- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
She knew her father was skilled in combat, but she had never seen him in combat. “Why did you kill them?” She looked to the three men that had not attacked her.
“They came together, and surely they would have told someone about what happened here.” The old man towered over Elena’s impressive height, and for a man of his age he was still in excellent physical condition. “You understand that we must keep everything we do a secret. I would have spared them had they not known your identity.”
Elena pressed her hand to her bleeding side. “Then, it was my fault… for failing you.”
“Yes.” He simply replied. “You failed today, but you will succeed in the future. This was a learning experience, my child. The men of this world will not respect you, even if you posses great strength.”
Elena and her father walked from the bloody grounds of the path, and as they exited the rocky cliff area they saw the camps where the men had been staying. Elena’s father had invited hundreds of men to come and seek the prize, and many men had come to test their strength and claim the gold pieces that he had promised.
He turned to Elena, “Gather your equipment and go home. Mother will tend to your wounds. I will go and pay these men and tell them we are done.”
“You won’t kill them?”
“No. They do not know what has happened.”
“I do not understand why there must be so much secrecy father.”
“You will in time.”
“What about the bodies of the men you killed?”
“As we speak, the bodies are being taken care of. There is more to our tribe than you can learn in one year, Elena. There are the Watchmen, those who watch over us and ‘clean up’ our mistakes.”
Elena looked back into the path, to see if she could see anyone, and sure enough she saw a man gazing back at her from the path she had just left. The man was shrouded in a full covering robe and his face was also covered in a hood, and around his neck hung a simple circler medallion.
“They are the Watchmen.” Elena’s father stated. “They are the tribe that watches over all of Egypt, to be sure that no one talks of the Reclaimers or of the Ark. Our tribes span the world, Elena. No matter where you go, they will watch you. You are the chosen, and you still have much to learn.” He patted her on the shoulder and began to walk away.
“Are they like us? Strong?”
“No. They are normal, but they were born of our tribe. Watchmen are those who are born within our tribe, but can not fight. Go home and take care of yourself.”
Elena tossed her supplies on to her camel and mounted it. She held on to her side as blood continued to flow, but luckily their campsite was close, and her mother would tend to her wounds.
- - - - - - - -
Night had come upon the campsite and it was time for everyone to rest, but while the others milled away and prepared to sleep, Elena was dealing with the wounds of yet another day of training. Her body still ached and her wounds were still being tended to. Her tent was filled with the scented smoke of aroma incense. Elena lay bare on her stomach as her mother and nurse maid tended to her wounds. Elena folded her arms under her chin and played blankly with the pink necklace she wore. After stitching the wound, the nurse maid left the tent and Elena’s mother began to massage her daughter’s exhausted muscles with warmed oils.
“Mom, why is this stone so precious and magical?” She held it to her nose and bounced it off playfully.
“I’ve told you the story many times, Elena. You know why.” Her mother sighed as she massaged Elena’s calves.
“You’ve told me where it came from, how to use it, but never why it is special.” Elena dropped the necklace and laid her head down upon her forearms.
“Oh? Perhaps you are not ready for that.” She chuckled. “The Luminous Key will present itself to you, when you present yourself before the Ark.”
“When will I see the Ark?”
“When you are ready. And believe me when I say, the longer you wait, the better.”
Elena sighed softly as she peered through the tent drapes and into the camp. “You and father have been Reclaimers for more then a hundred and fifty years. You have so much knowledge of the past. Yet, I feel that you are not sharing everything with me.”
“You are only twenty-one, Elena. Most of the knowledge you seek can not be given to you at this point.”
“Why?”
Elena’s mother sighed deeply. “Do you remember the story of Lilith?”
“Yes mom.” Elena sighed in return. “She was the first child of Litran and Bitran, the first born child of our tribe. Yet she grew up and did not wish to become a Reclaimer. She trained with her father and mother but when it was time to take over for them, she chose not to. Instead, she turned on her family and told outsiders where to find the Ark. Because of her Litran and Bitran had to move the Ark. It was the Second Movement of our Tribe.”
“And what did you learn from that story?” Her mother questioned as she began to rub Elena’s shoulders.
Elena recalled what her father had told her many years ago, the true meaning of the Lilith’s tale. “Trust no one.”
“Say it again, but this time, say it as if you were me.”
Elena thought on these words and slowly repeated the phrase, “Trust… no … one. Because of Lilth’s folly, you must be cautious, even of your own child.”
Her mother stopped massaging Elena as she thought on this. “Yes. I love you with all my heart, Elena, but if we are to survive as a race… as a species, we must not let anyone find the Ark until the time is right. And until me and your father both agree, we will not reveal the location of the Ark to you.”
Elena closed her eyes and let the words, and her mother’s relaxing massage, sink into her. She didn’t understand the secrecy behind the Ark, the Luminous Key and of being a Reclaimer. What could be so important about the Ark and Key, that it would make her tribe go through thousands of years of isolation and secrecy?
- - - - - - - -
Nile River West coast
Eastern Sahara Desert: 3117 BC
Southern Crest of Egyptian Territory
“… so it is this day that we accept you, my daughter. May you guard the Ark and the Luminous Key until the next chosen successor comes forth.” Elena’s mother had never been so proud. Her daughter stood radiant on the river bank of the Nile, while the Watchmen branded her with a tattoo upon the center of her forehead. It was a new custom, a mark of true devotion to the protection of the Ark, the Key and the future of humanity. From this moment on Elena would spend one year within the Ark, learning everything there is to know about being a Reclaimer, where humanity began, and what the Ark was. After one year she would emerge from the Ark with all the knowledge she was seeking. And she would also train; train to fight an enemy unlike anything she could fathom.
The small tattoo upon her forehead was complete, and Elena stepped away from the river and smiled to her mother and father. The tattoo was sore but it wasn’t enough to distract her from the enjoyment of the day. Upon a simple glimpse the tattoo was small and resembled a pyramid, but a closer inspection would clearly show that it represented much more. Unique symbols dotted the tiny tattoo, and words that only their tribe would understand.
Elena’s father stepped forward and smiled lovingly into his daughter’s eyes. “We will be leaving shortly, are you sure that you wish to do this? Once we arrive at the Ark there will be no turning back. Only the Reclaimers know the exact location of the Ark, not even the Watchmen are permitted to follow.”
“Yes father, I am ready. I have been waiting for this my whole life.” Elena smiled happily as the entire tribe celebrated around the river’s edge. There were dozens of her family members watching; including her eldest brothers and sisters. Of her family, Elena was the only one that was born with a pure bloodline, and she was the youngest. Elena walked to them all, hugging and kissing each of them lovingly. It would be many years before she would see them again. After the goodbyes, Elena with her mother and father and a select few of the Watchmen, began their journey to the Ark.
As they departed the area two Watchmen greeted each other in a soft hug, and secretly whispered to each other, “The plans are set.”
“When they are clear of the area, kill the family starting with the oldest child. We will follow them and find the Ark, and then we will deal with the mother and father.”
To be concluded...
Well, I said that this was going to be the conclusion, but the section turned out to be nearly 14 pages... much too long, and it was still going. So I had to cut it up. Look for the next, and hopefully last, part tomorrow. Those of you who are familiar with "IIWYH" may recognize the "Watchmen". Perhaps there is a connection between the humans and the Elites??? *insert evil laugh*