The Twenty-Second Entry

The Old man smoked from a worn and bruised wooden pipe, the smoke filtering into the air around the table. The Prophet sat kneeling across the table, and the Old man passed him the pipe. He held it steady, and gingerly placed it in his mouth and inhaled. He exhaled and looked at us. The Prophet was dressed in a deep red robe, with black pants that appeared silk in appearance, albeit bigger than his size.

A’re had taken a kneeling position on one of the plush pillows, mimicking the Prophet – while I remained standing behind him on his left.

“I’d like to formerly welcome the both of you. As I said before: I am the Prophet. The man beside me is my advisor Uldet, he brought you to me for a reason.”

“He said you prophesied our arrival?” A’re asked.

The Prophet looked A’re over, and then at me, before returning his attention to A’re.

“Yes, though I only saw one of you. You are a curious variable. Are you made entirely of machine?” The Prophet inquisitively asked.

A’re looked a bit flustered, taking his right arm up to the back of his neck: “I’m not sure if yes or no is correct, I think I’m both.”

Blood trickled from the wound on A’re’s arm, a drop landing on the pillow below.

A concerned looked crossed the Prophet’s brow and he said softly: “You’re injured.”

The Prophet stood and walked over to A’re’s right side – removing a sheathing of gauze from his formal wear. He tended to A’re’s wound, and A’re watched.

“Thank you. My name is A’re, and this Axiom.” A’re said watching the Prophet.

The Prophet looked up at me and gave a slight smile, before looking back at Uldet. The Prophet looked back at his handy work before tearing at the gauze and ensuring it was tight, but not too tight, to A’re’s arm.

“My title is the Prophet, but my name is Yulthar. All descendants of Nathar take a resemblance in name.” Yulthar said standing and walking back to his position on the other side of the table.

Yulthar looked at us both, taking a breath, before saying: “My people are lost, and suffering. We have been forced to live underground in the dark, and food is running low. I cannot feed everyone, nor can I heal everyone.”

“How can we help?” A’re asked.

There was a pause, the flickering of the candles the only sound in the room.

“I do not know how you can help. I only saw your arrival, and our salvation – but not how its accomplished.” Yulthar said solemnly and continued: “Something is not only plaguing our hearts and bellies, but our minds. I do not know how to treat it, or if it can be treated. It hollows out people and affects everyone no matter how old.”

“You appear unaffected.” I said, and Yulthar looked in shock at my sudden observation.

Yulthar looked down and said nothing.

“We can help, I think.” A’re lowly said.

Yulthar looked at A’re, his green eyes widening in the white and red makeup: “How?”

“We’ll walk among your people and figure out how to help. There must be some way to relieve your people of their infliction. I promise we’ll find some way.” A’re said with conviction.

“Thank you.” Yulthar said smiling.

“You’ll need my help. The city is a maze if you haven’t frequented the streets. My bones, however, need rest after today.” Uldet said cutting in.

“Then tomorrow.” Yulthar said standing and gesturing to one of the closed off rooms: “The journey to us was probably exhausting. Please, utilize one of the rooms and rest.”

“Thank you, we will.” A’re said standing himself.

“It’s the least I can do.” Yulthar said smiling.

A’re looked at Yulthar before walking over to one of the rooms, and I followed behind. Pushing open the wooden door, A’re entered the room. Before I entered as well, I looked back and watched Yulthar enter the adjacent room, with Uldet entering the same and closing the door behind him.

Inside the room was surprisingly soundproof, with a pair of beds draped in silk bedding, and a small table on the left side seated with two polished wooden chairs.

A’re sat down on one of the beds and looked at his right arm.

“I am exhausted, that was a lot more than I’m used to.” A’re said sighing.

I sat down at the table, the room lit with hanging braziers, and stared at the pair of candles at the center of the table.

“What are we going to do?” A’re said looking at me.

“Nothing. I told you before – you can’t save them.” I said.

“I know I can’t but I’m sure you can do something.” A’re said.

“There’s nothing I can do for them.” I said.

“Something must be done, or Yulthar wouldn’t have been prophesied us being here.”

“I don’t advise heeding his visions. If he has them.”

“What do you mean?” A’re asked.

“He does not possess any foreseeing abilities. I’m surprised you did not notice.”

“Then why did they tell us he saw us being here?”

“He supposedly saw me, not you.” I said

A’re shook his head and asked: “Then what are we doing here?”

“A test.” I said softly.

“A test? For what?” A’re asked.

“I’m not sure. The Obelisk is becoming more frequent on this journey. It’s watching us now.” I said.

A’re’s face contorted for a moment in fear at this revelation but returned to look back at me: “What should I do?”

“You’ll do as promised, and I will accompany you. That is all.” I said.

A’re nodded, exhaustion appearing to wash over him.

“I’m going to get some sleep. What about you?”

“I’ll wake you.” I said.

A’re again nodded and pushed the sheets over. He got into bed, pulling the sheets over, and I felt him drift quickly into sleep.

I had not slept in a long time, but I felt no need for it. I watched the flame of the candles flick without rest for hours, pondering the motives of the Obelisk. There was much more at play here on this world, and more disturbing things in this hall.

“A test, huh.” I whispered to myself in the dim light.

The melted wax of the candles finally put out the flame as morning approached, and I sat in the dark in its wake.