38 - Ominous Signs

I did end up re-introducing Silence to everyone as Chiyo. Some of them wondered why Chiyo had finally spoken - in private - but I evaded the questions, citing her preference to privacy.

The rest of that day was filled with friendly banter and simple celebration. Juliana was bedridden, so Thomas brought her her own food. I visited her after dinner, and met Juliana's little girl, who was contentedly sleeping wrapped in a small blanket, laying on her mother's chest. What few hair strands she had were brown like her mother's.

"Took you long enough to check on me, Mr. Chief."

I ignored the jab, "Have you decided on a name?"

"I wanted something that signified new beginnings, but at the same time, I wanted something my husband would pick."

"So you haven't decided yet?"

She shook her head, "No, I have. Marcus, meet Hope."

"Hope. A wonderful name."

We continued our conversation until Katie retrieved me. After that, we exchanged goodnights, and Katie and I left for our room. 

I found myself in a circular, low-ceiling room and immediately realized that I was dreaming. At the center of the room, a lectern held an open book. Its white pages contrasted sharply with the cover, which was blacker than the deepest cave. I shuddered at realizing that the book was bound in Andernite. 

Three cloaked and hooded figures stood around the lectern. The one closest to my left spoke first.

"We have to destroy it, and forget everything we've learned from it." The voice was obviously the Ancient's.

"How?" the shortest person asked, their voice clearly feminine. 

"There is a volcano south of here. If the lava doesn't destroy it, it will at least be unreachable."

"Destroying a gift of the Gods is outright heresy. What is your reasoning?" The third figure said. His burly figure loomed over the other two. 

"If this was about respect to the Gods, you wouldn't be opposing me, brother." The Ancient replied. "The power this book contains already shakes reality to its core. Anything short of the total destruction of it will undoubtedly result in the end of Valade."

I nodded unconsciously. Yes, that stuff was dangerous. Even the most well-intentioned person could destroy everything they loved with a wayward wish.

"Then we control it. Control access to it. No one sees or touches the book without the three of us agreeing on it, not even us." the older brother countered.

"And when we disagree? When you want to do something with the book, and you don't get our approval? As long as it exists, we risk it falling in the wrong hands. And if someone who opposes us gets the book, what can we do?"

"As long as we have the book, no one can take it from us, not with its power."

"I must agree with," the Ancient's name was replaced with a muffled static sound as the sister spoke up. "It is too dangerous. I have read magics in it that would shake the power balance of the world, let alone reality. Any kingdom we chose would become an empire. And with that power... How would we be any better than the Tarluans? It must go."

I was ejected from the dream, waking up as fast as if I had been doused in cold water. Katie lay peacefully asleep, undisturbed by my sudden awakening. I gently pulled our blanket over her shoulder, then slipped out of bed.

I dressed myself, and grabbed the Ancient by his sheath. Any hint of exhaustion was gone.

*What are you doing?* The Ancient asked.

*Thinking, and I'm going to get some answers from you.* I replied mentally.

Looking over to check on my wife one more time, I left the room. I sensed that the Ancient had a short conversation with the Angel, which leaned against the corner of the room by Katie's feet. I took the Ancient outside, and with a few quick bounds, to the roof of the Temple of Swords.

"So. What happened to that book?"

The Ancient was silent, but I waited patiently. Finally, he replied, *It remains in a sealed room of the Temple of Swords.*

"Why? You had a plan to destroy it, or at least hide it forever. As you've said, no barrier is impregnable."

*We hid something else there. Something more dangerous.*

"What? What could be more dangerous than that book, with its Andernite cover?"

*A person with the wrong intentions. An immortal with both the power and knowledge to not only destroy the world, but rebuild it in his own image.*

"Who? A demigod?"

*No. My brother.*

I was quiet for a moment, reflecting on the dream-memory. "Were you all immortal at the time of that dream? I assume you saw what I dreamed, probably even caused it."

*It wasn't intentional, but you did see that memory because of our connection. Yes, we had all taken part in a ritual we found in the book that extended our lifespans indefinitely. The Song of Soulblade Transformation.*

"So, you could still hold a human form after becoming a soulblade? If you three could, why can't the rest?"

*After my sister and my conflict with our brother, the Adversary, in which we sealed him in his blade form, we altered the Song of Soulblade Transformation, so that no mortal could become immortal while remaining autonomous. The Song that was passed down in rumors and history was not the same as what we had used.*

"Then what about Celine? She must be a Soulblade, given that your communication skill is required to hear her, but she's still in human form."

*She puzzles me as well. My brother and sister did not need to use me as a translator to the mortals after we completed the Song. She is unique, and it would take at least decades of research to discover how she became as she is.*

So even the Ancient - the one most knowledgeable of Valade's magic laws - didn't know everything. I found that it surprised me.

With fewer questions pressing my mind, I descended from the Temple roof with footstep platforms, and returned to bed. Katie, half-asleep, asked where I'd gone, but I said I'd tell her in the morning.