> There was a place that the Elder Folk called the Cradle of Civilization. It was said to be the birthplace of their people and thereby the birthplace of all people, the place where the first seeds of culture and society were sown.
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> The original Elder Folk progenitors settled in one place. They built simple homes and at some point started to raise animals for food. They developed a system of writing and began to record their stories and their history.
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> As time went on, the Elder Folk's civilization continued to develop. They built great cities and monuments and developed sophisticated systems of trade and governance. They created works of art and literature, and their people quickly spread across the continent of creation.
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> But the Cradle of Civilization was more than just a place of material progress. It was a place of spiritual and intellectual awakening, where the Elder Folk and by extension all civilized races started on their journey. Because of this, it is theorized that the Cradle of Civilization is covered in the flow of fate.
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> And so the Cradle of Civilization became a beacon of hope and inspiration for the Elder Folk, a symbol of all that they could achieve if they worked together and believed in themselves. Even as their civilization continued to grow and evolve, they never forgot their roots, and the place where it all began creating a legacy that would endure for all time.
~Excerpt from Civilization Through the Ages by Chembang Thortirl.
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World Location: A Mid-trunk Bough > Bashiri's Inner World > Continent of Creation > Cradle of Civilization
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IMPARTED KNOWLEDGE
1513 IF 5600:00¹
Day I – Part II
Aurora's footsteps were light and measured as she walked back towards the spot where she had emerged from her egg just minutes before. Her pointed ears twitched, alert to every sound in the glade, and her glowing blue eyes took in every detail of the surroundings. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the natural beauty of the place, the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees, the gentle rustling of the leaves, the sweet fragrance of the flowers, and the cool breeze that caressed her skin.
As she neared her hatching spot, Aurora noticed that the four-winged lady was up to something. She seemed to be deep in concentration, her eyes closed, and her hands glowing with a soft golden light. Aurora hesitated for a moment, not wanting to disturb her, but her curiosity got the better of her. She edged closer, watching intently as the lady worked her magic.
Suddenly, Aurora gasped in surprise as she noticed that the eggshells were morphing into something else entirely. They were transforming before her very eyes, twisting and stretching as if alive. It was a mesmerizing sight, and Aurora couldn't take her eyes off it. She watched as the shells grew and shifted, taking on new shapes and forms.
As Aurora watched the four-winged lady at work, she couldn't help but notice that a few of the other creatures that had emerged from their own eggs were also there, watching with interest. Their eyes were fixed on the eggs, who seemed to be in the midst of some sort of magical transformation.
Soon, the eggshells finished their shifting and changing, their shapes don their twisting and warping, leaving something behind that seemed unrecognizable.
Aurora tentatively reached out to touch the strange material laid out on the grass where the egg had been. It was soft to the touch, yet strong, and didn't seem to hold its shape very well folding easily in her hands. She picked up her sets of material, marvelling at the simple yet esoteric green design adorning what she later recognized as the chest. As she examined it further, she noticed that it was completely dry, without a speck of dirt or dust on it.
Her eyes wandered back to the four-winged lady, who was wearing a similar set of materials, which Aurora began to think of as clothes, despite not knowing what clothes were. Aurora couldn't put her finger on how or why she was able to make this inference so easily, but the intuition was there nonetheless.
As Aurora slipped into the soft and strong sets of materials, she marvelled at how they seemed to adjust to her every curve and contour, moulding themselves perfectly to her body. The material was unlike anything she had ever felt before, soft and supple to the touch, yet sturdy and durable.
Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion as she watched the other creatures gather around, still staring down at the empty shells. She had eagerly put on her newly-formed clothes, relishing in the comfortable fit and protective feel they provided. Why weren't the others doing the same? Perhaps they were intimidated by the sudden change in their surroundings, she thought.
But then her attention was drawn to something else that had emerged from the eggshells. A long, slender stick made of a smooth, polished wood-like material caught her eye. It had a certain glow to it that seemed to match the silvery-white colour of her hair. And at the top of the stick, there was a shining crystal that emitted a soft, golden light. The crystal was shaped like an upside-down teardrop, delicately held in place by silver filigree that twisted around the stick like vines.
Aurora's curiosity was piqued. What was this object? She couldn't resist picking it up, feeling the smoothness of the wood and the weight of the crystal in her hand. It felt like it was meant for her and her alone. She looked back at the other creatures, who were now staring at her with awe and confusion.
As Aurora looked around, she noticed that the other creatures had finally caught on to what she had done. They were all now in the process of trying to put on their own set of clothes. Some were struggling to adjust the fabric to fit their bodies, while others seemed to be having trouble figuring out which part of the clothes went where. Despite the difficulties, Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of pride that she had been the first to accomplish such a task.
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Soon, the creatures had even begun to mimic her movements, adjusting their clothes in the same way she had. It was as if they were all learning from each other. However, Aurora couldn't help but notice that while they all wore similar clothing, none of them had the stick that she held. Instead, each one seemed to have other things. One or two had curved blades, while a few others had pointed spears and so on.
Aurora was in awe as the four-winged lady called out to them, her voice gentle and soothing, yet somehow it seemed to bypass her ears and echoed directly into her mind. She felt a strange sensation, like a light touch on her forehead, and then a flood of knowledge began to flow into her consciousness.
It was a dizzying experience for Aurora as the knowledge flooded into her mind. She felt like her brain was expanding, trying to absorb all the new information that was being implanted into it. She saw images of the world around her, and the various creatures that inhabited it. She saw the plants and animals, and she learned which ones were safe to eat, and which ones were poisonous. She learned how to find shelter and how to avoid dangerous predators.
But the knowledge that the lady was imparting was not limited to just survival skills. Aurora felt a strange energy flowing into her, as if the lady was infusing her with some kind of power. She felt her own physical abilities becoming enhanced, her reflexes and agility becoming more acute. She felt like she could run faster, jump higher, and move with greater grace and precision.
As the lady continued to impart knowledge, Aurora began to understand that she was being taught the basics of cultivation. She learned how to harness the aether around her, and how to channel it to increase her own strength and abilities.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the flood of knowledge stopped. Aurora felt a strange sensation, like a tingling in her mind, and she knew that the lady had finished imparting her knowledge.
Aurora saw that the other creatures had fainted, their bodies still processing the massive amount of information that had just been implanted in their minds. She felt a tinge of worry for them, but also a sense of pride that she was still standing and processing the information.
Aurora looked around at the creatures, studying their still forms with curiosity. She wondered if they would wake up soon and if they would be able to remember everything that the lady had taught them. She couldn't help but feel grateful to the four-winged lady for sharing her knowledge with them.
Aurora also realized that this was just the beginning. They were still in a new and unfamiliar world, and there was much more to learn and discover. She felt a renewed sense of determination to explore and understand their surroundings, and to use the knowledge that had been given them to thrive and grow.
Aurora sat down cross-legged on the grass, resting the stick in her hand on her lap. She marvelled at how the stick, now that she knew what it was, felt almost like an extension of her body. She could feel the Aether around her, the energy that flowed through everything, pulsing through the stick like a current of electricity. She now knew that this stick was a staff that she could use to harness the Aether around her more easily.
As she waited for the others to wake up, she began to carefully analyze the information that the four-winged lady had imparted to her. Her mind raced as she tried to fully absorb the vast amount of knowledge that had been injected into her consciousness. She wondered what made her different in such a way that she could take in such a large amount of information without fainting as the others had.
Aurora could feel her brain working overtime, making new connections, and forming new pathways. She felt exhilarated and overwhelmed all at once. It was like a part of her that had been dormant had suddenly been awakened, and she couldn't wait to explore all the new possibilities that this knowledge would bring.
Aurora reminisced on the first clear and unfragmented memory she had. One that came from not that long ago. It was a voice that echoed through her mind, asking her a question that had stayed with her ever since. "What is it that you desire, Aurora?"
She remembered how panicked she had been at the time, asking the voice endless questions and receiving no response until finally hearing the simple answer, "Blessing granted."
Aurora wondered if it related to her talent for processing information. She couldn't help but feel like there was more to it all.
Lost in thought, Aurora barely noticed when the other creatures began to stir awake, groggily rubbing their eyes as they slowly regained consciousness. At first, Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority as she looked at them. However, seen she wondered what if they all have their own talents? Worse yet what if they already know how to use them and would look down on her lack of comprehension?
Aurora calmed herself down and watched with fascination as the creatures around her woke up from their slumber, their eyes wide with newfound knowledge. They looked around in confusion, trying to make sense of the new world they found themselves in. But soon their attention was drawn to the weapons or tools in their hands, and they began to test their weight and balance of them.
Their movements were fluid and graceful, as if they had been wielding these objects their entire lives. Aurora admired the way they seemed to have an innate understanding of how to use them, as if the weapons were an extension of their own bodies. It was as if they had been born with this knowledge, rather than learning it just moments ago.
As Aurora continued to watch, she noticed that each creature had a different weapon or tool in their hands. Some held long spears, while others wielded swords or axes. One even had what looked like a hammer. Despite the differences in their tools, they all moved with the same fluid grace and confidence.
It was clear to Aurora that the knowledge that had been imparted to them had not only given them the ability to communicate but also imbued them with the ability to use these weapons or tools as if they had been using them for years. And as Aurora watched them practicing, she couldn't help but wonder well she was the only one with a staff, a tool made for channelling aether, while the others all had more mundane gear.
Aurora gazed over at the four-winged lady with newfound understanding. She now knew that she was called Elyon and was a world tree spirit, a guardian of the Tree of Creation that watched over the entire Continent of Creation. With her recently infused knowledge, Aurora had learned about the creation myths of their world and how Bashiri, the creator god, had created Elyon to watch over the world and its inhabitants.
But as Aurora went over what she now knew about Elyon, something jumped out at her. It was a name that she felt like she had known ever since she had been hatched, even before Elyon imparted knowledge on them. The name was Bashiri, Elyon's creator and the creator god.
Aurora's mind raced as she tried to make sense of this new information. The name Bashiri sounded familiar to her. She couldn't quite put her finger on why, but the name held a certain weight and significance.
Turning her gaze back to Elyon, Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for this world-tree spirit. She now understood the magnitude of Elyon's role in the world, as the guardian of the Tree of Creation and the one responsible for imparting knowledge to the creatures that inhabited the continent.
As she watched the other creatures test their newfound weapons and tools, Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Elyon for bestowing them with these gifts. She knew that they would need every advantage they could get to survive in this harsh and unforgiving world.
Aurora watched as Elyon nodded with a satisfied smile, pleased with the progress the creatures had made. With a few majestic flaps of her four wings, she lifted off the ground and into the air, soaring higher and higher until she disappeared into the distance. Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness at seeing Elyon go.