- ??? -
The ancient texts speak of a divine known as Proximus, one of the original beings that came into existence on their own. Using his will alone Proximus harnessed the fragments of the primordial elements and from it extracted the ability to manipulate time.
Over the eons, those who recognized Proximus as a divine have been blessed by his boon and could exhibit a minuscule fragment of his being.
"The texts also state that Proximus has already witnessed Heaven Vehemency and has chosen to stand aside."
"For Decem millennium he has remained hidden from all." The speaker inhaled lightly. "Why would he choose now to reappear? Would he return knowing the fate that awaits him?"
"Who would usher his sentence then? Oris? Tazuriyari? Mayurinari? No one!" A burst of laughter followed the scornful inquisition.
"Indeed Oris and Tazuriyari can not be sensed in the heavens anymore, and without her other half Mayurinari may not be able to pass judgment upon Proximus."
"Woe and woe to the mortal realm. For without them who would oppose this deity from returning to Morland? Who would keep the chains of time from uncoiling him out of his self-made prison?"
It was quiet again.
The speakers went silent and she could no longer see them, only flashes of events that they spoke about and glimpses of things that had occurred long before the birth of mortals. However, from the darkness that encompassed the atmosphere around her, she took what seemed to be a step forward and spoke out.
"I... would."
Stuttering from her declaration, she immediately found herself standing before what appeared as two gigantic, humanoid-shaped stars staring down at her. Reluctantly she took another step forward, knowing her place among these divine, then one of them showed signs of turning his enormous head to look down at her, the ant that would speak to dragons.
"A mortal here?" The divine seemed to lean down to look at her without even moving its body, its large head would appear to drift closer to her. "I see. However, you are a mere witness. Henceforth mortal you will observe the events as they begin to unfold."
"A mere window, but still one of the few chosen by him." The other divine continued to speak. "His eyes to the world, the window from the prison world he dwells."
"A prison world? You mean Proximus?"
A sudden silence came over everything, and the place once brightened by the light of the divine beings had blackened. Suddenly dark shadows stretched from below her, wrapped themselves around her, and then began pulling her away.
- ROYAL PALACE, QUARIA -
The shadows drew her away from the divine beings and as she flew through space and time she felt her spirit return to her body. The Princess's eyes opened suddenly, her body was soaked in her sweat and she could feel a ringing sound in her head.
'A world where the light of the divines shown brighter than the sun.' She touched her forehead lightly as she wondered about what had been revealed to her.
"A window..."
She recalled what one of the deities had said to her in her vision, this was not the same as the regular foresight she usually experienced. The Princess squeezed the linen covers in her fist as she struggled to understand what the vision meant.
'It had felt too real, much more than anything she had ever seen.'
A looming shadow slowly crept over to her bed like a puppy that would jump into its master's arms, but this shadow was shaped like a mortal's outstretched hand as if reaching out to touch her. She immediately realized that something else had been there with her as she slumbered and fell into an enchantment of oracles.
"Who's there?!"
The shadow stopped knowing she had learned of its presence.
"Who are you?"
As though retreating from its venture, the shadow retracted from her bed and darkened one of the corners in the Princess' bed chamber.
"So what if you knew who I was?"
A voice responded shrewdly from the shadow, and it sounded as though a deep and a high-pitched tone were speaking in unison.
"That would depend on your intentions?" The Princess replied.
"My intentions are mine own mortal, you would do well to pry no further." From the corner, a shadowy finger appeared in mid-air and waved in a sideways motion. "No telling Princess, I can't have you spoiling the fun now, can I?"
The Princess seemed unable to speak and from her bed, she could only let out silent gasps as though she was choking. Her gaze remained steady on the shadowy hand, but her lack of voice had slowed her reactions and allowed the figure to escape without revealing to her any more secrets, than what her eyes had already seen.
"The boon of Moria will not remain with you forever..."
The shadow's voice echoed from a distance as the chromatic hue faded from her eyes, the Princess could now feel the effects of the prolonged use of her divine eyes. Even though it had been a few minutes, this creature had forced her to utilize a majority of her mana just to keep it at bay.
'Fortunately, I was able to learn more about my humble visitor.'
[Knock* Knock* Knock*]
It was the guards.
All members of the Royal family had guards watching the door to their chambers at all times, regardless of the royal's own ability to protect themselves, this was done out of a long-established tradition.
"Princess, we will now change shifts." The guard stated. "Teristan and Gaeno will take over."
The Princess recalled Teristan's name, he was one of the new Palace Guards assigned to guard the Princess. She recalled when she accidentally brushed his arm and read through his thoughts, he found a mortal with a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility. His fidelity to the Kingdom was later recognized by the King and he was rewarded dearly for it.
"Your highness? Are you there?" Tristan called from behind the door.
His voice was orotund, but friendly in a way that allowed anyone to feel the genuine emotions he had behind his words, the Princess could not help but respond to him.
"Yes Teristan, I am still here," She answered quietly, but loud enough so the guards could hear her. "A few more minutes."
"Yes, your highness."
Satisfied with the Princess' current wellbeing, Teristan quietened and returned to his duties.
The Princess felt dizzy, but she could not dare let her guard down in case the shadowy fiend would return. In her mind, the events of her vision repeated as she tried to figure out why she had found herself in the presence of the divine beings.
'Who are these two that defy what the ancient texts had presumed long ago? Why did Proximus imprison himself? Are the rest of the original beings truly dead too?'
Even as all these questions continuously crossed the Princess's mind, she could not help but connect her encounter with what she told Hielgan back at the Inn.
A dragon is in Quaria, but Quaria already belongs to the Great Tyrant. What will happen when these two collide?