Chapter 83 - Prologue (1/2)
In the beginning, there was a stone and with it, a Universe was born into nothingness. Afterward, World gave birth to Time, bringing destiny with it. And so another piece of Creation began its path of endless growth.
However, whether it was an accident or cruel act of fate, but the young Universe was sundered by a new destiny, bringing in endless possibilities. With 2 destinies clashing, new futures infested the world. And although some brought benevolent changes leading to a better world, others were speeding up Universe to its eventual demise.
And stone? As a part of the World, it acquired 2 separate destinies as well. But being the origin of the said World, the stone split its own existence into 2 eternally opposing forces, later recognized as Light and Darkness respectively. Each fighting for dominance. Each supporting its respective destiny.
However, time went by, while the world was slowly progressing. The disaster was left unnoticed by the majority of the Universe's inhabitants as life went on.
As for the fight between Light and Darkness? It was left unnoticed, repeating itself through the ages, because victory was impossible without the destruction of the corresponding stone.
And to destroy the stone, humongous amounts of destiny was required. So much, actually, that one person wouldn't be able to carry it. No. The whole epoch would need to carry the burden of holding that amount of destiny.
In the end, 2 opposing destinies met and made a pact. They each will start their preparation for their respective final fight and prepare the required amount of destiny to carry out opponent's destruction. And the rules were set:
1. No direct involvement.
2. Prophecy is the key.
3. Using stone only in the final battle
And so, preparations for the final battle began. 2 Destinies started their hidden work to prepare the world and their champions.
By that time world already gave birth to Ul, Father-God, who became a father of 7 others.
And the 7 created a world and filled it with 7 races, one for each God. However, Ul was never part of the process so, all of his sons' creations were marred and imperfect, void of Ul's wisdom and power.
Thus, younger gods sought to unmake those creatures, so that all upon the world might be fair.
But Ul stretched forth his hand and prevented them, saying:
”What you have wrought you may not unmake. You have torn asunder the fabric and peace of the heavens to bring forth this world as a plaything and an entertainment. Know, however, that whatsoever you make, be it ever so monstrous, shall abide as a rebuke for your folly. In the day that one thing which you have made is unmade, all shall be unmade.”
The younger Gods were angered. To each monstrous or unseemly thing they had made, they said: ”Go thou unto UL and let him be thy God.” Then from the races of men, each God chose those people who pleased him. And when there were yet peoples who had no God, the younger Gods drove them forth and said: ”Go unto UL, and he shall be your God.” And UL did not speak.
During that period, Light in its efforts to prepare schemed to let the eldest of the sons, Aldur, who was God over no people, discover its stone. It subtly affected the world, allowing Aldur to ”polish” it into a powerful magical artifact, limiting its full power. Thus the stone now could directly affect the world, avoiding the fourth rule of not using stone.
In turn, Darkness decided on the more violent approach, planting seeds of pride in the most beautiful of Gods, Torak. And so Torak gained unsatiable greed for praise and prayer. So he came to Aldur, scheming to get stone, but Aldur, in all of its wisdom, looked into his brother's soul and rebuked him.