Fiction:Tenet/History/1

Eschaton 8:44
Then I asked the Adzekkul, "And who is this man who stands at the threshold of gods, who shall bring together the many nations under one banner?"

Said the Adzekkul: "He will come when he is called. Like the magiru of the sea, he shall rise from below to above, from poverty to glory."

Said the Nergantul: "He will not come in your lifetime, nor in your childrens' lifetimes, nor in your childrens' childrens'. But he will come."

And they took me by the arms and carried me to a city great and high. It was laid out in four concentric circles, each of which rose up higher than the one outside. And each circle had four gates and four towers. In the outermost circle lived countless slaves, who had prostrated themselves in servitude before the gods, and their gates and towers were carved from stone. In the nextmost circle lived ten thousand citizens, who made great works in the name of the gods, and their gates and towers were forged from brass. In the thirdmost circle lived hundreds of priests, who channeled miracles from the gods, and their gates and towers were poured from iron. And in the final circle was a great light that cast everything into shadow, and its gates and towers were made of crystal.

Said the Adzekkul: "Behold his city as it will be built. It lies at the center of the world, and all the world is his dominion."

Said the Nergantul: "Follow us! He will not come while you live, but we shall show you how he will appear."

Then they brought me up through the circles of the city, through the gates of stone and brass and iron and crystal, and took me into the light of the final circle.

Said the two angels: "Behold him!"

And there I beheld a man seated upon a throne of marble. In his right hand he carried a sword wreathed in flame. In his left hand he carried a tablet writ with holy law. Upon his skull were four horns that each curled thrice. Upon his forehead was an eye. And upon his brow was set a crown of stars.

Said the Adzekkul: "By these signs shall you know him. Mark them well!"

Said the Nergantul: "By these raiments shall you know him. Remember and record them!"

And as mist beneath the sun, the man and his city vanished from my gaze, and the two angels with them.