Glimmers of Reality: The Hope of a Goddess



  Glimmers of Reality - The Hope of a Goddess

  D J Smart

  Copyright 2012 Dean J Smart

  Chapter One – A Beckoning Light

  The door opened and there was life. All ragged and torn. All withered and dying. Surrounded by death and the darkness that came with it, William lay, battered and broken and watched with fading eyes as Hannah leant out from the belly of the Firefly above him. Its sleek metallic structure had sliced silently through the dimmed sky, carried once again, by its monstrous balloon. It flew like the breeze all around him, over the colossus of corpses that lay strewn about, as if Haidreal itself had been entirely emptied of them. Now within feet of him, Hannah watched helplessly, as the smallest spark of light that was still within his eyes strained softly in the darkness. She had only been at his side for a minuscule amount of time, but in that single instant she longed to be there more than ever before. Time had all but stopped, as every beat of her heart saw him slip further and further away. He was only fourteen, but in this world, he was a man.

  A 3024 Challenger boomed unforgivingly through the sleeping street, almost shattering William’s bedroom window. Its six souped-up engines raged like the krakens of hell as it raced demonically over the glistening cobblestones. Tremendous rain had been pouring all-night and had kept him from his much needed sleep once again. Silently and in near darkness, he stumbled half-aware to find his bedroom door and with a yawn and a heavy hand, he slowly turned its handle. Instantly and without holding back, the door flung itself wide open as though a great vacuum had caught it from the other side. Darkness filled the space before him before a tiny speck of light, off in the distance, flickered quickly into life and fought so bravely for its existence. As he watched it—almost in a daze—a strange feeling of belonging overcame him and with utter serenity and without even a second thought, he walked boldly toward it.

  Bam!—Slammed the door behind him, making him spin around in a panic as he tried relentlessly to pull it back open. Complete darkness had always been a problem for him and he had grown to fear it, but without even the smallest hint of success, he scrunched his eyes tightly shut and with a deep breath, he turned slowly back around. The continual drips of water into thankless puddles around him came quickly into existence, as did the sweet scent of flowers that vigorously filled his senses. A brilliant light that shocked him suddenly flicked into life as he quickly opened his eyes to take in the glorious sunshine that had raced so dramatically in to greet him. Astounded and speechless, he found himself stood in a stagnant puddle of water within a huge cave of quite some character. Stalactites hung overhead like great elongated bats that had made permanent roost as, one by one, they nurtured their stalagmites that grew slowly up to greet them. The blue welcoming sky filled the viewpoint before him and made him feel quite at ease, whilst a tiny, little creature scurried frantically from puddle to puddle under his watchful gaze. As he watched it, almost losing himself entirely in its frenzy, a fuzzy green haze blew itself quickly up to great proportions from absolutely nothing at all and sapped all of the sunlight from around it in an instant. Now in the eerie darkness, it condensed to take the form of a withered old man that had long since died. William trembled before this apparition as it gazed at him so inquisitively.

  “Who are you?” It asked as it narrowed its eyes to slits.

  “I …” William stuttered, “Am William.”

  “No!” Panicked the spirit suddenly, “Not yet!” He rasped, bursting into dissipation as all of the warming sunlight raced forcefully back in.

  Slowly and quite unsure of himself, William glanced around from the spot that he was now glued to, bracing himself for a second encounter. The loving sun lit the cave around him once more, the many musical drips still fell tirelessly into oblivion and that strange little creature still scurried madly around, like nothing in the whole world could ever bother it.

  “Are you coming?” Came a friendly, frail voice.

  William looked instantly up from his puddles in surprise. There, in the light, stood that second encounter. It stood two or three feet tall with menacing grey wings that almost encased its broad shoulders. Its dry leathery skin looked almost reptilian and its bulging green eyes looked longingly at him for a response. William froze once again as he tried quickly to come to terms with what was now staring back at him.

  “Well, are you coming?” The creature asked once more, “My name is Jax,” it laughed, “Welcome William, to Loucarta.”

  William quickly frowned, “How do you know my name?” He blurted.

  Jax smiled gently, “We know everything about you. Come,” he invited, holding out his claw, “and I’ll show you.”

  An awkward moment’s hesitation passed by before William walked slowly toward the funny little creature and to the mouth of the cave. The vivid blue sky seemed to intensify as he neared it, until low-lying clouds—like an ocean—filled a great chasm before him . Light winds raced excitedly around and carried the beautiful scent of the wild flowers that grew all over the mountain range that he was now a blissful part of.

  “How is this even possible?” He whispered in amazement, gazing around from the small dusty ledge that they were now stood upon.

  Jax smiled warmly as he watched the admiration in his young friends face and for a short, peaceful while, he found a new appreciation for the beauty of the world around him, “I have been sent to guide you to Galadria,” He quietly announced without lifting his gaze from the floating clouds before them.

  William looked sharply at him causing a steady smirk to slowly take over Jax’s face, “Sent by whom?” He asked, scowling once again, “And who could have known that I would have been here?”

  “My…” Jax began.

  “And what’s Galadria?” William quickly interrupted, leaving no time at all for Jax to explain.

  “Please, my Prince,” Jax pleaded, sending William into a quaint shade of red, “My Lady Aurora has sent me, she was the one that knew you would be here … we have been waiting for you for many generations!” He beamed happily.

  “For me?” William questioned, with some sarcasm.

  “Yes, my Prince, for you.”

  William thought about this for a few moments, “O.K. fine,” He said slowly—still entirely unconvinced, “Who is this Aurora?”

  Jax beamed warmly, “She is all that is good and wholesome in this world and beyond. She is the Goddess of life and of light. She is everything that I have come to admire and much, much more.”

  “What would a Goddess want with me?” William asked, almost breaking into laughter.

  Jax looked slowly at the gleeful face before him as William waited—mouth agape—for a response, “Perhaps you will be more open-minded when we get to Galadria,” He quickly announced before walking off. Along the dusty path that embraced the mountainside he strode before he turned to see that William was still fixed to the spot in quiet amazement, still with a stupid grin plastered all over his face. “Come on!” He shouted as he continued to walk on, “There’s still a lot to explain!” After a few more moments—and a few more feet of expansion between them—William ran and quickly caught up, “Ah,” Jax smiled, “glad you decided to come.” William smiled, but said nothing in reply as he followed his new-found friend, still unbelieving in the continuous beauty that he was somehow emerged in.

  The cooling wind still raced through the mountain range like an untiring eagle that was forever in-flight, the glorious scent of the wild flowers that continually surrounded them still inflamed him and the mighty sun still shone high overhead. It gently warmed the gravelly path that stretched out far before them until they came to a small wooden shack
that had been badly built into a void in the mountain face;

  “We are here,” Jax uttered quietly, as he pushed open the rickety old door and they disappeared inside. They now found themselves inside a small darkened room, lit only by the streams of sunlight—that sliced readily through the gaps in the wooden beams that made up the wall behind them—and the strong illumination from the strange marking on the floor: that filled the entirety of the space before them.

  “These markings are called chimes,” Jax quietly informed as he stepped towards the glowing platform. William’s little face lit up as he smiled and stared. A six-pointed star encompassed entirely by a great circle lay submissively before them; “They are a means of transportation within the Kingdom,” Jax continued.

  “The Kingdom of ... Galadria?” William questioned, fishing for confirmation.

  Jax laughed gently, “The Kingdom of Glitherhiem, my Prince. Galadria is simply our capitol city.”

  William gazed longingly at the glowing platform, almost forgetting himself entirely, “So these chimes could take me anywhere?” He asked quietly.

  “Anywhere within our borders,” Jax confirmed proudly, “step on,” he smirked, offering his claw once more, “And I’ll show you how they work.” After a few short moments, William took the outstretched claw and together they walked slowly on. Hardly had they reached the centre of the star when they both vanished into nothingness. They soon materialised upon a chime; that sat aloft a grassy hill - high up over a once thriving village. High-speed winds thrashed and battered them both and forced the long grass in which they stood to violently flamenco. The village below them stood in total darkness—yet they stood in the glorious sunshine that had so blindingly lit the grassy hill as well as all of the lands around the village, as though light itself was completely banished from within the village’s boarders. A darkened trail led all of the way from the village itself and cut right through the landscape as it snaked way off into the distance.

  William stood in silence and gazed at the strange scene before him and all whilst he remained silent, so too, did Jax.

  “That was once the thriving village of Merico,” Jax eventually uttered, breaking the silence between them.

  “What happened to it?” William whispered, being unable to remove his astounded gaze.

  “A very long time ago,” Jax began, “Leptar came to them,” He paused briefly for a moment in remembrance; “His heart is pure hatred and all that is evil serve him well.”

  William swallowed deeply. His eyes bulged with frightful thoughts. He didn’t dare ask the question, but—as if with a will of its own—the question escaped his lips: “What did he do?” He whispered.

  “He took everyone.” Jax uttered, falling silent for a long while. “Leptar resides over Haidreal and holds Aurora captive.”

  William shuddered—realising that for some reason, he was being prepared for something, “What … am I supposed to do about it?” He asked slowly, futilely trying not to sound unconcerned.

  Jax looked sharply up to him in shock, “Everything!” He snapped, as though William had just offended him deeply, “Only you can free her! It is why you have come, is it not?”

  “I came,” William burst before quickly falling silent, as he realised that he didn’t really know, “because of something that drew me into the darkness.” He said quietly.

  “Exactly!” Jax smirked, “It's OK to be afraid, my Prince,” He gestured, “You will not be alone,” He smiled, “Let me show you.” With that and still being stood upon the same chime that they had materialised upon, they once again vanished into the cold air that had surrounded them so absolutely.