Tales of Astora: Legacy

Chapter 39: Insanity

Chapter 39: Insanity

"Forgive me my children! Let us fall into the pit of madness together! <Aria of Insanity>"

The God Merkabah started singing. The lyrics were spoken in an ancient but forgotten language. Was this the tongue of the Gods when the world was first created? Who knew?

Since ancient times, music has always been an important part of life. We celebrated our festivities with parades playing different instruments. The bards told their wonderful stories in the form of ballades. The chorus at the church during our mass and many others things.

Understand the lyrics were not necessary. Music overpassed the barrier of languages and conveyed the emotions of the musician to his audience. Then how would the audience react when the musician has fallen in madness? The man has seen things that cannot be unseen. The cruel reality he must face yet he could not share it with anyone.

"What are you doing? You....ARghhh!"

The song Merkabah sang echoed inside the mind of everyone around him. In an instant, his emotions invaded their bodies, overcame them with grief and despair. It turned them insane.

The crowd surrounding the God started screaming in terror. Those who were too far behind did not hear the song, remained horrified by what they were witnessing.

The celestials were killing each other. The guards who had their weapons were the first to impale people with their swords and spears. Those who did not have any weapon used their hands to gouge the eyes of the people next to them. Two best friends who were once inseparable now strangled each other to death. The father crushed the head of his child onto the ground. In an instant, the plaza was covered blood and corpses. The stench of death filled the air as more and more gave their final breath.

Those who were lucky enough started to run away. Some took flight to escape were shot down by archers. Avant-Heim has been taken by madness.

"STOP!" shouted Ikarus.

Along the heralds, Ikarus was one of the few who was still able to retain their sanity, but not for long. Using her last ounce of consciousness, she slowly walked up to Merkabah who has now stopped his song. But it was already too late. More than half the population of Avant-Heim was already lying on the ground.

"You....Why did you do this????" screamed Ikarus in tears. Despite what they did to her, Ikarus has never thought of revenge. She did not hate them, not even once. A part of her still saw herself as one of them. But now they were all dead. The death of all those people, her family, everyone, for what? No matter how she tried hard to think about it, she could not find any reason for him to kill them.

"I told you. I won't let them defile your bodies and souls. You may find this cruel but I am doing this for all of you! Besides, isn't it much more preferable to be killed by one of your own rather than the wretches out there?" Merkabah said.

"You are insane! I will kill you!" yelled the girl.

"Be calm my child! I still need you to deal with Alastor after this!" Merkabah lifted his arm toward Ikarus. However, something stopped him, making him jumping back.

"I don't know what you want with the girl but even if you are our God, your actions here are intolerable!" it was Mikael. Together with the heralds, he stepped in front of Ikarus and stopped Merkabah from taking her.

Ikarus did not expect this. She thought Mikael resented her so much for letting Alastor escape. Then why would he protect her?

"You will raise your swords against your Father?" said the God of Celestials.