Day 67: The king of Castle in the Sky has summoned me to Sion. My informant has told me that he wants to go to Granada to find Laberynthea, and he will pay for the excavation. Who am I to say no to such a generous benefactor. Still there is a lingering thought in my mind that he does not want to share his findings with the world. Knowledge should be shared, and his son Amlett made sure to let me know in his letter that the world would benefit this expedition. During my travel to Sion I was able to decode another piece of the puzzle, this one is about Elizabeth also known as the Herald of Laberynthea; the priestess that withheld madness.
The light will always shine on those who deserve it. Redemption is the only way to enter Elysium; even a Daemon or a Holy can join if they will it. Then why is it that we mortals think that sacrifice and hardship will not even allow us to enter paradise? Why is it only through suffering we are allowed to go into our heaven?
As a priestess of The Three, we learn to suffer for others for their well being. When they bleed, we can mend them, but it costs us our own life. Forgiveness is a tenent practiced, but when a heretic murders my flock, why must I give them absolution if they are close to death? We must show equal love to all, but why is it that I must abstain and suffer loneliness when I care for a specific individual?
My life’s mission is to help, not because I have to but because I believe I must, for the good of all of us. I toil in this field of uncertainty to reassure my followers that there is paradise in the end. Do I believe in this paradise? I have not seen it, but I have faith and hope there is. In all the scriptures, The Three send hierophants, oracles, and diviners to help them interpret their words. We priests and bishops work to spread the glory of the chosen ones to our flock so they can feel comfort and faith in this chaotic world.
But how do I know the chosen are not lying? I have seen some steal, gamble tithes, and commit adultery.
All these mortals, humans, elves, dwarves, and the lesser races listen to us. But, how do I know I am not spreading a lie. If we are the faithful followers of our Gods, why do others follow Old Pagan creatures and give them the title of deity? I serve The Three, the true path of this world, but I have dreams of my flock falling into madness, dying, committing atrocities to others, and other crimes every day. How can my Gods allow such hate to exist? How can they fill me with this uncertainty? I know the scriptures say that Daemons cause chaos while the Holy keeps the clutter in balance. A ying to a yang, but a Holy create chaos without Daemons, so aren’t they both the same? Order in the eyes of a Holy is perpetual death to find peace, a hunt that allows no-kill, and starvation.
The Oracles of Laberynthea came to me and offered me a vision, one of madness. A creature trapped by the deities we call pagan, they both warned me that the time of retribution is coming—the Armageddon created by a madman who wanted to be God, the King of Laberynthea.
To lead their people, a king appointed by God now wants to become revered as one, the head of my church and protector of this ancient city. The Holies respect the King, Daemons fear him, the people pray to him. But I do not. In my dreams, I hear a voice that rattles the Silver Gates, the prison of an Eldrich, a being born out of nothing. It whispers to me to open the gate, to let it will consume the world. And in this dream, my Gods abandon me.
How do I keep the faith?
One of the Oracles has informed me they will find like-minded individuals to combat this heretic. But if the Gods send them to foresee the future, would they be able to stop this madness before it happens? Are they the true salvation that we seek? I know of the Oracle’s search for power; he is hungry for time and evokes the sands so he may regain each second lost to him. At the same time, his protégé observes with her lavender eyes.
I am conflicted as my dreams become a reality when I saw the Gates rattle ever so slightly once I placed my hand on them.
Oracles as in plural? There is no mention in any of the history books or legends about an oracle! The practice is banned and not many people know how to become one. Last I read a medium was supposed to be trained to by a hierophant. Again the Silver Gate is mentioned, and an Eldritch God? Nonsense such a thing is a legend, then again here I am searching for the lost city of Laberynthea, so I might as well believe this.
K.Rivera Author page 