A Shattered World - Part 2 of 3
Lexion gasped as he opened his eyes. He found himself in the middle of a once-proud city, Sylara by his side.
“Are we… in Aros?” he asked, even though he knew the city well. In his mind, Aros was the pinnacle of what was possible when everybody followed proper definitions. When industrious men understood the meaning of words, incredible things could be built – and Aros was a testament to that. This wonderful intersection of money and magic, Lexion knew, was only achieved through precise communication.
“Yes, we are,” Sylara replied drily.
“What happened here?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
Lexion had always enjoyed his time in Aros. He would often walk the streets, taking in the orderly beauty created with his help. But what he saw now was hardly an appealing sight.
The streets were strangely empty – no bustling avenues full of finely dressed Ariosians going about their daily business. The smoke in the air stabbed at Lexion’s throat without mercy. Whoever was left in the city had evidently decided the best way to keep themselves warm was by burning whatever they had left at home.
The once richly decorated streets and alleys were now neglected beyond recognition. The storefronts were barren—no merchants outside to beckon passersby. The few people they did see walking around averted their eyes as soon as they noticed the well-dressed strangers. They scurried out of the way like wounded dogs.
The only people that didn’t run away were beggars lurking in the street corners. These were the people who had nothing left to lose. One of them threw herself at Lexion’s feet as he walked.
“Please, sir. Food…hungry…,” she said with a raspy voice that hadn’t been used for a while. Her eyes looked straight into Lexion’s, but he didn’t notice any sparkle left in them. It was as if all sense of civility had perished together with the lustre of her once fine tunic. Lexion couldn’t help but pity her. He rummaged for a gold piece and tossed it her way.
The woman picked it up and looked it over with eyebrows raised in suspicion. She bit at the end of it and staggered back like a startled cat.
“FOOD!” She shouted back at Lexion, mouth almost frothing at the side.
“Forgive me, I have no food with me. But I’m sure you can buy some with that,” he pointed awkwardly at the coin in her hand.
She looked at it again with indifference and backed away.
“What have you done to this place, Sylara?”
“I’ve done nothing other than show you the future of these people you so blatantly disregarded,” she said in earnest. “I told you. If you go down this path, only ruin awaits.”
“But I gave them so much already… I gave them language and all the names of all the little things around them. I defined their world, I gave them order.”
“It seems it was not enough.”
Lexion wasn’t quick to respond this time. He stood in the middle of the filthy street, taking in the miserable sight around him. He looked up towards the once glamorous Cloud District – Aros’ richest neighbourhood. The whole place, as if carved into the clouds themselves, had lost its silvery-white lustre. It was now a gloomy grey – a mix of white clouds and black soot.
“Come, Lexion,” Sylara urged him. “We have much to see yet.”
They walked through emptied streets – the only two creatures that moved with any real purpose. Everything else around them seemed random – like dust against the sunlight.
It didn’t take long for Lexion to realise where his wife was taking him. A right past the emerald bridge, two squares until they took a left. Walk until you see the singing fountains and there you have it to your left. Aros’ biggest library - The Temple of Lexion. He had often visited this place, though it had always been a happier occasion than this.
They stood before the monolithic building, its granite walls still standing with dignity among the rubble that had become Aros. It seemed like someone had been working really hard to preserve this place. Maybe there was some hope after all, Lexion thought.
“Shall we?” Sylara stood beside the temple entrance.
“Do I want to see what’s inside?”
“Oh, we’re past the point of wants, husband dear.”
He inhaled sharply, steeling himself for what was yet to come, then followed her inside. From what little he could see from the dimly-lit interior of the building, all seemed in order. The layout was strictly utilitarian, with knowledge being the centrepiece of it all. Countless aisles of books and scrolls on either side of the grand walkway greeted everyone who entered the temple. The same order continued on all six floors above the main. Everything seemed in its place. The only thing that stood out to Lexion was the absence of the fire lanterns. Usually, the brotherhood who watched over the temple would light the fire of knowledge and spread it to all corners of the massive building.
Now, the only light within these frosty hallways was coming from the stained glass ceiling of the main ceremonial chamber up ahead. It felt as though Lexion and Sylara were in a tunnel, moving to the only light source they could see. Once they were close enough to the main chamber, Lexion noticed a group of three men in greying white robes. They were all kneeling around the hearth at the centre of the room, chanting a prayer Lexion had heard a million times before. The three men looked exhausted, their shoulders were heavy but they still stood upright. None of them broke their concentration as they tried to chant the fire of knowledge into existence.
As Sylara and Lexion walked to the middle of the room, the weak embers in the hearth glowed stronger and a tiny flame appeared. The three men looked at the flame in dismay. Faint smiles crept on their faces, yet they were hesitant to move, afraid not to disturb the flame.
One of the men – an old grizzled fellow, took his eyes away from the fire and noticed Sylara and Lexion standing to the side.
“We have guests, brothers. A good omen indeed!” He got up from his knees and dusted off his ragged robe. “Come now, let us greet them properly,” he hurried towards Lexion. “Hello, dear strangers. Welcome to the House of Names!”
“Hello,” Lexion spoke. “What happened to this place?”
“Oh, apologies for the disarray. When the council of five left the city, so too did most of our followers. It has been difficult to keep everything in order these last few years but we do our best. My name is Rodrick. What is yours?”
“I go by many names. But I suppose the one you would know best is Lexion.”
The man’s smile withered in an instant – as if someone had thrown cold water in his face. He looked into Lexion’s eyes, almost offended. “Is this some sort of jest, stranger? Blasphemy is not permitted in the House of Names. Tell us the truth.”
“I’m not toying with you, Rodrick. I am who you think I am,” Lexion put his arm up and twisted his fingers with an elegant motion. The fire in the hearth suddenly burst out higher, its golden flames almost catching the robe of one of the brothers who moved away just in time.
“My lord!” Roderick threw his arms in the air. “How long we have prayed and waited…” The other two men now stepped forward, golden flames sparkling in their eyes.
“Why didn’t you come sooner, lord?”
“I… I had other matters to attend to.”
“Other matters?” Roderick’s voice shook in disbelief. “What other matters, lord? Have you not seen the rot outside? The degradation? Like a festering wound that can never be closed. What other business could be more important than the business of proper names?” Roderick’s face twisted in a frown, the sharp firelight chiselling all emotions away and leaving only rage.
“Why did you abandon us, lord?” The three men now moved as one, staring down their fallen god. There was menace in their movements as they closed the distance. Lexion stepped back reaching for Sylara’s hand.
“Take me away from here! I want to be rid of this image!”
“Alright. But you won’t particularly like the next part either.”
Sylara took his hand and a bright light flashed in Lexion's vision, replacing the three angry men with silvery mist. Deep down, he hoped they would find themselves back home and this nightmare would be over.
But the noise around him signalled something different.
