Blood of Both Realms

Prologue

Fifteen hundred years ago, the Earth was in harmony. Peace had spread amply across all the lands. This was achieved due to a young woman named Elysia; Daughter of Nuala' and God of Elysium. She was renowned for her healing, graciousness, and her beauty. Her eyes, a beautiful blue, sparkled like sapphires amidst her delicate, creamy complexion. According to the villages presbyter, Elysia would bring abundance to the village. With this knowledge, the villagers would go on to worship her.

As her following increased, she traveled to other lands for extended periods. To maintain balance while she was away, she created a group called; The Divines Faithful, also known as the Divines. These individuals were responsible for restoring and preserving unity among the people. They were instructed to remove any perceived threats to the newfound peace. Sadly, this way of life did not endure.

Elysia, one day, joyfully shared that she was with child. Bitterness followed this news. The villagers demanded to know the child's father, but Elysia refused to say anything. Her silence angered the people. Selfishly concerned with their own desires, they stressed that her duty was to cater to their wants and needs alone. The villagers had been consumed with greed.

Several months had passed. Elysia sat in her bedroom window; caressing her noticeably large belly, as she glared up at the moon. The serene glow always brought her comfort when she felt overwhelmed.

But on this fateful night.

A violent jolt awakened Elysia, her hair seized by a ruthless hand, dragging her through the darkness of her home, and out into the night. The crowd watched with morbid fascination, some even smiling, as Elysia cried out for help, her body battered and bruised. Her arms wrapped around her pregnant belly, desperate to shield her unborn child from brutality. Her assailant, fueled by greed, sneered at her endlessly. Beyond belief, Elysia witnessed as the Divines Faithful looked on, their faces cold and unyielding.

The villagers motivated by twisted devotion, attempted to persuade her to surrender her unborn child as an offering to their new found deity's. In that horrifying moment, Elysia grasped the true intent behind her brutal attack: a sinister sacrifice to satiate the Divines Faithfuls rebellion. The Divines informed her that they were aware of the contract placed on her before descending from Elysium. The contract placed on her severely constricts her abilities, rendering her nearly mortal.

Her screams echoed through the town as the man's blade cut through the layers of her abdomen. Her newborn yanked from her womb. The man held the baby with eyes devoid of mercy. The man's footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Elysia in a pool of her own blood. Her maternal instincts screaming, but her body would not budge. Her child's wails grew fainter, a heartbreaking echo of her own despair.

As she gazed up at the chaotic scene, the crowd and the Divines dispersed, dissolving into the distance. A lone woman remained, kneeling beside Elysia. With gentle hands, she cradled Elysia's head, tears streaming down the woman's face. Elysia smiled. With her final breath she left a tearful message:

" My baby will not die here."

Days had passed and it was the day of the sacrificial ceremony. Elysia's lifeless body, a poignant reminder of the brutal suppression, was crucified and displayed in the villages square. Preparing for the ceremony, men gathered at the square, sharing stories and sipping ale from wooden mugs, while women busied themselves with traditional meals, filling the air with savory aromas.

The fleeting excitement dissolved into chaos. Village men, enraged, chased after a young woman; who clutched a days-old newborn to her chest, her desperate eyes scanning the crowded streets for an escape. But before she could find solace, a member of the Divines Faithful appeared before her. With an aura so evil, she froze from fear. With an imperceptible flick of their hand, the Divine struck the woman, removing the child from her grasp. Realizing her arm had been cut off, she became disoriented and crumpled to the ground, crying out in agony.