AIC created it, Pioneer distributes it, and I'm really screwing around
with it: El Hazard. I lay no claims on El Hazard, or the characters
contained within, and am doing this without the consent of those who
hold the rights to it.
C&C would be nice, real nice. Real, real nice. MSTs, comments of any
sort, any acknowledgement of existence would be appreciated also.
Without further ado, I give you:
Oracle pt.3 -The Advent of the Oracle
I had been in this world for nine and a half months. Eight months
had passed since I entered the palace, seven months of being an advisor
to Lune, and zero months since Gallus had finally arrived-- an arrival I
helped engineer.
Soon after Gallus arrived, two things happened to me. One, my
visions began to increase; one in particular. Nearly very time I closed
my eyes, almost every time I blinked, I saw--
--I saw light. A flash of
pure, blinding light, accompanied with a scream of pain and then total
darkness. And a word. I saw/heard/felt a word caress my soul. "Soon."
The other thing? A feeling. A restlessness, a wanderlust almost. I
roamed the palace at night and in my free time, exploring little used
by-ways and secret passages, looking in storage rooms and what-not. It
was akin to an emptiness, which only exploring the palace could fill,
like I was trying to fill myself up with memories of it.
I would sometimes pop up behind tapestries or walk out of rooms
that nobody saw me enter, startling more than a few guards and serving
girls.
The best was Fatora. I couldn't (and wouldn't) have planned it,
the whole thing was an accident. Must have been around three, maybe
three thirty in the morning; that curious time of night when they say
the soul is at low ebb.
I found a network of passages and corridors well away from the
major arteries of the palace-- capillaries, to extend my metaphor a
little more I suppose.
I carried a bluish-white orb which gave off light in one hand;
their equivalent of a flashlight really, but less directional. My other
hand was busy trying to sweep away the cobwebs in front of me, since
this passage had not been used in a long, long time. Even though I was
brushing away the cobwebs, I soon became engulfed in the cobwebs,
sticking to my hair and my favourite robe (the one I could use as a
tent. Most of the effects of travel had been washed off of it, although
it was not quite the pure white it once was).
The lantern dimmed its glow until it was but a flicker and I could
barely see where I was going. It was so dark I did not notice the low
overhang (possibly some stairs above this passage, causing it) in front
of me. I bashed my head on the jutting ceiling, causing me to stagger
about, moaning and groaning in pain as I clutched my head with one hand,
and flailed about with the other.
In my flailing about, I must have hit a switch, and opened a door
from the passage into a room, which I careened into, moaning, flailing
about, covered in cobwebs in a large voluminous white robe and glowing
slightly with the light from the lantern.
The room I barged in on? Fatora's bedroom. She was there, and so
was Alielle. They were not sleeping (I will not say what it is they were
doing, but it was not sleeping).
Fatora's scream resounded throughout the palace wing, bringing the
guards running. By the time the guards arrived, I was busy being
pummelled by Fatora, who was convinced I did it on purpose. I was
laughing too hard to put up a defense, and my head still hurt. Alielle
helped though; her efforts at soothing Fatora caused the petulant
princess to be a little unbalanced (okay, I'll admit it. Alielle was
trying, with only partial success, to pull Fatora off of me).
The next morning I had a black eye, some bruises, and people were
calling me "Spook." How fun. Even Lune joined in, although she was a
little more sympathetic to my plight than the Old Man and Stoneface.
***
"Spook," said Londs merrily (however strange that may seem, it was
true), while Schtalubaugh choked back a laugh.
"Spook," Schtalubaugh nodded, agreeing with him.
"Spook," laughed princess Lune Venus. Of course we just had to
have a meeting that day.
"Well, it fits I suppose, the way you haunt the halls," said
Schtalubaugh.
"Besides," continued Londs, "it's about time you got a nickname
like the rest of us." I gaped at him. Londs snorted in derision and
said, "Do you actually believe I don't know what they call me behind my
back?"
Lune put on a sympathetic face and said, "Poor Hayashi. My sister
must have hurt you." There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, but I
did not know what for, as she came towards me.
"You have to be more careful," she said kindly. "You shouldn't let
someone hurt those eyes of yours-- It wouldn't do for us to have a spook
bumping into things now, would it?"
Everyone burst into laughter at that. Everyone but me and Gallus
that is. Since he was now afianced to the princess, he had joined our
little quartet's meetings. I don't think I ever saw Gallus laugh, not a
real laugh anyway.
Gallus. He was charming, witty, kind, affable; altogether a nice
man, and by all accounts a good ruler. Still, there was something about
him, something that rang false with his meek voice and his disarming
smile. Schtalubaugh felt it too, I know he did. If Londs felt the same
way, he kept it close to his chest, not even letting the other two parts
of our little triumvirate suspect.
Would it have mattered if Londs felt the same way as us? I am not
so sure. If he felt it was in the best interests of the country, he
wouldn't say anything. Londs is a good man, mind you, but he is called
Stoneface for a reason.
***
My visions, except for the one recurring one, became much more
mundane, and easier to understand in nature. Small things, like seeing
someone steal treasure from one of those fish-birds, and having poached
eggs for breakfast the next day. Small, inconsequential things like
that.
***
There was one I got though, I didn't know who it was about then. Quite
easy to see who it is now, though. I--
--I dreamt I saw a man who was
also a snake. He was translucent, non-corporeal, and surrounded by mist.
He was leading others, just as see-through as he was. They marched in
darkness, and walked up into the sky.
At our next conference, I mentioned it. Gallus had by now known
about my dreams for some time, they came up in our meetings which he was
part of, so the mentioning of them in his presence meant nothing. None
of us could interpret this one, although Gallus seemed more thoughtful
than usual after hearing it.
***
My restlessness grew as time wore on, and the palace became to
small to contain it. I could often be found in the gardens, or by a
window, staring out at the world. It did not help that word of my... ah,
abilities had leaked out, and I was being badgered more and more by
those of the court, asking for advice.
After one meeting (I could tell you what it was about, but then
I'd have to bore you unnecessarily with the details. Suffice it to say
that it is not necessary for you to know what went on) I lingered at the
edge of the gardens, looking out towards Mount Muldoon. I closed my eyes
and sighed. I closed my eyes and--
--I dreamt of roads. I dreamt three
women surrounded by haloes, one of water, another of fire, and a third
of wind. I dreamt of walking, and of drinking in new sites.
I immediately went to Lune. I told her I had to go on a
sabbatical, and I told her about the vision. She agreed with me, but
wanted to me wait a day or two before I left. Time to prepare, she said.
I had wanted to leave immediately, but saw the reason of her arguement.
Besides, she was the princess after all.
We had another meeting, this one about the dream. All of us were
in agreement that I should go, the problem was where I should go to. The
three women, we decided, meant the three priestesses of Mount Muldoon.
We disagreed on how exactly I was to achieve this goal.
Gallus suggested that I make the pilgrimage to their temple on
Muldoon, but I wasn't (and still am not) a mountain climber. I don't
even particularly like heights.
Fortunately, Schtalubaugh had an alternative idea. Though the trio
made their home on the mountain, they often travelled throughout the
countries to dispense help, as the mountain made it prohibitive for many
people to come to them. In fact, the priestesses were touring at that
particular moment. What made it even easier was that they let people
know where they were going, and when they would be there; a full
itinerary.
We planned out my journey. What to take with me (not too much, I
was adamant about travelling on foot), what places to visit, and in what
order, and what to do at these places. Not only was I going to travel
and find the priestesses, but I would also act as princess Lune's
emissary (for lack of a better word) to the places I would visit.
***
As I have stated before, I travel light. Some money and some
documents (bearing among other things my credentials, along with the
ability to act in princess Lune's name, and a lot of credit, which I
could redeem from various instituitions).
Along with these papers, I left with two changes of clothes (one
for formal wear) in addition to the voluminous robe that I could use as
a tent, which I wore when I first entered the palace. The robe was well
on its way from white to grey, but it was perfect gear for the outdoors,
being watertight, cool in hot weather, and warm in cooler weather. Of
course, I had my silver-white staff with me.
I could tell you about each of the places I saw, and I could tell
you about the people I met and talked to, but it is not important. That
is not to say that these people were insignificant, or that the places
were boring, or anything of the sort. What I mean to say is that it is
not important to the story. If you've seen one, you've seen them all,
they say, and there is some measure of truth to that.
Suffice it to say that the people were friendly and the food was
good. I especially remember this one little pastry shop which servd the
most delicious treat: a concoction consisting of a tender, flaky crust
surrounding chunks of some sweet fruit and jam, and lightly dusted with
a powdered sugar of some sort.
What constantly amazed me about the towns I entered was the
mixture of high-tech and low-tech. On the one hand, the people used the
flying ships, and the skimmers, and other marvels of technology (which
is why, I assume, that the world is not littered with roads and
highways: most of the vehicles fly, or at least hover a couple of feet
above the ground). On the other hand they have no television, no
computers, and the houses used fireplaces and stoves for heat. The
winters are what one would classify as mild, for the most part; I doubt
they really needed to gas or electric heat, but still there was a great
disparity. In some areas they were easily more advanced than on Earth,
and yet in others they easily lagged behind by more than a century or
two.
The ships are not mere relics from the Age of the Ancients,
because I know that they build them, and can repair them still. What I
don't know is exactly _where_ they build them. In fact, I haven't seen
anything I can positively identify as a factory. From my studies, I've
learned that the economy is quite different than on Earth. No
corporations, but instead there are collectives, or guilds, to produce
the large items. Mostly small, independant merchants and manufacturers
though. Capitalistic, but a kinder type than what I was used to. The
competition was not as fierce, much more laid-back.
Regardless of the mixture of technology, I went from town to town,
dispensing the princesses' justice and help. This mostly consisted of
just listening to people and their problems, and sometimes giving them
some advice. The magistrates and others did a good job. I was just
something... extra.
While I liked visiting the towns, and meeting the people in them,
I found that I liked the wilderness the most. Not surprising really, I
have always been that way. There was something though, as compared to
Earth. The wilds were wilder, I suppose I could say. Less tamed. Not
there because people decided to preserve them, but because people had
not tried to go there. Do you understand? I wish I could tell you, but
there was something inexplicable about it, even now.
It was more than just the strangeness of it. The newness of the
majestic trees, the exotic wildlife, which sometimes defied
classification as to whether it be mammal, reptile, bird, fish or other.
There was a richness to the forests, a profusion of plant-life to make
the most jaded botanist give up his soul to study. I loved it. The
forests, the glades, the hills and the cliffs. A world without smog, or
noise pollution. No need to worry about global warming, a coming ice
age, toxins in the water supply. The air was fresh and clean. I would
never go back, even if I had the chance, and I did not need to see the
future to tell me this.
I travelled for about a month before I met the priestesses. I met
them in a small town just inside of Roshtaria's border with one of her
less fractious neighbours. I found a ship going there, and booked
passage on it, as the terrain was rough and I had never actually been on
one of the flying ships before. Truly a civilised way of travel, and
one I heartily recommend if you do not wish to or are unable (as I was)
to walk to your destination. Besides, I had no other way of arriving at
the town to meet them in time.
I surveyed the area as I stepped off the ship, and stumbled on the
last step, expecting there to be another one, and not solid ground. I
heard some chuckling, so I gave a big bow.
"Thank you, thank you. For my next trick, I shall make any last
shred of dignity I have left disappear," I said with humour.
I looked up, and saw the source of the laughter. Three women, all
quite attractive (although the one was perhaps a few years too old for
me). I put on a rakish smile and closed my eyes for a moment, to gather
whatever wits I had left when--
--I saw the three of them, surrounded by
haloes of water, fire and wind. I saw the one with a halo of water in a
garden, with a knight in armour that glistened from the sun. The knight
reached behind her, plucked a wild rose from a nearby bush, and gave it
to her.
I saw the other two, each chasing something, or someone. In both
cases what mattered was the chase, and not the goal. I saw trials, I saw
tribulations, I saw--
--three women looking at me with concern as I
opened my eyes. I knew who they were, their names and powers were given
to me by Dr. Schtalubaugh before I left.
"Are you okay?" asked the eldest, Mizu Mishtal, concern in her
voice and in her eyes. Perhaps more than just concern though, since I
was wearing my formal robes of office.
"Yes, I am fine. You are the priestesses of Mount Muldoon." A
statement, and not a question.
They were not too surprised at this, since it was known that they
would be in this town, and their garb was out of the ordinary, to say
the least (especially Shayla-Shayla, with that ultra-mini-skirt of
hers). It's a bit of a trademark for her, I'm afraid. I was, I must
admit, a little disappointed by their lack of reaction, so I plunged on
ahead.
"I am Hayashi, an advisor to the princess Lune Venus."
"Oh yes, we've heard about you," Afura spoke in an off-hand tone.
"Why are you hear then? Is there something she wants to ask us?"
"No. While I am here on royal business, it is not the primary
reason." I looked around. "Is there somewhere we could talk? Somewhere
else beside the landing area? I believe there is another ship due to
arrive soon."
"Why don't we go to our chambers? At the inn. You can freshen up
there, Hayashi," she had that look in her eyes. Similar to a wolf,
ready to pounce on an unsuspecting sheep.
Shayla sniggered, while Afura just rolled her eyes. Apparently
they were quite used to this from Mizu.
"I have to find a place myself first--"
"Oh, I'm sure that there are other rooms in the inn where we are,"
replied Mizu, perhaps a little too eagerly. "In fact, I know that the
room next to mine is empty." Definitely too eager.
Afura had long since given up, and just shook her head sadly.
Shayla was still trying to hold in her laughter, without much success. I
just nodded impassively. One place was as good as another to me, and I
still had to talk to them.
So we all walked to the inn. To be more precise, Afura and Shayla
went to the inn. Mizu and I lingered behind. She entwined her arm around
mine before I could do anything, and was resting her head on my shoulder
while sighing.
But I was not for her, I knew this-- I saw this. She was a good
woman: beautiful both in body and in spirit. Even if I did not have that
dream, I still would have known I was not for her. She wanted more than
I was prepared to give.
"Mizu," I said calmly, while trying to gently disentangle our
arms.
She looked into my eyes, and reached out, as if to touch them. Her
face was filled with kindness. Some might easily mistake it for
weakness, but as the head priestess she would have had to have had her
mettle tested. There was an underlying strength to her face, a secret
determination behind her eyes. "You have kind eyes, has anyone ever told
you that?"
"Priestess Mishtal, I am not for you," I said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know what some of them call me at the palace now?"
"Well, I heard some story about 'Spook', but I don't know any of
the details. I still don't see why a nickname would--"
I put two fingers to her lips, quieting her. "I used to be called
that, once. That was before everyone else found out about me."
"About you? Are you...," her eyes widened, totally misinterpreting
what I said. "Oh!"
"No! No. That's not it. I have an ability... to see."
"To see? What do you mean"
"I see images, scenes, metaphors, sometimes accompanied with
feelings or with words, of the future. Always when my eyes are closed."
I let her absorb what I said and when it looked like she had, I
continued on. "That's right. I had a vision then, several really, but
that is not unusual. You were in one of them."
"I was? What was it?" she asked timidly, both dreading and hoping
the answer.
I whispered it in her ear. "You will find him, your knight in
shining armour. I saw it, it will happen."
She smiled and sighed, one of relief this time. "Perhaps we should
catch up to them then. I'm sure we have much to talk about."
I agreed, and we walked off, grinning all the way to the inn.
***
To say that Afura and Shayla were surprised at our arrival would
be to say that the Phantom Tribe don't always tell the truth.
"Are you... are you?" Shayla managed to stutter out, shocked by
the happy expression on Mizu and my relatively impassive one.
"No." A simple word, but far from clearing things up, it made them
more confused.
"Then...."
Mizu answered. "Because I was told some news. Some very good
news."
"What do you mean?" asked Afura, now recovered and now interested.
"I have... how shall we say it, dreams, sometimes."
"Dreams?"
"Of the future." Mishtal happily nodded agreement at my statement.
I think my vision could not have come at a better time for her. In all
honesty, I would not have been in the least bit surprised if she started
dancing around in joy (on the way to the inn, she did in fact give a
little pirouette).
And the explanations went from there.
We stayed up through the night, talking. At some point, Shayla
brought out some wine, and we began to drink. I had one glass (I do not,
as a rule, drink, but I did not want to be rude), as did Afura. The
other two priestesses got happily blitzed however. Afura and I moved to
a different room to converse; it was hard to talk over Shayla and Mizu's
off-key singing (not to mention that they were mangling the songs nearly
beyond recognition. Both Afura and I had a delicate ear for music).
How would I describe the trio? I think it best to say that Mizu
Mishtal was water, Shayla-Shayla was fire, and Afura Mann was wind. I
mean more than just their powers when I say this, but their temperments,
their personalities. Mishtal was kind and nurturing, perfect material
for a wife and mother. Shayla carried within her a passion that few
people ever do-- Fatora (funnily enough) was the only other one I can
think of off the top of my head who does. Shayla was wild too. She
burned with vitality.
Mann was more... restrained, more ordered than the other two. She
was more cerebral, more thoughtful. To some, I know she comes off as
cold or frigid, but that hid a keen and insightful mind.
As I said before, we talked the night away. Afura and I discussed
books, the history of El Hazard, politics, religion, and other subjects.
I will not say that we agreed on all subjects, but we did share similar
views on many things. I found her to be a good debater, and she actually
convinced me to change my position on some things. Dr. Schtalubaugh
would love to talk with her, and would also love a chance to see her
library on Muldoon (she had the largest collection outside of the one in
the palace, which contained several works which Schtalubaugh would
literally give his left hand for without a second thought). By the end
of the night, I had a standing invitation to visit the library, which I
had every intention of taking up.
Dawn came and went by unnoticed by the four of us; Mizu and Shayla
had since passed out, or fell asleep (all I knew is that they would most
likely have a bad hangover when they woke up-- a fitting punishment for
their singing), and Afura and I caught up discussing the Book of the
Holy Apocalypse. When Afura and I noticed the time, I went to my room
(which ended up being adjacent to Mizu's actually) and fell asleep.
***
I woke up a little before noon (I always wake up before noon,
regardless of how late I actually go to sleep, I feel the day is wasted
otherwise), and found my clothes washed and pressed. I made a mental
note that I would have to stay here again, if I was ever in the area.
Putting on my robe-tent, I went down for a meal, taking my staff
with me (but then I took it almost everywhere. Besides, I expected to do
a lot of walking around town that day, so it made sense). The
priestesses were there. Both Mizu and Shayla looked like they went a
couple of rounds against a Bugrom without their powers. They were
slumped over the table, with extremely red eyes. Afura sat straight-
backed, and was delicately eating what could only be scrambled eggs, and
various types of fruit.
I sat down with them (there was a spot for a fourth at the table),
and ordered the house special. I put on a sympathetic face and ordered
something for the two hung-over priestesses.
"Something guaranteed to get rid of your hangover," I said, easily
keeping the smile off my face and out of my voice.
My meal came, along with two mugs of something very dark, very
strong, and very hot. In perfect synchronisation, they took a gulp, and
immediately srayed it out (fortunately away from the table, so that none
of us got hit).
"What the hell was that?" cried Shayla.
"Coffee. Bleached Bones coffee, to be exact. Strong, isn't it?"
Afura snickered slightly, although she never took her eyes off of
her food. The coffee had the desired effect though, instantly curing the
hangover. I have always had great confidence in the efficacy of that
particular brand of coffee. I am sure that if we could but get a dead
person to drink it, he would be up and around in no time. Bleached Bones
was a desperate coffee, for the dead tired or the dead drunk only.
I merely smiled, and held my tea mug close to my nose, closing my
eyes and inhaling the aroma, letting it waft over me and--
--I dreamt
people, hunting, seeking, me. People who did not wish me good will
either. They lurked in shadows, stayed hidden, but they were there, and
they had almost found me. I dreamt running, I dreamt fleeing. Now!
I put down the tea with unsteady arms, not taking even one sip. "I
have to go now," I said in a perfect monotone, covering up the urgency
of the vision perfectly.
"What do you mean you have to go?" asked Afura. She probably
thought I was just wanting to get away from a made Shayla. "Her bark's
worse than her bite, Hayashi."
"Not that. I have to go." I tapped my head beside one of my eyes.
"I see it, you see. In my room there is some money, some clothing and
some documents. Use the money to pay the bill, I don't care what happens
to the rest, and send everything else to the palace?"
"Should we tell them anything?"
"No," I did not want them (the priestesses, or everyone at the
palace) to worry. There was nothing else they could really do anyway.
"I'm just changing plans, that's all. I'll head back to the palace after
this. Don't worry."
I smiled, hoping to allay any suspicions they had. It seemed to
work. Moving quickly, I left and was off, taking a random direction out
of town, and chanting the mantra "don't follow me, don't follow me,
don't..." in my head. It seemed to work.
***
Two weeks. That's how long I fled, two weeks. I ran through thick
forest and over rough ground for two weeks, stopping only to catch a few
fitful snatches of sleep. Once, I stopped by a stream for some water and
closed my eyes. The same dream again. The shadow hunters were still
after me, herding me.
By the end of the two weeks I was twitching at the slightest
sound. The hoot of a bird, the snap of a twig, each set me off running
again. Lack of sleep and food will do that to you, as will the same
vision of being pursued by darkness every time you close your eyes. I
slept only when exhaustion set it, and spent only a few moments foraging
for berries or plants I recognised as edible when I woke, or if I
noticed some as I ran past them.
My strength was waning, I knew it. There was a stream near me when
I woke up, and when I bent down for some water, I saw my reflection. I
had always been a little underweight for my height; now, even through my
robe, I looked thin. I heard the peircing cry of one of the fish-birds
and looked up. There were only two paths available to me: a cavern of
some sort, or I could cross the stream and continue on.
I was blinded by a flash of light, and clubbed over the back of my
head. Before I lost consciousness, I briefly noted that my choice seemed
to have been made for me.
***
I came too, strapped to an upright metal slab with my arms spread.
My head was throbbing, and I was fairly sure there was a lump on the
back of my skull where I was hit. At first, I couldn't see anything
because around me it was all pitch black. A light came on then, harsh
and white, aimed straight for my eyes, blinding me. I tried to move my
head, but the nausea I felt made that a bad idea. Even with my eyes shut
the light was too bright, the only difference being it now had a
significant reddish tinge to it.
"You don't like the light? I thought you would have. After all, it
was your kind who forced us here," said a deep voice, barely containing
its anger.
There was only one people on El Hazard I knew of that lived
underground: the Phantom Tribe. I was in trouble now.
***
I awoke to the feel of someone taking my blood pressure. The light
was not as bright this time, and was overhead, as opposed to being aimed
at my face. This had the effect of illumination a circle of about one
and a half meters in radius around me. Everything else was pitch black.
Even the ground, from what I could see of it, was black.
I noticed a trio of the pale blue-skinned people around me. One
was checking my blood pressure (or so it looked to me, at least) while
the other two were writing things down on clip-boards.
I did not know they had clip-boards in El Hazard, and found myself
amused at the thought. I wondered if they also had staplers, paper
clips, little stick-it notes, and other office supplies. Maybe if I got
out of this I could find out. I laughed at the thought of a couple of
Phantom Tribe office secretaries, making paper clip chains, wearing
business skirts, and trying to find a husband in the office.
"What do you find so amusing, that you must laugh?" asked the deep
voice from before. Off to my right, I thought it came from. "Do you know
what you are here for?"
I of course did not, and stayed silent. I knew an answer would be
forthcoming, and I was not disappointed.
"We know all about you, Hayashi, all about you and your abilities.
Now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. I want you to use
your sight for me. I want to know what the future holds."
It did not work that way, and I tried to tell him so. "The visions
are random! I have no control over them, and many times I do not know
what they mean."
"We'll have to help you fine-tune your control over them then,
won't we?"
This was going to be bad, and I did not need any special ability
to forsee that. Pain lanced through my body, as they pumped an
electrical current through my nerves.
***
I do not know how long I was there. They used classic brainwashing
tactics: I lost track of time quickly, with varying times of sleep and
eating. The electric shocks running through my nerves caused me to
twitch and convulse for some time after I left the upright table I was
strapped to. There were other, smaller forms too. Piping the same voice,
the same phrase over and over again-- telling me to give in, to join
them. Drugs, to weaken my will and befuddle my mind. They gave me the
full treatment.
The same trio were there, not always at once, but only those
three, scribbling in there little notebooks and clip-boards and their
instruments. Poking and prodding and administering drugs and food.
Always those three, and that damnable voice, with always the same words,
the same question.
"Are you going to tell me anything today? Have you had any visions
today? It is all up to you, it does not have to be this way." Always
that refrain, and always in that same calm, sympathetic voice.
Would I have broken? Did I break? It does not matter, for I only
had one dream when I closed my eyes (which, at one point I was unable to
do for a long period of time). It was the same dream I had long ago: I
saw light, then pain, then darkness. Even if I wanted to, I could not
tell him anything. Lying never even ocurred to me, and might have been
detected, anyway. That was my last dream.
***
After one particularly brutal session with the electrodes, the
voice said something different.
"I do not have forever. Do you have any visions you want to tell
me of? Will you tell me the future, this is your last chance."
I was still twitching uncontrollably from the combination of the
drugs in my veins and the fire in my nerves. I am not even sure if I
would have been able to give a reply, even if I wanted to.
The voice sighed. "I asked, but you would not be reasonable. We'll
have to show you that we are serious then. Do it."
The trio (all three of my tormentors were present) started to move
around, and bring some machinery to bear. I could not tell what it was,
my eyes would not focus properly, and my head would not stop lolling
around.
A pair of strong hands grabbed my head, and locked it into place
on the metal slab which I was fastened to for every session. My eyes
were held open by a device I was familiar with. They started to water to
prevent them from drying out, and to ease the blinding effect of the
harsh light.
The harshness of the light did not lessen, instead becoming
brighter and brighter, harsher and harsher, like a laser burning into my
eyes. My ruminations proved to be truer than I thought as the pain
started. I screamed and screamed some more, my throat already raw from
the electrocution. As the light faded, I smelled something cooking.
Mercifully (a small mercy, but one nonetheless), I passed out before I
could realise what it was that was burning.
The last sight my eyes ever beheld were three impassive men from
the Phantom Tribe, surrounded by machinery.
***
I woke in darkness, freed of the restraints that held me to the
board, and on the ground. I'm not sure how long I lay there, minutes,
hours or days. Time ceased to have any real meaning for me.
In point of fact, time ceased to have any real hold over me. I
knew I was blind, I knew my eyes were gone, burned away in that horrible
light. I could feel their lack when I tried to touch them with my hand.
Even so, I could see in this perfect darkness. There was no light source
in the cell I found myself in-- why should there be for a man who would
not know if it was on or not? and my cell had always been dark, only
strapped to the table was ever exposed to light, yet I could see it
perfectly.
That is not quite true, I did not see it. I saw it in the future.
Now that I had no eyes to close, I found myself in the grip of a
continuous vision, but one of perfect clarity. No more guessing, no more
trying to figure out what this means, or what that represents. I saw
what would be. I no longer dreamt, I _saw_.
It was difficult though, difficult to see close to the present,
maybe a second or fraction of a second into the future. It was a great
strain, and in my weakened condition, I could not keep it up for long.
I walked over to the door, and put my hand to the keypad. Time to
find out some of the limits of what I could now see. I concentrated on
looking at the keypad, until I saw a blue hand key in a code, twenty
digits in length in the recent future (perhaps one, maybe one and a half
days). I looked at the keypad again, and had my hand overlap the hand I
saw, and hit the same buttons at the same time. There seemed to be a
rythym to it. I wonder if one had to not only get the right keys in the
right order, but also at the right time interval between each key? That
would make it rather difficult, especially with a twenty digit code.
The door hissed open, and I was out. Simplicity itself. Did I
wonder whether it was a trap? Did I ask myself if they really wanted to
let me go, and the door would open if I pressed any button? No, I was
too far gone for that. I wanted out, to escape. I wanted my freedom, and
an end to the pain.
I fumbled around until I found a wall, and followed it. The floor
had a slight incline to it, barely detectable, and I followed it
upwards. I had assumed I was underground, since that was where the
Phantom Tribe lived, and the cavern was one of the last images of the
surface I had seen.
Every once in a while I would hear footsteps, and try to hide, in
cubby-holes, in other passages, in the occasional room; each which I
checked to see if they were empty with my new found ability. I spent an
eternity waiting for the clacking of hard boots on granite to recede
into silence. I dared not use my powers to look ahead too often, I was
near exhaustion and needed to conserve all my energy, plus I did not
know exactly how I was doing it.
Soon enough, the smooth floor gave way to a rocky, uneven surface,
and the walls became harsher, and less man-made in feel. I could hear
the stream. The sound of rushing water spurred me on, and made me
heedless of the minor nicks and cuts from stumbling and falling.
Reaching the riverbank, I sank to my knees and released a laugh. I
was thankful to be out of there, and thankful to be alive. I could feel
the sun on my face, warming me as I tilted my head up towards it. My
exhertions caught up with me; the effort of escape and the strain of
focusing my ability in the cell was too much for me once the last dregs
of adrenalin ebbed out of my system. I feel into a deep, dreamless
sleep, and did not notice a familiar staff beside me.
***
The staff was still there when I awoke a few hours later. The
rest, such as it was, did me good, and I was able to concentrate on more
than just escape; namely that I was both extremely hungry and thirsty.
The thirst was easily remedied by the stream by me. My empty stomach was
temporarily quelled by filling it with water, and I was not worried
about it. My mind was on other things-- the future to be specific.
I was seeing the future, three months into the future to be exact.
It played out before my like a movie, or more like a virtual reality
game, since it looked as if I could touch it. I stopped thinking about
the future, and it stopped. Concentration seemed to play a factor.
For the next two months I slowly made my way to Florestica, taking
time to explore the area and my newly heightened abilities. It was as
the same time both wonderful and frustrating. Wonderful, because I could
see into the future with perfect clarity. Wonderful, because the limit
of my sight was my life: all events up until my life ended I could see,
if I focused. Wonderful, because if I changed my mind about something,
the path would change too. I think about doing something, and could see
the consequences.
Frustrating too though, because while I could see far into the
future, close in the future was a lot more difficult. It took more
effort to look into the immediate future, to see close enough to get
around my blindness. Frustrating, because it was hard to see certain
times clearly, because there were too many possible paths afterwards.
The biggest problem was that I was losing my sense of time. Easy
to slip into the wrong tense when you see the future and not the
present. I would sometimes find myself with memories of events which had
not yet happened. It was weird remembering having eaten dinner before
you actually ate it (and only my stomach could really tell the
difference).
I wrapped myself in silence, staying away from towns and villages.
I needed the time alone to think and to practice, both being blind and
my sight. I got better with both, the staff being an especially
effective tool to feel out the area in front of me.
***
I thought there was a kind of symmetry to the situation, standing
before the palace. Once again I walked up to the guards standing by the
doors, my staff making a clicking sound as it probed the stone path
before me. I told them I had important news for the princess, which I
had travelled a long way to give. I could hear both of them shrug in
their armoured vests: I was a harmless blind man and I might even be
telling the truth. Stranger things have happened, such as a stranger
coming in one day, and becoming a trusted member of the court.
I was led to the audience chamber holding the arm of a guard to
guide me while my staff probed for obstacles he might not notice. As I
entered the hall I sent my sight a fraction of a second ahead, to see
who was there, and where they were located in the room.
The murmur of voices died as I entered, the tap-tap-tapping of my
staff echoed through the chamber. I did not need to peek a second ahead
to know the expressions on their faces; the slight frown of
concentration on Lune Venus' face as she tried to remember who I was. I
did not look like the Hayashi she remembered: I knew I was now thin to
the point of gauntness, and then there was the lack of my eyes.
"Hello princess," I said gently. "Long time no see." I gave a
half-smile at my little joke.
"Hayashi?" The background voices rose, discussing the
implications. "What happened to you? The priestesses sent us a note
along with your belongings, saying you had left unexpectedly, but we did
not know where you went. We sent out search parties to look for you, but
no one found a trace.
"After a month of nothing, we presumed you dead."
"Phantom Tribe. They wanted my to predict the future for them,
and when I would not... they tried other tactics to convince me,
culminating in this," I motioned to my eyes. "I managed to escape soon
afterwards."
"I am no longer exactly what I once was, princess. Your advisor
Hayashi is gone. There is only the Oracle now."
All I wanted at that moment was a bath and a bed. I needed more
time to think about what was happening, and I did not want to deal with
the court right now. I sagged against my staff and tried to look
exhausted (a relatively easy thing to do, since it was not too far from
the truth).
The Lune must have noticed and probably made a motion for someone
to help me to a bedroom, because I felt a much smaller woman next to me,
tugging my free hand.
"Come on, Hayashi. I'll see you get some rest," said Alielle in a
surprisingly subdued voice.
I put my hand on her shoulder and let her lead me out of the
audience hall. Once in the corridors, I asked her in a whisper to direct
me to the baths first. A quick sniff, and she agreed with me that a bath
was more important than sleep right now.
A few turns laters we made it to the baths. Alielle led me to the
soap and the water. I thanked her and heard her pad off. While washing,
I thought about my return to the palace. They seemed more distant, a
little colder maybe. Shock, most likely. They did think I was dead after
all, and I was greatly changed. Perhaps... perhaps it was not they who
were more distant, but me. I could count the words I spoke after my
escape on my hands; obviously I had to get used to being around people
again. A comforting thought, but one that felt strangely hollow.
My musings were interrupted by a pair of hands washing my hair.
Started, I looked a microsecond ahead and saw--
"Alielle?"
"I figured you needed someone to help you wash, Hayashi."
"I'm blind, not crippled, Alielle. I can manage by myself quite
easily."
"And what about when you try and shave off that scraggly mess you
call a beard? It's common knowledge that you have this thing for being
clean-shaven.
"Besides, you've got this white stuff in your hair, and I want to
be sure you get rid of it."
"Why Alielle, I didn't know you felt that way. Does this mean that
you and Fatora are--"
"No! I love Fatora! You're like a big brother to me, that's all."
I laughed quietly. "I know, Alielle. I'm just playing a little.
Sorry if I offended." I paused when something she said earlier filtered
through. "What do you mean by white stuff in my hair? I don't remember
getting anything in my--"
"It's not coming out, Hayashi. Your hair is white. What happened
to you?"
My time with the Phantom Tribe must have turned it white. I guess
there was some truth to the old superstition of turning white from
fright. I grabbed a towel (which Alielle had held out for me when my arm
began to search for one) and headed for a nice hot water soak. Once in
the water, I began to tell Alielle the one thing I have never told
anyone else, not even Lune (although not telling Lune was a different
reason than for the others; she would feel responsible for it), what it
was that I went through under the ground.
The warmth of the water seeped deep into my bones, relaxing my
muscles as much as unburdening myself relaxed something else inside of
me. I still cannot remember when I fell asleep, all I remember is waking
up in the chambers I once held before, recognising the feel of it.
Obviously not everyone thought me dead, because everything was where I
left it.
***
It was different this time, my stay at the palace. Quieter, more
subdued, less raucus. I think it was me. I think there was maybe a
little pity, and maybe a little... wonderment? My enhanced abilities
were soon known; for all intents and purposes, I lost my name and gained
a new one: Oracle. Even Lune would sometimes slip in private (and such
talks happened less and less) and call me Oracle. I suppose I was mostly
at fault. I built the wall around myself, to keep them at a safe
distance. Remnants of the Phantom Tribe, maybe. A side-effect of knowing
what they were going to have to go through, perhaps. It did not matter
though, because the others would be coming soon, and I had to prepare.
When I travelled back to the Florestica, after escaping people of
shadows, I happened upon an area that would be perfect for my current
needs. I think it was once a remnant from ancient days, a left-over from
the wars. It was carved into/out of/or maybe served the basis for a hill
made out of solid stone. The entrance was completely unblocked, and
though the insides needed some repair, the structure was still sturdy.
Perfect for my needs.
I told the princess I had to go, that I needed more time to
perfect my sight, and that I needed time to think. Once, there was a
time when I would have asked, that I would have requested, but not now.
It was necessary, it was needed, and it was going to happen anyway. I
saw it.
Do you understand?
Do you?
I had seen ahead, had seen the monument from another age made
habitable again, and myself living in it.
She let me have it, along with two men to help me. I did not tell
her where it was, nor did she ask. Did she give it to me out of pity?
Sadness? Not understanding, I knew that from her voice. She did not
understand me anymore.
The reasons I gave her for going were not entirely untrue. I had
been getting worse, mixing up tenses in speech more often, and I had
trouble remembering when I was. The past, present and the future were
blurring together more and more often.
So I left.
***
What left is there to tell? I retired to the ancient building, and
we made it habitable. I kept to myself mostly, my two attendants found
their duties light, and left me alone. They ran errands for me usually.
News from the palace, getting supplies, sending messages and such for
me. It was not a bad life.
I honed my ability, until I was able to look ahead to any precise
point I wanted. I gained back some of the weight I had lost, but never
got back to the size I used to be.
***
There came a time when I had to finish setting things in motion.
It had to be this way, otherwise Ifurita would never meet Makoto and
send him here, to awaken her, and I would not be here to pave the way.
What was that line from Akira? Oh yeah, "It has already happened,
because it has already begun."
More than that though, I took a peek at what would happen if I did
not. There was death, and there was destruction, and there was pain and
suffering and at the very last there was an end. El Hazard would be
awash in blood and fire.
So I wrote a letter to Alielle, telling her that her parents were
sick, and she sould go and see them.
A few days later, I wrote to Fatora, telling her I had seen
something she should know about, and that she should come to me because
it was important and needed to be kept secret. I included directions on
how to get here. I gave my messenger orders to let people see the
directions.
You must believe me when I say that I would not wish sending even
my worst enemy to the Phantom Tribe. All I can say is that it was
necessary.
A week later, when my two attendants came back, I dispatched two
more letters. One, to princess Lune Venus, telling her I had news of her
sister, and one more... to the Bugrom. Just a letter, deposited on the
far bank of the River of God, where a Bugrom scout would surely pick it
up.
The letter to the Bugrom contained the princess' travel schedule
for her visit. The same timetable I gave to her.
I would have cried, if I could remember how.
And so I awaited for the events I had forseen to unfold.
***
My story is almost over, as the others' stories begin.
***
Slowly, I reached for my school uniform which was both loose and
tight at the same time, as I had grown in height, but was noticeably
thinner. I put it on with great care, and then put on a robe of purest
samite with silvered fringes that matched my staff. Finally, there was
the headband, which I wrapped around my eyes and under my hair. My
omnipresent staff, of course.
It would be over soon, and I had questions to answer and
explanations to give.
I arrived at the palace the day after Ifurita went into the Eye of
God. Lune Venus knew I was coming, perhaps I had not changed as much as
I thought I had.
I met her outside of Bostan, and she told me the saviours of El
Hazard were inside. She offered me her arm to guide me, and I took it,
staff tap-tap-tapping as we made our way inside the garden.
Makoto was by the stone ledge encircling the garden on top of one
of the spires of the palace, looking out and up towards the Eye of God.
He was flanked by Nanami and the priestess Shayla-Shayla. Mizu had an
arm locked with one of Mr. Fujisawa's (I still call him that, even after
all this. Feels weird calling him anything else). Alielle had Fatora
occupied somewhere in the background, and Afura was in the forefront,
looking at the entrance.
"I had a feeling you would want to see them," Lune whispered to
me. It was not necessary to draw their attention, the tapping of my
staff drew their gazes to me.
"The Oracle of El Hazard wishes to see you," she announced.
Makoto turned and saw me. A slight frown of concentration appeared
on his face, mirrored by the one on Nanami's face.
"I've.... I know you...," Makoto started.
I unbuttoned the robe, and let it fall to the ground, revealing
the old school uniform underneath. "Hayashi? You? You're the Oracle?"
Nanami asked, the wonderment evident in her voice.
Everyone else in the room (beyond Fujisawa-sensei, who remembered
me too, had a slightly different reaction upon seeing my uniform.
"Another Earthling?" they all exclaimed at once. Even princess
Lune was shocked.
Makoto came towards me with faltering steps; Nanami did too, arm
outstretched.
"Let me get a good look at you both," I said. When they were close
enough, I reached out with my hands, taking a gentle look. "Nanami,
still beautiful as ever."
"Hayashi, what happened to you? Your hair, your--" Nanami asked. I
took off the blindfold, and showed her. She gasped in dismay. "Oh my
god! How...? Who...?"
"It's alright Nanami. I see in other ways now," I said with
tenderness. I turned my head towards Makoto.
"Makoto, I have some very good news for you. You will find her
again." He knew who I was talking about, there would only ever be one
Her for Makoto.
"Let me tell you a story Makoto, about the president of a science
fiction club who stays a little late at the school."
-Finis-
Author's notes:
Well, there it is. A revised version. Haven't actually
changed too much, added a little bit, and made a few minor corrections.
So, tell me what you like, what you hate, what you find ambivalent
about it... I need it, I really do.
What should I change/hack out/add in? This is your chance to for
input here....
C&C is not just a right, it's a responsibility....
(
geocities.com/tokyo/flats) (
geocities.com/tokyo)