Treatise Of A Failed Knight

Music echoes in the air, and everyone gathers around the bright pillar of lights that has formed at the center of the group.

The lights warble with all kinds of colors, illuminating the vast space despite it being nighttime.

The two hundred thousand plus Vey'lithars surround the bright lights, and right next to each of them are their bonded Magivores. It almost feels like a camp, where everyone surrounds the bonfire, only on a much more enormous scale.

Everyone holds hands and begins to sing, their melodious voices filling the space.

Ciel clasps my hand into hers, and I reach out to one of the Vey'lithars next to me, who leans down to accept my hand while showing some level of awkwardness.

Ahh…

I feel really short right now.

I am over six feet in height, but the average Vey'lithar adult seems to be over seven feet.

Ciel is over eight feet, and she is the tallest here.

However, there is no room to dwell on height differences when I fully absorb myself into the Festival of Whispers.

The music of the people swirls in the air and stirs within my heart.

The pillar of multicolored lights at our center seems to glow brighter as the music intensifies, rising even higher into the night sky. Then, little specks of light begin to rise from all over the Sanctuary.

Like fireflies, they ascend from the grass or manifest from the deepest recesses of this hidden world, all of them drawn towards the pillar of light. They enter the gateway of brilliance, causing the monolith of illumination to increase in splendor.

I watch in stunned silence, my exposed gray eye suddenly filled with all kinds of colors.

"Beautiful…" I whisper.

Once those words leave my lips, I notice Ciel glancing at me.

I turn to stare at her.

She smiles.

"You are right. The world… nature… life… is beautiful." Her melodious voice doesn't cease even when she responds to me, her charming grin only turning more alluring.

Somehow, the softness of her touch becomes more vivid.

Her scent separates itself from the rest.

I stare at her violet eyes and feel my heart thumping loudly, unsure of what these emotions could mean. Regardless, I endure these feelings and continue to enjoy the music.

After singing in their native language for some time, the Vey'lithars begin to hum.

Their hums are like the wind.

At least, at first.

Then, they begin to produce musical sounds, almost like they were using flutes and all other kinds of instruments with their mouths. The Magivores among them begin to dance to this tune, and the Vey'lithars laugh at the sight, even clapping in encouragement.

They clear the stage for these Magivores, and all of them march to the center, showing off their special dance moves.

Never in my life would I have expected to see Magivores dance.

'I can't wait to tell the villagers…' My eyes twinkle in delight as I hold in my disbelief.

The dance of the Magivores creates constant tremors, but this only creates a melodious beat that harmonizes perfectly with the music in the air. After the tempo rises to new heights, everyone suddenly breaks into a dance.

"Come on, Javier… Join us!" Ciel holds me, drawing me closer to her slender and tall body as she dances to the addictive tune of music.

I laugh sheepishly at first, moving my body without proper rhythm.

However, with time, this changes.

My sluggish movements become more refined, and my flow becomes unrestrained. It's like the hums and melodies, along with the tremors, guide me. My instincts are awakened, and I find myself swiftly moving, twisting, and twirling in response to the stimuli.

I have never danced so well in my life!

After several hours spent like this, the Festival ends for the night.

But the Festival of Whispers lasts for three separate nights. One has been consummated, which means there are two to go.

At first, I was indifferent about staying, only planning on capturing as much information as possible for the sake of Brad's Village. That way, the people there could vicariously experience the Vey'lithars through my tale.

But now?

I truly want to witness this Festival for myself!

**************

I spend most of the next day learning more about the Vey'lithars from Ciel, and I even interact with a few Vey'lithars in the Sanctuary.

Apparently, there are three main ceremonies/festivals that the Vey'lithars celebrate.

One is, of course, the Festival of Whispers.

Then, there is the Bonding Ceremony, where a Vey'lithar child is chosen by a Magivore through scent, and after both parties feed upon a portion of the other's flesh, they form a pact that lasts a lifetime.

Most Magivores do not bond with another once their Vey'lithar dies. Instead, they grow secluded from the others and die not too long after.

Since the average lifespan of Magivores tends to be much higher humans, I can somewhat understand how problematic it would be if the previously bonded Magivores refused to select another Vey'lithar after its previous partner died.

In no time, the Sanctuary would be filled with so many unbound and unwilling Magivores, especially since the Vey'lithars have such a low lifespan.

Honestly, the biggest limitation for Magivores is their fertility rate.

Usually, the higher a Magivore's lifespan, the lower its fertility rate, ensuring they don't overpopulate the world and cause a crisis. Nature is balanced that way, giving humanity a chance to keep a hold on this world.

In any case, the Bonding Ceremony is the second festival they celebrate.

As for the last—

"The Magivore Offering ritual is a sacred event. It is in this period that we feed the deceased to the Magivores, the ones they are bound to. If one dies before they are bound, which is rare, an unbound Magivore consumes the flesh and will never bond with another until it perishes. We respect each other and the symbolism of this ritual…"

Ciel goes on to explain the significance of the Offering Ritual, and it paints a clear image.

I understand it better now.

The Vey'lithars aren't a supreme race that can perfectly manipulate Magivores with Druid Arts.

Rather, their culture is simply shaped around the Magivores, and this is largely due to their physiology. Their special condition, which allows them to evolve after long-term exposure to Magivores, coupled with their delicious bodies, has made them a unique race that can live harmoniously with the Magivores.

No other race can replicate this effect, hence the reason they became the Original Druids.

All others are counterfeits.

'Magivores are simply another part of their society. They aren't weapons, but relatives… their protectors. The Vey'lithars cannot defend themselves, and the Magivores help them. In exchange, the Vey'lithars take care of the Magivores, ensuring they are well-fed, groomed, and are looked after. In the advent of death, the one who dies first is consumed by the other and remembered forever. This is a symbiotic relationship that perfectly benefits both sides.'

I would be lying if I said I wasn't moved.

The Bonding Ceremony and Festival of Whispers occur every year, but the Magivore Offering ritual happens every month. The time hasn't come for the next, so it appears I won't be around to witness it.

Other than learning about their festivals, I also learn about how they live.

What they do.

Their occupations, recreational activities, everything I can about this place, and how I can pass on the culture to the villagers outside.

It still pains me that I was unable to reach an arrangement with Ciel.

But it is what it is.

"One of our favorite pastimes is something called Living Vine Sculptures. It's something that the Ancient Florath Race used to do, too." Ciel breaks my train of thought and explains the act to me in great detail.

Living Vine Sculptures, in its simplest definition, is plant art woven into humanoid or animal forms; often grown as memorials to fallen heroes or Magivores.

They also use it to tell stories.

Ciel takes me to a garden where there are all kinds of Living Vine Sculptures, and even without telling me… I can see the message that these sculptures show.

Death.

Subjugation.

All kinds of suffering.

The sculptures clearly depict Vey'lithars being hunted down and brutally killed, even eaten. It is a gruesome retelling of their humiliating history, as well as their triumphant migration. They eventually found a land for themselves, one where they thrived.

Still, the pain that must accompany this tale.

Even if it were ten thousand years ago, surely the Vey'lithars must not have forgotten it.

"I'm… sorry," I whisper to Ciel. "Your people have truly been harmed by—"

"No need to apologize. This act wasn't done by the Nowe'arns. Although your kind has also caused many unspeakable atrocities, they cannot compare to the brutality of those savage Ny'therins." She trembles as she speaks, and even I can't decipher the depths of her sorrow.

All I can do is hold her hand in encouragement.

There are 9 Major Races in Eariel, and of them… the Ny'therins are known as the most savage.

I thought this was an exaggeration made by the Nowe'arn Race, but that doesn't seem to be the case. They are often depicted as devils of the forest, wild beings who cannot be reasoned with.

They are also referred to as The Horned Ones.

But they live so far away, towards the Northeast of the Continent, so I have never encountered them in my life. I also know too little about them.

"They are the sworn enemies of my people—the one Race we cannot forgive. The only true stain in the beauty of nature." Ciel grits her teeth, showing hints of rage now. "Know this, Javier, that all Ny'therins are enemies. Should you ever meet one, you must eliminate them without showing any kind of hesitation."

I shiver to my core once I hear Ciel's words.

It's unreal.

To think that there exists a race so abominable that the Vey'lithars would not consider showing forgiveness to. While there are many more questions I would like to ask, and more words I wish to utter, I simply nod in understanding.

"Okay."

After a few seconds of this tense silence, Ciel's anger dissipates, and her smile returns.

"Let us return." She whispers to me. "The second Festival is about to begin."

I nod.

Then, with our hands clasped together, we return to the vast field.

Believe it or not, this second night is even more lively than the first. There is a lot more dancing and music, with everyone completely getting lost in the melodies—myself included.

The lights are much brighter than they were yesterday.

The world is more colorful.

I spend most of my time with Ciel, though I end up dancing with other Vey'lithars.

Ciel watches all of this, laughing.

I laugh too.

Believe it or not, after dancing so energetically all night, Ciel and I end up returning to her residence. And… we actually continue our dance indoors.

Stripping each other of our clothes, we feel our naked bodies softly brush against each other, and then the rhythm becomes faster—rawer. The louder we are, the more lost I become in the dance, with moans of pleasure filling my ears.

Never before have I felt this way—the primal urge of hunger.

Our flow is out of this world.

Her sweat constantly sprays around, filling the air with a sweet-smelling fragrance that might as well be an aphrodisiac. It drives me crazy, and my mouth waters for more of her.

I lick her body, her sweat tasting sweet like wine.

Every part of her tall, slender body only serves to fuel my appetite.

I consume everything with satisfaction.

We dance… and dance.

The dance lasts all night, and by the time dawn breaks, we are in each other's embrace.

Ciel…

… And me.

What an interesting development.

****************

My last night in the Sanctuary defies my expectations.

I expected even louder music and a much more energetic dance. My body still slightly aches from last night, so I was beginning to fear how much I would need to exert myself.

Surprisingly, tonight is different.

Everyone sits in a large spiral, or bodies relaxed, as we hold each other and begin to make soft chants, humming and whispering. There is no dance, no loud thumps or overwhelming drumming, yet the impact remains just as powerful.

The silent trepidation in my heart just won't stop as we sing quietly, all voices converging to form an endless tapestry of beauty.

Before realizing it, tears descend from my face, and I feel the depth of this world.

With my blurry gaze, I watch Ciel cry as well.

Why?

Why is she crying?

Then, I see everyone cry as well, their bodies trembling under the power of the mood.

Suddenly, I feel at ease.

Like I was always meant to be here—just for this moment.

Their tears smell like sweet spring, and I feel dandelions flutter all around my heart throughout.

The night is long and breezy.

I sleep amidst the people through this ceremony, only being awoken by daybreak.

The sight of sunrise in the pink sky is astounding.

So pretty.

And yet, as I look at Ciel, whose eyes slowly flutter open, I can't help but think that even the sun pales in comparison to her beauty.

Just what is this feeling?

I never even felt it toward Dahlia or any other woman in my life.

Could this be… love?

True love?

I don't know. I can't say.

But I know this—these people have become special to me. During this short period, they have found their way into my heart, and this experience is one I will cherish until I die.

'So thank you, Ciel…' I lean closer to her and place my head on her shoulder.

My smile brightens, mimicking the sun high above.

'… Thank you, everyone.'

*************

'Javier…'

Ciel casts a fond gaze on the young Nowe'arn who rests his head on her slim shoulders, and after much contemplation, begins to stroke his raven black hair.

Her heart is filled with all kinds of emotions.

Joy.

Nostalgia.

Desire.

Pain.

Sorrow.

… and Resolve.

'I'm sorry, but I simply cannot allow you, or the others you have brought to this mountain to live.'

Despite the warmth of her expression, her heart has long turned cold.

'You will all die here.'