Chapter 44: Shadows of the Past
The temple walls loomed high around Tessa and Adrian, their intricate carvings glowing faintly in the moonlight. Tessa felt her heart race as she scanned the ancient symbols depicting the mythology she had grown up with: the rise of Rhemon, the godlike figure who had shaped the Rhemonic people.
Everything here praised his might, but after everything Adrian had revealed, those tales now felt like hollow echoes of a darker truth.
Adrian's voice was calm but firm as he broke the silence. "I know this isn't easy to accept, Tessa. You've been raised with these stories your whole life, but Rhemon wasn't who they said he was."
Tessa shook her head, still struggling to reconcile Adrian's words with the world she knew. "But they're called the Rhemonic people. Everything I've ever learned was about his greatness. How could anyone not follow him?"
Adrian guided her to a section of the temple mural that depicted a battle—a fierce clash between two figures, one wreathed in flames, the other shadowed. His finger traced the image of the flaming warrior.
As they stood before it, the murals were subtly coming to life, with quick, almost imperceptible flashes that made it seem like a prophecy was activating, but Tessa and Adrian couldn't fully grasp or be sure of what they were seeing, as it all happened too quickly and was too faint.
"Before Rhemon tried to seize power, the Rhemonic people worshipped both the Sun God, Solaris, and the Moon Goddess, Lunara. They believed in balance. But Rhemon and Ikehara—his accomplice, the shadow of the Sun God—took that balance and twisted it." Adrian began speaking.
The night air felt thick with tension as Tessa and Adrian walked through the remains of the Rhemonic temple.
Adrian's voice continued to sound, and like the flow of water in a gentle stream, knowledge poured out, his tone serious yet calm. "Not everything is as it seems, Tessa. Rhemon may have left his name imprinted on the people, but that doesn't mean all of them follow him blindly."
Tessa frowned. "They're called the Rhemonic people. Their entire culture is built around him—how could anyone break away from that?"
Adrian led her toward a large stone mural, the flicker of moonlight casting eerie shadows over the ancient carvings. "They didn't always worship Rhemon. Before his attempted uprising, they revered the balance between the Sun God Solaris and the Moon Goddess Lunara. But Rhemon's rebellion changed everything. He and Ikehara, his shadow, wove a false narrative, twisting the truth to make it seem like Rhemon had always been the one true god."
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A story seems to awaken within the murals which Tessa could barely notice or glimpse at...
Flashback:
Before Rhemon's rebellion, the people of Planet Kael lived in balance, worshiping both the Sun God and the Moon Goddess. Solaris was the bringer of light, life, and strength, while Lunara was the guardian of the night, peace, and wisdom. Together, they kept the world in harmony.
But Rhemon, a lowly warrior dissatisfied with his place, sought to challenge that balance. Alongside his accomplice Ikehara, the shadow of the Sun God, he plotted to overthrow Solaris, believing that he could seize the power of the sun for himself.
When his rebellion failed, Rhemon twisted his defeat into a legend, claiming he had been unjustly exiled and casting himself as the true Sun God. He and Ikehara spread lies about Lunara, turning her from a figure of balance into a symbol of chaos. The truth became hidden, and many began to follow Rhemon's new religion.
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Present Day:
"That's where the factions began," Adrian continued, his gaze drifting over the mural. "Not everyone bought into Rhemon's lies. Some remembered the old stories, the balance between the Sun and the Moon. They didn't agree with the way Rhemon turned himself into the sole figure of worship."
Tessa stepped closer to the mural, tracing her fingers over the image of Solaris, the outstretched hand of Solaris were engulfed in flames. "But they still call themselves the Rhemonic people?" Tessa added in confusion.
"Out of necessity," Adrian explained. "After Rhemon's rise, his name became synonymous with their culture, their identity. Even those who rejected his version of the story had to live under his shadow. It was easier to attach themselves to the Rhemonic lineage and stay hidden than to risk an open conflict."
Tessa's mind spun as she tried to reconcile the idea. "So the factions split?"
"Exactly," Adrian confirmed. "The largest faction is made up of those who worship Rhemon alone, following his twisted version of history. Then there's the faction that remembers the old ways, worshiping both Solaris and Lunara as equals—Nyala is part of that group. They've preserved the truth, but they live in secret, trying not to draw attention. And finally, there's a small faction that worships only the Moon Goddess, seeing her as the true deity, rejecting even Solaris in defiance of Rhemon's lies."
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The murals flashed again as the story continued...
Flashback: The Fall of Lunara's Legacy
After Rhemon's rebellion, Ikehara spread false tales about Lunara, tarnishing her name among the Rhemonic people. He claimed that Lunara had been complicit in Solaris's fall, that she had abandoned her people in the dark of night. Slowly, the followers of the Moon Goddess dwindled as her story, the story of the legendary Moon goddess, from planet Kael, was erased from the history books.
But not all forgot. The faction that remained loyal to Lunara took her teachings underground, passing them from generation to generation. They believed that one day, the truth would come to light, and Lunara's power would be restored.
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Present Day:
Tessa turned to face Adrian, her heart pounding with the weight of his words. "Nyala... her people have been living in the shadows all this time, protecting the true story?"
Adrian nodded. "They've been quietly resisting Rhemon's influence for centuries. And now, with Ikehara trying to reawaken Rhemon, their knowledge of the truth is more important than ever."
Tessa's thoughts raced. She had spent the entire time, and even, almost all her life, believing that Rhemon was the one true Sun God. Now, everything she knew was in question. But one thing stood out to her above all else: Ikehara's return.
"He's trying to wake Rhemon from stasis," she said, her voice steady. "Ikehara wants to finish what they started."
Presently, it seemed evident that Rhemon was in a kind of stasis, a non-responsive state, otherwise he would have challenged Tessa right then when she first handled the blood leaf.
"And if he succeeds in waking Rhemon," Adrian said, "Rhemon will rise again, more powerful than ever. But this time, the factions that remember the truth—the ones who still honor both Solaris and Lunara—will fight back."
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The stories once again flashed within the mural, but both Tessa and Adrian couldn't see nor hear anything. It was like it was loading separately, preparing itself, as if the pages of a book were being turned...
Flashback: Solaris vs. Rhemon
In their final battle, Rhemon and Solaris clashed in a duel that shook the very foundation of Kael. Fire and shadow collided in a maelstrom of power, but it was Solaris who emerged victorious, casting Rhemon into stasis and banishing Ikehara to the shadows.
But before Rhemon was sealed away, he vowed to return. "The sun will bow to me," he hissed. "And when I rise, even the moon will fall."
Solaris, his eyes blazing with the light of a thousand suns, stood over his defeated foe. "The sun's light belongs to all, not just to those who seek to dominate it. You will never control the sun's fire, Rhemon."
With that, Rhemon's body was locked away, deep within the planet, leaving Solaris to guard his people. But Ikehara had not been destroyed. He slinked away, vowing to awaken his master when the time was right.
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Present Day:
Tessa stared up at the moonlit sky, her mind still trying to process everything. She knew what was coming. Ikehara was already moving to reawaken Rhemon, and the factions of the Rhemonic people would be forced to choose sides. Those who remembered the truth would have to fight against the ones still devoted to the false god.
"Rhemon's resurrection will tear the Rhemonic people apart," Adrian said softly. "And the world may be caught in the middle."
"We can't let that happen," Tessa replied, her voice fierce with determination. "We need to find the ones who still remember the truth—the ones who worship both the sun and the moon."
Adrian gave her a reassuring nod. "We will. The balance of power is shifting, and if Ikehara succeeds, there may be no stopping the war that follows."
Tessa clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. She had always been a fighter, but this was different. This wasn't just about her or the people around her. This was about uncovering the truth—about restoring the balance that had been lost.
'A thought struck her. 'My adopted mother is still in the possession of the SSG. I have to rescue her first before I start dealing with Rhemonic matters. I just need one break... just one day.'
Tessa's world had become overwhelming. From a simple schoolgirl to a hunted fugitive, and now a key figure in an ancient celestial conflict. It all felt too fast.
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