Luke Swan and the Laistrynians: The Flood

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

~Day of the Dead~

When my back and head had recovered fully, I followed Zyra to her throne room.

"My life force is greatest at my seat of power," she said. "And today is a day for strength."

"What happens today?" I asked.

"I'll explain later," she said. "Now, I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

I didn't answer. I just nodded.

"For eons, gods have influenced mortals by acting through them," she said. "Not by possessing them, but by... sharing with them. It's a win-win situation: the god has substance on earth, and the mortal shares the god's traits and personalities. In Egyptian times, this was extremely popular. Have you heard of the pharaohs that claimed to be gods? Well, they were telling half of the truth."

I was going to tell her that I had no idea what she was talking about, I let her continue on.

"But to be in perfect unity with a god, something few have yet to achieve, you must willingly give your body over and the god must willingly share his powers. You can be more powerful together than apart."

"So... I'm not in perfect unity with Swanicaa?"

"No. If you were, an injury like you had would be a minor scratch. When your spirits are perfectly aligned, your power would be unstoppable. But it's dangerous: that much power is enough to destroy the mortal's mind and body."

I remembered the dream about Swanicaa, about his ghost, but kept quiet. I know it was stupid, that it might've been important, but it scared me too much, and something inside me was telling me not to say anything... At least, not for now.

"But... how could Swanicaa be alive inside me?" I asked. "You said he died a long time ago."

"Ah, but what about music? Just because the manifestation is gone, it doesn't mean what they represent has to disappear, too. Music is alive inside you."

That sort-of made sense. That didn't mean it wasn't insane, though.

"We can't dwell on spirits long, though," she said. "Not today."

"What's happening today?" I asked.

"Beater's day," she said, "the Day of the Dead."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

We walked across the plain to a mausoleum the size of a small house.

"Respect silence," Zyra whispered. "Saying its very name can break it. Talk no more after this point."

We walked under an archway. The tomb was simply decorated, just a white marble floor and a few paintings on the walls. In the centre a coffin like an Egyptian sarcophagus, a wooden box with the painted face and shape of the body inside. By the portrait on the outside, the man had a pleasant face, short-cropped beard and smiling eyes. I wondered what made him so important.

"Josaff Beater," Zyra whispered softly. "A loving father and grandfather, brilliant scientist, avid dreamer and fantastic musician. The first to experience a Laistrynian Beater's day."

"But what is Beater's day?" I asked.

"Beater's days happen every day, but today is the anniversary of the first Beater's day.

"Beater's day isn't really a day... it's more of a vision. A vision a person has before they die. But no one can confirm it, because everyone dies after they see it. It is said that a certain member of the dying person's family will be entrusted with the knowledge of the day that the person would die on, and with full acceptance they would bring the dying person, if the person is well enough, on their "last dance", the last exciting thing they would do before they pass on. But sometimes, no one knows that the person's going to die, but they accidentally give them a last dance anyway.

"For Josaff, his last dance was with his wife, who did know he was going to die, and it was a dance, a dance reminiscent to the first dance at their wedding so long ago. When it was over, he lay down to rest for the last time.

"And the vision came first to him: while lying in his death bed, three ghostly figures appeared to him. A young woman with an infant in her arms came, and an old man. The infant bent down and kissed his forehead, the young woman gently closed his eyes and the man touched his chest, releasing his last breath. After that, Beater died. Since then, it is said the vision happens to everyone about to die."

"But how did you know this happened to this guy?" I asked quietly.

"I spoke with his spirit. Shh, it is happening!"

I was going to ask what was happening, but then I saw.

Three figures appeared beside the coffin, the three figures Zyra had described. But they didn't do anything except smile serenely. A minute passed, then they vanished completely.

"Now for the offering, so we may live the rest of the year in peace," she said. She waved her hand and a beautiful silver flute appeared on the coffin. Then it sank through the wood like it was made of butter.

When we left the tomb, I thought I heard an eerie flute melody coming from behind us.

We walked back to the throne room. The day seemed so perfect, but I knew it had to end. I never told Zyra about what I had seen in Selegonia.

"Zyra, you sent me to find information," I said, "and I found some. Selenos is planning something really dangerous... something that could mean the end of the world."

I told her about the flood.

She clenched her jaw. "Luke, you know this means that we need to know as much as possible about this, so that we may attempt to stop it? Now that we know Swanicaa's spirit lives inside you, we can confirm that his characteristic as a brilliant scout and spy are within you, too. Luke, you could be Laistrynia's saviour. We really do need you."

I thought what happened the last time I went to Selegonia. I thought about my half-broken back and head. I thought about how I never wanted that to happen again.

But then I thought about how this world, my world below, would be destroyed if I didn't discover as much as possible about this. Maybe even tamper with Selenos' little surprise he was just waiting to release here. I thought about how my life sucked at the moment, but how there would be no life if I didn't do this.

"I'll do it," I said at last.

Zyra smiled. "Then go, Luke Swan, and save the world from the Flood."

I took a deep breath and searched for the opening. When I found it, I turned to look at Zyra.

"I won't fail you, sister," Swanicaa's voice said, and I stepped through the gate.