The Twenty-Fourth Entry

 “The time is right.” Uldet breathed heavily.

An ensemble of loud cracks split through the air like distant thunder, the echoes of gunfire rapidly increasing in ferocity. Panicked voices scorched the Last Refuge of Nathar like a burning uncontrolled flame, the crowds of denizens running either down to the bulkhead or an already filling building. The Prophet’s home arched over the refuge, a lighthouse in the dark, and with each highly charged slug – a wave of flame crashing against its foundation threatening to topple it.

“I have prepared. My people will survive.” Uldet said as mantra.

At the steps of the Prophet’s Home waited a dozen black cloaked figures - a red shield, arching from the tops of their heads to the ground below and an etched eye with lines that looked like scars running from top to bottom. The figures donned a skull headdress covered in dead blood red feathers that arched over their backs in numbers, their visages hidden in shadow. They watched as Uldet approached and split away, allowing us to pass through them.

“My followers, the time is ready. The preparations are made. We must now move.” Uldet said as if he had been preparing to say it.

Upon the upper stairs another figure waited, but this one was different – the rune mask dimly lit beneath the hood.

“Aberus?” A’re asked surprised.

“I have come to observe this moment, in person.” Aberus said.

Uldet led us up the stairs, Aberus watching us proceed, and a few of Uldet’s followers walked behind us.

Entering the hall, Yulthar sat at the table as he did when we first met him – his face adorned in his traditional make-up, and his expression filled with confusion.

“You’re back! Who are these people behind you?” Yulthar asked.

We approached, but Uldet took the lead and stepped closer to Yulthar.

“Uldet? Why won’t you answer me? Why won’t any of you?”

Yulthar looked toward A’re, and A’re looked away pained. I expected A’re to speak out, but our encounter in the streets appeared to hold his tongue.

“They’ve broken through the last bulkhead! The Red Door is all that’s left!” A voice echoed through the hall, viciously cracking through Uldet’s radio.

“Uldet?”

“The time is right.” Uldet said, and the followers approached Yulthar. The followers reached for Yulthar and he fought against them.

“What’s happening?! Uldet?!” Yulthar screamed.

Uldet grabbed Yulthar by the face and sneered: “You are our Prophet, boy, but I have saved us. Thanks to me, and you, our people’s survival is assured. I have shaped you into a fine tool.”

The followers tied Yulthar’s hands and feet, Yulthar struggling to keep them off him. Yulthar began weeping, tears muddying the red and white make-up.

Yulthar looked over at us, his hazel eyes red with tears, before a black linen bag is placed over his head.

The followers hoist Yulthar into the air, Yulthar no longer struggling, and carry him to the door. Uldet leads us behind them, and Aberus joins us in the plaza below.

“The ritual will take place at the last door, our last shield.” Uldet said.

The dark procession made its way down the streets of Nathar, Yulthar and our company at its center. As we passed homes, whispers began to spread just as loudly as the gunfire. People followed from their homes, their eyes wide in wonder at the procession, shuffling behind in curiosity.

At the Red Door, Grim Brimmer had been pulled from its holster and plumed roaring steam, green energy sparking over its dark parts. It nestled itself in front of the door, a crew of soldiers prepared to fire it and another prepared to open a firing slot in the Red bulkhead. The soldiers looked at the procession, their curiosity taking their attention, but the gunfire never ceased – and their duty snapped them back into action.

The entirety of Nathar had gathered behind the procession and filtered behind us into the plaza entryway of the Red bulkhead. The followers who were not holding Yulthar, turned and became a barrier between us and the crowds, their shields hoisted in front of them. A slab had been placed behind the Grim Brimmer, an altar of clean black slate, and the procession stopped in front of it. Uldet waved his hand, and the followers placed Yulthar upon it. Yulthar didn’t struggle or move at all, his breaths still visible beneath the bag. Uldet positioned himself between the altar and the Grim Brimmer.

A’re, Aberus, and I took a side position away from the altar and the Grim Brimmer. A’re said nothing, his eyes looking towards the ground.

“What will happen to them?” A’re asked meekly.

“Once the contract is made, they will be given divine protection from the Reverent. A joining will occur, and their souls will be taken from their flesh - given purpose by the Obelisk.” Aberus answered.

“They’ll become nothing more than husks.” A’re answered.

The Grim Brimmer pulsed with green energy, the steam disappearing entirely.

Uldet looked over the crowds, and held up his arms, his voice deafening all else: “Brothers, sisters, children, people of Nathar, hear me! Our doom is approaching, behind this door are our brave defenders who are running out of time! Long have I watched our people suffer at the hands of our enemy, long have they tortured us! But today, we prepare to defeat our enemy!”

Uldet removed the bag from Yulthar’s head, and growing murmurs spread through the crowd.

“A great power has extended a means to an end of our suffering! Our Prophet has chosen to be a noble gift in exchange for all our lives, and our salvation! Nathar must survive, Xirriul will live on!”

All became silent, the gunfire dying out. Uldet withdrew a runed dagger from his waist, and the Grim Brimmer fired through the opening, the green energy rippling along the metal sides. Uldet positioned the dagger over Yulthar’s chest, then raised it high above.

I looked upon A’re, who looked away from the scene, and then back at the ritual; the green of the cannon washing over us and the crowds. I moved - my feet carrying me forward.

“My lord?” Aberus asked behind me, his voice trailing as he grew further away.

“Let this be the beginning of our future, not its close! Our ascension, and this Joining become a reality!” Uldet boomed.

The pulsing energy of the Grim Brimmer ceased, and Uldet struck down.

Before the dagger could reach Yulthar, I gripped Uldet’s forearm. Uldet looked at me with shock.

“You?! What are you doing?!” Uldet spewed in confusion.

I took the knife away from his grasp, tossing it to the ground, and lifted Uldet up off his feet – gripping his jaw with one hand.

“I was given a guarantee! All our lives, for one! One life! You would doom us all?!” Uldet struggled to say, “I am an Agent of the Obelisk! You would defy its will?!”

I took a breath, feeling its heat against the mask.

“Is this right, Mira?” I whispered.

Twisting my grip - Uldet’s neck snapped and his body limp.