PROLOGUE
ICHOS 9TH, YEAR 1997 A.W.
"From the Blood of Balance, comes the Honor of the Night."
“The War reigns down, born among the stars to fight.”
“Cursed be the dark, blessed be the light.”
“Fear the Honor of the Stars and Shadows, the wars might.”
As the Moon lapsed over the Springs Sun, Rei finished reading off their golden scroll as they looked up to their other sisters who stood listening and waiting for the reaction of their fellow primordial sister and Chaos who stood proud in curiosity.
Amidst the timeless Heavens, born of gold and silver and of light and dark Auna’s heart glowed with awe and pride at the prophecy. “Do you hear that my sweet Nora? You’re destined to be a warrior, my dear daughter.” The Primordial of Divine Balance murmured at the little bundle in her arms, who only looked at her mother with wide brown eyes filled with curiosity. Despite their siblings waiting for Auna to say something on the matter of the prophecy, she was lost in comparison looking at Nora.
Even though she was barely born, she had features Auna’s godly children and self-born children did not possess. The vibrant cyan eyes were replaced with a honey brown, the burning red hair was ash black, and the straight fine hair was replaced with a mop of thick curly hair. These features were from the primordials husband, Aulin Vesperi, The Grand Duke to the Asimian Throne. ‘Yes indeed, Nora was destined for greatness. She would be my favorite, and she would only have the best.’ Auna thought, “I carry you for nine months like a mortal does and you come out still looking like your father.” Auna jested.
“Auna? What of the prophecy?” Kiane asked gently and the red haired goddess looked up at her sister with a small smile upon her face. “What of it?” Auna questioned and Kiane accepted that answer, Kiane then looked at the green sun in the sky that slowly started to shine through that moon that moved in front of it. A normal occurrence when a Vesperi was born, the Family of Stars and Shadows, a family to be feared amongst Gods and men. So maybe that’s why even as the Primordial of the Night Kiane was slightly afraid of the child in her sister's arms. “She needs to be returned to the main realm, it’s unhealthy for her to stay here too long.” Minerva said, finally speaking up while Astoria and Rei continued to observe. But Auna asked something so sincere it threw off her siblings and Chaos themselves,“Would you all like to hold her?”
Though she had directed the question to all her siblings, Auna looked directly at Kiane. “I- What?” “Would you like to hold her?” The older asked again and though hesitant Kiane nodded and Kiane was given the small bundle in purple cloth. Nora’s eyes shifted over to Kiane’s black ones looking at her with all the curiosity those big brown eyes of hers could hold. Kiane looked at the child born from her sacred family, and something scared her. A prophecy spoken long ago before time existed. One that Auna seems to have forgotten.
‘Five thrones will tremble and fall to one of light,
Fear the first-born to which you are not too slight for the end is to come with the night.’
Nora would be the first born of light, in a way Nkri wasn’t. They needed to manipulate her, to keep her under control before her will made her untamed. Kiane looked at the child solemnly before hesitantly turning towards Auna, and deep in her existence Kiane felt fear.
She couldn’t take it any longer.
Kiane turned to Astoria, “Would you like to hold her next?” Astoria looked at Kiane then to Auna, who merely nodded and Astoria took Nora from the hold of the Primordial of the Night. Astoria looked down at Nora with her mint green eyes, and Nora looked back giggling again as Astoria’s long lavender hair fell on her small face. As the Primordial of Day and Good looked at her niece she observed how different she seemed to her biological family.
Sure she looked like a Vesperi, undoubtedly, but her name reflected her soul. Honor and Shining Light, sure the Vesperi had honor, but genuine light? That was rare to see amidst the darkness of the family of shadows. Astoria blew soft air on Nora, stroking her ash black hair while doing so, finally Astoria looked at Minerva. “Hold her?” She questioned the Primordial of Eternity, who scoffed and scowled at the newborn in her sister's arms. Auna quickly snapped her head to glare at Minerva, who returned a glare just as fierce, “Calm down both you, Minerva, don't hate the child just because of your strife with Auna. It’s childish for a primordial goddess to act in such a way.” Kiane spoke out, tired of both siblings by the second.
Sighing but lifting her hands Minerva took Nora from the arms of the fellow goddess, causing Auna to tense in distrust.
Minerva’s white eyes gleamed down at Nora, who now had a tired look on face, eyes slowly drooping. Minerva could care less about the child in her arms, she could care less about everything that had Auna involved in it.
However a tired Nora could care less about what Minerva felt, and for that Rei found himself chuckling slightly next to her glaring sister. “Alright enough of the glaring, yeah? Just give her to me already, you look like you're dreading every second you're holding her.” Rei said, leaning towards her sister in a teasing manner. Without needing to be told twice Minerva lazily passed the tired child to the Primordial of Creation and Destruction, waking up the tired child who slightly cried in turn.
“Ah, Aunt Minerva’s so mean huh? Don’t worry, you can sleep peacefully with your Aunt yet also Uncle Rei.” Rei muttered to the baby who made no effort to look into the marigold eyes of the primordial, instead falling asleep in the warmth given. Sighing slightly, Rei walked over to her sister Auna, before gently handing the baby to her.
“You’re not going to ask Chaos to hold her?” Auna questioned, and Rei looked over to Chaos who stood in their unnatural form. “It’s best if she is returned to the main realm soon, staying here could still be deadly for her.” Rei explained, and Chaos nodded in agreement. “Take her down to the main realm, I think her father is still waiting to see her.” Auna nodded gratefully and opened a portal down to the main realm and in Castle Zala of the Kingdom of Shadows. Maneuvering swiftly through the castle Auna quickly arrived upon the silver and onyx corridors of the throne room. Opening the heavy door, Auna stepped inside with Nora still soundlessly sleeping in her arms.
Aulin looked away from the silver, moonstone, and amethyst throne his niece sat on quietly as the heavy doors of the throne room opened. “Weirefine, horwei areine yaorur? (Wife, how are you?)” Aulin asked, stepping down from the steps that led to the throne, and quickly ushering to his wife’s side. “I’m well, would you like to see her?” Auna asked softly in common tongue as her husband held her shoulders tenderly. “A girl?” He asked, and his wife happily nodded. The goddess handed him the sleeping bundle and he lovelying held his newborn daughter close, “Her name?” Aulin asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Nora.” Auna revealed, “Ora Voinesulpinerire. (Nora Vesperi.)” Aulin happily muttered in Asteryian.
“A girl? Your grace?” A soft voice echoed through the room, a voice coming from the throne. “Yes indeed your Majesty. Would you like to see her?”
From the throne Odelia smiled at her uncle and got up from the throne, quickly making her way down to the pair and their newborn. “Moonlight upon you, Queen Odelia.” Auna spoke in greetings to the light brown haired and ocean eyed queen, “Moonlight upon you, goddess. I hope the birthing process wasn’t too harsh for you, I myself and quite terrified for that day to come for me.” Odelia spoke in an honest manner, and was quite worried for the goddess. “No, it went well. I’m sure the day you face it you will have an heir in your arms.” Odeila smiled as her uncle passed a small bundle in her arms, looking down at Nora Odelia saw beauty and innocence. “Yes, an heir that your daughter will be the right hand to.” Odelia stated and Aulin nodded before moving the topic, “Perhaps we should introduce her to the rest of the family?” Odelia nodded but looked over to the primordial. “Is that alright?”
Aulin opened the doors of the common room and faced the other members of his immediate family. “Sulor? (So?)” His brother Adrista or Akosh, the former king and current Lesser God of Shadows and Assassinations, asked expectantly. “A girl, her name is Nora.” Aulin said, and his sister-in-law Senka, the former queen, happily held her hands together. Vienna smiled but stayed silent and Eden was on the floor playing with Akatone who was on his stomach trying to crawl. Odelia and Auna walked past Aulin and to the family, presenting a sleeping newborn.
“Oh how sweet, now Akatone has someone to play with.” Senka said softly, as gazed at Nora while Akosh held a stoic look, “I wonder if this will align House Dissiri and the northern country Stalakana to our side.” He said after a beat, only to gain a light slap on his arm.
“Your niece was just born and presented to us, and you’re thinking about politics? Have some manners.” Senka lightly scolded her husband who quickly apologized to his brother and his godly sister-in-law. Though the question stayed in the back of Auna’s mind, she did not address the matter, politics could wait. Nora babbled as she woke in the arms of her cousin Odelia, to whom she looked at with interest. Nora turned slowly, observing the room as best she could. The family smiled at Nora’s behavior, and Odelia walked up to her baby uncle and put Nora down next to him. Eden quickly propped pillows to support the newborn who had her undivided attention on Akatone, who managed to start crawling to her.
Auna forgot everything she was, just in this moment. She wasn’t a divine touching land, she wasn’t in control of the Heavens, or the raging storms, and the passing souls. No, she was just Auna, the mother of Nora.
