Unspoken

Prologue

Aeon, the vast heavenly realm built by nobody in particular—set aside for those who'd achieved enough greatness in their lives to earn paradise after death.
I was one of those 'chosen special few', but not just that... I was a 'legend', as they so often called us. But ah—if only they'd been able to understand that I did not want their praise... I did not want such trivial things in return for what we'd accomplished. So what could I possibly wish for, then? Well, I only yearned for the day our people would put an end to the constant wars. To the bloodshed.
Ha, I mused, it is of no use. Our lives were far too short to accomplish such fatuous ideals.
And now? Now we could only watch from our place in the heavens as our descendants struggled to survive—struggled to even make it a single decade's time without breaking out into yet another ludicrous war. It filled my heart with gray flames of sorrow, forced to bear witness to it all.
Sometimes I would question how people could hold so much rancor against their fellow kind, but even after existing for millennia... I'd never come close to understanding it.
"Niobe?"
I turned to face the source of the voice, as calm and gentle as it always was, albeit heavily accented. I recognized him instantly as Lonán, a man I had known since far before our deaths.
Ah, there was his tall and broad-shouldered, muscular form... Yet it was all buried beneath raw black shadows which radiated from his body, like the opposite of the sun's rays.
Ironic... Seeing as how I harness energy from the sun itself.
Self conscious, I glanced down at my own body. Lonán was not the only one whose energy was too strong to be contained, I was no different.  Although in my case my brimming aura showed itself in different ways. Like my eyes, and how they glowed like liquid fire—and my long and vibrant red hair which faded into flames at the end. I'd been that way in life, too, of course. The same went for all of us 'legends'.
Of course you look far less outlandish than I, do you not?
I almost felt amused at the thought. It was true that his eyes did not glow like mine, but they were still striking, the color reminding me of wine. Then there was his hair, which matched inky black shadows. But he was careless, so it was an unkempt mess. He truly had never changed, this man... This friend of mine who I'd known for so many, many years.
"Lonán," I returned his greeting with a nod and then looked downwards to the secondary world in which I'd been staring at.
It still pained me to stare through such a small window, gazing into a place I could never return to. But I knew it was necessary, and knew we could not simply sit back and never know what was happening to our children, theirs after, and so on.
"What you staring at so longing?" He asked. "Surely yer clan... Someone particular?"
I cast him a glance then beckoned him to come closer. "Do you see this one?"
He looked to who I'd gestured towards; a young girl barely even nine years old. She was practicing her mageia in secret far from anyone's sight. Her hair was a deep shade of auburn and rather unruly, but there was something clearly familiar about her. The determined gleam in her dark garnet eyes, the rebellion brewing within her...
She is one of my descendants, that much is obvious.
"I see," Lonán said. "She the lass you chose?"
I glanced at him, my lips turning upwards just slightly. "I believe so, yes. Something tells me she will do great things, Lonán."
"Well..."
He moved closer to the window and then with a swiping motion began searching for someone. From what I could tell they were far away from Aridor, my clan and territory.
"Don't you mind if I give a little show of who I been observing, then."
I scoffed. "You can, so long as you wipe that presumptuous look off of your face."
"Yes, yes," he replied dramatically.
Then finally he moved, gesturing for me to look back to the window. I was mildly surprised to see a young boy in his early teenage years... Perhaps thirteen or fourteen? Well, his black hair was so long that even tied up like it was it still went down to his thighs. He was sparring against some sort of training dummy, wooden pole in hand. I found that curious, since most would opt for a sword.
Every time the boy hit the dummy he would let out a "hah!" sort of grunt, similar to how my chosen one had during her training.
But there's something about this boy...
With his features I could tell he was of Avartian heritage just like the dark warrior at my side, but... He was certainly not of Lonán's bloodline. He looked... Different, and sounded so as well.
"He isn't one of yours," I said. "He doesn't even carry your dialect, don't you find that strange? Nearly everyone in your clan shares your accent, is he even a pureblood?"
Lonán shook his head dismissively. "Nah, just means he's different from the rest of 'em. Not all Avartians are like lil' ol' me, Niobe. That Aridoran pride of yers makes you think being from one clan means you can't act any different... Know that?"
I almost glared at him, though by now I knew he was right. After all this time, I could have sworn that my 'Aridoran pride' had been all but tamed by the others. Lonán was especially notorious for calling me out for my actions. That synergy had forged a permanent bond between us, one that not even death could break.
His brash Avartian roots have yet to be diluted one bit, though I know out of all of us... He is the one most disappointed in his clan's current status.
"Yes, I know," I muttered as I fiddled with a bit of my endlessly burning hair. "But tell me, what do you see in him? All I see is anger... Far different than our 'Aridoran Pride' and the rage we possess. This..."
I paused, staring at the boy for a few moments, at those narrowed eyes, so determined, yet to do what? Clearly he was unleashing all of his frustration out on the training dummy, but... Why? Why did he feel such rage?
Lonán chuckled softly, a sound that emitted darkness, though I knew it was harmless coming from him. "I know, it's dangerous, yea? But, you know me, I choose ones that need help most."
"Yes," I replied, sighing as I looked forward, my mind drifting.
I swear, he has a tendency to have such strange ideals... I sometimes wish he would be more practical.
"I'm gonna give the lad a vision," he said, as if reading my mind and proving my notion. "This I've decided."
As casual as those words of his were, they carried such a weight to me... I almost wasn't sure how to respond.
"What?" I murmured, trying to move past the startle. "Listen, Lonán, be careful! Do not act with such haste, you know your actions can be dangerous-"
"I know," he said sternly. "But clearly he's in need of guidance. If I don't do something soon, I fear he'll end up doing something he regrets."
I sighed lightly, trying to filter my exasperation. "Wait a while longer, please? Your visions have led to war on four accounts in the past."
He waved his hand towards me, yet another dismissive gesture. "Fine, fine... But I'm assuring ya, even if I wait for the tragedy I foresee happening to him..."
He paused, his gaze growing rather serious, his voice dropping. "This one'll come back fighting every time. Not a thing's breaking this one, Niobe."
I blinked, feeling just a touch surprised by the level of conviction he was giving. "How long have you been keeping watch over him, if I may ask?"
He gave me one of those wicked grins of his, which didn't have any ill intent behind it at all. "Almost all his life, I have."
I shook my head, feeling exasperated. Why again had I not only put up with this man, but also claimed him as my greatest friend for as many millennia as I had?
Oh, right. Because just like the others, he was one of the only great people of our generation... And one of the only ones who could see past the need for senseless war.
Still, I couldn't help but feel that slight bit of pride and arrogance which was so 'unbecoming' of my race. How could he place so much faith in this boy, who I knew very well to be the son of Avartia's current ruler? What was worse, that said 'ruler' was an absolute tyrant—and suddenly it clear to me why his only child would be so full of rage.
Meanwhile, my Chosen One of the present generation? I can foresee that she will be the beginning of a new era for their world. I suppose we'll just have to see which one of us is right, won't we, Lonán?