Chapter 1 -Freedom
by academics03
Celeste sat at her desk by the window watching the clouds float by. Sometimes they took on the forms of animals from the stories she read, and sometimes they were simply puffy white shapes, like giant pillows drifting across a vast sea of blue. She often spent much of her time at this spot daydreaming about all the things Meryl had taught her and the stories she told of the outside world. The sky made a wonderful screen to let her mind wander easier.Sadly there was little else Celeste could do to pass the time.
She had little contact with anyone and no contact with the world outside her own window. Even the birds did not flutter too closely to her window; they avoided proximity as if they had been ordered not to have contact with the lonely girl against the glass.
Celeste lived in a tower that rose above the trees of the surrounding forest, as if it were the tallest tree reaching up out of an endless expanse of green. By order of the Elder she was forbidden to leave, even to learn of the world for it was a dangerous place and a Talent like Celeste did not belong among the jealous and lower beings, though sometimes Celeste wondered if anyone would really be able to tell her apart from other citizens with her long, straight, deep-black hair, amber eyes and child-like features. They seemed commonplace traits.
Talents were a very rare occurrence. They were people who could use magic without the use of charms or enhancers, so a Talent like Celeste would be well-sought after for other’s personal gains, which is why she was raised in the safety of the tower from birth. To be a Talent meant to be desired and envied by many, and to never find peace in the outside world. Her world, now until the day she passed, would be this room with its bed, aged wooden furniture, and solitary window reminding her of just how far away life outside was to her.
Celeste straightened up as the bedroom door opened and Meryl walked in carrying laundry. She placed it on Celeste’s trunk and sighed at the pile of books on top. “Celeste, I gave you these books because you wanted some-thing to do. If I knew you were going to use them for decoration then I wouldn’t have risked the Elder’s wrath to give them to you.”
“I am sorry Meryl, I have been…distracted lately.” Celeste replied. “I cannot just read about the world anymore, I wish to see it.”
Meryl walked over and placed her hand on Celeste’s shoulder, saying nothing.“Meryl why can’t I leave the tower, I would only go as far as the gates.”
“Because the Elder won’t allow it.”
“Why not?”
“I’m forbidden to speak of it Celeste, you know that.”Celeste turned to her. To Celeste, Meryl appeared more worn with each passing year despite her normal, wispy appearance. Her long, crinkling blue hair held none of its former luster than the year before while her violet eyes no longer shone with life or joy, and her plain white servant’s dress almost appeared to hang loosely about her frail form.
“What would happen if you told?”
“I cannot, I’m bound by my Oath.”Celeste returned to the window where a flock of birds soared across the sky giving Celeste’s window no second look.
“Meryl you are a Spiss, so that means you have great powers right?”
“Not great, but why?”
“Does that mean you can fly?”
Meryl nodded and held up the blue-gold necklace. “Yes, but only with the help of this. It’s powerful enough to give any magical being the ability to fly, among other things.”
“What’s it like?” Celeste asked.
Meryl stared out the window over Celeste’s shoulder with a warm smile. “It’s wonderful…if I wasn’t bound by the Elder to remain in the tower then I would go out more. I’d fly across De’haia Ocean and see what was there. After traveling for so many years of my life, it has been a struggle to remain here for as long as I have.”
The Spiss are a race of human-like beings – familiars who often survive through forming partnerships with other powerful beings. Through these, Bindings, Spiss unavoidably curse themselves, once a Spiss fulfills its full Oath, it fades from existence. Sadly, a Spiss is only truly powerful in servitude, almost creating a psychological need for a Spiss to be Bound.
“Would you bring me back trinkets from your trip?” Celeste asked.Meryl sighed and lowered her head. “There’s not enough time for that now.”
“Why not? It doesn’t have to be right this moment, or even today, just when the Elder allows you to leave.” Celeste replied confused.Meryl didn’t respond. She stared distantly out the room door awhile.“Meryl?”
“I’m sorry Celeste, I was thinking. I might have left some things downstairs, I’ll come back.” Meryl left the room, forgetting to close the door in her hurry to leave.
“I wonder what she forgot. Celeste said.Her curiosity got the best of her and she followed Meryl’s path down the hallway and down the spiral staircase to the third floor where Meryl stayed. She started to walk onto the landing, but the sound of voices further downstairs caught her attention. She recognized one raspy voice as the Elder, but the other was new, deeper, and colder, it bothered her but she still desired to know who it was so she crept slowly down the carpeted stairs until the voices became abruptly louder and she couldn’t get any closer without being seen.
“—yes, just as she was told.” The Elder finished.
“Good, we’ll return then.”
The other replied.“How soon?”
“Soon,” They responded with a snappish tone. “Be patient! You’ll get your due soon enough.”
“Well I can’t help impatience. I’ve waited ages for this.”
“That’s because the others weren’t good enough – they weren’t the right kind.”
“And you’re certain this one is?” The Elder asked. “Because I didn’t raise—”
“You are very loud,” the man cut him off. “As an ‘Elder’ I’d figure you had enough sense to mind your surroundings.”
“There are only two others here, the Spiss is unimportant and the Talent never descends past the fifth floor. She has no reason to.”
“Hm,” the man replied. “We are done here, so show me outside.”As Celeste heard the sound of footsteps leaving, she, too, decided it was time to leave.‘Who was that man?’ she wondered. ‘What was he coming back for later?’ None of it made sense, but it wasn’t Celeste’s business. If she really wanted to know, then she’d just have to find out when the man returned.
Celeste returned to the third floor and stopped, Meryl’s door was cracked open at the end of the hall, she could see Meryl’s back.‘I wonder if Meryl knows who that man was.’ She wondered. Meryl was caretaker after all, and had been working for the Elder for years. She would have to know something. When Celeste got closer she realized that Meryl was sobbing slightly, something she’s only done once before.
“I’d rather die…” She moaned. “I’d rather die then do it! Haven’t I done enough?”
“Do what?” Celeste asked walking into the room. “Is something wrong?”
Meryl jumped in surprise and spun around. “Celeste! Oh, you scared me! Why aren’t you in your room?”
“I heard you crying, may I help you?”
Meryl sniffled and shook her head. “No I’m fine just…just a little, preoccupied.”
“Oh, alright,” Celeste replied and Meryl turned her back on Celeste to work.“Meryl, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Is the Elder planning some sort of get-together?”
“No.”
“Oh, because I heard him talking about something happening soon.”
“What?” Meryl stopped suddenly, “with whom?”
“Some man…do you know him?”
Meryl paused, and there was a clatter, then she resumed clearing the table.
“No, I’ve never heard about any man.” Then she stopped again and turned to Celeste. “Celeste, I’m sorry but you have to go back to your room. I have too much work to do and if the Elder should see you…”Celeste nodded and left. As she did, Meryl closed the door and Celeste could hear her sobbing once more.
0 comments in discussion |
add comment
'Chapter 1 -Freedom' statistics: (click to read)
