Gaea - Chapter 12

Author's note: Bit graphic in the beginning, so rated PG-13. Short piece, but I tried to have a lot of hidden words between the lines.

Author's detailed note: I decided to break from the original form to better detail Cardinal Belrusi and some of the complexity of his character, also the clear stupidity of such a powerful figure. More importantly we finally get to discover a true mastermind within the story, the horribly crucified and physically destroyed form of Media, another fallen angel. While her body is trapped in a horrible prison, her mind has taken on a new reality which allows her to telepathically communicate with Belrusi. Still trying to play with the concept of dark and light, as much emotionally as physically.

The description of her crucifixion is less then what I had planned originally, but it is still rather disturbing. I've left out the gory details of her state, as well as much description about every nude figure thus far in the story for one clear purpose. Its merely a body, the vessel of the soul and despite its form is a sacred house, to put sexual (carnal) descriptions to it ruins the concept of what they value. Belrusi is probably the best example, entirely wrapped up in his cloak and veil, his emotions and thoughts are hidden with his body. His purpose is what he defines himself to, so don't think I am being lazy. Each character has their own unique philosophy and defining attributes for a good reason. We see the superficial Cardinal Cein in the next piece. Which will elaborate the stance.

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Chapter 12

Far across the jungles of Frae, and north into the vast rolling plains and into the heart of the Koenig Herdin's Marham and the lofty tower of the Imperial Throne, the Arzat, the battle was seen through the eyes of another fallen angel, Media. Bound in chains over a sea of blood, trapped in escapable darkness, the private hell she lived in tortured and amused the twisted mind of the most ancient of angels.

An immature body of the divine, bearing the weight of sin, stripped naked and impaled by fifteen swords to the Tree of Life. The palm of each hand, soles of her feet, heart, gut, neck, eyes and forehead each had a sacred sword struck through them and into the tree, while five more cut through the body's physical organs and into the spiritual heart of Media. Positioned five inches below the neck, between her lungs, a crimson scimitar with three tips severed her wind. One up through her sex and into her womb, the divine ability to bear life. One through her mouth, splitting the tongue and larynx to silence her words and spells. Two more through her undeveloped breast and into the shoulders, preventing her from using Sacrifice, the holy power of a martyr.

Somehow alive with such terrible injuries to body, blood continuously dripped from the blades and down into a collecting basin. The flow of time counted by the passage of each droplet of blood falling once each minute with perfect precision, and mentally counted by Media. Three hundred fifty two million, one hundred fifty two thousand and twelve. Three hundred fifty two million, one hundred fifty two thousand and thirteen. Three hundred fifty two million...

She felt Cardinal Belrusi's release of his energy and the terrible cry of defeat released by his troubled soul. Through time and space, the two mentally connected with one another as they had many times before, only Media herself counted these seemingly innumerable blessings which Belrusi had long forgotten.

The domain of Media's mental plane possessed an otherworldly quality which Belrusi had taken for reality during his first visit to her world. A world of crystalline beauty wrapped in complex magics of dancing lights and sigils upon every object. Wardrobes of intricate dress, complete with perfection and imperfections decorated the people of Media's memories. A reality all its own, where even Belrusi felt comfortable in his own skin and could, if he wished, remove his veil.

Belrusi walked through the rich fields and over to Media's preferred sitting place, the massive waterfall of Avera, a beautiful and bountiful nation on the mainland. Lush jungles of eternally flowering trees enveloped the land in a blissful drug to boost the spirits of all. In the middle of this paradise Media, rested upon a floating log at the base of the waterfall, gazing into the rainbows generated in the cool spray of the cascading falls.

Here in this world she was able to break away from her id and physical limitations of her form and took the beautiful form of an elvish woman. A body free of imperfection and a form of purest power, health and grace. Wearing a floral dress of pink and white, she was a beautiful camellia upon the sparkling water. Belrusi found no matter how hard her tried to change his appearance, the familiar form of his body was would only stay with him, unaging and unchanging.

“Lady Camellia,” Belrusi spoke up as he reached the waters edge, “Stunning as usual.”

She did not turn to face him, “And you are the same as ever, Lord Belrusi. Even your temper gets the best of you still.”

He formed a small fireball in his hand and threw it at Media, the burning flame passed through her body and quenched by the waterfall's roaring waters. In this world, she was master of all things, including the very elemental interactions of the air which allowed Belrusi to act within the confines of her world, it was not a stretch that she could easily have any matter pass through her form on the slightest whim.

“Why was the Knight with them?” Belrusi asked bluntly, he did not care much for his fallen SS, but she was explicitly part of a greater mission from Kilirae.

Media stood up on the log and walked on top of the water towards, Belrusi, “Clearly she has joined with them and trounced you.”

“Amar and Kelric died for nothing. They somehow survived the blast.”

The world changed back to the swamp during the short battle, Belrusi saw himself, Amar and Kelric taunting their superiority over the trapped Ebon masters. The battle playing out again from Media's all-knowing perspective. Hilga's appearance was not so sudden and the chaos she brought to the ordered execution was painfully clear. Kelric who had not expected another attacker was cut down before he knew what happened and he saw himself stabbed by Hilga's blade.

“If she had known who you were, your head would have rolled instead. She wanted to see you suffer, and that saved your life.”

“Kilirae is going to be furious with me,” Belrusi growled as he witnessed his final attack and Griff's protective shield encompassing them from the blast, “They were not supposed to be this powerful.”

“This is the Land of Fallen Angels and it should come as no surprise that offspring shall be born to those fallen. All except Lady Adina have done so-”

“She lives?” Belrusi growled, “Aki said took care of her and he wasn't lying to me! I'd have known.”

Media giggled and placed her index finger on his head, “When he said 'took care of her' perhaps he meant to hide and protect, not kill. It is really amazing how dense you are, but it is because of that I can trust you.”

“I never said I was smart, but you do have my word.”

“That woman will be a useful tool then. See to it that she serves us in exchange for security upon Frae's throne,” Media's world returned as she spoke, back to the beautiful waterfall and lush flowering jungle, “The hunt for Leviathan will take place in a month, two at most. If it is successful Marham will become too powerful. Make sure the hunt fails.”

The world started to dissolve, the colors dripping down the canvas and into a single pool of vibrant swirls. Light and darkness faded away, replaced by the outline of this faux world, he lost his senses and Belrusi's mind was pulled back to his own body. He awoke to the glassy wasteland of his own creation, physically aching and mentally tired from the journey and stress. His silver eyes gazed up at the waxing crescent moon with renewed determination, “I wonder how he feels on a night like this?”