While I was trying to gain information about everything that was happening, my feelings as Dylan overpowered any logic I had as Hugo. That must be it, I presumed, as I didn’t expect to cry like that. So, I asked her to tell me a story, not because I really wanted to hear a story, but because I couldn’t think of anything else at the time.
And so she began, “Once upon a time, no, long before time as we know it even existed, there was only darkness. But this vast and formless void was not devoid of life. The primal energies of life swirled and intertwined, but without consciousness, without any sense of being.
Above this realm that held no meaning rested the realm of the Gods. The youngest Goddess, Selenea, saw potential in the vast void beneath their plane. With her divine sense, she could feel the life energy that flowed freely, yet lacked a will of its own. She voiced her concern to the Council of Gods, and after many millennia, the Gods finally agreed. And so, with the collective power of the Gods, and with a breath more unified than the world itself, the Gods exhaled streams of radiant light into the plane of eternal darkness.
As the light touched the darkness, it formed ‘something’ inside ‘nothing’ for the first time. It ignited a magnificent symphony of colors, illuminating the once-barren canvas. The essence of life stirred within the gentle embrace of the divine light, taking form and substance. From this harmonious dance of energy and illumination, the first creatures were born.
These nascent beings had only a primal instinct. They felt neither sense nor purpose. Each of the Gods bestowed upon them and this mortal plane a gift that would form the world as we know it today. And through their gift, they positioned themselves as our overseers, our protectors, our masters.”
“How many Gods are there?” I thought aloud.
“No one knows how many Gods there are,” Mom answered. “The original myth of creation tells us that five Gods and Goddesses came together to give us life, but more Gods have appeared later on,” she concluded.
“Got it,” I beckoned, and gestured her to continue.
“Okay,” she said before she continued, “Aethara, the eldest of the Goddesses, bestowed light upon this world. Her younger brother, Nyx, bestowed shadows. With the cycle of light and shadow, the world achieved unity.
Lyraeus, the Goddess of Nature, created lush forests, streams, mountains, rivers, and oceans. Fortuna, the Goddess of Fate, gave us consciousness and free will, and the capacity to ponder, dream, and create. And Serephina, the Goddess of Healing, gave us vitality and a will to live; so that we can recover from the gravest of injuries.
The world did not only have humans, no. The Gods did not discriminate. They created dwarves, elves, gnomes, and all the creatures of the wild! Each creature was unique, reflecting the diverse facets of the divine energy that birthed them. They roamed the world, exploring its wonders and finding their place within its intricate tapestry.”
I was amazed to learn that such fantasy creatures really exist in this world. Of course, like any lover of web novels, I am also intrigued by the beauty of elves and the craftsmanship of dwarves. Wait… she’s not making it up, right? I couldn’t be sure if she’d answer honestly, but I thought I’d ask just in case.
“Do they really exist? Elves and dwarves?”
“Of course. They exist just as you and I do. When you venture into the world one day, you’ll surely get to meet them on your journey,” Mom responded.
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“Then what happened?” I urged her to continue.
“The people of this world lived their lives to the fullest. But all was not merry just yet… The vast power of the Gods did not eliminate the darkness. Beyond the deepest of shadows, where the eyes of Nyx could never reach, there was Nihilus, the God of Chaos. He was an existence born from the violent and unpredictable nature of the mortal plane. He could not hope to defeat the Gods that created him, but he devised a way to increase his powers.
Just as the Holy Gods created creatures upon the mortal plane, so did Nihilus, the only Evil God. He corrupted birds and animals to create monsters and demons, as well as his own Apostle, the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord followed the commands of Nihilus and spread his chaos far and wide.”
Ah, so that’s the origin story of monsters. I knew they existed, of course, but I didn’t think of it till this moment. Adventuring would make no sense with no monsters around.
As I pondered, Mom continued, “In these times of great peril, all the creatures still untainted by the chaos prayed to the Holy Gods. And so, the Holy Gods listened.
Ares, the God of War, chose his apostle, Evander, a human male who would become our messiah. With the blessing of Ares, Evander led a valiant crusade against the chaos that plagued the world. He rallied armies, both human and non-human, to stand united against the vile creatures of Nihilus.”
Oh, wow! A hero!
“But Evander alone was not strong enough to garner victory. Despite the efforts of those standing behind him, he was still alone, leading the battlefront, surviving injuries.
And so, the Holy Gods turned to this world once more. They bestowed upon us, for the first time– skills, and attributes. With raging fires and storming winds, the commonfolk found a strong foothold to battle alongside Evander. Together, they fought off the armies of the Demon Lord and the forces of Nihilus.”
“Wait,” I stopped her, “Does that mean there were no skills or attributes before that?”
“That’s right.”
“How did Evander fight the demons then?”
“He was granted great strength and speed as the apostle of Ares. Even a simple swing of his sword would create gusts of wind that would rampage for miles, destroying monsters and demons alike.”
“That’s pretty incredible,” I muttered.
She continued, “When Evander finally killed the Demon Lord and restored peace to the world, he was also battered and bruised. For his valiant devotion to the Holy Gods, Seraphina, the Goddess of Healing, granted him good health and eternal youth. So, Evander lived young till the day he died. Even after his passing, his glorious tale was retold time and time again in the holy scriptures. They called him The Light of Dawn, the first mortal to receive the blessing of the Gods.
But Nihilus continues to bring chaos and turbulence to the world. Every 1000 years, a new Demon Lord is born. And when a new Demon Lord is born, the Gods also bless us with new Heroes. Unlike Evander who had to bear the burden of all mortals alone, the subsequent heroes could share the burden and work together. And with each hard-fought victory, their fame, honor, and glory would spread far across the world.”
“So, we’ve had more heroes afterwards?”
“We did. But none other has a tale as grandiose as Evander,” she reckoned.
“That’s the end then?” I inquired.
“Just a bit more,” she answered and continued, “Even with the Demon Lord defeated, the chaos engulfing this world did not disappear. You see, the hearts of mortals are fickle and unfaithful. Nihilus called unto them, and they answered.”
“They sided with the demons?”
“They did. These demon-worshippers acted as agents of the Evil God and did his bidding, causing pain and harm to innocents around the world.”
“Did this anger the Gods? I know I’d be pretty angry if someone I helped sided with the enemy.”
“Of course, how could it not? But the Holy Gods are benevolent. They knew not all mortals were so faint of heart. So, they cursed them, making them unable to have children and birth new life into this world. They could only persuade others to join their cause.”
“So, they formed an evil church?”
“Yes, and their efforts were not in vain, as they continue to exist to this day.”
“What happened then?”
“Oh, it’s nearly finished,” she continued, “Millions of years later, Nihilus is still causing chaos around the world. And so, we pray to the Holy Gods, in hope that they will continue to bless us and protect us from the grasp of all that is evil in the world.”
“The End?” I asked.
“The End,” she answered.