☆ALLEYS OF EDEN☆
The walk to his hide out was an easy one. Though the night had been eventful he just needed to make it to safety until morning.
Light always recharged the darkness for some old reason.
A few more blocks and he'd be...
He hears footsteps.
He was tired but the shadows formed the blade once more.
His head began spinning.
He knew he couldn't survive another drawn out battle. Especially with Sied.
He barely escaped with his life the last time. This time he wouldn't be so lucky.
BOOM!
Garbage flew in every direction as children charged in excitement.
"You're slow" a brown haired Eon girl yells back taking the lead.
"You knocked over the trash. You're always cheating." a smaller ember haired boy chased after her.
"Wait for me!" followed the runt of the litter.
Kyo laughed at himself for being so paranoid.
It wasn't uncommon for the orphans to run the streets at this hour and he could bet he knew where they were going.
☆TEMPLE OF AURORA ☆
The Timple of Aurora, a massive cathedral made of Snow blossom oak and Pearl. It was said to have been built during the time of the Gods as a tribute to the Goddess Aurora for bringing life to the world. But Kyo didn't believe in any of that.
'What Gods would abandon their own world?'
"...it was a time of great magic as well as grief and suffering." the young priestess spoke elegantly as the children began sitting in rows in front of her.
"Long ago, during the first era the Gods protected us. Though most did not emerge through flesh, their presences were felt in all things. The world prospered during this time.... Until the great sin... The God of Death, Deagon tainted the children of Aurora and the Nephilim were born... This angered the Gods, starting the great battle that tore the nation of Pangaea in two. Deagon sacrificed the souls of countless innocents to summon a demon of unimaginable power. In the end the Gods band together sealing away all forms of magic in the world... Each God has their resting place and the Temple of Aurora houses the seal to the Goddess herself... It is said that one day, one will be chosen the help restore the world."
As the young priestess finish her tale her eyes rested on Kyo with wonder.
"Now if you are hungry we have Cooked boar, Wererabit stew and bread in the chapel hall."
She could barely get the words out before the children trample eachother. For some, this was the only meals they got so it was understandable.
Kyo turned to continue his journey to his destination but was quickly stopped.
"Did you not like the tale?" she called across the court yard.
The children had all vanished into the chapel hall. It was now just them alone.
"The children of Eden don't have the luxury of believing in fairytales."
"It is hope that keeps them strong. It is the last bit of power we have left."
"And while you provide false hope, our people die every day."
The air around them seemed thicker, colder.
She knew all too well of the children going missing and the dozens of towns where hundreds of their people had been slaughtered.
A sense of determination fell over her.
"I will not allow any of our people to die in vain. The Eon will survive the days to come at all cost. I swear my life to it."
He couldn't tell if it was courage or stupidity that he saw in her. This woman was small and fragile, yet he did not sense the slightest sign of weakness.
He smiled.
"I'm glad we have someone like you protecting us."
Before she could form a response he had vanished into the shadows once more.
'That boy is very strange.' she thought, gathering herself.
She turned again toward the darkness of city as she entered into the main hall.
"High Priestess come quick." she was quickly met by another Sister of Light.
"Is everything okay?"
The sister looked flustered. She was obviously nervous as she leaned forward trying to keep the matter quiet.
"..."
" TWO THOUSAND GOLD?!"
☆Imperial Counsel☆
The room was dimly lit. Only a few torches kindled at this hour making it hard to see the many faces of the High Counsel. A massive hearth filled the heart of the room embering like the last hope of the Eon people. It was circled by the seats of the families that oversee Eden with a large door that was the only way in or out.
"Next order of business. High Priestess Aura." An elder Nephilim man announced as the Eon priestess entered the room.
The counsel chamber fell quiet as Aura stood before the flames. They danced from a distant draft but in her eyes they seemed to be the flames of determination.
'This was her only chance.'
"How much longer must we wait?" she commanded authority as the room fell to utter silence.
"The children of Eden are suffering. During the pass year hundreds of our people have died to a mysterious phenomenon. Entire villages have been left deserted and where is our hand in this?"
"Do you expect the Nephilim, the protectors of Eden to waste manpower on what's obviously either a civil or feral matter?" Sied stood to his feet.
Though the room was scarcely illuminated she knew all too well the bane of her people. But not even he could falter her heart.
" Civil? Do we forget that the Eon are a people of peace? We have never faught amongst eachother since the time of old. And since when have monsters and animal took to burning entire villages?"
Before she understood her implication it was too late. If the Eon weren't responsible for their own grief nor the monsters, that only left the Nephilim.
Eyes glared at her from all corners of the room.
The quiet room grew angry at the accusations. They felt insulted that such a weak race would think that they would need to resort to tricks to resolve any problems the two races may have.
High Chancellor Julius rose a hand in the air and the chamber was silent yet again.
" I will send provisions for these matters to be humbly resolved. Furthermore guards will be placed in coastal areas to ensure that no other town is taken from us."
He made it sound so easy.
Aura knew if things sounded too good to be true then they most likely were. But what could she do? If she protested she would seem unreasonable in the eyes of the counsel.
"Aurora's blessings to you High Chancellor."
"If that is it then I will end this for today."
"Actually, there is one more thing I'd like to discuss." Sied stood to his feet again, demeanor as hard as ever.
The energy in the room seemed to shift.
"Today I encountered an extremely unusual boy. He was caught stealing from the market. He not only alluded me but killed two of my wolves. You wouldn't happen to know of such a child would you dear priestess?"
The interest of the room was now piqued.
Not only was it a feat for an Eon boy to be able to escape from the General of the Imperial Army, but killing two trained wolves was hard for even some of the generals best men to do alone.
Aura was stifled.
No Eon possessed this power from her knowledge. After the magic of the world died long ago the Eon remained frustratingly helpless.
"That is preposterous." she exclaimed.
He could sense the unease in her voice.
If the the Eon saw this as a sign of hope and band together, the outcome was inconclusive. A rebellion would have to die where it started.
"If I find out the Eon are up to something, I WILL purge the world of their existence until I find that boy. And anything else you may be hiding."