10-26-2016, 04:06 PM
Fascinated to watch him study his likeness, Valeriya stepped forward to relay the tale of each Eye from the beginning of the Descent from Above to now. However, before she could begin, they were interrupted by a pair of monks.
She turned, keeping her chin elevated and her eyes square. Her hands were clear of the stilettos strapped to her thighs, but her posture was guarded anyway.
They were both garbed with long brown robes with dingy ropes tied at the waist. From the fraying ends dangled teeth and claws that swayed around their knees with each bold stride. The echo of the waterfall from a distant chamber, the temple, which she had yet to show to Regus, silenced their speech until they were nearer. This was the throne room, and she considered leaving Regus's side to place herself upon the worn and weathered chair. She remained in place, instead.
The hoods of both robes were pulled above each man's head, but if they were pushed away, then the short sheen of fuzzed scalps would be seen. It was a sin for men to have long hair, luckily, the women were exempt. Valeriya's was currently a tangle of black straw, and like the robes of her brother monks, decorated with bits of bone, claw, and teeth throughout.
The first man was older, and his face was etched with deep lines around the mouth and eyes. The second man was younger, an apprentice someday to take his place, but with an affect just as stern as his master's.
"The Eye sees,"
the first beckoned with a deep bow of the head before her. Valeriya responded, "the Eyes knows,"
automatically, but she kept her wits sharp. These two were almost as dangerous as the oni.
"Brother Illarion told us to come immediately, but would not say why. Marat held his tongue,"
the man leered sickly. It had been his knife that severed Marat's tongue from his head. Voluntarily of course. Marat had tried to accomplish it himself in the Awakening, but the severing was too difficult. He needed assistance.
When the monk pointed at Regus, the scrutiny in his eyes was not hid by the depths of his cowl. He saw the burns, ash and singed hair, but by the look on his face that was all he saw. Unlike Valeriya, he did not see the sloping cheekbones or bright blue eyes.
"None of the Above are allowed in the Sacred. The Eye should know this. We were wrong to elevate you, as I have always said."
Valeriya's lips pursed tight. There was a poison in his words, and given his knowledge, Valeriya would not be surprised if he dipped his fingers in poison to feed to her. She was safe, however. She rounded the pair, going to the distant wall, the area carved by the first Eye.
She touched a face carved into the wall. He was long and thin, wearing robes and a rope around his waist. His hair was thick tangle, his eyes penetrating. "The Great One, Grigori Rasputin, saved us by preparing a sacred dwelling before the great battles of Above. When our Glorious Father perished, his children became the Eye, and we awaited his return."
She touched the faces carved by the generations of Eyes to follow. Until she circled back to them and ended at her own. The two monks watched, but did not interrupt the sacred words. They'd heard all this before.
"When he does, he will see us Above and all will be saved or all will perish. They will Awaken or they will die."
She lovingly touched the cheeks of the carving, staring into his eyes like the rock knew she was its mother.
Finally, she turned, and pointed at Regus. "That time has come. I present to you, Regus, the Great One. Our Glorious Father. Rasputin, returned. The Eye has seen. The Eye knows."
The older monk stepped forward, eyes wide with surprise, as he examined the carving and compared it to the living face before him. Finally, he and his apprentice knelt before Regus and bowed their heads. They chanted sacred words and kissed the ground in front of his feet. Valeriya watched with satisfaction, arms folded across her chest.
The elder monk finally rose, "You are wounded Great One. I can treat you."
He offered his hands to point the way to his chamber where they would find some of the only cushions in the Dwelling. It was where each of them went to either live or die during the Awakening. Valeriya rounded on Regus, "Go with him, Regus. He will not harm you,"
she gestured at his hands. They were blackened, gnarled and scarred. The nails were empty beds from kneading slime that eroded them away. The skin was dyed and burnt by mixing acids and smearing salves. The apprentice was nursing his hands as well, and had not yet shown any of them their current state.
"I must remove my attire, it is a sin."
She told him, sweeping a hand along her leather-clad body. "We will present you to the rest of the Khylsty in the temple afterward."
Edited by Valeriya, Oct 26 2016, 08:37 PM.
She turned, keeping her chin elevated and her eyes square. Her hands were clear of the stilettos strapped to her thighs, but her posture was guarded anyway.
They were both garbed with long brown robes with dingy ropes tied at the waist. From the fraying ends dangled teeth and claws that swayed around their knees with each bold stride. The echo of the waterfall from a distant chamber, the temple, which she had yet to show to Regus, silenced their speech until they were nearer. This was the throne room, and she considered leaving Regus's side to place herself upon the worn and weathered chair. She remained in place, instead.
The hoods of both robes were pulled above each man's head, but if they were pushed away, then the short sheen of fuzzed scalps would be seen. It was a sin for men to have long hair, luckily, the women were exempt. Valeriya's was currently a tangle of black straw, and like the robes of her brother monks, decorated with bits of bone, claw, and teeth throughout.
The first man was older, and his face was etched with deep lines around the mouth and eyes. The second man was younger, an apprentice someday to take his place, but with an affect just as stern as his master's.
"The Eye sees,"
the first beckoned with a deep bow of the head before her. Valeriya responded, "the Eyes knows,"
automatically, but she kept her wits sharp. These two were almost as dangerous as the oni.
"Brother Illarion told us to come immediately, but would not say why. Marat held his tongue,"
the man leered sickly. It had been his knife that severed Marat's tongue from his head. Voluntarily of course. Marat had tried to accomplish it himself in the Awakening, but the severing was too difficult. He needed assistance.
When the monk pointed at Regus, the scrutiny in his eyes was not hid by the depths of his cowl. He saw the burns, ash and singed hair, but by the look on his face that was all he saw. Unlike Valeriya, he did not see the sloping cheekbones or bright blue eyes.
"None of the Above are allowed in the Sacred. The Eye should know this. We were wrong to elevate you, as I have always said."
Valeriya's lips pursed tight. There was a poison in his words, and given his knowledge, Valeriya would not be surprised if he dipped his fingers in poison to feed to her. She was safe, however. She rounded the pair, going to the distant wall, the area carved by the first Eye.
She touched a face carved into the wall. He was long and thin, wearing robes and a rope around his waist. His hair was thick tangle, his eyes penetrating. "The Great One, Grigori Rasputin, saved us by preparing a sacred dwelling before the great battles of Above. When our Glorious Father perished, his children became the Eye, and we awaited his return."
She touched the faces carved by the generations of Eyes to follow. Until she circled back to them and ended at her own. The two monks watched, but did not interrupt the sacred words. They'd heard all this before.
"When he does, he will see us Above and all will be saved or all will perish. They will Awaken or they will die."
She lovingly touched the cheeks of the carving, staring into his eyes like the rock knew she was its mother.
Finally, she turned, and pointed at Regus. "That time has come. I present to you, Regus, the Great One. Our Glorious Father. Rasputin, returned. The Eye has seen. The Eye knows."
The older monk stepped forward, eyes wide with surprise, as he examined the carving and compared it to the living face before him. Finally, he and his apprentice knelt before Regus and bowed their heads. They chanted sacred words and kissed the ground in front of his feet. Valeriya watched with satisfaction, arms folded across her chest.
The elder monk finally rose, "You are wounded Great One. I can treat you."
He offered his hands to point the way to his chamber where they would find some of the only cushions in the Dwelling. It was where each of them went to either live or die during the Awakening. Valeriya rounded on Regus, "Go with him, Regus. He will not harm you,"
she gestured at his hands. They were blackened, gnarled and scarred. The nails were empty beds from kneading slime that eroded them away. The skin was dyed and burnt by mixing acids and smearing salves. The apprentice was nursing his hands as well, and had not yet shown any of them their current state.
"I must remove my attire, it is a sin."
She told him, sweeping a hand along her leather-clad body. "We will present you to the rest of the Khylsty in the temple afterward."
Edited by Valeriya, Oct 26 2016, 08:37 PM.
The Eye of the Khylsty