Sanria woke to the sound of pages being turned. She opened her eyes a bit and watched as Carlaugh leafed through her book, reading - undoubtedly - her private entries. She sat up as he looked at her. "Quite a collection of thoughts."
"Private thoughts," she said, reaching over to take the book from him.
"They make you seem - lost."
"I suppose there are a lot of times when I am."
"Sanria-"
"How do you know my name?"
Fenlauch chuckled and pointed at the book. Sanria felt a twinge of shame.
"Right," she said.
"I believe it's time for you to go."
"But you haven't even told me where I am or what you are."
"We have been here a very long time. Since the fall of your forest and the spawn of the demons. We've been watching and keeping our eyes upon your material plane."
"What forest?"
"Your kind here know it as Myth Drannor, I believe."
"But... why?"
"Balance," Fenlauch answered matter of factly. "We keep balance - from here, to every corner of every plane. Good, evil - it matters not so much that one should not outweigh the other and bring about destruction."
Sanria sat up a bit more, staring at Fenlauch. "You keep balance - and nothing more?"
Fenlauch inclined his head with a small smile. "It is our destiny."
"Does that mean you have balance in your personal life?"
"That I do believe is personal - but it is the nature of my kind. Yes."
"Can you teach me?"
The question hung in the air, Sanria leaning forward, her face showing a measure of desperation. Fenlauch stood up and let out a sigh. He touched a symbol on his armor. "Enmach - a word." From the air, the silver woman shimmered into view, bowing deeply. "She wishes me to teach her. Balance."
Enmach glanced at Sanria, her mouth parted slightly. "Sir, you have a kind heart, but this is no place for one of the material plane."
"I promise you," Sanria began, "I will not interfere, but if you could teach me... I could help others learn."
"Sir-"
"And you will not interfere, but one alone cannot learn the balance we seek. You will have to find others to balance your search."
"Sir, are you inviting-" Enmach began, but found herself cut off.
"Evil cannot exist without good, nor good without evil - for they must have one another to define themselves."
"I don't understand..." Sanria said.
"Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained."
"But I don't know where to begin, my life is in shambles right now and I would love to find harmony but there isn't any to be had."
Fenlauch smiled. "Meditate upon it in your times of turmoil and you will know." The man waved his hand and in an instant, Sanria was back in the forests, a light in her hand to brighten the night.
Advance Warning
"Why would you bring her here?"
"I couldn't leave her, it was my fault she got scared and bolted."
"With all due respect, Sir, you could have put her at the sawmill and her own kind would have looked after her."
"She was in the mist, Enmach."
"She wouldn't have found anything had you just let her be. You should just put her back where you found her."
"Your tone, Enmach."
"Sorry, Sir. I merely mean we could place her back below and have this all go away. I'm certain one of the concordants could even erase her memories."
"No!" Sanria sat up with a start and stared at the two beings - the gold one in armor that she had run from, and a silver woman, much like the one in the forests. "I won't have my memories wiped."
"Easy," said the gold man. "We won't hurt you." He reached out his hand and Sanria jerked back. She looked around the room for escape, but found nowhere to go. A window looked out over a manicured grounds and her path to the door was blocked by the two beings. "My name is Fenlauch. I mean you no harm."
"What are you?" Sanria asked, her heart thudding in her chest. "Celestial?"
The gold man chuckled audibly at this while the silver woman, Enmach, let out a hiss of contempt. "Far from it. You were wandering our woods."
"Your woods..." Sanria said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, our mists at least," Fenlauch said.
"Sir," Enmach interrupted, leaning to Fenlauch's ear. "Put her back and let us not get embroiled in their affairs."
"Enmach," Fenlauch said, "Will you excuse us please?"
"But... sir..."
The silver woman rose and bowed, her long silver hair sweeping the floor. She passed a look at Sanria before leaving the room. "Now. I found this in your bag. You'll pardon my searching it, but I did not want trouble." Fenlauch pulled out the book, 'Ideals behind Balance.' "Does this subject interest you?"
Sanria stared at the man, then the book, then back to the golden figure with brightly glowing eyes. She let out a long breath, sensing that the man truly did not mean her harm. "It... is something that I would love to have in my life."
"A great many of us would. How serious are you in seeking it?"
Sanria's eyes narrowed a bit as she sized up Fenlauch, who chuckled politely before setting the book down on the bed beside her. "Rest. You had quite a nasty row with that tree." He rose and walked to the door.
"Where am I?" Sanria asked.
"Safe," Fenlauch replied as he closed the door behind him.
Sanria got up from the bed and tried the door. It held fast, not locked, but simply unable to be opened. She walked to the bed and with nothing else to do, drifted into an uneasy sleep.
"I couldn't leave her, it was my fault she got scared and bolted."
"With all due respect, Sir, you could have put her at the sawmill and her own kind would have looked after her."
"She was in the mist, Enmach."
"She wouldn't have found anything had you just let her be. You should just put her back where you found her."
"Your tone, Enmach."
"Sorry, Sir. I merely mean we could place her back below and have this all go away. I'm certain one of the concordants could even erase her memories."
"No!" Sanria sat up with a start and stared at the two beings - the gold one in armor that she had run from, and a silver woman, much like the one in the forests. "I won't have my memories wiped."
"Easy," said the gold man. "We won't hurt you." He reached out his hand and Sanria jerked back. She looked around the room for escape, but found nowhere to go. A window looked out over a manicured grounds and her path to the door was blocked by the two beings. "My name is Fenlauch. I mean you no harm."
"What are you?" Sanria asked, her heart thudding in her chest. "Celestial?"
The gold man chuckled audibly at this while the silver woman, Enmach, let out a hiss of contempt. "Far from it. You were wandering our woods."
"Your woods..." Sanria said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, our mists at least," Fenlauch said.
"Sir," Enmach interrupted, leaning to Fenlauch's ear. "Put her back and let us not get embroiled in their affairs."
"Enmach," Fenlauch said, "Will you excuse us please?"
"But... sir..."
The silver woman rose and bowed, her long silver hair sweeping the floor. She passed a look at Sanria before leaving the room. "Now. I found this in your bag. You'll pardon my searching it, but I did not want trouble." Fenlauch pulled out the book, 'Ideals behind Balance.' "Does this subject interest you?"
Sanria stared at the man, then the book, then back to the golden figure with brightly glowing eyes. She let out a long breath, sensing that the man truly did not mean her harm. "It... is something that I would love to have in my life."
"A great many of us would. How serious are you in seeking it?"
Sanria's eyes narrowed a bit as she sized up Fenlauch, who chuckled politely before setting the book down on the bed beside her. "Rest. You had quite a nasty row with that tree." He rose and walked to the door.
"Where am I?" Sanria asked.
"Safe," Fenlauch replied as he closed the door behind him.
Sanria got up from the bed and tried the door. It held fast, not locked, but simply unable to be opened. She walked to the bed and with nothing else to do, drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Forest Ghosts
Sanria went deeper into the woods, pulling the cowl on her cloak even higher. She came to the Westbridge River and with a word, her feet rose into the air and she drifted over it to the other side. A small dirt path greeted her and the distant sound of a saw. Here, unlike the pristine north bank, the trees were marked. Destruction was everywhere it seemed. She dared not to put her hand on the trunks of the trees - if she did, she was certain to hear their pain.
Following the path, she found herself deeper in the woods and within an un- familiar spot. A small stand of birch trees seemed an inviting place to sit, and she soon made herself comfortable off the beaten path. Her mind, again, began to wander. She would have to move out. Leave the cavern and put some separation between herself and Colin. Certainly, the children would suffer a little - but the last time the "Family Stone" had traveled to the druid grove, even the Elder there had said separation would be good. Colin may have been unwilling to hear it, but it made sense to Sanria. And she already had a place to stay with Claire and -
The movement caught the corner of Sanria's eye and she jerked her head in its direction. A woman, tall, slender, silver... stared at her. Seen, the woman vanished behind a tree like a ghost. "Wait! Hey..." Sanria called out, getting to her feet. "Come back!"
Sanria walked quickly toward the trees where the woman had been, deeper into the forest as she went. She reached the tree the woman had vanished behind and found nothing. Sanria slowly scanned the woods and let out a deep sigh. To the north, however, was a creeping mist. Unsettled, Sanria stood for a long moment. There were choices to make - she could return to the cavern and forget all of this... or... Sanria stared at the mist and slowly began to walk forward.
Following the path, she found herself deeper in the woods and within an un- familiar spot. A small stand of birch trees seemed an inviting place to sit, and she soon made herself comfortable off the beaten path. Her mind, again, began to wander. She would have to move out. Leave the cavern and put some separation between herself and Colin. Certainly, the children would suffer a little - but the last time the "Family Stone" had traveled to the druid grove, even the Elder there had said separation would be good. Colin may have been unwilling to hear it, but it made sense to Sanria. And she already had a place to stay with Claire and -
The movement caught the corner of Sanria's eye and she jerked her head in its direction. A woman, tall, slender, silver... stared at her. Seen, the woman vanished behind a tree like a ghost. "Wait! Hey..." Sanria called out, getting to her feet. "Come back!"
Sanria walked quickly toward the trees where the woman had been, deeper into the forest as she went. She reached the tree the woman had vanished behind and found nothing. Sanria slowly scanned the woods and let out a deep sigh. To the north, however, was a creeping mist. Unsettled, Sanria stood for a long moment. There were choices to make - she could return to the cavern and forget all of this... or... Sanria stared at the mist and slowly began to walk forward.
Thoughts on Living
The forest sounded with typical life. The trees rustled in the breeze and squirrels chattered and hopped from branch to branch. Sanria stopped and put her hand on the trunk of an old oak. "Dear friend, can you give me a moment of your time?" she asked it.
"A moment? How long is a moment? Seconds? An eternity?" the oak said into her mind, it's voice a deep, ancient baritone.
"A mortal moment."
"You are far from mortal with this elven blood shared, but I will listen."
"Please, if my son asks for me, wondering where I am, will you reply that I am safe?"
"Are you safe?" the tree asked.
"Yes."
"And now, are you safe?" the tree asked.
"I am."
"And now?"
"Why do you persist with this?" Sanria asked.
"Because you cannot see the future. Can you?"
Sanria sighed deeply, her patience being tried. "No."
"Then what shall I tell him?" the tree asked.
"That I took a walk in order to think and clear my mind."
"And to that, I may abide."
"I thank you," Sanria said, removing her hand.
Sanria walked south through the trees, deep within the Haon'Dor. She could feel the farther she walked, the more calm she became. The forest grew cool and quiet, the trees older and larger. Everything here seemed to be a system, and one of which Sanria was a part. The soul of every living thing breathed in concert and her mind could let down its walls.
She sat down beside a very tall poplar and pulled out her book. She ran a hand over the cover with a sigh. It was one of the last things she took from the Illuminati before - she shook her head and opened it. Her handwriting filled the margins of "Ideals behind Balance: A Comprehensive to Discovering a True Path." It was one place she felt she could write and none but herself would find. In these pages were her deepest thoughts and desires, hopes and dreams. Of course, she had read the book a number of times, but its use now was a catalogue of her life. In the middle of the book, she put her pen to page, writing in the spine:
"I lack clarity. How can someone expect to live a balanced life when things continue to spiral out of control? I've hidden in my cavern so long I didn't even notice when the world came crashing down. Let alone my own life."
She turned the page and continued writing:
"Colin killed a woman. He is filled with a substance that I cannot control, and can no longer live with. Yet if I don't reconcile, I feel I'll be smothered. I don't believe he will let me walk away from this."
Sanria sighed deeply and sat for several moments. She could choose to run away, but that simply wasn't her any more. She could think of nothing to do - was there anything to do? Her life seemed a microcosm and within that tiny orb had crept chaos and the pressure to conform, to squash the upset, was intense.
"A moment? How long is a moment? Seconds? An eternity?" the oak said into her mind, it's voice a deep, ancient baritone.
"A mortal moment."
"You are far from mortal with this elven blood shared, but I will listen."
"Please, if my son asks for me, wondering where I am, will you reply that I am safe?"
"Are you safe?" the tree asked.
"Yes."
"And now, are you safe?" the tree asked.
"I am."
"And now?"
"Why do you persist with this?" Sanria asked.
"Because you cannot see the future. Can you?"
Sanria sighed deeply, her patience being tried. "No."
"Then what shall I tell him?" the tree asked.
"That I took a walk in order to think and clear my mind."
"And to that, I may abide."
"I thank you," Sanria said, removing her hand.
Sanria walked south through the trees, deep within the Haon'Dor. She could feel the farther she walked, the more calm she became. The forest grew cool and quiet, the trees older and larger. Everything here seemed to be a system, and one of which Sanria was a part. The soul of every living thing breathed in concert and her mind could let down its walls.
She sat down beside a very tall poplar and pulled out her book. She ran a hand over the cover with a sigh. It was one of the last things she took from the Illuminati before - she shook her head and opened it. Her handwriting filled the margins of "Ideals behind Balance: A Comprehensive to Discovering a True Path." It was one place she felt she could write and none but herself would find. In these pages were her deepest thoughts and desires, hopes and dreams. Of course, she had read the book a number of times, but its use now was a catalogue of her life. In the middle of the book, she put her pen to page, writing in the spine:
"I lack clarity. How can someone expect to live a balanced life when things continue to spiral out of control? I've hidden in my cavern so long I didn't even notice when the world came crashing down. Let alone my own life."
She turned the page and continued writing:
"Colin killed a woman. He is filled with a substance that I cannot control, and can no longer live with. Yet if I don't reconcile, I feel I'll be smothered. I don't believe he will let me walk away from this."
Sanria sighed deeply and sat for several moments. She could choose to run away, but that simply wasn't her any more. She could think of nothing to do - was there anything to do? Her life seemed a microcosm and within that tiny orb had crept chaos and the pressure to conform, to squash the upset, was intense.
Through the Motions
Sanria had been through it all and her heart felt tight, as though it were scared to even beat. She had been yelled at by her own eight-year-old daughter, Leandra, who felt that what Sanria was doing meant she wouldn't be around for the new baby or the family. She had discovered from Thas- mudyan how they might cure Colin of his malady, only to find out Colin had seen her sitting with Thasmudyan and was rather jealous. She had felt the pressure from Colin to forgive him, to let all of this go and just... here Sanria let out a long sigh and put her head into her hands. Forgiving was one thing, but to act as though nothing had happened was too much to ask.
The cavern, as immense as it was, felt like a cage. Sanria sat at the desk in the library and pulled a piece of parchment towards herself. She wrote,
"Colin,
I need to take a walk and will return. I have to clear my head. Please, let me be alone. I will be fine and no harm will come to me. I have much to think about.
Sanria"
She looked at the note and rose, walking to the foyer as she reread it. It wasn't eloquent work, but the point was to keep Colin from following be- hind. The last thing she wanted was him seeking her out, thinking she had decided to leave, and trying then to convince her she needed to stay with him and reconsider her decision.
She put a cloak around her shoulders, and set the note on the fountain. Quietly, Sanria opened the door and, ensuring even her children did not see her, grabbed her pack and closed the door behind her.
The cavern, as immense as it was, felt like a cage. Sanria sat at the desk in the library and pulled a piece of parchment towards herself. She wrote,
"Colin,
I need to take a walk and will return. I have to clear my head. Please, let me be alone. I will be fine and no harm will come to me. I have much to think about.
Sanria"
She looked at the note and rose, walking to the foyer as she reread it. It wasn't eloquent work, but the point was to keep Colin from following be- hind. The last thing she wanted was him seeking her out, thinking she had decided to leave, and trying then to convince her she needed to stay with him and reconsider her decision.
She put a cloak around her shoulders, and set the note on the fountain. Quietly, Sanria opened the door and, ensuring even her children did not see her, grabbed her pack and closed the door behind her.
Nerlith's Open Application (Part 2)
The void shimmered as it guided me through images of past, present and future. Showing a renewed purpose for my urge to destroy and pave the way for RagnaRok, allowing Lord Sephiroth to merge with the lifestream and rise to ultimate power.
At this time I realised I had been summoned by Jenova. Her tight grasp capturing my mind and memories and exchanging them with Her own. There was no void around me as I had suspected, the void grew from within me as She showed me the dawn of a new day and the dusk that would follow soon after.
As I embraced my new future I returned to my new body, transformed by the essence of Jenova herself, reborn as a soldier of Sephiroth, now waiting to do His bidding.
Followers of Sephiroth, I seek admission into your ranks. Together we shall fulfill our destiny and raise Sephiroth and the Black Church to the divine and almighty.
Nerlith Perditio.
At this time I realised I had been summoned by Jenova. Her tight grasp capturing my mind and memories and exchanging them with Her own. There was no void around me as I had suspected, the void grew from within me as She showed me the dawn of a new day and the dusk that would follow soon after.
As I embraced my new future I returned to my new body, transformed by the essence of Jenova herself, reborn as a soldier of Sephiroth, now waiting to do His bidding.
Followers of Sephiroth, I seek admission into your ranks. Together we shall fulfill our destiny and raise Sephiroth and the Black Church to the divine and almighty.
Nerlith Perditio.
Nerlith's Open Application (Part 1)
Dawn is imminent. As birds begin their daily routine with their serenade to the rising sun, the first rays of sunlight slowly progress west and illuminate Market Square in Westbridge, reflecting and scattering in drops of morning dew. The entire square blinks brightly in this early light, except for a large object sitting in the middle of the large fountain, leaning against it's sculptures.
Upon second glance, the object seems to be a tablet made of black granite, the front side polished, bearing an inscription across its entire length. The entire text seems to be written in an ancient language known to few.
Hail, Followers of Sephiroth.
I am Nerlith Perditio. Former Stormlord of Talos, Bringer of the Rok. You have proven yourselves to be hard to reach, however I am sure this will bring me to your attention.
For years I have been trapped on another plane. As lord Talos betrayed and abandoned those faithful to him and the Jihad faction shattered, I spent my days in the void as I felt the world as I once knew it being taken over by the Black Church. It felt as if I was there the day that Strega infiltrated the Illuminati and changed the balance of the old clans forever.
It was through her eyes that Sephiroth made me see the truth. While I thought that I had been serving Lord Talos and saught for Destruction by the bringing of the Rok in the Jihad faction, it turned out I had always served Sephiroth instead.
Upon second glance, the object seems to be a tablet made of black granite, the front side polished, bearing an inscription across its entire length. The entire text seems to be written in an ancient language known to few.
Hail, Followers of Sephiroth.
I am Nerlith Perditio. Former Stormlord of Talos, Bringer of the Rok. You have proven yourselves to be hard to reach, however I am sure this will bring me to your attention.
For years I have been trapped on another plane. As lord Talos betrayed and abandoned those faithful to him and the Jihad faction shattered, I spent my days in the void as I felt the world as I once knew it being taken over by the Black Church. It felt as if I was there the day that Strega infiltrated the Illuminati and changed the balance of the old clans forever.
It was through her eyes that Sephiroth made me see the truth. While I thought that I had been serving Lord Talos and saught for Destruction by the bringing of the Rok in the Jihad faction, it turned out I had always served Sephiroth instead.
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