Three Become One - The Hierarch Returns

[ski_king3 0]

His life had become little beyond the dark hall within which he sat. Days had become weeks, weeks became months, and soon his departure from the world would be measured in years. Yet concealed in this dark room, Laethis' world had become so much more.

 

Just as he had done when he first retreated, he sat upon the cold stone floor within his manor home. Yet strewn about him were loose sheets, sketches, writing, notes, scribbles, some tomes laying empty whilst others written and delivered to him, all along the floor and hung upon the walls. The elf was separated from everything, yet he was not idle.

 

Though elf's surroundings were bound in stone, trapped within the confines of the earth itself, his mind was truly boundless, his world without limit or end. Alone in the darkened chamber, the elf reflected on all that had led him to this point, and what it had all meant. Here he was alone, a single figure filled with all the pain and weariness of just another individual. Yet when he dared let his eyes look beyond what he could see and embrace the infinite possibilities of his mind, he could reach ever farther.

 

He had seen the wars of his past, watched soldiers of silver die at his command. He had relived the death of a traitor, and bore the pain of his last breath. He had stood at the precipice when he prepared for the end, and lived what it was like to take the plunge of his doom. All that and more, Laethis had lived.

 

It was in this darkened hall that Laethis had to come to terms with his past, and decide upon his future. Once more, he slipped into the confines of his mind, and freed himself of all bounds one last time.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

He awoke in a dark world unfamiliar to him, one that was not his own. He peered at his hands, looking at them against the blackness beneath him, the elf an inversion of a silhouette in this strange place. Perplexed by this strange place, his eyes darted about, only to come to the realization that this black world was quite literally that. He stood upon a firm void, no details, no lines, no shapes, just a dark nothing. Yet upon the horizon, Laethis' eyes set upon an unfamiliar orb - a silver sun. It was all that this world offered to him, it would seem, so the elf strode onward.

 

As he trudged onward, he quickly realized that in this place, time was meaningless. He was uncertain if he had walked for minutes or hours, or even days, as the elf did not tire. After what must have been a long time, or at least he thought, a blur appeared before him. First a ripple in the horizon, as he went further along, he saw it more clearly. A black spire, the only details of this world, erected upward. Nondescript, it simply divided the skyline in half, growing wide with his approach.

 

 

He wasn't sure how much longer it took him to reach the spire, but the distance was closed, and eventually the elf stopped before it. It was clear now, what he had come across, not a spire, yet a cylindrical stairway. He did not hesitate as he stepped forward, beginning his ascent to whatever or wherever it would lead. All he knew is that not long after he began his climb that the world disappeared beneath him, the chance for descent at an end.

 

 

He wasn't sure when it happened. It seemed so sudden, yet at the same time so gradual, like drink taking hold of a naive victim for the first time. Yet the elf found himself suspended, stopping to peer at the world around him, watching the cosmos swirl around him. A thousand stars and worlds lit up this strange limbo, a sight that would normally leave the elf in awe. Yet he knew this was not his destination, but only a stop upon his journey. So he returned to his task, realizing that he faced another change unrealized, for the stairway to ascension was now paved in ivory, not black. The elf exhaled before continuing his rise, leaving the universe of his existence in his wake.

 

Finally, the elf saw his end in sight, for with the stars left behind him, not far above he saw an expanse of clouds. Determined, the elf made his final push, coming across the barrier to step upon the shifting mass, eyes dropping at the two figures before him.

 

 

They both turned to him, each granting warm smiles, as if they expected him. The pair were of his race, one a woman, the other a man. "Welcome, Laethis. Welcome home." The two said in unison.

 

"What is this place?" The elf asked, his voice cracking. It was the first time he had felt emotion since he came here, he realized. His arms trembled, the pores on his forehead began to release moisture - by all accounts, he had grown nervous.

 

"This is where your past joins your present. You were expecting this." The reply once more, simply standing there, looking back at the elf. "You know who we are."

"I- I do..." he stammers weakly, gaze dropping downward. Strangely, as he peered back up, he stood just before them, though none seemed to have moved at all. "Why am I here?"

At this, the pair laughed to themselves. Though the pair seemed almost robotic, their responses set upon some pitch meant to be soothing yet failing because of its own calculation, their laughter was utter harmony. Two people could never produce such beautiful sounds, or at least Laethis had never heard such. Sadly he could only indulge for a moment before the sound came to its end so his question would have an answer. "You are here because this is yours. All of it, just as it is ours."

"It is mine? B-but... how is that so?"

"You know how Laethis. You have seen what we have. Now you must become us."

He peered around at their words, inspecting the heavenly expanse. He saw no sign of breaking, only wisps of white peeling from the clouded floor. Somehow, however, he did not want to go. He felt powerful here, not in the raw power of force, or the self-important power of controlling others. It was an inner power, waiting to be tapped, elevating him above all he had ever been.

 

"How can I-" The elf's words halted as his eyes returned to the pair. Two figures looked back toward him, grey eyed, white haired, nose crooked and face scarred. As he looked back at himself, he thought he should be panicking, or at least confused or alarmed. Yet Laethis knew what this meant. He had two years ago when he first stepped away from the world, though he did not have the words for it.

 

It was time for him to return. "Farewell." That was all he said, as the clouds gave way beneath him, leaving his predecessors behind as he plummeted back downward.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

Life returned to his body, and he knew it was time. With a smile, he rose from the stone, shifting to where he knew his wife waited for him, calling out her name.

[ski_king3 0]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.