PRL Serials

Forgiveness

– 1 – 

Jeris fly through the last of the sunlight, casting shadows on her face even at a distance. She doesn’t listen to them, but she can hear their conversation. Out here, the jeris were mostly recent adults who worked hard in the ore mines to afford housing in the converted ruins of rhadswiis that were similar to an apartment building but made of stone. Some had families, there was a school, there were bars and organized fighting competitions – both individual and team events – at the seventh sunset. She was on the edge of civilized Hafjeris society, but the jeris out here were decent enough, they chatted about mundane things; family drama, sex, currency, the sunset fights. They were a community of generally unskilled jeris just desperate enough to do the dangerous mining work and they formed into a good, if not gruff and rough around the edges, community. 

In the fading light, the glitters of light that poured off her body became easier to see. She could stop it, control her aspect that is generated by her Third Heart, but she was resting and exerting any energy was a labor. She’d pushed herself too far, fought too hard, but she didn’t regret it. In fact, she was ready to do it again.

“Do you need help?” The voice startled her, she was really out of it, it’s hard to startle her keen senses. “Sorry, I saw you from overhead. You’re glowing, you know. And when I got closer I saw the bruises…”

“It is kind of you to stop, but I am fine. Just catching my breath. What is your name?”

“Rusa Gawol,” the male jeris said and he dipped his wings as he bowed. Rusa wore the standard mining jumpsuit but it was unzipped to his waist and his wings were full behind him. The feathers on his face were dirty, but he had a pleasing face to look at. He was muscled from work in the mines and his skin that was visible through the light feathers of his bare chest was the same color of dark brown as his feathers.

“What is your name, magical woman who shimmers in the darkness? Are you an angel? Your wings are a sight to behold.”

Rusa had a look of wonder on his face. 

“Thank you for your compliments,” she said. “Your kindness is healing to me.”

“I would give you all of me,” Rusa said eagerly. “I’ve heard the stories, that the Aerphim feed on life. I would be your food to be in your divine presence…”

“I am not Aerphim,” she said forcefully, angrily, and the look on her dark face twisted to rage. “I am Pultine, daughter of Iuma, born on the Fonlands Disc of Agê.”

“Sorry,” Rusa said. “I didn’t mean to insult you. You are more pristine than the Aerphim. Your skin is beautiful like the calming darkness, smooth as the undisturbed sea. And those wings, like something from a dream. Your feathers look so soft…”

“Thank you Rusa, but I think I’ve had enough of your help. Run along to your life, whatever responsibilities you have and to whomever. I need my mind right to make sure you have a life to return to.”

“Let me stay with you,” Rusa begged. “Or you come with me. You don’t look like you’re from around here. You can stay with me. We can celebrate the Light holiday together.”

“I have things to do, Rusa, are you not listening?”

“Then I’ll stay here with you,” he said and settled into the grass next to Pultine. “What do you have to do again?”

“I am in the middle of a battle, in the style of your sunset fights. And if I lose, the ore you mine will no longer belong to the jeris, but to the Aerphim you seem to worship. And they won’t need workers like you, Rusa.”

“How do you know that?”

“They have their own workers who work for much less than you jeris.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” Rusa said with concern.

“And that’s not even the worst of it,” Pultine said. 

“What’s the worst of it?”

“They mean to strip this planet Wiis of all that makes it special and that will render it inhospitable. Whatever life you have, Rusa, will be forfeit and it will happen slowly, agonizingly. Millions of jeris will die and the Venerated Aerphim Empire will have a new seat of power on Endla.”

Rusa blinked as he stared at Pultine. He understood the words that she said and the implications of them, and despite the absurdity of it, that any Aerphim would desire to harm the planet Wiis that was personally blessed by the handsome and mysterious god who was the father of all Aerphim, he knew that the glorious woman before him had no need for exaggeration or fabrication. 

“Don’t be so sullen all of a sudden,” Pultine said and put a hand on his shoulder. “I told you that I am currently in a sunset fight to prevent the worst.”

“The sun is set.” Rusa managed weakly.

“And it will set again after the next day, and that is when the proper sunset match begins. Today was me making my stand, declaring myself to our mutual enemy. And their leader accepted the challenge. The one you all revere for his voice, Seraphiel…”

Rusa’s beak fell open in pure astonishment.

“You’ve heard of him?” Pultine asked..

“His voice is sublime, I have been to five of his live shows. He comes to Wiis often.”

“I don’t mean to be an iconoclast, I know the value of idols, and a talent like Seraphiel’s is so amazing and touching that respect for it is understandable if not undeniable. But at the next sunset, he will meet me in battle for the right to lay waste to your entire planet. I will not allow that.”

A smile spread over Rusa’s face. This woman had arrested him from a distance and snatched him out of his normal course that was usually lonely in his single apartment, and then she filled him with terror for his own future, and then managed to reassure him that he was safe in her hands. She was truly incredible. 

“You have to share the Light holiday with me,” Rusa said dreamily. “We can go into city, the street party started yesterday and will go for five more sunsets. The lights are so bright that we can see them from here,” he pointed to a spot on the horizon, over the fields of tall grass and into the sparkling twilight of the violet sky, and there was a distinct glow in one spot where the jeris had gathered to eat and dance and sing to commemorate the first visit from their god to the planet who brought enlightenment and wisdom. 

“Maybe I should enjoy the levity of the season, there are usually beautiful displays in the Light gatherings, but I need to right my mind. Seraphiel is a formidable opponent and he would not have agreed to meet me in battle if he didn’t think he had the advantage.”

“You are not Aerphim and you’re not jeris, why fight to stop the dastardly plan to take the mine?” Rusa asked thoughtfully.

“Seraphiel hurt someone I care very much about,” Pultine said, staring out at the glow on the horizon. “There was a truce made to limit the fallout, and I walked away to preserve peace. But I didn’t forget. I came here to learn more about the Aerphim and as angelic as they seem, there is so much beneath their beautiful surface. Seraphiel is evil, and I would oppose him to frustrate all of his plans for prosperity.”

“I want to join you on your journey,” Rusa said. “I have only known the Aerphim as the angels who occasionally land on Wiis to do good and spread the word of our enlightened god, but you have no need to lie. You are above artiface.”

“I’m not looking for companionship, Rusa. I would like to be rid of the need for vengeance, that is the only thing I want now. And rest. This can be over soon and I can go back to Earth, or to the Fonlands.”

“You are from the true heaven, it makes sense. You are the same as the enlightened god. I don’t want to annoy you, but my days are monotonous in the mines. I have friends, but I live alone. I’d like purpose. Let me travel with you.”

Pultine smiled at him and then back out at the glow of the holiday festivities. 

“Fly me to the party,” she said. “I think your kindness has given me enough energy to have a good time.”