THE FOUR REASONS TO DIE sentinel chronicles #2

🎈Ab Initio🎈

'ba da rump, ba da rump, ba da rump,’ was all that could fill the ears as the earth shook under the stomp of hoofbeats on the packed earth.
Stones danced inbunisom with the grains of sand, as the blades of grass gave way for the motioned creatures to translate onward.
The grasses too were not left out, as they felt the rhythmic padding of hoofbeats on them.
Times were never ending and the beginning stood not far away and yet, man had found a new friend, a new companion to keep him busy, for hatred treaded the hearts of many as greed grew at the success of others. Humanity in their relentless struggle for power and self acclamation, knew not whatbwas awakening, what their actions was birthing and what their thought was conceiving, for deep within the pillars of the earth, where dark was in usison with light and where the contract of creation was born, an entity was given birth to, and in his hands he bore the mark of destruction. Until the time was ripe, he was cast tho the forgotten realms, the realm of limbo, as he awaited the time, for within him, a thousand years was not a waiting period as ever ready he was, waiting for the cue, for his destiny to be awakened.

'And it came to pass that men treaded the lengths and expanse of the earth. Answers were sought after and questions were chased in the wind. Innovations rolled in daily, as answers begeth more questions, driving those who asked on journeys across the face of the earth. It was then that a group led an expenditure, under the leadership of a scientist. Lands were discovered and rivers named, as the group continued onward in search of answers which they believed their creators, if they existed, or the earth holed up somewhere. Landforms flowed into landforms and trees greeted them at glades of forests as they continued, pouring day and days out of their lives, searching and hoping to find that which the sought after.
Days unknowingly flowed into months and into years introducing the wailing of children and the laughs of young mother, as the group twenty years they had traveled began to grow in number, as they searched, adopting a new way of life and yet, for some reason, found not the slightest idea and answer to phenomenon the tried to understand and questions they asked.
'Mama, why are we always on the move,’ a going lad asked of his mother whonwas bathing him at the mouth of a river, just outside the forest they had camped in.
'My little one,’ she began, 'the true nature of our lifestyle will not meet your reasoning,’ she continued, pouring water on his body as she said so.
'But mama, I want to know why, even if I might not understand,’ he pushed on, endearing a smile on her face.
'You do know you are human, right?' She began.
'Yes,’ came the reply.
'And you do know that you had to have come from somewhere, maybe a creator to say?' She continued.
'Yes mama,’ he replied. 'But mama, didn't I come from you?' He asked with much concern in his voice.
'Says whi,’ she questioned surprisingly.
'I had a session with Ludwig, who explained to me as he made use of my assistance during his invention of erm .............. what wasbit called again .................,’ he paused, scanning his memories for the name.
'Forget the name,’ his mother interrupted.
'The knowledge came to me when I began asking questions, ranging from what he was doing in general to why he did so and he answered some and purposely dodged some tactfully. It was then I asked him how humans, more specifically, how I came to be and he said I am the product of my father and mother, born through my mother.’
'Anything else,’ came the persistent question.
'He stopped there,’ he sighed before continuing, 'saying that was all I needed to know.’
'I see. He is not wrong though in any answer he gave you. But my discussion lies not with your birth but with the first men.’
'First men, mama.’
'Yes. For us to have existed, there must have been people who roamed the earth originally who begeth more people by means of the explanation Ludwig gave you. Do you understand so far?'
'Yes ma,’ he answered.
'And atbsuch, we travel a lot, not by choice, but my means to seek out answers. The entire population of ourbcamp atenon a quest to seek out answers to his, why, where and when we as a species, ............ no, we as humans were created,’ she pauses tonlook atbhe who gulped all she had said eagerly with knowledge thirsty eyes.
'But mama, if we are looking for our creators, shouldn't we be looking for people, and asking them where they came from, instead of we travelling in the bush with no contact with the outside world. All we have done is wander, looking for inscriptions, landforms, amongst others that suggest specialty and creative stories?'
'You have raised a goog point,’ she said as she began wearing him his clothes as they made for the forest.
Back at a clearing in the forest, life was booming as individuals, big and small roamed about their respective businesses.
'How is my little scientist,’ a man grabbed young Erman, lifting him up upon his shoulders.
'I am fine sir,’ came the chuckled reply.
'Hope your are not giving your mama a hard time.’
'Nooo,’ he said, chuckling as he said so.
'I wish he could,’ came the trade from his mother.
'Put me down,’ young Erman pleaded, dangling his legs as he did so, after catching sight of a young girl in a tent up ahead.
'As you wish,’ came the reply as he was lowered down.
'Hey Erman, do you want to play?' A young girl, about his age inquired of him.
'Sorry, not today,’ came the rushed answer as he hopped rhythmically towards the tent of interest.
'Hello Joanna,’ he began, greeting the young girl. 'Hello sir,’ he continued as he proceeded into the tent, greeting Ludwig who wore a large pair of googles, fabricated crudely of iron with what looked like a diamond or stone of whatsoever origin affixed unto it, serving as he had found out, to be the magnifying lens.
'His have you been today?'
'Fine sir,’ came the joyful reply as young Erman turned around to face the object of invention.
'He is inventing a guide,’ Joanna let out, not withholding the joy that she had, and watching with utmost keen interest at the intricate marvel of the moving fingers of Ludwig.
'A guide?'
'Yes, a guide, to help us find ways when we are travelling,’ Joanna added, explaining further.
'It's going to be fun' was all that could poor out from the lad who was now engaged in a newfound interest as he watched also, at the growing marvel before his eyes.
Watching Ludwig, the moments that ensued passed on in silence, as the only noise that crowded the atmosphere emanated from the crude iron tools being picked up, used and dropped, the stone tools and even the wooden tools. A crank here and a hut there saw to the trick, as what looked like a bow emerged, with physical differences aligned along its additional constructive features which featured strange fabrication sitting upon each and what was a string in a bow was a solid piece of metal on this invention and a large magnetic rock sat upon the invention somewhere, as those were the outcome of the explanation of its constituents, in the language the children understood.
A couple of more minutes saw ti the cranking and adjusting of the new invention till it was lifted up to the natural sights of Ludwig.
'Let's give it a try,’ he said.
Out they all poured through the rear entrance of the tent, ah he waited not to venture gar before testing his invention. Turning round in all directions, he smiled upon his discovery.
'Does it work?' Young Erman asked of him.
'Yes it does:, Ludwig said finally at the sight of his metallic arrow moving slightly as he made turns in all directions.
'All that remains is some final adjustments and some possible review,’ Ludwig aired out, putting down his invention gently on a rock nearby, before staring at the sky, beaming with smiles, before finally letting out,
'We move out at first light.’
Rumbling and clattering was all that could be heard as horses pulled carts that carried children who sat upon stacked belonging upon the rocks ground they now treaded upon, chit chatting away on the little knowledge they had managed to grab with their little existence on the earth while the grown ups divided themselves into groups as they engaged themselves in discussions as they were continually vigilant of their surrounding. Paths meandered into paths and further flowed into more paths as trees greeted them continuously for the next final hours of the day, before it was camp time.
In no time, the day broke and the expenditure continued, seeing to the children chattering as usual and the grown ups conversing when need be.
A week passed on and the journey continued under the leadership of the ever watchful eyes of Ludwig, upon his invention he stared upon continuously, which pointed out North all day to the group.
Weeks rolled in and weeks rolled out, as months and months is he red in years, seeing the young Erman grow into a well sculptured man, handsome to the eyes of all and knowledgeable to the trail they followed.
Thirty years was all he knew in the world, as it had sprung navigational wisdom, pathfinding on not only him but also in Joanna who like him ventured into the shoes of Ludwig. Being the dream of every girl in their caravan, Erman concerned himself with love but he knew deep within that one and onky she had the reigns of his heart but in concealment, took new interest in the wild, comforting himself at the sight of new suights and breath taking elements of nature. Everyday gave him just enough reasins to push forward into knowledge and inquisitions.
'weew,’ blew the heavy gust if wind, turning the pages of the book frantically, stopping at random pages. Getting up from his seat, he moved towards the window and placed his hand on the sill.
'itaiyuraka,’ he whispered, creating a barrier in the window opening, a barrier allowing calmness into the room and barricading any force so violent in nature.
Turning, his pillars seemed not to be riled up by the transit of wind inti the room, but each relished their engagement with sleep.
'i am glad i have got all of you,’ he said with a sigh, returning to his chair.
'where was i?' he asked rhetorically, searching for his page of interest. Flipping and flipping, he found not what he searched for.
'pukmark,’ he whispered in the creepiest of ways after make a sign of bird like the japanese do with his two hands, creating an action on the book as the leaves flipped frantically, stopping at a particular one.
'here we go.’
Events never dreamed to continue in a loop, as fate waas upon the young leader, as his star shone bright in the heavens, a star different from all ever seen.
'stop,’ he motioned the caravan as he walked cautiosly ahead, followed by Joanna, looking in opposite directions as they ,oved, bending always, catious of the unknown. Moving, he was held almost instanly as he shifted huis gaze to hus feet to see chunks of rocks falling down the tall cliff. Retracting huis steps backwards, away from the cliffs danger zone, he motioned for Joanna to stay put as he treade up ahead along the edge of the cliff, searching for a means to convey thise he led across the large gorge that st at the boittom of the cliff. Wandring, his sights failed him as not a single avenue to croiss presented itsekf.
'young one, its is time for answeres to be made knoiwn to you,’ a voice spoke in a whusper around him.
'answers?' he asked but a response he sought after he got not.
Taking a different course of action, he studied the surroundung trees but none like other satisfied his examination of invention. Lost in his thoughts, the young leader stumbled upon a atine, falling down scatteredly on the ground.
Picking himself up, he met with the strangest sight. His sling bag which he had held was now floating way ahead of the cliff on what his eyes saw as floating on air, and what narveled him the more was his compass, one he had created out of his hourney of discovery, as its hands after every ten seconds, pointed  across, past the opposite cliff into the forest that stood on it, after which the hand spent the remaining time turning aimlessly pointing in all directionms.
'tis a strange sight,’ he said finally, in his deep voice.
'very strange,’ he continued, as he uncounsiosly took the first step into faith, and then the second, third and fourth. Stopping, he looked down to realize his faith had pukked througj as he stood on what literally looked like on the air, as he was left mire suprise than ever. Shaking himself out of huis disbelief, he walked bck toi the cliff, back to Joanna.
'i think you will have your brains blown out,’ he siad as he led her into the forest.
In no time, the entire caravan stood mouth open agape as he led the way, followed by a courageous Joanna who took faith in him that treaded before her, marching across the air with only his bag and compass in his hand as he dragged his fear cladded horse.
Steps led into moire steps and he was at the ither side waving for them to all cross. Still transfixed, they all couldnt beleive their eyes nor even lift a muscle.
'if my son could do it, then so can i,’ his moither, aged in her fifties assure hersel a little too loudly, taking the first step into faith, begining her cross in more faith. Seeing her, the remaining followed not the young Ermans leadership but her leadership ii faith, crossing with doubts and visual disbelief of what they were performing.
Moving into the forest, the young leader felt himself continously drawn to something he knew not of, buthe kept moving foward to what he knew not of. The forest they engaged in a jiurney in was very much differnt from the others thay had previously passed through as strange plants which moved quivered with every fear-filled touch and trees were fat mostly anf twisted, offering their crown as canopy to the pre-discovered path they treaded upon. Walking, they all felt the presence of eyes watching and the motions of hands grasping what they all knew not of. Fear was not what each felt, but damnation crept upon their very souls.
Continuing was all they could do, on the stone pathway as a journey they had begyun and fir some reason were drawn towrds the end. As they took a step closer to uncertainty, the forest replied in turn by darheing the path, gnawing the joy away from their souls, but none could stop his trek as they knew not why their legs kept movung.
Ahead of them sat the more glorious of architecture they knew not its irigins for all they knew was that it was hewn out of stone, the largedt the was. Aking passage into a hall the alk marvelled at the masterpieces of art, scattered all over paintings, sculpture as well as other vessels of art. Keeping their gaze forward was all they could do as the proceeded looking at the veil that none could peel their eyaes from that hung way ahead of them.
'am i the only one who doesnt want to see what lies behind that veil,’ a man cofessed out loud after swallowing hard whatever he had in his mouth. It was one hell of a swallow.
With the help of his hand, Erman pushed aside the veil, granting him passage, a gesture all participated in, as they all were faced with a reality none dreamed existed.
Before the veil was nature and beyond the veil was life. Stepping forward, the water which was the treading surface moaned in sleepyness, taking plaesure with each step that was taken into life. Moving, the sight before them was bare but alive. The golden glimmering waters reflected what shone beyond the veil, as the expanse before them could be best described as space with shooting stars darting here and there.
At the entrance of the last person, the veil closed shut reavealig an endless array of space surmounted upon the beautiful waters of creation, as opposed to the passage thay had passed.
Gurgling, the water around them began moving and at that instant, the waters tooks the form of six humanoid forms equally spaced to evelope the crowd in all direction except the formost part, all resembling damsels in their vague forms. Standing, the silkene that followed produced a loder gurgle, a much louder one, as a form began materializing at the reserverd space before Erman, slowly, taking the form of a cherubim, with clearly distictive features. His white flowing hair covered his right eye slightly, flowing and cascading beautifully on his tender and yet broad shouldrs. His white robe sat upon gold garments glimmering in the expanse which was shaped by a white glimmering sash. His feet went for bare and on his right hand sat an orb and to his left hand was the vague presence of a sword, glorious in its vague presence and jaggered in the most magnificient way. His wings remained in the shadows that existed in mystery, leaving his personality submerged in a strange aura.
'you have finally made it,’ he began in a voice thick as death and yet soothing as it burbled in life.
'what seek you?' he asked as he was met without an anwer.
'long has man searched for answers,’ he began, 'which has ked him to pitiful destinies,’ and at that instant, around them centuries of war poured on screens that appeared all around them, displaying civilizations in all forms and races, engaging in wars spanning through time, as hunger and plagues joined death in the torment of humanity.
'long has man searched for meaning, which has led to death. Long has man searched foir joiy which yielded sorrow. Long has man searched for paths which has led to destruction. Long have man searched for eulogies but found himself being the eulogy. Long has man searched for lands but found himself to be the destroyer of lands. Long has man searched for life but found death. Long has man searched for immortality but found death. Long has man searched for death and found deatth. So i will ask again, what do you seek?'
getting no answer, he asked again in the tongue of creation and death, a tongue that birthed the lost tongue of Egril
'Gini ninkal egestas.’
And young Erman replied in a tongue he knew not he spoke of to the dismay of his followers.
'Anyi anta quod nke ullatu fuit choo.’
'Gini unkalutaiya absolutionem imponebantur?'
'Owu irappu sui,’ the young leader replied realizing that he spoke in a tongue he knew not he spoke and suddenly, he felt the language to be a familiar one, as his thoughts were awakened and his true self brought forwaed as power surged his veins.
'welcome back my lord. Its been thirty years just as you envisioned,’ the cherubim said in the strange tongue as he turned and led the way, varnishing.
Folloiwing suite, the awakened one phased into a reality he knew of vaguely. The grass moved with love, the wind blew with love and the waters flowed in peace. The land was lit by a light which originated from every single constituent of the reality.
Knowing that he was not fully awakened, he continued, addressing young Erman.
'you all seek an answer which has always stared you in the face. The land you all see, all life you know were created by He through which by his word all came into being and by His word, all will end. Long has the contract of realms signed and long has His braedth been abundant for all life,’ he paused to gently scoop of the river.
'your coming here has been written, and your presence expected,’ he continued before he motioned.
'come.’
Following him, the young leader was led to what looked like a garden just a sight he judged from from its glade, which hjad a blazing sword before it flanked by two cherubims.
'the last time man had an intimate relationship with his creator, this was the outcome,’ he said, gesturing to the world around them, which began to wither. The once peaceful world he knew momentaril began to know pain.
'man succumbed to his desire, ending his relationship withhis creator. So i will ask you again, why do you seek the Father?'
'i seek the father to fill that which i desire most. I desire the Father to seek his plan for me, to fill me with his spirit,’ came the solemn replky.
At that moment, life and peace returned to the world around them.
'you are indeed he,’ the cherubim confessed.
'i am Azriel, the proyectore of the Tree of Life,’ he introduced. 'Today, you shall no longer be Erman, Ariel, the protector of time, and she whom you have chisen,’ he said pointing at Joanna, will be the protector of nature.
Turning to see she who was chosen as they were back to the space of doors, as he somehow knew this place to be, his gaze met with Joanna's.
'by you, a new age will dawn upon man, an age of great expectations,’ he pauised before contiuing.
'for the balance in life and deathe to be complete, the coucil of Asa must be aligned.’
Leaving all he held to float mid-air, he made the hand gesture of a ram, god and death, whispering as he did so and at that moment, three appeared, eached robed in black, red and silver robes.
Who they were Ariel was uncertain of but one thing he was certain about was that they were the powers that controlled the world, the ftae that met each life that existed.
Hitting his sword three times on the water sof creation, he announced, 'let the dawn of a new age begin, for my recrutment is true and my time over.’
'Take thi,’ he continued, handing the sword to Ariel and the orb to Joanna.
'we expect great things from you,’ he continued, transmutting to embers as he siad so, undistigushable fro the embers that filled the space of doors.
'and one more thing,’ came his voice from nothing, 'the Father will be present always to guide you.’

That day marked the begining of the rise of a new age as i established the city of Ashad. A city where my caravan settled to a life of peace and tranquilitu and within them i ordained four mages to keep watched over the city, hiding it in plain sight frim the prying hungry filled eyes of humanity, for one i have ordained is coming, ahead of perilious days to come.’

Closing the book, Adrian moved over to the bunk he and Alkali shared and climbed unto him bed, lost in thoughtd, as he lay.
'who are the remaining three?' he asked rhetorically.
'who are the remaing seven?,’ a voice corrected out of nowhwere, one he heard as his eyes closed, succumbing to his human nature.