User blog:Pollux83/Beyond Light and Darkness, Chapter 7

Chapter Overview

7 Hope



For a while I forgot the worries of the world and weeks of happiness went by. Only me and Lara were important, because it was almost time. Not long now and we would be three.



Since the birth was imminent I had vacation and was home when it was time. Lara was in labor. I suggested carrying her to the hospital, but she refused. At least until the next contraction. I carried her on my hands to the hospital, where she immediately looked after her. I held her hand all the time.



It lasted over an hour but then she was there. We were so proud when our little Eleana was finally born. Holding her little hand filled me with pure joy. Lara and I were infinitely happy. We had become parents. We were a family. Not longer a couple. Now we was three.



We were not prepared for what followed. You would not believe how much trouble makes a baby. Babies really have a talent to scream at the most unsuccessful moment. Lara and I could not sleep for days. Without our friends and family, we probably despair. The months went by and Eleana grew every day. She learned to crawl and her favorite pastime was to drive her father crazy. As soon as I had turned around, she was already somewhere else and did mischief. She had to have that from her mother. Thanks to my special status in the barracks, I had enough time to play househusband. Meanwhile Lara worked half-day in the smithy. We shared the work as often as we could. But whenever I looked at Eleana's laughing face, I had to think about the uncertain future that awaits her.





It was a normal day and I was playing with Eleana. She was so incredibly cute and no matter what she had just done, a laugh from her enough to forgive her. A child's laugh, so pure and innocent, that it filled the soul with pure light. "Of course, why did not I think about it earlier!” I beamed with joy. I looked at Eleana's face and she smiled back. "You give papa a great idea." I cuddled her vigorously. Eleana just laughed. She was too cute.



I told Lara about my idea. She seemed a bit skeptical, because she had seen my obsession in the library, but I could convince her that she did not need to worry about me. Now that I knew what I was looking for, I had success in the library after a few weeks. The only thing that was missing was the necessary equipment and to get that, I had to speak with the king. Surprisingly, I got an audience after just a few days.





<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">In the throne room. "Your majesty." I knelt down. "Stand up. You are this talented magician who serves in the city barracks. I'm right?" "You did." "I've heard a lot about you. Mareus is your name, right?" "Yes." "So well, Mareus. What brings you to me? It must be important." "It is your majesty. You know that Lescatie has fallen. One of the greatest empires of the Order. Since then there is fear on the streets. Everyone is unsure if humanity can win this war." "I know and I worry too. My family has ruled this country for many generations, but there has never been such a danger in history." He looked at me with a worried face.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"The following I tell you in confidence. I suppose I can count on your silence?" "You can." "Well. I am the king, but I have doubts too. Niskara has always taken a neutral attitude in this war, but I do not know if that was the right decision. The Order or the monsters. Choose one side does not seem right to me. But perhaps we have no choice at all. What do you think? Should Niskara remain neutral?" "I do not know if I can decide that." "You will not. This remains my duty. But you were already dealing with Mamono, monsters and the Order. So I want to hear your opinion." "As you wish." I had to think about the right words.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"I do not know much about the monsters that the Order is fighting, but if they are like the monsters here, then you will not be able to talk to them. They are stubborn and selfish. The traders of the Mamono are not so. Yes, they are also monsters, but they do not behave like that. You can talk to them as with a human being. Unfortunately, they are exceptions. I do not know much about the Order itself. But I know their attitude towards Mamono. And towards humans. In the Order there are noble knights who would give their lives for a beggar, but also fanatics without a conscience." I breathed out deep. "No, I do not know. If I had the choice, I would not want to choose a side." "I understand. I thank you for your honesty."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"So, Mareus. Why did you come to me?" "It is a bit complicated." "Then explain it to me. You shall have as much time as you need." "Thank you very much. After the fall of Lescatie, I was looking for a way to stop the corruption. Surely you know that the demonic energy of the Mamono gradually corrupts a person's spiritual energy." "Yes, I am aware of that." "The problem is that so far no one has found an effective way to stop this process or even reverse it. Only white magic seems to have an effect, but only in acute or mild cases. I have read many books in the library and I have a theory why." "I hear."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"Demonic energy is closely related to black magic, but it is not the same thing. Demonic energy is essentially different from black magic. So if you try to counteract demonic energy with normal white magic, then the attempt must fail. It's like fighting fire with sand instead of water. It works, but not in every case." "So what do you suggest?" "What we need is a special form of white magic. It must be especially pure. The basis of this magic must be the positive counterpart to the negative demonic energy. What we need is pure "holy" energy." "Holy energy?"

<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"Yes. But you can not just go to a paladin for it. Also a paladin uses spiritual energy for his spells. The energy must be absolutely pure. I suppose that angels have such energy, but if it were so simple, the Order would have done it long ago." "Probably. What's your plan?" "After a long search, I found a blueprint of a machine. An ancient machine. I needed something for the translation, but the text say that you can use this machine to collect energy. Any kind of energy." "That sounds interesting." "I was the same opinion. As far as I can judge it, the blueprints are complete. So it should be possible to rebuild the machine." "I hear a but." "Yes. It seemed to be a problem with the machine. Exactly there, however, the records end. What is certain is that the machine has worked." "Do you know something exact?" "No. Either something has gone wrong while copying the book or the texts have been missing from the beginning. The translation itself is also not easy. Unfortunately, I'm not an expert for this. Whatever it was, that was the reason why the plans were rejected."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"That does not sound good." "I know. But I am sure that with today's resources we are able to solve the problems. The real problem are the materials we need. Many of them are extremely rare or expensive ... or both. That is why I came to you." "You seem to be convinced." "I have to." I paused. I looked with a serious look at the king. "I can not watch the world fall slowly into darkness. I can not just wait and do nothing. There must be a possibility. There must be a way to stop the corruption and end this war."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"I think so too. There must be a way. For if there were none, all would be in vain and any hope is lost. This must not happen. The hope must not die. Because hope is what leads us through the darkest hours and we need it today more than ever. I'll have to think about everything for a while. I'll deal with the recordings you've found and let you know when I've made a decision." "I understand. Thank you your majesty." "You do not have to. If your plan is successful, then I'll be the one who must thank you."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The audience was over and I left the throne room. I breathed deeply. It had gone better than I expected. Now I just had to wait for his decision. For two long weeks I waited impatiently. Then came a messenger with the decision of the king. After consulting with his ministers, he had agreed with my plan. I should build the machine. I was overjoyed. The first hurdle was taken. But from now on the really hard part began.