The Legend of Legenheim : The Cursed Children

Chapter 2

The door has closed under a deafening noise, the two teenagers look at each other before putting their eye on the guardians of the sanctuary. They are all dressed in the same dress that completely hides them, only their adornments differ, ranging from a simple semblance of mask or patterns, to more provided combinations of blue or red precious stones and more symbolic seams.

"Thank you for helping us," says Simon.

"May the spirits watch over you," replied the mentor of the guardians, "it is our duty to maintain peace and serenity in the territories of the sanctuary. »

The young woman observes all around her, contemplating the ornaments of the entrance hall making her eye shine. The leader of the guards scatters the others, so that they can get back on their work, and then looks at Simon.

"Is this your first time here?

"I don't, but Mumu yes"

He turns to his comrade before she tilts. A huge smile appears on her face and she becomes excited.

"Oh! You remember what my name is! »

He doesn't even have time to answer that she approaches the guard and looks at him curiously.

"Where does this thing go?"

She points to a large, beautifully decorated door, guarded by two guards. The chief beckons them to follow him and leads them to this door. Seeing them arrive the guards open the passage revealing the next room that makes up this domain, which is not the least.

Stained glass windows make up the back of this room the glow of the sun passing through it color the two statues placed in the middle of the room, surrounded by beautiful minerals and florals compositions. All this leaves Mumu amazed and a pleasant feeling of warmth to Simon. She runs to the location under the tense face of her comrade. Before he says anything, the guard intervenes.

"If running wasn't allowed, she would already have known.

-But peace? Serenity?

-Peace is the master word of this sanctuary. Serenity also has its place, but can we really blame your friend for expressing curiosity in her own way when one of the deities venerated here induces to herself this trait? »

He raises his head in the direction of the statue of a hooded young woman. Simon turns his gaze, observing it too, then his eye drifts on Mumu who tries to decipher the sign. The youth nods.

"Siflora, the being of knowledge.."

"Absolutely," replies the guardian, "by its influence it pushes man, or any living being, to go beyond his limits in order to acquire as much knowledge as possible. Knowledge... We must not punish someone who wants to discover his world."

"It's fascinating," whispers Simon. 

Now he is overwhelmed with questions. The influence of this entity could help him find some answers to his questions. He must simply feel the will to know, but he already wants to know the truth. He has already tried to recall memories, but it is impossible as if he is facing a locked door. Even if he tries to push it in, she doesn't move a bit. 
Could it just be that it's not enough, or that it's just not the time?

The goalkeeper's head turns towards him before looking ahead again. He felt disturbed, but he acted as if he hadn't seen anything. All this questioning belongs to Simon, he does not have to interfere in his reflections without his authorization.

"Absolutely" finishes the interlocutor whose imperceptible smile is betrayed by the sound of his voice "By the way doesn't your friend need help to know what is marked on the sign? She may try to push her limits, but without help she won't."

Mumu has heard them and turns to them with a saddened face, his moist eye threatening to shed a few tears. She sniffs slightly and quickly shakes her head up and down and confesses in a broken voice:

"I don't understand letters, it annoys me!

-Wait Mumu I'm coming"

He joined her and began to read the inscriptions. He begins to tell her the anecdotes inscribed which particularly captivates the teenager who has stars in her eye. She does not lose a crumb of what he tells her.

It's been a long time since the guardian has seen anyone so touched and passionate about deities, or anything else. For several decades the living conditions in the city have deteriorated sharply and nothing can improve all this, as if a curse strikes them. This has an impact on the magic of the tales and legends that animated here. They have withered away by dint that no one believes in them anymore, taking with them the city founded from these stories.
The guard, seeing that everything is going well, slips away to let them enjoy a certain solitude. He thinks they will be able to enjoy the divine atmosphere of the room more without feeling its presence.

Mumu looks at Simon.

"It's very complicated words.

-They just summarized the history of the city with metaphors and complex phrases, which Siflora and Xanto brought. Unfortunately the whole story has been lost...

-Oh... It's sad... »

She looks at the statues and thinks

"So it's Siflora and Xanto?

-Yes! If you want I can present them to you in the form of a story? As I was told!

-Oh, yes! A story! »

She quickly sits on the floor and looks at him with great excitement. The teenager clears his throat a little and begins to tell:

Siflora and Xanto are said to be antagonistic twins. While Siflora is the being of knowledge, her twin Xanto, is the being of ignorance. It is said that when they were born, men began to use tools and improve their skills and invented fire. School began to be invented, adults teaching their ignorant children to make and use the invention, but also to be careful not to eat just any berry.
It is said that the two contrary beings are in perpetual war: knowledge against ignorance. And this to lead to dark periods...
It is also said that when we dream of Siflora, we are protected from ignorance, lulled by her good influence that gives beautiful dreams. On the other hand, dreaming of Xanto distances us from any kind of knowledge and plunges us into total ignorance, the nightmares he has can kill little by little...

Simon sighs slightly and looks at the statues

"They built the sanctuary to worship Siflora and have her protect them from Xanto, but the twin's estrangement led to his revenge. In the end they arranged this sanctuary to include it. Moreover, in the other neighborhoods have venerated another spirit, appeared over time in circumstances of their own. There are five in total..."

He is cut off by a small noise coming from the ground, he looks and sees Mumu dozing on the ground. He lets out a little laugh and comes to carry it since it is not heavy.

The teenager leaves the room, the guards, seeing the young girl sleepy, come to offer her to sleep in rooms. He agrees and is taken to a room. Simon places Mumu on a bed and covers her well. In turn he gets into another bed and falls asleep quickly.

"So it's in them?

-Yes, I also found it hard to believe, but my vision is formal.

-Poor things... It must be hard.

-I confirm you, but this is not the most important point. They risk big by staying in this form and put them in danger. Well, we all risk big.

-We? All?

-Yes, the living are included too. Are you purposely not knowing it?... »