Author Allen M Werner

While exploring ancient histories and mythologies, I decided I wanted to incorporate something a bit less European (in a sense) to The Crystal Crux tale when it came to the happenings in Eliade.

Chinese lore maintained that the qilin were a supernatural beast with the body of a horse but the head of a dragon and strength of a phoenix. It was said they were so gentle, they’d walk on clouds rather than harm a blade of grass, although they had deadly firepower, able to burn to death those who were evil.

The appearance of a qilin was considered fortuitous, a good omen, hailing in the beginning of a noble ruler or king.

Sticking with one of my favorite supernatural creatures, the unicorn, and applying the wings of Pegasus to its back, I developed my own form of qilin, which is what storytellers have done for centuries to qilin. There is a wide range of descriptions of a qilin now.

The first qilin we meet in The Crystal Crux tale is Areion. Pero is flabbergasted to learn the creature exists and speaks. Pero meets his wife Sylim and child Caly soon after. Pero also gets to fly on Areion’s back as the qilin takes him to the land of Eliade.

“You remember Sylim, of course.”
Pero nodded kindly. “Buenos dias, Sylim.”
“Morning, Vicar.”
“And this darling foal is Caly. Say morning to the Vicar, Caly.”
Caly was small in comparison to her parents but already as large as most full-grown horses back home. Her voice was bright and cheerful. Eager. “Morning, Vicar.”
Pero smiled. “Buenos dias, Caly.”
“What did he say, Mama?”
Sylim answered, “He said, Good Morning, in his tongue. You’ll excuse her,” Sylim said to Pero. “Caly has not developed the ear yet. It will come.”
Before Pero could ask, Areion answered. “Those of us that travel between worlds develop an ear, a tongue, a sense of languages. With a little effort and time, we can understand and speak whatever is native to the inhabitants of lands we’ve never visited before. This skill aids us in our travels. Part of the universal language.”
“The universal language?” Pero asked.
“How do you think we are communicating right now, Vicar? I am alien to you, am I not? I’m speaking to you in your tongue for you do not have an ear for our language. You tend to call it neighing and braying.”
Sylim and Caly giggled.
“You’d be amazed at all the wonderful things you could hear if you really listened.”
– Excerpt from The Crystal Crux – Shimmer

As I developed the concept of Eliade and the qilin, I decided I wanted to give the qilin angelic attributes including the gift of speaking in tongues. The universal language is a simple nod to Babel and the language that existed before mankind’s speech was separated and divided.

“I’m a veteran after all. Of wars, negotiations, explorations and adventures. I am also a husband and a father. My perspective is unique. What seems rushed and out of control to you, even my flying, is a snail’s pace. Experience is where all formidable confidence flows from.”
“You sound an awful lot like Francis to me, Areion. He had this whole thing pegged long ago. I should have listened to him. I miss him.” Pero scanned the earth again. “Maybe this was a mistake, Areion. Maybe I am not ready.”
“Eliade wasn’t meant to make you ready for anything. You needed to wander, put some distance between things to figure them out, see the world from a different viewpoint. Don’t let anyone fool you. No one is ever prepared for everything. That’s how we grow. New experiences. New challenges. Only when we are tested can we discover truth. And truth is the lifeforce of time. And with enough time, you can do anything.”
“Even defeat demons?”
“Especially demons. Liars. Traitors. Thieves. Cowards. They are exactly like their father. Manipulators one and all. They play games with your head, try to make you feel small and irrelevant, unworthy and immoral. There’s one trying to talk to you right now, is there not? That’s why you are second-guessing yourself.”
Excerpt from The Crystal Crux – Shimmer