Chapter 5:
In the Service of Gods
The Palace of Gratitude would have been better off named the Palace of Greed. There was a vague castle architecture to it as it had four towers in the same pagoda-like shape as Sparrow Hall and one box structure in the middle connecting the towers. Each tower was six stories high and clad in gold roof tiles. Vris took me past at least three courtyards of varying sizes and more rooms that I could keep track of. The air was cooler here out of the direct gaze of the sun and it smelled of lilacs.
The sheer volume of life reminded me of an ant colony with half a dozen people going off in one direction or the other every time we turned a corner. A few glanced my way as we passed but no one spoke to me. We ended up at the base of one of the towers where Vris was once again required to show her token to a pair of guards. I’d need to acquire one of those if I hoped to go anywhere alone.
Seeker Len’s room was at the top of the tower. I was sweating and muttering under my breath by the time we arrived at the top. Vris curtsied to me, then gestured towards a wooden door with carvings of pine trees on them.
I considered knocking before dismissing the idea. After all, they hadn’t knocked on my bedroom door when they stole me. I strode forward and pushed the door open.
Seeker Len’s chambers were lavish, covered in plush rugs and golden fixtures. A massive telescope made of brass was sitting next to a closed window. There were three incense burners filling the space with a choking amount of scent, an odd mix of sandalwood and cinnamon. It was uncomfortably warm and I fought the urge to take off my outer robe in case that sort of thing was seen as taking your shirt off.
Seeker Len was seated behind a desk to my right, scribbling away at a scroll while glancing at four other pieces of paper. He was so engrossed in his work he didn’t even look up. I approached his desk and glanced down at the mess. There were spidery symbols crowding the scroll and the other pages had the same symbols. So, I’d been denied the ability to read in this world.
It was only as I loomed over him that Seeker Len seemed to notice I was there. He started so forcefully he dropped his brush.
“Ah, my lady, you have arrived,” Seeker Len said. He pasted a smile on his face but he couldn’t fully cover his discomfort.
I hid a smile. “You summoned me, I didn’t have much choice.”
He cleared his throat and gestured to a chair opposite the desk. The chair was made up of intricately carved beasts for the legs and arms and, while stunning, was perhaps the most uncomfortable chair I’d ever sat on.
“Now, as Seer, you are required to submit to a test to ensure you are able to perform your duties properly.” He spoke like a teacher explaining something to his least intelligent student.
“What?”
He held up his hands. “Fear not, this is a rudimentary test designed to ensure that you are, in fact, not of this world and possess the ability to speak to the gods. It’s quite straightforward.”
“And what happens if I fail?” Part of me hoped they’d send me home, or at least free me of the burden of saving the world so I could find my own way back.
“Not to worry. There has only been one failure in history, so the odds are very much in your favour.” He seemed pleased by this statement, but rather than be reassured, I was convinced that the record keepers of this place were slipping. Or they might have been outright censored to give the impression the success rate is higher.
He must have noticed my skepticism, as he added, “It was a simple case of mistaken identity. We found the correct Seer in the end, fear not.”
“Hm.”
Seeker Len opened a few drawers in his desk before finding what he was looking for: a metal saucer that looked like it might sit under a teacup. He placed the saucer in front of me, then plucked a vial from his robe pocket and poured a clear liquid into the saucer.
“Please, put a finger in the liquid. It doesn't matter which finger,” Seeker Len asked.
Distrust swirled in the pit of my gut, but the memories of how many guards hung around this place flashed in my mind. I didn’t know enough to escape, not yet. And there was the slim chance that this would reveal a mistake and the nightmare would be over.
I stuck my pinky finger in the fluid as it seemed the finger that would be easiest to live without. My skin began to tingle as the fluid came to a sudden boil. I snatched my hand away, checking the pinky over for any damage. Once I’d determined my pinky was unharmed, I realized the liquid had kept boiling and turned silver.
Seeker Len relaxed. “Excellent. A perfect result.” He poured the liquid back into the vial and tucked it away.
“Now can you explain what the hell is going on?” I demanded, keeping my tone cold.
Seeker Len nodded, seeming not at all put off by my anger. “Yes, yes. I can. Since the beginning of our records, there has been calamity. It is thought that Wosurei itself emerged from calamity over four thousand years ago. War, famine, pestilence, these are the agents of calamity. And while we have been able to weather these storms on the whole, there has been one storm that we would be unable to survive.”
Here, Seeker Len grew serious. “It has been dubbed The End of Days. Nothing can survive it, all life would be wiped away. The texts speak of the seas evaporating, of the earth splitting apart to swallow cities, of poison rain drowning valleys, and the arrival of demons. And so, The End of Days must be prevented at all costs.”
The story made sense to me, save the most important bit. “Except you don’t know how to prevent this End of Days.”
Seeker Len nodded. “Correct. As I told you before, this knowledge is beyond me. Our purpose is to prepare you for your mission to connect with the gods and receive their holy wisdom.”
“And how will I connect with the gods?” I was already so tired of asking questions.
“You will venture to where the Celestial Realm meets our world, at the very tip of Mount Ezara, and beseech the gods to speak with you. They will then provide you with all the knowledge you require.”
“How long does that take?” I dreaded the answer yet couldn't avoid it.
“The preparation for the journey will take a moon’s time. That is, a moon is twenty eight days. The journey itself will be at least three moons.”
Three months to climb a mountain. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. A plan had begun to take shape and I wasn’t sure if I’d have another chance to play this card, so now was the time.
I looked at Seeker Len dead in the eye. “I refuse.”
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