his hand now, trying to force it out of him.  He had me on the edge of my seat.  “What happened to you?”

Q began to speak but suddenly stopped as if what he had to share was so great that he couldn’t put it into words.  He walked away from me to the other end of the balcony and stared out at the night sky.  Combing his fingers thru his hair, he turned around to face me.  “I want to show you, Jacob.”  He came towards me, offering his hand

I took his hand, but I also took a step back simultaneously.  I was a little apprehensive about what was about to happen.  But I trusted Q, and the look in his eyes alone was enough to make me want to jump down any rabbit hole with him.

“Don’t be afraid,” Q laughed and pulled me in for a long kiss.  My eyes were closed, but I could still see the light coming up and engulfing us.  I opened my eyes as I pulled away, and tiny spheres of light floated around us.  His radiance poured out from within; before I knew it, he was pure energy swirling around me.  “Are you ready to jump down the rabbit hole?”

“I hate when you do that!”

There was a flash, and we were gone.

_________________________________

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