The Saviour

This is a speculative fiction prompt by D. Wallace Peach-Myths of the Mirror

Pluviam, a child of the planet Spes, stood alone in the shifting sands of this once great city, awaiting his destiny. He was the planets hope for the future, as so many of the children before him. He had been raised, trained and tested for this moment. Two days ago he had been judged to be the prime receiver of the Gift and since then had spent his time in prayer and fasting to be a worthy vessel. He wondered if he would succeed and be able to share the Gift with his planet, or would he be reduced to ashes, another failed candidate.

Rain had stopped falling on the planet countless generations ago. The lakes had dried up, plant life had withdrawn deep into the earth, seeking moisture and protecting its seeds. The planet had become a desert, the inhabitants surviving only by constant drilling to find untapped sources of water beneath the planets surface. But these limited resources were dwindling and people were starting to die.

Once a year the planet entered into its solar eclipse. At that moment in time all other planets in the solar system came into perfect alignment, unleashing a great cosmic force that funneled into a specific area of Spes. Pluviam now occupied that spot, waiting for the occultation to begin.

He saw the moons body slowly creep across the sun. The planet darkened and remembering his training he opened his awareness to the cosmos. He prayed to the creator of the universe that he would be a worthy vessel to except the gift. He humbled himself and begged for life for his planet and its peoples. Casting out all extraneous thoughts, he centred himself, concentrating on being a willing sacrifice to bring the planet in harmony with the cosmos once more.

A tingling sensation started running through his body. A shiver of ecstasy followed as he became one with the universe. His minds eye saw a path winding through the centre of the alignment, disappearing into a glowing flame. The flame flared, running along the path, reaching out to him, warming his body. The love for his planet and his people expanded to include the whole of creation, as his body continued to be consumed by the flame. His body no longer able to contain this living flame of love, gifted by the Creator, shattered into a million fragments and ascended into the stratosphere.

He, who was once Pluviam, looked down upon his planet, viewed its desolation and misery and became full of sorrow. He wept and his tears flowed, turning the desert to mud, filling the lakes and beckoning the seeds that long lay dormant to reach once more for the surface.