The Legend of Saironelloistya [COMPLETED]

Chapter 20: Even Now, There Is Hope Left.

I began to run. I ran, and ran, and ran, until I collapsed beneath the altar of The Goddess of Wisdom, Yaanaevahanda(Sanctuary of Understanding). I began to cry out into her, begging her for help, and the knowledge required to continue in the war. I cried out that she would send me my friends, because they would know what to do, or so I believed. I grabbed the dagger off of the altar, and cut my arm to give a blood sacrifice to her, but still there was no answer. Finally, I begged Yaanaevahanda, saying: "If you won't send me my friends or wisdom, at least send me one of your priestess's, please?"

Within seconds, an elderly looking elf woman was sitting beside me holding me while I wept. "What is wrong, my son? What crime have you committed to make you weep so vehemently?"

"Priestess, I am in a position where I, as General of Meneltarma, am responsible for the death of over eighty-nine thousand people. I made a mistake, and it cost our people's lives. I lost the command of over Mistaostirion, where many of our soldiers families live. I am uncertain to how to proceed. Do I still have the right to lead, with the mistake that I made? I failed in my position, and now people have died as a result." I had stopped weeping, and I looked at her for answers, but she shook her head.

"My son, I know there is good in you. The fact that you are uncertain of your qualifications to lead, shows you have the humility required to make you a good leader. You made a mistake, as all leaders do, but you did not fail. You try, and you fail, you try, and you fail, but the only true failure is when you stop trying. Even now there is hope left, Saironelloistya, but you have to decide whether or not to act upon that hope. You are a leader, sir, and a good one at that. You made a decision, but you were out tricked. Do not be ashamed of this lesson, but take it at its intended purpose, and learn from it. Think ahead, but do not think too far ahead, or you may miss the present. Oh, and one more thing." She said, standing up, and beginning to walk away.

"Yes, Priestess?" I replied, eager to return help to her in anyway I could.

She smiled mischievously, and turned back towards me. "I am not the Priestess." She turned and walked into the sunlight, disappearing into it, just as Aranellevanima and Saironellotoron ran in, showing both relief and concern upon both of their faces.

Saironellotoron said, "Saironelloistya, are you alright? We just received news of the Battle of Mistaostirion, and we began to search for you, before Aranellevanima said that you may seek out the Goddess of your blessing. Sorry it took us so long to find you."

Aranellevanima continued, but in a different light, saying, "Saironelloistya, what do you have planned?" Saironellotoron glared at her, and began to cast a transmutation spell on her, but I nodded to her grateful for the distraction, and he stopped.

I looked down, and thought for a moment, before stating: "Nimloth defeated 75,000 of our soldiers in a slaughter, all of whom were well trained, so she must have had a larger, or equal force to defeat them all. She also, by the nearest estimates, had an army of 120,000 soldiers total. In order to maintain such a slaughter, that Nardil could not stand against it, I would suspect that she sent a force of 100,000 at least, hoping to damage moral. This means that she left Elyanme guarded with no more than 20,000 men. We still have approximately 275,000 men left, so we will send 100,000 men to the Elyanme, and take over her base of operations. This will damage her moral, and she will have to attack us to strengthen the moral of her troops. Aranellevanima, please run and gather the council, then prepare your medical divisions to assault the Skybridge." She ran off to fulfill that which I ordered, and Saironellotoron smiled.

"I am glad you still believe in our cause, because I have almost lost faith in it. The betrayal of My Master, Heruevavista, was almost more than I could take. However, my master once taught me something, a phrase for when hope seems lost, that keeps me going. 'Even now, there is hope left' he would say, and I believed him, though I could not see it. Interesting isn't it? The only thing keeping me from defecting is the words of a defector." He laughed dryly, and said: "Even now, there is hope left, yet I do not see it."