V2 Prologue/Preview – Silent Prayers
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YOU WILL NEVER TRULY KNOW THE VALUE OF A MOMENT UNTIL IT BECOMES A MEMORY.
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The cave room where mommy rests is a sanctuary of shadows and silence. Here, at the very top of our home, the air is thick with the scent of earth and a faint metallic tang, remnants of bloodshed and toil. The walls, jagged and unforgiving, rise high into darkness, punctuated by glistening stalactites that seem to drip with the very essence of the earth. The floor is uneven, strewn with rocks and the remnants of past battles. A testament to our relentless struggle to protect her all these days. A single ray of light breaches through the ceiling of her chambers, casting an eerie, otherworldly radiance, over our matriarch.
In the back of the room, mommy lies motionless, her round form a stark contrast to the rugged surroundings. Her cocoon, once a vibrant white, now appears dull, almost translucent, as if the life force within her is dwindling. Around her, the younger ones scurry, their movements quick and purposeful. They tend to her cocoon, removing and replacing the dirty silk on the outermost layer of her delicate figure.
It is nothing more than a gesture of desperation, a futile attempt to hurry her metamorphosis. We all know it depends solely on her, yet we cannot stop ourselves from doing what we can to petition her return. Each layer of silk we replace is a prayer, a silent plea for her to wake up. To guide us once more.
Beyond the swarm's need for its true leader, I miss my mother. Our mother. I miss her face, her caring words, her praise, the way her presence brought a sense of safety even in the darkest times. She had a way of making everything seem manageable, her wisdom guiding us through each challenge even if we suffered losses. Without her, the weight of responsibility presses down harder. I long for her advice, her warmth, the simple comfort of knowing she was there to share the burden. I've developed a greater sense of respect for what she does as our mother and leader. I don't know how long my sister and I can keep the swarm alive in her absence.
I approach her motionless cocoon, just eager to share the same space as my mother before I return to my post. Her commanding presence, once a constant comfort and source of inspiration, is now a mere whisper, barely perceptible. I reach out, my clawed hand trembling, and gently touch her cocoon. The cool, silky texture sends a shiver down my spspine.l
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"Mother," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "We are here. We will protect you."
A sense of solemnity fills the chamber as I continue to stand there, the silence broken only by the occasional scuttle of my siblings. Each one of us is bound by a shared purpose, a collective hope that our efforts are not in vain. The reality of our situation weighs heavily on me, but I push it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
The younger ones look up at me with wide, expectant eyes. They are relying on me and my sister to lead them, to make the right decisions in these uncertain times. I offer them a reassuring nod, though inside, doubt gnaws at me. Our mother had a way of instilling confidence with just a glance, a skill I have yet to master or even learn. My sister is a far better leader.
I turn away from her cocoon, taking one last look at the faintly glowing form within, but a sudden movement catches my eye. It's subtle, small, but mommy is moving within her resting place! She's alive, and she hasn't given up on us.
I step back, taking one last look at mother before turning to face the entrance. The light from the ceiling dims, and the shadows grow longer, as if the cave itself is mourning with us.
We will continue to fight, to protect our home and our matriarch, until our last breath. The struggle is far from over, and though hope may seem fleeting, we cling to it with every fiber of our being.
We had waited long enough and I could feel it. The time was drawing near.
“Sister! Where have you been? We have work to do! You weren’t monologuing drama in mother’s room again were you?”
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Types of beings in the world of Ninety-Seven
The creatures that populate the world of Ninety-Seven can be separated into two different categories: Natural Beings and Beings Between Worlds. At the same time, each one of the them contains thousands of different entities, with their own characteristics.
Natural Beings
These creatures are those that belong by their nature to the real world. We are dealing with all the races that live in it and are able to reproduce on their own, like humans and animals. This is also the case of more supernatural races like as the Sylvain or Daimah.
Between Worlds
These are creatures and supernatural entities that find themselves half way between the real world and that of the spirits. Most cannot reproduce in a natural way, given that their own essence requires for one to be born a special process, like specific events or magical rituals. Some examples of this category would be elementals, trolls, demons, chimeras, golems, or even dragons. Most Beings between worlds are categorized as monsters.