The Chronicles: Green Night

The Origins

Sand. Sand was everywhere, as far as the eye could see. It felt like I had been transported to a different planet, one entirely covered in sand. The scorching heat was unrelenting, attacking me without mercy.

I stood alone on a rocky ridge, taking in my surroundings. To my surprise, I had no arms, and I seemed much smaller than before. I glanced down at my body and couldn't believe what I saw.

Feathers. Instead of arms, I had wings, and my feet had transformed into sharp claws. It slowly dawned on me that I had become an eagle. Not only that, my eyesight was unbelievably sharp; I could even spot a tiny gerbil making its way through the desert.

Well, if this is a dream, I might as well make the most of it. It's a welcome escape from the memories of my parents.

Almost as if the wind obeyed my thoughts, a breeze began to blow, the air gently ruffling my feathers and lifting me into the sky. I summoned my strength and flapped my wings. In an instant, I was soaring high above the vast desert that stretched in all directions.

I had an overwhelming urge to head toward a particular point on the horizon. I couldn't explain it, but there was an inexplicable energy drawing me in that direction.

After a while, I spotted distant pyramids and a massive crowd gathered around a podium in front of them. My gaze settled on the podium, where about 20 people stood.

One of them, a woman, caught my attention. She wore a gown made of silk and gold. A necklace adorned with precious gems encircled her neck as she occupied a throne, while it seemed that thousands of people were bowing and praying to her. The others standing by her appeared to be her guards, all clad in golden armour with silver symbols to distinguish them.

For some reason, it felt as if the woman was calling me. I decided to fly in her direction. As I passed above the thousands of praying individuals, they looked up at me and began to cheer.

"Pure is the mother! Pure are her children! And pure is the anchor!" their voices echoed.

I've had some strange dreams before, like the time I danced with a ketchup bottle on the moon, but this is unlike anything I've ever experienced.

As I approached the podium, the woman turned her gaze toward me, and my heart skipped a beat. She had lustrous coal-black hair adorned with golden and silver flowers. Her amber eyes were mesmerizing, set against her delicate, ebony skin.

Landing on the throne, I surveyed the thousands of followers who continued chanting her mantra in a trance-like state. The woman's attention shifted from me to her devoted crowd.

She rose from the throne and walked gracefully to the edge of the podium. With a mere wave of her hand, she silenced the entire assembly.

"You are my children! You are my everything!" She spoke effortlessly, her voice carrying far and wide. Her commanding words sent shivers down my spine.

"The darkness has discovered us and approaches. It will destroy everything we have built. It knows no mercy," she declared, fearlessly acknowledging the looming threat.

"To overcome the suffering that darkness will bring, I need the help of each one of you." She turned to her followers.

They rose from their knees and enthusiastically chanted, "Yes, we will! Yes, we will help Mother!" Their fervent response brought a smile to the woman's face. Yet, I couldn't ignore the guilt and sorrow I sensed in her, though I couldn't understand why.

The Mother, as they referred to her, extended her arms into the air and looked skyward.

"Sands of blood and sands of bones, heed my plea and echo it. Sorrow will come and sorrow will go. Birth marks the beginning, and death the end. Blood and bones, consume our sorrow! Swallow the darkness and grant me strength," she chanted a spell. Tears streamed down her beautiful face as she closed her eyes.

Moments later, the ground began to tremble. I observed as the sand around us began to shift and move. The woman's followers knelt where they stood on the sand, repeating their mantra.

"Pure is the mother! Pure are her children! And pure is the anchor!" They remained undisturbed as the sand around them began to rise into the sky.

In a matter of seconds, the sand wall crashed down upon the devoted followers with incredible force. Their prayers ceased, leaving nothing but sand before me. It was as if nothing had occurred, yet the air was heavy with the terror that lingered. I could almost hear their cries as they inhaled sand.

This is definitely not a pleasant way to meet one's end.

The woman turned and locked eyes with me.

"The darkness approaches, and you must use every ounce of your power to thwart it." With her command, I was engulfed by darkness. No sand, no pyramids, no light.