An Ilderon tale of the Gatekeeper

Another Season 

written by Emi Kennedy

Renaltuh yawned, reclining high above the ocean on her seat atop the moon. Far below her, a bridge stretched over a quasi-endless sea. On one side of the waters was Providence, and on the other side was the outskirts of Ilderon. Aimless souls of the deceased wandered across the bridge. They only ever moved in one direction--leaving Ilderon, and heading towards their eternity on Providence. However, the bridge was endless, and no one could make the journey to the other side unless Renaltuh willed it so. Of course she always willed them to reach the other side, it was her job to ensure they made the journey safely. 

Renaltuh looked up to the infinite cosmos above her. Out there were a thousand more sparkling worlds and domains she would never be able to see. Just like everyone else, Renaltuh was trapped, forced to choose an existence between Ilderon or Providence. Although, unlike anyone else, it was Renaltuh’s betrayal that first doomed Ilderon. Afterall, she was the gatekeeper and no one could get to Ilderon without her permission.

Renaltuh viewed a particular soul on the bridge that never failed to catch her eye. A small girl treaded across the bridge wading against the masses of souls flooding towards Providence. The girl was the only soul who ever chose to move from Providence towards Ilderon. Renaltuh drifted off her moon perch and fell gently towards the girl.

The girl was the only one other than Renaltuh who could move between Ilderon and Providence at will, however, the bridge was Renaltuh’s creation. The bridge stretched endlessly connecting the two domains, and no one, not even Renaltuh’s matriarch could reach the other side without Renaltuh’s permission.

Renaltuh walked next to the girl taking note of her small form. The soul was Renaltuh’s new matriarch and for the last few years chose this tiny form that was half the size of Renaltuh. The living souls of Ilderon called the girl a goddess. The eternals of Providence called her mother. Though her name changed with the passing of time, Renaltuh had always simply referred to her as Mistress. The color of the girl’s hair had nearly completed its slow transition from silver into a deep crimson hue, which marked the change of the seasons.

Was it time for the Sun Season already? Renaltuh had not viewed Ilderon in several months. Walking behind the so called deity, Renaltuh continued to study the girl. The girl mumbled to herself, repeating the same incomprehensible sentence over and over again. The small form was a stark contrast to the original form the girl wore when she first came to Ilderon and slew Renaltuh’s master.

“Mistress, you look weak.” Renaltuh stated bluntly. “You should not head back to Ilderon in your current state.” 

The girl paused her chant, and turned to Renaltuh, “I've almost completed my task. Send me back.”

“You’ve been at this for a thousand years. It's been entertaining watching you try and fail each time for the last millennia, but I am truly starting to worry for you.” Renaltuh put her hand on the girl's shoulder. “Each time you return to Providence you return with less and less of your glory.”

“I have been leaving my power on Ilderon. There is nothing to fear.” Her mistress reassured Renaltuh.

“There are many things to fear, Raeyarendin has been claimed by destruction.” Renaltuh updated the girl who spent far too much time parading around with her subjects. She hoped the news would bring her mistress back to her senses.

The girl’s demeanor changed. Her deep auburn eyes communicated a piercing fear. “Raeyarendin is dead?”

Renaltuh nodded. The realization caused her mistress to pause her stride, and reconsider her plans.

“There is stab of irony in that, since you were the one who first proved your kind can be killed.” Renaltuh commented off-handedly.

A long moment of silence passed while the girl reconsidered her plans. Finally, she spoke, “He’s dead? And he hasn’t been replaced?”

Renaltuh nodded in response.

“He represented eternity. He can’t be gone.” The goddess couldn’t process the information.

“All things come to an end, mistress.” Renaltuh waited for her orders.

“If eternity is dead, that means our battle against the Void will eventually end.” The girl brought her hand to her chin. Her auburn hair deepened its hue as a result of time passing on Ilderon. “Do we know which side prevails?”

Renaltuh shook her head in response.

“Send me back.” The girl made up her mind, “Time is limited now.”

“Then why waste time on your mortal seeds? You represent creation, you can always make more.”

Her mistress said nothing. The girl gave a stern silent look to Renaltuh. The child’s narrowed eyes, and pursed lips caused Renaltuh to pity her mistress rather than respect her. Regardless, the being that stood here now had slain Renaltuh’s original master eons earlier. Whatever the girl was, she had proven that their kind could be killed when she single handedly destroyed a being who had plunged countless domains into desolate darkness. No matter what concerns Renaltuh voiced, her opinion was far below the matters her mistress considered important.

“I’m not going to change your mind?” Renaltuh asked with a sigh.

“No. These are my creations, I got them stuck there, the least can do is give them the power to defend themselves against what’s coming.” Her mistress spoke with resolution.

Renaltuh nodded. The world around them began shift quickly as the interplanar space the Bridge occupied bent to Renaltuh’s whims. In the time span of a few passing seconds they transversed the infinite span of the Bridge to Ilderon. Soon the marble stone of the Bridge connected with the scorched earth and dark skies of the domain. 

“Hurry up, so you can get back to the fight that matters. I won’t be able to keep the gate closed forever.” Renaltuh nodded again.

“Thank-you.” Her mistress stepped off the Bridge onto the burnt plains of Ilderon. She turned back to Renaltuh and smiled, “This will be my final time returning to Ilderon.” The girl put her hands together mimicking the act of a prayer. The strings of creation vibrated to her command. Fire, water, earth, air, light, and darkness all hummed to a synchronized tone. Then at once the girl was ripped out of the interplanar space as she rebirthed herself into the world of Ilderon. Renaltuh sighed then returned her attention to the moon. If her mistress’s words held true she would only have to spend one final decade listening, watching, and guarding over the two interlinked domains.