The Master’s Melody

Warriors of Transcendence, Part 46
 

When the sign was given, the Great War began. News of Mahn’s successful escape with the convicted prisoner Tzalaii ignited the spark that the Descendents of the Emperors had awaited. The astounding rumor spread quickly in the Towered City- one of the Mercury Level Inviewers had abandoned the Towered City, absconding with a Warrior of Transcendence who had been convicted of attempted assassination of an Emperor. The warriors’ pride was set ablaze as they were ordered to prepare to avenge these crimes and protect the honor of the City.

“Failure to respond to this audacious act,” the inhabitants of the Tower said to each other angrily, ” will result in an uprising by the prisoners. Who knows what havoc a rebellion might cause?!”

But, in truth, the Emperors’ desired to locate and defeat the Master of Transcendence and his men. The Shadows rose from the deepest burrows of the Towered City, like a black river flooding the earth. Soldiers from the Tower invaded the Northern Forests. The ten Obliterators had already planted the seeds of retribution in the Land of the Southern Cliffs. 
 
Many Warriors of Transcendence, Tzalaii among them, scoured the lowlands, slaying hundreds of Shadows. The Master of Transcendence, escorted by his most loyal men, advanced towards the Towered City, which loomed before them. The secret of the stone, stolen from the outer wall, was common knowledge among the villagers, and the potential danger disturbed their peaceful lives.   The fact that evil forces were aligned against them, intending harm, pervaded their thoughts. It was a rude awakening for the villagers who were unprepared for warfare, and unable to channel their anger and fear into a proper defense. They could offer fierce resistance to obliteration; they were capable of evading the illusions of the Shadows, for a time, but in the end, they would be captured. And so, the Master of Transcendence decided to enlist a new force to his aid.

A fresh breeze accompanied the Master’s troops as they walked through the valleys along with hundreds of Transparent Ones, heading towards the eastern slopes of the Land of the Northern Forests. Only the Green Lowlands separated them from the myriads of Tower soldiers gathered in the valley. Night fell. The child’s cape flapped in the wind, its radiance warming the hearts of the warriors and the Transparent Ones. He stood silently for a while, and then began Unification. His voice was so simple and he spoke with such grace; many felt certain that the Transcendor was with them, at their side.

“Unique, primary, first and last One,” began the Master of Transcendence. “Your light is concealed in the heart of all things.  All is covered by a dark disguise, but beneath the darkness, your light shall forever shine, yearning to break forth and shine like at the beginning of time.  Reveal your light in us, Transcendor; do not leave us.”

He shut his eyes, remained silent for a while, and then finally ended his Unification with a sharp, decisive declaration: “There is no darkness and no shadow of death!”
 
“There is no darkness and no shadow of death!” repeated the Transparent Ones.

“There is no darkness and no shadow of death!” echoed Sihara.

Silence enveloped the valley. Some time passed, and then a sudden gust of wind burst forth as the Master of Transcendence bowed and stepped backwards in surrender, as though departing from a powerful master.  The Unification was over and the Master of Transcendence’s Warriors sensed an infusion of heart-warming strength.
 
Trumpets were heard from the City, signifying a gathering of great forces, and the Transparent Ones were directed by the Master of Transcendence to surround the warriors in a luminous circle. The whole world seemed to hold its breath, as though all anticipated some long-awaited event.

The Master of Transcendence raised his hands to the heavens, either requesting permission or receiving strength from the Transcendor. He closed his eyes again and began to sing. He sang a story, without words, ancient as the beginning of time. It was the melody of primordial hope, of the incessant will of each and every soul to return to its place, reach its destiny and correct itself, even if it had lain dormant, even if it had been held captive for years, even for generations, by the forces of darkness. At first he sang a quiet melody, alone, but later his voice became so inviting that each and every one of his companions joined the song, as though they had always known the melody. Their music spread over the Green Lowlands towards the Tower wall.  Thunder was heard in the distance, sounding almost like the muffled cries of stifled voices yearning to break free. 
 
 “The wall! The wall!” shrieked Sihara, covering her face with her hands, as if to protect herself from this cataclysmic event. The Transparent Ones stood in their long cloaks, their hands stretched forward, as if yearning to either receive something or to shield themselves from a future threat.
 
At first only a growl was heard, like the call of an immense wild animal trapped in a narrow maze. Then strands of silver began to appear in the distant wall, heating and rising, merging in white and burning in red, as though an ancient buried sun was now being resurrected. The great, wide wall, which had always been impenetrable, began to collapse and crumble before their very eyes! It began to sink, like soft quicksand, and then it erupted and fell over.   Black, molten ash spurted from the ground, flooding the valley with searing hot steam and rising smoke. The silvery strands separated from the stones, but they did not sink into the ground with the dead substance. They became intertwined and created a silvery wall of light that spread out over the great devastation. Myriads of Soul Essences had been set free, escaping from the stones in which they had been held captive against their will.  Now they united. Crimson-yellow colored crumbs, powder blowing in the wind, was all that remained from the great wall. The Shadows fled like cowards into their burrows. A new strength had been revealed to the world- the union of the Soul Essences.
 
To be continued.
 

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