CHAPTER 178: THE SEALED BEATIFIC (ALETHA: PART 35)

(20 years before the War of the Wish)

"Ever wondered what’s on the peak?" A quaint, young feminine voice uttered as the waves toll in. "I heard that if you reach it, your wish will come true!"

What replaced the destructive spectacle of the remnants of Alai’s house was none other than a beautiful grassy shoreline, a peak, and two children.

One was in their mid tens, while the other was in their twelves. They appeared to be situated on a shore. Of course, Aletha couldn’t intervene or even touch the earth; all she could do was watch.

(What is going on?" She said in her mind, "Is this a dream?")

The child in their ten had bright, shimmering dark hair hanging from the waist with vivid azure eyes.

While the child in their twelves had soft green hair with golden eyes.

Both of them traced pictures on the sandy shore with the waves passing by over and over. The sun hung bright in the sky like a lightbulb, and the tall peak shimmered a heavenly radiance. It casts its glow in the beaming blue sky while a castle situated itself around the peak. What stood near the peak was a small, bustling town with few people in-between. All seemed to be well and happy in Linuxinia.

Now, the girl had a deep affection for the boy. It wasn’t that severe nor was it weak; It was an affection that was built because of their tiny little adventures around the forests of Linuxinia and the beaches. But not once have they set foot on the ’bridge’ situated at the northern most part of Linuxinia, for which the parents share the terrors of bringing great troubles and to a nation far gone.

"Yes, I have heard about it." The boy said as he drew a star-like shape on the peak inscription. "Mother said not to go up there."

"I know." The girl retorted. "But could you imagine what would happen if OUR dreams have gone true?"

"I can. And I wish. I wish for..."

"Don’t say it!" The girl said as she hushed the boy up. "Let’s keep it a surprise. Until we actually go up there."

The boy replied. "Understood."

"Promise?" The girl asked with cute eyes, leaning her fingers to him.

After taking a moment to deeply breathe in and out, he nodded his head and caged his pinky with her pinky, saying....

"I promise." The green-haired boy said as they returned back to the subject matter at hand. "Don’t you think it’s time to go home? It’s getting late..."

"Yeah yeah, fine! Just a little longer." With attentive eyes, the girl leaned on the boy’s shoulders and stared into the sunset romantically. "Let’s see if our wishes can come true."

As the boy’s eyes coasted to the shimmering peak of Linuxinia, one was driven to wonder... "What could possibly be up there?"

. . .

(10 years before the War of the Wish)

Suddenly, the vision flickered on and off, replacing the sight of crimson hills and desolate valleys before diverting spectacles back to the lush green mountains and vivid shores.

They appeared a lot older now, returning to the sand tracks they have made years ago. As one leaned down near the shoreline, while waves passed down side to side, the boy, now in his teens, began muttering stuff underneath his breath.

"This is the very spot where I first met you, Adeline." He muttered as he stared into the vast azure horizon glittering underneath the sun’s vivid glow.

"Very well, Sergil... This is definitely the place where we first met." Her voice was a little deeper, more mature now that time has passed. Despite her maturity, she had her inner child erupt back at her, seeing the same golden horizon glitter in the distance. As they set their foot prints onto the shore, a sudden vision intruded upon this happy memory.

. . .

Sights of fire and lava. Sights of blood and guts. The sounds of a screeching dragon filled the area. Just before blue strands came by, another vision invaded the space.

. . .

(5 Years before the War of the Wish)

"Aww, come now Kali. Isn’t he your... destined partner? Green hair, golden eyes? You almost match if it wasn’t for that mole on your lip."

Now there was a huge problem when it came to relationships with Sergil. The supposed destined partner had always been Kali, even if Adeline didn’t want it to be that way. It had always been pointed out by the prophecies of Alaunus and how this ’destined’ relationship would sprout into being, bringing forth a new future for the nation of Linuxinia. But Sergil was entirely skeptical.

"I don’t want this, dad." Said Sergil as he fixed his crown. "Not her."

"Come on now. You’re the King of Linuxinia. This is your perfect match."

Although quite charming, nothing really rang a bell in Kali Leila; mainly because she had never seen Sergil before. This, plus the peer pressure they had forced the two to love each other, made them all the more suspicious. Adeline, though distant, watched the wedding from the side lines, sneering at Kali with hints of murderous intent. None wore a smile on their face. Even as King and the proposed new Queen, deep inside they weren’t compatible. Moreover, when the wedding finally took its toll, Sergil did the impossible.

"That’s it dad, I QUIT!" He hollered at him as he threw the crown into the dirt. "Forget loving Kali, I want to live in the shadows." Before he vanished into the distance, Kali blushed with embarrassment, trying desperately not to rejoice in the fact that they don’t have to be together anymore.

But besides that, she couldn’t escape the temptation of ruling the castle and every inch of Linuxinia. So, from now on, she was deemed as Queen of Linuxinia rather than Princess of Linuxinia.

(4 years before the War of the Wish)

Meanwhile, in the wild, Sergil met Adeline with inviting eyes and with zero hesitation, kissed her with both lips and whispered after the mind-breaking event, years lost to time.

"Look, Adeline. I... have to admit. Now that I’m older, I have to say... I love you."

After all the years of having a deep adoration for him, Adeline pushed her dark hair to the side and...

"I love you too!" Expressed her as she recollected the moments in the sand. "And don’t gatekeep yourself with age. I loved you the first time I met you."

"Really?" Asked Sergil as he pushed his green hair back.

"Of course!"

These moments, plus the secrets of the forest, caused their love to reel close.

Before departing thence to the city, they chose to live in a small village.

Now, the journey to that village was a rollercoaster of a series of trials. First they met a troll, then they moved onward up a sizable waterfall, almost falling to their deaths.

Lastly, they approached a tall peak. With all the experience they had, Adeline taught Sergil how to climb, and after a few weeks of climbing expeditions, they decided to climb the wall leading into a happy humble village.

Luckily what met them was welcoming individuals, who situated them inside a tree house at the center of the block.

Beyond the walls, the luminance atop the peak shone like the sun, bringing an invitation to anyone daring enough to scale the mountain. Not just the sun, but also the vivid city encircling the peak; the capital of Linuxinia.

"That right there... is the peak of Linuxinia." Said a man with fair age as Sergil and Adeline took their leave away from the village. "I have heard that back in ancient times, The Prism of Creation brought an invitation to the people below. But that climb is far dangerous and perilous. It is a struggle to reach that peak I tell you. Nearly impossible in fact."

After being told that, the two decided to dwell on one more year.

Now, the two have lived happily for a while with the people in Clearstar village.

At the time, the village was uprooted from the earth; exposed to everyone that had eyes to see.

At first, they were just a humble couple living within the village.

But as time grew on, and opportunities rose, the two chose to be the center of attention.

(3 Years before the War of the Wish.)

They were at their best, being trained enough to sweat and climb.

Adeline went with the offer of knight training while Sergil chose to go on climbing expeditions to ease up his skill. It was nigh on impossible to ever reach Adeline’s climbing skill at such a short amount of time. But his training was sufficient enough, and so he pursued his passion to climb while Adeline had cheered him on in the background. All was happy and joyful as the sun smiled on everyone below.

But all wasn’t well... When he decided to return to the Linuxinia capital, a horrible illness befell on his father. He was hit with age, and coughed so much that he passed.

Then his mother, sick beyond repair, coughed up her final words to Sergil, while Adeline stood in front of the guards, wondering what was going on.

"My son," She said with haggard breathing. "Climb the mountain. Fulfill as the new King and trust Kali with all your heart... and soul." With those final words, Sergil watched as both his parents passed on.

Tears started to well up silently in his eyes. Tears of bloodshed, and loss. But that didn’t nullify their urge to climb.

Adeline asked if she could comfort him and without hesitation, he took up the offer and she decided to comfort him as he cried in agony, watching everyone he loved die by the hands of the illness.

(2 years before the War of the Wish)

After several years, the final test was bound to unfold. A test of love and strength. A test of courage and wit.

Sergil and Adeline returned to the Linuxinian capital. The Queen of Linuxinia was nowhere to be seen. Only the two and the ill people of the capital. Everyone was getting sick.

And then, with all the cumulative strength they got from their training, the two started to take their ascent.

They started with rapid movements, skidding on the rock and scaling a ledge. Then it started to escalate, with thunder and lightning enveloping the scene. As they pass, they watch as rocks slip off the ledge, their arms start to quiver, and their legs start to stifle. But that had not bothered them, for they were strong while being together.

It had been a journey.

A long, grueling journey. Of forced love and true love.

One that has tested every bone.

Alas, as they scaled the final stretch of the mountain, they finally clambered to the very top; The summit, the peak of Linuxinia.

At that moment, an explosion of light, energy, and warmth enveloped the two, who were exhausted and ready to give up.

But, in a moment of clarity, they stood up straight and were surprised to find themselves at the very top, staring out towards the vast expanse of the horizon.

At that moment, standing in front of a strange glass prism, Sergil thought about his parents.

How he was forced to be in love with Kali, when in truth, he wanted Adeline and none else. Following these saddened thoughts, he remembered the shore line and how it resembled the barrier of success and love.

Then to the wedding, where he threw his crown on the ground, in pursuit for real happiness. This, mixed in with his fragmented thoughts, caused him to utter his deepest wishes.

"I wish for happiness and love to everyone in Linuxinia."

Afterward, a brilliant flash of light emitted from the glass prism.

"YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND." Said the strange floating object as it folds into itself. Following this brilliant light, came a green luminance that shone and opened a hole in the clouds.

(0 years before the War of the Wish.)

Crimson. Death, Suffocation.

The air was choking to breathe. The once brilliant light that shone among the spectacle of Linuxinia crumbled. Adeline was nowhere to be seen. Sergil was at its breaking point in age.

A green luminance caressed around his very existence, coiling into shades of lime and purple. A devastating blow hit the peak as the wish, not from the wish from the King of Linuxinina, but the King of Obrus, had been granted.

Once he made that wish, nothing was right.

What stood at the center of the peak was a cat girl with bright lavender-green hair. Her green dress fluttered in the wind, holding the hands of none other than Sergil. A dragon encircled the peak. It seemed that all things came full circle.

Both of them utilized their green power and formed a root that expanded heavily in the expanse.

"For the people of Linuxinia." He said as he clenched his hands tightly at the girl.

"For the nation of Happiness." She expressed with attentive ears.

What followed was a giant green shockwave that shattered the earth below in a whirlwind.

The soil was peeled away as gunfire and magic spells and curses and weapons doomed the world underneath.

A pulsating heart-like object was formed, replacing the grassy hills with an even taller mountain. A hub that connects everything like brain cells.

Sergil, after holding Kali one last time, jumped bravely into the green luminance and took his own life with it.

The dragon encircling the peak screeched as it watched Sergil’s body attach to the heart-like thing like a leech.

All rocks encased the castle, villages crumbled beneath, and the forests sank into the very depths.

Not even Sergil could escape.

The soil covered the roots like a blanket. Then grassy patches formed with trees extending, lakes and rivers.

Instead of dying with a frown, Sergil passed with a grieving smile, knowing that his final wishes took in affect.

Tsunamis formed after the impact as the old mountain collapsed, and the new one rose. Roots began to expand to every corner of the nation before the crimson sky opened up and unveiled a blue tint escaping out to the rest of the world.

Although not having loved Kali for a while, there was no other choice for Sergil.

Sergil, getting consumed by the green luminance, grabbed hold of Kali. She couldn’t help but to well up tears of sorrow and remorse. Not for his forced love, but for everyone and herself.

They felt that it was destined to happen, to be in love with someone that can’t fathom adoration. Adeline was lost, nowhere to be found. Which urged Sergil to go with Kali, even though he hated her.

But that never stopped them from being friends.

Sure, there have been many instances of fake love floating around them, but in truth, they only wanted to be allies.

Kali and Sergil, feeling like the world was on them, stared at the world as the sky became bright, blue, and radiant, replacing the once crimson atmosphere with a hopeful hue.

Then, finally, as a tearful smile fell on his lips, Sergil let go and died peacefully, staring up at the heavens, holding onto the heart-like figure as he got sealed in rock.

All Kali could do was stand in utter shock and stare at the heart-shaped object pulsating at the top. Her partner was now lost, leaving herself and the victims alone.

As she stood at the very edge of a cliff, with nothing but a mere thread to keep her from falling, a massive, titanic magenta eye of a dragon stared her down with an inquisitive look.

"Ah, don’t befall to such weakness. I know better for you to just simply allow you to perish. You are our bright and morning star, the ruler of Linuxininia. And with it, we shall deem this, as a new beginning. A new city for the nation of Happiness. We shall call this power of joy, The Sealed Beatific. This shall be my prophecy." The giant dragon uttered as it reshaped the nation below. "For this is my inscription; A strong girl shall swoop in and claim the mountain below. Come now, Queen of Linuxinia. Don’t bow down to such matters. Secure the land below. Your partner now has the power to foresee the future, as The Prism granted."

As the giant dragon departed and carried Kali Leila from the mountain, she watched as the corpses of thousands get blanketed in a sheet of grass. Then, far above the duvet of clouds, with green luminance grappling and clinging onto its legs, a beautiful black dragon with blue eyes and black feathers gazed upon the new sprouting ground, encircling it several thousands of times. Then its gaze led to the giant dragon that carried the Queen of Linuxinia down to a new glass city. The dragon had beautiful white scales and magenta markings; it was so distinct from the rest.

(5 years after the War of the Wish.)

Now that the war was ceased, every corner of Linuxinia started to blossom, as Sergil’s deepest wishes finally took in effect.

In little than just four years, all watched as the desolate landscape transmuted into a peaceful, grassy space with lush forests and waterfalls and lakes. The giant Lili pads covered the shore and the ocean, with a rising structure of what looked like a tree to bloom with all the sea and land creatures.

Everything sprung out of control until finally, after five years of empty battles and explosions, the white luminance emanating from the Prism slowly dulled and faded away.

For as The Sealed Beatific was beating, as long as Sergil was attached to it; the dragon will guard it and the peak until the day it dies.

(Present Day)

As of the current day, the ancient mountain was far gone.

None know of what could be in the summit, not even the king.

While the dragon brings an invitation of wrath to everyone foolish enough to scale this treacherous peak, the strong girl prophecy along with others had still not taken effect.

Not one of them not even Kali, remember where the black dragon had came from, and many of the prophecies have been earthed into time, decipherable until the present.

It was all thanks to Sergil that Linuxinia became the way it was.

And Aletha, almost speechless, collapsed to her knees as she found herself in a grassy space, with nothing but rolling green hills and a man with golden eyes and green hair standing vividly, staring at the golden horizon.

(End Chapter)