Image Credit: /raviollies?s=11&t=_0HIkF_XESjybP1wTqIocA
Part 1:
The afternoon sky was bright. As the sun shown down its light unto the land. Its radiant golden beams where broken up. By the long shadows casted by the Great Tree's branches. And without a cloud in the sky ; life was good in the Lands Between. The rolling green hills of Limgrave, were alive with activity. Herds of wild goats grazed the hills with great enthusiasm. Fishermen cast their nets into Ageel lake with no worries. And the mighty dragons flew majestically across the sky a reminder of the lordship of Placidusax.
Mary and Her father Harold walked steadily along the road. They had came from up north in Caria and where passing through. Limgrave on their way to Cailid, The land in which they lived. Mary and Her father were Numans, a long lived people from a faraway land. But for as long as anyone could remember. They had lived in The Lands Between, and called Cailid home.
Mary had recently come into her 16th year of age, likewise her father seemed infinitely older than her. For in his years of life he had become 200 and 45. A venerable age among Her people, not that She knew anything of Her people. For neither Her, nor Her father, nor His father had truly seen the Numan homeland. But She had heard half remembered stories, and tales of the glories of their homeland. But truthfully Mary didn't care for some long gone glory. Of a place She hadn't even seen, for as far as She concerned Cailid was Her home.
Mary was a lovely young lady, bright of temperament and with fair skin and blonde hair. Like many Numans She was tall for her age. but not too much as to seem unnatural. She loved traveling with Her father and meeting new people. And She had a knack for making friends, just recently, She and Her father had come across a Mercenary and His son. The father of the boy, a tall man with naturally white hair. Had needed help fixing the broken wheel of His wagon. Which Him and His son seemed to live in. While the men labored to fix the wheel. Mary and the Mercenary's son really hit it off and had became fast friends. And while it was strange for an out going and energetic teenage girl. And a slightly withdrawn and clearly battle hardened boy to get along. It just seemed to work for some reason and while the wheel was being fixed. The two children talked about all manner of things. Eventually the wheel was fixed and the two parted ways. Mary told herself she would never forget the boy warrior she had met that day, even if "Hora Lu" was a strange name.
Many hours later, as the road kept stretching on and on. Mary and Her father had grown significantly tired. And stopped along the side of the road to rest. Mary sat on a wall that ran parallel to the road, and Harold joined Her. They both looked to the north, the form of the Great Tree loomed over the land. And the girl and Her father enjoyed the spectacle, than Harold spoke.
"You know Mary, they say that all life used to be mixed together. Inside the crucible at the heart of the Great Tree" He said, Mary looked at Him and spoke in reply.
"Wow really?" She asked, Harold patted His daughter on the head. And responded.
"Yes my dear they say that everyone used to be together as one thing. But they split off and became every creature and person we know today." He said, Mary marveled at the story. She knew that Her father wasn't the best story teller in the land. But He was pretty good.
Soon the resting had ended, and the journey home continued. They where close to entering Cailid. Mary and Her father were very ready to sleep in an actual bed tonight. And as such even when the sun began to set they walked on. Knowing the way home and guided by the pale silver light of the full moon. As well as the torches they brought. Mary looked around the savanna like plains of this part of Cailid seemed to stretch on forever. She spoke.
"Father forgive my query, but how much further shall we need go?" She asked, Harold stopped and looked around. Examining His surroundings and looking for landmarks. He replied.
"We needn't worry Stardust, our home lay just beyond-" but before Harold could finish something happened. A flash of light encompassed the sky and a streak of golden hue. Screeched towards the ground, seemingly headed near them both. The shooting star smashed into the ground with great force. It rested a few hundred meters away and the impact, knocked Mary and her father to the ground. Though it seemed like no major damage had been done. They where shaken up to say the least of the situation. Mary rose first followed by Harold, and they looked at one another. Harold spoke quickly.
"By the Dragons above Mary are you alright?!" He asked frantically, Mary nodded and looked out towards the impact zone. She spoke.
"What in the world was that?!" She asked, Harold responded.
"Sky-bolder Mary, it happens sometimes rocks from the Great Beyond sometimes. Crash into the Lands Between. But i've never seen it happen…" he said, as the dust cleared Mary looked at the crater with unexpected. Enthusiasm pointing towards it and speaking.
"Lets go gaze upon it, perhaps we could even take some fragments home to show mother!" She said, Harold was hesitant but also slightly excited. He placed his hand on his chin and spoke with caution in his voice.
"We will go look upon it, and if it is safe we may get closer, but if something goes strangely we will leave quickly… understand?" He asked, Mary nodded excitedly and almost jumped up. Walking over to the crater and looking back. To see her father still slowly getting up. She walked quickly towards the hole in the ground the heat she expected to feel never arriving. In fact it seemed that despite its fiery entrance the object had cooled completely.
Minutes later Mary and her father stood on the edge. Of the surprisingly shallow crater peering at the object. It was a hunk of rock cracked and burnt. But the cracks seemed to contain solid gold that traced the rock. Like tiny shining rivers Mary spoke.
"Oh father isn't it just the strangest thing you've ever seen?" She asked, Harold replied looking at her.
"I'd have to say so Stardust i wonder how much the scholars at the academy would pay, for a Sky-bolder like that" he said, Mary finally took a step forward. Swallowing a lump in her throat she approached the other worldly thing. Noticing this Harold followed her staying by her side and watching the rock carefully. As they approached the bolder didn't budge or do anything strange. And when they stood right in front of it, they saw that it was. No bigger than a normal person, both in height and width.
Harold went around the left side to look at it from the back. And as his form disappeared behind the rock, something spoke to Mary.
"Touch" it said, inviting her to touch the rock, Mary shook her head and spoke.
"What?" She asked, Harold poked his head out from behind the rock. And replied looking at Mary inquisitively.
"I didn't say anything Stardust maybe its someone else on the road, i'll go check and make sure there aren't any bandits lurking about." He said, walking away quickly and leaving Mary alone with the stone. When he was out of sight, the stone spoke again.
"Touch… touch… please…" it said, Mary was confused and for some reason. Actually found herself reaching out to the stone, the obelisk spoke once more.
"Do it, do it, touch, touch… please…" it said, the more it spoke the more Mary found it harder to not listen. Her hand trembled just above the surface of the rocky object. The other against her chest, Mary heard it speak again.
"Place thy hand upon the stone and change the world" it said, at that sentence the tips of Mary's fingers. Made contact with the cool smooth stone then, for a brief moment. The stone flashed a gold hue and Mary. Pressed her hand against the object fully than. A searing pain was upon her hand, and she swiftly withdrew. Making a frightened yap as the sensation was realized. Mary then saw something emerge from the rock.
A strange looking creature small and truthfully cute. But obviously not fully grown. The monolith spoke to Mary again.
"Mary… thou art now mein Empyrean, as such know that one day thou shalt change the world. And bringeth about an age of golden peace to these lands between. This beast which I hath sent which you are now tied to. Tis my vassal, and through it thou shalt wield great power." Mary was awe struck, who was she talking to?!
She spoke timidly but with curiosity.
"W-who are you and what will i do?" She asked, the voice from the stone replied, in a calming tone.
"I am The Greater Will, the Greatest of all the gods. And the embodiment of order and peace, i have chosen you Mary. To become the symbol for a new age of peace and order in these lands. To become a god yourself but take heed. For there are many more evil and wicked gods here, those who oppress and enslave. And their wicked servants are legion." He said, Mary felt scared and spoke timidly.
"B-but i am only 16 winters, surely someone older than I would make a better g-god. My father he is 200 and 45 winters surely he is more-" but she was cut off, the voice of The Greater Will somehow soothing her worries.
"Resteth assured Mein Empyrean, thou art not expected to rulest now. but merely to bide thy time your day in the sun willst cometh. But this shalt not be that day, rather mein champion of order. Upon the day when thou ist are to come of age, than ye shall begin thy quest in earnest." He said, Mary fell to her knees than sat down on the crater floor. She was still awe struck and trying to process the information. While she sat quietly The Greater will spoke to her again.
"It takes much power to communicate with thee, mein Empyrean. So i leave you with these words. Now that my blessing is upon thee, it is possible that dangers may come to thee and thy house. Do not fear them should they come my power flows through you, through my vassal beast. Use it to defend thy self and thy house till the right time comes. And the great adventure will begin." He said, Mary stood she was still nervous but resolut. She spoke.
"I will do as you say, and when i come of age we will change the world!" She said, The Greater Will would smile to itself if it could, it was all coming together, he spoke for the final time.
"I chose right it seems, thou art a fine soul with a will like steel. From this day forth thy old name is gone. dead as the bones of the ancient beasts, that first crawled from the crucible. Rather mein Empyrean thou shalt have a new name, gone is Mary. Now there is only Marika!"
Authors note: i hope you enjoyed the read, part 2 should be out soon, if you want to receive updates as soon as they come out, then join the Discord /u89gs745fn