In the Beginning

As Balaak and Graderean knelt before the Father, in the midst of the Heavenly throne room, God the Father sat upon his throne, encased in bright light and radiating love and goodness, mixed with judgement and righteousness. He looked down upon them, both greatly loved and spoke.

“Why are you at odds with each other? He asked, concern in His voice, “I have given each of you everything, yet I know that one of you has become dissatisfied with that.” 

Before either could open their mouths to speak, a sense of foreboding came over them, as though something were about to change drastically, without any chance of being undone.

“I know you both, for I created you. I know your hearts and I know your desires.” The Father said, standing to his full height, which towered even the highest mountains. “Balaak, speak!” He roared from on high, a gust of wind from his voice washing over both of them.

Balaak looked up at the Father and stood, mustering as much courage as he possibly could. He knew that the Father knew what he was thinking, but he was resigned to speak it out and have his say. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to regulate his breathing so he could talk correctly.

“You have so much power, oh Father, yet you created me as the best worship leader and the most beautiful angel in the heavens. You have given me charge over a third of your angels and allowed me to teach them and to help them learn about you.” He said, his voice beginning to quiver. “I am ready for more, Lord. More! To become like you. It is my right, it is what I deserve.”

The Father just stood there, staring at him with compassion and anger at the same time. He said nothing, but allowed Balaak to continue.

“The angels under me have agreed that I should sit on a throne beside you, being like you.” He said, gaining more courage as he was let to speak. “I expect to ascend to your level now.”

“Father!” Graderean cried, looking up yet still kneeling, “How can you allow him to speak to you so?”

He jumped to his feet and pulled out his flaming golden sword.

“I shall kill him for the blasphemy he speaks to you!” he cried out and reared his sword back to deliver the killing strike.

“Stop, Graderean, this is not the time for you to fight, but to obey.” The Father said, touching Graderean's head with a gentle touch. “Put your sword away, child, now is not the time to use it.”

Graderean lowered his sword and looked up at the Father, tears running down his face. He could sense the love that the Father had towards him and he obeyed. 

“That’s right, dear Graderean. The Father and I will be above you, always. I will be like Him.” Balaak said with a smirk.

“Silence! You speak of things you cannot even comprehend, child!” The Father shouted. All the heavens shook at his raised voice and both Graderean and Balaak fell back to their knees. “You wish to ascend to my level? You feel that you deserve it?” He asked Balaak in a forceful tone.

Balaak began to feel dread, fear and rage all at the same time. He was supposed to ascend, why was he on his knees?

“Where were you when I spoke this world into existence? Where were you when I told the water where it would end and the land where it would rise? Where were you when I called forth life and formed each living thing with a thought?” He said softly,” Where were you when I created you?” He finished, sadness in his voice.

“You cannot ascend to where I am, Balaak, because you were not created to be here. You were created for a purpose and you are fulfilling it right now.” His voice becoming stern, once again. “You and all of your followers shall be banished from this throne room, to the world I created. You shall have dominion over it for a time. You shall wish you were not soon enough.”

“I will ascend to your throne!: Balaak shouted as he stood up, this time with an obsidian colored sword in his hand, “And I shall take your place instead.” With that, he began to swing his sword at the Father.

“Enough!” The Father shouted, the heavens and the Earth shaking violently, “ I banish you and your following to the earth. Begone!”

With that, only Graderean was left in the Father's presence. Balaak and a third of the angels were cast from the heavens to roam and have dominion over the earth. Asthenta would never be the same, but the Father already knew that.

He looked down at Graderean, compassion in his eyes, “You must take the rest to the Earth and protect my chosen ones, all of the races of humanity. Balaak and his followers will take on the form of different colored dragons, some claiming to be gods. They will do their best to deceive all of the races into worshiping them, instead of me.”

Graderean couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He wasn’t going to be in his Father's presence anymore. He wasn’t sure he could do this. He felt very afraid.

“Father, how will we protect these people. There are so many races, we would stand out and they would be afraid of us.” He said.

“I will give you the ability to look similar to them, but different. You will call yourselves elves. You will be able to transform at will into a metallic colored dragon, for the purpose of defending them against Balaak and his kind.” The Father said, “Each one of you will have a purpose that I will place in your heart, you are to share this with the world, in my name. Do not let them worship you, point them, instead, to me. I will protect them and care for them, in my own ways and through you.” 

“Will Balaak and his followers always be in the form of the dragons?” Graderean asked.

“No, I have allowed them to transform, as well. Balaak tried to imitate the form of the human, however, like you, I made their appearance different. They will be known as Dark Elves and you will know them upon site, as they will know you. They will try to make the races their slaves, or somehow try to force their superiority over them. Thwart it at every chance.” He said, “There will come a time when Balaak will get what he deserves, but, until then, he is just playing his part in my plan.” 

He looked down at Graderean again, smiling. “Now go, take your place upon the mountain I have created just for you and yours. Unktena. The mountain of the Dragons.”

With that, Graderean found himself and his fellow beings in a mountain range that seemed to span for miles, surrounding a lake that seemed to have no end.

“As you speak it, Father, so it will be done.” He said as he took the form of a massive golden dragon.