Page 27 of One Last Promise
“My kind do not use that repulsive language.”Darce shook his head, looking a little disappointed as he crossed his arms.He then tilted his head back and closed his eyes.“I’m tired.You should sleep,” he muttered.This conversation was clearly over.Fuming, I turned away from him, closing my own eyes.I might be attracted to this infuriating male, but his outbursts would always help me keep my distance.
What an opinionated, insufferable, and condescendingswine!
****
WE MADE IT THROUGHthe passageway and up the sacred mountain without any trouble.Except for Darce’s continued insults, which I fired back at him every chance I got.
The land was in complete darkness now, which meant I was closer to Eallarim than Dallethas.The moonlight and stars gave me a little light and allowed me to recharge under their power.No one back home told me how beautiful the star filled night sky actually was.With the moonlight’s silver, ethereal glow trickling over the mountain tops, and the stars fluttering in some rhythmic dance, I was captivated.The things those stars must have seen up there.The universe Holy Ether created was completely visible for my eyes to see.
“How many veils do you think are up there?”I asked Darce while he was counting our rations.
“Millions,” he answered.“The individuals who can travel through veils, say that you can lose your way if you’re not careful.There are so many different dimensions and beings.It’s too much for a single mind to comprehend.When you look up at the night sky, you can see why.Look at them all.”Darce stood up, pointing to the stars.My parents and Uri were the only ones that I knew who could veil hop.None of them had ventured far for the exact reason Darce spoke about.Of course, our library had a few stories of my ancestors that had visited distant veils and formed bonds with other beings.
“It seems impossible to thinkallthose stars have beingslivingon them.”
“Not all of them do.Holy Ether created some veils that are untouchable or only meant to bevisitedwhen our lifeforce burns out.Places such as Cansin, the celestial veil, Killia, the home of evil, and Purgatory.Not to mention, some will have creatures with no special power.I’m sure your library has information about the Guardians, Migsoi and Chalmes?They’ll have their own veils, too, like our veil Afterlight.”I had heard little information about the other Guardians, Migsoi and Chalmes.
“We are the Guardians of the Light.Afterlight isourveil.”
Darce snorted.“Why am I not surprised by that?Don’t you consider Noxlin Guardians of the Darkness?”
“Of course not!”I frowned, noticing he was watching me intently.“You’re kind are vermin that need to be destroyed.Afterlight Veil will return to its true balance once your kind surrenders to us.”
“My kind willneveryield.”His voice was assertive as he spoke.“Do you ever wonder if it has always been this way between our races?”
“That is an absurd question.We have been at war since the dawn of time.Afterlight exists because of our constant battle for each other’s power.”
“You think Holy Ether made us simply to be enemies, nothing more?”
“Holy Ether made Dylins inherimage.Afterlightwas gifted tous, but your kind became jealous of our power.Your race is the reason we are at war!Look at all the destruction your first king caused!”
“Oh, and yourqueenwas innocent, was she?”
“Lustre was selfless.Shesacrificedherself at The Battle of False Promise!”
“As did Solace!I didn’t see any heroics in her actions!Solace diedsavinghis race.Lustre allowed her soul to be drained for no apparent reason!”
“She gave up hersoulto save us!Her sacrifice made the landssplitand mountainsrise!How can you see no heroics in that?”
“Our histories seem to be told a little differently.”Darce stoked the fire, shaking his head in annoyance for the fifth time today.“In our stories, the land split and mountains rose when Solace died.Lustre burned herself out by killing him.Her hatred for him killed her.”
“Lies!”Standing up, I put my hands on my hips and glared at him.“Have your kindeverspoken a word of truth?”
“Alora, this happened over four billion years ago.These stories are mere legends and myths.Neither of our versions is probably the complete truth.”After giving me a long glance, he continued.“You’ve spent your entire life in Dallethas, listening to the views your king and generalwantyou to hear.Open your eyes and look around.It’s time to form your own opinions.You have great power within you.It’syourchoice to do what you wish with it when it manifests.The world isn’t as black and white as you’ve been told.Your kind aren’t as pure and humble as you think, and my kind aren’t as evil and barbaric as you’ve been made to believe.Can’t you see that?”
I had heard enough of his mind games for one day.“Darce, you can try and fill my head with all this nonsense as much as you’d like, but I am never going to believe you.Yes, my destiny is my own—I’m more than aware of that—but you will have nothing to do with it!”
“You are a stubborn cunt, Alora!”
“And you are an insufferable motherfucker!”I slapped my hand over my mouth at my blasphemy.Darce was grinning from ear to ear!“You made meswear!It’snotfunny!”
“About fucking time!”he chuckled, using his shadows to put our small fire out.“Come on.Let’s get you to the top of this mountain to see your fake moonlight goddess.”
My shoulders buckled a little at the weight as I swung my bag onto my back.The light sword wasn’t the easiest thing to bear, but I was proud I’d carried it this far already.
A few hours later, we had reached the summit.A path of moonlight rippled across the ocean, all the way to the horizon.It was breathtaking.From the top of the mountain, I could make out the eerie Specter Isle.It was something from nightmares, with its three, steep, jagged mountain peaks that erupted from a sea of fog.I understood why the ocean around it was called The Sea of Lost Souls.How many souls had been lost on the isle?
“It’s the stuff of nightmares, isn’t it?”Darce whispered against my neck.It sent shivers down my spin, but in a good way.
