The Grief

CHAPTER 1

Long ago, before the world was like this, Renas, the Goddess who created this world, used to descend from heavens to earth. She loved humans, as so humans have loved her. They created holy places such as temples in order to please the Goddess. But one day, humans rebelled against her. They realized that they don't need Renas, they realized that Renas herself is nothing more than just a myth. They started to destroy temples and altars one after another, they started to murder humans that still believe in such nonsense. Renas was so disappointed of what the humans were doing, she regretted that she granted them such intelligent and lives, as in return, she wished to perish all human being.

As Renas was summoning disasters, five humans remained silent. They stood before Renas, prayed and pleaded for mercy, they begged Renas not to destroy the world she created. They cried over the sins that humans have made. Renas, whose heart was filled with anger, paused her acts and turned to the humans who were praying to her. She descended from the heaven, down to the altar.

The five humans who were praying, without any further orders, immediately bowed down before Renas. They bowed until their forehead reached the ground, showing high respect to the Goddess. Renas smiled.

"Arise." She said gently.

The humans stood up as what Renas has told them. One of them, Enelis, approached Renas and said, "Renas, we beseech your pardon, please…" her eyes glazed, "Don't bring us to destruction."

Renas, who was standing on a dais, slightly bent. Her eyes met Enelis'. She looked at her as she palpated her reddish cheek. "My dear Enelis, your prayer have reached me and my heart is now sad. I have done such a horrible thing to humans, whereas they have praised me. I am the one who should beseech your pardon."

Enelis gasped in confusion, "What are we to you that you seek for forgiveness?"

"You are saviors." Renas answered as she looked at the other humans standing behind Enelis, "I am assured that humans still have decency in them, for this I give you my blessings."

Renas raised her right hand, she looked up and closed her eyes. Five orbs of light came out from her fingers, they flew towards the human and as they were flying, they became gradually smaller and finally evolved into a wisp which floated quietly in front of the humans' presence.

"It's beautiful, what is this?" Enelis asked.

"They are the vessels of my body." Renas answered, "Accept it, and it shall turn you to be one of my living vessel." She added.

"Why would you need a vessel Renas?" The other human, Shiverus asked.

"Because I can no longer exist." She replied with a soft dim voice, "Humans have stained me and my powers are all gone because of it."

"No… it can't be." Enelis shook her head, "You can't… you can't…"

"Hush my dear, it will be just fine." Renas spontaneously hugged Enelis, "That's why I need you to be my living vessels, otherwise this world will fall into utter chaos."

The humans stared at each other, they do realize it's a dangerous job being a vessel, a Renas vessel. But if they refused to be one, just like Renas has said, the world will fall. With no leaders, with no rulers, the world is blind and will destroy itself. They have to take it, the humans have to take the lights and become her vessels.

Their hearts were still. They stared at each other once again, sighed and finally touched the wisps in front of them. The lights surrounded them, swallowing them. They closed their eyes as the lights did its job. They turned those five humans into another beings which we call, The Vessels.

Xevian, the berserker, the strength. He wore a shining armor with a winged helmet covering his head. He carried a golden greatsword by his two hands.

Shiverus, the sorcerer, the intelligent. He wore a bishop's robe, with white color spreading from top to bottom. He carried a wooden staff and the staff is hooked at the end. He is the master of earth spells, the four elements which created earth, fire, water, land and air.

Villya, the defender, the provider. She wore a shining breastplate and she carried a shield on her left hand, and a sword on her right hand.

Falcon, the assassin, the eyes. He wore a grey tunic and his body was covered from head to toe. He has a hood that hid his face and he carried two radiant daggers.

And finally Enelis, the cleric, the kindness and loving. She wore a beautiful white priest robe and she carried a majestic staff, filled with blooming flowers on it. Unlike Shiverus, Enelis is the master of holy spells.

"You have taken it humans. You have become my living vessels." Renas said, "Lead this world with your new powers." She added.

As Renas was speaking, her body became weak. Her feet were unstable that she fell from her standing position. She is now on the ground, looking up at the vessels that were standing in front of her.

"Renas!" Enelis cried as she dropped her staff. The dropping made a noise that spread across the altar.

"It's no matter my dear." Renas said, "Use this new power of yours wisely, for when the time comes, one of you will defect." She warned as her body started to fade.

"Defect? What do you mean Renas?!" Enelis asked, but she was too late. Renas' body has completely faded into thin air. She is gone.

Enelis lowered her head. She stared at the ground.

"En… She's gone now." Villya said as she picked Enelis' staff and walked closer to her. She put her hand on Enelis' right shoulder, "All we can do now is to lead this world, just like she wanted us to." She added. She gave Enelis her staff and Enelis held it.

"How do we suppose to lead this world? We don't even understand the power we hold now…" Enelis said as she looked at the staff she's holding, Renas' blessing staff.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out." Villya said, convincing Enelis.

Enelis who was looking down at her staff, lifted her head and looked at Villya. She was smiling, and unconsciously, Enelis followed her.

"Yeah, we'll do it together Enelis, you don't have to be afraid." Xevian said with a deep voice.

Enelis was after all, the youngest among them. She's just a student, a clever one fortunately. But still, holding such power in her hands, it's too much to ask for anyone her age. She's very innocent and sometimes easily manipulated.

"Thank you guys, you are all so kind and caring." Enelis said with a smile on her face.

"Well, what can you say, we're all vessels now, we have to stand for each other. Right guys?" Shiverus asked.

The rest nodded. This is their destiny and there's no escape from it. Together they will lead the world, together they shall reign over mankind. But Renas has warned them, right before she faded, that one of them will defect. Whoever he or she is, it's just the matter of time until they reveal their true nature.

"Let's fix things up shall we?" Villya said as they headed to the altar's entrance.

They started healing the grounds beneath them, which were destroyed because of the disasters before. Renas' blessed weapons which they carried gave them the courage to carry on. They don't have to be afraid of what the humans will do when they see them, for Renas' blessings are protecting them.