End

The next morning, I arrived early like I would any other day to the temple. But my return had clearly made it to the acolytes. They all gathered up before the Priests even reached me. Each with eager faces wanting to know what I had learned. There was an unexpected fame that this all gave me. I didn’t count on that happening.

“Announcement, Speaker Eshikra!” rang a clear voice from behind the young acolytes. It was Cathlin and his voice split the few in front of me like a command. He stepped in looking firm, staring at me. I met his gaze directly.

I had so many times considered what I wanted to say to him the first time I saw him. The more spiteful side wanted to lay his plans bare in front of everyone, even if I wasn’t believed. But looking at him now, he didn’t seem as commanding as I remembered. The confidence of his position and belief remained, but it didn’t feel so overwhelming and anxiety building. “Head Priest Cathlin, we have much to discuss.”

He glanced over to Geth and Flaita. Still difficult to read, but he seemed a little bothered by something. There was some flinching or frustration that seemed to hang in his eyes and wrinkles. But they pulled back and escorted me over to the Sanctum. As the only two rooms in the temple, it had the only privacy to be found.

Once the door closed, Cathlin stood in front of me looking down almost invasively. I merely watched. “Priest Gerth of Rastron informed us that he sent you in search of Origin for answers.”

“Yes, I found Origin and spoke with Ministra.” Geth and Flaita both gasped and stepped back. Cathlin looked a little shaken by my straight declaration, but seemed to be trying to stand still.

“You spoke with Her? Directly as it was said to be done in the old texts?”

“Yes, she answered my questions. Though her answers proved to be beyond our comprehension.”

Cathlin grabbed my forearm looking a little desperate now. I was a little surprised by this. “What did She say? What must we do to prove our worth?”

“She only confirmed what she said before. This wasn’t a test, but a final message. We will die due to something called a Gamma Ray Burst. Nothing will remain.”

“N-no, that can’t be! You’re still convinced that there is no test. You didn’t ask the right question!”

Looking back at Cathlin, I twisted my arms slightly to break free of his hold, frail as it was. My hands clamped down on his wrists as I stared back. I pulled him in looking directly in his eyes. “No, Head Priest Cathlin, I asked her what the Termination was and she was completely clear. I’ve seen the true face of Ministra. These are the eyes of one who has seen the truth.” He completely shook until his legs buckled. The old man fell before me as though I had slayed him with a sword.

“It can’t be! There’s no hope? What can we do?”

“Head Priest! This was never about hope. It was about knowing that we have a finite time remaining and to cherish that time we have. Live in the day and don’t regret the way we lived. Be proud of what she guided us towards and share that with those around us. It’s scary and frightening knowing that we will die, but the village will face it together as one.”

“Speaker…”

Cathlin looked to have calmed a little, but to my surprise Flaita stepped up helping up the old man from the stone floor. She looked over to me placing a hand on my arm not to separate us, but to affirm. “Eshikra’s is right, Cathlin. We can face this together. That is our strength.”

“When you are weak alone, we raise to support the Pillar to stand tall,” answered Geth, joining on the flanking side. I was a little surprised that I didn’t have more of a fight from them after how easily they got behind him at the Conveyance. But they seemed to have bolstered Cathlin’s resolve that he could stand on his own once more.

With the acceptance of our fate, we stepped out of the Sanctum. We greeted the whole village with the truth. I naturally left out a lot of the details that I would go to the end with, but the certainty of our end and the peace we needed to find together was conveyed. We had a proper Conveyance, my last and the one that I was most proud of delivering.

Linoth accepted my words as I believed that they would. There was some crying and worry, but we were strong. And in the days that followed, I had so many visitors at home wanting to talk to me. I thought that my last days would be more quiet with mother and father, but they were the busiest that I had ever known.

I talked with everyone and learned things that I never knew. People that I had spent my whole life with that I thought I understood, I came to know deeply in ways that I never realized. Smiles and laughter passed as equally as tears and solemn words. But I could see the resolve that grew in each of them.

It was the happiest days I had ever known. Each day felt like an eternity. All strung together bringing them to the nearest place in my heart. A warmth that would survive beyond the life that I held in this fragile body.

Together with my parents and everyone in Linoth we stood out on the final day holding each other. There was no shaking or tears. Just smiles and happiness as we knew each other better than ever. Everyone was family.

And in a blinding light it was over.