1 CHAPTER 1: DEATH IS…

I quicken my pace in the dead of night,

Or smoothly sail with the first light.

I am not limited by the time or place.

But at the end of the day it's not a race

For I shall bind my time till is dawn

For you are just a pawn

In an endless game

Which you are not to blame

I will take your body; I will take your soul

And within your grave you will roll

I will let you fight

Till you reach the light

Is it you I seek,

Or do you finally see

That there is no hope,

As I stretch my rope

I am Death, the bringer of doom and mercy. The ender of life.

''I began when time began. But time is relevant to space, and when and where I was at first there was no space and therefore there was not time. So when my existence did began? Who can say?

I knew the beginning, I remember it vividly. For me time is measured differently for the timeless ones shall never end. Or will they? Does it end? If yes, where and when will it end?

I am neither short nor tall, I weigh less than a feather but my presence is heavier than most, I live in the shadows but I come out at light as well. Whenever I appear, people seem to expect me and yet the moment I announce that their time is here, and I am here for their life, they look horrified. I have to explain to them that there is no escaping me. Wherever they run once their time is nigh, I will find them and they will have to follow me. I ferry them across the river, and on they go finally finding their peace. A beautiful sight, and yet here I am still on the boat, going back and forth bringing more in and again they are led to peace. I envy the living. They go on and do what they have to do because they know eventually it will end, whether it is good or not, important or not. ''

''Those were the first thoughts of Death's revolution. He will ferry the dead no longer and we will never learn the taste of death, for some it's considered a blessing for others, immortality is torture.''

''And what happened to Death?'' asked the little girl completely enthralled by the story.

''Well Death went on living cause he knew not how he died, but he stopped ferrying the dead across, he is sleeping, they say he is spending most of his time on the other side with the dead. And that's why we can't die either''.

''Then, what if Death decided to start working again?''

''Then we will be in trouble won't we? But you shouldn't worry, he doesn't want to return''.

The little girl looked troubled for a moment, but then nodded off as if confirming something.

''Will you be alright karne? '' The father asked concerned.

''yes, I don't think Death is that bad, he just wants to play with someone, that's why he is really sad'' Karne said with empathy, almost concerned for Death's welfare.

The father laughed at his girl comment. ''I guess you are right. I never thought of that. Alright sleep well sweetheart''. He tenderly reached out and kissed her forehead, and casually helped her get tucked in. ''See you tomorrow morning'' he said whispering, and closing the door to her room.

He sighed, and started walking towards his office. He walked in slowly trying to make as little sound as possible. He slid the door to his study, and took a sit in front of his pinewood desk. Bookcases were all around, and there were small crevices for small machinations, displaying his collection of old technology. His desk was decorated by many globes of different places around the world. He never visited any of them. He pulled a side casing and took out some documents.

He contemplated for a moment the story he said to Karne. The way he said it was much different from how he heard it from his father all this time ago. In his father's story, Death looked, high and low, on ways to die. He eventually did find a solution. But having no one to ferry him across he sat on the shore waiting for someone to take him there, he soon realized no one would come, so he walked away from his long awaited goal to learn what the other side is like.

He went into a slumber and waited for a time for the perfect moment to inhibit a physical body, in hopes that he will see and learn how mortals find ways to die accidentally or on purpose and use it so he can finally die as a mortal.

The story goes on to say that Death inhibited not one, but multiple bodies through the ages, but each time the mortal body would become immortal, and he would be unable to copy the mortal's ways, so he would haunt the world in his immortal body, killing anyone that crossed him, hoping to find someone that would be able to kill him. He would soon tire and get out of the body and then centuries later he would try again. Finally the folk tale states that whoever Death inhibits would become Death itself, and even their immortal race would be unable to face him. And when he comes for us, maybe he will learn as well how an immortal dies.

He could not believe there was an ounce of truth to that folk tale. It was simply a story to teach the concept of fear to children but such methods were outgrown. Elion never understood the point of those tales. After all was there anything more important than facts? He was a scholar of the highest standing, having reached the age of 225 years; he understood only one thing, that truth is based on facts. He never saw anyone die in his long life nor had he ever found anyone claiming to be Death.

He got up from his desk and walked towards his office window. He looked beyond the pike trees in front of his yard, the great forest of juraek extended beyond, climbing on the opposite hill. To the west the town of lerbak spread on the vast valley which was cut in two parts by a river. The city's domed glass buildings reflected the moonlight upon their backs.

The cobblestone path build within the short, wet grass was stepped upon by a visitor. His dark form with each step was becoming brighter. Elion did not have to wait to know that his visitor was none other than councilman Boght. Elion had already surmising the purpose of his visit. He took his time coming down the wooden staircase and meeting his visitor in front of his doorway which was already open.

''Elion, good evening''. Boght said smiling weakly. Elion inclined his head silently, ushering him inside with his hands. He closed the drag door to his office, he stood there for a second, gathering himself and followed Boght inside his office. He sat himself without even waiting to be offered a sit. Elion approached his desk; the clanging of dishes must have alerted Boght who was sitting there tensely. ''I do not need any tea'' he declared coldly. Elion did not say anything and placed the teacup back at its place and sat himself on the couch facing the chair that Boght chose.

''Who was it this time'' Elion quickly said before Boght even gathered his thoughts. He looked up at Elion with a concerned expression.

''It was Louvet''. He said whispering as if hoping that Elion wouldn't hear him.

''I thought as much, he seemed out of it for a while. So that brings their number to four.''

Boght took a deep breath, ''yes, we are nearing an unprecedented situation.'' He sighed and took on a serious expression ''Elion, we should begin preparations, you are one of the few people I can count on for what's coming''.

Elion smirked lazily ''and what do you think is coming Boght''

''The collapse, Elion, the collapse''. He said heavily.

Elion sighed loudly and grabbed a bottle from the little table standing between him and Boght, and poured himself a good drink of the aromatic liqueur. He understood Boght's worries but he couldn't relate. ''The elders is not what keeping the society going.''

''I agree, but you already know what I am going to say''. Elion did, but he wouldn't admit it, not even to himself.

''Boght, it seems we have to gather the rest of them'' whilst drinking another big gulp of his drink.

Boght shook hesitantly his head in agreement. ''Though you understand that the Reverars would not allow us to do as we please in that regard''.

''Yes, I have no doubt that they won't accept our plea that easily, even if they have to this time. Tomorrow we will gather the council''

''So you wish to force them then?'' Boght

''well, what else can we do Boght? Isn't this why you came to me?'' Elion got up from his chair and walked around his office looking at the view of the city before him. ''A change is coming, and no one will like it''.

''Elion, there is a feeling inside me that I do not recognize" Boght said before he got up and prepared to take his leave.

Elion stood silent for a moment. "You are referring to fear? It is a useless feeling Boght for the immortals".

" Fear ha? I heard the mention before." He said inaudibly.

Before he walked out of door he looked back at Elion who came to see him off ''Elion, will it be any different this time?''

Elion considered his question for a moment in silence, when he spoke he sounded uncertain ''I do not know Boght. You know what my work pertains, in all my time as a researcher I did not find an instance like that. There are only a few elders left, we shall seek them out once more, this time we will get the answers necessary to understand, it is my job after all".

''Will knowing eradicate this feeling? I wonder" Boght asked troubled, and began his short trip back home without expecting an answer.

Elion stood there for a little while longer watching Boght walk away.

The society of the High Valley lived peacefully and undisturbed for centuries. But for the first life in Elion's comparatively short life, the disturbance and mystery surrounding the elders' disappearance could no longer be ignored.

Elion observed the lights on the valley beyond flicker. Their small society was all he ever knew and he wanted to help preserve that, whatever the consequences might be.