The Ascension of Attis, The Hopeful Herald

Darkness enveloped most of the Council Chamber. Each concentric ring was lined with seats that tapered upwards as they went in, until the innermost segment was at the apex, looking down at the rest of the room.

No light peered through any window or opening, save for a solitary beam of cold, muted beam that shone down from the highest point in the center of the ceiling. It fell on a meter-wide floating crystal that was hovering several meters in the air above the peak of chairs. Waves of refracted ambience danced in an eerily quiet ebb. No one spoke as the trio entered, but everybody stood.

Attis cleared his throat and stepped to the front.

“Behold, before you stand Azag, the Great Guardian, and Sayane, the Songstress Supreme. Leaders of The Revolution and all oppressed peoples. Overthrowers of The Silence and Liberators of the Great Harmony Shards. By their direct deeds, a new world was born. Honor to Azag and Honor to Sayane!”

“HONOR TO AZAG! HONOR TO SAYANE!” the Council chanted.

Several slammed their chests and stomped their feet, sending thuds and reverbs through the still room. When the echoes dissipated, everything fell quiet once more. Sayane noticed nearly every eye was on her. But neither she nor Azag knew what to do.

“Attis?...” she whispered.

“Move to the center. You sit at the top. I stay here,” he replied as softly as possible.

“Thanks!” Azag said.

“So proud,” Attis murmured through a sustained smile.

They made their way into the chamber, past the first row of chairs. Each seat was large enough to hold any being as large as Azag, or larger. Some were occupied by bodies. Some held crystals that Sayane assumed were voice carriers, for those who were unable to be present. Haunting, pale light lingered in the dark eyes of those who watched them as they tapped forward.

Azag was already breathing deeply.

“Stairs. Great. This will take a moment,” he sighed as his grip tightened on his walking staff.

None of this felt how Sayane imagined it. Being on stage and elevated before fans was one thing. That allowed more people to see her. But being elevated like this felt like being othered or put on a pedestal of separation.

“What if we didn’t go up?” Sayane whispered.

“Hmm?” Azag asked with a glance.

“What if we sat here? On the stairs?”

Her proposition made him chuckle.

“Oh, they’re going to hate us,” he said.

“We’ll win them over,” Sayane smirked.

By then, they’d reached the first few stairs. Everyone paused and waited for them to ascend, but instead, the couple simply turned and faced back to the council before lowering themselves to the second and third step. An audible gasp of surprise and condemnation moved through the room.

“Great Guardian? Songstress?” one voice asked.

Azag’s staff tapped on the ground with a confident call.

“We will not be sitting on some elevated podium. We have no desire for such pageantry or betterment. You all know who we are and the authority we carry. A chair up high isn’t needed.”

“-But-”

“Do those seats offer more wisdom or perspective? Do they give Sayane and me more clarity than any of you?” Azag asked.

“No…” several voices replied.

“Then we do not need them. Please, let us sit here and begin,” Sayane finished.

“Azag and Sayane have spoken! Let us continue with more urgent matters than formalities,” Attis agreed from the shadows.

Sayane swore she saw him wink.

A handful of isolated protests echoed across the hall, but by and large, everyone seemed to accept that this was the decision. Thus, the councilors began to sit. Once they’d all taken their seats, the ceiling retracted slightly, and the light beam became more potent. Now, it struck the crystal with greater force, and twinkling, pleasant splendor began to illuminate the cavern. At last, Sayane and Azag could see their audience.

One face jumped out to Sayane. There in the crowd, in the back, was Erosc.

“Erosc? Why are you not up here? I thought you were a leader as well?” Sayane asked.

Heads turned to look upon her inquisition. Erosc bowed his head and stood. Light gathered around him, illuminating him more than the others.

“You are correct, beautiful songstress. I WAS a leader. In a time of war. Now come the days of transition, and, by the crystals, peace. I am not meant for that. I vacated my post just before you arrived.”

This came as a surprise to Sayane. Erosc had never mentioned fully stepping down. He had thrust her and Azag into full leadership after she had freed the first Shard, but she’d always assumed that THEY would be the ones stepping away from this after The Silence was defeated, not him. But now he was there before her, with a forlorn smile and a braced cane to support his broken body.

Erosc continued, turning his focus to the council.

“We stand at the edge of a new world, yet what is in our hands is more fragile than the weakest child. You entrusted me to lead us to victory, and in the end, the only way I could do that was by stepping out of the way. Like so many of you, I was stubborn and unrelenting. But…”

His tone shifted, and Sayane found herself leaning forward.

“There was one of us who dared to be flexible. Even when it meant defying us. And because of him, so much was achieved.”

A tingling joy whispered in Sayane’s chest as Erosc turned to face the small fuzzy ball behind him.

Attis’s ears tucked slightly as the light began to shine on him.

“What?” he asked.

“Attis, The Hopeful Herald. You saw light and wonder in ways none of us dared to. The crystals brought you to that cell so that you would cross paths with Sayane. And you trusted your intuition that she might truly be something truly miraculous, when we only saw her as a tool.”

Every being began to lean forward in its chair to get a better glimpse of the small messenger.

“For this, the entirety of the realm will forever be in your debt. Which is why I am about to propose something.”

“Erosc, what are you doing?” Attis frantically whispered.

“Forgive me, old friend.”

Erosc stood to his full height and expanded his massive chest so that his voice could carry to its maximum range.

“Three is always stronger than two. We forge blades thrice. Many are blessed with a third eye that grants them abilities beyond two. Rope is most durable with a third braid. Because of this, I believe the Songstress Supreme and the Great Guardian will need another leader to join them. To offer perspective they do not have and to make sure there is never a stalemate in decisions. That is why I am calling for Attis, The Hopeful Herald, to complete The Triumvirate!”

Even more gasps carried out, and Attis let out the softest squeak of abject surprise. Azag chuckled to himself and bowed in approval. Full realization of what was happening registered for Sayane and an overwhelming burst of joy erupted from her lips as she clapped and jumped to her feet.

“WOOO!!! Let’s go!!” Sayane shouted before catching herself.

“What? I couldn’t possibly- I- I’m just a messenger…” Attis stammered.

“You are far, far more than that, great one,” Erosc said with a bow.

“I…”

Words failed to materialize for Attis for the first time since Sayane had known him. Standing there in the glow of the crystal’s light, he seemed so small, yet Sayane knew his heart was grander than any she’d met.

“I… I… The decision rests on the Songstress Supreme and the Great Guardian…” Attis whispered.

He turned to Sayane and Azag, and it was hard to know exactly what he was hoping they’d say. All four of his eyes were pensive and cautious, yet opaque. For Sayane, he had been the most important being in her second life aside from Azag. Just like she’d told them after they’d pulled her from her panic attack, both of them had been there from the first note. Attis knew this world greater than either of them, and he knew the council’s ways. He could tell them of the world as it was and how it used to be. He had always been willing to offer council and believe in both of them.

“I vote yes,” Azag whispered.

“-Wholeheartedly,” he added.

Tears welled in Sayane’s eyes as she imagined the comfort of being in this with one other cherished heart. It was already enough to face this with Azag, and she’d been okay believing that they would be strong enough just the two of them. But with Attis, she dared to believe they could actually be ready for what awaited them. Every moment that had occurred since Esca first blew a hole in that hallway had led them here. Now, those moments were culminating in the three of them being tasked to lead all of civilization into something better than had come before.

Sayane stood and simply extended her hands.

Attis paused, and Sayane nodded.

Smatterings of cheers sounded out, and Attis exhaled then bowed to the room. Tiny footsteps carried him forward. At first they were slow, then they built into a faint stride. Then he was upon them, and all formality fell aside as he leapt into Sayane’s arms and Azag let out a laugh of relief. The three held one another for a moment and once again, all the world seemed to fade away.

“I hope… I hope I make you both proud,” Attis softly spoke as he wiped his eyes.

“You always have. The best hype man in the world,” Sayane laughed.

Azag wiped Sayane’s face and she lowered Attis to the step between them.

“Now then… Let’s… let’s find us a new home!” Attis shouted.