Eclipse: the Beginning

The journey to Seraph’s home took longer than the trip to Heaven. It was a nice change of pace and scenery. The grassy plains became more vegetated the further they progressed. Simple brush growing sparsely developed into randomly planted trees and bushes until they came to a true forest. Seraph acted more childlike than ever here. The trees were a playground for him.

“Come on, Celestial!” the Wind begged. “You have to climb at least one tree! Samuel’s already scaled three now!”

“Do I look like an animal?” the captain growled. “I am no tree spirit, but I would image fools in my branches would prove annoying.”

“But Seraph says we can travel faster in the treetops,” Samuel said, swinging his legs from the branch he had perched on. He missed climbing the trees back at the orphanage. Those apples were delicious at the top.

“These are the ancient trees of Western Wind,” Seraph said in a more mature tone. “They enjoy intimacy with people, since their spirits can’t leave their trunks. They can protect us. Legends say they move for those in trouble.” He winked down at her, which the soldier barely saw.

“Protection?”

“Yes, they can move and can shield us from watchers on the ground.”

“You sure know a lot about these trees, Seraph,” Samuel commented. “I’d say you were an expert.”

“That’s because we’re near the mountains now! I’m almost home! It’s been so long!”

Samuel watched a huge smile spread across the Wind’s face. He noticed that Seraph had been coming out of his shell more often since revealing his secret. The Wind was laughing and talking in his true voice with more confidence every day. It was like he had been freed from a prison within himself. Samuel walked across some thick branches to catch up. He smiled, hoping he might have seen the true Seraph that day.

“Celestial,” the teenager called down to the pouting soldier, “if you don’t want to climb the trees, why not ask Cherub to carry you?”

Both Wind and Light paused. The staff was on Seraph’s back, but neither of them had considered flying her, though. Samuel suddenly felt embarrassed. He gaped. Whatever was he ashamed for?

“Celestial, Samuel makes a good point, and you have ridden him before.”

“The staff is male?!” She had been pondering the idea over, but now, she sounded completely against it.

“Oh come now! Don’t be such a pervert!” Samuel put both hands on his hips, glaring at the soldier. “Cherub wouldn’t do anything to you, so don’t be such a wet blanket!”

“What did you call me?!” Celestial screamed up at the youth. Her pale visage was now red. Seraph assumed it was rage, but Samuel remained unafraid. The embarrassment was growing in his chest, but somehow, he sensed it was not his. It was Celestial’s. Never mind how or why he knew.

“I called you a pervert. You know, dirty thoughts? It’s written all over your face.” He pointed down at her. “Quit the pride act and just accept the help. We gave you an alternate choice than climbing. Take it or climb.”

Her face burned for a moment longer. Samuel felt the shame turn to rage at last. He gulped. He had assumed the treetops would keep him safe above the ground, away from the Light. Now, he had the urge to run along with the pounding anger. What was going on today?

“Give me that staff so I can knock him off the branch!” Celestial yelled, reaching for the Cherub. Samuel ran past the Wind. Seraph looked between them both, torn.

As a chase began, Celestial screamed at the teenager who wailed back in response. Seraph and Cherub flew between them, trying to calm them down. It would have become a laughing matter if Seraph had not seen the soldiers coming from the south-east.

“Both of you, enough! We have soldiers behind us!”

“Where do they hail? You should be able to tell from up there,” Celestial cried as she ran faster. This was not good. Had the crown already marked them?

“Light soldiers are heading our way from the south-east,” Seraph replied, diving beside her. “Get on! You’ll need the trees’ cover to hide!”

Without hesitation, she grabbed his hand the moment she could reach it. She wrapped an arm around his abdomen to steady herself behind him. He blushed as the woman pressed against his back. It was a new experience for him, but he thought it was pleasant.

“We can’t lead them to your home,” she said in her commanding voice. “We have to deal with them now, keeping them away from the mountains. How well do you know these forests?”

“They are my sanctuary,” he replied.

“Good. Give Samuel the staff. I’m sure the trees will lend you a suitable substitution to fight.”

The Wind nodded in agreement. He shot up next to the running youth. Seraph had to admit that Samuel maneuvered well in the treetops. Out of nowhere, though, Celestial kicked the Nomad.

“Celestial!” Seraph cried out as he saw the Nomad fall off the other side of the branch. He dove, nose down, as quickly as he could react to the soldier’s kick.

“I told you I would knock him off the branch.”

“Seraph!” Samuel cried, reaching for his friends as he fell.

“Grab my hand!”

They reached him in just enough time to stop the young man from crashing into a thick root. Rising once again, Seraph set them down in the branches. Celestial jumped off as she had the last time she had ridden the staff. The Wind handed Cherub to the shortest member of their trio.

“Let Cherub guide you through the forest to the base of the mountains. Whatever you do, do not fall off.”

“Are you going to fight them?” Samuel gaped up at them from where he sat, clinging to the branch. They were quiet. The youth hung his head. There was no way he could ask them to refrain. “Please, don’t get hurt.”

“We won’t,” Celestial promised.

“We’ll meet you at the foot of the mountains before nightfall. I promise, Samuel.” Seraph put a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “You have faith in us, don’t you? Have faith in that promise, my friend.” They both smiled at one another before Celestial and Seraph left the Nomad with the staff.

Running through the branches, the Wind and Light came around to the troop’s backs. Whatever happened, they could not allow Samuel’s capture. Celestial motioned for them to drop. Seraph followed her lead, climbing down as quickly as he could. The movement caught the soldiers’ attention. The goose chase was on, heading west.

Samuel kept out of sight among the tree limbs, but despite his friend’s directions, he stayed in sight of his two companions. They were trying to lead the Light soldiers away from the mountains. Samuel did not understand how they could keep them away without facing them eventually. Seraph understood his stance on hurting the people of Aurora, but was he being naïve, assuming they could avoid harming the soldiers who hunted them?

From his seat on Cherub, the teenager noticed the leaves spreading apart, lighting up the canopy. They were letting in sunlight, like curtains drawn back from a window. He gasped as he recalled Seraph telling them that the trees could move of their own will. As the scene continued to brighten, Samuel realized there was a clearing up ahead of his friends. This was a perfect chance to take the offensive with their pursuers. Samuel could not believe what he was seeing. He just watched as the trees shifted around to form a boundary of the space.

Celestial and Seraph did not waste the opportunity to take the advantage in the clearing. Throwing their cloaks aside, the Wind and Light turned about to face the oncoming enemy. Immediately, Seraph tripped backward, falling into the brush left behind by the flora.

“Get up, you fool!” Celestial barked down at him. She shrugged her treasured sword off her shoulder. Standing in a battle stance, she struggled to hold it upright. She had never used the sword of the Wind guardian in combat before, but she had no other weapon. It was heavier than the blades she typically wielded. She only hoped it would accept her skill for now.

“I fell over something!” Seraph pulled up a tree branch. It was not a moment too soon either as he blocked a sword strike. “Holy Aurora!”

“On your feet before they overtake you, dimwit!” Celestial yelled as she caught two soldiers’ blades before pushing them back. It took a great deal of effort on her part to hold the sword above the grass. She marveled at the weight of the sword as she used it to knock her opponents away more than strike back. She found herself using it as a shield while engaging with her feet.

“Speak for yourself, soldier!” Seraph growled as he kicked an attacking soldier off of him. Rolling backwards to plant his feet, he glanced around at the soldiers who quickly surrounded him. He counted six. “I wish you were watching, Samuel,” he whispered under his breath.

As the Lights attacked as one, Seraph spun the thick branch around to his back. He jabbed the two soldiers at his sides, to stun them. Whirling the branch under his left arm, he grabbed it with his right hand, bringing up the end to strike the man before him in the jaw. In a reverse motion, he struck the soldier behind him in the chest. Turning right, he brought the limb down in the Light’s shoulder, producing a cry from the soldier as his whole right arm slumped. Spinning around in a swift movement, the Wind struck the last soldier in the stomach, sending him flying into the trees.

“Ha!” Celestial smiled at Seraph’s display as she stunned one soldier with just the hilt of her blade. She struck a second with her elbow to the temple. Both fell. “Perhaps you aren’t as civil as you appear!”

“Glad I could impress you, captain,” Seraph said with a grin as he cracked another soldier’s collarbone with a downward strike. He grimaced. Maybe that was overboard. He was already naturally strong, godlike now, but with a staff in hand, his strokes were deadly. Samuel wanted to avoid casualties, so he had to be mindful of his newfound strength. An ominous voice caught his ear, almost as a whisper.

“Celestial! They have a magic user!”

“Curses!” The Light’s hidden eyes darted across the clearing, dodging two more soldiers. She should have guessed Heaven would send magic after them, knowing they had a Wind god. She could not hear the chanter, so there was no way to prepare a counter-attack, let alone defend. “I can’t see them! Where are they?!”

“I heard the voice, but I don’t know either!” The Wind swatted the Light soldiers away like flies with his branch as he looked, but he could not seem to get out of their swarm. If a powerful light spell erupted in the forest, the trees would set ablaze. He could not let that happen.

“Seraph!” He looked up to see Samuel, calling through the leaves. “Cherub’s coming your way!”

Instinctively, the Wind grabbed for his staff. Twirling it about his torso, a swirl of wind rushed away from him. The longer he spun, the stronger the gust became. Celestial dropped to the ground so she would not blow away. Her opponents were not so fortunate, as the winds caught them off-guard. Seraph did not understand what he was even doing. His body moved as if the muscles already perceived what to do. He glanced about. Finally, he spotted the spell’s caster. They must have been preparing a strong spell to still be gathering it. Sweeping Cherub up in an upward sweep, the Wind struck down with every ounce of strength he had. Seraph cried out as a screeching wind spiral rushed the Light. The soldier’s concentration broke to gape at the whirlwind before spiraling backward into the trees.

Celestial rose once the gusts died. Yet again, Seraph proved to have wind running through his veins. She reasoned that his father had been a great warrior god of Wind. There was no doubt he had been a close general of Lord Zion. All of the gods of Wind had been in positions of status, whether in trade or military, and they had lived in these mountains. Still ….

“Well done,” she said without a hint of sarcasm. There would be time to consider her concerns later. A grin of approval grew upon her face. She felt one of her reserves had earned his first officer’s cords. “I might not have to worry about you after all, Seraph.”

“Celestial?” Samuel asked from above, “Did you just compliment Seraph? There may be hope for your temper yet!” Seraph joined him in a laugh as the soldier glared up at the trees.

“Don’t pretend I’ve forgotten you called me a pervert.”

Samuel silenced, but Seraph continued to snicker. After the three of them calmed down, they returned to the treetops to walk back toward the mountains. They were all proud of their first win, but no one was more pleased than Samuel. The youth should have known they would make it, and they had not taken one life today. He had trusted in Seraph’s promise, and they came through.

Seraph’s words rang true, for they reached the end of the forest well before dark. The grassy mountains were in sight. The treetops had been the shorter route. Before leaving the forest behind, Samuel turned back to reflect. With all the enemies he was making, he had become grateful for the allies he had. It was a relief to learn Nature seemed to be on their side. He felt the same warmth from these woods as he had from Grandmother Wingie. How strange to feel comfort from plants. He bowed, making his companions blink in confusion. Such a gesture might seem silly to the Samuel of Earth, but the Samuel of Aurora had grown today.

“Thank you for protecting us. I will never forget your kindness.” A rustling sound came from the trees as if a strong breeze were blowing. Celestial and Seraph gaped in surprise, for there was no wind coming from the forest. Samuel smiled as he rose to his proper posture again. He rejoined them, smiling. “That must mean ‘you’re welcome.’”