The Twenty-Third Entry

I woke A’re not long after the candles went out, the braziers overhead growing brighter as time passed. After giving A’re some time to gather himself, we exited the room and went into the hall. Uldet was already waiting for us, his old steps somewhat energized. Yulthar, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Yulthar?” A’re asked.

“The Prophet is still sleeping and will not be joining us. I’ll show you what I can of the village, and hope that will be enough.” Uldet said solemnly.

A’re nodded and accepted Uldet’s words. We exited the hall and went into the city, the plumes of smoke rising from the Grim Brimmer in the distance. The city was illuminated like the Prophet’s Hall, grand braziers hung overhead in grandiose light, but all they accomplished was cast larger shadows over Nathar.

Along the streets were familiar faces, those who slummed in the city the previous day still staring into the distant dark. A’re knelt beside one of the still and examined them.

“They appear normal.” A’re said moving slightly the still woman’s head, “She doesn’t appear bothered by me, but more like she doesn’t see me. There’s some kind of violet, I’m not sure what, glow at the edges of her eyes.”

I said nothing as he examined her, watching the waking populace of Nathar begin their duties for the day. Those who still seemed capable, rose with their heads held high – fighting against impossibility. Children danced in the streets as they made their way to school, a large distant patched together building, singing hymns of an ancient song.

“Axiom.” A’re said pulling my attention back to them.

The woman stared up at me, tears running down her cheeks, and our eyes met. She began hyperventilating, her cheeks reddening, and grabs her head. She wails and thrashes about, knocking A’re back, and the screams bring the gaze of passing people. The woman, however, never looks away – as if trapped.

“So many…!” The woman gurgles in her screaming.

Uldet presses upon a radio in his jacket, and a squad of guards hurtles toward us through the passing crowds.

“Restrain her.” Uldet commands, and the guards pick her up by her arms and onto her feet. “Take her to the front barricade.”

A’re looks at Uldet in shock, but even more so by what follows.

“We can’t, sir, the first barricade and the second were breached last night!” One of the guards grunted in response, the woman thrashing in their grip.

“What?! Why wasn’t I informed?!” Uldet sternly asked.

“We tried, sir, but you didn’t answer our hails!” Another of the guards chimed in.

Uldet grimaced, his brows furrowing, and commanded: “Fine, take her to the third and whoever else awakens from the stillness!”

The guards hurried away with the woman, still thrashing, and into the distance towards the bulkhead; the crowds of people dispersed just quickly.

“That’s who is at your front line?! The sick?!” A’re angrily asked. “What kind of monster are you?!”

“We don’t have a choice! Everyone must commit to our defense or we are doomed to fail, and our mission-“ Uldet cut himself off, taking a breath, and looked towards me. “There’s something we must discuss, please follow me.”

Uldet hurriedly walked away towards a darker corner of the city. A’re and I hesitantly followed him. Walking into a shadowed alley way, we stopped once we reached a dead end.

“Why did you bring us here?” A’re asked.

Uldet didn’t respond, his back towards us still, and took a deep breath. Suddenly, he reached for his right side, presumedly his right eye, and pulled away at the metal strips. Uldet grunted in pain as each strip was removed, spots of blood drooping to the ground, until the final strip fell. Uldet turned, and A’re gasped.

Uldet’s right eye was completely mechanical in nature, identical to A’re’s, a fusion of flesh and grey metal. Uldet knelt before me, placing both hands on the ground.

“Ah, I cast aside this façade.” Uldet said pleased with himself, “I am Uldet, Agent of the Obelisk. I am here to serve the Obelisk, and you, my lord.”

“So, you were the one who foretold my arrival.” I said.

“Yes, my lord. I have prepared what remains of this world for the Obelisk, preparing for your arrival.”

“You, you betrayed your own people?!” A’re asked, his voice quivering in anger.

“Don’t be a fool!” Uldet snapped back, “I have saved my people! You only saw the effects of what the Reverent did to us - what they created!”

“Then they were successful.” I said.

“Yes, my lord. I saw it with my own eyes – a god born of my people, ravaged from our souls. We are all that remain from that day. My people are now cursed to wait until it returns to finish us, those who bore witness and their children. It was only because of the Obelisk’s protection, MY endeavors, that they were spared!” Uldet viciously said.

“Their eyes…” A’re said understanding.

“But now that you are here, we can be saved!” Uldet looked up in wonder upon me, “The Obelisk has promised our salvation, and uplifting!”

Uldet looked away from me to A’re: “You are proof of this! The combination of man and machine, together an all more powerful form, a new being!”

A’re said nothing, unable to dispute his own existence. Yet, A’re appeared troubled. I was beginning to understand, to question. What was Human?

“My lord.” Uldet knelt deeper, snapping me back into the conversation, his head almost touching the floor, “I have prepared the way. We do not have anymore time. The enemy is coming. I have prepared a sacrifice for the Obelisk, please bear witness to our commitment.”

I nodded, and Uldet lifted his head smiling.

“Then please, follow me.” Uldet said standing and passing between us towards the exit of the alley.

A’re said nothing, stuck in an expression of shock, and followed behind me. Uldet lead us back along the hurried streets of Nathar, towards the Prophet’s Hall – a thin line of orange light basking upon its face.

“Yulthar.” A’re whispered behind me, his voice stale and hoarse, as if preparing to throw up.