Amethyst

Chapter 6: The Old Sages

Chapter 6: The Old Sages

   The winding spiral staircase appeared to climb higher and higher, and it felt to me like it would go on forever. I had to stop, to catch my breath every 3-4th spiral higher, Rose was so patient with me and waited for me to recover to continue on up.  

   Inevitably, I lost count of how many down I could count. There is no really beginning middle and end to a section of the spiral staircase, but it helped to reaffirm how far up we had climbed. Though I could certainly notice it becoming lighter now. However many spirals up we were, it was far enough for my eyes to sting and nip as they adjusted to full sunlight.

   Our footsteps echoed throughout the chasm, and down what now seemed a black abyss or pit. On the, obscurely uncarved, limestone stairs there were Opals dimpled into each side of a step.  They were old, possibly as old as the city as I had never heard of a step having needing to be replaced.  Though, perhaps these were the matters Overseers tended to that they kept to themselves.  The center of some of the stone steps bowed were concaved. Having been worn though time, by all who ascended them before me and descended to the Opal City once again.

   While ascending, there is supposed to be no speech on the stairs and so it was, almost, eerily silent. Any communication between Rose and I was through head and hand gestures to signal stopping and restarting.

    The climb aloud for reflection of the last couple days and for what lay ahead.

   By the time we finally had reached the top, the light from the surface had dimmed and then entirely dark again, before the light of hundreds of glow stones from above us lit the rest of the remaining path. It wasn’t that far ahead now, only one or two more rounds.

    Peering up over the side, the roof of the Cathedral’s main temple room, was made from pure quartz crystal. Like glass, it was so clear, that you could see the thousands of tiny white dots in the sky – the stars? Were these the start that Turq had told her about?  The light from the glow stones above didn’t obscure the black sky’s shimmering jewels.

   Peering over the edge, within a split second movement I had leaned forward too far. Flailing my arms back behind me to shift some way, in attempt to correct balance. In terror I couldn't help but let out a pleading shriek to the Goddess to not to let me die today. Not this way, not yet.  Within that second I felt my life flash in front of my eyes. My heart felt as it it had jolt up and into my mouth.

   A fist grabbed the back of my soft fabric violently; Rose! As much as I was filled with sheer will to thank her, I really wanted to thank her, even thought the way she saved me probably crunched into the material. With absolute certainty, I would not have survived that fall.  She gave me a hard look, with her lips pressed into a fine white line... and I knew from the burn in her amber eyes, what was wrong and what I had done. While ascending, I hadn't just spoken words, I had screamed to the earth goddess herself. Rose's look could have bore a hold through me with the scolding concern they held, after a moment longer she jerked her hand up the stairs, suggesting that we continue on.  

   Rose had saved my life and I hadn’t even heard her approach. It was lucky Rose had been there at all for my ascension. Now thinking back, had I gone alone, I very possibly may have fallen to my dead if it had not been for her... had she not been there to sop stop and notice as I had stopped.  It was unthinkable. Having Rose, the Overseer as my guiding hand saved my life... and she had done above and beyond what was expected of ones guiding hands. She must have approach silently while I was peering up to the now visible roof of the Opal Cathedral.

   Saving a life is a huge deal for a Medurian. That could be called on to be returned at some point in the future, as they were in the old stories, but what in goddesses’ good earth could she ever call upon me for. She was a higher station that myself or Alex, my father. Placing those thoughts to the side, as ridiculous as they were, they were not going to help me ascend.

   I returned my focus to pace and push myself further to make it to the top without any further stops.  

   From a few paces behind her, I could see could see that once at the top of the stairs, Rose let out a sigh, placed her hands on her hips to lean over while breathing deeply.  Finally in the Opal Cathedral she could talk, “Well!” She rasped, “It’s been a long while since the last time that was done.”   

   “Come now youngling,” Croaked a voice that was far older.  It sounded as if it was coming from in front of her. “If even the Sages’ can manage the feat in or old ages. Surely a young and strong Overseer such as yourself should have no trouble.” That had to be one of the Sages talking to Rose.  They were mocking her? I hadn’t heard that they had a sense of humor.  All talk about them is serous and heavy, sometimes with mystery on how they do all that they do.  Maybe sometimes whispers about things they might keep secret but those were nonsense and never something I paid much mind to.

      It did give an odd sense of comfort, to know that even for an Overseer like Rose found it difficult; ascension and descension was designed to be difficult and laborious. That much just about everyone in the Twelve Cities was aware of.

   Taking the next couple stairs I could see the white hairstyles emerging, through the gap between the heels of Rose’s boots.  With each step,  more of the Old Sages began to emerge. As did the etched sandstone walls and floor of the main temple room. More and more of it was revealed with each step I climbed.

    Intricate snake-like braids wound intricately in styles appropriately elaborate and yet striking for the Sages.  One woman, I assumed she was the Elder High Sage, had hair not ashen grey but white as a rare form of milky jade.  The other two had a lighter and darker head of grey with those same intricate snake-like braids.  All three of the Sages had the beadwork of their birthstone, worn and woven high perminantly into their braids and locks, the teardrops and marble beads accumulated most at the tops of their hairstyles. Just as all three of Old Sages were dressed in the long robes in a material made from pure opal from the deepest parts of the Cities mines. The fabric looked silken but any Medurian knew otherwise. It held the same merging of colors as opals do, without any patterns threaded or embroidered on top. A cape of silver rounded each of their necks that were fastened together with a silver claps etched with the sacred geometric symbol of the Earth Goddess.

   Finally taking my place, a step behind Rose I was glad to have reached the top.  I could hardly speak from lack of breath.  Though the Old Sages seemed to know this. Truly able to look at them now, I noticed each of their eyes was the same color as the birthstone beads in their hair.  Those same beads dotted each of their faces.  The High Sage in the center had beads of opal lining the top of her brows, down the center of her nose, to the top of her mouth, to her chin and from her chin, down her body splitting it perfectly in half. Each of these gemstone beads were etched with silver.

   The sage to the right of the eldest, standing in in the center, looked the youngest of the three. Her hair was adorned with blue beads, with only 2 at her cheekbones. These were etched with gold and not silver. Certainly her birthstone was not one of those from our mine. Perhaps they were blue topaz? No. They were to pale for blue topaz. Or blue diamond? None the less, she had clearly transferred from one of the other cities, and seen other Glittering Cathedrals.

   The Sage to the left of the elder had two, large natural amethyst crystals each side of her nose with another one each side of her temple just below her brow.  There was no etching on her crystals, there was no need.  Raw always meant the Medurian was naturally more powerful. 

   “Welcome my child. Please do be acquainted with Amethyst and Aquamarine your Sages, and I your elder High Sage of the Opal Cathedral, am blessed to be the namesake!” the eldest cried, raised her hands revealing a silken deep purple cloth, “You have completed your ascension, carrying the very stone in hand by which you are named!  Reveal it to me child…” She swept a hand in front of her as she moved towards me. There was a force, and agency behind her words had me follow her orders – though they hadn’t sounded like orders. That authority was not one that I would have thought someone as old as her could muster. Medurian’s who become Sages and live on the surface age to be one hundred years, over half the life expectancy of most. Though some believed the ware of age to be unsightly, and they were a little right, I thought as the elder High Sage approached as I cupped my stone in hand. Cut side down, facing my palms.

   “Oh, this shall not do.” She grumbled to herself, looking the stone. Taking one of her hands to the stone, I noticed her fingers were elongated to be three times the length of anyone I had met but the nails were brittle and broken. They were also slender and soft despite their wrinkled texture, I noted as her touch brushed the edges of my palms.  She flipped the amethyst cut side to face the ceiling. Her face melting, as she cooed softly as she looked to the stone, “That… That is much better. Now, we can see you! This one is to be special, I sense it in the Goddess’s will.” 

   Elder High Sage, Opal, then turned to look at Rose with an unusual expression, "You have done your part and are now no longer required." A dismissive wave of the Elder High Sage was accompanied with a disrespectful tone. "As you are not Amethyst's mother-" 

    "Umm... I prefer Ame, my Elder." Ensuring I bowed, giving her the respect all Medurian are taught to of Old Sages'. 

   "Hmrph.. very well, then." Continuing on almost as if she had never heard me, Elder High Sage Opal, proceeded, "...As you are not... Ame's..." she ensured to stress the word and held my gaze while doing so, before flitting back to a disgruntled Rose, "...mother.  You will not be permitted to witness the Goddess' vision for her. The sacred practice requires blood and Sage, only, be present."  

   The Elder High Sage straightened up and looked towards one end of the main temple hall.  Towards two open archways side by side. I followed where her eyes led, as did Rose. "Chalcedony is standing by to escort you to the Room of Relief.  Where you may feast and replenish your strength for you're descent back from the start, you may stay a brief time and you may begin as it begins to get too bright for your eyes. However, as a Overseer yourself, you know what the rules say about dwelling too long, so I know you are as aware as I." 

   Chalcedony? The goddess had given this Medurian a Bloodstone as her birthstone? That was rarer than receiving a diamond birthstone. The girl was petite and dressed as a sage but wasn't too much older than myself. Her hair was jet black and glossy, still, though there were a couple bloodstones and braids in a far less extravagant style as the Old Sages. It was clear, this girl had begun the process of Becoming a Sister with the Sage's of the Earth Goddess. Joining into the into becoming a Sister with the Sages was a lifelong commitment and one that I used to admire, but always wondered if it was as lonely as it had sounded by the stories told in the Opal City of them, of their initiation processes and trials, within the Opal Cathedrals - or any of the Glittering Cathedrals. 

   With a nod at me, and some reassurance from myself Rose accepted and took her leave. Headed to the Room of Relief; tailed by Chalcedony. 

    The Elder High Sage turned her attention back to me, "Once this has begun, you yourself will not be permitted to return to the Opal City until after you're passage.  You will reside with us until the next cloudless night," With her elongated fingers she pointed to the translucent crystal quartz glass ceiling. "Once you have recieved you're Merging, we must prepare you fully before you're passage commences." 

   Taking the silken amethyst cloth.  Speechless, I watched she began wrapping it around my hands with it. The scent of lavender filled the air from the lantern filled with sacred oils and topped with incense, the Amythest Sage undertook her role by beginning the process anointing of the ground I was about to walk. The Aquamarine Sage, began to chant in the old Medurian language guarded as a secret of the Goddess by the sages.

  Let us begin, I thought.