Chapter 4: A Vision of the Past

Note: Celi is now 15 years old, she was thirteen at the start and two years had passed.

Celi carefully opened the book that she has slipped from the library. The words were in the old language, but she had no problem understanding what had been written by some long ago writer. But the meaning was confusing.

The sun is the eye of Anhamirak, the moon is the eye of Ahnmik,

both watch over their realms peacefully in the sky.

The Dasi worshipped the sun and moon, two perfect examples of balance.

But the two gods were not predictable,

their abilities quickly proved that.

The day it happened.

Celi blinked as she pondered the piece that just had been read. It sounded confusing, the why she couldn't quite grasp. Now that she thought about the world, the wyvern could believe that the sun and moon represented the dual powers. But her biggest wonder was from the last line...what happened? Were they talking about when Leben came? Or was it something else entirely? She read onward.

It was the job of Ahnmik's followers to watch the moon, to interpreted what would come based on the shape and color. A moon with a slightly orange tint like a mango would signal the harvest, that would be good information to tell the Rsh who would relay the news to the people. The rare blue moon would bring a grand celebration of Ahnmik's power, for its color would one day be stained on the falcons. But there was one type of moon that brought fear to the Ahnmik priests, the Blood Moon. When it came it always seemed to bring misfortune on its heels. The four main worshippers of Ahnmik were tasked to watch for the dreaded red-stained orb. It had appeared after Leben had departed... Perhaps it was a sign that should not had been ignored, had the Dasi knew what would come next.

The book ended. Only a few pages and nothing more. The information gave more questions than answers and for some reason it made her feel uncomfortable. Celi reread the pages a few times, trying to understand, to read between the lines. But her efforts were fruitless. There was nothing to explain further and she doubted that the library would offer any more knowledge.

So what had happened?

Celi had learned the story. Leben had came and Maeve had seduced him, in return he gave her the form of a white viper. Maeve also had demanded that he gave forms to the other priests and priestesses. After that Maeve had been exiled, followed shortly by the falcons. But for some reason that never seemed to be enough, there some feeling within that there was more to this story than what she had been told. The wyvern peered out her window, her gaze going up to stare at the moon. "What happened all those years ago?" she whispered. But the moon held no answer.

She watched the people. There was four standing at a distance, obviously dancing and prayer around an altar. The flames of torches bathed the site with light, but was weak compared to the vast blackness that spanned above them. Stars flickered, but were pale compared to the full moon which was the color of milk. Two ladies lifted their gaze to the moon, the light illuminating their obviously pale features. Celi gazed at the glowing ball in awe, but then in pure horror. The pearly surface looked like it had been bathed in blood. The red was an eerie contrast to the crisp radiance which had been present only minutes before. Her attention fell back on the people, but this time nobody lifted their gaze to look. It was as if they were struggling with something, something so important that their duty was meaningless. But then the world feel into a darkness that couldn't be explained but it made her body be racked with intense pain that seemed to burn with fire and ice. And around her was blood...