13. fallen selene

PROLOGUE | STOLEN MOON | WANING CRESCENT | SACRED SANDS | FALLEN SELENE | EPILOGUE

Fallen Selene

John Noble awakes in front of a statue, a Pure Shrine located just outside of a Church. Before he can get his bearings he hears a familiar voice behind him. Aletheia calls out to him. She is standing with Father Basildes. The pair are shocked at John's sudden appearance. Basildes is confused while Aletheia runs over to John, who is coughing on the ground. She helps him up and asks if he is alright. John is disheveled and is equally surprised to see her. She asks what has happened and how he got there. He begins to respond by asking he is not sure and asks where they are. Aletheia explains about the light and looks to Basildes, asking what is going on. Basildes seems pensive for a moment. He then says that they should come to his chambers.

Basildes leads them to a small room with many books strewn about. He asks John if he remembers what happened to him as he sorts through some books. John recalls that he and Sam had gone to the South with a group of soldiers. Aletheia asks if Sam is alright. John responds that he is, they had successfully taken back the city. John trails off but then continues that he had fought a powerful Champion in front of some kind of Marble door. Basildes seems concerned and asks if he opened the door. John confirms that the Champion called the Djinn did. Basildes cuts him off and asks if there was anything guarding the door, a beast or dragon. John claims that there was a girl there, sitting, but the Djinn destroyed her.

Father Basildes stops flipping through pages and is silent once more. Aletheia asks Basildes what is going on. He explains that he has to travel to the South to speak with some important people. Aletheia is confused and John asks Basildes what happened. Basildes tells him that when John closed the door he was transported to the Pure Shrine in front of the Cathedral. John asks what happened when the Gate opened. Someone in the south told him about something called the Angra Manyu. Basildes stops once more and says that he isn't sure but some believe that opening the Ouroboros Gate is good and some believe it to be bad. This door whether good or bad will change things. What that is he doesn't know. Regardless of this, those that believe in it know that change requires sacrifice. This is just speculation though and he must find out more. He tells John to let him worry about this for now, John has more pressing issues.

Basildes looks to Aletheia who is deep in thought. John is puzzled and asks what is happening. Aletheia explains that Donofrey, the Black Jester is preparing to attack Selene. She was already on her way back to Selene to warn them. John is still somewhat injured but states that he will accompany her back to city. Aletheia smiles at this. John asks if Basildes can send another message for Sam.

John and Aletheia prepare her horse and Basildes sees them off. He relays that the message had been sent. He thanks Aletheia once more and places a large book into her bag as a gift for her rescuing him. Basildes says that he is very much against them going but he knows that Selene has a chance with them defending it. He tells them that they will speak again soon. The two then ride off into the night.

Heritage of Stars

Aletheia and John travel along the road toward Selene. They are conversing about her travels and experiences with the Firenne sisters during the trip. Aletheia then asks John how he knows Basildes. John details how Basildes took him in as his caretaker. When he was old enough, he had sent John to study at a monastery with members of his order. The monastery was called the Moon Temple. Aletheia asks about his parents but John tells her that he will tell her about them another time. They should continue on.

Aletheia and John are concerned as they see smoke far in the eastern woods as they reach the edge of the trees. They reach the city proper and see that Soldiers of Selene are gathering in the fields outside of Starvale. The pair ride up to the city and see many displaced families from Starvale being taken into the city. Starvale is being evacuated as all citizens are moved into the city walls. Soldiers of Selene are also helping them move.

Aletheia finds the King in the main hall of the Crescent Keep. He is surrounded by his Council as well as the Constable and Marshal. They see each other and the King is relieved that she is safe. He had feared the worst as she had been gone almost a week. Aletheia is somewhat distant with him but is glad that they received her message about the attack. She asks what they plan to do when he sees John.

The King is confused at his appearance and asks him how he is there and what happened in the South. The Constable interrupts claiming that he abandoned his men and duties. The Constable commands the guards to apprehend John. Aletheia protests and the King tells the men to wait. He asks John if this is true. John kneels and states that it isn't. He tells everyone that they succeeded in helping Visperad. They freed the Sultan and took back the city of Estahker for them. As for how he is there, even he isn't sure. The King asks what he means.

Aletheia interjects stating that something supernatural happened to John that she witnessed herself. Basildes saw it as well and is looking into it currently. The Constable claims that these are lies, they know who John is where he comes from. Aletheia looks confused. He is the son of the Shimmering Soldier, the scourge of Selene and the enemy that caused the incident in the Grey Plains. Aletheia is shocked and looks at John. The other councilors did not know this and are equally concerned. John is silent.

The King tells John that he had been told of his heritage by Basildes who was a friend of Victor Noble, the man they know as the Shimmering Soldier. He knew of who John was when they met but was willing to give him a chance to see who he is and his merit. Aletheia contemplates the situation and thinks of her own heritage. The King asks John if he speaks the truth. The Constable tells the King that he is the son of a monster and the King made a grave error in judgement by not imprisoning John.

Aletheia interjects and asks for what purpose. She speaks directly to the King. He did not choose his heritage and should not be judged from who and where he comes from. He is not the offspring of some evil person but a man just like them. John tells the council that he knows the atrocities that his father had committed. He never asked to be the son of such a man. One that could commit such acts. He had feared that he could become the same thing and so he had chosen to search in himself a way to avoid becoming what his father had become. A purpose that he could find honor in and possibly combat his own blood. He glances at Aletheia and states that he had found it when he came to Selene. A place to be someone who stands for something good.

Aletheia continues. She states that Victor Noble was a human being. One who fought for what he believed in. He had friends and his own life that they know nothing of. He did wrong but there are those that would regard the Shimmering Soldier as an honorable man who died for his cause. John has proven that he is a man who does the same. She tells him that John's father was a Champion and was not a monster any more than she is.

The King is silent and the council looks to him. He states that he believes him. He then states that he doesn't know how or why John has returned but they need to prepare for the battle ahead. At this, a soldier interrupts, telling them that there is a Jester at the Gates of the city requesting an audience. Everyone in the room looks shocked.