The statue of Seraphina is what you would call majestic - no, ethereal, otherworldly? Words could not describe the beauty it possesses yet, I could not be drawn to it like the others were - nor any of the other statues littered throughout the town square. But I always find myself lost in thought staring at them.
People gather here every morning like clockwork, their eyes wide with unspoken adoration, murmuring prayers and casting hopeful glances towards the cold marble as if expecting it to answer. Their devotion was palpable; a collective longing for protection from these silent guardians.However, I feel an inexplicable chill whenever I walk past them.
Today was no different. The square buzzed with activities, but a gentle pull in my chest steered me away from the path home and back towards the center of the square. As I approached, the rays cast by the rising sun made the figures seem almost lifelike, the fine details of Seraphina's wings carved with such precision that they almost seemed to flutter in the light breeze.
"Why aren't you with the congregation?" A voice broke through my reverie.
I turn to find Cillian eyeing me curiously. His presence was comforting, a familiar anchor in the sea of my unsettled thoughts.
"I don't know," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "There's something strange about the statues, don't you think? Everyone else seems drawn to them, but they just make me feel… uneasy."
Cillian's eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the statues as if seeing them for the first time. "Maybe you just see things others don't," he suggested, though his tone was noncommittal.
We stood there in silence, our eyes fixed on Seraphina. The statue's serene expression offered no clues, but the more I stared, the more I felt a vague sense of warning emanating from it.
"Did you ever wonder," I began tentatively, "if these 'sources of power' are real?"
Cillian shrugged. "They say the Guardian had them placed here generations ago to protect us. They're supposed to be representations of where he got his power—they're beings watching over us from beyond the walls."
"The walls…" My voice trailed off as I turned towards the distant barriers that encircled our town. No one I knew had ever been beyond them. The Guardian assured us it was for our own protection, that the world outside was fraught with dangers still lurking after the ancient pandemic.
"Yeah, I know the teachings. Cillian," I said, turning back to him, "have you ever thought about what's really out there? Beyond the walls?"
He hesitated, his usual easygoing demeanor shifting into something more guarded. "Sometimes, but it's forbidden to talk about leaving, Seren. You know that."
"I know," I replied, my gaze drifting back to the statue of Seraphina. "But what if there's more to the story? What if there's something else we don't know?"
Cillian looked at me, his expression serious. "You should be careful with such thoughts. The Guardian doesn't take kindly to dissent."
I already knew that he was going to say that. It is what I always hear after questioning our origins.
"You should come back to the Dome. The Guardian's gonna be here soon." said Cillian.
As he walked away, I felt a stir of defiance. The statues, the walls, the Guardian - they are the norm, but whenever I have questions I never seem to get a set answer. Glancing around to make sure no one else was near, I stepped closer to Seraphina's statue and laid my hand upon its base, where the words 'For Your Safety' were etched into the stone.
The cold marble seemed to pulse under my touch, and I shivered. There was a story here, hidden within these silent stone watchers. I left to follow Cillian to The Dome.
The Dome, which is short for The Dome of Order, is where we the only inhabitants of earth and the citizens of the Enclosure gather weekly to give praises to our saviour who saved our ancestors from the pandemic that struck our world. This is also one of the few times where we see the great Guardian.
A God among men really.
Based on our teachings, The Guardian, with the powers he has gained from ancient gods, saved us from the pandemic that took place on earth wiping out 70% of the human population. The Guardian took the survivors to what we know as The Enclosure and cured them. He provided us a place to carry on our human lives despite the tragedy. While those survivors have died out, they procreated throughout the years to continue the human race. It has been over a hundred years. Could there still be a pandemic wreaking havoc outside? According to the chosen one - yes.
Our great Guardian is blessed with immortality and remains ageless. He was the one that erected statues of the ancient gods and encouraged us to worship them for they continue to protect us to this day from the dangers of the outside world.
In the heart of The Enclosure, beneath the expansive, arching dome of translucent material that shimmered with a soft, otherworldly glow, we gathered for the daily ritual of worship. The Dome of Order stood as a symbol of unity. Its vast interior space filled with rows of sleek, stone benches that faced a massive altar at the front.
The air was heavy with the scent of burning incense, sweet and cloying, designed to induce a mild euphoria among the attendees.
At the front of the Dome, the Guardian stood tall and imposing, his figure cloaked in elaborate robes of purple that hinted at power and mystique. His face was composed - an ever-present mask that projected benevolence and authority.yet. Guardian - the man chosen by the gods. Today, like every day, he would address his flock, reinforcing the sanctity of the enclosed world and the peril that still lingered beyond our walls.
As the last of the murmurs died down and the congregation settled into a respectful silence, the Guardian's voice echoed through the dome, rich and captivating. "Beloved children," he began, his tone paternal, "we gather in the Dome of Order, under the watchful eyes of the major Gods, who have preserved us from the chaos that once threatened to consume humanity. Here, in our blessed Dome, we are safe, we are united, we are eternal."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. The Guardian's gaze swept over the audience, taking in our adulation, our dependence, our devotion. "Let us offer our thanks and our prayers," he continued, gesturing grandly towards the altar, upon which stood a magnificent statue of Aeolus, his sculpted features crafted to perfection, a beacon of grace. We then bow our heads in reverence. I do these things without even thinking. Almost like I am conditioned.
Unbeknownst to him, at the back of the crowd, I watched with a critical eye. Telling myself what he would do each time throughout the service.
The Guardian would conclude the ritual with a benediction, sending us away filled with gratitude for his salvation and fear of the unknown. The routine is welcomed, and at the end of the sermon we leave row by row.
"Seren!" bellowed Jade, her voice tinged with excitement. A tall, thin girl stood on the grounds of the Dome outside. Jade is one of my closest friends. She stretched her arms to embrace me in a hug. " I've been so busy, I haven't seen you lately. How are you?"
" OH, you know, same old same old." I replied while in her arms.
"Uggh, you're always so boring. " she laughs as she releases me. She tucks her shoulder length blond hair behind her ears and peers at me. "Well being a teacher is wearing me out. I thought all the reading would be done once I left the training centre but now it's where it's really hard."
Jade always wanted to be an educator. She loved children so she decided to follow her dreams. Plus, just like me she's always been curious and this was one of the ways she could get satisfy herself.
"Reading?" I asked confused.
" Now I have unbridled access to history books and they're needed to do my job. There's a lot I still don't know despite my training."
The Enclosure has a large library with a history section containing books from even before the world collapsed into a state of anarchy due to the pandemic. But they are restricted from everyone else unless you are a teacher, researcher or a part of The Guardian's circle. The only books regular citizens have access to has very little information about the world before the pandemic and tons of information about what happened after.
The pandemic, based on what was told to me and what I read, was a worldwide disaster. An unknown disease swept across the world killing humans and animals at an alarming rate. It melted people's skin. It was very contagious.
It was said that the Guardian had healing properties as a gift from the gods. Crazy how one man saved the rest of the population and is still among us today.
"I've always been fascinated by what it was like before that. I would love to know what the ocean looks like? Or the desert." I mused.
"It does have some information and I'm not allowed to share much. But based on what I read, it's everything we used to dream of as kids." she smiled.
I wanted to know more. "That's vague."
"But I do want to share something with you." she said in a hushed tone.
An unsettling feeling grew in my stomach. "What..what is it?"
Jade glanced around us to see if anyone overheard or was looking in our direction "Not here, could we meet later tonight at the old mill?"
"Of course. I'll be there." I nodded.
Jade squeezed my hand briefly, a silent message of reassurance.."Good to see you. Later then." She then turned and disappeared back into the crowd. I watched her go, my heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and fear. Whatever Jade has to say, it must be important.
As I turned to head home, my mind raced with possibilities. I left the Dome and walked through the bustling square.