The night within the ark’s city was long and quiet. The Furnance of the Ancestors had went out a few years ago and the temperature of this enclosed world had been falling ever since. The power for the lighting system had also been greatly affected and the citizens could only draw very limited power from a very few circuits to keep the lights functioning. Their “world” as such had fell into half-lit state, like a perpetual dusk.
But the past was very very different, according to the legends.
Master Orrow had carried with him a big tome. The book looked like it was made of some kind of synthetic woven fabric. It was a massive hand-written tome. The old scholar carefully opened the tome as he spoke very slowly. “This is a precious thing. Only scholars who had studied in the Spire of Knowledge for more than ten years are allowed to copy the encyclopedia. I’ve used a good half year to copy it down… Have a look, this chronicles the glorious times of yore…”
Hao Ren and Lily looked over, and they found the drawings on the pages very complex, some of the pages had drawings of whirling machines, electric circuits, maps, sundry items and others. And beneath the pictures was a load of footnotes and postscripts. Hao Ren was confused for a moment as he saw it. Many of the drawings were very common daily sundries, but as the transcription went over generations, there were many missing pieces and errors leading the pages to look very weird.
“Many many years ago, there was a time where there was no winter at all.” The scholar gently ran his fingers on the pages, his speech slow. “The world was full of vigor and life, and there were no trace of distortion or destruction. Our ancestors lived a wealthy and stable life. The electric fairies were much more active back then, and they were limitless. Every light and heater worked all day long, the factories never had to worry of a shut down, and we were led by a very brilliant and able king. Yes, a king, the only king. The world had only one kingdom back then, unlike the shattered kingships of today…”
“What happened after that?” Lily asked, rather impatiently. “Why did it split into four countries?”
“Patience, my lady, patience. I’m just about there.” the scholar looked at Lily before continuing at his pace. “Based on the legends, the world was made on the inside of a giant floating turtle, and the turtle was swimming in the stormlashed Sea of Eordos. The Sea of Eordos had many monsters in it, and they were bigger than the world itself. They had chased after this turtle, and wanted to swallow the entire human world whole. So the king of old prayed to god, and his prayers were answered. A divine artifact appeared within the turtle, and the king placed his throne upon the artifact and swore to god that mans eternal loyalty and piety. Thus the artifact started glowing within the Furnance of the Ancestors, and scared away the monsters around the turtle, saving the world from being consumed….”
Hao Ren listened very intently, the scholar’s bizzare story was spot on with the situation the exiled arks were in. The more convoluted part was about the legend of the divine artifact and the divine protection. Not sure if it was just a legend, or something to do with the Goddess of Creation. The scholar noticed that his audience had been listening and the old man broke into a smile. “There are very few people who would listen to this seriously, especially young ones like you. If Willy’s father knew that his son was here listening to this, he’ll sure blow his top again.”
Willy subconciously shrunk his neck. “He won’t find out.”
“So in all, the ancient world was like this. The divine artifact had expelled the monsters away, leaving the humans to freely travel on the Sea of Eordos, but it did not last. Something happened later that turned the world upside down.” The scholar paused to take a breather before continuing. “Too long were the people under divine protection and they slowly saw it as something of a given. So they forgot about the blessings of the god, and after men stopped praying, the divine artifact lost its powers, and the monsters within Eordos gathered once more, and started gnawing upon the turtle’s shell and thus the first earthquake and winter came. Just at this very crucial moment, the then king appealed for divine providence again, and swore that men shall not turn their backs on god again. After long nights of prayers, god had given its second gift, and rejuvanated the turtle, thus saving the world. But this time, to punish men for their duplicity and deceit, as god granted his boon, he also lay down three curses.
Hao Ren and Lily’s ears immediately perked up.
“First, the world shall never be bountiful cagain, and the electric fairies shall no longer be numberless. From now onwards the world will only provide limited sustenance, and men shall suffer the woe of hunger, to remind them of the folly of depravity.
Secondly, the wounds that the giant turtle had suffered shall be a hidden danger. Every now and then, calamity will befall, the electric fairies will disappear, and the Earth Mother will lose her strength. Violent winds shall blow from the Nose of the Titan without warning. And the worse of all calamities is the coming of winter. Everytime the turtle stops to rest from its wounds its blood shall turn cold, and thus freezing the world, and the brutal chill will be the end of many.”
Thirdly, the kingdom of man shall be split into four, men shall make war upon each other, to bleed continuously but yet not perish. This is to remind all the threat of death, and to transcend the fear of death. While the human soul shall be the new fuel for the Furnace of the Ancestor. To use one’s own life to sustain the world. Tihs was the god’s final shackle upon men.”
The scholar was elderly and spoke very slowly. It took a good while for him to finish his tale. As he finished, Hao Ren started asking some simple questions. “Was there only one turtle within the Sea of Eordos?”
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He wanted to know if the people here remembers the existance of the other arks.
“Of course there’s only one.” the old scholar’s eyes widen. “The world’s only!”
“Uh… so do you know how ‘created’ this giant turtle?”
The old scholar’s eyes widen even more. “Of course its the gods, can mere mortals create worlds?”
Hao Ren scratched his head. “Alright, I have nothing more to ask.”
The old scholar did not understand Hao Ren’s question and simply looked at Willy. “Your friends have some rather peculiar thoughts.”
The elderly scholar could not stay too long, he still had to train the young technicians of Hearthfire. After a few more questions and answers with Hao Ren, the old man left the place with Willy’s help. Once the place was left with Hao Ren and his crew, he stood up to stretch. “Ughhhh… so what do you guts think?”
“I’m interested in that ‘divine artifact’ the scholar had mentioned.” Vivian immediately replied. “Based on his stories, I think the story of the ‘divine artifact’ is not baseless.”
“I agree.” the MDT had also popped out. “Have you all ever wondered, how did this exiled arks escape the guardians for over ten thousand years? The arks are not very advanced, and they had only just entered the hyperlight speed zone, while the guardians battleships are much much more advanced. The one that Muru was on could easily wipe this entire fleet out on its own. But yet the arks escaped, and were only lost in the end due to the mechancial failure caused by age. Compared to those races who did not even manage to escape their home planet, don’t you think the fate of these arks are rather incredible?”
Something dawned upon Nangong Wuyue. “So they really have a ‘divine artifact’ protecting them?”
“Even if it was not a real ‘divine artifact,’ it was probably something about as strong and hid the ark fleet from the gaze of the gurdians. And it was used to great effect during the initial exodus.”
Hao Ren looked out, seemingly lost in thought. From that angle, he could see the giant machine at the end of this enclosed space, the Furnace of the Ancestors.
“If there was such a thing. There is only one place that it could be hiding. Within the Central Control Tower.”
Vivian immediately frowned. “But the Furnace of the Ancestors will be heavily guarded. We have not gained their trust yet… If we are to check it out we probably have to force our… Wait, something’s awry!”
She suddenly yelped halfway through as she pointed towards the Furnace of the Ancestors. The rest immediately turned to it and all widen their eyes.
A massive electric bolt shot out from the Furnace of the Ancestors and was dancing on the outer shell of the ancient machine!