The Fey Conquest, #13— "The Aliyah"
- David Parker
- Oct 2, 2023
- 5 min read
[Short-stories. Images generated by hotpot.ai]
Maka gave herself a full day’s rest before ascending to Pinnacle Rock, Leonyde’s home, leaving everything to Doctor Emeriss Karval, who was not quite a military doctor. He was, however, schooled in military history, and a devotee of one of the Espers of Wisdom. Most of his instructions, however, needed to be in writing, and he was unaccustomed to command. Derreg and Neverglyn served as officers for the marshaling of the forces of Iceglass, called the ‘Fey Realm’ by the invaders. They were frequently in Karval’s presence, along with various clergy novices and pact-mages, also novices, who carried out his instructions.
The novices proved better dispatches than the elders, being more adaptable to the changes that were overtaking their homeland. As novices, they were more keen to follow instructions and respond in a candid manner, whereas the eminent members of the various orders were slow to perceive the nature of what was happening, having spent their lives observing rituals and traditions. These were men and women who wrote lengthy scrolls on the nature of the various espers they served, and deliberated constantly over how to best please them in order for Iceglass to ‘ascend’, which had failed to take place for over a century.
Maka had summoned the chieftains of villages of the Panther, Golden Wolf, and Eagle espers, in hopes they could serve as proper military commanders. These were the closest to Sovereign Valley that had such capabilities, and meanwhile the four Tyrants were closing in from all directions. Three towns that would have been promising had already fallen, which were the Villages of the Raven, Ox, and Shield.
Japheth and Naori accompanied Maka to a certain point in her ascent to Pinnacle Rock, and from that point it was understood that once you crossed it, you were committed to entering the presence of Leonyde, the Sovereign Esper. They rested for a day at that location, called the Emerald Obelisk, which marked the point of no return. Even Naori the Oracle dared not accompany Maka, for even when Leonyde had been in harmony with the combined nation of Iceglass, to enter his presence unnecessarily was a frightful infraction on his divinity.
Naori said, “Milady, what you’ve done so far has been in the right spirit. But even if you did not heed Aestheyas, you must yield completely to Leonyde.” “I would never put Leonyde to the test,” answered Maka, “I can already feel his presence.” “My instincts tell me he will be displeased that you did not heed the Esper of Vision,” said Naori. “Leonyde is not a monster,” said Japheth, “How could he be displeased by Maka? Brave, bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed.” Maka smiled, but then said, “No one has made Aliyah for more than a century, even for sacrifices. I assure you I’m quite terrified.” “You are braver than me, Maka. I would never pretend I had the stomach for it,” said Japheth.
Japheth was in fact flattering her, but it was sincere, and she needed the encouragement.
Naori said, “Her courage is real. Where did you get such resolve, Milady?” Maka replied, “You know I’m not used to outranking you? You were always Venerable Naori.” “Things change,” said Naori. Japheth made a brief, dry laugh. Then said, “In a big way.” After some silence, Maka said, “Every girl dreams of being queen, to have power, I suppose. Once I spent all this time as the Chosen of the entire realm, I sort of wanted it more than I’m afraid of the Tiger.”
Leonyde, the Sovereign Esper, was a white winged Tiger.
“Huhn,” said Japheth, “I expected something… more idealistic, I guess.”
There was a respectful silence.
“As much I’d like to get closure with this interlude,” said Maka, and sighed, “Time’s a wasting.”
Shortly after that, Maka began the last of the ascent to Leonyde’s Hollow.
The staircase to the Hollow was hewn out of the rock, and had a specific decorum that only a few Espers assumed: it was a combination of order and natural beauty. The steps were not smooth or dressed stones, and neither was anything else in the final ascent. Yet the staircase was, in fact, decorated, with artfully arranged outcroppings, rocks, and flora. However, as there had never been an Aliyah for over a century, the flora was quite overgrown, even the steps themselves springing with grass and flowers. However, the result seemed to achieve simply a different form of beauty, the vegetation echoing just how frightful it was to approach Leonyde. As she neared his Hollow, her fear and her sense of awe grew.
The opening to Leonyde’s Hollow was a yawning cavern, and both the entrance and the inside was an explosion of crystalline minerals of blue and purple hue, glowing just enough to serve as lamplight. She steeled her nerves and entered, and with fearful quaking she shuffled through a gently winding path to Leonyde’s presence.
All at once, the tunnel opened up, and Leonyde was there, waiting for her. The overwhelming suddenness and fearful presence of the huge, white, winged Tiger shocked her with terror, and thankfully she had extensively moved her bowels before crossing the Emerald Obelisk.
“Take off your sandals, in the presence of your Sovereign,” said the Tiger. His voice was deep and cavernous as the Hollow where he dwelt, and was all at once impossible to disobey, yet comforting, as though he were her protector.
She took off her sandals with more fuss and less grace than she would have liked.
“Draw nearer,” said Leonyde.
She was afraid to, but she dared not disobey.
Leonyde’s voice, like the rushing of waters, said, “Your courage, sincerity, and resolve to do what is right, ushers you into this place.”
She fell on her knees, involuntarily.
“I have much to tell you, yet I must not waste words. Did you bring your scrolls?”
“Well,” said Maka timidly, “I am a scribe,” and she began tremulously procuring them.
“Common sense. Yet not so common,” said Leonyde.
“Th-thanks.”
“You have been found worthy. But victory has a price. Let us begin.”
*-------------------------------------------*
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