Hope

’Millenia ago, when celestial beings walked freely between worlds, our world was born. The beings from the other worlds had walked throughout millions of galaxies, universes, and worlds, but never had they seen a world like ours.

Our world was different, unique, special, and the other beings were so curious that they decided to stay. They had never seen such a world as ours, a world that was not filled with grotesque, horrific, immortal creatures such as those that dwelled in the darkest depths of their worlds.

They had never encountered a world where peace and joy reigned over fear and hostility, greed, and envy, a world whose leaders governed with a love for their people and their lands, a world filled with beauty. A world that could only be created by mortals, who were all equal, blessed with the same amount of power and potential.

The other beings were so enraptured with this strange, foreign world and its mortal inhabitants that some decided to stay and live amongst its people’.

Alaeria’s soft lilting voice filled the room, a gentle, sweet caress, as she whispered the story in the child’s ear. Her long, dark hair tickled the girl’s face as she lay beside her, rubbing slow, gentle circles on the young child’s hand with her thumb. The child’s eyes slowly drifted closed, as Alaeria came to what the girl though to be the end of her story. But, after a soft inhale she continued, her voice a little stronger than before.

’But those beings were too powerful for that world and in a world whose foundations were built on equity, only a certain amount of disorder could exist. They loved our world and its inhabitants greatly and did not wish to disrupt the natural flow of harmony. So, with great sadness in their hearts they left us, leaving nothing but aa small amount of their power behind for us to remember them by.

Some were chosen by these beings to bear their power as a final gift for being allowed to stay here in our world, Malia. And while the memory of the presence of these beings here has faded, their lingering power and presence has not. Although they no longer physically reside here, they have become known as gods, blessing those who they deem worthy with their power, and watching over us.

It is said that no prayer is left unanswered and it is as if those beings loved this world so greatly that they are forever watching over us and ensuring that we continue to live in peace ad harmony, as it has always been’.

The child’s eyelids were heavy, and Alaeria’s gentle voice lulled her to sleep, but she forced them to open as she continued with the same request she always did when they came to the end of this story.

‘Tell me more about the Blessed, Mother’.

Alaeria smiled as she continued to rub slow circles on the girl’s hand that dragged her closer and closer to sleep.

’Of course, my light. Every solstice, the people deemed worthy by the gods are gifted some of their immeasurable power. Every gods power is different, unique, as is every Blessed.

I remember the first time I ever saw a person who had been Blessed. My mother and I were walking home on the night of the winter solstice and I saw her. One moment she was a young woman huddling in a small alcove and the next she was Blessed.

She was Eris Blessed, God of Winter, and I remember as she stood up, staring about her in wonder, her eyes glowed a pale blue, almost the colour of the snow and ice that encircled her.

The power isn’t the only thing the Gods gift the Blessed. I remember that before the woman was plain, with dull, dirty blonde hair and lifeless blue eyes, but when she was Blessed, her hair became shiny, and her eyes glowed, as did her pale snow-snow white skin.

Some Blessed aren’t gifted much power, but this one was, I could almost feel it emanating from her. The last thing I remember before my mother tugged me forcefully away, was the Blessed woman locking her eyes on me, and smiling, in a way that lit up her whole face’

‘Have you seen any other Blessed, mother?’

‘Many, my light, of all ages and backgrounds. But none so powerful as that woman’.

‘I’ve never seen one mother’ the child declared, ‘But I want to very much’.

Alaeria laughed softly at that, as she stood up and tucked the girl into bed. As she turned to leave, the child grabbed her arm and tugged her closer, pulling her down until her ear was level with the girl’s mouth.

‘I wish I was Blessed, Mother’.

Gently, Alaeria removed the child’s hand from her arm and knelt beside the bed.

“Perhaps, my light, if you want it very badly and are very good, your wish might come true’.

Alaeria stood, as the child sighed happily and shut her eyes. Just as she was walking out of the room, she heard the girl whisper, very softly, ‘I would like that very, very much mother’.

Alaeria quietly left the room, the smile on her face mirroring the one that the child wore all night long.