Legend of Inane

Ryzania: Once a land known for beautiful landscapes of endless greenery, now a smoldering landscape nearly uninhabitable by mortalkind. The fae-kin departed the world, either fleeing to another or entering eternal rest with a majority of the original inhabitants of the land. Children born during the crusade never knew the country’s glory, merely the darkness of the tunnels to which they found their homes. However, a few fae kin remained, attempting to right the wrongs of the war. They were considered seraphs, with ashy gray wings, and tan skin which contrasted the wingless pale mortals. Seraphs had exquisite features which were exhausted from their exposure to endless rains, while the mortals had a more delicate appearance, which appeared dirty and worn from their lives underground.

Some youths took an unnatural interest in an old legend, the legend of the blessing of Inane, Goddess of the origin. As if barbarous humor, they spoke in whispers listening to the words of damnation generations later. To this day the legend is passed through the lips of the elders, human and fae alike--

“Inane, a goddess of blinding beauty appeared above the battleground, her hair longer than she was tall. A tiny being no taller than a knight’s sword, six wings upon her back parting the skies behind her; two white, two grey, and two black as night. Her eyes were a dazzling emerald, deeper than the blooms around her. When she spoke everything froze, from humans to creatures, winds to waters only her voice was clear. It was crisp and clear as if speaking next to the ears of all beings; even on the other side of the land, no one missed her voice. ‘You poor children of this tortured land. The great ones above have played with you in their petty games. How weak a mortal mind, and how sad the guiding lights of the nethers have entered the chaos. In three days' time, I will descend again, if this war still rages I shall end it myself. I shall exile you and kill this planet, the great ones cannot gain power through this misfortune, I wish not to see the blood of my children.’ She lifted her hands and the skies above her filled with deep gray clouds, the only light remaining was emitting from her tiny figure ‘My dearest children. It shall rain for three days, these skies will weep for you as I do. As the fighting continues, the land will die, the foliage will blacken, the soil shall turn infertile, the waters shall turn acidic. No being shall survive on the surface, no greater being can interfere below the grounds.’ She disappeared as quickly as she came, and as she promised the rain fell for three days and three nights.”

“She appeared again, her eyes shown pity for those who remained bloodied and burdened. She floated before the church of the gods, the image appeared in the minds of those who could not see her and burned into the minds of those who could. Tears of crimson stained her cheeks as she spoke “Still you fought, slaughtering the young, the old, the wise, and the just. You bludgeoned reason, destroyed the charitable, and violated the chaste. How easily corruptible my children are. How foolish must you be, am I so laughable you choose not to heed my warning? Then my children I shall end this swiftly. For you whom suffered, there will be blessings, for you whom tormented others, there shall be punishments.’

Unlike before there were movements, all the more frightening in silence, the only sound was God's voice. “First, to those who found gratifications in the unspeakable, you shall be sent to a world where you will repent until death. Never to know what shall happen here.” Her hand glowed red and a portion of the citizens vanished, whether in battle, a clinic, or even at home they vanished taking no earthly possessions, as if their body was their only possession. As this happened a lash of lightning struck down on her, blue blood flowed from her to the ground below, this happened each time she used her power. Still, she continued to speak unhindered despite the obvious pain and the frightening pool of blood. “The great ones have noticed my intervention, however, they shall be unable to harm you any longer. Secondly, to you whom have suffered, you whom have been injured and you whom retained the purity of heart, I shall send you to the cities in the ground; everything you need to survive shall be there. Those who have qualifications of the leaders will find a symbol on their left hand, they shall guide the new ‘country’ you create and maintain justice.” As she lifted her hand again a white light glowed and more of the citizens vanished, from children to elderly. Merely to a glorious world below the ground; still, they heard her words as they admired the gorgeous stonery surrounding them.

“To those whom have failed to guide the mortals, I shall send you to repent in the realm that lost its magic, you may escape if you are able.” With a flick of her hand, black light sent away many fae. There were merely a few types remaining “To you my loyal kin, I leave this legend. Above the grounds, I will leave ‘my heart’ a pendant with my tears and love for this world in the crypt of this glorious land.” With another flick of her hand, the marbled church known for its glory crumbled, shaking the ground, startling those below. Her blue blood created a surreal pond before stairs into the ground, and the pendant in her palm levitated below, sealing itself in the ruins. “When the time comes that a mortal and fae can reconcile, special magic from their blood will unseal my blessing. Then the glory will return to this world, the sun shall shine and greenery return to bloom.’ She left a pendant the size of her small fist in the tomb that stood where the old church used to stand. The fae have the magic to purify foods and liquids so they stay above ground, guarding the mortal dwelling against the corrupt monsters to this day; yet no mortal has left the underground”

Three generations had passed, and yet one boy below ground was curious of the legend. The mortal council was raised each generation, those who had the markings on their palms created every law of this place. Every season of a person’s thirteenth year; children celebrated their coming of age, and before the chieftain whom spoke for the council, the child would select their occupation. Whatever they chose would be their lives' work.

Fabian was an orphan who was average in every regard. However, he was strange as well, if he was determined he would never fail or falter. He completed his lessons with no complaints, he worked hard in the orphanage until he entered his thirteenth year, the year of his coming-of-age celebration. Upon the stage with those born in the same season as him, he declared his ‘occupation’ to be an exile.

Those before him had selected things like a chef, a farmer, a weaver… Before that day none uttered the word exile. It meant he willingly would venture above the ground and see what was out there, possibly never to return. The chieftain reconfirmed his choice on that stage before the populace. Fabian laughed happily and grinned, showing off the spot where his missing canine should be “I’m positive chieftain, I wish to venture above; If I find the way to return us to the surface won’t we be much happier? Even if I fail, then you merely lose a mouth to feed.” There was silence to his announcement, he might not be extraordinary, but not one soul wanted to send him to his death. They watched the youth with varied feelings.

Noticing the unease he leapt off the back of the stage despite the rudeness of the act. He walked to a guard and asked him to lead the way to the stairs of the abyss. Until he vanished from sight no one spoke, everyone silently prayed for his survival, some of the greedier ones wished for his success. Fabian ignored the gazes, chilling or burning as he walked with a hum. Since he was a child, he had dreams of the outside, even before he was old enough to speak; of a blue sky he never knew of dazzling flowers that he wanted to see. So he needed to go above, Fabian was given food, weapons, survival clothing, and a hug from the elder watching the stairs. Once he left; he likely would not return, yet he was instructed by the elder “Should you succeed, may the fae can bring you home.”

Outside a heavy iron gate a village was built, stone buildings sturdy enough to withstand the constant rains; sometimes drizzles, others torrential downpours. The guardians resided in that village, having a longer lifespan only two generations passed for the seraphs despite the poor conditions. Their wings had evolved, while remaining downy soft, they also had a slick coating that allowed flight despite the wetland environment. Fae naturally follow their own teachings, so there were no particular changes to their society, besides awaiting the opening of the gate to the mortals. Fae could not enter unless escorted by a living mortal.

So despite burying the fallen warriors, victims and trying to revive parts of the land; Doing such alone was impossible. The goddess was magnanimous in sparing lives of the ignorant beings of this planet; despite her own suffering. A blue pond was the only spot in the world that had greenery surrounding it, Inane’s blood still fed the dying world, fed the power she left behind to protect the guardians from the highest beings and to keep the grand door from opening before it was time. Several adolescence were impatiently watching the gate, they would make a habit to play around it whilst on their study breaks; hoping they would notice the first mortal to come to the surface.

Finally centuries after the legend was born, the center of the gate moved, a platform elevated out; exposing a small pale youth. He didn’t even seem to be an adult, his brown eyes sparkled clearly behind the clear mask shielding his face from the rains as he stepped out of the tube which sunk back behind him. Only a pair of twins were sitting by the gate on this fateful day, each one dropped their books in surprise “A mortal!” “Finally!” They exclaimed in excitement and rushed over to him, not giving Fabian any chance to adapt; he was brought to the village before his clothes were ruined. Seraphs would never let their first mortal die so easily. In the village there were priests who cast magic that could deflect the water, and it would help ease the mortalkind into this dangerous land. With a twin on either side Fabian couldn’t even lift his knife, instead he was lifted by his arms and heard a harmonious set of voices on either side speak “Hang on tight mortal, we’re bringing you to the priests~ You can’t die! You’re the first mortal to come up since the great cleanse.”

Seraphs were haughty, impatient and irrational as they were loyal and wise; So when the twins crashed through the door to the temple before the grand pool the priests were about to say some unholy words. Yet when they saw a pale wingless creature dawning strange impractical clothing none could say anything, despite that they extended their hands casting a blessing and protection magic to allow the ‘Exile’ to begin his quest.

The twins fluttered around Fabian answering his barrage of questions while he was blessed, and guided him to the temple. Their conquest would save the world, a tale forever recorded in history, a tale for another day.