A Jester's final bow
It seems fitting that the final installment of the Crystalys saga should end as it began, while the snow falls. It's hard to imagine that the snowball fight that started it all was over 4 years ago. Has it really been that long since life was simple? Those are the kind of memories you know you'll never lose; the kind that give you comfort when you're old and things are slipping. The memories that keep you grounded. Are there more adventures with Pollo and the gang? Most definitely! Will they ever get out of my head and onto the page? Well knowing my motivation and luck, unlikely. Still I'm grateful to have finished at least a story arc, slowly however definitely. Thanks for all my loyal and semi-loyal readers. You've given me the inspiration to finish this, and I hope you enjoy it.
Water and wind. Waves upon waves, crushing my mind, crushing my lungs. I was back on the roof of Vasser Vitae, the screams of hundreds drowned by eternal deluge. Dumarkius had won and I was damned to swim in an endless ocean for the rest of my days. I sank into the swirling ocean, my last breaths bubbling upward as my body descended into the unyielding black heart of the sea. Then I was falling, stars and war drums melting into an icy stair case. I was plummeting into the heart of Crystalys, the heart of Ella, doubly frozen over. I called out to her but my voice made no noise, and she turned a cold shoulder to me. Why should she care? I swore no fealty to her. I swore fealty to no one. Haedron’s eyes accused me from the darkness. A life without honor was not worth living. That was his final breath, a curse to the betrayer. A curse against me. He had died a hero’s death. I will die a coward’s one.
A cool hand broke the feverish gaze of Haedron, helping me settle in the darkness, pulling the shadows over me like a coverlet. I gasped air as my body shook, fire and ice intertwined beneath my skin. Every length of me quivered like my body was resonating with an infernal hum. Soft lights and hushed sounds floated out of the darkness, painting murals on the empty walls, shifting shadows and reassuring tones. Fragments of reality intensified from my hazy nightmares, the smell of mint tea, its steam dancing upon my cheek. The rustle of thick silk sidled against ribs that hovered in shallow inhalations. A gentle conversation, laughing behind cupped hands.
I cracked my eyelids open, a thick band of light slicing into my dark prison. Natural light from a midday sun battled with the flickering candle light inside my room. Even my slightest attempt to lift my head caused a groan to emanate from my clenched teeth. I squeezed my eyes shut, but for fear that I would sink back to that shadowy dungeon, I quickly cracked them open again.
Javanelle’s head popped into view, her face blossoming into a smile as she realized I was awake. As she opened her mouth to exclaim her excitement, a scarred hand quickly covered it. I was very grateful as Luciano’s head joined the staff sergeants, a finger raised to his frowning lips. Javanelle shrugged her apology.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, Jester,” Luciano growled softly, “We thought we’d lost you for a bit there.”
“You’re a cotton headed fool for doing what you did,” Javanelle reprimanded gently, “You’ve been out for near on two weeks now, had us all going gray with worry! We had the best healers and herbalists bind you up the best they knew how, but you were awfully fouled up. How you were even standing for so long is a mystery to me.”
I opened my mouth to respond but my voice was nothing but a dry crackle.
“Hold on there, Jester. Remember you’ve haven’t opened that ale hole of yours for quite a while.”
“Here, drink this,” Javenelle ordered, proffering me a mug of steaming mint tea, “There you go. Take it all down now, it’ll help give you a bit of strength.”
I coughed and sputtered as she forced the last drops down. Bitter scraps of bark were hidden in that tea, hardly offset by the mint. Luciano’s strong arm slid under my now frail frame, clearly underweight from my time in muddied sleep. He propped me up with several pillows. A Crystalysian soldier rushed in with some fresh porridge, saluting the Major General. Javanelle had to forcefully feed me at first but soon my latent appetite overcame me and I slurped ravenously, as the soldier left to fetch me seconds.
“Several things have happened since you collapsed. Our Lady and General Sammei quickly established control, having the rest of the Hydronians rounded up. Those who wished to stay were given full rights as Crystalysian citizens, even their own choice of the town, guarded by known loyal soldiers to avoid molestations by any of the Frozen Blade that might be holding a grudge. Some of Volgreth’s men have been contracted for repairs on the city. Turns out the Aeorians attacked Azuhara’s Keep a few days ago and were beat back to the Blizzarra border. Volgan’s elementalists are hardier than I expected. Their strategies are somewhat…unorthadox, even for me. I hear the fortress has some new stone monuments, if you catch my drift. It would appear both your gambits have worked out. Word is Dumarkius pressed his attack on Pyrian territory and won himself a scrap of ground by the Scalding Lake. Our Lady has been preparing for a counter defense to his inevitable attempt to retake his old capitol.”
“Water…” I rasped, my throat a scorched desert, even after the tea. Javanelle leapt into action, quickly fetching a glass. The chill liquid was a soothing stream as I drained the glass, Javanelle poised to pour me another. So much had happened while I was unconscious, I could hardly process it all. My head was spinning, most likely from the potent herbs in the tea. I gripped Luciano’s arm to steady myself in the bed.
“Don’t you worry, Jester Pollo,” Javanelle piqued excitedly, “I had some spare Dervish Fervor in my pack. You’ll feel a bit of whirling at first, but it’ll replace some of that strength you’ve lost. What a fortunate day for you to wake. Everyone’s gathering at the docks. Our Lady is preparing to sing the Requiem! Can you believe it?”
“What’s…the Requiem?” I croaked, finishing my second glass and panting for a third.
“What’s the Requiem? Seriously? Only the most powerful spell Our Lady possesses!” Javanelle asked incredulously, her eyes gaping wide.
“He’s a foreigner, Java,” Luciano chastised gently, “The Requiem of Winter’s Eve is indeed the most potent elemental manipulation known to Crystalys. It has not been sung since Azuhara herself, and cannot be managed without the Sixth Shard. Even with the Tear, it is a challenge. Legend goes that Maelys was the first warrior queen of Crystalys and attempted to use the Requiem as an offensive spell against the Azaeth war fleet. She wavered on the final note, flash freezing her lungs. Luckily for her, fine healers were able to save her life, but she never talked or cast another spell again. Some feel that Our Lady is too young to even attempt it.”
“She’s the most powerful elementalist I’ve ever seen!. There’s no way that’ll happen to her. It’ll be an honor to witness the first Requiem of our generation. You should consider yourself blessed, Jester Pollo”
I nodded as I slurped down a fourth glass, quenching my thirst at last. I could feel the effects of the Dervish bark seep into my muscles as my head steadied.
“You ready to stand, Jester?” Luciano asked, offering his arm for support. I gripped his opposite shoulder, swinging my legs over the side of my bed. Rising shakily to my feet, Luciano led me out of the squat plaster house where I’d rested and into the overcast mid day. My eyes were grateful to the clouds for shielding the full force of the sun. Vasser Vitae was in a state of perpetual repair, wooden scaffolding climbing like ivy on most every building. Familiar faces nodded and waved as we passed, soldiers turned masons, rebuilding the city they once sieged. We were a few blocks from the looming fortress, its intricate stonework still in shambles. It would take years to reconstruct what was annihilated in seconds. We skirted around hunks of stone as we wound our way to the Western Sea.
The chatter from a growing crowd could be heard before it was seen, excited tones carried by a salty breeze. The mob of people, displaying styles of Crystalysian and Hydronian dress, surged in concert with the waves. The ones farthest back craned their necks to get a better view of the marvel that was about to unfold.
A few of the Frozen Blade commanders were herding their comrades, making sure order was still maintained despite the excitement. Javanelle practically bounced with every step. Luciano’s presence was enough to part the crowd, leading us to an ideal vantage point on a particularly large piece of rubble.
From our perch we could see more commanders maintaining a perimeter around one of the main docks. Queen Ella was the center of attention, a finely crafted linen gown pleasantly accenting her features. It was elegant in its simplicity, hugging her figure as she faced the stiff headwind, its train rippling gently behind her. Some of the female elementalists attended her, also in simple linen dresses. One particular raven-haired lass seemed uncomfortable, arms crossed sternly under her chest. I blinked several times, realizing that this was General Sammei. I was surprised at how stunning she looked in more feminine attire, loose hair billowed by the wind. Unlike Sammei, the Snow Queen’s hair was bound in intricate spirals, shimmering gems and silver wire intertwined with her chestnut locks.
Ella’s attendants linked arms, channeling their combined energies into their mistress, boosting her power for the Requiem. The buzz of the crowd increased as Queen Ella stepped forward alone, barefoot on the rough wooden doc. Each step was very deliberate, her face a mask of determination. She reached the end of the dock, bare toes wiggling off its edge. A hush fell over the crowd as everyone held their breath in anticipation. Closing her eyes, the Sixth Shard a blazing turquoise star on her forehead, Ella sung the first note of the Requiem of Winter’s Eve.
Her voice was thin and reedy at first, wavering and timid, but sweet. The song grew stronger, elemental magic buttressing her voice into a melodious orchestra. I sat entranced, as the song seemed to wrap around me, resonating with primordial memory of a utopic past. It was an ancient verse that hinted at a creation so pure that mortals could hardly inhabit it.
As Ella continued, her arms snaking through the wind as if animated by the song, a light manifested in front of her. It was faint and delicate at first but became more luminescent, pulsating rhythmically with each note. Colors shifted in and out, constantly fluxing in hue. As the Snow Queen’s voice soared in a lilting crescendo, so did the chromatic orb, arcing slowly out to sea, its twin mirrored in the waters below. Perspiration shone on Ella’s face as her voice danced through rich scales, interweaving a complex counter melody with stunning finesse. The final notes were like the first flakes of winter, soft and slow, melting into the air as the prismatic sphere plunged into deep.
Blinking out of my trance, I raised my hands for applause but Luciano stopped me.
“What?” I whispered to the gruff Major, “I mean that song was phenomenal, a real standing ovation, but hardly the spectacle I was expecting.”
“Watch and see,” was all he responded with, his eyes locked on the spot where the glowing song had sunk. Ella staggered backwards, Sammei rushing to her side. She caught the Snow Queen before she toppled into the sea. Ella’s face beamed like a new mother seeing her child for the first time. A look of serene joy mingled with pure exhaustion.
I was just about to turn away when the sea erupted, a massive pillar of water and light rocketing upward, climbing impossibly higher before expanding in all directions, a canopy of thousands upon thousands of miniature prisms. Drops of rainbow light surged back upon themselves, reverberating in a dynamic mosaic of scintillating color. The geyser continued to expand, picking up the fishing vessels like a child’s toy, the wood splintering to dust in seconds. I could see now how someone would want to use the Requiem offensively. Blazing water poured into the heavens like a reverse waterfall, even the far end of the dock was ripped from its mooring by the force of the song. Sammei carried her Queen to safety on the shore. The final drops leapt from the surface of the now frozen Western Sea, shimmering diamonds of light defying gravity as they race up to the rainbow sky. The song covered us all like the stars had congregated to a single twinkling dome.
The prismatic mists shifted and swirled, billowing out to form laden clouds. Flashes of light still flickered and thunder rumbled where the clouds rubbed elbows. It was a storm of the most rare kind: thundersnow. The first flakes, newly born, floated lazily above us. The thunder sounded like it was trying to fight its way out from behind a pillow. Each flash of lightning lit up the whole realm. It was simultaneously beautiful and immensely sad. I felt so tiny under the weight of its glory.
Each flake, a crystalline fingerprint, melted on faces filled with wonder. This was the song that made Crystalys an eternal snow wonderland. An infinite snowstorm, self regenerated by a song of elemental creation. The Requiem. We did what anyone would do when faced with something so uniquely beautiful, something so impossibly vast. We wept.
I still haven't shaken the cold I contracted at the beginning of the month. The PA-C thinks I was reinfected, but I think she just got the wrong diagnosis. I was able to convince her to get me some penicillin and an albuterol inhaler. Hopefully I'll be able to kick this by the end of the month. Our Cardio exam is coming up on Monday. The lecture hours worth of material is reaching in the ceiling of 40 hours. It will undoubtedly be the most challenging exam of medical school thus far and the shivers of terror are easily seen in the entire class. Lecture attendance is at an all time high. All thoughts and prayers so that I can maintain motivation would be very helpful.
Water and wind. Waves upon waves, crushing my mind, crushing my lungs. I was back on the roof of Vasser Vitae, the screams of hundreds drowned by eternal deluge. Dumarkius had won and I was damned to swim in an endless ocean for the rest of my days. I sank into the swirling ocean, my last breaths bubbling upward as my body descended into the unyielding black heart of the sea. Then I was falling, stars and war drums melting into an icy stair case. I was plummeting into the heart of Crystalys, the heart of Ella, doubly frozen over. I called out to her but my voice made no noise, and she turned a cold shoulder to me. Why should she care? I swore no fealty to her. I swore fealty to no one. Haedron’s eyes accused me from the darkness. A life without honor was not worth living. That was his final breath, a curse to the betrayer. A curse against me. He had died a hero’s death. I will die a coward’s one.
A cool hand broke the feverish gaze of Haedron, helping me settle in the darkness, pulling the shadows over me like a coverlet. I gasped air as my body shook, fire and ice intertwined beneath my skin. Every length of me quivered like my body was resonating with an infernal hum. Soft lights and hushed sounds floated out of the darkness, painting murals on the empty walls, shifting shadows and reassuring tones. Fragments of reality intensified from my hazy nightmares, the smell of mint tea, its steam dancing upon my cheek. The rustle of thick silk sidled against ribs that hovered in shallow inhalations. A gentle conversation, laughing behind cupped hands.
I cracked my eyelids open, a thick band of light slicing into my dark prison. Natural light from a midday sun battled with the flickering candle light inside my room. Even my slightest attempt to lift my head caused a groan to emanate from my clenched teeth. I squeezed my eyes shut, but for fear that I would sink back to that shadowy dungeon, I quickly cracked them open again.
Javanelle’s head popped into view, her face blossoming into a smile as she realized I was awake. As she opened her mouth to exclaim her excitement, a scarred hand quickly covered it. I was very grateful as Luciano’s head joined the staff sergeants, a finger raised to his frowning lips. Javanelle shrugged her apology.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, Jester,” Luciano growled softly, “We thought we’d lost you for a bit there.”
“You’re a cotton headed fool for doing what you did,” Javanelle reprimanded gently, “You’ve been out for near on two weeks now, had us all going gray with worry! We had the best healers and herbalists bind you up the best they knew how, but you were awfully fouled up. How you were even standing for so long is a mystery to me.”
I opened my mouth to respond but my voice was nothing but a dry crackle.
“Hold on there, Jester. Remember you’ve haven’t opened that ale hole of yours for quite a while.”
“Here, drink this,” Javenelle ordered, proffering me a mug of steaming mint tea, “There you go. Take it all down now, it’ll help give you a bit of strength.”
I coughed and sputtered as she forced the last drops down. Bitter scraps of bark were hidden in that tea, hardly offset by the mint. Luciano’s strong arm slid under my now frail frame, clearly underweight from my time in muddied sleep. He propped me up with several pillows. A Crystalysian soldier rushed in with some fresh porridge, saluting the Major General. Javanelle had to forcefully feed me at first but soon my latent appetite overcame me and I slurped ravenously, as the soldier left to fetch me seconds.
“Several things have happened since you collapsed. Our Lady and General Sammei quickly established control, having the rest of the Hydronians rounded up. Those who wished to stay were given full rights as Crystalysian citizens, even their own choice of the town, guarded by known loyal soldiers to avoid molestations by any of the Frozen Blade that might be holding a grudge. Some of Volgreth’s men have been contracted for repairs on the city. Turns out the Aeorians attacked Azuhara’s Keep a few days ago and were beat back to the Blizzarra border. Volgan’s elementalists are hardier than I expected. Their strategies are somewhat…unorthadox, even for me. I hear the fortress has some new stone monuments, if you catch my drift. It would appear both your gambits have worked out. Word is Dumarkius pressed his attack on Pyrian territory and won himself a scrap of ground by the Scalding Lake. Our Lady has been preparing for a counter defense to his inevitable attempt to retake his old capitol.”
“Water…” I rasped, my throat a scorched desert, even after the tea. Javanelle leapt into action, quickly fetching a glass. The chill liquid was a soothing stream as I drained the glass, Javanelle poised to pour me another. So much had happened while I was unconscious, I could hardly process it all. My head was spinning, most likely from the potent herbs in the tea. I gripped Luciano’s arm to steady myself in the bed.
“Don’t you worry, Jester Pollo,” Javanelle piqued excitedly, “I had some spare Dervish Fervor in my pack. You’ll feel a bit of whirling at first, but it’ll replace some of that strength you’ve lost. What a fortunate day for you to wake. Everyone’s gathering at the docks. Our Lady is preparing to sing the Requiem! Can you believe it?”
“What’s…the Requiem?” I croaked, finishing my second glass and panting for a third.
“What’s the Requiem? Seriously? Only the most powerful spell Our Lady possesses!” Javanelle asked incredulously, her eyes gaping wide.
“He’s a foreigner, Java,” Luciano chastised gently, “The Requiem of Winter’s Eve is indeed the most potent elemental manipulation known to Crystalys. It has not been sung since Azuhara herself, and cannot be managed without the Sixth Shard. Even with the Tear, it is a challenge. Legend goes that Maelys was the first warrior queen of Crystalys and attempted to use the Requiem as an offensive spell against the Azaeth war fleet. She wavered on the final note, flash freezing her lungs. Luckily for her, fine healers were able to save her life, but she never talked or cast another spell again. Some feel that Our Lady is too young to even attempt it.”
“She’s the most powerful elementalist I’ve ever seen!. There’s no way that’ll happen to her. It’ll be an honor to witness the first Requiem of our generation. You should consider yourself blessed, Jester Pollo”
I nodded as I slurped down a fourth glass, quenching my thirst at last. I could feel the effects of the Dervish bark seep into my muscles as my head steadied.
“You ready to stand, Jester?” Luciano asked, offering his arm for support. I gripped his opposite shoulder, swinging my legs over the side of my bed. Rising shakily to my feet, Luciano led me out of the squat plaster house where I’d rested and into the overcast mid day. My eyes were grateful to the clouds for shielding the full force of the sun. Vasser Vitae was in a state of perpetual repair, wooden scaffolding climbing like ivy on most every building. Familiar faces nodded and waved as we passed, soldiers turned masons, rebuilding the city they once sieged. We were a few blocks from the looming fortress, its intricate stonework still in shambles. It would take years to reconstruct what was annihilated in seconds. We skirted around hunks of stone as we wound our way to the Western Sea.
The chatter from a growing crowd could be heard before it was seen, excited tones carried by a salty breeze. The mob of people, displaying styles of Crystalysian and Hydronian dress, surged in concert with the waves. The ones farthest back craned their necks to get a better view of the marvel that was about to unfold.
A few of the Frozen Blade commanders were herding their comrades, making sure order was still maintained despite the excitement. Javanelle practically bounced with every step. Luciano’s presence was enough to part the crowd, leading us to an ideal vantage point on a particularly large piece of rubble.
From our perch we could see more commanders maintaining a perimeter around one of the main docks. Queen Ella was the center of attention, a finely crafted linen gown pleasantly accenting her features. It was elegant in its simplicity, hugging her figure as she faced the stiff headwind, its train rippling gently behind her. Some of the female elementalists attended her, also in simple linen dresses. One particular raven-haired lass seemed uncomfortable, arms crossed sternly under her chest. I blinked several times, realizing that this was General Sammei. I was surprised at how stunning she looked in more feminine attire, loose hair billowed by the wind. Unlike Sammei, the Snow Queen’s hair was bound in intricate spirals, shimmering gems and silver wire intertwined with her chestnut locks.
Ella’s attendants linked arms, channeling their combined energies into their mistress, boosting her power for the Requiem. The buzz of the crowd increased as Queen Ella stepped forward alone, barefoot on the rough wooden doc. Each step was very deliberate, her face a mask of determination. She reached the end of the dock, bare toes wiggling off its edge. A hush fell over the crowd as everyone held their breath in anticipation. Closing her eyes, the Sixth Shard a blazing turquoise star on her forehead, Ella sung the first note of the Requiem of Winter’s Eve.
Her voice was thin and reedy at first, wavering and timid, but sweet. The song grew stronger, elemental magic buttressing her voice into a melodious orchestra. I sat entranced, as the song seemed to wrap around me, resonating with primordial memory of a utopic past. It was an ancient verse that hinted at a creation so pure that mortals could hardly inhabit it.
As Ella continued, her arms snaking through the wind as if animated by the song, a light manifested in front of her. It was faint and delicate at first but became more luminescent, pulsating rhythmically with each note. Colors shifted in and out, constantly fluxing in hue. As the Snow Queen’s voice soared in a lilting crescendo, so did the chromatic orb, arcing slowly out to sea, its twin mirrored in the waters below. Perspiration shone on Ella’s face as her voice danced through rich scales, interweaving a complex counter melody with stunning finesse. The final notes were like the first flakes of winter, soft and slow, melting into the air as the prismatic sphere plunged into deep.
Blinking out of my trance, I raised my hands for applause but Luciano stopped me.
“What?” I whispered to the gruff Major, “I mean that song was phenomenal, a real standing ovation, but hardly the spectacle I was expecting.”
“Watch and see,” was all he responded with, his eyes locked on the spot where the glowing song had sunk. Ella staggered backwards, Sammei rushing to her side. She caught the Snow Queen before she toppled into the sea. Ella’s face beamed like a new mother seeing her child for the first time. A look of serene joy mingled with pure exhaustion.
I was just about to turn away when the sea erupted, a massive pillar of water and light rocketing upward, climbing impossibly higher before expanding in all directions, a canopy of thousands upon thousands of miniature prisms. Drops of rainbow light surged back upon themselves, reverberating in a dynamic mosaic of scintillating color. The geyser continued to expand, picking up the fishing vessels like a child’s toy, the wood splintering to dust in seconds. I could see now how someone would want to use the Requiem offensively. Blazing water poured into the heavens like a reverse waterfall, even the far end of the dock was ripped from its mooring by the force of the song. Sammei carried her Queen to safety on the shore. The final drops leapt from the surface of the now frozen Western Sea, shimmering diamonds of light defying gravity as they race up to the rainbow sky. The song covered us all like the stars had congregated to a single twinkling dome.
The prismatic mists shifted and swirled, billowing out to form laden clouds. Flashes of light still flickered and thunder rumbled where the clouds rubbed elbows. It was a storm of the most rare kind: thundersnow. The first flakes, newly born, floated lazily above us. The thunder sounded like it was trying to fight its way out from behind a pillow. Each flash of lightning lit up the whole realm. It was simultaneously beautiful and immensely sad. I felt so tiny under the weight of its glory.
Each flake, a crystalline fingerprint, melted on faces filled with wonder. This was the song that made Crystalys an eternal snow wonderland. An infinite snowstorm, self regenerated by a song of elemental creation. The Requiem. We did what anyone would do when faced with something so uniquely beautiful, something so impossibly vast. We wept.
I still haven't shaken the cold I contracted at the beginning of the month. The PA-C thinks I was reinfected, but I think she just got the wrong diagnosis. I was able to convince her to get me some penicillin and an albuterol inhaler. Hopefully I'll be able to kick this by the end of the month. Our Cardio exam is coming up on Monday. The lecture hours worth of material is reaching in the ceiling of 40 hours. It will undoubtedly be the most challenging exam of medical school thus far and the shivers of terror are easily seen in the entire class. Lecture attendance is at an all time high. All thoughts and prayers so that I can maintain motivation would be very helpful.