The sunset red grows deeper, brighter, edged with black - a fire, perhaps? There is the smell of smoke, the heat of stone, a background noise…
As you get closer, the sky grows incandescent. Indeed, it is the city itself on fire, but there are still no other people on the streets… save one.
They’re wearing the same robes as you are; not too tall and rather slightly built. They’re simply watching the fire in the distance for now, seemingly unaware of your presence - until they speak.
“You’ve come.”
The voice may sound familiar, if younger. Is this… Alexander?
He leads you on towards the fire, the air growing hotter as you approach.
"... Two memories, entwined. One becomes the vessel, the other - contents."
The street that led you here stops abruptly - and from here you can see a square below, the buildings surrounding it ablaze, and in the center of the square... a giant firebird. It looks injured, a wing hanging limply - but even as you watch, a glow surrounds the creature, mending the wing.
But it's a pointless endeavor. As soon as it's healed, the bird gives a screech, rising up into the air... and almost immediately throwing itself at the surrounding buildings, not caring about the injuries to itself. Again the glow, the healing, again the mindless thrashing; repeat, repeat, repeat.
"Mayhap he could have, had he been an ordinary citizen of Amaurot. But he had once been chosen to become the next Architect, one of the highest offices anyone could achieve in our world. 'Twas only because of his refusal to accept the post that "I" became the Architect, and he my second in command. He had a duty to his people. A duty in which he failed."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
As you get closer, the sky grows incandescent. Indeed, it is the city itself on fire, but there are still no other people on the streets… save one.
They’re wearing the same robes as you are; not too tall and rather slightly built. They’re simply watching the fire in the distance for now, seemingly unaware of your presence - until they speak.
“You’ve come.”
The voice may sound familiar, if younger. Is this… Alexander?
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
[ watching the fire for a little bit, before looking to the person ]
I have.
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Ah... Lucifel. Thank you for your help so far."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
. . . If the little I have done is help, then I am glad.
[ with a little dip of his head ]
What is this place?
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Pray be more specific. Surely you already know where you are?"
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
[ with a tip of his head to the fire ]
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"... A memory. And more. In some ways, the counterpart to the darkness you've already traveled."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
I see.
[ with a pause ]
Does it harm him?
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"He harms himself. Yet he cannot die, not here."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"It is best if you see for yourself. Come."
The not-Alexander holds out his hand.
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"... Two memories, entwined. One becomes the vessel, the other - contents."
The street that led you here stops abruptly - and from here you can see a square below, the buildings surrounding it ablaze, and in the center of the square... a giant firebird. It looks injured, a wing hanging limply - but even as you watch, a glow surrounds the creature, mending the wing.
But it's a pointless endeavor. As soon as it's healed, the bird gives a screech, rising up into the air... and almost immediately throwing itself at the surrounding buildings, not caring about the injuries to itself. Again the glow, the healing, again the mindless thrashing; repeat, repeat, repeat.
A sad and gruesome sight.
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
This is . . . Levity-san?
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Yes. The part of him consumed by guilt and sorrow."
Not-Alexander sighs.
"A painful memory has returned to him. And it struck deeper than he can express, nor can he escape those feelings."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Do you know much of the story of our world, Lucifel?"
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Only the end of it, and only a brief understanding.
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Then you know of the Final Days?"
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Hythlodaeus... Levity recalled a memory of the Final Days. Of... his attempt to save a child. And his failure."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
[ softly ]
And . . . He cannot bear that hurt?
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
"Mayhap he could have, had he been an ordinary citizen of Amaurot. But he had once been chosen to become the next Architect, one of the highest offices anyone could achieve in our world. 'Twas only because of his refusal to accept the post that "I" became the Architect, and he my second in command. He had a duty to his people. A duty in which he failed."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Is that the second memory? Or, if not, then what is?
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME