Fall from Grace: Genji's Tale

By: Alondra Posted on: October 27, 2008

A sigh of exasperation, accompanied by the sound of papers being thrown on a nearby desk, woke me from my rest. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up, squinting into the candle lit room. With a sigh, the one who intruded upon my sleep flopped himself into a chair by the desk. Placing his head in his palms, he shook his head at my soft, gentle, "Gehan? What is it?" Rising from my bed, I went and poured him a goblet of the fruit wine he loved so much. Gehan, while not a master, was the one who had taken me in. My life was devoted to his care and comfort. He was the only father I'd ever known, and I knew something was bothering him, and if I was quiet long enough, he'd tell me.

Moving about silently as he sipped his wine, I gathered some bread, fruit, and cheese for him. Peering out a side window, I looked out at the moonlit sky, the silver glow lighting up the pristine white marble that made our city. Dawn would be arising soon. And he'd just be off to bed as I began the day.

So intent was I on my morning chores, I jumped, almost dropping a crystal goblet I was washing, when his voice entered my ears. "Kiliya. I excuse you from your chores today. I have a decision to tell you, and you must make your own from it. Come, dear girl, sit here by the fire." His voice full of sorrow, I actually felt hesitant as I took a seat at his feet, beside the fire.

Standing, he paced across the floor before stopping, and looked me full in the eyes. His blue eyes seemed full of something that almost seemed regret. Smiling softly, his voice was kind, though tinged with that sorrow still as he spoke, "Child, you know things have been tense with the city and I the past few months, right?"

Nodding, I held his gaze. His worship of Lord Agatheis had turned him into an ostracized member of the city, instead of someone well respected. Queen Clytemnestra herself had come for a visit. Gehan had been grumpy enough that she'd woken him from his rest, then to hear the topic of conversation had put him into a very, very bad mood. The Court had decided they'd had enough of his eccentricities, and ordered his worship of Lord Agatheis banned. He'd naturally just ignored them all.

His sigh took me out of my thoughts, and I blinked up at Gehan curiously. Smiling again softly, he gazed into the fire. "Kiliya, child, we who worship the Elemental Lord will never be truly allowed up here. I have whispers the Court is ready to start taking deeper measures to prevent our worship, too. We've decided to leave Arcadia, this night, and move somewhere that we may worship our Lord freely."

Gaping in surprise at Gehan, I was speechless. I'd never really thought of this possibility. Of us all leaving our home. Unsure of what to say, unsure if I could actually speak, I just stared at this fatherly figure of mine. Almost as if he could sense my hesitation, he knelt beside me, taking my small hands within his large ones. "For thirteen years, I've raised you as my own. Today, though, I give you the choice. You may stay here, where you were born and raised, or come with me. Should you decide to stay, I've made arrangements with a family I trust. You'll live in one of the best homes in Arcadia, upon T'er Palatium, near the Queen herself. I know it's not long to choose, child, but it's all I can give you."

Reaching out, I hugged this man, and wiped away a few tears that fell upon my cheeks. Gulping back the deluge of tears that threatened, I nodded, whispering softly, "I will think about it while you rest this day, Gehan." Nodding, he leaned forward and kissed my forehead, then rose, and walked to his room, closing the door behind him.

Still slightly in shock, I sat there by the fire, running his words through my head. I had a bit over twelve hours to make my choice. To choose either the only city I'd ever called home. Or the only family I'd ever known. Sighing softly, I rose and went to the pantry, gathering loaves of bread and some sliced cheese. Taking a few coins from a jar on the counter, I grabbed my shawl and headed out.

Gehan and I lived on the second tier of the city, T'er Caelian. Listening to farmers and their wives hawk their wares all day was one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes, I even took some of these coins to buy a new ribbon from them. This was not my goal today, though.

Out in the fresh air, my step livened slightly, the worry leaving my face. I stopped by the bakery to pick up some milk and fresh ginger biscuits, before heading westward along Caelian Lane. As I approached the gate to the city, Ramean, the Gatekeeper, hailed me, smiling brightly. "Where you off to today, Kiliya? Back down to T'er Aventine?" I smiled back, nodding as I lifted my basket of bread and cheese. "I'm just going to go help them out a bit, like I try and do." With a wave of farewell, I made my way down the steps to the lowest section of Arcadia.

T'er Aventine, home to the poorest in Arcadia. Here was the only tavern in the city. It always made me a bit sad to see how hungry its residents were. This tier was where Gehan had found me as a child. He thought I must have been around two. Smiling as I saw a group of children, I grabbed some of the biscuits I had just bought. I always made sure the children got this extra treat, especially the little girl with the injured wing. Just an hour passed before I was out of food to give away, and with a sigh, I started my way back towards home.

Stopping on the landing, I paused, and looked out over the Isle of Erymanthus. It was so beautiful. How would I survive without my home? Abruptly changing my course, I continued upwards, stopping as I reached T'er Palatium. Here was the palace. I'd often come here, delivering messages for the guards, or singing for Prince Dardaenus. Listening to young Prince Elatus cry over his broken toys. There was Chenubis, the sky serpent, guarding the palace, so gentle and kind to all of us, though he turned vicious quick enough when any who threatened our city entered his sight.

Continuing my slow, lazy tour of the city, I walked back to the stairs, heading towards T'er Visayus. Here was the toymaker, whom I'd often visited for a new toy for the Prince, and Suthaine, the bookbinder. There was a cafe for those of us who could afford more expensive tastes, including the fruit wine Gehan loved so much. Waving to the guards, I climbed the last set of stairs, to T'er Briham. Always one of my favorite tiers, this one housed the scholars and students of our city. King Iasius was always lost in thought here, and Amae, sat in silent contemplation when not with one of us, teaching us the proper enunciation and tones for our beloved Atavian language.

Walking out of the library, after listening to some students argue about how Erymanthus could float in the sky(an almost constant argument if you sat and listened long enough), I stopped, and stood, gazing down at the city below me. Gazing upwards, I could see the Sky Tower rising high, and thought, whimsically, that I could hear Cassandra singing up on the top floor. This was home. But it wasn't family. I would go with Gehan. This would always be here. A place I could come to visit.

Feeling much, much more at ease, I walked home. Taking one last walk through Caelian Park, I climbed up into the tree house, and watched the sun drift through the skylight, casting rainbows on the wall through the wind chime hung within. I watched the sun set as I sat in my favorite hide away, then rose with my basket. It was time to head back home and tell Gehan of my decision.

As I walked inside, he turned towards me from his seat facing the fire place. His face was full of worry and stress, and so I walked over to him immediately and wrapped my arms around him. With a gentle smile, I whispered softly, "I'm coming with you, father." The shock in his eyes was apparent, but then he beamed brightly at me, and wrapped me in a massive bear hug. He explained we must pack, and quickly, and take only things we'd need. Food, blankets, tools, and clothing were gathered, placed in packs specially designed for our wings.

It was midnight by the time we were ready. We took to wing right outside his home, and the small group joining us, only about twenty others, met us. Ramean only sighed as went through the gates. While he'd not outright disobey his Queen, he had no reason to stop us. We weren't forbidden from leaving, but we all knew she'd be angry when she discovered our leaving. We made our way down the mountain, through Erymanthus woods, and further down the floating isle. Here we stopped, and looked down. When the day was clear, we could see the world below us. But tonight, the clouds were heavy, and with the darkness, nothing could be seen.

The hesitation was felt. All knew that if they took this final step, the only ones welcomed back would be the children. Gehan paused, and looked back to everyone, his tone serious as he spoke quietly, though his voice carried in the night. "I require none of you to come with me. Those who do, you know seeing home again will be very, very unlikely. But you'll also be able to worship our Lord Agatheis freely. We'll start a new chapter in our lives, and be stronger for staying true to our beliefs and desires."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and one by one we took that last step through the mists, falling to the world below us.

Cold wind hit us as we at last landed. Looking about, we discovered we weren't really all that far from Mount Nicator and the keystone that led back home. We knew, though, that we must find a place to call home, and quickly. we weren't used to this cold, and a fire was definitely needed. Gehan quickly organized three scouting parties, and sent them off to look for a place we might call home. The oldest of the children were ordered to look after the youngest, and we got them a snack and water.

A few hours passed before the first scouting party returned. Everything they'd found, without leaving the mountains, either wasn't suitable, or was inhabited already. The second returned with the same news, but also with word of bears within the mountains. Waiting for the third group to return, we began to worry, as two hours passed with no word. Finally, one of the scouts came out of the night, waving us down. Beaming brightly, he excitedly told us that they'd found the perfect spot. Quickly, we all followed him, and he led us across a hastily constructed rope bridge.

From here, we began climbing; a steep, narrow climb that eventually opened up into a plateau. We stared out in amazement at the area before us. With the clouds and the narrow passage, it wouldn't be easy to find us. There was a small branching in the narrow trail to the northeast, that we decided to explore later, but it was quickly decided that this plateau was where we'd build our home.

A fire was built, and all of us lay down upon the blankets we'd brought, quickly and easily falling asleep.

The sun was well into the sky when I woke. A pile of wood already lay in the centre of the plateau. The children were running around, having a grand time, as the men and women gathered, discussing the layout of the town. Quickly joining them, I listened carefully as Gehan spoke.

"We'll build a perimeter wall, in the shape of a diamond, leaving the south eastern point open. We'll place a gate further down the trail, so one person can watch it easier and notify us if anyone's coming along. The main streets will also meet in a diamond pattern, with a centre street horizontal and vertical."

The group nodded, and began to cut wood, plant posts within the ground, and lash poles together for our walls. As the group got engrossed in their work, I noticed Gehan looking around. I knew him well, and could tell, with that slump of his shoulders, that he was contemplating something serious. As he silently crept away and down the mountain, I followed him. I knew I wouldn't really be missed. One of the older girls had charge of the youngest, and I was too little still to help with the building.

I recognized the path he took as leading back towards Mount Nicator. Curious, I crept behind him, being careful to not let him see or hear me. I stopped as he stopped beside the keystone. With a barely heard, "I'm sorry," I saw him lift his sword, and slam the hilt into the stone. With a brilliant flash of light, the stone broke into five pieces. I sat in shock at what my father had done. That was the only way to Arcadia, and now it was gone. What I saw after shocked me further, though.

Softly, he chanted in a language I didn't understand, raising his hands to the heavens. Lightning flashed, and it almost seemed that fire blazed upon the mountain top. Rain poured down, though wet nothing around, while the wind raged and whirled. The ground beneath us shook so hard, I was surprised the mountain did not crumble. With one more uttered word, a bright light flashed, and when I could see again, four elementals stood before Gehan. What he said, I've no idea, but I saw him give each of the elementals a piece of the keystone before placing the last in his pocket. With a tear wracked voice, he ordered them to go and began to stride down the mountain. I sat there stunned silence, unsure of what to do.

Finally, my strength gathered again, and I raced back to our new home. My voice trembling, I raised a hand and pointed it towards Mount Nicator. "It's.. It's gone. The keystone! I-I saw.. I saw..." My voice trailed off as I tried to speak of what I'd seen. Quickly, the scouts ran back to the mountain, as I sat there unable to speak. They returned quickly, and recounted in a dull voice that I was right. There was no keystone.

I opened my voice again, pointing to Gehan, trying to get the words out. Gehan looked at me, startled, and rushed to my side, wrapping his arms around me. "She's in shock, the poor child. The Queen must have ordered the keystone destroyed! We knew she'd be angry, but I never guessed she'd be this upset! We have no choice now but to make our village strive! We shall build it, and we shall live, worshiping our Lord Agatheis!"

The group nodded, murmuring before cheering loudly. With haste, they got back to work. Gehan looked at me, and shook his head. I knew then that if I said a word, no matter how he might feel for me, my life would be forfeit. Not wanting to lose the closeness I held with my father, I stood up, and gave him a hug. Together, we walked off to join the group now beginning to build our huts.

The years passed, and our village grew. We came to call it Genji. Others who'd been stranded on the main land of Sapience joined us, helping us grow and strive. We learned that manticores inhabited nearby caverns, though they seemed to leave us alone so long as we left them alone. A woman now, I had my own responsibilities. Gehan was a wonderful leader, and I let his secret stay a secret. With the future holding such great promise, all we could do was continue to strive and grow. Who knew what the future would hold?