Fan Fiction ❯ Jiikron: Legend of the Two ❯ The Beginning, the Middle, and the End ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter One

-The Beginning, the Middle, and the End-

The vast underground cave echoed with the ruckus of innumerable creatures of the Dark. Among them, standing high on a boulder in the very center with a mixture of disgust and boredom on her features, was Averna, the Queen of the Night. Her makeshift pedestal served to make her appear much taller than she actually was, besides allowing her to see over the many varying heads of the gathered crowd.

Said crowd was composed of beings that looked as if they had been pulled straight out of a child's nightmare. Some had deformed limbs, others had extra appendages. All of them were ghastly. They had assembled in the dark and dank cavern upon request of their Queen, but they were growing restless. She sensed this, but decided not to reveal her reason for calling upon them until the guest of honor finally decided to show up.

Geruyk, a tall and sickeningly thin ave with gray mottled skin and four arms, turned to his neighbor, Wui, and whispered in his guttural voice, “If this meeting does not progress soon I think I will give in to the urge to rip someone to ribbons.”

Wui nodded vigorously, almost puncturing the skin around his collarbone with his five inch fangs.

Iji-Kiji, a short ave who possessed two heads, standing directly behind Geruyk, spoke up. “Yes… I am growing impatient….” His right head announced. The left one adorned a devilish grin. “She promised us blood! When will I see blood?!”

Similar murmurings filled the vicinity, ringing in Averna's pointed ears. She was beginning to lose her patience as well. Where was he…?

Then, as suddenly as the first crack of lightning in a thunderstorm, the place grew deathly quiet. Thousands of heads turned toward the entrance of the cave. Misshapen necks craned to see over those around them. Averna smiled to herself.

Andsaca had arrived.

~@%%@%%@%%@~

Voide reached across the oak table to retrieve a leather bound book whose worn cover read, in curly script, Legends of Jiikron- A History of the Gods. As he did so his hand barely brushed the backside of Vitani's, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Alright, Cantilena, today we're going to be perusing the legend of the Sired Nobles: Uylisa, Thoem, and Nasdeve. Now-“

She interrupted him. “But I've already learned about them. They are the children of the King and Queen of the gods.”

An amused and patient smile surfaced on Voide's face, as though he were dealing with a small child. “I know that, Vitani. But you see, what you have been taught is nothing more than basics. Today we delve into the details. We shall learn things so close as to almost be considered Uylisa's last thoughts as her body plunged over the hill of Gretuir.”

“Really, Calleo? Alright then, let's get started!”

He smiled at his pupil's genuine show of interest; she was so easy to please. He opened the book to the section titled “Conflict Among Brethren,” and began reading. Across the table from him, Vitani was bent over her parchment, scribbling down notes as the story began to unfold from her master's mouth.

~@%%@%%@%%@~

“Look! There he is!” Giggling.

“Ooh, he's so handsome!” High-pitched squeals.

“I wish I could touch his hair!” Collective dreamy sighs.

Kona tried his hardest to ignore the fevered whispers of the gaggle of young girls. It happened nearly every time he crossed the courtyard on some shrine business. They congregated outside of the choir building, somehow managing to escape their old music teacher just long enough to stare open-mouthed at him. It irritated him to no end. He was not some spectacle in a zoo, nor was he a circus sideshow. Hadn't they been taught that staring was rude?

As he made his swift way across the courtyard he was imagining ways to frighten the girls so badly that they would avoid him for the rest of their lives. Just as he was deciding that telling them gaping would get them a one way ticket to Hell would work best, a short old woman stepped out of the small shop in front of him.

Her snow white hair was pulled into a severe bun at the nape of her neck, and she studied Kona over the top of her half-moon glasses. “You've arrived, Lerola,” she pointed out. “Come inside; I have what you came for.”

Kona repressed the urge to shudder. Visiting Metra always made him feel strange. Maybe it was her habit of making him feel like a miniscule toddler, even though she only came up to his elbow. Maybe it was the way her icy blue eyes studied him, giving him the feeling that she was probing his soul. Whatever the reason, he always preferred that his sessions with her be short. Luckily, this time, he was only coming to retrieve a parcel for his advisor.

Kona followed her through the tiny doorway, bending down to fit, and into a cozy crowded store. It was packed with dozens of shelves, upon which were books, trinkets, silverware, clothes, weapons, and other random items, none of which were sorted into any kind of order.

Metra disappeared into the back room of the shop, leaving Kona alone in the main room. He surveyed the variety of goods that surrounded him. Some looked like they were ancient. His golden eyes fell upon a group of goblets that were heavily coated with dust; they had not been touched in ages, it seemed. One in particular interested him. It bore an embossed raven that was painted an opaque black, while the rest of the cup was tarnished silver. It appeared as though someone had inscribed something along the top of the goblet, but the words were caked with centuries old grime, making them extremely difficult to read. Kona went to pick up the glass, but was stopped when a harsh command sounded behind him.

“Don't touch that!”

He turned to find that Metra had returned from the back room. She was looking at him with scorn on her wizened features. She did it again- made him feel like a youngster who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He had the grace to blush ever so slightly and his hand dropped to his side.

“Here, Lerola, take your parcel.” She handed him a rectangular package that was wrapped in brown cloth and tied with rough string. It looked rather plain, but Kona knew what was inside of it. He took it from her as he would a newborn infant.

“Thank you.” He nodded in farewell and exited quickly, before Metra decided to scold him for nearly touching the goblet.

He left wondering why the cup was so important; it had looked very abused. Unfortunately, he had little time to ponder over it. The girls were back, tittering over his “dreamy eyes.” Resisting the urge to glower at them, he stared resolutely ahead, not stopping or slowing until he finally reached the much welcomed sight of the shrine.

~@%%@%%@%%@~

Averna: Latin name that means “queen of the underworld”

Ave: being of the Darkness, usually used to refer to one of Averna's subjects

Andsaca: Anglo-Saxon name that means “enemy”

Cantilena: Latin name that means “song”

Calleo: Latin name that means “knowing,” commonly used in Jiikron when speaking to a tutor or master

Lerola: Latin name that means “blackbird”

Disclaimer: This story is a product of my imagination. Any and all similarities between real people/places and those in the fiction are purely coincidental.

~ The Neko Kami of the Fruit Loops