Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Light of Knowledge - Festival of Lights

No one noticed Karan's new toy. Perhaps DS simply thought it was an old one, or maybe she never saw it at all. Karan didn't care. As long as no one took it away from him, he would have it. And as long as he had it, he would be able to go and see things. And maybe he wouldn't be so confused anymore.

Being confused was awful. Lately he was never entirely sure what was going on. During the summer he'd been fine, but ever since the darktime began to get longer he'd felt troubled. There hadn't been any night-pictures, or people-who-aren't-there, in a long time. Except for the scary girl last night. She was still scary, of course, but she also looked scared. And if she was scared, he wanted to help. And know what was going on.

It was already dark- in fact, it had been dark for a while. Maybe it was almost time for it to happen. Whatever "it" was. Fidgeting boredly, Karan looked over at Xue. His roomate looked asleep, but it was hard to be sure. He probably was. Dismissing the thought, he gazed into the the lantern the girl had given him. It really was beautiful- made entirely of glass, except for the bottom, which was silver. Apparently it screwed off, away from the transparent dome, and also held the candle in place. The candle itself had started as a miniature white pillar of wax, though now it was a gooey blob, the wick barely visible. It seemed the flame would go out any moment; it was already flickering.

The clock on the wall clicked with each passing second. It was a rather tacky clock, a picture of a different bird adorning each hour mark, as well as singing its sweet note at the appointed time. A gift from one of DS's clients, it had been shunted from place to place, until it was finally hung somewhere no one could complain about it, even if they wanted to. Sometimes the rythmic ticking lulled Karan to sleep, that night it did the opposite. He focused on it, to keep from dozing off before the awaited hour came.

All hands reached towards the ceiling. That meant that the clock would chirp... yet as the second hand aligned with the rest, its click reverberating throughout the room, no song came. Karan blinked, then opened his eyes- and saw nothing. The light in the lantern had extinguished itself in its own wax, taking with it all trace of life.

Without warning a pair of hands clasped Karan around the middle and lifted him out of his bed. He opened his mouth, to scream, or perhaps to sink his small teeth into whatever they could reach.

"Don't make a sound until you see the lamplight." Even through her silky clothes the speaker's cold skin was uncomfortable, yet reassuring. As the girl ran to somewhere all Karan could think was that she had kept her word. She came for him. Maybe she wasn't so scary after all.

"We're almost there, just keep quiet."

Was that a light in the distance, or a trick of the eyes? For several long moments it was hard to tell. However soon, as the tiny point expanded exponentially, it was clear that something really was out there. Still, Karan remained silent. Half from obedience, half from astonishment.

Perhaps the scene before them looked like one light from afar, but now that they were right in front of it the mistake was obvious. It was in fact a path, seemingly luminescent in its own right, but lined with hundreds of lanterns similar to the one Karan still held. The road itself seemed to go on forever. However not too far away he could see people, animals, and short, squat buildings, all of which were draped with fantastically colored fabrics and beads. Lights of varying sizes and intensities burned at all of them, which somehow unified each being and object. It was clear they were all there for the same purpose, whatever it was.

"What you see," the girl murmured, her pace slowing to a leisurely walk, "is not what I see. Pity. But I'm sure that can be fixed soon. Either way, enjoy it."

If the light wasn't so blinding his eyes would have been the size of saucers. As it was, he stared up at the girls through slitted lids, the rest of his face arranged into a picture of wonder. "Ha?"

Frowning, the girl sat by the side of the road. "You're really not getting this, are you? That's the trouble with you- every time this happens, you're so clueless. I wish there was some way you could keep your wits, but I guess that would be against the rules." Her black eyes glinted strangely in the lamplight. "Still, for tonight we can improvise."

Before Karan could respond he was whisked up again. This constant shifting was starting to make him woozy, but that was nothing compared to the headache he was getting. Between the influx of stimuli- the colors, the lights, the constant motion- and the nonsense leaking from the girl's mouth, he had no idea what was going on, or why he was there. Maybe he should have refused her invitation.

But besides a little headache and dizziness, what had really gone wrong since he agreed? Sure things were confusing, but no more than before. Not really. No less either, but there was a drastic difference. By choosing to come and see for himself, he made an opportunity. There was a chance, a small one, that he'd go back with more information than he had now. And even if he didn't, he wouldn't have any less, because the girl would take care of him.

She stopped at an ashen booth etched with vine-like designs. Green silk and beads covered the ceiling, as well as the window, but she pulled the curtains aside without hesitation. "I have a request."

"Yes?" A small, wrinkled woman was seated in the middle of the booth. She wore all black- the same as the girl, Karan noticed. He'd only ever seen her in white before, so the change was a bit surprising. The woman stood, a faint smile adding creases to her face. "Aradia."

"I'd like a separation. For him. Would you take care of it?"

"Of course."

Neither woman seemed to care what Karan thought. The girl handed him over, seemingly bored. Karan was anything but. Whatever this "separation" was, it sounded promising. And it had to be safe, or the girl wouldn't suggest it.

Cradling the child with one surprisingly strong arm, the crone took a candle from a nearby shelf. "Essense, soul that survives all, from your house in this plane be freed. Take flight, in safety and spirit, and see as you were meant to be."

A large drop of white wax rolled down the candle, splashing onto Karan's forehead. He screamed, pawing at the burning skin. The woman kept reading, seemingly unaware of his pain. The girl was nowhere to be seen. Whether it was from agony or exhaustion wasn't clear to him, but he his eyes closed; he couldn't bare consciousness anymore.

"..'s all. Wake up now."

"W-what?" Slowly vision returned, though Karan couldn't feel his eyes opening. He felt frozen. Carefully he moved his eyes, though no sensation alerted him to the action. The girl was there, in a considerably better mood. And the woman as well, holding a small child in both arms. He was deathly pale, with shockingly white hair. His eyes were closed, but somehow Karan knew that one eye was silver, and the other gold.

The fact that he was looking at himself was disturbing. It was clearly not a mirror; there was no frame, no glass, no reflected light. Was it an image? Perhaps. A smoky, ghost of a hand reached forward, coming from where his arm would be. If he could see through himself, and was looking at him body from somewhere else, all was not right with the world.

"Am... am I dead?"

His words! They were so whole, managing to say exactly what he wanted to communicate. That in itself was almost as shocking as the entire concept of an out-of-body experience. If he could speak so clearly, was he still himself? What happened?

The girl laughed. "Of course not. It was just hard to talk to you stuck in that vessel. And you were sort of heavy. So I had her force your spirit out, for a while. Sorry if it hurt a bit, but now you're not trapped by human confinements. So we can talk."

"What? Who- who are you?" Karan stuttered. It was hard to speak so freely without any practice. Not to mention the fact that talking without feeling his mouth was eerie. "Where are we?"

It was apparently time to start from the beginning. Setting herself up for a long night- what had she gotten herself into?- she held out her hand. "My name is Aradia. And welcome-" The hand moved to the side, showing off the colorful booths. "Welcome to the Festival of Lights."

The Light of Knowledge- Daydream Believer

Aradia watched crossly as the nearly black bubble floated above her head. Her charge would come free when the bubble was popped, but doing that too soon could be dangerous. She could twist an ankle trying to get to the sphere that lazed just out of reach, and she didn't want to hobble around like some old crone during the glorious festival. Besides, no real harm would come to him. None that wasn't already on it's way.

A smile inched its way across her face. "It seems he's found a way to get all the answers he needs."

The darkness was less disconcerting now. Karan had made the connection between darkness and those visions that were all too real for his liking. Each one had frightened him, some more than others, but at the same time there was something familiar about the whole procedure. Maybe he was more comfortable without a body, or maybe he was starting to get used to the scenario. Either way, Karan simply settled in to wait.

"Mirella, wait!"

A graying man grabbed the arm of a very attractive young woman. Her dark skin and curly brown hair were the perfect backdrop to her brightly colored skirt and vest, which she wore over a plain white shift. Her curls were tied back with a thin triangle of a scarf, bright red, with black flowers around the edges. Despite a polite smile on her face, her dark green eyes flashed with defiance.

"Papa." She stopped pulling, and once the man was sure she wouldn't run, turned to face him. "Papa, I'm not going to do anything wrong. Just an offering, that's all."

"Asking for a man." The man spat on the ground. "Reducing yourself to a whore. You are so much better, Mirella!"

The woman, Mirella, yanked her hands free. "They are scared of me, Papa! Scared because I can see things, do things that they cannot. You were lucky, you found Mama when she did not know what you could do, and she loved you too much to be afraid. No one is like that here."

"Then go. Go find yourself a man. But do not come back here once you have shamed yourself. I know I cannot try to stop you-" the man paused, the pain in his eyes finally reaching his voice. "But if you betray us, our beliefs, you will not be allowed back here."

"I know."

"And knowing this, you go?"

Mirella inhaled deeply, filling her chest with air as if it were courage that she could not get enough of. "Yes."

"Then go." The two embraced, as the scene went blurry, then dark.

Considering he had started out with high hopes of answers and truth, Karan was disappointed. Some woman leaving home? What did that matter?

Light fell on Mirella again, revealing her to be quite changed. She was a few years older, and the vibrance of youth had left her. The glow that had once made her face the envy of all men had floated down to her bulging belly. She still glowed, oh yes, but it was the coming of her child that made her beautiful. The life growing within her reflected the life she was living without. Leaving her home had been the best thing that ever happened to her. She was loved by her husband, and soon they would share love for their child.

"You look beautiful, mija. Our deal is nearly complete."

Startled, Mirella looked up, her arms instinctively wrapping around her stomach. "You. What are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to speak to the one who grants your wish?" The speaker was enchanting, more beautiful than even Mirella had been in her youth. She was also familiar, and if Karan could feel his eyes he would have been certain they were popping out of his head.

Ixchel, as Karan had come to know her, stepped forward. "I am merely here to see my child."

"My child," Mirella countered defensively. "Our child. Mine and Vedel's. I can't give him up, not now. We are too excited for his arrival."

"As am I," Ixchel purred, running a hand over a sliver of the gypsy's exposed stomach. "You will hand him over, come time. It is what we agreed upon."

"That's in the past. Now I have Vedel, and I cannot let him down. And he will not let me down- he will defend our child."

Ixchel's nostrils flared, the only physical sign that she was bothered. But when she spoke, her voice dripped hatred. "You would not have this Vedel were it not for me. If you keep on this road, if you insist on breaking our bond, you will have neither him nor this baby to protect you from me."

"Just try it," Mirella dared.

Sighing with impatience, Ixchel turned to leave. "Very well then," she muttered, before the lights dimmed once more.

The two brief scenes fit together like puzzle pieces in Karan's mind. The woman- Mirella, he reminded himself, burning the name into his mind- wanted a man. What for he wasn't sure, but it was clear she was willing to do anything for one, even leave home. So she made some sort of offering, to the shiny lady- Ixchel. And Ixchel agreed to give Mirella one, in exchange for... a child? Whatever for?

And Mirella saw things just like he did. The pictures, the people. She saw them too, and people didn't like it.

... would his friends hate him too, for seeing what he saw?

There was no time to think about that, as the space before him started to clear once more. It was as if he was watching the bubbles again, each one stopping in front of him for a few moments before floating away again. What had happened to that anyway?

"What is this? This cannot be my child!"

Mirella looked terrible. Her face was streaked with sweat, dirt, and small blotches of blood. She was clearly exhausted; the reason visible in her arms. One small arm was visible from within the mound of blankets, but it was enough to put suspicion into several onlookers' hearts. Most of them had heard enough, and started to walk away. But one stayed. The nearest one, a man clothed simply in dark pants and a shirt, with a brightly colored sash and vest. Small black wooden instruments were tucked into his belt- two domed discs and a short, pointed stick. His black shoes had short heels that he dug into the ground angrily.

"How can you deny it? Look at him!" Enraged, the man tore away the blankets, revealing a tiny, squirming infant. His skin was not a gypsy tan, nor was his thin dusting of hair a gypsy brown. Both were as white as milk, or the snow- or the moon and stars that shone above them.

Karan goggled. Was that... him?

"But he is your son, Vedel," Mirella pleaded tiredly. "Our son. She must have done this to him, to get even."

"She?" Vedel, livid, wretched the baby away. Jostled awake by the sudden movement the child began to cry, but no one made a move to quiet him, save for his mother. "You are mad, Mirella. I should have believed it when your people told me. You not only make excuses, but you shame me by bearing another man's child!"

Tears raced down Mirella's already soaked face. "No! La Luna, she wants to take him, for having brought me to you! But I will protect him! I will protect our family!"

"You have destroyed our family! You have betrayed me, and shamed yourself! You are mad! Any one of these would be cause for punishment. But now, I am afraid I have no choice."

For a moment, Vedel looked hurt, mournful. That moment quickly passed, and he wretched his oaken dagger from his belt. Before the woman on the ground could so much as scream, he had plunged the sharpened wood into her chest.

"Farewell, my traitorous wife."

Karan was in shock. He could barely keep focused enough to see Vedel pull the wood from Mirella's heart. He hardly noticed the fountain of blood spurting from her body, which was rapidly draining of life. When Vedel took the wailing infant into the forest, and returned to the scene of his crime moments later, arms unburdened.

He had never seen so much hatred before.

There had always been fighting in the visions before. Mostly between Ixchel and the one called Rajah. People had argued, yelled, and hurt eachother. Even in real life the concept of dislike was not alien. He'd shoved, raked, and bitten people who did things he didn't like. He'd felt pleasure from their pain. Not often, but it had happened.

The thought of someone killing someone else was hard to grasp. To be so filled with hatred that he could deprive someone else of life, of ever making up for his mistakes, of even talking to him again... Karan had never felt that way before, and he hoped no one would ever make him. And those two were supposed to have been in love! They had a child...

Was it really him? Was he really that pale baby in the pictures? And if so, was it real or just a dream? If it was a dream, he was beyond ready to wake up. But if it was real... if it was real...

His father killed his mother.

"Mi padre, el Sol... Sun, please..."

Karan's heart soared. She wasn't dead! She was still talking!

'Sun, come to my aid." Mirella was dying, she knew that. Even if she could yell loud enough for help, no one would come. And she had lost too much blood already. Being a healer was painful when she knew what ailed her, but could not repair it. There was only one chance left, and it was somewhere in the forest, abandoned.

"You want revenge?" Clothed in bright orange robes, instead of the armor Karan was used to seeing, Rajah rubbed his chin. "A common request, but I can-"

"No," hissed the gypsy. "Don't let her win. Don't let la Luna have my baby."

Rajah started. "She stole your baby?"

"We had a deal." She coughed, there wasn't much time left. "She brought me my man, for my child. Now I have neither. Don't let her have them."

"I see..." Golden eyes flashing, Rajah glared down at the dying woman. "That was foolish of you. And you understand I cannot help you now."

"My child is all that matters now."

"Indeed." With every breath his eyes seemed to glow brighter, until they actually emitted light. The forest was wiped out of sight momentarily, but then came back into view, with Rajah rubbing his head again. "I have imbued him with protection. She cannot touch him now. And now, my payment."

"Can I see him?"

"No."

"Then take me."

Rajah nodded and placed his hands over Mirella's body. She sighed happily, her last breath. The still wet blood covering her flashed twice, and then was gone. "A seer," the god remarked, licking his lips. "She had very unique powers. I'm sure they will serve me well. But worry not, woman. He will be safe from her."

Karan couldn't take any more. Forced to watch as Rajah trekked into the forest, and picked up the naked infant, he could almost feel hot tears. So she was dead. The worst part was, part of him felt she had it coming. And she might even be his-

"Interesting," Rajah remarked, opening the babe's left eye, then his right. They were different colors, one silver, one gold. "We both have marked you, it seems. You will not have an easy life, child of the moon- and sun."

"Stop," Karan whined. "Why are you showing me this? Did this really happen, or is it just a dream? And if it happened, why do I need to know? Tell me, someone! Please!"

The bubble burst.

Aradia was there to catch him when he fell, how he never knew. "Now then, did you have fun in Dreamland? No? Well, that's to be expected."

Karan reached to wipe his tears away, only to find none. All sense of touch had vanished again. "Aradia, I-"

"Just stop. Take a deep breath, and we'll begin again."

The Light of Knowledge- The Other Truth

The growing familiarity with this form of seeing was disturbing. Was this always going to happen to him, even when he didn't want it to? Would those who were sending him the visions keep doing so, even when he was satisfied with the answers he had? Then again, part of Karan doubted that would ever happen. Every answer was just the seed for a tree of new questions.

Pay attention, Aradia's voice echoed through the darkness.

I am. The sound of his own voice- was that his voice?- surprised Karan. He had to be reminded again to pay attention, which made him crosser still. Fortunately his vision began to clear before he had a chance to snap at anyone.

The goddess of the moon was seated in front of a table, patterned with alternating squares of silver and gold. Several small statues were placed in various boxes, each piece a different shape and color. "We're doing well, my lord."

"Is that right?" Rajah, god of the sun, preened himself in front of a mirror. His distracted air hid a mind that was always calculating, plotting, and ready to take action. "How are they doing?"

"Aradia has taken the first steps by rallying Gaia's magical entities. She suspects nothing. And once he comes, they will be the force that topples the heavens. Just as you wished for."

Ixchel looked oddly still, as if she was afraid to move. Noticing this, the god approached her, but was shrugged off. "Please, love, not now."

"Why are you like this? Concern quickly turning to suspicion, Rajah folded his arms. "You don't doubt our plan, do you? We have the power to take control. To return this punishment we were given thousandfold."

The talk made her even more uncomfortable. Shivering, she stood, her back to her companion. "I just need to rest. Our son will be coming soon."

"What makes you so sure that this time you will have a son?"

"I just know."

She was right, Aradia commented as the scene faded. Her second, and last child, was a boy. But by that time, his parents- our parents- were no longer getting along.

Our parents? Karan gave the spiritual equivalent of a frown. I thought my parents were...

Even though Karan couldn't finish his thought, Aradia had no trouble. Dead? Only surrogates.

Ixchel was alone. She was scared. Her love had left her, their plans for the future were shot. And now she had a child coming, who was of no further use to her, and who could be used against her.

"Mother moon..."

Someone was calling her. She was in no mood to deal, but decided to listen just in case.

"Mother moon... please help me. No one can understand what I am feeling. They fear me, because of my power." The woman was attractive. A gypsy, Ixchel noted appreciatively. She liked gypsies. During her brief stay on-planet, she had traveled with a group that later became the gypsies. They still knew the old ways, something she always liked.

"I want love, mi madre. I want a man!"

Love? A man? Such trivial wants. But then again... her hand grazed her stomach, mind elsewhere. A man... love... children. Perhaps they could work for eachother.

"You want a man, my daughter? I will grant your wish- on one condition. That you give me the first child you have with him." Ixchel could tell the woman was startled, but she was smart enough to listen, so the goddess continued. "That is my condition." She knew it was a gamble, but if things worked out she'd be out one useless child and in one potential ally.

And once the seer agreed, there would be no backing out. For either of them.

Once her partner in crime was gone, Luna had no need for a son that could be used by the sun against her. So she gave him to the woman, knowing that his appearance would make the man she chose so enraged that he would kill both mother and child.

But she was wrong, and thankfully so. Once it was done she realized that she could use her unfaithful lover's son against him. And so the once unwanted child became a very crucial pawn.

The tabletop chessboard reappeared. In the center were two pieces, one gold topped with a spiked headdress, the other silver crowned in an upturned crescent. Two pieces directly in front matched exactly- pewter and steel, rounded pawns with linked sun-and-moon images on their bald heads. White gloved fingers rubbed the top of the steel one pensively.

He is useful, now.

That was all he was. Useful. Expendable. Meaningless.

I'm sorry. She didn't sound sorry, but Aradia's words still comforted him.

Thank you. Karan struggled for the next words. Why did she do that?

I do not know.

Why... why was I so detestable to her? Why did she hate me so much to want me dead?

I do not know. Do you wish to leave?

He couldn't see any more even if he wanted to. Please, yes!

They were back, all of a sudden. It was as if nothing had happened. The candles were burning at the same level, people were still celebrating, the crone in the booth was still in the corner. "I'm sorry I had to show you that."

"Aradia?" A voice from outside made both children jump.

Karan's eyes widened as Ixchel ducked into the booth, revealing his identity more than ever to the tall woman. Why was she here, now? Did she want to finish the job and kill him right there?

Aradia was as surprised as the babe in front of her. "Mother?"

"Why did you not tell me you were bringing him? I wanted to see him, to celebrate this joyous occasion!" The goddess reached a hand to stroke the boy's cheek, but Karan flinched, shrinking back as far as he could go. His voice was still lost, but his mind screamed loud enough to be heard.

"Why are you afraid? All I want to do is see you! I know you were afraid last time, but I'm okay. See?"

"She's lying," Aradia shrieked, pointing wildly. "She wanted to kill you!"

Ixchel's first reaction was shock. Her surprise, Karan realized, was genuine. "How could you say something like that?"

"Because it's true."

Why did they keep doing this to him? The two of them- no, the three of them, even if the great shiny one wasn't there. They continued to plague him with things he never wanted to see or hear, and then when he asked for answers, they simply hurt him more. And then they apologized for it!

But this time, they were fighting with eachother. Saying completely opposite things. And that meant someone was lying. But who was lying? How would he tell?

It's working, mother. He is confused, he will fall soon.

Fighting always lowers one's defenses. You manipulated him well.

Or they could both be lying.

How could they do something like that? Ixchel had always doted on him, and watched out fro him. She protected him from the things that hurt. But once he thought about it, she had been there every time one of the hurting things happened. She was the one that made the other one mad. The two fought constantly, but neither of them was really, truthfully, hurt before. Just him.

Aradia had brought him to this strange place, and shown him so many strange things. Many had been fun- like the candles, and the magic bubbles. He couldn't imagine her ever hurting him. Yet there she was, screaming at someone for something she knew was false. They were working together, the two goddesses, and Karan was the only one left in the dark.

Not anymore.

The candle in his hands grew brighter. Both women paused their shouting match to watch as the intense light surrounded them.

"I forgot about that," Aradia grumbled.

"It doesn't matter."

Another lie, Karan thought, hands clenched. That was all either of them had ever done to him. But he wasn't going to let them keep lying. The pain was going to have to stop, and if neither of them was willing to let him be, he would make them.

Light filled the booth. The goddesses shielded their eyes, but there was no avoiding the scene in front of them. Something hovered in front of them, absorbing the light that still leaked from the candle, a star in the heaven above them. "Stop!" the light commanded them. "You will stop hurting me now!"

They did. Ixchel tried to speak first, and when she did so it was not without apprehension. "Karan..."

"You lied to me! You both did!"

"Never have I-"

"See? You're still doing it!" His magnificence was fading, leaving one lone, frightened spirit laughing through his tears. "You can't help it I guess, but just stop anyway!"

Arms open, Arania walked towards him. "Karan, listen to me."

"Why should I? I heard you, both of you! Well, nicely done, I'm confused now. So you can just call it a victory and leave me alone!"

"You're more powerful than I gave you credit for," Aradia admitted. "Very well. I did show you things that were not the truth. But only so you could see-"

"So I could see what you wanted me to see. Well, I'm sick of seeing anything, so just let me go home." Karan was fading fast, but that didn't seem to interfere with his forcefulness one bit.

After looking at Ixchel for permission, Aradia nodded. "I will. But let me say this- much of what you saw tonight is true. Much of what you saw before this was also true. It is up to you to decide what is truth and what is not."

Karan sank back towards his body, but not before trying to claw the speaker in the chest. "Just take me home."

"As you wish, lord of the three worlds."

The candle, flickering flame reflected in the pools of white wax beneath it, went out.

a flutter of wings and a turn of the wind leave something under your doorstep:

~Safety save

[Reserved- Karan meets Ink (HQRP)]