Prologue
In a place - was it a place? - where there should have been nothing, there was a Darkness, and there was a Light.
“I sense that a great many deaths have taken place today,” the latter said.
“They get what they deserve.”
“Do not speak ill of your former servitors.” Though it had no body to speak of, its strands of energy frayed at the ends, bursts of unseen light carried away by the nonexistent breeze of the void between existences.
“So it was my kind who lost today? Good.”
Once upon a time, these two presences had been enemies, or, at the very least, opposites. The Light had its angels, and the Darkness had its demons, but, despite promises of future glory, neither moved against the other. From the day their followers decided to take matters into their own hands, the two had cast aside their differences.
“I weep for the poor souls caught in between,” the Light said, thinking of the humans, as it often did. “Oh, how I wish this senseless war would come to an end!”
“I… can’t predict what the future holds. But…”
“I do not like it when you conjure up plans.”
If ethereal manifestations of cosmic truths could shrug, what the Darkness did just then would be it.
“Unfortunately for you, it’s already in motion.”
The pause that followed said many things that words couldn’t have.
“What have you done?” The Light’s tone implied an added “this time”.
Once, much before, the other had persuaded it to release upon the Earth artifacts capable of harming angels and demons. The humans had fought over them for their gold and jewels, and melted down many. Overall, it was a disaster.
“I created an avatar.”
“Oh.”
The Darkness flickered. Neither had eyes the other could peer into, but it did still try. “If it helps, I’m sorry I acted without your permission.”
“It is done now.” The Light sighed in its own particular way.
“That it is.”
“Will it survive?”
“I think so.”
An hesitation. “And you are certain it could be the key to ending our predicament?”
In its defense, the Darkness wished it could say yes. But there were promises one must keep, and it had promised honesty to its friend. “I don’t know.”
“It is dangerous to interfere with the natural order of the world. A balance must be kept.”
“Balance? Have you seen this world you speak of?” The Darkness almost laughed. “If you are that worried about it, why don’t you create an avatar of your own?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then,” the Darkness mused. “We must see what mine will do.”
