The Firmament Saga: Book I: The Rains of Sorrow

Chapter 13: Beginning and Ending

Chapter 13: Beginning and Ending (Lou)

Stormday, Week 1, Month Unus, Year of God 489

Lou was floating in a grey area. Knee-deep, warm water stretched out as far as the eye could see, with no rainfall. The sky was pale grey, and patches of mist dotted the entire area, obscuring the horizon. There was no sound whatsoever save for his breathing and the faint splashes of him moving slightly in the water. He twisted, getting his feet under him, and stood up. He was wearing a long, green, hooded robe that extended to the floor. When he stood, ripples spread out from him. They made a chiming sound, in a calming series of ascending and descending arpeggios.

"Greetings, my son," a booming yet motherly voice echoed.

Lou jumped. "Who's there?"

"I am Gaia," the voice resonated. "Heed my words, my son."

"Gaia," Lou mused, rolling the unfamiliar name around his tongue. He had never heard the name before, but speaking it seemed familiar and comforting, like eating a favorite food after years of not doing so.

"I am coming," Gaia said. "I am coming to save this world."

"What?" asked Lou. "Who even are you? I know you're named Gaia, but who exactly are you?"

"The world you reside in is just one of countless others humankind has spread to," Gaia continued. "Humanity is like a tree spreading through the universe, and each world they live on is a fruit. Yours is a fruit that has fallen from the tree."

"What's a fruit?" inquired Lou. He had heard of mangrove trees, but those didn't have fruit.

"Edible, bulbous seeds commonplace throughout the human-controlled cosmos," Gaia said. "Anyway, I can do nothing but talk to you. The powers that control this world control it soundly, and desire nothing but to repress and inflict suffering on you, your civlization, and the whole of humanity if they get the chance. I am sending my warriors and healers to aid you in your fight for survival, but the void is vast, and it will be many years yet before they arrive."

"Why?" Lou asked. "I know they might sacrifice us, but the world isn't any different than before. Do we need saving?"

"They will sacrifice you," Gaia boomed. "Six thousand years ago, similar beings ruled my homeworld, the seed from which humanity spread. They oppressed my children and exploited their resources, viewing them as little more than food or slaves. We were able to drive them off, but only with great cunning and thousands of years of struggle. You don't have that luxury."

"This is a weird dream," Lou said. "Normally, the strange entities that show up don't monologue."

"Heed my words, son," Gaia said. "This is a dream, but it is also me speaking with you. Remember. Remember. Remember."

Abruptly, the dream ended. Lou awoke with a start, finding himself safe and dry in his own bed with Van curled up next to him. He sat up and blinked. The dream had felt so real.

It was the middle of the night, so Lou laid back down and pulled the covers over his head. Sleep came slowly, but when Lou finally slipped into unconsciousness, it was peaceful and dreamless.

Several hours later, the light of day began to shine through the small, narrow windows of Lou's bedroom. They had participated in New Year's festivities - extravagant as always - and had gone home together. Lou rubbed sleep from his eyes and sat up. Van was already awake, presumably downstairs. Lou relieved himself in his chamber pot and put his tunic, pants and coat on. He walked downstairs and saw Van heating up soup in the fireplace.