8th of Frost 4622
Sometimes, the extent of influence that humanity and the other sentient races have over the world is exaggerated. Whilst these creatures build vast cities, toil the earth, divert rivers and build roads most of the world does not know this touch or sight. This world was called settled yet how many souls dwell in the deepest depths of the sea, or on the highest peaks of the mountains? Few do, and even on the great arteries of trade that connect the human lands, there is a great deal of solitude to be found. Vast expanses of forests or farmlands and untamed wildness surround travellers on this road. Moments where a person might think that they are all that is in existence. These moments are often interrupted by travellers on the major roads on a fairly regular basis, but even on major roads those moments of solitude could at times feel ever-present. These were some of Hugo's thoughts as he heard a loud belch to the right of him, a reverberation which sent a small cloud of birds flying away from a number of treetops. A further effect of the sound was that Hugo sent a glare to the source of origin of the belch. Specifically one Bertrand LaRue, who had a general expression of boredom on his face. Though that expression shifted into a small bit of smugness as he witnessed Hugo's annoyance.
"Is there a problem, my lord?" Out of context this sentence might have sounded like a polite inquiry to understanding a liege's state of mind. However, in this case, the sentence was used in jest. This was a testament to the fact that though Hugo had Bertrand's loyalty, he did not yet possess his respect. Though deference might have been the better word to use for this situation.
Most Veirs would react to this tone of voice by punishing their subordinate in some way or another. Whether this was through verbal humiliation or physical punishment. Instead, Hugo just shook his head and said. "Look Bertrand, would it be such an inconvenience for you to find a topic to discuss rather than letting loose obscenities like that ? It would certainly make for a more enjoyable journey." Now it was the turn for Bertrand to feel a certain sense of outrage, and as such the Valran rolled his eyes. "We have been travelling for 3 days already, my feet are sore and I have shared most of the crude jokes that I know about. Whilst the topic of what sword of school fighting is the best has been debated more vigorously than in the highest courts of the land. What topic have we not talked about yet that doesn't bore me senseless? And do not even begin about this whole financial venture. "
Hugo, with some effort, set aside his annoyance and acknowledged the points that Bertrand made. He himself could personally not disagree, this journey had been going on for a long time and was at times quite boring. Especially since he and Bertrand were the only present company, so they had to put up with each other without an option for variety. However, though Hugo shared some of the sentiments that Bertrand was expressing he could not help but feel some ire rise within him as well. Though Bertrand was the one complaining Hugo could feel growing blisters on his feet, as well as his tired limbs and paled skin. The sudden onsets of exhaustion where he could barely walk but did not complain, even as mile after mile slowly passed. These were tiresome for him as well but it was not the proper behaviour of a member of the Entente to complain or to show weakness. Their duty was to present, if not an image of strength, at least one of determination. This at least was something that Hugo could do, and in that same spirit, he did not begin an argument with Bertrand. It was beneath his status as a Veir and it would not bring any benefit in the end. Instead, it was the duty of Hugo to find some other topic to talk about. One that did not come to him easily, as many possible avenues of discussion had already been exhausted. There was one avenue, however, that Hugo had not explored yet but should perhaps do more. Especially since that particular avenue was technically part of his responsibilities.
"Very well, I did not wish to pursue this course of action but now you have forced me unto this topic in order to push back the torment of boredom." At these words Bertrand rolled his eyes once more and gave a look that showed that he was not too impressed by Hugo's threats. "And what might this 'course of action' be my lord ?" Hugo did not say a word, instead he kept walking and stared at Bertrand, looking over the figure of mule who was standing between them. Mule had actually been there the entire time, walking with the two silly humans. But Mule had wisely been ignoring the bickering of the two humans, only paying attention to that very annoying fly who was at a spot just behind his ears and was causing a very annoying sound. Stupid fly, buzzing like it owned the place.
Going back to the two humans, Hugo did not answer Bertrand's earlier question verbally. Instead with a slow breath and with grace he raised his chest and looked off into the distance. Then he began to speak, with a certain air of authority in it. "Gather around blessed children of Ulen, for today we tell the tale of how the festival of Last Light came to be." As Hugo began speaking those words Bertrand's expression became grave and distraught as he spoke. "Please don't do a sermon. We can talk about anything else but please do not do a sermon, there are so many other things that we can speak of." Heedless of the words of his traitorous vassal Hugo continued, practising what was technically one of his duties and filling the time. "What I tell you is a tale of the dark time that was just after the fall of the unbroken empire and the rise of the glorious Empire of Rust. After the fall of the First Empire the whole world was cast into darkness. Great palaces and cities were turned to dust and covered in darkness. Once mighty statues of glory and remembrance were cast down and desecrated. And the land itself was plagued by a thousand terrors. Demons tormented people in their waking and dreaming lives, whilst the soil itself was warped and its fruits were twisted and vile." Hugo took one moment to take a deep breath whilst taking some satisfaction in the mock terror that was shown by Bertrand, whilst he also tried to recall how the tale itself went. Since it had been quite some time since he had been to the latest Last Light sermon and much had happened since then.
"Yet, though all these maladies and terrors were great, they were not as horrid as the change that appeared in the souls and hearts of men. For in the face of a thousand horrors, and seeing how their once great empire had fallen, the people turned away from light and embraced the darkness. Once they praised magic, the divine touch that brought the will of Ulen upon the world. Revelling in its light and desiring to possess it for themselves. Then the world was a brighter place and it was easy to see the light. After the fall, however, everything was darker and the light that was first seen as warm was now instead blinding. Forcing the people to squint, perhaps to even see it as hostile. So the people turned away from magic, preferring a thousand horrors to something that could give them hope. To possess hope was something that was too painful. Instead, people resorted to degeneracy in order to find a purpose in life. They copulated on the streets on a daily basis whilst breaking and reforming the bonds of marriage like it was blades of grass. They slew each other for the smallest slights for they walked not in the light of god and did not possess a shred of forgiveness. " Hugo was probably butchering the exact lines of the sermon, but he was enjoying the experience of recollecting the tales that he had heard long ago. Even if there might be some slight inaccuracies in how he spoke. And as he spoke, he could feel something rising inside him, a slowly burning sensation.
"It is in these dark times, that a single pure soul was blessed. Lilith was perhaps one of the last remaining mages that dwelled on the lands of Atharen at this time. She was baptised a long time ago and had managed to remain clean of the rot that scourged the land. Many challenges had she faced, and much was she hated by her fellow men, but she never hid her true self and fought against the many horrors that scattered the now broken empire. It was one night after she had slain a great demon that walked the land, that Lilith received a vision. For a moment she saw Ulen in his full being, joining with him for a singular moment that blinded her. When she awoke her vision was forever gone, her eyes were scorched away at the vision of Ulen that she could not comprehend."
"Then as the moons rose and fell Lilith grew pregnant, despite not having lain with a single man. Her belly grew and grew and grew, becoming far greater in size than that of other women. It was said that Lilith's belly grew so large that the top of it met her eyes and that she needed to eat a whole cow every day in order not to starve. Then the final day came and Lilith gave birth."
"From her womb came 5 sons and 5 daughters. Each touched by one of the Achra and showing a singular part of Ulen's being. As they were born the light shone once more upon a dark world and this was the brightest day. For once the final child had left her womb, Lilith's exhausted body was raised to the sky and joined in Paradise with Ulen."
"These 10 children, being strong and sharp of mind, managed to survive and in the span of six months grew from babies to fully grown men and women. Each of them accomplished mages and powerful individual."
"When the people of the local villages and towns met the children, they did not revel in the blessings that they represented but instead cowered in fear and envy. For they could not accept that salvation was near and instead feared the judgement that would come for them. Thus it was that on the darkest day, when the 10 siblings slept in their home, a group of killers crept through the night and slew all but one. The good that they could have done was extinguished and their infinite potential was washed away by mediocrity and fear. Only one sibling, David survived. Waking too late to save his siblings, but soon enough to avenge them and to extinguish the lives of their murders. But thought Vengeance was his, he still wept and with one hand clean and one hand bloodied he asked what purpose his life was to have without his siblings ? Thus he wandered until at midnight, David found a man prostrate on the ground, looking towards where the sun would rise again. Seeing this man's devotion and being confused by it, David asked what purpose he could hold that would give him hope even in the darkest part of the night." The feeling that Hugo had in his stomach was burning even harder now and he could feel something rising in his throat as well.
"The figure never faced him or moved even an inch, yet it spoke, it spoke the entire night of the glory of Ulen. Of the vision of paradise, of the bliss that would come to all and how a bloodied hand would be necessary in order to bring it to pass. For this figure was none other than Zagryx himself. The Achra who had inspired the final sibling, given them a purpose. For this was the day that night was longest, lasting on this occasion for 24 hours during which David's attention on Zagryx never wavered. "
"After this night David returned to the peasants, preaching the word of Ulen and how salvation could be attained. He was wise and eloquent, yet the fear in the peasants remained and he too was murdered exactly one year after he had been visited by Zagryx. But the touch of hope had spread and from this moment on the word of Ulen would never be forgotten."
After the final line was said Bertrand slowly clapped. "Impressive sermon my lord, truly impressive indeed. All praise be to Ulen and such."
Hugo was about to admonish Bertrand for his heresy when the burning sensation in his body truly grew too large and Hugo quickly went to a nearby bush, curled up and vomited. Feeling his whole body convulsing as he spewed a clear and foul liquid upon the earth. Clearly the speech and long travel days had truly gone for too long, as Hugo's body was exhausted and the mageblight had wreaked havoc upon it.
Seeing Hugo's bad state, Bertrand gave him a pat on the back and shortly after the two of them continued their journey. There were still many days to go until their destination would be reached. Many days until mindless chatter would turn into the cold calculus of business and profit. But until that point, the two of them still had to entertain themselves somehow, even if it meant brushing up on their theology.
