Legends of Kepler: Age of Erin

CHAPTER I: DUCHESS OF THE FORESTS (3)

CHAPTER I: DUCHESS OF THE FORESTS (3)

"And within its beautiful meadows, where jungle and forest intercede," continues the man. “Relies the outskirts of our kingdom, the front zone. It is a great town, where our crops rest assured; where our wheat mills develop. The agronomic portion of our realm. As you can see, our fellows regrouped in large cabins, and wooden cottages. This is our frontline for our defense, and the region that divides the nation from the hidden city, before the secret door.  Before the tunnel of floating waterfalls. "

"Thus, you’re formally welcome, my friend,” exclaims the man with the robe, “to the Hidden Realm of Eleanor. Explore its details heedfully, since the southern elves do not grant this honor to strange earthlings. Howbeit, you seem to be an exception."

Leyra fell in love immediately; her mind connected with the energies of the kingdom. Her spirit aligned with the harmony and goodness surrounding her. A pacifism flooded her heart, in the kind eyes of the elves; the work, the tillage, the vision towards purpose. The environment brought life to the woman, as she reminds, what is truly important to her, after all these years.

"It is a true beauty!" exclaims the woman. “I had no idea this place existed! You must be proud of this town, am– what was your name?"

"Byron, friend of the forest," the man replies, "I am one of the five earls of the royal council, and I can honorably say, I’ve been proud of being part of this nation, for over three hundred and thirty-three years."

“Indeed, it is a beautiful place,” continues the earl, “although, you have not arrived in the most pleasant of seasons. A tragedy has occurred recently, and with it, the deaths of many of our best warriors."

"Among them," the man continues, with a cracking voice, "the death of one of our seven crystal seneschals; and furthermore, my best friend, for over forty years."

"I'm so sorry," exclaims Leyra.

"It’s okay, she was a strong woman,” continues the count. “it was her time; she had seen enough. Now her position is empty, and the ruby energy demands a strong, inhabitant, patient woman. We have been the last two nights, sponsoring the position, finding her replacement, for we urgently need it. But honestly, the abilities of the intendents are not the same, and there is no one who’s willing to mit–

"I’ll do it!" the woman interrupts. "I mean, if it’s possible."

"Pardon?"

"You said you need someone patient, I am!" exclaims Leyra. “You need someone local, and I think I can get used to this place. And besides, I'm a woman!"

“The position can only be run by a woman, because the red crystals require the protection of a female heart,” exclaims the count, “more specifically, a maternal heart. Are you a mother?"

"I was," responds the woman. "I know what it takes."

There was a sudden silence between the two; the man looked askance at the woman, since he couldn’t tell if she was being serious, or not.

“Well,” exclaims the man piously, “I could consult about this, in the royal council. But I can't promise you anything. The owner of the magma ring is not just any ordinary thing. You must protect the red shelter, one of the seven main caves of the energy that maintains our kingdom. The council must fully trust this one in charge, as the seven seneschals are the protectors of the crystalline riches; collected since the time of our ancestors, for the equitable distribution of their power to all of us. For as you’ve probably noticed already, this nation is not governed by the laws of any king; we believe in community, and mutual work."

"It is not an easy task," continues the count, on his ride. “You must have the necessary resilience to carry the blood of the blazing volcano; the Sirith's lava ring. It's demanding, and it compromises your mind and spirit. And if you really decide to stay here, these energies will remain attached to you. It can be exhausting."

"Nobody said, the road wouldn’t be" answers the woman. "I think it’d be beneficial for both the kingdom and me, if we take advantage of my unintended arrival, don’t you think?"

"I must enter Zaragad, and speak with the Head Master to help you." exclaims the man. “I would have to present your case, your proposal, and your words, and wait for the count’s directive. This can take several days."

"Gwaín!" the man yelled, after a loud whistle. “Do we have the temple rooms available?

"That's right, sir," replies the man, in the tumult of the cavalcade, "just like their rooms with the families and refugees."

“Assign the young lady one of these families,” responds eh Count Byron. “She will stay here for a couple of days, until further notice. I will be in Zaragad, and I’ll await the sentence of the earls. Once received, I will bring back the news. In the meantime, don't let her do anything strange, and don't let any of these restless men near to her, would you?"

"Of course I do–sorry I won´t, sir?!" Gwaín responds anxiously; tied to the duchess’ charming the look.

"Nerves aside!" exclaims Byron. "I'm leaving! Head´s up gentlemen!”

Gwaín then, led the woman to some high cottages; extended over a small hill.  A unique grove. As they walked around, the woman noticed that some of the log cabins were crowded; the wood dispersed in large pieces upon the near ground. The earth was cracked, some trees were still burned aside, premises in ruins. The storm seemed to have passed through oblivion. The precious site scattered like dust, mist, and congeners from ashtray; as if the end had devoured the field, and spit on a bitter and infertile land.

"What happened here?" asks Leyra, ascending the hill.

"An inescapable tragedy, my lady," responds Gwaín. “A curse that haunts these places, and retracts this nation; a rain that compresses our faith. Every ten years, the spirits from the beasts of the past, invoke in the vicinity of Edoer. People are unaware of it, but the Eldriner Forest was once cursed, and its shadows still remain between its inner roots. Zaragad specialized an army for it, since the beginning of our times. And although this fortress has always existed, lately, the flying demons have been more violent; obscure, obscene. Merciless, at the birth of chaos and agony. We have been very close, to the end."

“A few cycles ago, the Royal Council ordered the consolidation of the barracks upon Edoer Ground,” the man continues. “A robust idea, a solid headquarter, which promised to be the fervor and shield against the sole breaths of evil. You can see it, on your right. "

Leyra observed the barracks, and its walls were destroyed; its rooms were covered in ashes, the columns split, and the roof was open and collapsed.

"As you can see, it is in a small reconstruction." says the man, as his face flushed. “What a shame to receive you like this, my lady. We have suffered a serious blow."

"When did this happen?" exclaims Leyra. "It seems the black fire of darkness took over these lands, but spared its life."

"Two nights ago, my lady." Responds Gwaín. "They fled out, at dawn."

"It was a real blast," continues the man. “But the Army of Zaragad is getting stronger; they had succeeded in defense. It’s a malice, which we must face for generations.”

“But look on the bright side, my lady. You’ve arrived just after all of this!” continues Gwaín. “It’s a real blessing that you are here! The light of the orange moon, will not fall again for another ten rimmers."

They reached the entrance of great cottage, and Leyra realized, they entered a notorious public temple; a place where the cold was accentuated in its greatest expression. The woman then, was guided to one of their small shelters, inside the rooms for refugee families. She stayed her first night in the square, and quickly introduced herself with a group of elders, distant brothers, gypsies from the town, and some nomads from the kingdom. As the woman became friends with all of them, in the flourish of her polite intentions.

 She traveled the midnights of the site, upon the plains of Edoer where she became a companion of all the people who crossed her. She had a contagious energy, a beautiful amendment.  Promptly, her name spread, like the currents of a troubled river, splashing in her extraordinary abilities. The alleged first daughter, of the god of creation, and the narrative of her strange arrival on the lands of Eleanor.

Nights passed by, and Leyra visited some of the cabins around the place; a few homes, which offered her lodging, clothing, food, and love. And so they went, without her realizing, she had been fifteen days in Edoer; the great farming town, where they told her fables and wonders of Zaragad. A sacred region, a palace of dreams; a royal view among the heights, described as a divine metropolis of unexpected rewards. Although, concurrently, they warned the woman of a terrible evil. Urban myths that walked only between the discreet corridors. The elders enacted a delusion, a malice that haunted Eleanor's kingdom; an incessant face of heinous, a dark legend among the shadows of the prophets. Those who assured, this evil, could only be fought with courage, and that this courage, was only found within the heart of Zaragad.

Thus, on the first day of the Um Cycle, Count Byron returned to Edoer. He made his way in the bright morning to the ascending hill, with news from the City Council, toward the Duchess of the Southern Woods.

"Your case has been successfully exposed, young Leyra." exclaims the count. “I must say, the head earl has understood your position, and your proposal has been valued. However, the ruler considers, before settling a judgment based on your explanation, and your allegedly real story, he wants to meet you. He wants to have the privilege to know this so-called daughter of the creator, and discover who is this daughter of life. Therefore, he has invited you to take an exclusive journey towards Zaragad, cross the River of Nostalgia, and reach the entrances of the great hall, the home of the waterfalls; the Temple of the Royal Council. He wants a pleasant talk with you, and understand your values, your desires, and your ideals. And after that, he will give you a final resolution. "

"Take your things," continues the count, "you must arrive as soon as possible, to the royal city."

"Well, I’m flattered”, exclaims Leyra. “But I don’t really know how to get there. I’ll need someone to guide me.”

"I’ll do it myself," exclaims the count. “Leave your horses behind! We are heading to the caverns."

The woman the, followed the walkway of the count from the outskirts. Descended a few nearby muddy mounds, along with a group of elves clad in silver; until they reached the eminence of a tall tree. Under the hefty tree, were the entrances to some hidden caves. A set of dark passageways, between the roots of the divine and the ancestral.

The group followed patterns through the dark caves, which the woman could not remember. One after another, with the count leading the chosen steps. Suddenly, the company found a round door of iron and wood; the entrance, towards the blessed city.

"What does it say here?" asks Leyra.

"It is an old print," exclaims the count, bringing his torch closer. “It’s rimerian from the past elves, that of the early days. It says, ‘Ilumniel Elefav’, in patterns of four scripts, as the order of these plates represent the four cardinal forces of our energy; the patron saint of our winds. The one who once stood out through a woman, the only known queen in the history of these lands."

The man began to turn some roots that were entwined over the door. With a sudden movement of both hands, made by memory, he managed to open the mystery, and the small floodgates opened with an old roar before their eyes, before the vicissitude of the miracle.

"Welcome, Duchess of the Southeast," the man replies, "to the City of Zaragad, capital of the Kingdom of Eleanor!"

The woman foresaw a cosmic world. A city full of mysticism, designed mostly of crystals. Ecorated with joy, and patience. Illuminated with waterfalls, and divine shrines. The tallest temples the woman had ever seen. A lucid city, an impeccable town. A clarity in the culture. A beauty between colloquial harmony, between reality and a dreams. A magical display of eccentric towers, gold-plated roofs, and silver oscillating structures.