Epic Lore; Introduction and part of Chapter One

The winter settled in quietly overtaking the night with its frigid air. Together animals in the forests gathered for warmth sensing the onslaught of a major winter storm. Nature painted the image of a land of pure white, dropping snow so quickly it nearly froze everything in place. And as the snowflakes began to fall in great white fields of rain, the winds picked up in momentum brushing the large snowflakes against the world. 1

In the distance, the light from the windows of the home was the only thing visible for miles. The smoke from the chimney melted the flakes as they fell trying to chill the world. The warmth the home emanated was broken only by the sounds of a woman’s labored breathing and occasional shouts of pain. As the snow gathered in the corner of the leaded window pane outside, inside a midwife worked tirelessly to bring froth the life of a very special child. The woman in bed, her brown hair plastered to her forehead continued to sweat and the man tall and stout, dabbed at her head with a cool cloth. 2

“Almost milady, almost… If you can give us a good last push we should be all done ‘ere.”3

The woman breathed deeply and shook her head grasping firmly onto the mans hands threatening to break all of the bones in his hand. Straining so much that her face turned red she pushed hard bearing down, her efforts obvious in the scream that emanated from her throat bursting forth freely just as the midwife was able to deliver the child. Brushing gently at the child as the woman sighed deeply the midwife smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.4

“’Tis a girl milady! A lovely little girl!” 5

She looked down at the child who already had the beginnings of a full head of dark black hair and the child looked back at her surprisingly quietly, blinking softly seeming to take it all in. Wrapping her in a blanket prepared for the arrival the midwife handed her over to the woman who breathed her name gently as if in blessing as her husband looked on smiling.6

“Caliope, my angel of light”.7

Mother and daughter looked at each other in a moment devoid of all else. Suddenly the child’s eyes scrunched up and her face drew together and she let forth a cry louder than anything heard. Her little arms waved wildly and her hands bunched in fists as she shook her little arms at the air. 8

The woman began breathing heavy again and a look of worry passed over her face as she passed Caliope over to her husband.9

“Mina!” she breathed heavily, in quick bursts. “Something’s wrong!” She began to pant fast and suddenly without warning pushed hard again while Mina desperately attempted to get in place again. 10

Mina’s face lit up in a smile and she looked at the woman quickly.11

“Push milady you’ve got a second one comin!”12

The husband looked on with surprise and looked back at his wife in fear hoping her small body would be able to handle another birth. Caliope squirmed in his arms her cries becoming subdued.13

“Push milady, it’s already here!”14

Serane pushed one last time with all the strength she had forcing her body to deliver a second surprise child…a twin that she hadn’t known was coming. The cry that escaped her was was her last as her body could stand no more and blissfully allowed her to sleep recovering from her labors. Mina worked quickly to finish the birthing of this second child and as she cleaned the child off she exclaimed,15

“’Tis another girl!”16

She quickly cleaned up the child and wrapped this one in blankets as well, handing her to Aldo so that he held both children in his arms. 17

“Serane” he whispered as he leaned down to his sleeping wife “we shall call this one Justalyna”.18

Straightening up and moving out of the way as the midwife tended to Serane’s sleeping form, Aldo moved towards the fireplace his two children in his arms. For a time both their eyes deep pools of brown regarded him with an uncanny wisdom. He felt almost as if they were searching his soul. He smiled back at them and whispered their names as he leaned down to kiss their foreheads.19

“Caliope and Justalyna…”20

He smiled wide and continued “You have great things destined for you, of this I am sure… but for now…Sleep” 21

The midwife appeared at his side gesturing to Aldo that he could see Serane again. The children remained quiet now regarding each other as they were passed to the midwife’s arms. Each child stared at the other, almost seemingly aware…almost.22

Outside the wind howled about swirling the ever increasing snowflakes about gathering them against the wood frame of the door on the house. The horses in their stalls in the barn made sounds as they pawed at the earth stamping to keep warm. Against the full moon the snowflakes fell nearly obscuring the glow that the moon provided, the light that indicated something magical had just occurred. And so, as history would remember it; during the worst snow storm recorded in 10,000 years, the world slept blissfully unaware that events had transpired that would change the direction of life as they knew it. 23

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18 Years later...25


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On the cold stone she knelt, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders blending in perfectly with the gold trim of the white prayer robes she wore. The Priests and bishops walked past smiling and some nodding to the young priest. She bowed her head back if she caught anyone’s eye but always returned her gaze to the single spot in the stone which her eyes bore through. Clasping her hands tighter together she whispered silently 27

“I know not what I do, but know I must do this” Bowing her head her hair framing her somber face she continued in her fervent prayers28

“To want more than the ample recognition of light and love is I fear a sin, but I want so much to be recognized for more than just the holy. For more than just a healer, for more than just a …second… to her”. 29

No malice was intoned in the soft whispers at the mention of her sister, who she wished to be noticed apart from. No ill will was displayed in her prayer, only the desire to be recognized for an equal not a second to the illustrious Caliope. 30

Caliope whose dark hair and bright eyes always heralded things of great nature; Caliope who’s gifts for the holy and righteous anger at injustice caused many a criminal to run in fear of her wrath. 31

“Caliope for whom a prophecy is whispered about” her words were barely breathed off her lips as the root of her truth became evident. She had become privy to some knowledge whispered among the high priests that a prophecy only visible in a great many years had shown itself and had written the name of a female warrior of light on it. The priests, whispered continually of "Caliope, must be the one". 32

All her life Justalyna had to rely on her recognition not coming from her talents which by far in the realms of holy surpassed that of Caliope, but by the fact that she was in fact “Caliope’s sister”. To most she didn’t even have a name, other than that.33

“I have succumbed to pride, in it’s true form my lord” she prayed quietly “I undertake a bad thing to be recognized as it is the only recognition I shall have”.34

Through a series of incidences that rang truly of the hand of fate in their timely-ness, Justalyna had come of some knowledge that could if managed properly show people that she was indeed worthy of more than just the casual glance. She could in fact, stand on her own…35

A certain noble through unscrupulous means had come about a small fragment of purported magic parchment. In this fragment supposedly carried the words of a prophecy not seen in 10,000 years. Indeed it’s existence wasn’t even more than just myth or legend until recently. The elite sect of warriors & skilled assasins, mainly thieves and the like, known as SI:7 meant to have that parchment. As she was a small portion of nobility she was single-handedly chosen for the task. Briefly as she had been approached in the darkened alley she had wondered if indeed being “Caliope’s Sister” for once hadn’t been beneficial. But now, the day of the task awaited her and instead of rejoicing at her moment to shine, she was praying in fear.36

Her heart knew she must do this. Her heart knew somehow, someway, that this was her destiny. But it conflicted with the covenant she had sworn to uphold.. the covenant of light. How then she wondered in her fear could she do this task?37

“I know not what I do” and she cried silently musing over these things that to this day plagued her.38

A gentle hand on her shoulder and soft spoken words startled her briefly and before she had time to wipe her eyes to hide the tears she looked up into the misshapen yet calm face of Brother Anton.39

“What troubles you so child” he smiled down at her the most warm smile that seemed to melt her fears away. She nearly spilled everything right there and her anguish she was sure remained evident though she tried to hide it.40

She stood slowly, adjusting her robes of prayer, the white satin making soft noises around her feet and turned her gaze to the priest wiping her eyes.41

“I am faced with…” she halted, stumbling over her words. How do you tell someone you’re going against the very beliefs you’ve held all your life?42

His face still smiled at her gently urging her in its serenity to continue.43

“I am faced with conflict Brother Anton. And I have chosen a direction that even in it’s bright end would cause darkness in the meantime.” She looked down at her hand unconsciously wringing them again together as if straining water through a cloth.44

Brother Anton's smile faltered for a fraction of a second and he looked away from her as in that fraction his face appeared deeply troubled. The lines and creases of many scars seemed to grow deeper as his frown deepend before he could regain his composure and look again at the child with a veil of calm. Brother Anton was a deformed man. A deformity some would call it, a gift others would call it. His immense size and misshapen body earned him the title in the back alleys of “ogre”, but among those of the holy order he was a renowned gifted priest with healing abilities far beyond that of the mortal hand. Those of the holy order called him a mortal angel for the suffering he endured to get him to the path of light. That path had caused him blindness on top of his deformities, one of life’s cruel twists of fate. As he had healed a blind girl, her curse was passed to him. He still bore it’s scars today.45

He raised one of his massive hands and gently as if holding a light feather lifted her chin up so her eyes looked straight into his unseeing ones before speaking.46

“Sometimes, child the path takes you through dark dark passages. Sometimes you will be forever changed and not for what you would consider the greater good.” He paused and looked at her almost seeing right through her even though she knew he couldn’t see her. She shivered slightly wondering if he had indeed seen her heart.47

“But sometimes Justalyna our paths no matter how dark they are, are part of a balance of life. A tenuous balance that must be restored. Sometimes, we must walk in shadow praying for the release in the end to return truly as the angel of light.” He let go of her chin and tenderly wiped her tear from her eye as she stared at him.48

“Your path is…dark Justalyna, but it is your path. Choose wisely and you will wind up in light”. He smiled at her and grasped her shoulders in his two hands before releasing her and walking away, his steps resounding against the corridors.49

She stood there a moment watching him leave his words still ringing in her ears. 50

“Sometimes we must walk in shadow praying for the release in the end to return truly as the angel of light” she repeated to herself. 51

Her tears were dry now and her spirit calmer than she had been in the past few months since the director of SI:7 had approached her. She walked out of the cathedral with a somber stride. Her heart was willing, her spirit somehow sensed her destiny ahead and walked her towards it. 52

She traveled through the city making her way towards her home, not seeing a single soul; indeed not seeing anything just walking home to begin her preparations. 53

This was her destiny and she accepted it.54

*****
Brother Anton walked as quickly as possible away from the young child without giving indication that he was nearing a desire to run fast to the archbishop. When he had reached out to touch her skin, by simply holding her chin in his hand he had been granted sight into her heart. While he had not seen anything concrete he had heard whispers of shadow and the noises of the undead. He didn’t know what it meant but he knew when he heard a name whispered softly growing louder until it was distorted in his ears so much so that he had to release his touch of her. He could stand to see no more. 55

When he was certain he was out of her sight, he ran breathlessly heading towards the archbishops office. Laboring through the run of the cathedral he nearly flew into the archbishop’s office his robes dashing behind his feet even as he stopped, his face red, his body heaving. When he reached the doorway he did not knock as is customary, but threw open the door. His breathe began getting shallower as he put his hands on the doorframe feeling an oppressive weight on his chest. As the archbishop looked up puzzlement clouding the older mans eyes as he saw Anton standing in his doorway looking possesed instead of the calm that he normally wasy, a vice like grip followed contorting Anton's face with spasms of pain. Sweat beads popped out on his forehead dampening the remaining hair he had on his head. 56

“Archbish…” was all he could muster before the pain grip on his heart became too much and he collapsed gasping for air.57

The archbishop dropped the papers he had been holding as Anton had burst through the door and jumped practically leaping over his desk to the giant shouting “Anton!” He knelt down to the giants frame speaking softly at him58

"Hold fast brother, help is coming".59

He then began shouting for the guards as Anton's life faded from him while he watched.60

“Guards, COME!”61

Anton gripped the Archbishops shoulder, his face now a pale white, his lips blue as his body was starved of the oxygen he had moments ago breathed in deeply.62

“A…g…a….s”. was the last gasp he made, his hand releasing the archbishops shoulder as the noise in the office increased when the guards burst into the doorway some stumbling over the two on the ground. The archbishop stood up, staring at the giants body pondering the word he had said. It made no sense. It was no curse, not a name he knew, and had no immediate meaning to him. He looked down at the body, the giant sleeping peacefully after such a life of trial. The guards had formed a nearly perfect half circle behind the Archbishop that would not allow anyone to enter, and they stood their ground waiting for him to speak. He motioned to the guard nearest him and said:63

“Prepare the city, we will hold a kings funeral for this priest of light who had a heart that the gods thought it too big to live.”
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