"Right," announced Seipher. "A Utopia." He held his favorite diamond edged sword firmly in his grip, smiling at his friend.
"Ha, then its agreed," Sephiroth said. "Shall we begin recruiting?" His eyes glowed with ambition, his celestial wings stretching out anxiously. As he thought to himself, his eyes looked toward the southern tree line. "At town, how will we go about?"
Seipher closed his wings, looking toward the same point. "Quietly."
Sephiroth turned his head at the comment, looking him in the eyes and smiling happily. "I guess that would be an appropriate response."
At nightfall they walked into town, not attracting much attention. With concealed enthusiasm Sephiroth approached a seemingly prosperous townsperson. "Where is the nearest Inn?" he asked. The townsperson smiled and pointed behind, a sign reading Inn hanging above her.
Seipher thought to himself, "To gather the attention of the people within the inn should go about quietly."
"Greetings everyone! Listen, for I have much to tell!" Sephiroth began as he entered.
Seipher sighed and shook his head. "He always is a good speaker," he said to himself.
"I have much to tell," he repeated, "You may all have lives here, and things in this town may seem well, but it is not all well in the land of tomorrow. Have you not noticed the famine, crime, and sins of the people? Join us in our hope for a new future and take control of this inevitable truth. There cannot be a perfect society, I know, but we can come close if you join us. Our Final Heaven will be a historical turn point."
Many people within the inn ignored the man. They must have been used to commotion. A few turned their heads up and listened. One man in particular, in a long, dark blue coat stood up. "This sounds as if you are simply a man with a false dream." He smiled to himself a bit attempting to attract more attention to the people.
Seipher looked about the crowd for a moment until he came across the man. "We are simply seeking to rebuild a stronger government - a new hope at founding a system without the wars and corruptness of society. We are hoping that purity will triumph in the eyes of man."
"Well said," Sephiroth announced.
"Well, Ive got dreams as well. I think Ill join ye."
Another man within the crowd lifted his sword from its sheath and raised it high above his head. "Aye! I as well!"
Word spread throughout town of news involving this, Final Heaven. Maybe two-dozen townspeople had approached them concerning the affair. The man who had first spoken at the inn, who announced himself as Delita, brought some few individuals to them who were very willing to travel.
"Hello," a young woman said approaching Sephiroth. "By name, I am called Rinoa."
Delita smiled brightly. "She shares the same dreams and interests I do." He looked at her, still smiling. "Can she come?"
"Of course," Seipher said. Rinoa smiled.
Days later, the group gathered supplies and met at the town borders. After final decisions were made, they ventured forth to the south.
That night, Delita requested a spar with Seipher and Sephiroth. They fought a distance away from camp, all equipped with their chosen swords. After a few minutes of clashing, Seipher saluted Delita. "You are a very good swordsman."
"Thank you." Delita said. "I train every day."
"That is not a bad idea," Sephiroth said. "Let us train daily, in order to keep our skills as swordsmen high."
They did spar every night, whether at camp or in town. Sephiroth had found out much about Delita, and learned that he was a strict follower of the Heavens. Through his devotion to religion and his etiquette, Delita had become known as Holy Delita. Both he and Rinoa earned high places among the group. Rinoa, also sharing the same devotion, became known as Heavenly Rinoa. Delita though, one day defied his nature.
As the group was traveling through the southern hills, some of the men started becoming aggravated. "What do you think we are here for?" Delita questioned. "Have we decided on where we are headed? Or is your plan on making this whole thing work, traveling through these hills to some land Ive never heard of?"
"When we arrive at our destination, we will begin" Seipher said.
"Begin what?" Delita screamed. "The reconstruction of society? It seems a little out of our reach."
"We can, and mankind can, start anew."
Delitas eyes expressed his growing anger. "Start anew? Mankind can never truly repent for their sins. We will not accomplish anything in this journey!"
Sephiroth put his hand on his shoulder. "Delita, trust us. When we arrive"
Delita threw his hand off. "Do not touch me again," he yelled drawing his sword. "I do not feel like the day has come where your blood should spill back into the cold ground."
Sephiroths eyes grew wide. "This is madness! Delita, what is going on with you?" Seipher and Sephiroths loyal recruits stood behind them, weapons drawn.
"Do not make a move against me," Delita said, "or I will have you sent to the beyond."
Seipher looked down sadly, before his eyes reverted to the darkening sky. Storm clouds had begun moving overhead from the north. "Impossible."
Delitas eyes grew wide with rage. He threw himself forward, lunging his sword at Seiphers midsection. The blade caught on Seiphers coat, creating a tear.
When Delita turned around, Seipher stood to his amazement, unharmed; yet something more stood out. His white wings shined through the opening, as Seipher looked down at it. Again, Delita attacked.
As Seipher stepped to the side, dodging another attack, Delita became increasingly frustrated. "What are you? You cannot be what my mind tells me. You cannot be. You are leading us to our deaths."
Delita persisted with another attack, as Seipher threw his coat off and outstretched his wings. He jumped high out of reach, though the unrealized momentum of Delitas blade contacted one of the men. The sword slid out as the man fell to the ground, slain.
Seipher hovered in the air for a moment, before dropping to the ground. Delita looked at his blood-covered sword. "How could you do this?" he screamed.
With incredible speed, Delita dashed behind the angel. One hand touching the ground for balance as he slid across the dirt, he regained posture and raised his sword above his head, striking down at him. Seipher turned quickly turned around, the sound of a gasp escaping Delita. Sephiroth stood, his wings folded yet revealed. With one hand to his side, the other held his sword, run through Delitas chest.
Rinoa, who had been watching among the other men, ran over. "No!" she yelled as Delita fell. She caught him in her arms, letting him down slowly.
Sephiroth swung his sword upward through the wind, allowing most of the blood to leave the blade, as the clouds above finally began letting rainfall. The droplets cleared what blood remained on Sephiroths sword and he sheathed it.
The men stood in shock at what had just happened. Sephiroth looked among them, scanning across their faces. "Those among you who wish now to leave, do so."
After the dawn of Delitas demise, Sephiroth had ventured off on his own, leaving Seipher to lead alone. Time passed, days into weeks, and weeks into further. Things became hopeless to the men that remained within Final Heaven. Rinoa had stayed with Delita that night, holding close the body of her beloved friend. Eventually, everybody who had been involved went his or her own separate ways.
View User's Journal
Arnath's Journal
 |
