Undra Origins: The First Champion Part II

Sanctum of Dawn

As Lysande opened her eyes, she found herself in a room covered by walls of jagged limestone and granite. She was lying under a white-patterned quilt, and there was an open window beaming with the warmth of the sun’s rays. It was tiny, probably only big enough for two people.

“Where am I?” She asked, wiping the grit from her eyes.

She sat up in bed, looked around the room, and noticed her gear leaning against a dark wooden door. Lysande pulled off the covers, grabbed her belongings, and carefully reached for the handle. She quietly pushed it open revealing an empty stone hallway.

“Thank the Hallowed.” She muttered, gently closing the door behind her.

Doesn’t seem like I was kidnapped by rogues or marauders.

The passage lead her in two different directions, to her right seemed to continue on endlessly, but to the left, the walls were glowing from the sunshine.

“Follow the light,” she remarked.

As she approached the end of the hall, there was an opening that led to a flight of stairs trailing down towards a radiant courtyard filled with blooming gardens and flowerbeds. Lysande’s eyes grew wide as she watched people in white robes chanting in groups, some had wings and soared through the skies while others tended to the plants down below. She walked down the steps and as she reached the bottom, it felt as if the morning warmth was lightly wrapping itself around her.

“Looks like you’re finally awake,” a stranger said.

Lysande looked over at a woman dressed in the same cloak as the others. Up close, she noticed that the stranger was actually an Adjurian, an animal-like human. There was a unique star-shaped emblem embedded in their robe and a diamond-patterned band patched into their right sleeve. The stranger’s ears bulged out from under her hood. She had copper hair that shined like seascales, and had a smile that would have made a hookgator feel welcomed.

“Um — hello,” she bowed. “I’m Lysande. Would you happen to know where I am?”

“Yes, this is the Sanctum of Dawn.” She chuckled, gesturing behind her, “We found you outside the temple’s entrance last night and brought you in. You looked ravaged, completely covered in leaves and dirt. And, we saw that your shoulder was hurt, so we dressed the wound for you.”

Lysande had completely forgotten that something latched onto her last night. She looked over her shoulder, placing a hand under her shirt gliding her fingers along the grain of the bandages.

“I didn’t even notice. Thank you so much — ”

“You can call me Elyse, dear.”

“Oh. Thank you, Sage Elyse.” Lysande bowed again.

“Well, aren’t you quite the respectful child?” She bowed back. “Come,” the sage took her hand. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Elyse led her through the courtyard. The disciples of the temple stood in awe as Lysande walked by. Some floated down to a nearby rooftop to get a better look at her while others stopped chanting and tending to the garden to gaze upon her. As the two continued on, they started to approach a soaring structure that looked as though it was touching the clouds above. It resembled a palace, surrounded by candescent windows and ivory statues sitting upon each step. The marble entrance felt mountainous, a sculpture of claws and four feathered wings covered the trim of the doorway, and above it, at the center of the rooftop, was the head of the Draken looking out into the distance as if it was guarding this sacred land.

“Go on.” Elyse pushed, letting go of her hand.

The gates opened before Lysande and she looked back at Elyse. She could feel her chest growing tight and a numbness in her fingertips.

“You’ll be okay,” Elyse told her.

Lysande nodded and took a breath, “Thank you.” She said turning back to walk inside.

The doors closed behind her and shut without a sound. When Lysande peered ahead a glaring light was shining, she raised a hand trying to shade her eyes, but still couldn’t make out what was in front of her. Every step echoed through the room as she slowly walked forward.

“Open your eyes, young one.” A gentle voice spoke.

“I — I can’t. It’s too bright,” she said.

“Lower your arm and allow the light to bend to you,” The voice instructed.”

Lysande dropped her hand. For a brief moment, it felt as if she was staring into the sun, but the pain vanished in an instant. As she slowly opened her eyes, the rays of piercing light transformed into a glow of blues and purples before scattering through the air.

Before her was a being brighter than the purest gemstones.

“Aura?” Lysande asked, eyeing the deity’s opalescent skin.

“Yes, Lysande.” The Hallowed smiled.

Aura hovered nimbly through the air as if she was sitting upon a translucent throne. She must have been at least three times her father’s height, gliding through the air with dominion, the divine ruler of the stars. Her silk sage hair curled down to her waist and swirled like waves of an ocean.

Lysande slowly placed her things on the floor and knelt down on one knee. “My deity,” she said. “I am truly blessed to be in your presence.”

“My my,” Aura said looking down on her. “Aren’t you truly cherished by the stars? Ascend.”

She stood up at a loss for words.

“Tell me, what brought you here today?”

“I’m not really sure,” she confessed. “I was just told to come to the Sanctum when I was old enough.”

“Are you certain?” The Hallowed asked, “Has nothing troubled you all these years?”

Lysande paused for a moment, Aura was right. As a child, she always felt out of place. The other children back in Serpant’s Bay always called her strange and dangerous because she played around with wild creatures.

“Well, I’ve always wanted to — actually, I was wondering why I am… different?”

“Would you elaborate, dear?” Aura leaned forward.

“Yes, Hallowed one. Ever since I was young I have been able to befriend creatures that could kill a hundred men. I’m not sure why I am able to do these things while other cannot. So, as you mentioned earlier, why am I cherished by the stars and others are not?”

“I see. You must think that I chose you, correct?” The Hallowed smiled, “That you, Lysande of Serpant’s Bay, are destined for a grand purpose in life.” Aura looked at her in amusement, “Unfortunately, you are mistaken. In a way, you both were and weren’t chosen.”

Lysande scratched her head confused.

“Allow me to explain,” the deity held her right palm out in front of Lysande, and the world of Undra appeared with seven shadows surrounding it. “In the beginning, the Hallowed reigned over this world. Watching, building, and nurturing Undra to what it is today. But, for it to continue to flourish, we had to forfeit a part of our heart, our soul. Together, the Hallowed resides within all things, the very soil that you walk upon, the vast oceans that you sail across, in the depths of the darkest shadows, and in every ray of sunlight. Plants, creatures, soldiers, kings, every single one of them is a descendant of the Hallowed and the Void.”

With a wave, the projection of Undra disappeared. Then, Aura gathered both hands close, casting a glowing infant between them. “When you were born, the light that resided throughout the realms poured through you brighter than the suns and the stars.” The child vanished and the deity held her palms open. “In a way, you were chosen but not of my own doing. The remnants of my life essence that flows in every part of Undra converged onto you. Once I have surrendered a part of myself, I no longer have control over where it goes or who it goes to.”

“Every creature carries a light, some brighter than others.” Aura glided forward and pointed at her. “But yours, Lysande, yours has a certain allure, if you will, an intensity to it that is very different from mine.”

Lysande looked up at Aura with wide eyes. She didn’t know how to feel or what to say.

“I’m sorry, Hallowed one. I’m not sure what to say.”

“There is nothing to say,” Aura declared. “We are simply stating what is. Do with it what you will, dear. You may leave to the harrowing journey that awaits you beyond those doors.”

“Wait, what do you mean by that?” She questioned.

The Hallowed feigned a smile, “With grand ambitions comes grander adversities. Now, it is time for you to go.”

“Hold on!” Lysande cried, she felt an uncertainty creep within her. “Can I… May I ask you one last thing?”

Aura raised her brow, “You may.”

“I know you said that your light shines bright within me, but I am not like you.” Lysande stated, “I still have my fears. I still have my doubts. Would you please, please consider giving me your blessing for protection against the night?”

“Hm,” the Hallowed said pondering her request. “Quite impressive, I must say. I’ll honor your honesty and accept your plea, young one. Come closer.”

Lysande approached the deity.

“Kneel,” she commanded.

She knelt down.

“Now, recite the oath.”

An oath? What oath? She thought. Maybe, it was something mom and dad —

Her head jerked upwards revealing a pair of swirling black eyes. Words swarmed into her mind and poured out of her.

“Under the Sacred Seven, I, Lysande of Serpant’s Bay, shall be a bringer of dawn. I shall never waiver against those who seek to harm the Sovereign of Juvelier or forfeit my heart to the Void. I pledge to be a liberator, a guardian, a flare throughout the realms. A beacon of light that shines the way. On this day and for all days to come.”

Lysande’s dark eyes transformed into a blinding shimmer before her head sank back down into her chest. As she regained consciousness, her head was in a haze. She looked up at Aura recalling what had just happened.

“How did you do that?” Lysande asked.

“I didn’t do a thing.” The deity responded, “You’ve always known the oath since you first stepped into this world, young one.”

Her body felt lighter than an ocean breeze. She was at peace, realizing that all the worries and doubts that she had earlier, had completely vanished. Lysande could feel a warmth in her hands. When she held them together, something started to form. A spark appeared condensing and molding between her palms until it shattered and dispersed through the air taking the shape of a Boros. The tiny flying serpent watched her with sapphire-slit pupils. As it flew above, the creature’s scales brimmed with a multitude of vibrant hues. It looked much smaller than the crimson ones Lysande was used to back home. She stuck out a finger, and the Boros landed gently on the tip of her nail. It gripped her with its four little claws and wrapped its tail around the stalk of her finger.

“What is this?” Lysande asked.

“That is your companion.” Aura told her, “You two are now bound through my blessing and by the sacred oath. You won’t be needing a torch anymore. From now on, it shall light the path for you.”

“My companion,” she said, lightly scratching the Boros’ head. “Thank you so much, Aura. I think I’ll call her… Opame (O - Pom - Meh)”

“It is time, Lysande. Undra is about to discover the great things that await you.”

“I can’t express my gratitude enough, Hallowed One.” She bowed, “I shall be your beacon throughout the realms.”

Aura restrained a smile, “May you never waiver.”

“On this day and for all days to come,” Lysande said.

Author Note:

Definition of Adjurian: Pronounced (Ah-jur-rian), A race of half beast and half human beings.