A Desperate Proposal

Tiaria motioned for me to come forward, up the stairs. I took my first step and several guards followed me in tow. I walked towards Tiaria, I wish I was in the mindset to enjoy her current outfit, as its regality suited my inner vision of her. As I reached a few steps below Tiaria she turned around and began walking into the Tabernacle. Her guards followed, and as I stepped up onto the threshold from the final step, one of the priests near the door glared at me intensely.

I walked through the door and once again into the ornate hallway. This time, however, the atmosphere was very different. Where young acolytes were in my previous visit, soldiers stood now.

I looked at Tiaira ahead of me, she was gracefully gliding across the floor in her golden adornments. Gold reflected off of her onto her ivory soldiers, with their perfectly shined white breastplates. All of the soldiers were walking in tune, marching on the same foot at the same time. I had been aloof to it before, but while many parts of this world seemed degraded, the warriors were very confident in their abilities.

The clank-clank of the soldiers footsteps and armor stopped as we arrived at the large door that Tiaria and I had come to previously. The doors opened and we walked inside. In the room Halbert, the priest I had met before, stood. Among him were other priests, which based off of their robes, appeared to be high-ranking. However, where we had stopped before, this time we continued past. I had not noticed it the first time that I was in this room, but another, larger, door stood in the back of the room. We approached the door before stopping. Tiaria moved her hand above her and the many soldiers and priests around me bowed their heads. Tiaria touched the great door and left her hand there for a moment.

After that moment a thunderous boom shook through the Tabernacle. Reverberations rebounded off the floor, continuing to shake like an echo, each shake becoming less violent than the first.

“Lord Ariet has arrived to judge the Archon Yusai.” Tiaria said with a steady voice.

I had a vague sense of it before, but this could very well be an execution. That is what a judgment meant in this case, wasn’t it? I was the big evil that had killed so many, who I was before that evil melded itself to my soul was irrelevant to them.

The mammoth doors in front of me let out a deep sigh as they slowly opened. A great golden light filled the room, and a warmth like a summer’s day swept into our previously stagnant room. Tiaria looked back at me and motioned for me to come forward.

“Only the Archon Yusai, the Head-Priest Halbert, and myself will enter the judgment chambers.” Tiaria announced, though her announcement seemed mostly for my understanding.

I walked towards Tiaira until I was immediately behind her and the Head-Priest. We all walked forward into a wall of light that had emerged from the door.

Coming through the light wall I felt temporarily blinded. I blinked a few times before the room came into view. A great white-stone stage stood in front of me. Upon the stage, surrounded in liquid orange light a figure stood. Like the sun I felt that I could not look directly at it. I looked to my side, Tiaria was kneeling, her hand over her heart, the Head-Priest on my other side was doing the same. The entire room hurt my eyes to look at. The perfect white floor, walls, and ceiling reflected light into a blinding mass.

“Lord Ariet, before you is the Chosen One Tiaria Mesquerdia, The Head-Priest Halbert Rinq, and the Archon of Life Yusai.” Tiaria’s voice had a sense of reverence, but stayed even toned.

“One who has abandoned the ways of life-and-death.” Ariet spoke, but the words sounded as if a choir was chanting them. “Come forward to me.”

I wondered if she was talking to me. I looked at Tiaria who ceremonially, and slowly, turned her head towards me before nodding, telling me that I was the one being beckoned. I walked forward a few steps to be closer to the large white stage.

“Your soul has been intertwined with the Archon, the piece of E’tu contained within. There is no way to cleave this infection while in the land of the living. After your death I promise to free you from this burden.” Ariet had said something quite threatening to me with her choric tone only making it sound slightly holy.

“Chosen One, come forward.” Ariet commanded.

Tiaria moved forward without hesitation.

“Do you consider Yu someone who you wish to not suffer?” Ariet asked, almost teasingly.

“Yes.” Tiaria answered plainly.

“Then end his life quickly so that I may remove the infection on his soul and end his suffering. After that is done I will return his soul to the great ocean of rebirth.” Ariet commanded.

Tiaria turned to face me. I couldn’t read her face, it was completely expressionless. She turned her head to look at Ariet.

“Lord Ariet, may I ask one question?” Tiaria asked with reverence.

“You may.” Ariet responded. Her voice echoed with its many tones.

“Will Yu still be Yu, after you cleave the Archon from his soul?”

“He will always be himself. He will not be the same mortal flesh though, as that is what I sense that you ask. A person is their soul, so it is no matter what the flesh that contains it appears as. His soul will be returned to the great ocean of souls to be reborn in the future.” Ariet responded.

Tiaria looked back towards me. I could see a sad smile forming on her face.

“I apologize, Lord Ariet.” Tiaria spoke while still looking at me. “I could be no goddess of love if I struck down the one I love.”

“So be it, I will return both of you to the great ocean of souls then.” Ariet’s words contained a sense of emotion this time.

I quickly turned towards Ariet.

“May I propose a deal?” I asked with genuine humility.

“I have no interest.” Ariet responded.

“You are about to lose someone important to your plans. I know you care nothing about me, but Tiaria is someone who you chose in front of every other human. She is someone who you must prefer to not lose in her current form. I have a deal which would both seal me as an Archon, and allow for Tiaria to continue to live, and ascend to godhood, as you wish.” I finished. This was somewhat of a long shot, but negotiations were the only thing I could think of now.

“Go on.” Ariet spoke, more softly this time.

“Allow me to marry Tiaria. I realize that I am immortal now, and she is destined for godhood. However, allow me one human lifetime with her. After that I will either surrender myself to you to be returned to the ocean of souls or leave this planet. Then Tiaria may ascend to godhood with no regrets, and with love that will make her a more effective goddess of love. My bond of love with her will serve as seal on my power as Archon, I will do nothing that would harm her or the people and land that she cherishes”

Ariet seemed to be in deep thought. I could see a slight smile forming on her face.