“You know, Salvator, we are so used to all these colours representing ‘classical Elucian art’ — their purity, subtlety, simplicity. But when the Eluciaë were here and built this, the sun was, in fact, you know, a completely different colour, completely different, in a different phase of its evolution, so everything here — gold and marble and silver obsidian emerald alabaster and...and...everything — it would all have appeared really rather different, not at all what we expect today, and...and...just...more — just more!”
Kai chuckled a glance from under his sodden curls over at Shen as they scurried and wove their way past and through the citizens of Destiny.
“Oh, Salvator, forgive me! This is all simply so...so exciting for me, to be in the presence of such wonder. And excitement just...just surrounds me, fills me, consumes me! You may actually regret — if you do not mind me saying — regret being unable to tell me to...to just shut up! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! But you’re doing your ‘silent soul’ thing. I understand. I ‘get it’ — even though I am not entirely sure who you are, or wish to be, or aim to be, or.... I have no doubt that you could cultivate your own following in the Religious Quarter, Salvator, if that is, in fact, your wish. Hundreds, maybe thousands would be eager to hear what you...well, what you can’t actually say. Many a successful career in Destiny is built upon such carefully crafted fame...and...and....”
Kai sniggered silently again in Shen’s irresistible wash of colour, as he looked back to see if they were being followed.
“I mean,” continued Shen, “If your parents thought you were this special boy, and...”
her silent choking cry
“And...well, every parent thinks that, don’t they?” he said idly.
Kai smarted from the sting, and his smile drained into the rain.
“If you can harness and exploit that ‘entitlement to adoration’ aura thing, though, you might actually get some believers, followers, disciples, lovers, whatever...whether or not you actually ever do anything!”
Shen noticed Kai’s fading smile; he leapt ahead, span round and his legs continued propelling him backwards without faltering, facing Kai directly as his brow creased the the colour from his face.
“Well, at least you know your parents,” stammered Shen, his lip starting to quiver as he galloped backwards, “Or, I assume you do...Salvator. Dear Salvator. You see, I myself do not have that particular privilege. I’m not even sure what they were, or if they are still alive. But you...you...Salvator?”
Shen’s voice trailed off as Kai slowed to a distracted saunter and looked up in astonishment. Shen spun back round to the front in a clumsily faultless movement, then slid into a stroll alongside Kai. Treading carefully together in awe, Shen put his arm around Kai’s shoulders, as the buzzing flow of souls increased around them into the gaping mouth of the temple entrance. As they strained their necks to look up at the temple wall, they could now see raindrops flicking hissing sparks off translucent holographic windows, tall and strait, and flush with the wall and replicating its colour and texture; the line of windows coiled up around the half sphere of the temple towards the dome in an almost imperceptible line. Etched into the stone rim of the entrance, which curved up to ten times Kai’s height, were yet more glittering component symbols. Shen suddenly burst into a fit of uncontrollably luminous laughter and hopped several times excitedly before wresting himself back to a more subdued and respectable glow.
“Well, this is it, my inaudible friend,” whispered Shen in Kai’s ear, clenching his elation behind his bio-holographic teeth as they stepped as one beneath the massive arch.
“Welcome to the Elucian Temple.”
Next chapter — The Antechamber Ring
Sunday 20 February 2011
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