Chapter Text
Born from the gods themselves, the ram bore a magnificent coat. Following the animal’s birth, its white strands of wool were soon tarnished in the ruthless act of bloodshed. Although it was a creature of prey, the ram played the role of a predator, claiming life after life as it believed it was born to do.
Only after countless innocent lives were lost did the beast initiate a most fateful encounter. It was faced with a lion, one that, unlike its kin, exercised peace and taught the ram how to embrace the power of life. From that point forward, it gathered not the spilt blood of its enemies, but instead specks of gold. This shining treasure manifested from the ram's dealings with the living, rather than the dead. The gold shone with the radiance of life, and filled the ram's soul with true purpose.
As it continued its quest of introspection and fulfillment, the gold in the ram's fleece dug past its wool, underneath its skin, and ever deeper into its vital organs, hurting it immensely. Despite this, it did not stop until its goal was achieved, and the lives it previously sought to destroy were restored.
The gods, witnessing this unprecedented turn of events, were perplexed by the ram’s disobedience. However, unbeknownst to them, the essence of life had infiltrated even their own beings, and they cast aside their desire for death on one condition. The ram had to finish proving its devotion to its cause, and sacrifice itself to see its quest completed.
It readily obliged, and as promised, the earth was left alone to thrive. In the ram's honor, the gods forged the constellation Aries, and the animal’s essence resides there to this day.
The air of Bismarck’s library hums with sounds of fluttering pages and the elsens’ nervous gasps, exclamations of fear and wonder alike breaking the building’s meditative quiet. Having shed their protective coat of anxiety, the workers’ long-buried curiosity has been sparked once more by the books lining the sapphire shelves.
Any other time, Zacharie would’ve marvelled at the strides the elsens have made since the initial decline of this world. As of late, however, his usual work of inspecting the zones and ensuring their residents’ wellbeing has been disrupted. A troublesome issue has clouded the merchant’s mind, and he’s spent an absurd amount of time combing the library’s inventory, seeking some way to address it.
A novel about zodiac signs of the ancient past lies on a plastic table before Zacharie. He’s scanned its contents many times, paying close attention to the section that details the origin story of Aries. Coincidence or not, the tale is strikingly similar to that of the Batter in the final acts of his life. What the story fails to detail, unfortunately, is what occurred after the constellation was formed. If the book is assumed to be a credible source of information, then it stands to reason that the former purifier still dwells somewhere in the night sky.
Whether or not he was fully cognizant of the new world, Zacharie could never quite tell, but the stars of the ram always gleamed in reaction to subjects that the Batter had awareness of while he was alive. Now, whenever Zacharie makes an attempt to communicate with it, nothing happens. Not even the best jokes in his book set off the brilliant light show they normally do, and the apparent silence has been depressing, both for himself and for Pablo.
Out of all the books written about astrology in Zone 2’s collection, this one is the most useful Zacharie has found in his endeavor to learn what became of his friend. Nothing else that’s been written about the subject comes close to its relevancy, and yet it still falls woefully short of his hopes. Just as he’s about to stand up and return it to its rightful place on the shelf, the owner of the library flies over and lands squarely on top of the novel’s cover.
For the sake of convenience as much as for his humility, Japhet prefers to remain in his smaller avian form nowadays. Unless, of course, his awe-inspiring wings are needed by the zone’s people, or if Hugo requests the occasional joyride. A stray warble leaves the bird’s beak as he clears his throat.
“I believe this is the fourth time in a row I’ve run into you here this week. How goes your research?”
Sometimes, Zacharie wishes that everyone had x-ray vision, so that they could see the tired, disappointed expression behind his mask. It would save him the trouble and shame of admitting how poorly his quest has progressed.
“Terribly, I’m afraid. It certainly doesn’t help that I seem to have lost my more useful capabilities. The limitations of this modified era are difficult to get used to.”
“Whatever do you mean, dear merchant? I, for one, can still use the powers the Queen bestowed upon me at my discretion. Is it not the same for you?”
It’s easy to forget just how little the guardians actually know about Zacharie, despite him living in their world since its beginning. The idea of travelling to various points in history at will, with no restrictions on the past, present, or future, would possibly be just as stunning to them as their skills of creation. Without that freedom, Zacharie feels trapped, stuck forever in a singular time. Explaining such a phenomenon to Japhet would take more brainpower than he currently has.
“Nevermind, it doesn’t matter. Do you know if anything has changed with the sky?”
“You could undoubtedly find out for yourself if you simply set foot outside…”
Just how long has Zacharie been in the library? Japhet usually doesn’t mind him wandering about the place, so his snide remark is a clear indicator that the merchant has overstayed his welcome for the day. He gets up from his smooth plastic chair, and the bird steps backward, freeing the astrology book from his talons. Zacharie takes it and slides it into a gap on a nearby shelf.
“Heh, that I could. Message received, my feathered friend. I won’t occupy this sanctuary of knowledge for a second longer. I’ll see you some other time.”
“Until then, Zacharie.”
The azure walls of the jewel of Bismarck give way to the rest of Zone 2 as Zacharie exits the building. The shopkeeper adjusts his pack as he’s bathed in the pale luminescence of the stars. Hesitation takes hold as he considers glancing upwards, but he shakes it off and tilts his head towards the violet sky.
As always, the constellations are as brilliant as their myths suggest. The celestial bodies twinkle back and forth as if in conversation, creating a beautiful display for the residents of the zones to behold.
The only exception to this, worryingly, is Aries. Zacharie had assumed that its waning light was just a figment of his imagination, or a side effect of his exhaustion. The ram has gotten so dim now, he has no choice but to believe that his fears are indeed rooted in reality.
The Batter has disappeared, and Zacharie has no clue where he could’ve gone.