Gardens In Oblivion: Prologue

Gardens in Oblivion

Prologue

Evelyn!!!...

Evelyn!!!!....

Evelyn closed her eyes and let the gentle breeze wash over her body. It felt like warm silk. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of the prairie grass and the fresh spring air. Her long white dress billowed in the wind and her auburn hair flowed with it, dancing in time with every gentle gust in the quiet of the night. The Plains of Eren were beautiful. Rolling hills of long grasses, and murmuring brooks where water was clear and pure. For that one moment, that one breath of air, Evelyn forgot everything. She forgot that the people of her realm were on the run from a powerful tyrant. She forgot that her people had come to The Plains of Eren to hide from the lethal forces that this wicked ruler had set upon them. And presently, she had forgotten about the strange light she had seen from outside her tent at the campsite, a place which now stood somewhere far away in the distance.

The breath was over, and Evelyn opened her eyes, staring into the rippling light that shimmered above her. Such a strange piece of energy. She thought. When she was far away it would appear and then disappear with every shift of her body. It reminded her of glass, being so perfectly clear that it could only be seen when light hit it in just the right way. It was certainly there though, and now that she was closer it could be seen more clearly. It looked as though there was a tiny rip in the fabric of the starry night sky. The energy was nothing like she had ever seen or felt before; it was so deep, so resonant, that she couldn't help but stare endlessly into its depths.

From camp it had seemed like a trick of the eyes, and when she had asked her husband Maddox if he saw it, he had looked at her dumbfounded. Her powers were stronger than his anyway, not that she would ever admit that to him, but when it came to the gift of sight, her ability to see celestial energy far outmatched that of her husband. Despite his attempts to stop her Evelyn had to find out what it was, and she had walked far off from their camp in search for it. It felt to her as though she was being pulled towards it, like it was beckoning her. Now it was here, right before her eyes, shimmering mysteriously against the dark of the sky.

Maddox shouted the name of his beloved wife from atop a prairie knoll. His words were sucked into the vast plains where he stood, and lost forever. He squinted his eyes, the wind had picked up since he had set out in search for Evelyn. I should have followed her right away. He cursed at himself. It was stupid to think that Evelyn would just return when she was satisfied that there was nothing out in the prairieland. Maddox felt a multitude of emotions at that moment. He was anxious and concerned for the safety of his wife, but also, he was angry that he had to go out looking for her in the middle of the night. If only I had HER eyes. His gift of sight was weaker than Evelyn's and he knew that. Her powers far outmatched anyone he had ever known. The moment he had seen Evelyn take her test in front of the great Arch mage Ambriel he was drawn to both her power, and her incredible beauty. Now his lack of power was biting back at him, harder than the wind ever could. He peered harder into the distance, trying to look for the shape of his wife standing out against the grass.

Nothing....

Nothing could be seen of Evelyn over the immense rolling hills of the prairieland. The long grasses danced rhythmically with the gusts of warm spring air. They were swaying to and fro, calling him further into the plains. He walked onwards down the knoll, looking across valleys and hills for Evelyn.

Then he felt it. The energy. So strong that it seemed to be pulling at him, so forceful that he realized the wind was pushing him towards it. In that instance he knew that he should follow whatever it was that was luring him further into the fields because the energy he felt was warm and familiar, and it seemed Evelyn had felt it too.

He walked further, and to his surprise, in the middle of a large field of grass, surrounded by a circle of small hills, stood Evelyn, staring into the sky. The wind was calmer here. As if gently indicating to Maddox that his search was over. It was now gentle and caressing, like warm water flowing over his skin. Relief welled up inside of Maddox; he felt his heart pumping stronger and faster now that he knew his wife was safe from harm. He called out her name one last time, feeling the familiar and comforting word roll from his lips, knowing this time she would respond.

Her hair caught in the starlight and sparkled in waves of bright crimson as she turned her head to see that familiar face of Maddox.

"Isn't it beautiful Maddox?" She said.

Her radiant smile echoed that of the childlike wonder that they experienced when first learning about the splendor of magic. He could finally see the energy. It was difficult, and he had to squint his eyes, but there, right before Evelyn was a subtle fissure in the skyline. Admiration for this woman welled up inside of him. She was an angel. So incredible was her wonder for the strange piece of energy, and so brilliant was the sparkle in her eyes as she studied this new mystery.

"Do you remember what Arch Mage Ambriel said about the effects of great magic Maddox?"

Maddox tried to jog his memory, but he had not been as apt an apprentice as Evelyn. His focus had been more on the supple lines of her face. The way her skin wrinkled around her almond eyes when she smiled. As if she had read his mind, Evelyn smiled and continued with her thought.

"Magic, the energy of creation is just like a cello string. You can pluck it, and the harder you do, the greater the sound."

With that she brought her hand up to the air and started plucking her fingers as she would a cello. Wherever her fingers touched, a string of energy would appear and vibrate, sending off little waves of light as they did. "But just like the strings on a cello, if you pluck too hard..." and with this she tugged swiftly upon one of the strings of energy, and it snapped, scattering little droplets of light onto the grass where she stood.

"It breaks..."

Evelyn turned her head to the ground a shadow of sadness swept across her face.

"Some deep and powerful magic must have been done here to make such a large rift appear."

Maddox knew just how deeply connected Evelyn was to the celestial energy which she had devoted her life to studying and practicing. He walked over to her touching her shoulder. She closed her eyes and brought her hand across to his, and there was a pause, for that one moment where they stood together. Evelyn turned her head, the moonlight glimmered from the tears upon her eyes as she turned rapidly to embrace her husband.

"Darling, what is wrong? Why are you so upset?" He said, supporting her body as she found solace in his arms.

Evelyn stared up at him. "You still don't see it... you still don't understand." She turned away from him again, her eyes downcast. "If the old knowledge is true, and the magic that created this fissure is strong, then this will be our savior. This energy might be what we were looking for this entire time."

"What do you mean Evelyn?" Maddox said.

She looked up at the fissure glowing in the night sky, and looked back again at Maddox. "This is not just a rip in the celestial energy Maddox. This is a rip in the very fabric of the world, an empty space in the universe." Maddox continued to look at her blankly. He had not yet understood what they had found.

"It means we could be free Maddox. It means a safe haven where our people could hide from the evil that is tormenting this land. The evil that is after us as we speak."

Maddox was confused; Evelyn was talking in a way that frightened him. His heart lurched in his chest, as he felt a sharp force trying to pull him away from Evelyn.

"You don't mean to say... there is some way of using this rift? That you would wish to open it somehow?" Concern flooded his eyes, and he felt the same pulling sensation in his heart, even with Evelyn being close in his embrace.

Evelyn nodded, not wishing to address the gravity of such a question. Maddox continued. "But what would you do with this space Evelyn? You can open the rift, but where are all the people going to go? They will die in there. It is a place without substance, just an abyss that escapes space and time.

"But if we fill the void.... If we use magic to form substance where none was." Said Evelyn.

"What are you speaking of? Do you mean to say that you want to fill this space? With what, and by what means Evelyn?"

"A city maybe." Evelyn stared into the sky. "A grand city, the old forgotten city of Tulia possibly."

"Is that even possible?" Maddox questioned.

"I think so." Said Evelyn. "The empty space shares the same properties as that of our land, the only thing we need is a city... But that would require moving an entire piece of land into the..." She looked up at the fissure in the sky, not bothering to finish her thought.

"Evelyn." Maddox exclaimed. "Enough of this. Think rationally. How much energy would it take to perform a feat such as this? It would take too much power for any mage, you know what happens when you use more magic than your body is capable of. Death is the risk we all take when using magic, but what you are thinking of doing is suicide."

Evelyn was no longer present to consider her Husband's warning. Her head was far off in the night sky, chasing her thoughts as they shifted from star to star.

"Starlight."

She whispered it first, as if to test the idea on her lips. She looked back to Maddox, the idea growing in her head. "Starlight! Isn't it perfectly wonderful Maddox? We can use the energy from a star to transfer the city!" Evelyn's face lit up with joy.

Maddox grew more and more unsettled. When Evelyn had an idea she had an uncanny gift of weaving her magical energy into it, it was often such a strong force the idea would take on a life of its own. There was no stopping her now, and he knew that.

"Are you sure this will work Evelyn? How are you planning on grasping the stars energy?"

Evelyn smiled. "I won't be trying to absorb the energy of the star, I'll just be directing it into the fissure, giving me enough magic to create a new sanctuary for our people. A new Tulia."

Maddox pulled Evelyn closer and put his head against hers. "If you are sure about this, I will be here to help in any way I can."

Evelyn looked into her husband's eyes. "I am sure. This is the only solution to protect our people, we need to give them a home, a place where they feel safe to start over." Maddox kissed Evelyn, lingering on her lips as long as he could. He knew that, once they parted, the world of uncertainty which they were about to enter would envelope them. They pulled apart, and Maddox walked far off from the center of the glade, giving Evelyn space to concentrate on the difficult piece of magic she was about to cast.

Evelyn stood in the middle of the patch, closing her eyes again. Her breath was steady, and she felt calm and focused. Taking a moment, she said a prayer for the star she was about to use, thanking it for its energy. She wasn't sure how she would manage a piece of magic like this, only a dozen or so mages had made a pact that drew upon a stars light. It was no business to just trifle with. She tuned in to the world around her now. She could feel all the vibrations of life pulsing around her. Feeling these rhythms was like nothing else in the world. It was like tuning in to the very earth and becoming one with every part of it. She extended her consciousness out, feeling the earth radiate under her feet, feeling the birds hearts flutter in hers, and slowly, feeling all the tendrils of energy which were being radiated by the stars in the sky. She opened her eyes and grabbed at the air. A rope of light appeared where her hands touched. She tugged gently upon the rope and it hummed as it was pulled taught. Evelyn felt the rush of energy wash over her. It almost overwhelmed her, but she pushed through the feeling. The connection she had created with the star was like nothing she had ever felt before. Evelyn closed her eyes once more, focusing all her energy on the stars immense vibrations. She pulled the rope once more and this time, instead of tightening like she expected it to, the light was pulled into her hands, only now it was a small radiant blue ball of energy.

She cradled the star Cautiously. The energy now fluttered like that of a heartbeat. Strange is the magic in starlight, she thought, weary of just how immense and powerful the little orb in her hand was. It is not wise to meddle with starlight. Those were the words echoing in her mind from her teacher, Arch Mage Ambriel. When a star string is pulled, a connection is made to the mage who drew upon it, a connection that is very strong, and very mysterious... Even I could not tell you what would result from such magic.

It was a bond, which she had not made lightly, and she Evelyn prepared herself for whatever would happen when she released the starlight into the rift. This was for the good of her people. This is what she told herself as she walked closer to the fissure in the sky. This is why she had worked so tirelessly and practiced endlessly throughout her life, so she could protect the ones she loved. Her son's face appeared in her head, turning his innocent and curious gaze upon her, smiling at her as if she was actually seeing him in person. And Maddox. She looked back at her husband who was standing at the edge of the field fidgeting nervously. I am doing this for them. She thought to herself. They are the reason I live, they are my life, and I will do anything to give them the safety and comfort of a home.

Evelyn lifted up the orb and it floated level to her head. The connection was intense. Evelyn felt the power of the star, the overwhelming knowledge it was passing through her as she stood beneath the sky. Such knowledge and magic was ancient and beyond language, yet she now understood everything. There was no longer any need to guess or worry. The star had whispered its secrets, and now the way towards providing her people freedom was made clear. Evelyn put her hands on the orb and in an instance, the tiny ball formed into a javelin of pure light. The energy warmed her hands, and her heart was filled with the boundless energy of the star. She aimed at the fissure, and threw the light. It struck its mark perfectly. When the light found the rift all the energy contained within it exploded into the night. Maddox was blinded as the shockwave sent him sprawling against the tall grass. The rift glowed from the energy of the star, and then zipped up into the night, disappearing as if it were never there.

Everything became quiet. The wind still blew a warm and gentle breeze in the still night, and the grass still danced, unknowing of the change in the world. Maddox struggled to right himself after being pounded against the grass. His vision was useless; the bright light had temporarily blinded him. He used his hands to lift his body back up to standing, blinking his eyes repeatedly in order to bring the world back into his view. Maddox looked towards the place where the rift had been. The gentle shimmer that had once indicated its existence was now gone. He brought his sight down to the place where Evelyn had stood, but there was nothing. She was gone; and the night now felt empty and hollow. Maddox ran to the place where she had been just minutes ago. There was nothing. He turned frantically, trying to see if she had been knocked back by the shock as well. She was nowhere to be seen.

Evelyn!!!...

Evelyn!!!!....

Maddox called the name with all his might. But this time there would be no reply.