So I messed up and posted only the last entry of this set of fanmade folklore. Whoops!
Eun kept her word and began teaching the serpent the words of man. The great beast struggled at first, but Eun's cleverness was only matched by her patience. She started the serpent on basic letters, then simple words. The serpent quickly learned from the fox and more than once surprised her with its voracity for knowledge. The two beasts would often sit at the temple near the center of Xin, surrounded by blossoming trees and trickling springs as they carried out their lessons, only interrupted by the occasional visitor or invader that slipped into the valley.
The serpent took much joy from its time with the fox, as all of its prior encounters with its beastly kin were lethal affairs. Eun was unlike any beast the serpent had met. She was intelligent, patient and even curious. She was more like the people it cared for. And how it enjoyed the sound of her laugh, so much like a happy child. She would ask the serpent questions about how it came to be so large, or how it came to love the people that slew its kin. It would answer both with "I merely am." It looked forward to each day with the promise of new words awaiting it, where it would at times dread the future that was filled with blood. Eun had given the serpent something to hope for.
And it began to love her for it.
Yes. The serpent fell in love with the fox, Eun.
Eun was intrigued by the serpent. Never had she met a fellow beast that desired to understand man so greatly. Her kin were content with hunting and killing them for sustenance and sport. But she discovered that it was more fun to play with man. Deceive them, scare them, surprise them. She found amusement in their faces when they fell into her schemes, seeing the bemusement and rage as motivations to continue her trickster ways. But this serpent wished to not just protect man, but to understand man. At first, she thought the serpent was like her, a deceiver, one that would show its true colors when the people felt safest and slaughter them all. But everytime it answered "I merely am" that thought was pushed further and further away. The serpent held in it a kind and compassionate spirit she thought impossible in beasts.
Her curiosity was piqued. And her curiosity led to attraction.
Yes. Eun fell in love with the great serpent.
The people watched the two beasts in awe. Though they were wary of Eun at first, they quickly opened their hearts to the fox when they saw their great guardian smile for the first time. They would leave food for the two beasts at the temple that they'd consume at their leisure as they continued their lessons, and trained their own warriors in the art of combat. Some trained to fight beast, others their fellow man. These warriors remained ever vigilant during the serpent's lessons, and ventured to the far villages to offer their protection. Some returned, others did not. Some died, others flourished.
Many suns and moons passed as the serpent became more and more familiar with the tongue of man. It would greet its visitors with a friendly "Hello" instead of a happy hiss. It even took to telling jokes, though they were terrible by all standards. It also led the people of Xin in prayer every day to their delight. And every night it would gaze at the moon above, nuzzling its newfound love.
One night, a night like any other night, it said, "Thank you, Eun. You have taught me much. How to speak. How to understand. How to love."
Eun smiled. "And thank you. For granting me a dear student. For granting me a place. For granting me your love."
The serpent knew the time had come. "Eun, I am ready. I am ready to take my name."
Eun had so many names for her lover. "Very well," she said. "What shall your name be, my love?"
The serpent thought deeply and said, "I know what I shall be named. A name that will shine for the people of Xin, a name that will strike fear in those that bring harm upon us. I shall be…"
It looked to the moon, the object that the people so often likened it to and said…
"Drabaki."
Xin flourished under Drabaki's protection. It would work alongside the warriors to repel invaders and Eun would accompany them on patrols to the far villages at times. And every night Drabaki would look over the valley, illuminated by the moon above. With Eun by its side, the people worshipping it from below, the beasts outside kept at bay, it was happy.
But there was a longing. A longing that would find the serpent somberly gazing at the moon every night. One such night, Eun asked, "What troubles you, my love?"
"I feel… as though I could do more…" It said, still staring at the moon.
"You've already done so much. Look around you; the people smile every day. Your bellies are always full, your thirst always quenched. And you have me…"
"I know…" The serpent nuzzled the fox lovingly. "But I want to do more for these people. I want to protect them, always. I want to protect you, always. But my body cannot do that."
"What do you mean?"
"If I could protect everyone, that would be enough. But I cannot do this. No matter how fast I strike, how large I am, I am but flesh."
"Flesh that has given so much, my love."
"But what I desire is something beyond the limits of flesh. I wish…" It looked to the moon. "To ascend."
Eun was confused. "Ascend? You desire godhood? Are you not already a god?"
Drabaki shook its head. "No. A true god. One that is not bound by the limits of flesh. One that can protect you all as the light of the moon shines down upon us all now."
Eun ran up the serpent's great body to lay on its head. "No! What of us!? How can I love you when you are not here?"
Drabaki used its great body to stroke her gently. "We need not touch to love, Eun. I have given this great thought. Please, allow me this last selfish wish…"
Eun despaired. Her greatest love intended to leave her for a calling it did not need to answer. But she knew Drabaki's spirit was kind and compassionate. It had to ascend to be truly happy. And this understanding pained her. So, Eun said, "How long do we have?"
Drabaki thought deeply. "... Perhaps… two years… I will need to leave the valley and meditate on the highest mountain. I shall continue to accept tributes as they come and they shall be the means of my ascension. The wishes of the people shall empower the El they give me, and allow me to attain a new form; a form that shall soar into the heavens and breach the boundary between mortal and gods. That will be my ascension."
"Then… we have two years left for us… What of the people?"
"I shall consult them on my desire. They are strong now. United, they can protect themselves. If the need of my aid arises, I shall descend from the mountain and assist. But it is time the people stand tall upon the ground with their own two feet."
Eun still despaired. Two years was far too brief. She wanted to stop Drabaki. But she was not strong enough to drag it down. She was not clever enough to outwit its plans. And, above all, she loved Drabaki too much to stop it.
So she said, "Very well, my love. In two years I shall watch you ascend, and love not a beast, but a god…"
Drabaki gathered the people at the central temple the following morning and explained its intent to ascend. The people wept, wishing for the great serpent to remain among them, but Drabaki's wish would not be denied. Drabaki granted the people time to make the necessary preparations for its departure.
The people immediately began preparing for the two years they would be without Drabaki's protection. They trained more warriors in the art of spear and sword. They sent more messengers to the outlying villages. But they knew not how to lead without Drabaki's protection.
From amongst this confusion, a single man rose. A man with little to his name save a burning desire to lead. Who he was, he discarded to become the next symbol of power in Xin. This man led his people on and off the battlefield, bringing great honor to him and those that followed him. Soon, he took the name and title of Emperor Di Yi Ke Xin, The First Heart, and the people rejoiced. The Xin Empire was born upon his crowning.
Under The Emperor's guidance, the new empire steeled itself for Drabaki's departure faster than before. It sent its warriors to the far flung villages and beyond, assimilating territory, people and resources. The people would remember these days fondly. But The Emperor held a longing deep inside him. He saw how dearly his people loved the great serpent, how they despaired in light of its impending absence. He wondered "Will they weep for me when my time to depart has come? Will I be loved by the people as much as our great protector?"
On the night prior to Drabaki's departure from the valley, The Emperor asked the serpent, "Drabaki, how can I be loved as you are?"
The great serpent answered, "Stand tall, Emperor Di Yi Ke Xin. The people will love you, for you are their symbol of hope and strength."
The Emperor was not satisfied, however. "Great Serpent, The people love you so dearly. Will I be loved so?"
Again, the serpent answered, "Stand tall, Emperor Di Yi Ke Xin. The people will love you, for you are their symbol of hope and strength." These were the final words left to The Emperor by Drabaki.
But he still was not satisfied. In him, a new desire took root where he once wished to lead. A desire to be remembered and worshipped. And the greater powers that were saw the desire in his heart.
A priestess, hailing from a land far beyond the borders of the Xin Empire, entered the land with a message. Brought before the emperor she said, "Emperor Di Yi Ke Xin, I have come to share with a vision I have seen. A vision where you stand tall, and are eternally loved."
The Emperor bade her to say more. "Tell me more priestess. How do I become eternally loved as you say?"
"Great Emperor, in my vision, you will lead the effort to save Xin from an impending disaster, and the spoils of this effort shall grant you life, and love, eternal." The Emperor's desire burned hot as he listened intently. He would do anything to see that vision become reality.
"Tell me. I must know, priestess."
"Emperor Di Yi Ke Xin, you must see to it that the Great Serpent, Drabaki, not ascend. The serpent holds in it a terrible ambition. An ambition that shall see the world burn to ashes. Your people will die in this valley should the monster ascend. You must see to it that Drabaki fails…"
I have decided that I will stick to the folklore style of writing for this story rather than go for a typical narrative. I hope you're all enjoying this!
Until next time!