“From the light we gain power,

In its waking shine, do we cower?

In the Creator we find love,

Yet, nothing ever comes from above…”

The short verse Meriumus whispered, resting in the morning of a special day, one that signals the beginning of great change.

“Kilon! Tihal! Kilon! Tihal!” inside the gigantic tree, Lightborns were taking seats in pieces of wood protruding from inside, going up in a spiral. Some more Lightborn were gathering inside, walking up to their seats with the wood forming around their feet as steps, then blending back into the tree. Most of them were crying Kilon’s name out, showing their desperate devotion to him.

“Silence!!” Menoel stepped in, the power of his voice drumming through the tree without echoing. From the hundred Lightborn present there, all of which had mastery over various skills and abilities, none dared speak, sitting down in their basket shaped seats. Behind Menoel, Melonius and Mercaara entered the tree. They too headed for the protrusions for seats, while Avaanel, Avunaia and Eharel stood close behind Kilon.

“I told them to stay quiet,” Mercaara whispered to Stelorus, who was amongst the last to arrive, Avunaia giving sharp glances at everyone once inside too. From above, they could all see the five central figures of their group standing on a large stone platform at the middle. Awkwardly rising from below, as if the wood suspending it was trying to push the platform aside, Kilon let themselves rise to the point where everyone had a clear sight of them.

“It’s Menoel,” Stelorus told her, “he anticipated Kilon’s arrival and told them to welcome him warmly half a sun prior.”. Stelorus seemed amused, as if the knowledge he had was forbidden and having it was going to anger someone.

“Even so, this seems a bit too warm, even for Kilon,” looking around, Mercaara noticed some of the Lightborn seemed eager to do something. She wasn’t sure what, but their control of the light was escaping their grasp, suggesting excitement.

“You noticed it too,” Stelorus could tell looking at her, “they’ve been roused for something, if I am to guess, Menoel probably told them we’re going together after the draxes.”. Stelorus’ thinking was based on what he saw his siblings acting like before. Kilon chose the Lightborn with which to hunt carefully, as to not enter a situation where the group would be put in danger. But given the obvious recurring defeats, Stelorus could tell Kilon had no choice, “He must pick better Lightborns for the hunt. And those very Lightborn are present here.”.

Mercaara understood the larger picture, what she couldn’t understand was why Kilon seemed sadder than before. If it was due to the loss of their siblings, then she could understand, but Kilon could get back to his usual self some days after losing them, and the journey back should’ve washed the grief. She couldn’t understand that in Kilon’s mind, there was a storm of thoughts.

‘What should I tell them, once we meet?’ Kilon wondered, even when mere moments away from giving a speech to his kin. ‘They’ve been away for so long, and probably through a lot. And when I’m to present them our home, what will they see? A home, a paradise of sorts, or a terrifying, blind following for me?’. Kilon was thinking of the vision, and that it was plaguing him more as of late. He was thinking of the catalyst. ‘Is it that they bring the killer of our kin, or that we form it inside the very home we’ve built?’.

“Kilon has returned!” Menoel announced once more, the Lightborn rising up and saluting, interrupting Kilon’s thoughts. To Kilon, standing in the middle of all those powerful siblings of his, and having supreme command over it, reminded him of the power a following can have. “Unfortunately, not everyone has returned, as those cursed draxes have proven vicious,” Kilon thought Menoel’s words to be rather hasty, as he had barely returned, yet he wanted to convince everyone of a truth that wasn’t complete.

“Let’s not pronounce it as fact yet, brother” Stelorus raised his voice, standing a bit up from his seat. Menoel gave him a sharp glance, which Stelorus responded back with a defying smile. “How about we hear Kilon speak instead, what do you all think?” Stelorus’ words were enough to rouse the Lightborn once more, some Groundbreakers amidst them ensuring Stelorus’ defiance.

“I haven’t finished what I had wanted to say,” Menoel said with a tinge of spite in his eyes, as he wanted to fuel his siblings’ anger some more before Kilon had a say, “but very well, let’s hear what Kilon has to say.”. Menoel gave in, which Avunaia was a bit surprised, as she was sure he would’ve rather started a fight than give in.

“Stelorus?” Kilon asked Avunaia in a whisper, since she was supposed to talk with him. She looked around, ensuring no eyes were on her for a few moments, then touched Kilon’s hand slightly, letting him feel what she felt. Kilon could tell of the confidence within his sister, so he didn’t have to doubt it. “Very well, then,” Kilon spread his arms out, those on the platform sitting on their bottoms to let him stand out more. “It is as Menoel had said, we lost, again,” a tense silence befell the inside of the tree, his siblings were conserving a deepened hatred for those predators that kept challenging them. “I would tell you to fear not, but I’m afraid this time our enemy is not as much powerful, as is cunning.”.

Avunaia touched a scar on her chest, going from below her left shoulder down to her lower ribs. Even though she knew what Kilon meant, comparing them to the rootworms, she was still wondering if Kilon’s appreciation of power heightened due to what he then withheld. It further reinforced her hidden belief that her brother is someone, something, superior to her and those inside the tree.

“Thus, I have decided,” the tense silence grew into anticipation, Kilon could feel their intentions, rage, anger, but most of all, blind devotion, “I need your power! Come with me, let us tame those beasts, place them under our rule! MY rule!”. The Lightborn inside raised in an uproar. It wasn’t much of a speech, but it carried over the feeling, and it showed how little Kilon had to do for his siblings to bend under his will. ‘I feel it now more than ever, Creator,’ Kilon looked at his hands, rising a fist up towards the blocked sky, ‘power that I can control. Power that I can use to rule, and save them from it, that cruel fate. So I’ll take it, their devotion, belief, rage, sadness, all of it. And use it… to avoid a more heinous fate.’.

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“Your rule?” from high above, Stelorus’ voice could be heard. Mercaara was trying to get him to stand down, but once he stood up, she was hanging by his shoulder like one of his many furs and skins. The Lightborn present were all looking at their brother. Angered eyes, something which Stelorus couldn’t understand was fueling them. With a long step, he crashed down, Mercaara with him. Standing in front of Kilon, although taller than him, Stelorus seemed still larger. “Do not grow fond of your power brother, for it was never yours to begin with.”.

His statement made those present want to silence Stelorus, but the other Groundbreakers were ensuring the more troublesome ones were kept away, while the others didn’t have the courage to go down. It wasn’t because they weren’t willing to fight, but afraid of what may to Kilon were they to start attacking. “Is that how you feel after what I said?” Kilon asked intrigued, his white glowing eyes staring deeply into the red gems of his brother’s. “Then rest assured,” Kilon placed a hand on his shoulder, getting a grasp of his intentions though it, for a moment, Kilon couldn’t find the words, then he found new ones, “I will see to it that you too understand what is mine, and what isn’t.”.

From those present, only Avunaia and Menoel could tell how out of place Kilon’s words were, for they reinvigorated the feeling of devotion those around him had. Added to it the way he gave his speech, Menoel found himself lost as to what Kilon’s intentions were, while Avunaia had the slightest clue.

Then, as whispers started to gather around the tree, and those withheld by the Groundbreakers started to make way through, the sound of a punch clashing upon meat was heard. They all stood silent and in awe, as Stelorus punched Kilon in the face, making him fall to the ground. Menoel and Eharel infused their lights, ready to unleash their lights for the folly Stelorus dared bring.

Menoel first wanted to ensure few saw what Stelorus did, for he didn’t want Kilon to be seen weak in any manner. But before he had the chance to use his light, much like Eharel, Kilon gestured them to back away with his hands, flaming lights coming out of his eyes. “Do you really want to fight me Stelorus?” Kilon couldn’t stand up, as Stelorus used his ability on his legs. Given the difference in height, Kilon being eleven metres tall, while Stelorus seven, it was the best Stelorus could do.

“I’m no fool! Despite what everyone’s eyes tell me…” Stelorus looked around, catching glimpses of the Groundbreakers getting out of the tree, while Mercaara laid on the ground silent. Stelorus lowered himself, to look Kilon in the eyes, “I will come to the hunt, not for your rule, but for my enjoyment.”. Once he spoke his mind, Stelorus ran away from the tree, the other siblings chasing him with anger and madness in their eyes.

“Bring that fool back in here!” Menoel commanded, not that his words were needed in any capacity or heard. “What is wrong with him? Did he stay around Melonius to get like that?”. Melonius wasn’t chasing after Stelorus, so he heard Menoel’s words which he didn’t take too kindly. Before Menoel could explain himself, Melonius took his leave to make tributes for the recently fallen. Besides Melonius, there were a good dozen of a white or blue glow that were instead thinking of ways to bring retribution. Menoel could already hear whispers of drain vines and sharp flowers. ‘This will become rather tedious,’ he could tell.

“Are you hurt brother?” Avunaia asked Kilon, wanting to help him out, but not needing it. “Why were you-” Kilon gestured her to be silent, then switched his gaze to Menoel. Looking at him, Avunaia started to understand what Kilon and Stelorus were planning, as Menoel struggled to make peace with those plotting for revenge, and gathering the maddened ones.

Eharel was the one to stand at the very back of it all and observe the situation. Seeing as there wasn’t much he could do then that Kilon’s plan went his way, he retreated outside. ‘Stelorus, Kilon, Avunaia, what are they all plotting?’ he wondered.

Once Eharel left, Mercaara went up to Avunaia, whispered in her ear, and left soon after.

“We were supposed to discuss about my discoveries!” Avaanel was the only one to cry about the gathering ending too soon. “You will beg for my graymatter!” she cried empty threats, stomping her wooden foot.

“Do not worry sister,” Kilon approached her, placing his hand on her shoulder to reassure her, “you can tell me all about it, we’ll have plenty of time.”. Avaanel felt more at peace with his assurance, but she still wanted to show him how upset she was by leaving without another word. ‘Now to Stelorus,’ Kilon thought, looking at Avunaia, and her back at him knowingly.

Menoel had a hard time dealing with the situation, so he didn’t even notice when the two left the tree.

Manna’s Group

A blizzard was raging on. For most animals, it could signal death standing a mere couple of moments inside of it. It took place between mountains, where the Lightborn were travelling. But, for the mindless critters that glimpsed from the holes they stood buried into, the view of a moving force pushing and forcing the winds into new currents was present.

“Maybe the world is truly just snow and ice, sister” Eraanel poked a sour joke. “The winds are almost as harsh as back then,” the Lightborn were swaying the winds with impeccable ability, not one’s eyes breaking focus at the howling winds, nor the strain on their bodies. Those five hundred Lightborn were better described as a moving force, seemingly impossible to stop, and unaffected by the surroundings.

“Almost,” Manna repeated, “you haven’t used your eye in a while, so you can’t tell, but the winds, they bring about the miasma of life.”. Manna almost spat with the word, as life has become nothing for them but a sickness that could sweep more of them.

“The Kilon was successful,” Salvete said, not a hint of happiness on her face, “if they spent as much time here as we did on the Frozen Side, do you think they came to love life?”. However, there was hope in her voice when speaking of Kilon, as she had a separate belief from the rest of them.

“Love?” Eraanel looked her in the eyes, his eye starting to gather light in order to see ahead. “We never loved life, not us, not them. We just grew compassionate towards it, because what can prey do, but cower in fear before their predators?”. The Lightborn were nearing the end of the passage they were following between mountains, and Manna could see the glow of stars starting to show through. Salvete felt Piki under her clothes, hoping she could find a place to let the critter roam free before her siblings decided to kill even the small ones.

“And what can a predator do when facing calamity, but accept it?” Manna responded in kind, “Let us hope Kilon learned, just like us, what this world is.”. Once at the end, before them was the sight of forests standing tall, rivers flowing freely from the mountains’ bottoms, and the distant sounds of animals. ‘The world is nothing but the constant struggle of life. We aren’t just life, we are the masters of it.”. Tapping her twin-headed spear on the new ground, Manna announced their arrival. And alongside the mountain’s bottom, the Lightborn formed an ominous view, as their lights were dim, while their skins covered in bloodied furs and skins. “Let us meet Kilon, and together reshape this world to our wills.”.