Something Immortal

65: Madness Part Six

Ilarion and Malee hold on to each other for their dear life as they face a rather lethal adversary who turns out to be older than time. Never in Ilarion's life did he imagine that he would be obliged to use the little knowledge he had of arcane magic. Meanwhile, Malee was torn between her loyalty to a former teacher, shattering her illusion, and being slapped by the truth that like everyone else in Asturia, Zelda Galizur had sold his soul to ensure his survival.

Upon learning of Ilarion's words, a wave lashes at them leaving a crack in the ground, the aura of which hits them both straight like a wave that washes the shore. Ilarion bangs his head against the wall but Malee, who was clearly more experienced in using her dark runes, planted herself on the ground and held on to him.

Ilarion's mind whirled at the sudden attack but raced with images that had to do with his mission---his FATE.

This quick succession of images showed him visions that were kept hidden inside of him. Visions that he thought were a product of his imagination that gave him the gift of penning beautiful stories. When the delirium arrived at a sudden end, Ilarion realized that it wasn't only Som who had to make a choice...

In just a few moments this side of the temple was filled with dark enchantment, and with Ilarion's lost memories finally discovering their way back to the holder, they hurled spells after spells like arrows at the Grand Sage. But even with their combined forces, they were no match for the elder.

The walls begin to crack. Splinters fly everywhere and the ground starts to give way. There was a loud thunder outside but Zelda Galizur merely glanced and did not falter from where he stood.

Malee fell on her knees panting heavily, Ilarion too, gazing wide-eyed at the figure in front of them.

"You killed the other Grand Sages," Ilarion said, his words were so certain that Malee couldn't help gazing at him, disturbed by what she heard.

And the fact that the elderly did not deny this made her feel even more conflicted. "Only one," the old man spoke. "He was under the impression that I was serving the Phoenix God while his loyalty still lies on the World-Eater."

"They were your people, weren't they?" Ilarion still wanted confirmation in spite of seeing the images clearly inside his head. "Those Dragon Priests you experimented along with the rest of the members of the councils in an attempt to create your own gods to rival the World-Eater."

Zelda shrugs at the accusation. "They were my children, Hybrids, just like you, that pool of recollection and many others that existed outside of the natural denizens of Asturia."

Malee could no longer take it. Blinded with tears, she started to back away and peered at the old man she thought she knew all along.

"I've enjoyed an adventurous youth," the old man spoke as he advanced towards them. "But, I also had grown to be a very wise, very old dweller of this world who spent his life searching for the truth and dispelling superstitions. I did stake my beliefs to the Phoenix God and so did the rest of the Grand Sages, and the three of us convinced the former Dragon Emperor to sacrifice one of their own and give birth to him. But much of this world still puzzled me, and nothing was a greater enigma to me than that of the true nature of the Oracle. You, Ilarion. The very first Hybrid to ever be born. It was your power, your ability to speak prophecy through the guidance of the benevolent Firebird that made me conclude that many of the gods were entirely fabricated by the denizens of this world."

"You vile creature, you played them all along!" Ilarion gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing.

Zelda sniggered and at once, that kind wrinkly face of an old man was replaced with something sinister. "You seem to be forgetting something...I'm not the only character in this story. I'm just one of the many humbler creatures of this world trying to forge my own destiny."