Date of Entry: Seventh Day of the Twelfth Month
Time: Two A.M.
The Temple held a meeting today in their headquarters. Many high-ranking nobles from across the continent attended — even the Prime Minister, known for his disdain for the Temple. A few mercenaries and I were also invited, owing to our efforts and research.
A young-looking monk with a gentle expression handed everyone a book titled "Blessing of Nous" before settling himself beside the large metal doors. The book contained the known myths about Nous, Lord of Existence, and his children, the Derons.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat before glancing back at the monk sceptically. The information in this book was common knowledge across the four continents — myths told as children's stories or by roadside evangelists.
A man, presumably the High Priest, walked toward the podium at the front. He wore the white robes and gold-trimmed collar I had read about; in his right hand was a golden staff embroidered with a crimson symbol. He stood quietly, waiting, expecting a reaction, perhaps. The High Priest, seeing that nobody had said anything or reacted rashly, narrowed his eyes in disappointment before clearing his throat.
"I will skip the greetings; they are of no importance right now. The book given to everyone contains knowledge the public had only ever seen as myth, the origins of Derons, disregarded for millennia."
The High Priest adjusted his posture. "I won't give you a long lecture; the records of events that transpired since before the formation of time are many and varied. Our church, or shall I say temple, focuses on the record that closely relates to Lord Nous. The ones known by the public are untrue... at least according to us." He cleared his throat before continuing. "Billions of years ago, nothing existed, and out of nothing, something tore its way out."
Everyone looked at the High Priest with either confusion or disappointment. I turned my gaze toward the Prime Minister, the looked deathly still, his expression placid.
"Something gained consciousness first..." A noble interrupted the priest disdainfully. "It is currently three a.m. We would appreciate it if you sped things up."
"Alright then" The High Priest said before continuing. "Lord Nous and Lord Abgrund fought over claim to the universe. Their battle lasted thousands of years, tearing, repairing, and absorbing everything.
Eventually, Lord Abgrund lost consciousness in the fight and became an endless void holding the universe in balance. A part of him fell as a corpse upon a nameless mountain. Followers of Lord Abgrund, seeing his defeat, climbed that mountain, seven species in total.
Each of these void beings collectively devoured the corpse of Abgrund, devolving into mindless creatures that resembled animals. After all the void beings had devoured the corpse of their Lord, they all, as if by compulsion, made that nameless mountain their home. That mountain is now called Mount Serto."
Hearing this, I raised my hand. The High Priest looked at me briefly before giving an affirmative nod.
"You said previously that the Derons all made that mountain their home," I began carefully. "Then how is it that Derons are found in every continent and ungoverned territory?"
The High Priest looked at me as though I had said something stupid, which I realised later I had.
"Humans sought to use them for manpower. At that time, the truth had begun to be considered myth. They abducted Derons in large numbers to their respective territories, but as you may know, even after gruelling efforts to tame and breed them, nothing bore fruit. In the end, Derons became little more than decorations that took up space."
I nodded and asked again.
"So what do we do with the Derons now? Do we send them back to Mount Serto and imprison them there?"
"Yes, you are correct, mercenary Ezekiel. But our holy temple will be the one to take command across the four continents," the monk, who had stayed silent throughout the High Priest's speech, answered instead.
The meeting ended a few minutes later, since no other person asked a question, or at least a question of importance.
On my way out, the monk stopped me with a stern voice.
"Mr. Ezekiel, the Akaolisa has taken an interest in you and has offered you an invitation to his office."
I nodded quietly. My life had just become complicated, the highest figure in the Temple, the 'God Hand,' had just summoned me.
Date of Entry: Twelfth Day of the Twelfth Month in the Creation Calendar
Time: Thirty Minutes Past Dusk
As before, coalitions of mercenaries and knights formed teams and went on expeditions to capture the Derons and safely transport them to Mount Serto. Cardinals were stationed in the capitals of the four continents to oversee the expedition. I did not embark on the expedition, as I spent my days in the Akaolisa's study.
Date of Entry: First Day of the First Month in the Templar Calendar, Year 101
Time: Seven A.M.
Over the past month, the Temple's influence had spread and become greater than even that of the four emperors.
'Over the span of a month, the Temple had become this influential.' I often murmured to myself in disbelief.
My days were frequently spent with the Akaolisa, organising and reading files belonging to the ancient era. A report from the cardinals came in an hour ago, seventy-five percent of the Derons have been safely transported to Mount Serto through rough roads to avoid degradation of fertile soil.
Date of Entry: Seventeenth Day of the Second Month, Year 101
Time: Seven P.M.
Today I have become the disciple of the Akaolisa and a Cardinal in the Temple of Nous an offer I couldn't refuse, given the sheer knowledge I had acquired over the last two months. Every Deron has been transported to Mount Serto as of yesterday. Subsequently, many other beings had their seals revoked by the Akaolisa, Elves, Demons, Merpeople, and many others. Tomorrow I will be uncovering my origin ability.
A new age is upon us.
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Anna had woken up a long time ago but refused to open her eyes, or eye, rather. Her once lustrous obsidian hair had lost its sheen, her right arm was now just a bloody stump, her clothes were tattered and bloody. Her world was over. Yesterday she had heard a gruff voice and a softer one discussing her condition; the conclusion was that her severed arm and eye couldn't be regenerated, something about her soul having greatly diminished.
She opened her eye later that day. Those once beautiful dark eyes had lost their glint and become hollow. She touched her stump; the wound was closed and soft to the touch. She traced her fingers over it absentmindedly, her mind recalling what had happened with vivid clarity. Her mother eaten whole in front of her. Her brother reaching his arm toward her before being mashed to paste on the ground. The smell of blood and the screaming of people, and worse than all of it was the pure terror she had felt in that moment.
She retched violently and vomited on herself, a mess of blood, bile, and whatever food remained in her body. She hadn't even taken the time to understand her surroundings.
Heinz entered the tent where the girl lay. He had heard a guttural sound and took it as a sign she had woken up. He entered hurriedly and found the girl lying on the bed, the smell of vomit strong but bearable. The girl looked dazed, her eyes seemingly dead, though he assumed it was simply a side effect of having a portion of her soul absorbed.
"My name is Heinz Neuman," he began carefully. "Could you tell me yours?"
Anna had not registered the presence of another person near her. She had simply heard a distant voice and ignored it.
Turning her face away, she retched and vomited again. She remembered her family, her brother's voice, her doting mother, and for some inexplicable reason felt nothing toward that memory.
Not sorrow, not sadness, not even longing. Just an empty heart and a numb mind. That should have scared her, but even that fear she couldn't feel. She was certain that a moment ago she had felt a deep sorrow, but now there was nothing, and that left her so disgusted she vomited bile and blood again.
She heard the voice and turned toward the entrance of the tent. A stout man stood there in regal armour, a sword at his belt.
"My name is Heinz Neuman. Can you tell me yours?" the man said, as though repeating himself.
Anna looked at the man's face quietly for some time, her mind working to place who he was. Finally she uttered weakly, "My name is Anna. No last name."
"I see. Anna, I know it's been hell for you, but when the healers clean you up I would like a written account of everything you witnessed."
A figure appeared from behind the stout man. She focused on the figure, a tall young man with ashen ebony skin, like that of a corpse. His eyes were grey and hollow, profoundly so. His hair was dark and plain, falling below his head in braids.
Anna recognised him and let out a gut-wrenching, inhuman scream. Her body screamed at her to run. She felt it, felt it so much that the corner of her mouth pulled upward even as she screamed.
'Ah. I can still feel. I feel fear. I feel it.' The thought echoed in her mind over and over.