Josius walked into his arboretum which towered high above him and stretched as far out as the eye could see. There was nothing like it in all the Earthen kingdoms, and Josius took pride not only in keeping it well but also as the largest public park for all members of the Earthen Kingdom to come and relax. But what was most seducing element in his opinion was the thick hidden coves that make meditative practises so much easier. Precisely what Josius was looking for. He would normally form a cocoon of earth around him, burrow, and pop up where ever he need to, but today he thought that seeing all of his earlier life's creations was much more suitable.
After a ten minute walk he finally reached a waterfall that was nearly fifty feet in height. At the base of the misty waterfall, were five boulders and eight smaller rocks. Josius removed his cloak and under garments and changed into torn pants. He made his way to the largest boulder and sat as his entire body took the force of the falling water. Breath in, breath out...
As Axis huddled on the ground next to his bed, there was a knock on the door and the doorhandle was turned. In panic, Axis focused all of his energy on the wooden door, trying to hold it there so he could see who it was. As he warily peeked around the corner, he saw it was none other than his rain soaked mother, Alara. She staggered into the room, exhausted from the walk back from the Tau Empire, and dripping with freezing rain. The Birds of War were still screeching, and Axis had a worried look in his eyes.
"Josius wished to give us caution, not panic, Axis." she said, noticing his terror.
"Then why would he send out Birds of War then?" Axis retorted.
"The War for the Above is deteriorating. That's all he wanted the Birds to signify. I hope thats put your mind at rest." Axis smiled weakly and nodded. "However .. I think it would be best for us to avoid another accident like your .. illness .. and maybe move to the Tau Empire temporarily."
Axis nodded and began to pack his satchel, saying goodbye to the mudhut he had lived in for so long.
Josius slowly began to levitate the rocks and hover them around him. The waterfall seemed to slow down around him and he lost himself to Mother Earth. You seemed lost, my child, came the metallic echo of a woman. Tell me, what is it that bothers you so/
"Mother," he replied, "is it not obvious? I move my warriors into place, and send emissaries to the unknown. I lie to my people to not worry, yet here I stand mad with insecurity. The remnants of the Tau Empire can not with stand another war, especially when they are divided so. Whatever faces us in the near future, I fear we will not succeed divided."
You hold much truth in what you say. But it is not in merely this unknown that you must stand united, but in all that was once the proud empire. Your people feel the insecurity of their leader, and in insecurity there is doubt. If the times are as terrible as you promise, doubt should not be seen by those closest to you.
"Do you not have any words of advise for me?" Josius asked desperately. "There is much help I could use." He lowered his head helpless and hopeless. A warmth filled his body and he was lifted to the top of the water fall we he viewed the tops of countless trees and the gates that formed the borders of the Empire. And he turned his head upward, he saw the face of a beautiful woman clothed in moss and exotic flowers sprouted from her hair.
At times our strength comes not from around us, but from within. With that Josius plummeted towards the ground again, landing on the boulder and cracking it with his fist and knees. The hovering rocks fell from their orbit and drenched him with water. Understanding what she meant, he quickly left the arboretum and headed out into his Kingdom. The torn rags were an excellent costume to hide him from the masses.
Axis walked uncertainly through the 13th gate of the Tau Empire. His mother knew this area like the back of her hand, and seemed sure they could find refuge here, but Axis still felt slightly uneasy. The use of the Earthen powers was much more open and relaxed than it was back in Kalah, in which use of powers out of ritual conditions was unholy. Merchants were growing the most magnificent plants and selling them to passers by. Out of the corner of his eye, Axis saw a man weaving in and out of the crowds a little faster than everyone else, and Alara seemed to notice this too.
"Josius." she whispered to Axis, pointing out the man. "He'll find us a place to stay." szhe finished and they both approached him, hope in their hearts.
Without saying a word, he motioned them to him and together they passed the crowd and weaved through neighboring alley-ways. They reached a dead end, from which Josius pressed his hands against the wall and muttered the words, Mother Earth, let me in. Suddenly the earthen wall formed an elaborately decorated entrance and without a wasted second was hurried into before becoming the dull solid wall it was before. The stair-well was barely lit by the fluttering fireflies and the glowworms that lined the ceilings and walls. “Walk respectively, Axis”, Josius said not bothering to turn around, “you have entered the womb of Mother Earth.” Before Axis could respond a bright light blinded the group and the walked into nothing but forest and rolling pastures. When they walked out of the vegetation, the stood before the west wall of Josius’ castle. “Quickly, we must prepare you, Axis.”
All questions that Axis were tempted to ask stayed in his head for he did not want to appear rude. The eternal muttering at the back of his mind from his other half was distracting him, as it was performing sudden crescendos every so often. He looked back at the area he had just come through. Mother Earth? He wondered .. if he went back .. he could talk to her .. be guided by her ..
Alara grasped her son's shoulder and made him continue walking. The castle bested any grandeur he had ever seen, with bricks of perfect white and ivy cascading from every corner. But the question still remained .. what did he need to prepared for?
Originally posted by Eternal Turmoil
All questions that Axis were tempted to ask stayed in his head for he did not want to appear rude. The eternal muttering at the back of his mind from his other half was distracting him, as it was performing sudden crescendos every so often. He looked back at the area he had just come through. Mother Earth? He wondered .. if he went back .. he could talk to her .. be guided by her ..Alara grasped her son's shoulder and made him continue walking. The castle bested any grandeur he had ever seen, with bricks of perfect white and ivy cascading from every corner. But the question still remained .. what did he need to prepared for?
As they made their way into the castle, Josius was approached by a man wearing very illustrious garment and carrying a very tall staff. "Patriarch!" Josius gasped falling to his knees. He was stopped and helped up by the Patriarch who quickly ushered him out of the room. Before he was swept away, he nodded towards one of the guards who immediately approached Axis and his mother. "Dr. Alara, Vigi has prepared the schematics that you requested. He is waiting in the tactical room. I'll take your son to the barracks to get debriefed and suited." He waited in a saluted stance waiting for Alara to give the OK.