Shield of Fire

Crini followed Helion as he walked away from the fire, finding a space where its warmth still reached them but also far enough to give them some privacy. He sits on the rocky ground - cross-legged - and pats the empty space aside him for Crini to follow.

Crini folds herself next to him, looking away. The proximity made her feel unease but strangely, when she tried to sit further away from him, she could feel cold wrapping around her.

She lifted her head to face him. His steel-grey eyes had an eerie shine as the glow of the flames was hitting their surface. Naturally, all Ethnians’ eyes glow faintly in the absence of light. It was creeping Crini out, even after so many years on this planet.

But this was different.

Helion looked at her - with forthrightness and honesty that no one had ever before - like he was seeing through her. See through the layers of struggle and lies she’s been arraying all this time since they started this trial.

She was not a counsellor, she wasn’t even worthy to participate. And she was breaking the rules, one after the other.

“In order to know how back and in what depth I should be going with the history of Ethnos, do you know anything at all?” Helion’s voice vibrates in her ears like a soft running of a river. There was a warmth in it that didn’t match the one emanating from the orange flames dancing a few metres away.

Crini drifted her gaze away from his, looking down at her hands resting on her lap. “Um… nothing” she whispered sheepishly.

A low purr of acknowledgement echoed from Helion’s throat who shortly after cleared it with a light cough. “Nothing to worry you,” he reassured her. “I’ll start from the very beginning.”

Crini just nods at him bringing her face up. It was impolite to hear someone talking without looking at him.

“Ethnos was a mass of matter upon creation. For a very long time, it was floating into existence without purpose, waiting idly for the moment of its obliteration. Until five spiritually divine life forms emerged into its surface and graced it with their gifts.”

Crini was already hanging by his words. The way he spoke was so calm, he was giving a fairy tale essence to the history of his world.

“Zargana the principal of water, filled Ethnos’s cavities with fresh running water, creating rivers and waterfalls and lakes. She then brought to life the first aquatic creatures that inhabited those territories and gave them incredible speed and endurance while in it. The divine entities also agreed to create a specie that would be thriving in any territory, but each put its personal details. So, Zargana created the Qatonians.”

Helion studied Crini with his look. “Maybe I should take it slower? Did I overload you with information?” he cautiously asked.

Crini shook her head sideways “No, not at all! Keep going.”

“Very well,” he smirked at her motivating comment. “Mutas the principal of nature, dressed the mountains with trees and bushes and any kind of flower could imagine. Then his creations came to fill the trees with noises and life. His thriving species was Encreeans.”

Footsteps make the ground shake beneath them. Lura’s form towers before them as he stops abruptly - standing straight before his superior. “Shall I check Muta’s mate count Helion?” he asked, but the way he spoke was like he already knew the answer.

“At ease Lura,” Helion addressed him. “I believe it’s not necessary. Last night was two cycles less according to my observations. Tomorrow it will be the time.”

Lura inclined his head and walked away returning to his duties. “Where we left?” He added turning back to Crini. “Oh yes. Em…about what we just said with Lura, I’ll have to explain after I finish my current lesson, so would you please remind me afterwards?”

How could Crini refuse something so politely asked?

“Encreeans are moving with incredible speed through forests and we are excellent archers and dagger handlers. Muta’s mate - the planet circling around Ethnos at night - impacts us, sharpening our abilities.”

Helion stopped for a moment, changing his legs’ position to stretch. Crini’s eyes couldn’t hold but fall on his form and the way his lean muscles were rippling as he stretched himself. Taking the opportunity of a short break, she did the same adjusting herself on the ground. Helion was waiting patiently for her to feel comfortable again before he starts his story.

“Ssondar the principal of earth, filled the vast lands on Ethnos with sand and dust and rocks. Then his life forms inhabited these lands with exquisite endurance to heat and the strength of the mighty earth. His thriving species was Aniveans. And last was Noarta the principle of air, that gave motion to everything upon Ethnos through strong winds and light breezes. Her special species was Sopolians.”

Crini was absorbed totally by his storytelling. She could be listening to him for hours.

“After they’ve given their gifts, they chose a hero to protect the planet from any unforeseen evil that might try to harm this peaceful ecosystem. And they chose Leukos, a spirit of a warrior that was blessed with eternal light. For centuries Ethnos was marching proudly to harmony. The thriving species created capitals and protected the nearby lands while Leukos was circling the planet, keeping watch day and night.”

All of a sudden, Helion’s face darkened.

“Exalos, an evil demon spirit lost in his hunger for power, decided to invade Ethnos. Leukos was armed and ready. The principals blessed him with gifts. Zargana gave him a double-edged sword that spread ice through its blade. Mutas gave him a crown knitted by tree branches, gracing him with the power to control the earth. Ssondar gave him a rock-hard shield and Noarta gave him a set of golden wings to fly through the sky with incredible speed. Each clang of their shields shook the ground and every swing of their swords caused the air to twist violently, destroying the natural beauty and habitats of the planet. Their battle went on for a century, according to the scrolls of wisdom, a box filled with scrolls with the history that saved from the times since life started on Ethnos.”

“And what happened during this time on the planet?”

“According to what is written, Krabokia the principal of darkness found an opportunity and conquered the surface of Ethnos, spreading death on his path. The people were starving as resources were diminishing with rapid steps and the thriving species started to turn against one another for what supplies were left. That century was a dark stain in Ethnos’ history.”

Crini caught right away the faint crack of anger in Helion’s voice. His posture was stiff and his grey eyes were looking at the floor before him. He was not proud of this. He looked like he was feeling guilty. Like it was his fault.

Helion let out a breath - like the feeling of defeat reemerged from the dark corners of his memory, absorbing every cell of his body - before he continues.

“We couldn’t help him. Although we are considered high-level species, we couldn’t enter their spiritual plane. Paradoxically, only some animal species could and they went all with the side of Leukos. Trubaks were one of the few that joined this battle. They were swift and flexible and strong. It is said that their souls were reincarnated warrior spirits from unknown time and space that came back to live glory as a Trubak. They were proud and loyal but it was hard to earn their trust. Leukos had managed to succeed with one, Xepo. They fought with unimaginable courage and strength all this time against Exalos and his armies of shadows. The scrolls say that towards the end of this battle, Xepo was severely injured and Leukos pleaded to the principals to spare him. They listened to his prayers and managed to transfer Xepo’s soul into Leukos’ shield. The shield got all the features of a Trubak. Its endurance improved, and the shield was reinforced with endurance to heat while it could radiate fire at the will of its holder. Xepo’s face appeared on the iron plate to honour it.”

He took a short break coughing softly. “Shall we stop for tonight? It must be tiring for you-” Crini spoke but he waved his hand in the air cutting her off.

“No it’s fine,” he whispered. “Unfortunately, the presence of Krabokia made the powers of Exalos stronger. Leukos was getting tired and his strength was weakening. Exalos caused the deadly blow and Leukos’ body dropped to the mortal plane of Ethnos. The demon followed him. To dominate his presence from then onwards and spread fear in case someone dared to challenge him, he tore apart Leukos’ body.”

Crini gasped. Helion turned to her with worry behind his eyes. But she motioned him to continue.

“His left hand holding the shield landed on the desert hills of Anive. His right hand holding the sword landed in the lakes of Qaton. His head, wearing the earth crown landed in the dense forests of Encree and his body with the golden wings landed on Sopolis, causing the ground around the city to detach from its bonds to the ground and float since then on the skies. The demon then used the planet’s resources to create a body to occupy his spirit. Since then he rules Ethnos from the fortress in Gremos peak.”

Crini’s eyes grew wide as the words settled in her brain. “Wait a minute,” she cut him off unable to believe her deduction’s truth. “Are you telling me that general Tolm is the incarnation of Exalos?”