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The Wayward Astronomer: Chapter 10

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<Chapter 10>

The wind howled at Hal, spraying a hail of lunarous snow into his face and eyes. His feathers ruffled madly in the gale, each one hardened into a heavy black icicle that dragged in the wind and pulled him back. He squinted into the fury and forced his way forward through its resistive pull, fighting to put each foot in front of the other.

“Hal!”

He could hear Miri's voice echo through the wind from somewhere up ahead. Steeling his resolve, he put his head down and continued to march forward into the night. The darkness of the gully draped heavily on top of him like a fog, narrowing his perception and blurring his focus. The jacket he pulled tightly around himself did almost nothing to cut through the desolate chill that left him feeling brittle to the core.

Hal stopped and looked upwards. In front of him stood a sheer rock face that looked to be well over 100 meters tall. The surface of the canyon wall was sharp and slick, threateningly looming down on top of him. Hal had never attempted to scale a cliff this difficult before without a full set of climbing gear, or with weather so absolutely treacherous.

“Hal!”

Miri's voice echoed once again from above, somewhere beyond the top of the rock wall. Gritting his teeth, Hal gripped his lone climbing pick tightly in one hand, his scaly fingers wrapping firmly about the contoured wooden handle. With a grunt he plunged the head of the pick into the stone and ice, getting purchase to pull himself upwards and begin the ascent.

The minutes felt like hours as he slowly worked his way up the cliff, each movement risking death from a single mistake. A sense of urgency gripped his heart like a vise, pressing him ever harder for each meter he climbed. He was getting close to the top now, and each time he looked down a lightning bolt of fear shot through his blood, tightening his grip even more. His legs and arms protested the exertion with searing hot flames of fatigue. Each meter seemed ten times more difficult than the last as he neared the top of the cliff.

Through the howling wind, Hal thought he heard Miri call out again just beyond the edge of the summit. The rocks above him angled slightly inward towards the empty air below him, making it difficult to find footing to anchor himself for the final push. Once he committed to the next leap up, it would be nearly impossible to go back. If he stayed where he was, he would surely freeze to death, alone and stranded on the cliffs of the Starfall Mountains.

With a heavy cry of effort and exhaustion, Hal swung his pick up and over into the ice, setting himself for the final push. He pulled up on his pick and pushed with his feet, flinging his other hand up to grab at the ledge above. As his fingers tried to find a tenuous grip, he felt the whole climbing pick shift suddenly, and it came free of the rock face with a large chunk of ice buried in the tip of the blade. He let out a panicked shout as the pick fell from his hands, tumbling into the gully now far below him. His feet kicked and scrambled to find something to rest on as he dangled from one arm over empty air.

Hal looked up to the sky above him and was greeted not with starry radiance but with an absolute and impenetrable darkness. His eyes went wide as he gazed up into an unfamiliar abyss that froze his heart and paralyzed his muscles. The emptiness pressed down on top of him with unrelenting and all-encompassing silence. Even the howl of the wind disappeared from his senses as he hung frozen in that moment of time. His fingers started to slip, and despite the will to hold on Hal was powerless to stop them. Complete and total terror overcame him as his grip finally failed, and he fell back down into the empty void below.

* * *

Hal woke up screaming with a jolt, flailing his arms at the air above him. His body was gripped with a cold sweat that sunk deep into his bedding and left him feeling clammy and chill. He blinked and shuddered a bit as he regained his composure, breathing heavily; it had only been a terrible dream. A few rays of morning sunlight beamed through the window, illuminating dust that floated lazily in the still air of the room. Hal looked over to the wall to see what time it was, only to find it empty as some remains of last night's fury still littered the floor beneath where it used to sit.

He sighed.

Hal held his head in his hands for a few moments as he shook off the last lingering memories of the nightmare, trying to ground himself back in reality. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and gingerly brought himself to his feet. His joints popped and snapped as he did so, and his muscles felt tight and stiff after a long night of restless sleep. The familiar pain of his injuries helped dispel his grogginess as Hal sullenly went about getting up and preparing for the day ahead.

He dressed himself in comfortable layers for the late autumn weather, including a hooded sweatshirt and his well traveled leather jacket. The springer was tucked in its holster concealed beneath his clothing, not necessarily easy to reach if he was all zipped up, but at least it was completely hidden from view. Today he would head back to Theophanies district, and this time he wouldn't waste his effort trying to convince the police to do their jobs.

It was the middle of the day when Hal finally reached the Order of Celestia's cathedral, buried amid other grand structures in the heart of Theophanies. The cathedral stood maybe seven stories tall at the decorative peaks, and the front doorway was topped with what Hal assumed to be the symbol of their faith: an eight pointed starburst with elongated vertical rays. The stained glass windows depicted the same symbol within various scenes that in Hal's judgement appeared to be a world-creation myth. The cathedral was not as grand as the much more common Sacrare churches (which seemed to make a point of being the most ostentatious buildings ever constructed) but it was still suitably awe-inspiring in its unique sort of neo-gothic architecture style. The placard on the door said there would be a general sermon at 7:00 that evening.  

Hal spent most of the day wandering around the immediate area, scouting it out and observing the people who came and left. Not very many people appeared to enter or leave the church during the day, and those who did appeared to be plainclothes citizens, none of which Hal recognized. The streets of the district were far too busy for Hal to have a good chance of sneaking into the building through a non-standard entryway, so he decided to simply walk inside and blend in with the churchgoers later that evening when the time came. He didn't know if the “Archbishop” would be inside, or what he would find, but there was only one way to find out. Evening eventually settled over the city, and Hal shuffled into the church along with the scattered parties of other faithful. He took a seat in one of the pews furthest from the altar so he could keep a good eye on everything around him.    

The interior of the church was laid out fairly typically, with a long center aisle and rows of pews leading up to an altar at the front of the room. Judging from the depth of the exterior of the building, it looked like there was a good deal of space still behind the nondescript doors at the back of the room. Everything felt a little backwards compared to a Sacrare church, where the audience sat “up” in sort of grand lecture hall format, looking down at the priest. Instead, here the view of the audience was drawn upwards towards the elaborate paintings on the ceiling and carvings in the supports depicting shooting stars, destruction, and the blossoming of life. The lighting inside was dimmer than expected, giving the impression of being under a real night sky. Hal was never a religious man, but he could understand the appeal of the stars, even if no one outside of himself truly knew the beauty of them.

Hal drew his hood up over his head and waited anxiously for the service to begin. After a few more minutes of people filing in, a figure emerged from the back of the cathedral  and stepped up to the podium. She appeared to be an onyx black panther with bright, practically glowing, cerulean eyes. She was wearing a dark robe trimmed in brilliant ice-blue, and when she spoke she had an ethereal inflection that made Hal's blood freeze.

It was her.

“Celestia be with you, now and forevermore.”

“And also with you.”

The audience replied in semi-unison, offering what Hal assumed to be the proper response to her greeting. His tail hissed and sneered towards the priestess before he forced his anger back beneath the surface, drawing a sidelong glance from one of the churchgoers in front of him. At least he knew he was in the right place... but he would need to wait until after the service to make his move. The woman in front continued her sermon while Hal internally simmered.

“The scrolls tell us that when time first began, the old gods created the Dreamworld and everything within it. They created the oceans, the land, the mountains, and the heavens, and they filled this new world with life.” The priestesses voice echoed sharply throughout the hall, lending an otherworldly quality to her voice. “But the goddess Celestia saw that the Dreamworld, for all its beauty, was incomplete. For all the life in this world was crude. It lacked creatures with souls, creatures who could share in the glory of creation, shape it into something more, and protect it from the evils that sought to tear it apart.”

She pointed overhead to the image of a falling star. “And so she sent to the Dreamworld her gift: a falling star. A fragment of her divinity made real. When the creatures of the Dreamworld touched Celestia's gift, they ceased to become mere creatures of the earth, and instead became creatures of the divine. They were imbued with a soul, and with this soul came a unique inner power. It is this spark that made us all Dreamkeepers, so that we may serve the goddess and guard the Dreamworld we call home.”

“Let us begin tonight's service with a reading from the scroll of prophet Sa'd Al-Malik”

Hal kept his head down, staring at the priestess from just beneath the crown of his hood. She started to go on with reading but he only half listened to the words she was saying. All he could think about was the hatred he felt towards her. The pressure of his rage welled up in the center of his heart, straining against his ribs and lungs. He ran his tongue over the void in his mouth where his teeth used to be, and felt the sharp crags of the chipped fang still not healed. It sent a shot of pain through his jaw that sharpened his focus to a keen edge. She robbed him of everything he once had... but soon he would get it back.

Hal bided his time until it seemed that the service was almost over. When it appeared to near the end and the audience was starting to leave, he slid off to one side of the cathedral and lurked in a dark shadow of a pillar, blending in quietly with the ignored edges of the room. There he waited breathlessly for the last person to exit, leaving him and the priestess seemingly alone in the large chamber. She didn't seem to notice him as she began rolling up some scrolls.

With a long cold exhale, Hal reached for his pistol and drew it from the holster with the faint sound of metal sliding across leather. He activated his power, and even from completely behind the pillar he could see her heat signature, and a brilliant-white burning point of light from the necklace around her neck. It was a fragment of the fallen star.

The pain in his leg swept away by the fortifying euphoria of using his power, Hal crept along the perimeter of the room, inching closer to her. He moved quickly and decisively every time she appeared to be looking away, carrying his cane with one hand and the pistol in the other. Soon he made it to the pillar closest to her, and the anticipation was palpable, almost unbearable. She was standing only 10 meters away.

“Is someone there?” The woman looked over towards his pillar, perhaps hearing his movements. Hal froze behind his cover and waited, trying not to breathe so heavily. Cold fog billowed from his nostrils with each suppressed breath. He could see her shape stand and move towards him. Three steps. Two steps.

One step.

As she peeked around one side of the column, Hal pivoted around the opposite side and raised his springer to point at the side of her head. “Move and you're dead.” Hal's raspy voice carried the weight of conviction beneath it, and though she reflexively jumped in surprise she did not run or call out for help.

The priestess' eyes wend wide in surprise as she recognized Hal, her mouth curling into a bitter frown. “You!” She hissed. “You're supposed to be dead.”

“Life is just full of surprises, isn't it?” Hal bared his fangs with a feral grin. “Where's Miri?”

“Hmph... She's nearby. And unharmed. Put that weapon away before you do something you'll regret.”

“Not a chance.” Hal gestured with the barrel of the weapon towards the door in back “Take me to her. Now.”

“You have no idea what you're getting yourself into...” The priestess stared back at him with defiance in her eyes. “You've already caused me enough trouble with the Archbishop.”

“Sorry for the inconvenience.” Hal pulled the hammer back on the springer, and it snapped into position with a loud and final click that echoed in the open room. “I'm done talking with you. Take me to her now or I give you the same mercy you gave me.”

“I don't know exactly where she is right now, but the Archbishop has been keeping a close eye on her. I will take you to him, if you prefer.”

“It's a start.” Hal nodded sharply. “Let's go. Any sudden movements and they will be your last.”

The woman moved slowly and calmly towards the rear of the chamber, and led Hal through the door, through stone hallways and up a winding staircase. With his power he could see the faint heat of other occupants of the church and another bright meteor-white light from up above. “You can drop the bravado. The archbishop doesn't want you dead.”

Hal snarled. “Funny, you didn't really act that way last time we met. Why the change of heart?”

“I didn't know who you -were- at the time. Had I known, things would have ended differently.” She led him to the top of the stairs and up to an ornately carved flo-wood doorway.

“Oh yeah? Who am I?”

The woman chuckled lightly to herself, a playful maliciousness dripping from the sound. “Why don't you think about the answer to that question on your own.” She knocked on the door with one slender claw. “Your holiness, I have a visitor for you. He wishes to speak with you right away. It's very important.”

“Hmmm? Very well, Vanir. Show him in.” A muffled voice responded through the doorway. Vanir, as the woman's name turned out to be, pushed the door inward and gestured for Hal to step inside. He did so, and found himself in an opulently appointed office, warmed by a small fireplace that snapped and crackled in the corner. At the window stood a robed man looking out onto the dark city streets below, his head turned away from Hal. In one hand he rested on an elegantly carved wooden cane, and on the top of the cane was an unmistakable fragment of the meteor, resting like a rough cut jewel. A red scaled hand gripped the top of the cane with gentle balance, and the hood turned towards Hal, revealing a white feathered raptor snout that protruded beyond the shadow. The Archbishop quickly spoke up as soon as he laid eyes on Hal, fighting back a gasp of surprise. “Vanir. Leave us at once. I'm not to be disturbed.”

“Yes, your holiness.” The panther left quickly, shutting the door behind Hal.

The voice was uncomfortably familiar sounding, and Hal felt his knees start to buckle, forcing him to lean heavily on his cane as he fought to remain upright. “No....” The man reached up and pulled back his hood, revealing a smiling face that Hal had not seen in years.

“Hello, brother.... It's been far too long.”
   
<End Chapter 10>
Ten chapters! It feels like it's taken me ages to get to this point but I'm happy to finally hit the milestone, and on a good reveal I hope :)

The pacing for the next several sections is something I'm still working on, but more and more of the middle story is starting to congeal for me, so it should be a fun ride. It's almost like I'm discovering the story while I write it, and I'm really glad that you are here to share in the journey with me. I can't wait to show you the rest of it. 

I want to thank you very much for reading, and I appreciate all comments or feedback on my work. It's nice to have an audience to share with. 


The Wayward Astronomer is original fanfiction set in the DreamKeepers universe created by David Lillie www.dreamkeeperscomic.com

Other chapters can be found here:

Chapter 1: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 2: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 3: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 4: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 5: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 6: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 7: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 8: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 9: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 10: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 11: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 12: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…
Chapter 13: kafelnikov.deviantart.com/art/…

Thanks so much for reading!
© 2013 - 2024 Kafelnikov
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darkspeeds's avatar
Ha ha ha... I saw this one coming but you still managed to use that old black magic to continue the suspense and thrills effortlessly. Yet again you describe the world with painstaking detail.

Tell you a quick story about today. I was due for a walk around town to break away from my recent routine of illustrating artwork - I had a couple of awesome hamburgers at In-n-Out at the Fisherman's Wharf and made a trek back home in Chinatown/CBD area. But before I hit back I decided to pay a visit to this place: www.google.com/search?q=saints…

I was in awe of the architecture inside and the solemn feeling you get in a cathedral of grandeur proportions. The lighting was also very dim. Why did I tell you this? Well I find it pretty amazing that I was reading Chapter 10 this very moment and found a similar connection with how you described the church. I'm really tempted to take photos of the place to give you a sense of what I felt and how I connected with what you wrote here. Amazing.

Anyways, it's almost 5AM but I'm going to push on to the next chapter before I head for bed. :+fav: