7238
The Punishment for Hubris, Book 1
MarieC90
Let me tell you a story of the children of Malin, Horen, Urguan and Krug; A tale from the time when God's melting pot became a boiling cauldron, and many wondered about his beneficence. :: A tale from when God was first questioned and his mortal children cried out in anguish. :: Our story takes us back to the beginning, when the Four Brother's children were coming of age in this world known as Aegis. One stood out among the sons of Malin; Born beneath the shade of the trees under the pale light of a full moon, his father named him Zanunder. Proud and strong was his stature, and Zanunder stood tall among his brothers and sisters, resembling their Father in many ways. His hair was the color of the noon-day sun and his eyes a vibrant shade of forest green. :: Iblees came then, as Zanunder grew. Iblees attempted to corrupt his father and uncles, in the end unleashing upon the world a devastating curse. They said that Iblees had been a Daemon, a servant of God. Zanunder began to question this. If God was omnipotent, surely he would not allow evil to exist. Nor would he do so were he kind, benevolent or even compassionate. But he was not the only being to begin to question the ways of the world. There was also...her. She stood tall, her presence unlike anything he had laid eyes on before. Hair black as night, lips green as ivy, but the strangest thing about her visage was surely her eyes. The whites of them were a deep, steel blue and inside they were a lighter blue, like the clean waters of a gently flowing stream. He came to know her as Nemiisae, a kindred spirit in this world he viewed as cruel. In short time they fell in love, relishing in each other's ideals and presence. They cam to the conclusion quickly that they should escape these lands, hoping that in doing so they would also be able to break free of Iblees' curse upon the lands. They retreated deep underground in order to begin their plans, for Zanunder did not wish others to know of them, lest they be branded heretics. :: Deep beneath the ground, in a large cavern, Nemiisae created a portal to the world known as the Verge. From there it would be easier for her powers to stretch across the lands, locating a fit place for her, Zanunder, and their soon-to-be abundant children to settle. It would also protect them from the scourge Iblees unleashed across the lands. Inside the Verge the two thrived and quickly multiplied, first growing to three, then four, then six, eight, ten and continuing on. Nearly a hundred years after they first arrived in that place, Nemiisae had finally found a suitable land to settle. However, during those hundred years, Kings had risen and fallen. The Brothers had all passed away. Kingdoms and Guilds began to rise to power throughout the lands. The curse, coupled with the figure's blessing, seemed to barely affect people's lives. This went unnoticed by Nemiisae and Zanunder, so wrapped up in raising their young and finding a place to flee from Iblees' curse. Inside the Verge, Nemiisae created another portal. It reflected the green, verdant lands they planned to settle...but not the dangers lurking within. Before they went through with their children, Zanunder stopped his love. He requested of Nemiisae that the portal be closed behind them, as well as the portal out of the Verge that they had entered through. Zanunder did not wish for their children to be followed, believing Iblees' curse may seep through the Portals and into this new land. Nemiisae agreed, but this was a farce. In truth, she had always planned to leave the portals open, as well as leaving messages detailing where they went to, so that others may spare themselves this horrid curse.