Serial
101: Shadowtalk
April 15th, 33 S.D. 09:39 Sevia, Sventa
That morning, as the city fell into its daily routine, Losha quickly rode across the plains. She had grown quite fond of taking Izel through the fields. Though she had spent much of her life away from horses, there was something about riding that drew her towards it. Of course she had learned how to handle a horse when she was but a small girl, but only after the war did she find it a relaxing hobby. As she slowed to a stop, Losha looked to her right, noting the view of Sevia. From here she could see everything from a single glance. She began to think about what her home would look like as time went by, how it would change as the years passed. How would her role shape that?
“Finally, she waits for the rest of us,” Denze said behind her. On horseback as well, he and Mesel caught up to Losha. She turned around to find Denze grinning widely at her. Mesel, on the other hand, looked down constantly at his horse, shifting the reins back and forth with a slight frown.
“You know he is new to this,” Denze nodded at him. “The least you could do is take it easy while he learns.”
“Sa, I suppose. But, Denze, you are the one teaching him. You ought not complain about his progress,” Losha said as the two parked beside her.
“I am not complaining,” Denze protested with a laugh.
“N-neither am I!” Mesel declared, trying with some difficulty to settle his horse. “See? We are fine...” he assured both of them.
“There, that is the spirit!” Losha cheered. “You will have to learn that much if you want to live in the Central Plains.”
“He could just walk everywhere,” Denze put in.
“What fun...” Mesel replied.
“How is your Asten coming along?” Losha asked.
“I should say well enough. I feel comfortable with most conversation, though my expressions are basic. There are still some phrases I do not fully understand yet, like, what was that one I heard the other day? ‘Feltave’ or something of the sort.”
Losha raised her brow sharply for an instant. “Now where did you hear such a vulgar word?” she questioned aloud, staring pointedly at Denze.
“Hey, look somewhere else,” he said, holding up his hands. “Virel has been teaching him more than anyone. That little kid you found in Leitis, Jun was it? He has been spending time with the two of them as well ever since he came here.”
“I would hardly suspect children like them to know what it means,” Losha countered.
“Wait, what? What did I say? What does ‘feltave’ mean?” Mesel demanded as his face worked up in confusion.
“No, no, no. Do not repeat that,” Losha waved her hand back and forth. “It is a very... improper thing to speak of. At any rate, Mesel, how are you doing?”
The lad cocked his head to the side curiously. “I am fine.”
“I meant are you feeling like your old self again, like the person you used to be, back in Palostrol?”
The mood of the vibrant day suddenly darkened. A sense of tension cut through their friendly banter, marking the start of something heavy and grave. Mesel’s eyes fell to his lap silently.
“Losha,” Denze said, grabbing her arm, firmly looking at her as he shook his head. “This is not this time,” he urged, talking lowly.
“No, you are right. It is too soon to ask. Even so, I must. The fact has not changed that we need to be ready, all of us, and soon.”
Denze and Mesel looked up at Losha after exchanging short glances of their own.
“What are you talking about, Losha?” Denze queried to her. “Is something wrong? We need to be ready for what?”
“The future, Denze. The changes that are coming to this world.”
“You mean, serialization, sa?”
“Exactly. That is why I had you two join me.” She and Izel turned slightly, pacing away from her friends a bit. “We cannot ignore it much longer. The art we control, the knowledge we hope to share has the ability to radically alter our lives. Society as we understand it can and will transform itself once serialization spreads. There is no doubt in my mind. You already see the effects my actions and serastone have had on the Central Plains, yet this is only the beginning. The rules for every single principle are going to be broken and reformed according to serialization. It is a tide-turner, the spark of a new era.”
“Even so, the next age is not without its perils... If a single stone filled with seras can unleash such unchecked destruction, what does that imply of our souls? As Nabel Viska feared, this great power can easily be abused, to disastrous results no less. Every human being, under serialization, could conceivably wield enough strength to become walking weapons. Not everyone has the purest intents at heart. If serialization goes across the Continent, we face that risk.”
“We need to be ready to deal with these issues. It is not a question of if a crisis will arise but rather when the next will come. If you follow me, if you take the same journey I am, you have to be prepared for dangers we can hardly begin to imagine. Things will not be like they once were in Palostrol. Master Eltin wanted to give people serialization, but he was only able to do it with a handful of us. It was simple, peaceful, contained.” She swept her arm across the horizon as she and Izel turned around.
“But that is not the world we live in. Violent, messy, unpredictable: that is the reality before us. That is the kind of place our art will be born. If we start a school, we will be letting loose something beautiful yet terrifying upon every soul. It will be our job to safeguard all from the darker side of serialization, from the evils it will empower. We must not merely be teachers, but defenders as well. We must fight to keep serialization rid of corruption. Of course, this is no easy task. Our lives will not be carefree. Those days on Mount Anhel are over...” She looked down for a moment then rode in front of Denze and Mesel, face-to-face.
“We need to be ready, for the choices we make, for the responsibilities we will bear. I have accepted this as my life. Should you two do the same, you need to clearly comprehend the consequences. Once we start walking, there is way to undo our steps.”
Denze smiled a bit after Losha’s big talk. “You know, I see why you inherited Master Eltin’s will. You really know how to look at things. You are serious, but rightly so in this case. Me? I would have danced around the topic with a joke or two. Heh, guess that is my way of deflecting the important stuff...” He closed his one good eye for a moment, then opened it sharply. He rode over to Losha and raised his right arm in a “V”, clenching his fist.
“Count me in. I do not care what happens to us. I will stand by your side, to the ends of the Continent and back.”
Losha raised her right arm in a similar gesture. Together, she and Denze locked limbs, hooking themselves at the elbows. It was a traditional Asten ritual, an oath maker. It meant the two would bind themselves to the promise, arm-in-arm in their commitment. For the people of the Central Plains, it was a mark of enduring, unshakable faith in both parties to uphold themselves. Losha didn’t need it to see that Denze was as determined as she was.
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I know times will be trying, but they will also be rewarding. I know we will see a peaceful world someday, as long as we persist.” Afterwards, both of them released their arms and turned towards Mesel.
“Mesel,” the Wolf began. “I do not expect you to make such a huge decision. You need not answer such a question right now, just know what will happen should you continue with me.”
Mesel frowned as his eyes looked distantly to the side. Losha’s lips tugged at one corner of her mouth momentarily.
“You are still young. It is a great choice to make, one that requires thought and-”
“I am coming along too,” he interrupted.
“Mesel, you...” Losha started. He looked up at them, blinking once but staring at them clearly afterwards.
“My mind is set. I am a student of the art... It is all I have left after that night. Just serialization and the both of you. If... If I stay behind, I lose you too. I lose it all. I do not care what happens after this. This is what I am.”
For someone who had just begun the Asten tongue, Mesel spoke quite eloquently. Losha nodded once, grinning gently at her friend.
“Sa. You are no longer a child... Right. That settles it then.” She lightly snapped the reins and Izel trotted back to Sevia. “From here on out, we move forward, all of us, as one. We will stand up to whatever fate brings our way. We will show this world the good serialization can achieve and keep every soul secure from those who would harm this balance.”
With that matter concluded, the three serialists returned to the city.
Later that night, somewhere far away, practically on the other side of the Continent, a small hut sat in some Gandian countryside. Only a single candle burned for light. The meager arrangements consisted of a large, simple space that served as a kitchen and living room. There was but one other compartment, a bedroom. The floor remained bare save for the presence of a West Asten Wild Dog.
The breed had been domesticated from coyotes that once came down from the Lower Vestel. For whatever reason, after being tamed by several minor clans, they fell out of fashion. They were set loose in large numbers, and their population traveled west out of the Central Plains for time. It was only recently that they’d returned after centuries of leave. They competed with wolves naturally for food, but they stayed away from livestock due to their wariness around humans. The western clans saw them as a beneficial species in that regard; the dogs kept away troublesome carnivores, yet they kept to themselves. A few enterprising people had even made them into pets again.
Like others of its kind, this dog had a healthy, tannish, earthen coat. Along his back, a cluster of dark, black spots formed into a thick line. All of his paws were the same inky color too. Bushy with white under-fur, his tail curled up beside him as he lied down. The pointy-eared pooch waited patiently at the bedroom door for the master. It had been a while since he’d seen him go in. Sniffing at the crack, he knew he was still in there. The dogs eyes perked up as he finally heard footsteps, boots moving along the boards, then the sound of their voice.
“Come on you fool, pick up the phone...” a man grumbled from the other side. More pacing and then the master spoke again. “Hello? Ah, there you are. Sorry for having to go through all of this trouble, but this was important. Sa... Of course this is secure. The Central Plains have no telephones yet. You can be sure I am in Gandia, just like you are. Now about the details...”
There was a long pause in the conversation as the man listened. The dog outside turned his head curiously. It sounded like the master was talking to someone, but he could smell no one else there.
“Sa. She was much stronger than we anticipated. It seems she defeated Govan quite thoroughly. Hmm...? Sa, as I recall, there was nothing left of him, not even dust. It was just as I told you; Losha was always going to win. Of course, I was there to ensure it all happened.” Another lull opened. The master walked about, saying nothing for a few moments.
“Sa. Have no worry. Henron is terrified of serastone. They can no longer mine it, not simply because of the treaty, but they truly fear its power. You know, the serasword was never properly unleashed upon Henron, not like how you wanted. It may have been unnecessary, however. Your goal has been fulfilled all the same. Serialization will rise in Sventa, giving your people supremacy. Obviously, you will treat our clan with due care. We are friends after all now, sa? But the rest of the Central Plains...” The master came to a halt, listening to what the other person was saying. A few seconds later, he gave a brief laugh.
“Sa, sa, I know. At any rate, you got what you desired. She is a hero, an icon for your people. But know this: she is not easily manipulated. It took this much planning to get her on the path you and yours needed. Anything more will require a certain amount of finesse next time. Planning on that kind of scale... Well, you saw what we did out there. It is a delicate art.” A lapse occurred before the master murmured amusedly.
“Hmm? What was that you said?” Clarification came through the phone line, then he chuckled once more. “Sa? How would I like to continue with this plot of yours? That is quite the offer... Sa, I know exactly what this means. Sa... Let us just say for now I do not refuse. When things start getting interesting, really interesting, let me know. I will see where I fit in. Sa... Alright... That sounds perfect. We will work with that as a basis for a future agreement. I apologize for keeping this communication short, but as we both know, operational security is paramount. We will talk later, as needed. Sa... the same to you. Goodbye.”
The master hung up the phone on its receiver. The dog raised his head, wagging his tail in excitement. Surely he would come out of the bedroom now, right? To the poor creature’s dismay, however, the master had yet more business with the unseen. A bright, red light flashed, slipping through the crack beneath the door. The dog sniffed again but could only sense his companion on the inside.
“It’s me, yes. Ah, pardon my accent. I don’t speak a great deal of Gandian, as you know... No, no, we’ll continue, no need to switch for my sake. Anyway, I have some news for you all. Precisely... It’s about them. There is no doubt in my mind; it was him. He gave Henron the serastone, all according to his scheme. You know, their research division only stumbled upon it by accident, so I learned. But he took advantage of that and exposed them to that little ‘deposit’ out in the woods...” The other side talked to the master by unknown means. To any observer, it would have appeared as if he were conversing with ghosts or spirits, invisible no ones. Even so, their dialog was very real.
“Yes, it is just as I feared as well, he was guiding Sventa’s hand in the war too. He had both sides doing his bidding, and we didn’t even see it coming... All the time I was there, and I never suspected a thing about Heigon. Uh-huh... Right... Now that brings me to the reason why I contacted you. I just spoke with one of his proxies in Sventa, one of them responsible for driving up the fever for this recent conflict. He doesn’t even know that he and his people are just puppets, completely clueless. At any rate, they’re planning something big, and of all those they could have asked, they want me there when it happens.” He laughed briefly, scooting a chair across the floor and taking a seat. The second party said something at length, then he offered his reply.
“Heh, I know what this means, without a doubt. Of course, of course... Yes, I’m already thinking about it. With this, we can get close to him, keep and eye on him, and perhaps figure out why he is so interested in our dear Losha. What was it that he said? ‘Losha is my chosen as well?’ Hmph... Meddlesome man... We will deal with him in time, I agree. Fortunately, I don’t think his goals were met this time. Whatever he was after, I don’t believe he got what he wanted. No, she probably stopped it, unwittingly enough. What was that you asked?” Another hang in the master’s speech followed. The wild dog huffed and groaned as he rolled over on his side. Twice, he smacked his jaws before yawning. The master seemed to be taking forever.
“Yes, about the matter with the doctor. I took care of him. I let him and another escape from their cells. Poor b******s never knew I had done it, not even when I disposed of them after a little chase. The whole thing was scripted from the start. Only thing is... Well, the doctor is officially dead. That’s all I’ll say for now about him. If you don’t believe me or trust my judgment, you can take it up with Nab- ...Alright then. Just know this, all we have to do is wait and watch. When they make their move on Losha again, we’ll know soon enough.” Abruptly, the master got up from his chair and quickly stepped over to the far wall near the window. The dog outside looked up at the sudden disturbance.
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing... Absolutely. I’m alone. Just saw a shooting star... Yeah, it’s supposed to be good luck or wishes or some crap like that in today’s culture, but ever since I started digging up those memories, the ones locked in my soul, from the old world, somethings don’t look the same. Every meteor reminds me of that monstrosity... The giant... Yeah, I saw it, back then... So did she... Speaking of her, she’s starting to remember as well. Not as much as some of us, but you read the report, how she ended the battle on the plains.”
“We’ll have to put off my visit to the palace. Things still aren’t settled over here. Besides, it looks like we’ll be quite busy in this region. Yes... Indeed... He’ll be operating through Sventa, I can guarantee it. All the signs point to that clan. Hmm... So that’s what you want me to do then, is it? Very well. Consider it my next mission, in that case. That’s all I had to say. Have you anything for me then?” The master held still for a few moments before shifting from side-to-side. The floor beneath him squeaked as he rocked rhythmically.
“Yes, I suppose you’d naturally be curious of those details. Technically, Henron has deemed all prior research into serastone Top Secret. Fortunately, I have my means. Expect some documents in the coming weeks, reproductions though. In the meantime, I can divulge something interesting I found out recently. You know the Lost Grounds, where Henron originally came across serastone? According to official accounts, there is supposed to be a tall spire of serastone jutting out of the earth in the very center of the forest. The remnants of a demon from another age...”
“Well, listen to this. It’s gone, all of it. I searched the entire place, and you’re familiar with my hunting. Every square meter I checked, yet all I found was a gaping hole where it had once been. He took the whole lot. At this point, I don’t think we can say what he’ll use it for next. My partners in Sventa don’t seem to know a thing about it. The Henron government isn’t aware of its disappearance either, and they probably never will be. I can’t really tell them about my snooping. No one knows how to navigate that place. If they never see serastone there again, no one would think otherwise. They’d just say it’s hard to find. Regardless, he’s planning something. He made himself evident to us already. He’s got something in the works so-to-speak. We needn’t worry ourselves though. After all, this time we’ll be right there.” The master all at once cut off contact. Slowly, he began moving to the door. Upon hearing the handle turn, the dog jumped to his feet, panting in anticipation.
“At last, everything is set in motion...”
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