edemption

He was late. The main gate burst open, as in a blur of black robes Sebastian tore through the temple gardens. Moonlight showered the tree-choked path, washing the garden in a pale light. The Star Dome loomed barely visible beyond the far wall. He rushed forward, feeling the cool touch of wood as he pushed firmly against the next gate. The gate groaned, suddenly flying open, causing Sebastian to lurch forwards into the main quarters. He tumbled to the ground in a small mound of soft black linen.

“Drat…” he muttered, glaring back towards the gate. Someone finally got around to oiling the thing.

The Dome was surrounded by a long balcony, several staircases dropping towards its entrance some way below ground level. The floor dropped away as Sebastian peered cautiously under the banister. The Star Dome was stirring with commotion, and he watched tentatively as the last guests disappeared inside. The door glowed with light, and muddled voices wafted towards the night sky. He hadn’t been to the Dome in quite a while, and as he looked down it seemed even bigger than he remembered. It was a large half-sphere made of large silver panels. These panels slotted together, allowing the dome to open out and reveal the night sky.

Sebastian picked himself up, stepping towards the nearest staircase. His initiation ceremony was about to begin. I can still make it, he thought reassuringly. Nothing could stop him now. This was going to be his moment, his dream, his first step into a life in harmony with the stars. He turned back, his eyes wandering over the temple grounds. This would be his life now, a good life, better than any he could live on his own. With that, he smiled, and turned his mind back to the dome.

He pulled his robes tight against the chill; a cool breeze was picking up. Hastily, he began his decent, eyes fixed closely on the thin stone steps beneath him. His shoes clipped noisily against the hard rock, while he hurried closer and closer towards the door of the Star Dome. The last step passed beneath him. Sebastian stopped, and for a short time he gazed up at the sheer rock face beside him, the balcony looming many meters overhead. He turned around, his eyes looking over the Star Dome. The Dome was slightly open at the top; its glinting silver panels spiraled tightly together. The moon reflected brightly off the metal and he looked up to the night sky. Slowly, a thick haze began to settle around him and he abruptly lowered his eyes to the door. Sebastian blinked, hardly believing what he saw while a chill ran down his spine. Scarcely an arms length in front of him, something quite unreal blocked his view. A ghost-like form wavered in the air. A thick mist swirled around them both as two piercing blue eyes shone brightly through the haze.

He opened his mouth to ward off the spirit; however it smiled kindly and his mouth dried.

"Be gone," he whispered, eyeing the door to the Star Dome.

So close! he thought painfully. Only steps away….However, something had him bound in both fear and amazement. His eyes met with the spirit, his mind yearning to move on. His body, however, refused to comply. The figure shifted, floating towards him as his eyes widened in fear.

He waited fearfully as a painful silence fell over them. The mist swirled enchantingly, and after several long moments the spirit began to speak.

“Where are you going, dear boy?” he spoke. His voice was frail, yet something in his tone was soothing.

“I… I, uh,” Sebastian stammered, staring to the door. His stomach lurched as the door creaked to a close. He sighed inwardly, watching the lights inside dim – the ceremony was about to begin.

“Spit it out boy!” the figure urged. His fingers curled impatiently as he waved them slightly through the air.

“T-tonight is th-the birth of the n-new moon,” he stuttered.

“It is,” the spirit confirmed, keeping his eyes fixed on Sebastian.

“On this night…” Sebastian continued, fiddling with his robes, "those people who have come of age may be inducted into the rule of Serya – goddess of the stars, and she who watches over our earth. I must leave now, for in moments the ceremony begins. Tonight the time has come for me to pledge my life to Serya, and be accepted into her loving care and protection.”

Silence fell once more, an air of sorrow falling over the figure. His eyes dimmed slightly while he contemplated these words. Sebastian gathered his thoughts, watching the spirit with intrigue. His form was old and worn with a sad frown, but something in his presence was gentle. To Sebastian, he looked like a weary old grandfather, just about ready to give up on life. Seeing this, he relaxed a little. He wasn’t something to be scared of, was he?

"I am ready,” Sebastian continued, “to devote my life to this cause, for with Serya we all may find eternal happiness with those that we love and all that we desire. Please. Let me go.”

The figure winced, as if caused pain by listening to Sebastian.

“I know too well that promise.” The figure spoke with some resentment. “I, too, was swept up in the hopes and dreams of promised fantasy. That is all it is, nothing more.” His eyes glowed more fiercely, casting shifting patterns of light on the stone wall.

Sebastian opened his mouth to speak, but the figure cut him off. Bound by some sort of trance, he leaned passively against the cool rock face. Sebastian felt slightly light-headed as the moon dimmed and the voices inside the Dome faded away. The spirit smiled weakly at him, and then began his tale.

---

I spent my childhood in the sun-drenched village of Tyi, a town some many miles from this place. I had no family to speak of, other than the Head Mistress, and her staff who cared for me in the orphanage, and my only friend, Rain.

As children do, we passed the long summer days adventuring in the orphanage. She, too, had known no parentage since her birth, and like no other she understood my pain. Together, we commanded our castle and embarked on many grave adventures. I, the mighty warrior Belial, with my brave companion Sorceress Rain, slaughtered all the monsters of our imagination. In the nights we made our daily words to Arde, the god of happiness, and the Head Mistress preached to us his words.

“Be good and kind to all those on this earth,” the head mistress would preach, “and in the loving care of Arde you will go to a good place”

Then the meal would commence and before our eyes, scraps of bread became a banquet of exotic treats. Together, we lived in this fantasy of ignorance, and we were happy.

Every so often, some benevolent person would find an empty space in their heart. One by one, children came and then left until the faces around me were entirely unfamiliar. Through good times and bad, however, I had Rain. We made each other strong and held our heads high, as with the greatest empathy we dried each other’s tears. We were friends for life, and so we had vowed. She was all I would ever need.

It was a dreary November morning, the day my world died. Grey clouds smothered out the sky, while rain tapped on the window panes with sharp pestering fingers. Rain and I were plotting fruitfully our next grand adventure. She was to be the queen and I her defender as we executed our plan to rid the basement of a brutal fiend. With great honour, I accepted her command for me to slay the beast. I brandished by stick-sword high as with the greatest valor I made my way to the basement. As I demonstrated my impressive moves down the corridor, a tall lanky man closed the front door behind him. He wore a large black hat and fine clothing, much unlike my rags-gone-armour. I slashed the air with all my might, and he smiled warmly, tossing me a coin.

“For you, brave sir,” he addressed me.

I bowed slightly and gave him a wink, allowing him to pass by me. With this newfound treasure I rushed to the basement, keen to show my findings to Rain. Several minutes passed, and with greatly renewed strength I slew the monster. Satisfied, I traced my steps back to the court of my queen, where I would bestow upon her my treasure and perhaps receive a reward.

Upon my return to the court, however, the illusion fell apart. In the small dusty room the Head Mistress was speaking quietly to the tall lanky man. Rain sat forcing a smile as she swung her legs on the stool. Her long brown hair half covered her face as she quickly wiped away a tear. Rain looked at me with watering eyes as the two adults shook hands. I knew that look meant I’m sorry, and there’s nothing I could do. A rush came through me, however, and when the man approached her I could no longer control myself.

“Put Rain down!” I shouted, watching him lift her into his arms.

“Belial,” the Mistress scolded as she stepped towards me.

“Put her down. She’s mine! Where are you takin--”

The Mistress cupped one hand firmly over my mouth, gripping my arm with the other.

“I’m sorry, they were friends,” she explained.

The man nodded, and with a pitiful glance he swept Rain out the door.

The door closed with a bang, and I burst into tears. My memory of the orphanage from here on in is much less vivid, and certainly much more unpleasant. The other staff scuttled about calming confused children while I shrieked in pain of my loss, until my voice failed me. And that was the last time I saw her.

---

“I’m sorry…” Sebastian interrupted, as a tear ran down his cheek. He had been swept away from his former worries as the figure weaved his tale. He did not hear the faint words of the ceremony inside. And so, with a weak smile the spirit continued.

---

From the day that Rain left, so did the strength and happiness which kept me alive. Nightly, I fought with monsters which I could not overthrow, and memories of my past haunted my waking hours. I did not talk to the other children; nor did they speak to me. My sudden outbreaks of despair upset some and frightened many, none more so, however, than myself. Sometimes I would wail and sob, or on a bad day throw things out the windows. I longed to know who I was. I had no family, no friends, nothing was left. Slowly, days went by in the orphanage. Each night I made my prayers to Arde, and each day I followed his word. All good things I had been given had been taken from me, but not once did I utter a complaint. Surely, I thought to myself, faith will get me through. One day, Arde will bring me happiness.

A great deal taller, but not much the wiser, I shut the door on the orphanage for the last time. I tried not to listen to the screams as, clutching my small satchel, I made my way down the path. I had left with no fond goodbyes, but in the heat of an argument as I was turned out onto the streets. Nine years had passed since my luck had turned, and no more had come my way. Today was my sixteenth birthday, and the first I would not spend in that wretched place I called my home. Only the night before was I given notice that, since I had found no new home in my time there, their care could no longer support me. On my coming of age, I was to find my place in the world. I pleaded for a home, for I had no place to go. In the morning, they turned me out with but the blessing of a prayer. It was then and there that I relinquished my faith to Arde. I was a miserable wretch, yet he offered me no hope. Since my birth, he had taken. Taken and taken and taken. He took my parents, my only friend, my hope and my strength. How could I worship such a senseless being? I could not, and so no longer was I bound by his word.

The gate clicked shut behind me as I stepped out onto the cobbled street. The sky threatened rain, and so I hastened my pace towards the town square. People rushed about me with their fancy clothes and rude glances. I couldn’t help but feel a pain as they not so subtly steered away from me. Some looked with disgust, others with sympathy. It was clear nobody wanted to be near a poor man. Yet again I found no hope.

I entered the town square. A small fountain bubbled in its centre. I sat down by the fountain splashing cool water on my face. People hurried about the square, walking in and out of the surrounding shops. It was then that I saw him. For a brief moment our eyes met and our spirits touched. A man some many years older than myself stood by the fountain. Unlike the towns-people, this man wore flowing black robes, trailing slightly across the ground. His arms waved enthusiastically while he spoke to the passers-by. Quite to my surprise, not a single person would listen to his tale.

“He ran, and ran, with all his might,” his voice projected through the square, “but the villagers were gaining. Only a hairs breadth behind, they brandished their swords high and let loose devilish cries. He neared the edge of a ravine, but even its gaping darkness did not weaken his faith. It stretched far out of sight, and the villagers behind him slowed as they closed in. Without a hesitation he leapt across it in a single bound.

“‘Praise Serya!’ he screamed to the heavens as his feet touched solid ground.

“The devil-ridden town was behind him now, and he would move on to greater things. He could do no more to rekindle their faith in the goddess, Serya. One by one, the villagers tried to make the jump, but each hesitated and fell to the mighty depth of the ravine. Only he, who had faith and determination, would live to see the new day dawn.”

Several people cast despising glances as the man finished his tale. I, however, found myself captivated by his story. For all my life, I had only known one god. The god who I had worshiped whole-heartedly betrayed my faith and left me all alone. This man offered me light in my darkest hour, a new hope with which to save my soul.

The sky began to spit rain, a burst of thunder ringing through the air.

“Excuse me,” I spoke, walking over to the man, “who is this foreign goddess which you praise so? I do wish to learn more, please tell me.”

The man smiled and invited me to take cover with him in a small shop nearby. Here, he introduced himself to me. By name he was Edward and by title he was a preacher of Serya. He bought me a hot drink although I could not pay him for it. I was grateful and listened intently as he told to me the greatness of Serya. At first I was cynical. All my life I had known only one god to worship, why should I now follow another? As he spoke, however, I began to see more and more hope through following this new religion. He spoke till late in the night, and his words were like music to my ears. I do not have time to recount the greatness of her deeds. I’m sure you have learned them enough, but I will recount a small portion of his tale relating to the more technical matters of her rule.

“Those souls whose bodies have perished will come to be judged in the night sky - domain of Serya,” the man explained. “All those bad deeds which weigh down upon your conscience prove satisfactory fuel for Serya's bad temperament. With a flick of her wrist, your soul ignites. If that fuel is too high in amounts you will be condemned for eternity to burn in the sky, a flickering reminder to all those down on earth. If the spark, however, refuses to ignite, the soul has passed judgment. The soul will be guided by Serya through the night sky and to eternal life, where all your dreams await you.”

There was only one condition to this glorious end; to have faith always and spread her word with pride. It was a small price to pay, if any, for such a wonderful reward. Upon hearing this, my curiosity sparked. All my dreams? I thought, even more hopefully, and began to contribute my own questions. In this eternal life, I was promised anything and everything. For me, that meant Rain. It meant my parents, and it meant for once in my life knowing who I really was. This realisation was the point of no return. Everything I wanted was just before my fingertips, and I would go to the greatest lengths in order to make it mine. The religion was only small, and I understood that, but with the greatest ambition I hoped to one day spread this word across the entire world. I would enlighten those who had been misled by the lies and tricks of Arde and allow all to seek this glorious eternal life.

From this point onwards, day and night I devoted myself to learning about my goddess. Edward lived in a small cottage, a short way from the town. Here, he took me into his home as I learned from him. In the day time, we walked to town and I listened to tales. Once the sun had set, however, he taught to me the secrets of the stars. I learned how to communicate with the goddess herself. I could read her messages and foresee the future from the patterns she left in the sky. Once I became more proficient, I, too, told her tales in the cobbled town streets and together we spread her faith. Few people stopped and listened, but those who did, I believe were moved by our words. After several months of training in this respect I was taken to meet with a small group of men who also followed this belief. With acceptance, they bestowed upon me my own black robes. I took these with utmost gratitude and daily wore them with pride. I felt truly accepted into Serya’s guidance.

Ever slowly, people began to acknowledge me. People stopped and listened while I preached to them Serya’s words. Not but a month had passed since my acceptance and I had my first true success. A mother of three, crushed by the fierce hands of poverty, sought me for help and guidance. I told her of my painful past and of the goddess who revitalized me. With this new faith, I was no longer haunted by my memories. I learned to embrace them. It was those pains which gave me such willpowers, such determination to go on; for I knew in the end I would be rewarded. I saw the spark in her eye, and I felt her soul reach out to mine as I gave her new hope. For the first time, I could use my knowledge to help those people in need. I taught her in the ways of Serya and she with her children followed. I felt the greatest accomplishment, and Edward also awarded me with a small amount of money.

From here on in my success only escalated. Every few days someone would approach me while I was speaking to the crowd. As more people found belief, the others grew curious of this promising new religion. I showed them the greatness of her guidance and many followed in my path. It wasn’t long until a small church was erected on Edwards’s property. It was hardly more than a shack, but in the roof a large hole was made to let in the night sky. Here these people were educated and taught about Serya and her domain.

The years passed, and Serya’s following grew both in strength and numbers. We heard reports from other towns where her word had also reached, and representatives were sent to build churches and educate the people in this new way. Nightly I would read the stars and listen to her word. Then, the next day I would relay it to her followers. The sky brought us warning of oncoming storms and other dangers. It watched over us, and we were safe.

It was a cool winter evening and soft breeze wandered the field. The church was just over the far hill, yet tonight I felt compelled to read the stars in the open. There was something special about tonight, I was sure, and I didn’t want to miss a single bit. I lay on the rough grass and turned my eyes to the vast night sky. My eyes wandered feverishly and took in all the stars had to offer. Suddenly my throat tightened. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I scanned the sky again, but to my disbelief it was no misinterpretation. The stars requested an offering from one of Serya’s loyal followers. A small part of their body, to show thanks for all Serya had given to them. This thought shocked me but with some contemplation I decided it was in fact quite just. Serya had saved me. An offering would be a small token to show my faith and thank her for her guidance.

My teeth clenched with pain as the meat cleaver came down on my finger. I jumped slightly as the thump echoed around the church. My body throbbed while I cleaned the wound but I did not utter a cry. I bandaged my hand tightly, clutching it close to me. As I looked back at my finger, my stomach churned. I picked it up with my un-bandaged hand, feeling the warmth drain slowly from the dead limb. For a moment I was sickened, but before long I felt revitalized. For the small price of a finger I was another step closer to my eternal happiness. I thought of Serya’s pride in me and pushed away the nagging pain. Clutching the finger tightly, I strode out through the church doors.

“Praise Serya!” I screamed, raising my hands to the night sky.

I built a shrine from small rocks and adorned it with my offering. Satisfied, I returned to Edward’s house in order to get some sleep.

The next day I awoke, and like every other I told Serya’s word to her people. As you can imagine, they took my words with shock. I expected this and explained to them the fairness of her request. After some hours of heated debate, those still remaining saw my point of view. Over the following weeks, a considerable portion of those who had left came crawling back to the church. Without Serya’s guidance they had lost hope, and struggled to go on.

My sacrifice was only the beginning. As time went on, people became more accepting and were honored to give to the goddess. The years went by and many gave a part of themselves for the help they had been given. Sacrifices varied in size but were rarely more than an arm or a leg. Daily I worshiped the goddess and spread her word. Over this time I lost my right hand and right eye. Going about my daily chores increased slightly in difficulty, but it was a loss I was eager to take in order to please the goddess. As the years went on our churches grew in numbers and also in extravagance. It was on my fortieth birthday they began work on the Star Dome. It was my design and the result of many hard years planning. Another few years passed and it stood before me as it does tonight, in all of its splendor. It was a very special night.

I reached my hand into the pocket of my robes, feeling for the letter I had written earlier. I smiled as I felt the touch of paper on my finger and withdrew my hand. Edward handed me the scissors with which I would officially open the Star Dome. The crowed cheered, as with a single cut I severed the rope stretched between the outer gates. People stretched behind me further than I could see, and I welled with pride. Clutching the scissors tightly, I cleared my thought and the crowd hushed. I spoke to them of my past, of the greatness of Serya, of how she saved me. I told them of the ups and downs of my life until this point and of how I hoped I had changed their lives, maybe even the world. My lips closed and silence reigned as I let my words sink in. Then, with one last breath, I screamed Serya’s name to the heavens. The crowed burst out in cheers, and without further hesitation I felt the cold metal scissors plummet into my breast. That was the day I died.

---

Sebastian shivered and his hand clutched his robe tightly.

“You’re really… dead…” he murmured, his eyes transfixed on the spirit.

The spirit forced a sad smile and continued to speak.

---

I felt myself fill with the most sensational pride as the world shifted around me. The crowd watched in horror while one man tried to reinstate life, however, it was too late. Soon they would find my letter, and all would be clear. Leaving my body behind I floated towards the heavens. I had committed the greatest sacrifice, and with unparalleled anticipation I moved closer towards my meeting with Serya. My time had come, and every second I moved closer towards my happiness. My parents, Raine, all those smalls joys in which my life had been so lacking. They were now within my reach. Not once did I look back to behold the earth from so far above. I planned to leave it behind forever, along with those painful memories which had formerly been my inspiration. After some time I became enveloped in the rich darkness of the night sky. The stars flickered invitingly and I made my way towards them. I do not know for how long I wandered in this gloom until I heard the voice call out to me. I saw a figure in the distance and I knew it was time. The voice called again, and pulling myself together I moved towards them.

“I have come,” I spoke confidently.

A small hunched man sat in the air staring blankly towards me. I had expected to meet Serya herself, however I was not deterred. Surely this man was an illusion, or perhaps a test. I held my ghostly form with pride and waited for his reply.