stardustcboy's Diaryland Diary

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...The Eternal City...

he circled the perimeter of the high wall outside the Eternal City in search of some sort of entrance. the light of his sword shimmered softly in the golden brick and as it danced upon the surface, images began to play before his eyes.

he saw himself, years earlier, with his family back home in the mountains. he was but a child then, happy, innocent and full of wonder. the images seemed to shift and move as he walked further. memories of his life moved like ghosts in the soft amber surface of the wall. he longed to return to those memories. he longed to once again see his family and friends.

as his memories played out, he began to see subtle changes. as though the wall was mirroring what could have been as well as what was. every decision he made, every action, was displayed in alternate form. some of the images he wished were true. he was filled with regret. all the things he could have done shined before him and he was lost in things that might have been.

he kept walking around and around and around, but there was no entrance that he could see. just his memories and regrets.

he looked up at the dark night sky. it was swollen with stormclouds...angry and ominous. only the light of his sword and the ambient reflected glow from the wall lit his path and the stygian night around him.

tired, hungry and alone he collapsed before the wall. staring blissfully at the images and phantasms that moved within the golden bricks.

was this it? was this the end? he had come so far, fought so hard, only to find himself laying in the dirt at the base of the high walls outside the Eternal City. perhaps the shade julius was right...perhaps he really was dead, and all his journey for not. he watched his memories fondly. closing his eyes he wished with all his heart to return again to his home. warm tears streaked his face and soaked into the soil. he wept. wept for all the things he could have done right, for all the things he could have done differently, for all the failed loves and loss, for all the time. he was wracked with sobs and he cried out brokenhearted.

his memories still drifted before him. Elesa smiling, dancing. she was gone.

no, it would not be this way. he pushed himself to his feet. weakly he stepped towards the wall. it became clear to him, the power of the jungle, the phantoms, the shades...

the wall was the heart of the jungle's sorcerous power. it's energies saturated the surrounding area with ghosts, ghosts brought about by the weary travelers own mind. all this time he only fought himself, his own fears and demons. he would not fall to them now.

with the last of his energy he raised the sword and drove it hard and deep into the golden wall. there was a flash of white light as the sword bit deep into the wall, followed by a low rumble. all around the wall began to crumble. piece by piece it fell away, each brick losing its golden shine. as each brick tumbled away it dissolved into dust and all around him there was the steady fall of gold dust, glinting and sparkling in the sword light.

there before him, was the Eternal City. Silent as the night sky. at its center he could see the spires of the Chamber of Dreams. he made his way swiftly towards them.

as he moved deeper into the city he began to see strange things. ghost-like forms sitting in the empty windows of the buildings and moving through the quiet streets.

he remembered what the prophets had said about the Eternal City, that it was a place where all the cities in all of the universe converged; and that the phantoms that roamed its streets were but images from another time and another place.

he looked back at the wall, but was surprised to find the city seemed to stretch on to the horizon. there was no sign of the wall nor the jungle, it was as though the city went on forever. all around the ghosts moved. engaged in silent conversation, laughing, drinking, walking, and a myriad of everyday things. he wondered whether they were the phantoms, or he himself for they payed him no attention and did not seem to hear nor perceive him.

so he kept walking, a ghost in a city of ghosts, to the Chamber of Dreams. his pace quickened for he realized how close he was to his journey's end, and he longed to finish it quickly for there was no telling how far the armies of Baalgorgon had marched, nor how much slaughter they had inflicted upon his homeland.

so he pushed harder, walked faster, but no matter how quickly he moved the spires atop the Chamber of Dreams seemed no further nor no nearer than before. he kept going, dodging between alleyways and large boulervards until he was running at full speed towards the city's heart.

to no avail. his legs ached and his stomach was in knots and still the spires stood no more nearer and no farther than before.

he was tired...more than tired...almost dead with exhaustion. he propped himself up on his sword and thought for a moment.

perhaps he should find a place to sleep, for his weary mind was not working properly. he wished there were some food somewhere, but all around him the city lay empty. he began to explore the streets a bit more for some sort of resting place. he looked in empty shops and old warehouses all filled with ghosts until at last he happened upon an inn.

he entered and was surprised to find it filled with people, not apparitions, but real people. he approached the bar.

"hello traveler!" the barkeep hailed to him.

"good eve, barkeep." he replied.

"what can i do for you? would you like some food or drink? or perhaps some lodging?"

"all sound good my good fellow, but i have not the money to pay you."

"never fear, traveler, all are welcome here. sit and rest your feet, we will serve you food and after you may help in the kitchen to pay your debt. once that is done you can stay in my guest room at no cost and be on your way in the morning."

"that is wonderful! thank you very much for your generosity. i have traveled long and hard and am overcome with weariness. tell me, where am i, what city am i in?"

"good fellow," the barkeep said. "this is the town of Dusk, we are on the shores of the Sea of Sargus."

he worried, was this another false dream brought about by the city? another hallucination to distract him? or was he really in Dusk? had he stepped through some doorway in the Eternal City that brought him over the sea back to the small town?

he could no longer tell the difference between dreams and reality. but at this point, he no longer cared, and welcomed the meal and drink when the barmaid brought it to him.

after eating he helped in the kitchen by washing the used plates and cups. when he was finished he made his way to the guest room, crawled into bed and fell fast asleep.

***

he awoke suddenly. he was uncertain at first of his surroundings, but as his bleary eyes focused he realized he was no longer at the inn in the town of Dusk.

"what in the name of Serpantus?" he asked aloud.

he was inside a great hall filled with golden statues.

"could it be?" he questioned in amazement. "am i in the Chamber of Dreams?"

he walked down the hall to the only exit he could see, a second set of double doors. he opened them and found a set of stairs leading downward into darkness.

he wondered how he had gotten here. did he make the journey in his sleep? was that the key to finding the Chamber of Dreams at the heart of the Eternal City? he was bewildered and confused. he worried that perhaps this was yet another dream, and feared for his own sanity.

yet it all seemed real. the steps solid beneath his feet as he unsheated his sword and made his way down into the shadows below.

after following the stairs for some time, they terminated in yet another set of double doors. they were ornate with gold inlay and patterns. he felt an odd pull from beyond the doors as though something willed him over the threshold. he reached out with a trembling hand and opened the doors...

1:49 p.m. - 2002-10-24

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