I know God. God of humans.
One day, all other gods shall know Him as well, via my blade.
✦ ✦ ✦
The Dragon Warrior specifically didn’t bow her head, but her attitude was quite close.
“Father, I have a request. I believe Her Grace wishes to soothe the human children. In fact, she has spoken of wanting to touch and talk with them. However, considering the incident the other day, she has instructed me to at least convey her sincerity...” No matter how she phrases it, there is no way for me to refuse the request if her intentions are true. But what to do? From my perspective as a priest, elven religion is pagan and heretical. I fail to understand why they worship a monstrous lizard. It is akin to sexual perversion in my mind. Thus, the elven Apostles should be public enemy number one... or so I thought.
What a pickle. Oh dear, oh dear.
The thousands of wind chimes floating into the evening sky are so beautiful. They’re almost like living things, ringing with the small Dragon Commander’s will. Their rings serenade me, fulfilling me. Their clear, high-pitched tones color the world.
Oh, and what’s this? Tens of large, impossible to describe objects are now rising. They swell! They are almost like church bells. Are they, in fact, living things? Whatever they are, they join in on the performance. Their low tones harmonize, supporting the high-pitched rings, enveloping them. The various tones weave together, creating a detailed and majestic scenery of sound... Oh... I can see it now! A spinning world of light; blinding, vast nature; harmony and peace between all things.
This is the elves’ aesthetic sense. This is the elves’ worldview.
“It is a thing to behold.” Indeed, Lord Willow. I can agree with that.
“If only we could smile and say that art knows no borders such as race.” Yes, so true. That is nothing to smile at there.
“The children are enjoying the show, though. And on the surface, it seems almost humorous.” Yes, Odysson. You speak the truth. If I could look up at this with an innocent heart, the graveness would be obscured and it would seem peculiar and comical. Each thing in the sky has eyes and noses, after all.
“But you guys see it, right? Those are all fairies and spirits. Yeesh, what crazy magic. That shit’s on the level of what Kuroi uses. It’s just in a different dimension. It’s enough to drive a man insane.” Indeed. Indeed.
What actually surrounds the Frontier is, in essence, the elves’ true power. The lizard king, projected via the Apostle... the Dragon God’s power.
Oh, dear. Lord Willow and Odysson have gone silent. Ah, and my lips have been glued shut as well. What pressure. I have no other way to describe it.
I can close my eyelids, but there is nothing for me to cover my ears with. Even if I used my hands, I have no defense for the thing penetrating my very soul... Heavens, what a beautiful, violent violation.
Yes... this is violence. No matter how cultural or wonderful it might be, this is violence. Why? Because within all of this wonderfulness, there is no place for humans. And not to mention this enormous magic. We humans are only allowed to watch, entranced as bystanders. Our awe is forced.
“...It is beautiful. Truly, truly beautiful.” I will admit that. Denial for the sake of denial is fool’s work.
“To affirm oneself, display proudly, and exist calmly... how I envy their culture. I cannot fathom being able to say, without hubris, that our race is the main character of this world.” Thus it is hard to accept for adults like us. It is unfair to remind us of such selfishness. We are so pathetically powerless, and the more we are reminded, the more our hearts wither and our tears rise, changing us humans into creatures of merely skin and bones, hope completely ripped up by the roots. We are afflicted with despair. The pain of our disease is such that the only way to bear it is to forfeit even the ability to think.
But the children are different. Yes, the children can honestly enjoy this. For now, they can still experience the world in brilliant color. Even if one day they, too, are broken, in this small moment they can find joy. And this is all the more reason we must endeavor for revolution.
“We should be beautiful as well.” Well said, Lord Willow. Stole the words out of my mouth.
“It will not happen overnight. However, we can continue to seek it.” What a surprise. Those words. That profile. Has he already made his decision regarding his family?
“Well, it ain’t gotta be us, neither.” Hm, Odysson’s gaze is quite serene. I can guess what he’s about to say next.
“It’s the theory of exploration. Those who dig and clear the way are the ones who get dirty. It’s even okay if they fall. The ones who follow behind them can continue on. And, one day, they’ll reach something pretty. That’s when we win. To those that come after, the beauty becomes normal.” What thrilling theory. It makes me want to risk my life for progress. Odysson, you are already doing this, so it’s no wonder you can smile so widely. Oh, and Lord Willow is smiling similarly... Oh, oh! And me as well, possibly.
Very well. Let us enjoy the elves’ beauty for now. Let us indulge our hearts and bodies in the numbness. But in our hearts, we shall hold our determinations true. After all, we have... Huh?
Lady Kuroi? Everyone is frozen, and yet she’s running... to the top of the tower? To the flag? Resisting the siren’s call of the beautiful scene and sounds, her sharp gaze faces the west. Purple blends into the sky, signaling the start of night.
It can’t be.
No... perhaps it is? The sounds falter. No, they are interrupted. By physical means. Are those throwing stones speckling the western sky? Hundreds of them fly through the air, crashing into the wind chimes. What chaos.
The music is in disarray, but the stones... they don’t fall. Is it due to the wind chimes? Are they taking the stones with them as they disappear?
“Hey! Look!”
“Yes, I see.” The falcons take flight, as well as the elven flyers. The high-pitched sounds of flutes flutter. The ominous sounds tear at my soul.
“Mobilize the army. Everyone on horseback.”
“We have no other choice. The elven army is by the destroyed north gate. The west gate is usable as well. Blockade the south gate and make a path of retreat through the east gate.” The gates, earthen walls, and wood fences. These are the things that separated the outside from the inside and protected us daily. But against elves and these new opponents, they lose their meaning even as symbols.
“Sorcerer, evacuate the citizens.”
“Leave it to me. But if it comes to it, I’m fighting back, too.”
“If you must, then do it as a combined force as much as possible.”
“Please, I burned the long ears. The yellow eyes will stand no chance.” My fellows are very reliable. When the time comes, I shall wield a spear as well. I can only do my best and then leave the rest to God. No path is more suitable for one of the Faith.
“Father, make sure you talk to the long ears. I’ve gotten used to crazy situations, but even I don’t wanna be fighting two enemies at once.”
“...How heroic.”
“Leave it to me. Even if my tongue is pulled out, I shall finish my negotiations.” We smile quickly at each other, then split off to see to our duties. There is no telling when, or if, the three of us will gather together again. Perhaps we shall all die tonight.
But we have Lady Kuroi. She blesses us with her presence. What, then, is there to be afraid of?
It is time for battle. The elves and the vampires shall fight upon this stage known as the human frontier.