Book of The Lightborn: Rise

Purpose

The dawn of a new day was slowly approaching, and close to the Lightborn settlement, sunrays and moonbloom flowers touched upon stone pieces protruding from the ground. Between all of them, Melonius was taking good care to ensure nothing was disturbing their peace, one standing a bit taller than the rest. There were once trees where he stood, but the disease they saw before entering the Lands Between Mountains was spreading from within the forests, so they had to cut them down with their new tools. Melonius used it as an opportunity to make a grave of sorts for their dead siblings, while keeping watch and trying to understand the disease a bit better for Avaanel.

"How I wish you were here brother, to see what we have built," Melonius stood in front of the headstone where Efeehem's name was inscribed in a unique manner, "and help us in our ventures". Melonius started to develop a type of writing ever since he started placing headstones. It required a long, tedious process through which he would put his hand on the headstone and, by applying constant heat from his light, he would eventually leave a unique mark into the stone that represented the way he felt about his brother or sister. How he remembered them, and what fond memories of them he had. Other Lightborn would then be able to later come back and feel those emotions carved into the stone, as if spoken through them. It was something Kilon found of high value, as information became more and more important, but chose not to press Melonius about it, as Melonius still needed time to find the right motivation to push forward.

However, the time for waiting was over, and Kilon was heading for him. Looking around the field filled with headstones, Kilon overlapped the image of his vision over it. 'Their faces, they start to shape up,' Kilon thought, moonblooms expanding and breaking up whenever they got close to his light, 'we are getting closer to the intersection between fate, and my vision.'. Looking at Melonius, he could tell his brother was strengthening his resolve. 'It is too late to turn back, it was so the moment I chose to make them worship me,' Kilon finished his thoughts, stepping closer to where Melonius stood.

"Hey Kilon," Melonius had a melancholic tone to him, still thinking of Efeehem, "do you remember what else did I call him? I'm trying to add more of our memories to his stone, and I think I got most of it.". Kilon looked curious at the inscription, then placed his hand to feel all the emotions and memories it carried.

"I believe you're right, not that I'd know any better, for you spent the most time with him," Kilon answered fairly, and Melonius smiled sadly.

"Then that means that's about all I could experience with him, talk with him," while not every word they had spoken was there, his and their siblings' feelings, which they added through him, made it feel that way. "They each left a small memory with him, same with the others," Melonious looked around and pointed with his finger, "yet, it is sad to think we could fit all of those memories in just this small piece of stone.". Melonius brushed the headstone with his hand, the emotions he imbued fading away as he detached himself from them.

"Then that makes them so much more precious, doesn't it?" Kilon tried to give a more positive outlook on the matter, "We can learn from these memories, how our mistakes take away precious time, and how our victories help us make room for more.". Kilon looked at their settlement, the Lightborn gathering all around while sounds of earth being moved came from the inside, other structures than trees starting to be erected from the ground. Kilon then looked at Melonius "It's what we should strive for, building and gathering those precious memories. Keeping them for an eternity to come in places where the world can't take them away from us.".

"I guess it does," Melonius pondered for a moment on his brother's words, "so I figure today is no better day to prove that, right?". Melonius looked Kilon in the eyes, seeing his unwavering determination for what they had to accomplish. "As I promised a dozen of suns ago," referring to the two months that had passed since Kilon's return, "I will be your shield. I just hope you're wrong about Menoel.".