Read Online The Temple of Heart and Bone by S.K. Evren - Free Book Online
Authors: S.K. Evren
Ads: Link
golden remedy would not, could not ease this pain.
This was the pain of two and a half
thousand years of Empire, shattered by unwashed barbarians. This was the
pain of two and a half thousand years of Empire toppled by greed, lust, and
ambition. This was the pain of losing two and a half thousand years of
art, culture, knowledge, and philosophy. He closed his eyes, hoping the
alchemical solution in his body might come, once again, to his rescue, might
save him once again from himself. He waited in his new ancient agony, but no
respite presented itself. He opened his eyes and stared back into history.
He remembered the glittering
cities of Empire. He once again saw the fountains leaping into the air. He
heard the choral music of their waters, crashing down onto stone, washing their
listeners with a soothing sound that spoke at once of wealth, art, and
civility. He gazed up into architectural marvels, watching their marble
sheathings blaze white in the fiery light of the sun. He watched the slow and
measured pace of citizens walking through the plazas, engaging each other in
lengthy discourses on science, beauty, philosophy, and magic. He relaxed with
them, knowing their time was eternal, feeling the total lack of pressure that
comes with believing you are the master of your own destiny, secure in the
knowledge of your own power.
He watched again as the fountains
tumbled under the greedy hands of looters. He winced as the blazing of marble
changed from brilliant white to a soot-stained orange. He panted with the running
citizens, fleeing the blood-stained instruments of murder, assault, and
torture. He closed his eyes as the images of Empire shattered once again before
him.
Why? Why had all of this fallen?
Jealousy, he offered himself. Greed, he added to the list. Ignorance, he
acknowledged as another companion of destruction.
The Empire had been a vast
society forged out of disparate cultures. Like some mystical alloy, the forging
created a strong foundation of cooperation, where thoughts and ideas fused with
one another to build something new, something better than had ever previously
existed. What none of the single elements had been capable of alone, their
combination achieved in excess. Voices speaking in dozens of languages ceased
being a cacophonic noise and blended into a symphonic harmony.
Education was a constant in the
Empire. Not only were citizens allowed to study, they were encouraged to do so.
In academies around the Empire, girls and boys, men and women gathered to learn
about the wonders of their Empire. They shared each others’ languages. They
learned about and discussed various theologies and philosophies. Knowledge of
architecture, science, magic, even sanitation flowed from one vast border to
the other, because the Empire had believed that an educated citizen was not
only capable of helping themselves, but the Empire as a whole. Water ran to
regions which had never before been able to support crops. Communities
blossomed like wildflowers, spreading civility and wonder across the land. The
towns, villages, and cities of the Empire did not compete with nature, but
shared it, encouraged it, and enhanced it.
Life was not simply a matter of
survival in this society. Certain communities had developed around the
providing of foods and services, while others had grown around art, literature,
and drama. Traveling troops of artists moved like missionaries throughout the
land, as welcome where they appeared as a good warm meal or cool summer breeze.
They shared their talents equally in large cities and small farming
communities. Actors played out scenes that would be retold around dinner tables
for years to come. Musicians and singers shared songs that were remembered and
continued to accompany the farmer at his plowing long after the troop had left.
Mural paintings appeared on granaries, sculptures stood watch in cities, and
artwork challenged the minds of citizens far and wide, feeding their thoughts
as
This was the pain of two and a half
thousand years of Empire, shattered by unwashed barbarians. This was the
pain of two and a half thousand years of Empire toppled by greed, lust, and
ambition. This was the pain of losing two and a half thousand years of
art, culture, knowledge, and philosophy. He closed his eyes, hoping the
alchemical solution in his body might come, once again, to his rescue, might
save him once again from himself. He waited in his new ancient agony, but no
respite presented itself. He opened his eyes and stared back into history.
He remembered the glittering
cities of Empire. He once again saw the fountains leaping into the air. He
heard the choral music of their waters, crashing down onto stone, washing their
listeners with a soothing sound that spoke at once of wealth, art, and
civility. He gazed up into architectural marvels, watching their marble
sheathings blaze white in the fiery light of the sun. He watched the slow and
measured pace of citizens walking through the plazas, engaging each other in
lengthy discourses on science, beauty, philosophy, and magic. He relaxed with
them, knowing their time was eternal, feeling the total lack of pressure that
comes with believing you are the master of your own destiny, secure in the
knowledge of your own power.
He watched again as the fountains
tumbled under the greedy hands of looters. He winced as the blazing of marble
changed from brilliant white to a soot-stained orange. He panted with the running
citizens, fleeing the blood-stained instruments of murder, assault, and
torture. He closed his eyes as the images of Empire shattered once again before
him.
Why? Why had all of this fallen?
Jealousy, he offered himself. Greed, he added to the list. Ignorance, he
acknowledged as another companion of destruction.
The Empire had been a vast
society forged out of disparate cultures. Like some mystical alloy, the forging
created a strong foundation of cooperation, where thoughts and ideas fused with
one another to build something new, something better than had ever previously
existed. What none of the single elements had been capable of alone, their
combination achieved in excess. Voices speaking in dozens of languages ceased
being a cacophonic noise and blended into a symphonic harmony.
Education was a constant in the
Empire. Not only were citizens allowed to study, they were encouraged to do so.
In academies around the Empire, girls and boys, men and women gathered to learn
about the wonders of their Empire. They shared each others’ languages. They
learned about and discussed various theologies and philosophies. Knowledge of
architecture, science, magic, even sanitation flowed from one vast border to
the other, because the Empire had believed that an educated citizen was not
only capable of helping themselves, but the Empire as a whole. Water ran to
regions which had never before been able to support crops. Communities
blossomed like wildflowers, spreading civility and wonder across the land. The
towns, villages, and cities of the Empire did not compete with nature, but
shared it, encouraged it, and enhanced it.
Life was not simply a matter of
survival in this society. Certain communities had developed around the
providing of foods and services, while others had grown around art, literature,
and drama. Traveling troops of artists moved like missionaries throughout the
land, as welcome where they appeared as a good warm meal or cool summer breeze.
They shared their talents equally in large cities and small farming
communities. Actors played out scenes that would be retold around dinner tables
for years to come. Musicians and singers shared songs that were remembered and
continued to accompany the farmer at his plowing long after the troop had left.
Mural paintings appeared on granaries, sculptures stood watch in cities, and
artwork challenged the minds of citizens far and wide, feeding their thoughts
as
Similar Books
