Revelations of War

With nowhere else to go, Erebos turned to his own side’s Barrier and approached the edge. Maybe going back was easier for her considering that she didn’t have active pursuers, but he was sure it was hard for both of them. He sat on the edge as she did, put his legs through, and slipped through the field.

As expected, a group of soldiers was waiting at the staircase for his return. A few hours had passed, but they were probably ordered to wait for him. Regardless, they all bore shocked expressions as he appeared from out the Barrier.

“He really survived, huh.”

There was a murmur of disbelief from them, but that didn’t stop the group from grabbing hold of his arms and escorting him up the stairs. They passed through the same path as Erebos’ escape, but when they came to the tunnel he had awoken in, the crowd was nowhere to be seen. Growing worried for the fate of his friends and the rest of the Capital’s inhabitants, he thought about questioning the soldiers but decided against it. Asking now and getting worked up wouldn’t help protect them if they were in trouble, and the soldiers probably wouldn’t tell him anyway.

As they emerged from the tunnels below the Capital, some of Erebos’ questions were answered. If not for the occasional soldier and stoic expressions of the passersby, he wouldn’t be able to tell anything had changed since the start of the day. Students passed through the wings in their regular numbers, professors could be heard lecturing through open classroom doors, and even laughing friend groups dotted the halls far more than one would think in times of war.

“Don’t look so disappointed, but the war’s over, you know.”

One of the soldiers spoke up to Erebos’ confused expression, snickering in response to his deepening perplexity. Had he actually been in the tunnel for far longer than he thought? Maybe time progressed differently in that strange space between worlds.

“Don’t get the wrong idea either. You might’ve been in that hole for only a few hours, but that’s all we needed to whoop your boys.”

Sending a resounding laugh through the soldiers, they all guffawed at this remark. So he didn’t perceive time differently, and the war had only lasted for that long. Erebos imagined that a war would be much longer and bloodier, but then again, this was all staged according to Aethra.

“You’d think your big, fancy Capital would have some better defenses to it, but you didn’t even see us under your noses! But it’s not like you had a professional army like us, so you shouldn’t have started it in the first place.”

The soldiers continued on to criticize the Capital's defenses and ridiculed the nation for it’s foolish declaration. If the war truly was contrived, the soldiers here definitely seemed like they hadn’t been told. Considering that the truth of the war was probably a closely-guarded secret for the time being, that was expected.

While occupied with these thoughts, Erebos tried to ascertain where the soldiers were leading him. They had emerged from the tunnels into the central hall, but instead of heading to one of the wings, they left the hall onto a walkway in the center courtyard. Emerging into the open air, Erebos peered down the side of the bridge to the gardens below. He hadn’t come out to this space before, with the only destination being the base of the Tower.

Without explanation, the soldiers stopped at the end of the walkway and leaned against the tower’s wall. They gestured towards Erebos to enter, making it clear that they had no intention to continue escorting him. At his hesitation, one of them spoke up in an annoyed voice.

“You’re not a prisoner, you know. We were just making sure you ended up where you needed to go. The Headmaster asked for you to come to his study, so don’t keep him waiting.”

It was disconcerting to see soldiers from Editha carrying out orders from the Capital’s Headmaster, but Erebos conceded and pushed in the heavy wooden door. Issuing not even a creak as it swung open, the door shut silently behind him and enclosed him into the circular chamber. Not quite sure what he was expecting, Erebos was surprised to see a rather normal reception area with a secretary sitting at a desk.

Secretary: “Well, you’re Afkoran, Erebos Afkoran, correct? The Headmaster asked to see you in his personal study. Strange though, isn’t it? For as long as I’ve been here, no one else has ever been allowed up there!”

She seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of Erebos going to the Headmaster’s study, so he figured that it really was a special occasion. But the reason why he had to go to this study was the primary concern for him at the moment. Surely it was something to do with his escape into the Barrier below. As for how much of what Erebos had learned was known to the Headmaster, he had yet to see.

Glancing around for a staircase leading to this study, Erebos failed to find a means to ascend or descend. The secretary chuckled and got out of her seat, walking over to Erebos and guiding him to the center of the room.

Secretary: “This was a device existing at the inception of the academy, so don’t ask how it works. All I know is that the entire base below us is packed with so many complicated artifices that no one’s ever wrapped their head around it.”

His arms were pushed tightly against his body and she fastened his mantle around his chest. Making similar preparations all over him, it looked like she was trying to tighten up any baggy clothing.

Secretary: “Since I have to do this for you, I wouldn’t want any loose clothing getting clipped off. Transporting’s a lot safer if you do it yourself, you know.”

Erebos was thoroughly confused at this point, not understanding what process he was being prepared for. She tapped up his chin to make him look straight up, and she explained what he had to do.

Secretary: “Imagine a similar pad that you’re standing on all the way at the top. Now focus on where that would be, and imagine yourself on that one. Getting rematerialized from light is a little uncomfortable at first, but it is perfectly safe, I assure you.”

Only managing a pitiful “Huh…?” before she stepped back, Erebos watched from the corner of his eye as the secretary leaned down and touched the base of the pad with her hand. As if activating the mechanism underneath, a high-pitched hum resonated through the floor into the room, and a prickle spread out from his feet to his body. But unlike the agonies he experienced before when this happened, his entire body flashed with an intense pain faster he could react and calmed immediately. He had shut his eyes tightly and braced for its second wave like last time, but it never came. Slowly opening his eyes, he realized that his surroundings had changed from the previous chamber. No longer in the cylindrical room, Erebos found himself underneath a large dome. And instead of the secretary facing him, the old man from the exam sat behind a large, ornate desk. Looking up from a stack of papers he had been examining, he gave a broad smile and welcoming wave of his hand.

Headmaster: “Ah, if it isn’t Afkoran! I’m glad you’ve received my summons, for we have something truly important to discuss. It’s truly a shame you had to be caught up in the whole affair with Editha, and it was a great miscalculation on my part as well. But at least it’s ended on decent terms without a drop of blood, so we can put this whole crisis behind us and move on to more important matters.”

Talking as if Erebos was oblivious to the situation, the headmaster assumed that the situation of the war was completely unknown to Erebos. That would’ve been a correct assumption if not for the conversation he had in the tunnel, but Erebos was wary of a possible bluff. The Headmaster seemed to direct no ill will, but Erebos wouldn’t take any chances after hearing what happened to Aethra’s world. No amount of kindness and understanding now could justify the loss of life in a true war.

Erebos: “I’m sorry sir, but I don’t understand. How could the war have ended on good terms? I was told a war was happening, I hid for a few hours, and now I’m told it’s over.”

Headmaster: “Let’s just say that we found a common interest that we need both our nations to work towards.”

Even if it wasn’t a very straightforward answer, Erebos was surprised at how explicit the Headmaster was being. Even if he didn’t suspect that the war was staged beforehand, saying that the Capital and Editha found a reason to cease hostilities so quickly was suspicious.

Erebos: “Common interest? How could you go from being at each other’s throats for a year to working together on something? What could make you do that?”

Feigning a bit of exasperation, Erebos spoke quickly and leaned forward. That might have been a rude gesture, especially considering the status of his conversation partner, but Erebos wanted to see exactly how much information would be offered to him.

Headmaster: “Hehe, don’t get so worked up over it, lad. I’m glad you can talk to me so freely, so please grab a seat and let me explain.”

Good-natured as always, the Headmaster brushed off Erebos’ insolence and pointed out a chair situated next to the bookshelves that lined the walls of the study. Erebos retrieved it and sat in front of the desk.

Headmaster: “You know, as one who will be so involved in this process, I can’t just go and keep you in the dark about the Barrier Situation. Or as you’ve heard it, the Lacuna. Even though you might have heard about it always being there, that wasn’t always the case, you know.”

Erebos: “The Barrier? You mean, there’s something on the other side?”

Not sure how far he could take his feigned ignorance, Erebos figured that this was as far as he would get. But no matter what, he wouldn’t yet speak of the girl he met in between their worlds.

Headmaster: “You passed through it yourself, did you not? To you it might have appeared as nothing special, but that was the Lacuna itself passing through the pit you hid in. Please indulge my curiosity and tell me what you saw on the other side.”

Erebos’ probing seemed to have figured out the extent of the Headmaster’s knowledge on the subject. Neither world knew of what was on the other side of the barrier, and from what Erebos guessed on his side, both wanted to break it regardless. Changing from defense to offense, Erebos wanted to figure out why.

Erebos: “There was just a tunnel with another Barrier at the end. I couldn’t pass through the other one, so I don’t know what was beyond it. But if even you don’t know, why do you want to break it?”

At Erebos’ question, the Headmaster’s eyes widened in disbelief, but his face didn’t show any negative emotion. If anything, his surprise turned into elation.

Headmaster: “My, how sharp can you be! How can one even figure such a thing with how much you’ve been told?”

Waiting for an answer, the headmaster leaned forward and beamed. Erebos had thought that knowing such information would have been troubling for the Headmaster, but he seemed excited that Erebos already knew. Luckily, Erebos had thought of a response that wouldn’t give any details of Aethra away.

Erebos: “Honestly, just a hypothesis. Breaking out of one’s unknown confines is a natural thing for animals, so why wouldn’t we do the same? Being named the Barrier and all, I imagine that something important is being protected or hidden on the other side.”

Giving a little clap and a smile, the headmaster leaned back with a chuckle.

Headmaster: “Hehe, and I thought I’d have to explain the whole situation! You’ve certainly made my job easier, but the reasoning is a little more complicated than that, and I still have to explain your part in the matter.”

Erebos: “Before that, at least tell me if this whole war was staged. I can’t believe this was anything other than a ploy to get both the Capital and Editha to work together.”

Expecting at least a sour reaction from this, the headmaster simply continued to chuckle and stood up from his chair.

Headmaster: “If anything, that’s as good a place as any to start. Yes, it was staged, and I’m sure that will become common knowledge soon enough. There’s a whole mire of political matters we have to work through for any cooperation, and we saw this as the best way. You know of the ancient treaties between our nations, correct? They forbid us from even a simple alliance, and especially not in sharing territory. As the Barrier Situation requires the use of all Four Towers, we need a certain amount of international cooperation. And as the only ones who know of the true nature behind these towers, the Despot of Editha and I saw to start the process ourselves.”

With just that information, the Headmaster confirmed the suspicions held by Erebos. The true objective of the Capital and Editha were the towers, and with this step they presumably had access to two. The question of why such lengths were necessary between the Capital and Editha poked at Erebos’ mind, however. If the leaders were willing to cooperate, why did they need to stage a war in the first place?

Erebos: “I understand how you’re working together now, but if the Despot was already going along with your plans, why did you need to fake a war in the first place? Couldn’t you two just agree to use each other’s towers?”

Headmaster: “That would certainly have saved us much trouble, but the politics of the situation wouldn’t allow it. The generals, the leaders of the Edithino armies, would not tolerate peaceful coexistence with the Capital. Rafda and Torgempra wouldn’t tolerate a direct violation of the ancient treaties as well.”

Erebos: “Then why not just break the seals in secret?”

Headmaster: “That was our original theory, but as the dome above us now bears instructions on how to break the seals, the domes of the Four Towers bear the original text of the treaties and what we’ve determined to be an artifice that warns when even one seal has broken in another tower. We can’t find a way to disable it, so once a seal is broken a real war is inevitable.”

Painfully obvious to Erebos was how the terms of these treaties seemed to inevitably result in a conflict. If the Tower of the Capital held instructions to break the seals and the Four Towers held commands to prevent their breaking, the Capital was the only nation to hold both. Only they had the complete narrative, a narrative of how the ancients intended for the seals to be broken. It wouldn’t be surprising if they had placed the Barriers as well, with this arrangement to prevent them from being broken until the time was right. Why that time was now, Erebos did not understand.

Headmaster: “With the war ending on their terms, Edithino generals would be satisfied enough to consider us subordinate allies in a greater war between the east and the west. And by making Editha seem responsible but the Capital actually declare the war, Rafda and Torgempra wouldn’t support either side. Noone wants real bloodshed, so with this simple farce, we’ve managed to satiate the Edithino armies and give us more time before the western nations bring hostilities to us. With this arrangement, the Capital and Editha can start a war on our terms when we are prepared for the sacrifices it will entail.”

Solemnly looking at the dome above, the Headmaster ended his explanation with a sigh. Pacing around the room, he made it clear with both words and demeanor that a greater, real war wasn’t the preferable situation. But as long as the western nations followed the ancient treaties, a peaceful resolution wouldn’t be reached.

Settling back into his seat, the headmaster put his hands together and looked back to Erebos.

Headmaster: Of course, speak of a greater war for nothing gained is disagreeable to all. I don’t expect you to be convinced of our goal until you hear the reasons, the necessity, to break the Barrier.”

In truth, Erebos was already determined to break the barrier with or without additional reasoning. Crossing over to see Aethra again was enough, and he certainly wanted to match her dedication to the same goal as well. He might not agree with the Headmaster’s means, but the ends were certainly desired.

Headmaster: “While it might be easier to think of greater war costing the most lives, the epigram on this dome alludes to an even greater tragedy.”

Waving his hand to the ceiling, Erebos followed his gesture and tried to read the writing spiraling out from the dome’s zenith. He was too distant to make out the words, but he didn’t doubt what the headmaster was explaining.

Headmaster: “This Tower exists for the projection of the stars, a fraction of power that the people need. In time, the power given from these projections will fail to yield enough for a growing population. Only through breaking the Barrier can the true source of power be revealed on the other side, something that will be enough for any number of people.”

Two important details stood out from those statements. Most importantly, the stars were projections from the tower, and that what those stars gave out, the light necessary for growing crops and their artificery, was insufficient in the long term. Although they were unexpected things to hear, Erebos had enough reason to believe them on his own.

As for the stars, Erebos had always wondered why he couldn’t even see their outlines. The only time he couldn’t see an outline of something was when it was pertaining to light or shadow, so the idea of the stars being a mere projection was fairly believable.

The latter point had credibility as well, reinforced by what Erebos saw during his trip to the capital. While he didn’t live through it, his parents and other adults had spoken of famines from food shortage and overpopulation. While the famines were ended through the canopy farming Erebos had personally seen, it wasn’t hard to imagine that once the population grew larger and larger, even that wouldn’t be enough.

Headmaster: “I’m sure you’ve seen for yourself how the meagre light we receive is being gathered. Before you were born, we simply couldn’t grow enough crops to feed our population until farmers utilized flux-gathering canopies. This is sufficient for now, but what happens when that isn't enough? What happens when we cover all we can with all the fluxcloth we can make? Flux is a finite resource. One day, every surface that the stars shine upon will be covered, and the people of that future will suffer, divided from the sky and in constant hunger… You passed through the Confederal City, did you not? To think that such a sad view like the lower city could spread over the world, it truly breaks my heart.”

If Erebos wasn’t convinced of the Headmaster’s goals already, his last few comments were certainly enough. Recalling the loneliness of the Confederal City’s lower districts, he didn’t think it was a leap in logic to assume that such coverings would spread if necessary. Trying to relieve the people of that world was certainly a noble cause in his mind, but necessitating war to fulfill that purpose was far too costly and counterproductive, sacrificing those needing salvation.

Headmaster: “It seems hypocritical, doesn’t it? Professing a desire to save people from suffering, but going to such violent lengths to achieve it. But I ask, is it better to shed the little blood willing to fight now, or to wait until it can not be avoided? If we allow the world to overpopulate and leave the problem for then, the deaths will be far greater than anything we can imagine now. Though painful, I am ready to bear the burden of death upon my shoulders so my posterity shan’t bear one far heavier.”

Staring solemnly at the ceiling above, the Headmaster once again trailed off into a reticent silence. But as far as Erebos could tell, the Headmaster took no solace in the thoughts of a war now or later. If bloodshed was going to happen regardless of Erebos’ thoughts, he might as well comply with the noble desires shining from the end of the conflict.

Erebos: “How am I involved? What is it that you need me to do?”

Lowering his gaze towards Erebos, the headmaster exchanged his somber expression for one of wistful expectation.

Headmaster: “You, Erebos Afkoran, are the key to breaking the Four Tower’s seals. No matter how much we study the inscriptions in our own tower, no indication for that process can be found. But I have heard from many professors that you have a special ability, a special power, to see and create what others can not see. The dome above tells of a certain person, free from the shackles of the stars above. For you, Erebos, the stars and the sky have no distinction, yes? Take that power offered to you from the firmament itself, and shatter the barrier keeping our people from salvation.”