The Holiest of Ponds

The world looked different than in the previous Vision. Myrmadon had stabilised and most of the visible damage from the previous upheavals had been erased. The sun shone brighter than before, and somehow made the planet seem more green than blue. There were two huge landmasses, connected by a narrow strip of land, that took up most of a hemisphere. The other half was a massive ocean. This was a very different world.

The Vision drifted lower, over the northern landmass. The center was a vast desert, it was clear this land had not seen rain in many years, it seemed dead. The ground was dry and cracked, with fissures bigger than any canyons known in the present time. The Vision continued north, where forests of strange trees covered the land, and beyond that snow covered those strange trees.

Above a frozen pond the Vision finally stopped. It wasn’t very large, and the ice was smooth, so smooth it almost looked polished. Coniferous trees surrounded the pond, branched bowing under the weight of the snow resting on them. It was an idyllic spot, the scenery a painter’s dream. For this brief moment in the world’s history, Myrmadon knew peace.

The sun was about to rise, and the sky shone with stars even as the horizon was growing brighter. One star drifted down, its white light bringing a ghostly glow to the pond. It was no star, it was a diamond of epic proportions, familiar and glorious. The diamond shimmered and DanaZule appeared. A beautiful woman composed of diamond, with sharp features, and a glance that could cut glass. Every facet of the God-Queen drew in the eye, each new and intriguing, and a mortal could spend a lifetime contemplating her and barely touch the surface of Her majesty.

Like any diamond, she appeared rigid and unbending, A seemingly perfect representation of Order. However, like any diamond, it could enhance chaos. One such force of Chaos was quickly approaching. A red ball of fire streaking through the sky at incredible speed. It stopped suddenly above the pond, and the fire assumed the shape of a man. His features were red, with eyes of flame, and a simmering furnace shone from his mouth. Ometaklon, God of Violence, had arrived.

The two Gods contemplated each other from opposite sides of the pond. The snow should be melting around Ometaklon but He stood upon it like it was firm ground. As did DanaZule, but a light touch was natural for Her, where Ometaklon chose it. DanaZule noticed, when they first met Ometaklon wanted the world to shake with his every step. Perhaps control was not beyond his abilities after all.

“Greetings Sister. I sensed your desire to speak with Me before the others arrived, and so I have come.” He paused. “It is good to see you again.”

The God of Violence did not speak words as the Seer would understand them. Instead sounds, images, and emotions assaulted her senses, and her brain struggled to understand it. To her insubstantial ears, Ometaklon spoke with a voice like a roaring furnace and the clanging sounds of a hammer striking an anvil.

DanaZule raised an eyebrow, her diamond skin as supple as flesh, and as expressive. “It is surprising to hear you say that, Brother, considering our first meeting. Let us speak of this matter between us, will you seek to contest with me again?” Her voice literally sounded musical, like the sound pouring a bunch of small diamonds on a table makes.

Ometaklon looked away, his fiery eyes taking in the forest around them. It was a moment before He spoke. “Contesting with you cost us our dear sister, and put us to sleep for a billion years. My loss of control would have destroyed everything. You kept control and this is the result, a world filled with life.” He said with a sweeping gesture towards the horizon. “No, Sister, I will not contest with you again.”

As if that was a signal, the others appeared. From deep beneath the earth Primus the Unknowable rose. A gold colored rock of enormous power became a nondescript man in an unremarkable cloak. As DanaZule and Ometaklon moved to the opposite side of the pond as Primus, the ice in the center seemed to become softer. The ice twisted and gathered up, becoming Prima Celestia. As unremarkable as Primus appeared, Prima Celestia was the opposite. A woman whose skin was the color of the sea, a light blue with amethysts for eyes. Her hair was a bright red that contrasted sharply with skin, and her hair looked like it was floating as if she were underwater. Finally, a black cloud formed over the pond, gathered itself and moved towards the ground, forming a bipedal shape that could be called a man. Enma Inzanami, God of Death, had arrived.

Not for the first time, the Seer wondered where these names came from as she bore silent witness to this meeting. She had always had visions, her life had been cursed with knowledge and pain because of them. These Visions were different, she could feel a hand guiding them, and she could hear the words it put into her head. And the Seer knew fear, but it was quickly forgotten as Prima Celestia spoke.

“Let your mind be at ease, Ometaklon '' She said, the sound of her voice reminiscent of small waves softly lapping against the shore. Those amethyst eyes saw Them, but also saw through Them. Prima Celestia could see time as well as space. Her wisdom stemmed from seeing the results of mistakes before they are made. “The future's not set, so my sight always changes, but one thing is certain. The world is brimming with power, too much power. What happened would have happened one way or another, by you or something else. Without Lauris’ gift, there would be no future at all.”

Enma Inzanami spoke with a voice of ashes, “Lauris shared much with me before she left us. She made the choice willingly, knowing that bringing life to this world would save it then, and would save it in the future. My sister bore no ill will, neither do I. She had found her Purpose”

Rocks grinding against each other became words as Primus spoke, “Indeed. As Prima said, this world has too much power. This new life will help give it an outlet, a way to keep this world calm. For all our power, the world dwarfs us, and we must understand it.”

Ometaklon nodded slowly, “Thank you, my brethren. While we were fortunate there was a positive result from this, it does not absolve me of my responsibility. Rest assured, I have learned.” He looked towards DanaZule, “What are your thoughts, my Sister?”

DanaZule drew Herself up, preparing to speak. If She were mortal, there would be something regal about her bearing. The Seer knew in that moment why she was called God-Queen. She was strength, She was beauty, She was compassion. She was Justice. She was beyond anything the Seer could fathom.

“Primus is correct to say we must understand this world. We must also understand and cultivate the new life here. While we slept, others rose up. Can you feel them? They are less than us, and have even more to learn. We must gather them, teach them, and with the younger gods we must begin to prepare this world.”

Enma Inzanami spoke in that dry, dusty voice “What are we preparing for?”

It was Primus who answered “Far in the future, the Universe will be tested, and our world will be at the center of it. I know not the how or the why, there are times where my sight sees only storms and chaos. This world must be prepared.”

“How is this our responsibility?” Ometaklon demanded, his eyes glowed brighter with His passion, “We did not choose this! Ours is to do with as we please! There is no Law to bind us! There is no authority to judge us!”

“Beware Pride, Ometaklon '' Prima Celestia said, “Have you forgotten those beings we saw in the sky on our first awakening? They came from this world and were far greater than us. Even if they never return, it is a good reminder that even we can be threatened.”

Steam rose from around Ometaklon, his temper rising. Suddenly DanaZule was standing next to him as if she had never moved, “Be at ease, my Brother” she said, placing a hand on his arm. “Prima’s words are a reminder for us all.” Ometaklon nodded to Prima Celestia, his visage cooling.

DanaZule’s gaze encompassed the others as She continued, “It is our responsibility because there is no one else to fulfill it. If there is no authority to judge us, then we must judge ourselves. Necessary or not, life on this world is the result of our actions, we cannot forsake it.”

The others voiced their agreement, including Ometaklon with some reluctance.

DanaZule nodded slowly, “Very good. Join me, my brothers and sister, let us begin with…”

The God-Queen’s voice faded to a mere whisper as the Seer felt herself yanked away. The Vision receded quickly and her head flew backwards as her mind returned to the present. She barely caught herself before falling over, the spend aerilum falling to the ground with a thud,

The Seer let out a curse quite unbecoming of a woman who’s age was only exceeded by her knowledge. Though she looked young and hale, she was centuries old, and her youth was only recently restored to her through a means she did not quite understand.

“I don’t believe it!” She said to herself, after all, how else would she have an intelligent conversation? “I went to all the trouble to get another chunk of aerilum for that? but it was so” the Seer sought for the proper word, “so boring!”

It seemed almost sacrilegious to say. She witnessed what no other mortal had witnessed, the Old Gods making this world. There were so many questions, one answer she did not need was why humans like to sit around talking and doing nothing.

ENOUGH

It was a voice. It was everywhere and nowhere. It seemed to speak inside her mind, but the earth itself trembled.

THAT IS ENOUGH. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THESE VISIONS FOR A PURPOSE.

The Seer clutched her head in her hands, covering her ears in a futile attempt to make the voice quieter in her mind.

“Who are you?” She dared to ask, although she couldn’t hide the fear in her voice.

Her eyes flew open as another Vision appeared in her mind. It was bright, so bright, and hot. Where metal and rock ran in vast oceans like water on the surface. She was deep, deep in the earth. The brilliance dimmer, and there was a massive sphere before her. She couldn’t guess at it’s size, but she knew it was the planet’s core. Nothing could prepare her for the vastness of it. The sheer awesome magnitude of its power. With the Old Gods she still had some sort of commonality, minor things to grasp that made her feel a connection to them. In the face of this, she was nothing, less than nothing.

She blinked and the Vision was gone. She lowered her hands. That was the Visitor. She lowered her head in submission. For whatever reason, she had been chosen, and the Visitor now claimed her. The Seer did not think to resist, she knew she had no choice.

“How may I serve you, Master?” she asked aloud.

YOU ARE NO SLAVE AND I NEED NO TITLES. WHEN YOU SEE WHY YOU WERE CHOSEN. YOU WILL SERVE WILLINGLY. YOU WILL HELP PREPARE THIS WORLD FOR WHAT IS COMING.

For a moment, the memory of the Vision returned, and she trembled. “What is coming?”

There seemed to be a pause, but surely the Visitor would not hesitate.

THE UNDOING