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Chapter Text

These few words - Ruun

My mother... It's hard for me to describe her. I never knew her, but in the depths of my soul there remain impressions, sounds - I recognise faces I've never seen before, I remember places I've never visited. I know that these are not just déjà-vus: what I see and know in the depths of my being has been passed down to me by my mother. She did something to me when I was just an infant. I don't understand everything; I still have so much to discover. But it is this mystery, and my need to solve it, that has led me to this manuscript. Pages and pages of text written from memory towards the end of her life. An autobiography, a collection of secrets. I want to rewrite these texts, to decipher them. Sometimes they were almost illegible, a patchwork of so many languages. No doubt she was losing her mind when she wrote this book. Perhaps she even deliberately obscured some passages - out of shame, or regret.

My name is Ruun. In the language of my ancestors, it means 'the intruder'. That's what I am: a bastard. My mother was an honourable Queen. She should never have chosen to breed with an Earthling. My father died before I was born, leaving my mother devastated. She spent the last years of her life in a terrible haze, forgetting the line between good and evil. All that remains are the words she was willing to offer and the memories of those who knew her.

My mother's name was and will remain Arayehel. In the language of my ancestors, it means 'darkness'. She left clues, a trail to follow for those who would like to discover her secrets. It is my duty to bring this book to you. For my brothers and sisters, who grew up in ignorance, for their father, Askan, to whom she never even said anything. For me, who wants to know, who needs to know, to ease my soul.

Retracing my mother's journey is no easy task. I have settled in an old ship from the pre-Imperial era, so that I could move freely in between planets. I've turned the Captain's quarters into an office, stored all my mother's writings there and digitised them to save space. A protocol droid is helping me with my translations.  But it's a difficult task.  I must meet so many people; Chelke, Humans, but also the Earthlings she met during her stay there.  As I discover new things, I will add them to this site, which is open to all Earth people, and will help, I hope, those who have met my mother. So that she will be remembered.

Chapter Text

Introduction - Arayehel

Her childhood memories are the first ones she transcribed. She probably used the diaries she kept at the time. Written in Xydorian, surprisingly legibly, they required little work. No doubt she had nothing to hide about that period of her life...

I was born like any other Chelk child. In the hospital of my mother's living quarters. Births were rare and closely monitored. But three children at once! It hadn't happened in centuries. The doctor was shocked to see two royal guards entering the maternity ward. He was astonished when he realised that they had come to find an Heiress - and that one of the children he had helped come to the world would one day be Queen. Everybody knew that the Prince would turn three in one season, and that a Princess would soon be chosen by the gods. That moment had come.

‘Who was the first born?’ asked the tallest of the guards.

‘This one’, the doctor stammered.

He pointed to a baby in the incubator, a pale, frail infant who appeared to be asleep. She was placed in a pram. A guard downloaded her medical records and they left without a word. The mother sobbed in her bed, perhaps too weak to respond.

I left for the castle.

***

My birth was the result of a plan that had been set in motion years before. Xydoria publicly propagated the myth that the Heir was divinely selected amongst the people's new-borns. he reality was far more calculated. The entire process, from the selection of the parents based on their physical attributes, to surveillance during gestation, was scrupulously monitored. The Heir had to be perfect, and nothing could be left to chance. As soon as they were born, they were given injections. To improve them - to make them fit to bear the mantle of authority.

The period of my birth was a dark one. The Republic had begun its slow decline, plagued by inner disputes and corruption. Conversely, the Separatist Union was steadily growing in power. The Olympians, a hidden nation on Earth, had foreseen the Republic's inevitable downfall, the ensuing war, and the impending rise of a divisive Empire. Having never cared for mortal politics, they decided to secure their place in the Senate before it was too late, and made a proposal to Xydoria: one of their own would ascend the throne in exchange for Blue Crystals, the energy source of the Chelke, lay in vast, untouched reserves on Earth. The Queen of Xydoria accepted.

There were three of us, daughter of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the three Great Olympians, devised to prevent rivalry over paternity. The surrogate mother, who carried the children of the three Gods, was only obligated to surrender the eldest. The younger ones would remain in her care; she could raise them with her husband. The allowance quickly convinced the couple. As the eldest and a half-blood Queen of an Olympian and a Chelk, it became my solemn duty to represent the interests of both races within the Senate.

***

I was a noisy baby; I became a capricious child. I was so insufferable that the Queen, sick and weak, mourning the recent death of her husband, refused to see me, made me eat alone and never granted me any audience. Dominar, my tutor and future counsellor, seemed rather amused by my never-ending questions. The Queen's son, Askan, was apathetic.  Studious, but never curious.  I liked to disturb him in his studies; no matter how much I annoyed him, he always looked at me with admiration.  We were to be married when the Queen died; it was a necessity, dictated by tradition and law. In the confines of my youthful perception, my destiny was a heavy burden, but carried an undeniably seductive potential. I yearned for a future where I could blend the wisdom of the Olympians with the technological prowess of the Chelk, fostering a realm where justice and innovation thrived in tandem. I was yet to understand the depths of sacrifice and strength required to wear the crown. I thought it would be easy. I thought I would do something good.

Chapter Text

I was just over six years old when Dominar finally took me to see the Crystal. I'd been begging him for months, but he'd always refused, saying I wasn't strong enough yet. I felt strong, though. The injections increased my stamina, my concentration, and my ability to control energies; despite my young age, I possessed the vitality of a teenager.

The Crystal was the lifeblood of our city. At its centre, dozens of metres underground, its tendrils stretched across the metropolis, like a vast arachnid web. The light and energy it radiated was so powerful that it was dangerous for un-augmented Chelke to stand in its presence. It was our pride, our treasure, and the secrecy enveloping its operation remained one of the best-kept secrets in the galaxy.

Dominar had decided to take me there alone, without Askan. I was grateful for this: the undivided attention meant I could ask all the questions I wanted. Our private hover car whirred through the quiet streets. I watched, my forehead pressed to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of my mother or sisters, but to no avail. Most of the inhabitants were working in the mines; the streets were deserted at this time of day. The generator tower was one of the only buildings, along with the spaceport, that rose above the planet's surface. Its immense columnar structure seemed to be supporting the cavern of the city. I took in the scenery - rarely allowed to leave the palace, the city seemed all the more beautiful to me, with its shimmering synthetic trees and well-kept alleys. The car stopped at a garage. Dominar and I climbed down the steps to the control room. As we walked, our conversation shifted to the history of the Crystal. Its core, a remnant from the starship that brought our ancestors here, served as the seed for our current power source. Over the years, additional crystals mined from the Xydorian caverns had been integrated to supplement its waning power.

We entered the control room. The Crystal was still hidden behind a metal partition. Dominar signalled for the engineers leave. They saluted up politely and promptly left, whispering behind the partially closed door.

‘The engineers monitoring the Crystal are among our most experienced citizens,’ Dominar remarked. ‘Without their expertise, our city would risk falling into perpetual darkness.’

With a wave of his hand, he activated the security window. The Crystal became visible, its luminescence muted by the protective glass.

‘With regular imports of ore from Earth, we hope to restore the Crystal to its original potential. Would you like to see it up close?’

As I nodded, he punched a code into the control panel, causing the reinforced door to gradually raise. In awe, I stepped closer. The unfiltered light was so blinding that I could see nothing else. The power of the Crystal surged through me, an intense energy piercing me like a billion needles. My world became nothing but incandescent brilliance.

‘Arayehel,’ Dominar's voice echoed from the control room, ‘it is because of you that the Xydorian people will endure with dignity and sovereignty. Our alliance with the Olympians and the power of these crystals will ensure our perpetual greatness. Your destiny is to rule, never forget that.’

A new dawn was breaking, the dawn of my reign, and I stood poised on the precipice of change. With that last thought, I turned away from the Crystal.

Chapter Text

For several months now, I had been sneaking out during my study hours, a time when Dominar wouldn’t intrude. I would use this time wander the streets of the city, blending in with the students on their way to school. I held an unwavering belief that despite never having met them, I would recognise my sisters instantly. Hidden behind the thick spines of dusty books, a set of commoner's clothes awaited me. The hood that covered my face was an essential part of my disguise, ensuring that I remained unrecognisable.

***

I found her in an alley. The familiar black symbol etched on her left shoulder mirrored my own - not exactly the same, but eerily similar. She was wearing a school uniform that covered her arms from hands to elbows - her tattoo standing out against her pale skin. I'd found one of my sisters. After a quick check to ensure my hood was in place, I quickened my pace to reach her.

‘Hey there,’ I said, ‘where are you going?’

She stopped abruptly, her surprised amber eyes, an exact match to my own, scrutinised me. Her blonde hair was styled in the customary Xydorian fashion, held back by a rainbow of ribbons.

‘I don’t have time. I'm going to be late for school,’ she declared coldly before starting to walk again.

‘I’m sorry. But I'd really like to talk to you. Can I see you after school?’

‘I don't even know you!’

‘Are you certain?’

Making sure no one was too close, I stepped out of the shadows and took off my hood. She froze in surprise and then began to curtsy, trembling.

‘My Queen!’ she stammered. ‘I didn't recognise you!’

I told her to keep her voice down. When I went on holovision, I wore a wig, and my features were softened. Without all that, I was almost unrecognisable. But she knew. she recognised me for who I was and understood the family bond between us. I asked her to meet me at the park after school by the old statue of Hator, and suggested she bring her sister. Without waiting for an answer, I disappeared from her sight, leaving her with the surprise of our encounter. I was overjoyed. I had found one of my sisters. Despite Dominar's stories about their fathers, he had never spoken of them.

The children's school ended two hours after the first meal, so they had time to help with chores. I waited in the park, my attention drawn to the gem-encrusted statue. My studies of Earth had taught me the value of these precious stones, yet here, they were so abundant that they adorned every public building. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to find two pairs of eyes fixed on me. Their faces reflected the shock of our sudden encounter. One was the blonde, angelic girl I had met earlier, her face lit up with a smile. The other, a slimmer girl with brown hair, had a look of concern on her face. And their eyes, their eyes left no doubt. We were together at last.

***

‘Did you always know that I was your sister?’ I asked.

‘Mother and Father never hid it from us,’ explained the one I'd met earlier. ‘After you first appeared on holovision, we were certain. Although, I have to admit, you're quite different.’

‘I don't even know your first names!’

‘I'm Efir. And she's Liea,’ said the blonde.

‘I want to know everything about you,’ I continued. ‘What school is like, who your friends are, what you like. We have so much time to catch up on!’

We spent hours talking about everything, from their school to their friends to their hobbies. They were the first girls my age I’d had the chance to talk to for so long, and I loved it. I learned that they didn’t understand their origins, the significance of their tattoos, or the source of their power. I promised to bring my insect collection with me the next time we met. And because our conversation was so exciting, I lost track of time and came home late. I ran as fast as I could, but when I went through the hidden door, Dominar was waiting for me in the library, arms folded.

‘You've been in town again,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ I met his eye. He knew everything.

‘Has your research been successful?’

‘Yes, it did. I met my sisters.’

‘Did anyone see you?’

‘No, they didn’t. I'm very good at hiding. Why wasn’t I allowed to meet them? They’re nice. I like them.’

‘It's the law,’ he explained. ‘The Heir must never have any contact with their biological family.’

‘Why is that?’ I protested, ‘I haven’t told them anything. We were just talking about their lives.’

‘To maintain impartiality. As an Heir, and when you will become Queen, your interactions must never favour them. If such interactions occur, they will be exiled to another planet. They are not your siblings. Your family is the Royalty.’

I barely listened to him - I was dreaming of our next meeting. A few weeks later, I escaped again. I went to the house they had told me was theirs. No one lived there anymore. For years I searched for them in the registers, in vain. In time, a silent question began to cast its shadow over my heart, a question I dared not voice to Dominar or the Queen. The truth, an echo of a dreaded possibility, whispered incessantly in my ears - the Queen might have banished my sisters simply because of our meeting.

Chapter Text

A man had sought asylum on Xydoria. He was in possession of a necklace of the Kings - a real one, adorned with a piece of Blue Crystal. The object granted the bearer indefinite residence on the planet. If the archives proved that a King or Queen had trusted him with the necklace, he could stay as a guest. If not, if he had acquired it unlawfully, he faced execution. Intrigued, I pressed a guard for more details about the stranger.

As per protocol, he was allowed to land. The archivists were investigating his claims. The Stranger had collapsed as soon as he'd arrived and was being treated for his fragile health. Despite the warnings, I ordered to be brought to him.

***

The man's physical condition was far from impressive. He was lying under the medbay sheets, his face hidden behind an oxygen mask. On my arrival, he showed signs of life, removing his mask with a shaky hand. His appearance reminded me of an ancient mummy, with his parchment-like skin and emaciated features. His sunken eyes were devoid of any light. His every breath seemed like a step closer to death.

‘Oh, Arayehel, you hadn’t lied...’ he whistled painfully.

The old man spoke Basic without any accent, and the guard, respectfully withdrawn to the corner of the room, must not have understood him.

‘I've waited so long for this moment. Send the guard away, we must be alone.’

‘Can't he stay?’ I was terrified. I didn’t want to be alone with him. ‘He doesn't understand us anyway.’

‘No, he can’t. This is how it happens. I am going to tell you a secret.’

I told my escort to leave the room. He didn't dare refute a direct order but seemed afraid of the trouble he might get into. When he had closed the door behind him, the stranger continued:

‘Come closer, little one. Come to me. Take this, and keep it hidden.’

He produced a metal cylinder, which he held out to me with his cadaverous fingers. The object was heavy, and I could not understand its purpose. I tried to speak, but he interrupted me:

‘Now listen to me. Listen very carefully.’

He talked for a long time. His words, occasionally disrupted by severe coughing fits, spoke to my soul. Took hold of my being. He guided me to find the strength I needed. I discovered anger in its purest form. And pleasure, enjoyment in the death of others. The one who suffocates, the one who dies. The tingling in my fingertips, announcing the departure of a soul. Kalina found me, at the stranger's bedside. My hands clenched the sheets tightly; my gaze was lost in the eyes of the dead man. She didn't dare scold me, lest she had misunderstood, but she knew, she had seen: I had killed the old man.

***

For the first time, I saw anger in Dominar's eyes. I knew I deserved to be reprimanded. But I held his gaze. He had taught me to keep my chin high.

‘What do you have to say in you defence?’ he engaged gravely.

‘His soul begged me to help him.’

‘Did he suffer?’

‘Hardly. And he won't suffer anymore now.’

His sigh echoed the heaviness of his thoughts. I was ushered out; the remains of the blue-lipped man were hidden from sight, but his ever-smiling eyes haunted my memory. I was left alone in my room. They didn't know that I could hear them talking on the other side of the door. Dominar was explaining to Askan:

‘The sick traveller. Kalina found her in the infirmary. The guard left her alone with him. He's dead now. She killed him - strangled him without even using her hands. I can't fathom where she picked up such a skill. Let's keep this between us, I'll speak to her when the time is right.’

‘She did it for a good reason, she must have. She wouldn't have hurt anyone on purpose,’ Askan stuttered, obviously shocked.

‘Undoubtedly,’ agreed Dominar.

I did not speak for hours afterwards. They assumed it was remorse. But inside, I was revelling. The thrill of taking his life had more profound than any other feeling I had experienced in my brief existence.

Later that evening, after our lesson, Dominar requested a private audience. He sat across me.

‘Arayehel,’ he began, ‘do you know what a Sith is?’

‘I do not.’ I answered.

‘They are individuals who've embraced the dark side of the Force. The Jedi believed they eradicated all of them. The man you killed - the stranger - he was one of the last surviving Siths. People thought he'd been dead for many years. I need to know: did he ask you to do it?

I remained silent. I needed to know more.

‘The path of anger is forbidden for a reason. If you tread it, you'll end up like Ra. You need to learn restraint.’ He breathed in deeply. ‘This is why the Queen and I have decided that you should go visit your father.’

‘Is it true?’ I could barely contain my excitement.

‘Remember, you're going there to learn. Don't misconstrue the purpose.’

‘I won't.’ I assured him.

In my room, the news made my heart feel lighter. I was about to meet my father. Furthermore, I now understood the utility of the stranger's gift. Alone and undisturbed, I took it out from the folds of my dress, triggered the switch, and let my soul sink into the red colour of the vibrating blade.

***

In the following days, I wandered the halls, ignored by everyone. The guards wouldn't speak to me, Askan was studying, and the seemed to have vanished. I stumbled upon her at the end of a gallery, deep in conversation with Dominar. I hid in the corner, knowing she would disapprove of my presence.

‘This can't go on!’ Her voice bristled with rage as she paced, ‘Why was she chosen instead of her sisters?’

‘The contract states so, Your Highness. The firstborn. You agreed to it.’

‘I didn't agree to raise a murderer! How do you plan on controlling her now?’

‘She listens to me, even if she doesn't seem to. And she will listen to her father.’

‘Did he respond?’

‘He did, you Highness. It's high time she visited to Earth. She leaves in three days.’

‘It has to work. She must not end up like Ra.’

‘She has potential, immense potential. She will learn control.’

As they moved on, I remained concealed in the shadows. The Queen was furious. The greatest fear for a Chelk was a Sovereign betraying them like Ra did, five millennia ago. He had exiled his people from their home planet, Earth, to the unforgiving Xydoria, to manufacture his slave race - the Earthlings. The slaves revolted and won their freedom. Ra vanished. The resentment of the people didn't fade. They couldn't return home; Earth was no longer theirs - it now belonged to the Earthlings, human clones more susceptible to mutations. This was why the alliance of Xydoria with the Olympians remained a secret. They would not appreciate the father of the Heir living on the planet they viewed as rightfully theirs. In my hiding place, I pondered. Was this lust for power, this pleasure I took in dominating similar to what Ra had experienced? I did not wish to betray my people. It was my responsibility to lead them. I pledged to myself that day - I would never let them down.

Chapter Text

The journey had seemed endless. To pass the time, I had tried to name all the celestial bodies we crossed, a game Askan and I had invented during our many cartography lessons, a subject I was notoriously bad at. My mind was always elsewhere, always restless, and the only lessons that could hold my interest were those in languages. The tongue of Xydoria, a dialect descended from Galactic Basic, was one I had mastered with ease, along with Greek - my father's tongue. ‘Dominance lies in the mastery of languages, Arayehel,’ Dominar had over and over, congratulating me. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the familiar hum of our ship exiting hyperspace. The planets in this solar system were all named after Olympians. All except Earth. Terra I.

Our ship descended through a shaft into a vast, shadow-laden cavern, illuminated only by lava pits. I was entranced by the magnificent spectacle, my face pressed against the cool glass of the viewport. I entered the airlock alone - the heat, the captain had explained, would have been fatal to the crew.  I, as a Demigod, was protected. A colossal figure awaited me on the cavern floor; it was immense, barely humanoid, wrapped in a cloak that concealed everything but skeletal fingers which stretched out from the hem, pointing to a boat that I eagerly boarded. I had no possessions other than the clothes on my back, my father had told Dominar that he would see to all my needs. The dark towers of the castle loomed ominously over an impenetrable abyss that plunged ever deeper into the bowels of the earth. A multitude of wonders undoubtedly awaited me beyond those towering walls. The ground plunged into the darkness of the fortress moat, and our ship continued to float on, defying gravity. I marvelled at the boat's anti-gravitational mechanism - so inconspicuous that it could be mistaken it for an old, ordinary boat made of wood. We entered the fortress wall through a minuscule opening that spilled a murky liquid. My boatman had to bend down to keep his hood from touching the ceiling. A tunnel lit by torches. An old door, a terribly narrow threshold - I had to keep my back against the panel so I wouldn't fall into the water. The boatman left me there, and I was alone.

***

The four minutes and thirty-four seconds I spent with my back against the wood seemed to last an eternity. Finally, a young woman came to open the door.

‘Please follow me. You must change before you meet your father,’ she said to me in Greek.

I followed her through the corridors of the castle. I was given a red toga and was allowed to remain barefoot. I was then led to a huge dining room, even larger than the courtroom on Xydoria.

‘Lord Hades will join you soon.’

I couldn't wait any longer. The four minutes and thirty-four seconds I had spent in front of the door suddenly seemed ridiculous. What was my father doing that was more important than meeting his daughter? The antiquated architecture of the place intrigued me, contrasting with the advanced society the Olympians were known for.

‘Your father wants you to start your meal.’ The woman startled me, having returned when I was lost in my thoughts. With a wave, servants materialised and covered the table with a variety of dishes from the Earth's bounty, including meat I had never encountered before. I forgot my frustration and enjoyed the feast, sampling everything until my stomach could hold nothing more. Big banquets were rare on Xydoria. When they offered me nectar, I forgot all the rest - it was the best thing I had ever tasted. Eventually, the feast lulled me into a deep sleep, and forgot to wonder where my father had been.

‘It's her,’ said a voice in my dream.

‘Let her rest,’ said another. ‘I will see her tomorrow.’

When I opened my eyes, there was no one in the room.

***

The next morning, I had a bath. I loved spending hours in the hot water. The stone bathtub was big enough for me to swim across. Several women came and went through the rising steam, washing me, brushing my hair, serving me fruit. I wished my maid, Kalina, could have been so kind. Soon I was dressed, perfumed, and combed, feeling cleaner than I had ever been.

After a hearty breakfast, a servant hurridely guided me into a huge room, the ceiling and back wall of which I could not make out. I walked forward into the darkness, which swallowed me a little more with each step, alone - the servant was gone.  My footsteps echoed endlessly. Suddenly, a multitude of torches flared into life, revealing a colossal throne set with gemstones. The light refracted in a thousand directions, painting the walls with splashes of vibrant colour. Now I could see the vaulted ceiling, so high up.

On the throne was a man staring down at me. He was not dressed in the traditional Greek manner, but in a dark velvet suit. His long, slender fingers, adorned with gold rings, rested on the armrests. His well-groomed beard was jet black, matching his long hair and the depth of his eyes. It was a relief to see that he shared some characteristics with me - our hair, our intense gaze. I waited patiently for him to speak. He remained silent. The more he looked at me, the more it seemed as if a terrible force was crushing me. My chest ached, I was out of breath. It took all my willpower to keep my gaze steady, to remain composed under his watchful eyes. After what felt like an eternity, a broad smile spread across his face, and I could finally breathe again

‘Greetings, daughter of mine,’ he began with a touch of ceremony.

‘Good morning, Father,’ I replied, regaining my composure.

‘You are strong. More experienced men have crumbled under the gaze of an Olympian. I have been watching you. Do you ever stop asking questions?’

‘Why should I stop? I want to know everything.’

‘Then let us not stay here. I'll show you around.’

And so began a tour of the castle. He led me through gilded galleries decorated with portraits of Olympians, into courtyards with fountains of burning oil, showed me libraries full of knowledge, and finally into a lush garden, a tropical forest, whose borders disappeared into the greenery.

These are my wife's gardens. She spends all her days there, I doubt you'll ever meet her. Do not go in there if you value your life. She hates my children and I feel like she doesn't care about the future of our people.

‘Do you love her?’ My question lingered unanswered in the verdant air as he guided us onwards.

We passed through a corridor adorned with stained glass windows, each depicting the birth of the Greek world, their vivid details seemingly alive in the torchlight. It was then that I found the courage to ask a question that had been eating away at my curiosity.

‘Why did you make me come in through the sewers?’

‘The Underworld is teeming with creatures, many of whom don't obey my commands, even though I am their King. Some may see an advantage in using you. For ransom, or worse.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Enough talk. I have work to do. Now that you know the palace, you are free to go wherever you like - as long as you stay inside. The servants will cater to your needs. I'll aim to join you for dinner.’

Afterwards, I found myself exploring the vast library, seeking solace in the dusty, ancient texts that hadn’t been converted into pixels. Despite the grandeur of my surroundings, a tinge of longing clouded my heart. I missed my father’s attention, the way he answered my questions, the way he made me feel like I was more than a small child. There was a bond, deeper and more profound than anything I'd ever felt before - a blood bond.

***

The following day brought a welcomed change; my father finally found time for me. He took me into a small sitting room and began his monologue.

‘Gods may look like Humans, but they are fundamentally very different. Many of us are not born naturally. We come into the world as adults, ready to fulfil our mission; immortal.’

His words danced in my mind, painting vivid images of divine beings taking their first breath, fully grown, fully aware. I gazed at him, my eyes wide and unblinking, drinking in his every word with a thirst for knowledge I had never known before. He spoke of beings woven from the fabric of the cosmos, their births not marked by the cries of infants but by the thunderous declaration of their divine purpose.

‘As a result, he continued, we are more prone to violent behaviour and often lack compassion. It is our survival instinct, as Gods and leaders – that is what distinguishes us from Humans. And you have inherited this trait. Like us, you will have to learn to control yourself. But you're only a child.’

With a small ripple of disappointment on my face, I blurted out, ‘The fact that I'm young doesn't change anything! I am strong. I know many things. Teach me, please. I won't make the same mistake again.’

‘At least you are mortal. You won't have to endure this forever. Now listen to me, very carefully.’

He continued, and I leaned back in my seat, my mind flooded with newfound knowledge and acceptance. His words were as gentle as they were profound, serving as a guide through the uncharted wilderness of my divine heritage. They spoke of balancing the delicate dance of strength and restraint, of channelling the maelstrom of divine powers into a force of positive change.

I was left in a state of contemplative silence. What he had told was similar to the words of the stranger; but instead of giving in to violence and pleasure, he taught me to channel them into something better. His speech was convincing. Somewhat. Because pleasure, this pleasure greater than my existence, I could not give it up. I returned to Xydoria a few days later, less talkative than usual, much more grown up. My childhood had begun to fade.