Amores Celestia

Genesis

2008-12-07T10:34:00.005+08:00

In the beginning, there was Hevon. He had always been there. For how long, one cannot know, for there was no time. There was only pitch black darkness. There was nothing

Hevon commanded, "Let there be Light!", and there was Light. The Light grew brighter and brighter and brighter, illuminating the empty world. And it grew brighter and brighter still. It heeded not Hevon's agony as it grew brighter beyond care. The Creator was blinded.

Then He knew He was not alone. He was being stabbed, bitten, slashed everywhere by what He could not see. He was tortured. His Omnipotence proved useless, for how could he fight what He could not see?

Then Light stood still. Slowly, it soothed and calmed down, obedient to an unexpected master. Hevon beheld with His eyes a Deity, celestial yet mild, born of the Light that now bows to Her. Hevon said it was good, for now He could punish His adversary--a horned wraith ungrateful to be waked.

Hevon lifted His mighty hand and crushed His Enemy asunder. Defeated it fled but cried bearing words of grudge that grimly sealed the End that was to come. So was the fate of Kashaar Hanaan, as Hevon the Lord of Justice called him, for he was accursed.

The Deity of Light, bowed in obeisance to Her Creator against His mandate, for the God owed the Goddess more than the Goddess owed Him. Hevon embraced Her as His Daughter, and named her Assanthael, for She alone became of Her own Will. And Hevon said it was good.

(Originally published at http://thewiltedprune.blogspot.com/2008/04/avatar-series-assanthael.html)

Elos: The Beginning

2007-09-13T05:05:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time, a very cute and adorable 14-year-old boy named Paul William Sexon Mayuyu was walking in a park one misty night. Paul had nothing to do; he had already done his homework at school. He had also just finished reading another Mary Higgins Clark book. So, as he always does when he doesn’t have anything else to do, he decided to stroll that night at the nearby Dreams Park.

While walking, Paul felt uneasy. The park felt strange; Paul never felt this way before when he was strolling here. After a while he shrugged his paranoia off, thinking he must have had imagined too much from the book he just read. With the same book tucked in his arm, he went on his way.

Right then, in the middle of the field in front of him, a bright flash of light came out from the ground. From there a huge crystal structure emerged. The ground shook with such powerful force as it rose up that Paul stumbled from where he stood.

Paul stood up after the ground has calmed and looked at the mysterious structure in front of him. It appeared to be a crystal palace, with light glittering all over it. He gazed at it in awe, and after coming back to his senses Paul decided to go inside it and investigate. Perhaps, he thought, this could be the greatest adventure of his life.

Inside the palace, Paul looked around in great wonder and delight. The hall that he saw was the most beautiful he had ever seen. Everything around him--the walls, the ceilings, the big dome above--were all made of crystals. So spectacular these crystals were, that they sparkled more brilliantly than diamond, and were clearer than the purest of water.

Paul walked further and entered a room. He was immediately bedazzled by a vast assortment of crystal statues that filled it. The statues were the most spectacular he had ever seen since he visited Europe and looked at the Renaissance statues there a couple of months back. Some statues were embedded in the glassy floor and walls. Others hung and covered the ceiling. But what caught Paul’s attention most were those statues that lined the middle of the hallway. They were statues of naked young boys in wide array of poses. Paul suddenly felt cold as he looked at the pained, contorted expression of these life--like statues, but the beauty that they were molded in overpowered his developing doubt.

Paul was about to go out from the room when a voice called to him. It was a voice of a woman. Paul turned back and saw a young lady. She was the loveliest he had ever met. The lady wore a flowing white gown that glittered with her eyes, and a crystal headdress that sat on her braided turquoise hair. Her skin was as pale as ice, her lips as supple as pomegranates. The mysterious woman introduced herself. “My name is Athina. I am the Queen of this crystal palace. It’s very lovely, isn’t it?”

Paul stared at this beautiful woman in front of him. For a moment, Paul thought the woman looked familiar, but her soft voice mesmerized him. The woman gently held Paul’s hands, caressing them like she would not let go. Her looks were cold but pleading. Paul’s heart began to beat faster. He wanted to savor this moment.

“It’s been a long time since I had a gentle young man visiting here in my palace,” the lady said as she slowly touched Paul’s soft face. “Through all these times I thought I'll live here all alone in this cold, dead place. It’s lonely, very lonely. And then you came, appreciating the beauty that is my home, giving me joy so precious it melts my long frozen heart…” Athina kissed Paul on his lips. Blood rushed inside him----Paul never felt such a wonderful feeling in his life. Her lips touching his, her body pressing against him gave him warmth so comforting that he never wanted to let go. He wanted to be hers, forever.

Back at the park, a group of young people was strolling. They were Paul’s friends--Diana Rance, Mike Perez, Mik-Mik Daite, and Jet Belbes. They knew Paul had nothing to do, so they went to the park to find him. They wanted to invite him; tonight was Batch 2005's Christmas party. The four arrived at the field. Their jaws dropped as they saw the big crystal palace that towered in front of them. They were speechless.

“Uhh...” It was Diana who managed to speak first. “What is that?”

“Like we know?,” Mike replied. He went near to touch the ice--cold crystalline walls. The four still doubted whether what they were seeing was real.

“WOW!...,” Mik-Mik cheerfully exclaimed. “Maybe there’ll be carnival!”

“It can't be a carnival,” Mike countered. “This thing wasn’t here when I passed by an hour ago. They can’t construct something this big that fast.”

“DUH!!! THAT’S OBVIOUS, YOU DUMB PEOPLE!,” Jet butted in. “And you Mik-Mik,” he turned to her, “stop acting like a child, will you?! You’re already cute the way you are.” Then he winked.

“OH STOP THAT JET! YOU’RE DISGUSTING!,” Diana scolded. “Mike, you think it had something to do with the earthquake?”

“Hey, you're right,” Mike agreed, “It could be. This could then have sprouted out from the ground!”

Mike’s friends stared blankly at him. Mike got their message--he isn’t making any sense.

Jet, mischievous and adventurous as he is, suggested that they go instead and check the palace out. Reluctantly, the others agreed, and the four went inside. None of them noticed the Mary Higgins Clark book that lay on the entrance's ground.

Inside, the group was amazed and delighted by the menagerie of crystalline sights they beheld inside. Mik-Mik, who was quite interested with crystalline items, was in ecstasy as her eyes rolled at all the endless array of crystal furniture and apparels around them. “I want my home to look like this!,” she gleefully added.

Finally they entered the room of crystal statues. They glanced eagerly at the sculptures around them. When they reached the heart of the room however, they were shocked at what they saw. It was Paul, half naked, with only a piece of clothe around him, lying down on a grandiose bed with the Crystal Queen lying on him, kissing and caressing him as he held her tightly in his arms. They were making love, love that not even Cleopatra and Mark Antony could surpass.

“Fuck…isn’t that Athina??”, Mike exclaimed.

“OH MY GOD!,” Diana muttered. She cannot believe that Paul, gentle, pious and upright as he is, could even think of doing such an act. Paul certainly wasn’t himself.

Athina looked at them. She held Paul around her.

“Who are you to disturb our hearts’ desire? Go away and leave two lovers in peace!”

Paul looked at the group and stared, not seeming to recognize them. What the group silently dreaded was confirmed--he was enchanted.

“Hey Paul! It’s us! Wake up!,” Mike shouted at him, but in vain. He went near the two, but Athina cast out a stream of ice and blew Mike away.

“Fool! That’s not Athina! That’s a witch!,” Jet remarked.

“What are you doing to him??,” Mik-Mik asked, fear coming out from her voice.

Athina and Paul levitated gracefully from the bed, a stream of light beaming around them. “Why are you asking such nasty things?”, Athina cried. “We are just two people in loved with each other! I may be a crystal queen, and he a mere young lad, but does that mean we don’t have the right to love each other in peace?”

Then she added, “This boy loves me, and I love him. It’s all that matters. Why don’t you ask him…right Paul?” “Oh Athina, you are my only one and true love,” Paul answered submissively. “Nothing will ever keep us apart…”

“You’re lying!,” Diana then angrily shouted. “Your only using your vile charms to deceive him! He may admire your beauty, but he will never love such a selfish maiden as you!”
“Huhumm,” Athina amusedly listened. “And on what grounds do you charge me of such, mortal girl?”

Paranormal incidences aren’t new for Diana--she once lost a friend in 1st year because of it. Somehow she knew what was about to happen. She dreaded its outcome--NO, she cannot loss another dear friend of hers. Not Paul.

“I know you are doing this for some reason. Tell us now--why are you doing this to him?”

Athina gently bowed her head. Still hugging hugging Paul, she replied. “You perceive well, my dear. Well then, I’ll tell you.” She came down from above and stood on the glassy floor below. “You see, your friend came here at the palace to look around. And then I saw him. He was the most handsome and lovely young man I had ever laid my eyes on. And so, I went to him. It’s Destiny I was gifted with the most beautiful face a man can ever behold--so naturally his inner desire called upon him. It was my plan. And it was a success.”

Suddenly, Athina’s voice turned nasty, and she stared with gleaming cold eyes at the frightened four. “NOW--while fulfilling his deepest desire and playing with his heart, I will suck his very abundant Youth Energy to make me even more powerful! And then, he will be part of my grand collection of beautiful crystal statues of foolish young men!”

Athina laughed so wickedly that crystals around them shattered and wounded the unguarded four. In great burst of anger, Mike and Jet ran after the wicked queen. Athina, still clasping Paul with her, rose in the air, and with a great stream of ice, struck the two into a wall, pinning them there with ice shatters. She went near the two, held her hand out, and started sucking the two lads’ Youth Energy. They struggled to escape, but soon they felt cold and lifeless, and the at last turned into two crystalline statues.

Diana and Mik-Mik stood aghast as they watched the cold--blooded cruelty of Athina. Mik--Mik, cried bitterly at the sight of her two her friends falling into the vile sorceress’ curse. With a flaming anguished soul, Mik-Mik ran towards Athina and jumped up. At once beams of light enveloped her, and Mik-Mik transformed into a sexy dark--haired warrior--her strong and fearless magical self, Mikaela. A jeweled crystalline sword materialized on her hand, and with it she struck Athina. An icy crystalline sword materialized on Athina's hand, and with it she blocked off Mikaela’s attack.

“You have hurt Mik-Mik’s feelings by hurting her friends," Mikaela told as she struggled with Athina's sword. "And by hurting her, you have summoned my unforgiving wrath, foolish sorceress!”

"Me? Foolish?," Athina mocked. "It is you who is foolish! By interrupting my selfish plans of lust, you have summoned the wrath of the most beautiful and powerful sorceress Destiny has ever allowed to exist! Now, Warrior of the Guardian Order, taste the cold bitterness of my rage!”
Athina powerfully thrust Mikaela down into the floor. The crystals there shattered about, and Mikaela lied in pain, embedded on the shattered floor. Athina flew down and stood above the helpless warrior. With her hand Athina sent a gentle stream of glittering ice, and buried her under the clear crystalline floor.

Diana watched all this. She could do nothing but stare in fear and helplessness. She remembered all that had happened before--the enemy, the light, Alissa...

IT was going to happen again.

Athina noticed Diana and approached her. “It’s all over now, my darling," she teased with a mischievous grin. You can’t do anything about it anymore. Your darling friend is now mine, and so will all of you!” She laughed, now more wickedly than ever before.

Diana couldn’t say a word. She knew it was hopeless. A few moments from now, she too will be part of the Crystal Queen's horrible collection, just like her friends. She remembered the past again--everyone too should have been gone before, have not someone given-up her life for them. Her sacrifice--so it was all in vain...

But Paul was still there, in Athina’s arms. He’s not yet frozen. Maybe if he gets back to his senses, there will still be hope. Diana's heart alighted at this thought. “There is hope. There has to.”

With one last effort, Diana went near the two celestial lovers, bowed down, and knelt. Tears flowed from her eyes as she held Paul’s feet and begged. “Paul, what has happened to you? I know you can hear me, but your too overwhelmed by the sorceress’ spell. Please, fight her. I know you can do it. We need you Paul. We, your friends, need you. Please fight her. I beg of you, Paul. I beg of you…”

Athina, irritated by this pathetic act, kicked her away. “You fool! You think you can get your friend back with that? What are your words against my power? And even if you succeed, what then? I shall still own you all!”

Athina brought Paul closer into her. “Now my child, I will show you the true reality of what you had wanted to become…” Athina kissed Paul tenderly on his lips, and started sucking away his Youth Energy. Diana ignored the stream of tears that flowed from her as she stared miserably at her friend.

Satisfied with the huge amount of Youth Energy she had absorbed, she threw the lifeless body of Paul in front of Diana. Diana got hold of Paul and held him in her arms. Diana cried even more at the sight of his handsome but now cold face. She held him closer to her and embraced him tight, just as a mother embraces her lost child. She could only utter words of bitter despair. “Why, Paul? Why? Why?…”

Seeing all this drama, Athina laughed peevishly. “Hmm...what do you know? I knew you two would look good together. You will be my chef-d'oeuvre yet!” Delighted, she held out her hand, and started creating an icy ball that would soon turn the lonesome two into tragic crystal statues.

Diana never cared about what Athina just said. She could only care about crying for her friends. She could only care about crying for her dearest friend, now lifeless in her arms. She could only lament about her Destiny. She could only wish for a miracle.

Diana hugged Paul even tighter. A last stream of tears gushed from her eyes. Her tears fell on Paul’s lonely face, and then flowed gently to the glassy crystal floor.

From this drop of tear a tiny light came out. It was like a tiny star in a lonely night, a light so small yet bright.

Athina looked oddly at this tiny light. At that very moment, the “tiny star" twinkled, and suddenly exploded into an emanation of light that filled the whole crystal palace. Athina was blinded by the light, and was then thrown away by its great energy.

The light subsided, and in place of the tiny star a graceful young lady appeared. Her gown fluttered with her golden aura, her crown glittering on her radiant hair. She held a staff of gold that carried a heart-shaped crystal floating on its top. She lifted her face and looked at Athina. Her face illuminated her beauty, her grace, and her gentleness--all of which clearly surpassing that of the evil sorceress.

The lady lifted her staff, and a ball of sacred light came forth from it. She flew this to Athina, who tried to stop it with her ball of energy, but in vain. The ball of light reached Athina and enveloped her. She screamed as this warm radiance of light overcame her. The ball of light exploded, and the evil sorceress was defeated, forever.

Diana saw everything that has unfolded. She looked at Paul, still lifeless in her arms, his face smeared with her tears. She felt surprised and was puzzled, yet she was overwhelmed with gladness. A miracle did happen. Athina was defeated by this gentle deity. By that light--THAT very same light.

The golden deity turned back, approached Diana, and knelt beside her. She looked so gentle and kind, Diana thought. Who is this Savior?

And then at once it came to her--that same smile on her face, those same eyes that noticed everything, those same hands that once held hers, the very hands that once wiped her tears.

The deity embraced Diana. Diana rested on the deity's bosom and cried heartily. This caring warmth--so much it reminded her of her late friend. Could it possibly be...perhaps it is...but how? Had this something to do with her promise? Then indeed...Alissa...

Diana looked up at the deity. But before she could utter a word, she was silenced by the deity's gentle words.

"Hush...for it was Destiny that has made all come to pass. Hush now, for Paul is safe. I am Le Daht Assanthael, the Goddess of Light. By Destiny I came to be, and by Destiny I was brought to your friend. From the moment I saw him, I swore by the River of Heaven and drank its waters and sealed my heart with eternal love for him.”

Assanthael took Paul from Diana and held him in her arms. “Your friend is unlike any person alive. He is gentler, kinder, and more handsome than any one Destiny will ever let exist. That’s why everyone loves him. That’s why I love him. His qualities are all too precious to be taken away by any evil existing. He is only human, yes. But his heart is that of a deity. That is why I am here. I am here to be his protector, a guardian of an angel…”

With these words, the Golden Goddess kissed Paul tenderly. Such true love embraced them that a great power of light emanated from them. With this unnamed power all crystals of despair around them melted away with the warmth of happiness, and all that was cursed there returned to life. All crystal statues became their original selves again, and all who were buried breathed anew. Diana was touched by the spectacle. She realized then that all of her school batchmates were there. Her batchmates, all dressed up for the party, looked at each other and rejoiced. Diana was savoring this spectacle, when someone tapped at her back. It was Mike, Jet, and Mik-Mik, back as her old self. Diana was so happy that she embraced them all tightly in her arms. She cried, her tears no longer of sorrow but of divine happiness.

Paul felt on his lips the good deity who had given him a new life. It was a wonderful feeling, more wonderful than he had felt from the deceiving seductress. It was a feeling of true love. Paul returned the favor by returning the deity’s kiss, but before he could savor anymore of this newfound feeling, the deity withdrew. They looked at each other’s eyes. Finally, Paul spoke.

“Thank you, my goddess. Thank you for saving my friends.”

“And thank you for accepting my love,“ Le Daht Assanthael replied. The deity was so happy, that her tears fell to the ground and turned into shining pieces of pearls.

The whole Batch 2005 applauded for the two. Diana, Mike, Mik-Mik, and Jet, went to Paul and hugged their good old friend who has come back. As for the deity, she transformed and changed into a funky attired chic. At last, she's with them. At last, she can love.

The Christmas Party was finally opened in that old big crystal palace, which consequently was now a wonderful new structure in the heart of the park. Some people have to inform their invited guests of the change in venue. There was much talk for that day. Many still wondered whether the crystal queen really was Athina, their batchmate who was now abroad with another of their batchmate, Mickey. The boys drooled over the new divine babe in town, though some thought Ashanti (as they now dearly call the Goddess) seriously reminded them of the late upperclass-lady who was once notorious for stealing shots of guys. But for the rest of them, they danced, celebrating their victory from what could have be their eternal doom.

And as for our dear Paul? Well, he’s just glad that everything is back to normal. He thanked God he had finished his homework.

"HEY LOVER BOY! COME OVER HERE AND HAVE SOME FUN!!!" Michael Co, along with other guys from class section Adelfa desperately grabbed Paul towards the dancefloor. Being the pious and upright person that he always was, Paul resisted with all his might. Soon, everyone was pulling him. The party was not going to end without seeing the new couple dance to the rhythm of the night.

Though desperately flailing his arms like an octopus on the floor in defiance, Paul still managed to look at everyone around him. He looked at his friends who looked decided to make his night miserable. He looked at the dancing queen Ashanti, who was blushing shyly at the near corner of the dance floor. And then he sighed.

“It’s good to know that I have my friends. And it’s good to know that I can love. But Heavenly Father...what have I done to deserve all this??”

Saiyuki

2007-08-16T16:22:00.002+08:00

There was a monk who went on a journey to the west but never came back. Stories have been told as to what befell him. Some say he fell at the Edge of the Earth. Others say he runs to this day from the demons who long to devour his blessed body in hopes of attaining immortality. Still others believe he has already found greener fields and never wished to come back.

Stories come and go, not as much to tell what truly happened as to comfort ourselves from our own blindness, ruling over things we know not. Whoever remains in darkness abides there forever--lest one possess light to look back to where they were, to witness where they are, and to see what lie ahead.

There was a monk, who went on a journey to the west. He never came back--he had nowhere to come back to. He knew everything that had come to pass. That was what he found at the end of his journey.

Lives later, the monk, now reborn as Justin Go, handed over to me the scriptures he has saved from this sacred journey. He fulfilled his mission at last.. Again he goes on a "journey to the west". This time, he will never be back.

This was the monk's story. It only begins here.

- Jason Martin "Jman" Naniong

(Originally published at http://iam-datu.livejournal.com/65018.html)

Ancients: Visions I

2007-08-16T16:17:00.003+08:00

Resolved to unravel the true mystery behind her visions once and for all, Empress Ching, risking her life, decides to consult the prophet Sherniel, whose emperor, Gero, had just suffered a great loss from the Empress's forces in the battle in Leviathan. To her surprise, the prophet welcomes her openly and gives her his words. Is Sherniel just a disillusioned mad man the Empress had always thought he was, or was the scholar Emzo not telling her something, and that Sherniel really is a Prophet sent down by Destiny to unseal a revelation that will shake the hearts of all in Existence?

A hooded maidservant wore the darkness of night as she hurried through the Imperial Forest. To where she was heading no one knew. In fact, she didn't want anyone to know, and through her silent, quick steps she made sure it stayed such. She knew danger awaits her, in the forest where she now passes, and in the destination she was heading for. Yet she moved on alone. She remained unperturbed, but she was ever vigilant on anything that would come her way.

Without warning, something swift came past her. It barely missed her cheek and tore through her hood before she grabbed it. It was a needle. Suddenly more of them rained on her, but she evaded and caught them all.

Somewhere in her midst, a voice spoke.

"What insolence! A rogue maidservant dared to defy her Empress and defile her Sacred Forest!"

"True," the maidservant replied. "The Empress has indeed forbidden anyone to pass by her forest at night. You are just as guilty as I."

"Hah! For a lowly maidservant you speak proudly!," the voice remarked. "Do thou even knowest to whom thou speaketh?!"

"You words are fancy, fit for a noble," the maidservant commented. "Unfortunately I don't care if you are. I have an errand to attend to. And if thou must excuse thine presence...lest I disgrace thee."

From behind the maidservant a masked figure emerged. The figure held daggers on each of its hands. With rage it flew towards the maidservant.

"From this life 'til your next no words shall come from you--for I shall take your tongue that defiled our Noble Words!"

As the figure approached her, the maidservant threw the needles she have in her hand towards it. The figure sweeped the needles away, and drawing near the maidservant, prepared to slash her. The maidservant then took out two bladed fans and evaded each of her enemy's assault.

Trying to escape, the maidservant flew up. The masked figure followed, and on the tree branches they fought. Eventually the two stepped on a weak branch, and both fell to the ground as it broke.

The masked figure managed to stand first, and without delay approached the still lying maidservant. Just as it was about to stab her, the maidservant swirled up and hit away the figure's dagger. With the other dagger the figure attacked the maidservant who was as ever incensed to defeat her enemy.

In the chaos of their fight, the two came to a dreadlock. Willing to see the face of their enemy, the two took off the other's facade and prepared to strike each other.

What the now unmasked figure saw drained away the zeal from its hands as if it were cut off.

"Ching?!"

The Empress, unhooded of her guise, was just as shocked.

"Valerie!"

---

"How is the Emperor, Rey?," Sherniel inquired the nobleman who just bowed to him.

"He sleeps well, Sherniel," Rey replied. "Yet he remains as weak from the last battle."

"And your wounds?," Sherniel asked.

"Gina's gift of the earth's green proved worthy," Rey remarked.

Sherniel smiled at him. "You remain as humble as ever, Lord Rey. Even though the gift of your bloodline--your Eye--would be sufficient enough to heal you."

"It's not so," Rey countered. "The Angel's Eye, though powerful as it seem, is worthless without Destiny's will."

"And so is everything that exists," Sherniel added. "But Rey, dons't concealeth thee thy words cradle thy guilt. Rey...you still blame yourself for the Emperor's loss, do you?"

Indeed, Rey could not deny the Prophet's words. Visions from that battle in Leviathan remain fresh in his mind. How their ship sailed helpless against the enemy's imperial fleet. How Claro, once his ally, now almost took his life. How his ever reputed Eye, which could see through all deception, failed to save the Emperor--his friend, Gero--from falling for the Empress's trap. How, because of this failure, a comrade now suffers...

"Sherniel! Sherniel!," a woman tensely called as she entered the Prophet's tent. She fell on her knees in front of the two men and wept as she lamented. "Dear Prophet...Lord Rey...father...his pain thine heart cans't bear..."

The Paul that they found in his tent was worse than they anticipated. His body, trembling but rigid, winced in vain for comfort. His face was blue and pale, his mouth wide open like his eyes which stared at the ghostly forms of Death itself, though he could see not nor hear nor feel. He let out a sound--a screech or a hum it cannot be told, yet called neither pain nor guilt nor hatred, but of sheer emptiness.

Gina fell near her father and wiped his mouth off grime, cleansed by tears that flowed down her rosy cheeks, as well as from her father's own. Rey went near the two but beared not look at his comrade; he sat when his feet can endure his conscience no more. Sherniel knelt beside Gina and put his hand over Lord Paul's head. Murmuring prayers, light came forth the Prophet's hand and enveloped the Lord all over. Paul's contorted stature slowly diminished, and he fell into a slumber.

"For now, Paul will find repose," Sherniel remarked as he slowly stood up. Gina looked at her father's face. Despite his now peaceful image, Gina still was not relieved. Any moment, his father will suffer again. She will witness it all once more--the cries of a fallen man, not living nor dead, without emotion nor silence.

to be continued...

(Originally published at http://iam-datu.livejournal.com/26066.html#cutid1)

Ancients: The Celestial Siblings

2007-08-16T16:14:00.002+08:00

A young devastated man was awakened by sounds of chanting. He was however too weak to move. He remained lying on the shattered piece of what was once a mighty ship, drifting on the vast sea that threatened to keep him forever. Perhaps, he thought, the Sirens have come to get him.

The chants sounded clearer. Indeed, he thought, the Sirens are coming for him.

Woe is to him, Bobit, the Ember Serpent, a nobleman from the Royal House of the Flame, a warrior of the Guardian Order fighting valiantly alongside his comrades for the Holy Emperor at that last Battle in Leviathan--now no more than a handsome young concubine for despicable creatures in the depths...

NO, he thought, he wouldn't allow such fate to befall him. He summoned all the strength that remains of him and sat up.

But lo! Not ugly Sirens, but a gathering of people did he meet from afar.

As his raft slowly drifted closer, he gradually saw that that they were actually a group of women, wearing colorful robes and sitting on the water. It was indeed them who were chanting, though he has never heard of the language before.

His raft came to a sudden halt, just far enough for him to see the women clearly. By now the women should have taken notice of him, but none of them did. They remained in their places, deep in prayer, clapping their hands and chanting while earthen jars sat snugly on top of their heads. Bobit watched them silently. He was amazed over such show of pious devotion.

He took notice of someone among these women. The person sat just in front of them, completely covered in an elaborately woven veil that glimmered under the sun, a golden crown sitting on the person's head.

The women stopped chanting, and the veiled person stood up. Two women ceremonially took off the person's crown and veil. What met Bobit's eyes next was of pure delight.

For in place of the veiled person stood a beautiful young lady. Her delicate pale skin threatened to outshine the sun. She wore a distinct attire that cannot be described anything less than regal, and gentle flowing cloth on her arms gave her the impression of a sparrow. In her hand she held what seemed to be an ancient staff.

With her eyes closed, the lady raised her staff, and the women chanted once more. Waves encircled her as she encircled her staff around her. She danced, and the waves went up like crystal clear ribbons that she seem to command at will. Such power emanated from the lady that Bobit thought the whole sea will shake, but to his surprise the sea became calm, much calmer that it lay smoothly like glass. Bobit watched at how graceful the lady danced. He was taking notice of the serenity of her face when the lady opened her eyes. She stared at Bobit, and smiled.

That moment, Bobit wanted nothing more than to get close to the lady. And so, he stood up and stepped out of his raft.

But alas! Instead of stepping on shallow water, he plunged on an endlessly deep sea. What trickery has befallen him! He was absolutely sure the water was shallow enough to walk upon. How else could those women do so? But his realization came too late. The water pulled him deeper and deeper. Bobit took of his metal armor and struggled to swim back up, but couldn't. He tried and tried, until at last his strength left him. The sun now was no more than a rippled haze that became dimmer each time. It was his end, Bobit thought, and the sea would be his grave. For the last time, he thought of the face of the lovely lady that has brought him to this end. He closed his eyes, thinking of the lady embracing him in her arms.

-o-o-o-o-

Redam...Redam, sem citanlah...

Bobit slowly opened his eyes. It was as though he's still in a dream, seeing the face of the young lady in front of him, smiling.

Redam...jemang!

Bobit then heard giggles around him. At last he has fully awakened.

"Hariadang yang Sridama," Bobit heard someone seemed to scold. "Daarang tu mensamasama yang dariparang!"

"Ayu, Gadang!", the young lady replied, "Hatian sema da...miaherikherik ma dangan lehikanyang!"

"SRIDAMAYANG!", the woman blushed and covered her face in embarassment as everyone around her laughed at what the lady has said. Thereafter she stood up and helped Bobit on his feet.

"Forgive me dear Sir," the lady said to Bobit, "but the woman over there, Gadang, adores you so much. Actually...they all like you."

"You speak my language?", Bobit asked in surprise.

"I do, but not everyone here can," she replied.

Bobit looked around and saw the same women he saw a while ago looking at the two of them. It mustn't have been long since he nearly drowned, for they were all still there in that same place in the middle of the sea.

"Jemang lehikanyang!," the lady called Bobit, "Didn't you ever know that only the people who were blessed by the Water Goddess like us, the Mahisaioms, could walk on water? Well...it doesn't matter now."

The lady cleared her throat before continuing. "By Saiomie's leave the water has cleansed thee and healed thy wounds, and adorned thy garments and armor anew, lest we be accused of insolence to a nobleman."

Bobit stared at the lady who was proud to utter such a formal sentence. Her emerald-brown eyes sparkled as her moist lips shaped her every word. If only she would tell her name...

"What were you doing here, if I may ask?," Bobit said.

"We were doing a Desalting Ritual so we could gather unsalted sea water to use for cooking for the feast tonight," she replied. "But I reckon that is not what you truly wish to ask. The sweat on thy brows tell so."

The lady wiped off the beads of sweat that lined Bobit's eyebrows. She stared at his innocent, childish eyes. He truly is jemang, she thought.

"You asked, and I will answer. I am merely a humble servant of the Goddess Saiomie, the keeper of Her Holy Staff, the Awang--a priestess. In our tongue, I am Krisantung--the Sea Sparrow. But in your tongue, as well as of the Gods...I am Kirsten."

Bobit was about to introduce himself when Kirsten embraced him. Bobit was surprised, naturally.

"Do not worry, dear warrior, for this is no more than our custom for someone we expect to come. The Mage David has told me about you, Bobit. And you have come at last."

The Ember Serpent and the Sea Sparrow have indeed met, as was destined.

(Originally published at http://iam-datu.livejournal.com/18868.html#cutid1)