PART 3

Ian awoke in a bed of satin sheets, soft pillows, and a cool breeze. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He was in a large tent with a bed and side table. There was fruit and a pitcher on the table. A chair was pulled out and a mug was half-empty beside it. Raguel’s probably. Ian continued to look around. Gone were his tattered clothes. He was wearing a simple cream tunic. His wounds were all healed and he felt energized. He smelled of fragrances he could not name. A short beard started to grow on his face and his hair ran down to his neck. All these were washed and oiled. How and by who, he could not remember. The tent curtains parted and two women entered the room.

These women had dark skin much like the soldiers of the Army of the Sun. They were tall and lean. They were wearing similar cream tunics like he was. The fabric was light on their skin, their bare legs and arms were glistening in oil. Their hair was braided into a single strand that ran down their backs. They were painted like Orus. Their eyes, arms, parts of their chest, legs, had lines of black ink designed with symbols. Similar golden bracelets adorned their wrists and ankles. They looked exquisite.

“Uhm, hello.” Remarked Ian.

The two ladies bowed in unison and helped him up. They said nothing as they removed his clothing and started to wipe his body with towels that smelled of flowers. Ian didn’t flinch. He was dressed in a fresh new tunic and was given new sandals to wear. The two ladies bowed again, and with a slight smile on their faces, walked out of the tent. It was nighttime. And Ian could hear the sounds of the community starting to wake.

He sat down on the chair and poured himself a drink.

“Clean water?” he thought.

Potable water had become very rare after the war. A glass of clean drinking water is now a luxury that few can afford. And here was an entire pitcher in front of him. He drank his fill. Got another, and drank again. The cool liquid was refreshing in his parched throat.

“I see that you are recovered.”

Raguel walked into the tent. He was also wearing the same garb as Ian. His grey hair neatly tied behind him, his beard trimmed and cut, he looked more like an angel now than he did the day before. He sat down on the chair opposite Ian and continued speaking.

“I know you have questions. Please reserve them after. As you already know, my name is Raguel. And yes, unbelievable as it might be, I am an angel. We do exist, but in the years after the Last Great War, the angels started leaving this plane. And for reasons that you cannot comprehend, I am the last angel here on the planet.”

Ian started to mutter. Raguel raised his finger and continued.

“Again, please allow me to finish first. For many decades I have been observing you and your actions. Since your birth in the Elysian Fields, your education, your training, and your deployment, I have been looking after you. I did not interfere nor made myself known to you. Only when you were in dire straits during your last mission with the Centurions did I choose to appear. Finally, it was time for me to meet you.”

“You mentioned the Elysian Fields, said that I was born there. You know who I am?” Ian replied. The words stinging in his mouth, his head once again swimming in garbled memory.

The angel resumed.

“Your name is Ian. You were a citizen of the Elysian Fields and a Centurion in the Legion. About ten days ago, you were on a covert mission that led you to the desert of the Ancient Dunes. The Black Eagle hovercraft you were on suffered a major hit from a Sun Army projectile. You and your squad crash landed in the dessert. A skirmish followed. Twelve Centurions against two hundred soldiers. It was evenly matched. Your squad was well-trained and fought valiantly. But when your group was on the verge of victory, a trio of Sun Spellcasters ported in, and their magic, along with the rest of their soldiers overcame you. You and your companions were stripped of their ExoSuits. The other Centurions’ bodies were taken by the Sun soldiers, you were left in the desert. As an offering to the Sun.”

Flashes of the fight flickered in Ian’s mind. The Black Eagle crashing. Their squad in their ExoSuits storming out of the wreckage. He can remember. But each time he tried to dive even more, his head would explode and the pain was more than he can bear.

“How am I still alive?” Ian asked softly.

Raguel helped himself to another cup of water and a slice of an apple.

“Well my friend, technically, you died.”

Ian stared in disbelief.

“Settle down, and I will explain everything.” Said Raguel.

Raguel made a choice long ago not to reveal himself to Ian. Ever since the Oracle told him about the Prophecy over 200 years ago, Raguel vowed not to interfere. He had had enough of fates, or destinies, or divine will. As long as he can remember, he has seen what humans do with their beliefs. War, famine, suffering, death, all these things were the byproducts of humans and their ‘beliefs’. People in the hundreds of thousands have been killed in the name of one god or the other. Entire nations wage war based on some text or dogma. Mankind could never seem to handle ideas bigger than themselves, and they always end up destroying one another because of it.

Raguel continued.

“You, Ian, were meant to be the perfect human.” In all the countless centuries of your planet’s history, civilization has never been this close to the brink of extinction when the Last Great War erupted. All the wars, the destruction of the planet, the ravage of the resources, it has all led to a tipping point. The Spiritual Forces had to intervene, or the entire planet would perish. You see, much like your ancestors believed, gods do exist. But throughout the course of history, your kind would rather use the gods as a reason to slaughter or steal, rather than to care and coexist. This kept on happening for hundreds and hundreds of years until the gods themselves lost all taste for humanity. And when they could take it no longer, as one, the gods left.”

Ian could only stare at the bearded figure sitting in front of him. Telling him that the myths were true, that he was a key piece of some destiny, but he could not believe any of it.

The angel carried on with his story.

“When the gods disappeared, all notion of peace and restraint disappeared with them. People started to give in to their innate natures. Even more than before, they fed their selfish desires, their greed, their lusts, and their anger. Conflicts doubled, wars were enlarged, and hate spread even more. The planet was a tinderbox just waiting for the final match for it to explode. And so it did, it was called The Last Great War. You know what happened since then, you’ve seen the holodisks and it was taught to you during your training in the Empire. After this calamitous event, countries ceased to exist, the global population was decimated, natural resources were depleted, and any semblance of the world before was wiped away. The atmosphere was destroyed, the landscape of the planet was altered, disease ran afoul. Mankind has effectively destroyed itself.”

Raguel paused for a moment, his silver eyes were pools of infinite memory.

“It was then that the gods chose to look this way again. From their perch in the spiritual heights, the gods decided that they will try to work with humanity again. There were only dim pockets of humanity left throughout the globe. The atmosphere was destroyed, resources were scarce, and hope of survival was close to nothing. If there was a chance to retake humanity, this was it. Three gods descended and took their places among the scattered tribes of the planet. Through their knowledge, their powers, and their will, they each set up city-states for the surrounding tribes of their area. With careful guidance, these scattered tribes formed communities, found laws, started cultures, and became the last remaining bastions of humanity on the planet today. You know them as the Ancient Dunes, represented by Orus here in the South. In the East lies the Far Eastern Kingdom, led by Magus. And lastly the Elysian Empire, from which you were born, commanded by Deus, your emperor.”

Raguel took another sip of water from his glass. The angel watched the young man take in all this new information. Ian was shaking, his breath was heavy and uneven. It was difficult for him.

After what seemed like an eternity, Ian spoke.

“When you started, you said I was meant to be the ‘Perfect Human’. You said that I died. But now here I am, as alive as the merchants and the children outside. I was left in the desert, I was out in the open, why am I not dead?”

Raguel gently stood and offered his hand to Ian.

“Come, follow me, and I will show you.”

The pair exited the tent and into the cool evening breeze outside. The sounds of the community were at a good pace already. Families were outside chatting and going about at their daily activities, the market was in full swing. Ian could see a town elder talking to a group of young children all seated on carpets in the sand. The place was alive.

Raguel unfurled his wings, took Ian by the shoulders and leapt into the air. It was so quick and fast that Ian had no chance to react. In a flutter of seconds, Raguel and Ian landed softly on a high ledge of the Great Pyramid. They were at a height of almost 300 feet from the ground where they stood just moments ago. Ian could only gasp. Almost as far as he could see, white tents appeared on the sand. Groups of people were walking and coming together. He could see stalls, markets, community centers, everything was the sight of life. The Ancient Dunes. As far as the eye could see. And beyond that, the desert.

Raguel continued to speak.

“The people of the Sands only come out at night. During the day, everyone takes shelter in underground caves and caverns stretching for hundreds of meters below this very pyramid. But when evening comes, Orus expands the power of the Triune Jewel to allow his people to walk safely on the surface, free from the hazards of the sky.”

“The Triune Jewel?” Ian asked.

“Yes, each god carried with them an object of unlimited power that helped them shape the civilizations under their care. Orus is the keeper of the Ancient Jewel. It provides the mirage that hides the Ancient Dunes from sight and detection. That is why your Elysian Empire has had such a difficult time locating it. It also creates a barrier between the land and the hazards of the radiation and chemicals of the open air. Allowing the people of the Dunes some semblance of surface life only at night, when the sun’s deadly rays are not directly on this side of the world.”

“What about Deus? What power does he hold?” Ian asked about his emperor, the leader of the Elysian Nation.

“Deus wields the Triune Sword. It gives the owner unlimited power. Literally. That is why the Elysian Empire is the most technologically advanced of all the three city-states. Through that, he has created technological marvels, weapons, vehicles, even the flying city itself is powered by the Triune Sword.” Raguel answered.

Ian had more questions.

“You still haven’t answered my question, how am I alive? What is my role in all this?”

Raguel continued.

“When the gods decided to rejoin humanity almost 300 years ago, they had a purpose. Each of them would forge their own path to restoring the planet. These gods are much like humans you see. They have distinct personalities. They were going to find out which one of them would prove to be the better guide for the human race. Nations were established, the people grew, and the gods started to believe that each one had succeeded in their task. The three gods stay away from the daily dealings of their lands. They only ensure that their kingdoms thrive and survive. It is the human leaders that handle the affairs of the state. And this is where the conflicts come in. Soon, as it was expected, the three nations could not avoid isolation anymore. At first it was just peaceful trade and healthy exchanges of information and resources. Petty clashes started after that. The Elysian Empire began to flex its military muscle. The Far Eastern Kingdom initiated a separatist stance and erected their impenetrable walls. And the Ancient Dunes drifted into isolation.”

Raguel went on.

“This is where you come in. You were born into a middle-class family. This granted you a slot as a citizen on the air capital. You lived a regular life until you joined the Centurion Program. The toughest unit in the Elysian military. Only 100 Centurions exist at any given time in the unit. You breezed through training did you not? You had a mental and physical acuity that was far superior to your peers. You became captain of your squad. And was tasked to lead your first mission to scout the desert lands. But unknowingly, you came to close to the hidden borders of the Ancient Dunes. Your vehicle was attacked, and you remember the rest.”

“I remember.” Ian replied. “I died. But now I’m alive. How could that be?”

Raguel put his hand on the young man’s shoulders and replied.

“You have to thank the Oracle for that. She is the ultimate guide of the gods. And when she saw that a sort of balance was achieved by Orus, Magus, and Deus, she predicted that a boy would be born and will bring about a new era of humanity. But for that boy to become the perfect man, he must first die a mortal death, and be reborn.”

Ian was silent. Raguel went on.

“For the last 300 years I have been scouring the planet for places of conflict where a dead man would rise again. You were always special and stood out from where you are. So I kept a close watch over you, as I said. Yesterday, I saw you die, and then you walked again. The Oracle told me I would find you, and here we are now.”

Stuttering, Ian started to speak.

“So…I’m what, the savior of the world?”

The angel gave a gentle laugh and answered.

“Something like that.”