"In the beginning, there was God."
Thalia and the children gathered around the campfire listening to a familiar old story. They had heard this story many nights before, but hearing it again brought them a sense of comfort like a favorite blanket…or a bedtime story.
Gaia continued with her soft and melodic voice, "God created the heavens, the land, and the oceans. He created darkness and light…"
"And trees, and flowers, and treats?" asked a sleepy-eyed boy as he fought to keep his eyes open.
"Yes, he created trees and flowers and even treats," Gaia chuckled.
As a former Apostle of Itarim, she had been a high-ranking general during the never-ending war their Creator had started for his amusement long before the Outer Gods War. Gaia had witnessed firsthand the vast cruelty and heartlessness of their Creator as he watched his creation fight and die in vain, purely for his amusement.
However, that was long ago…the Creator who ruled over their universe had likely been killed by another invading Itarim. Given the tragic end, Gaia did not have the heart to speak ill of their Creator.
"Did he create the Dark Universe and the Dark God?" asked Kesi.
Gaia was constantly surprised by the insight and astute observations made by Kesi despite being no more than 15 years of age. Like many of the children gathered around the campfire, Kesi was orphaned during the Outer Gods War.
One morning while hunting for food, Thalia found Kesi lying in a ditch. His clothes ripped to tatters and his small body covered in cuts and injuries likely from magic beast attacks or worse. Upon seeing him, Thalia knew this poor boy would die if left alone. An orphan herself, Thalia immediately decided to bring the boy with her. Although his injuries were severe, Gaia managed to save his life with her healing magic.
"No, our God did not create the Dark Universe or the Dark God." Gaia answered calmly.
The existence of the Dark God and the Dark Universe were common knowledge across the many universes in the cosmos. Even children had heard stories of the mighty Dark God who had battled against countless Gods and their armies.
Many viewed the Dark God as pure evil and the Dark Universe as a place akin to Hell itself. However, Gaia knew better.
As she resumed her story by the campfire, she silently recalled memories of days long past when she served as an Apostle of the Itarim during the Outer Gods War. During those years she fought on the frontlines against the Dark God and his Shadow Army.
She had seen first-hand the awesome and yet terrible power of the Shadow Monarch (also known as the Dark God). He had single-handedly held off countless Gods and their armies for years until the appearance of the "White Shadow God" (Suho Sung). Yet from Gaia's many years of experience fighting and leading armies, she immediately recognized a vital difference between the Dark God and the Itarim.
The Dark God despite wielding awe-inspiring power, used his power only to defend. Rarely did the Shadow Monarch attack, and never did he pursue the conquest of other universes.
Gaia realized the Shadow God was not "evil" as most assumed.
To protect means to love. Love, Gaia reasoned, was the ultimate proof that the Shadow God was "good". Even as she fought on the frontlines against the Shadow Monarch and his dark army, Gaia knew the war was a lie.
Sleep soon overtook the children…one by one they succumbed to fatigue and closed their eyes. Their breath slow and steady like a chorus of soft instruments. Gaia smiled. She loved children. Old memories started to resurface as she watched the children sleep.
She remembered the day she and her love, Vidar, found a crying baby alone in a corner of a burning hut in the middle of a non-distinct village scorched by war. They decided to adopt the baby and named her Thalia.
It was at that moment that Gaia understood "family" and what it means to "love." Gaia and Vidar swore that they would always protect their "family"…even if it meant disobeying their God.
As the children slept, Gaia continued to think about Vidar. She recalled the first time she met him…it was on a distant battlefield. She was a high-ranking general in the Cherubim Army. He was a high-ranking general in the Seraphim Army. The two were mortal enemies and had fought for countless years in a never-ending war instigated by their Creator.
However, the unthinkable happened…over time the two fell in love. They kept their relationship secret from everyone. When fighting, they maintained appearances by always seeking their rival on the battlefield. As their swords clashed, their hearts silently spoke of love. The two later adopted Thalia into their family.
It was their secret. One they never regretted.
When the Outer God War started, the endless battles between the Cherubims and Seraphims ended. Almost instantly, the two mortal enemies halted their feud as they joined together in the war against the Shadow Monarch at the command of their Creator.
When the war progressed to the point where Itarim battled other Itarim, their universe was invaded by a powerful rival. During this invasion, Vidar and Gaia were separated…that was years ago.
'Where was he now? Was he ok? Would she ever see him again?' Gaia thought to herself.
A whisper broke her train of thought.
"I think tomorrow we should continue heading north…I see mana collecting there," whispered Thalia not wanting to wake the children.
Gaia nodded in response to her daughter's comment.
Thalia and the orphaned children were known as "terrans". The resembled humans with only one exception…their eyes. Having existed and evolved over a long period of time surrounded by mana, magic beasts, and war; the terrans developed the ability to see mana similar to how a snake sees infrared light or a butterfly sees ultraviolet light.
Thalia continued whispering, "maybe there is a gate up ahead…or someway out of this barren land."
Her eyes looked hopeful as she spoke those words. In fact, her eyes always looked hopeful. Perhaps it was her resolve, or perhaps it was because her eyes always had the appearance of a stary night sky…dark with countless white spots. In fact, all terrans had similar eyes…dark purple/black/brown/gray eyes full of countless white spots that resembled the night sky full of sparkling stars.
Gaia nodded in agreement. That was their plan after all…they would continue following the "stream" of mana hoping it would lead them to a "river" and eventually an "ocean"…a place filled with mana was bound to have an abundance of life…and life meant hope and a future.
Gaia looked around at the campfire, 20 or so orphaned children lie sleeping. Their faces glowed with an internal happiness that only comes from being loved.
'Love is all anyone really needs', reasoned Gaia, 'the rest really doesn't matter. Houses can be rebuilt; lives can be mended…all we need is each other'.
It was that one singular thought that kept the group moving forward.
Hope.
The group had been traveling together for months now. Gaia as the mother figure and most powerful in the group always remained close to the children. Thalia as the oldest was always ahead of the group scouting for magic beasts and safe passageways. Kesi self-appointed himself to the rear guard, and he busied himself with the task of taking up the rear.
So ended another day, in a forgotten planet, in a broken universe ravaged by war and ambition.
'At least we have each other,' thought Gaia as the day came to an end.