Ink to Ashes

Prologue

Reyla, the sun, was the creator of all that we see today. How he came into existence is unknown, for his ways are mysterious and holy, and if he wished for us to know, we would. All we know, is that for a time longer than eternity, he was completely and utterly alone in Paradise. As time wore on, Reyla became lonely and began to wish for a companion, so with his powers of creation, he formed Toth, the sky and Lhune, the moon.

They lived together as brothers and Reyla was in awe of his creations and loved them both dearly. But Toth was devious and envied Rela for his powers. So, as Reyla lay to rest, Toth chopped him up and threw him into the abyss, piece by piece. But all was not over for Reyla. Hurt and confused by his brother's actions, he decided to hide his consciousness from him, for although his physical form may have been mutilated, his powers remained with him as long as his soul was intact. So he formed a world deep within the abyss, the realm of Amaria, within which our Pardu resides, in order to take refuge from his brother's hate.

He took a new form and became a cave dweller, and again, created companions out of dirt and sticks to comfort him in his time of fear. But this time, he did not give them the power that he had given to Toth, his beloved, treacherous brother.

He created dogs, cats, birds, men, and every other creature imaginable. He gave each of them an identifying mark, an Ink that would signify their destiny, represent their honour, and guide them through times of trouble.

But yet, he still felt that there was something missing in the world, a beauty that was just out of reach. For months he sat, pondering what was missing when one day, whilst he was conversing with Eroh, a member of his favourite creation, a Man, he realised. He needed to create something that was identical to Man in every way, but at the same time more beautiful in every way.

For weeks he toiled, casting aside his crude sticks and stones, in favour of paints and charcoal. Hours he spent, softening lines, lengthening hair, until one day he roared in delight, sitting in front of a painting of the most beautiful creature imaginable, a Woman.

He gave her a physical form and all who laid eyes upon her marvelled at her beauty. Her features were rare and delicate, with snow white hair and eyes a deep purple, but when angered, her hair would transform into a fiery red, her eyes yellow and blue, snapping and sparking like a flame. Reyla, in awe of his creation, named her Asan, in recognition of her fiery countenance.

Asan fell for her creator but he knew that it was not meant to be, for the lives of mortals can never be intertwined with that of a God. But despite his gentle rejection, she continued to care deeply for him and put her life on the line for him multiple times. She trained in the art of combat, mastering the sword, bow and mace, and became a both a regal huntress and a godly protector. Under her watchful gaze, combined with Reyla's affectionate nurture, the land remained prosperous and unharmed. But it was not to last.

Over the years, Toth had grown stronger and his thirst for Reyla's soul was unquenchable. In his delirious state, he ventured into the abyss and came across Amaria. Filled with glee, he descended upon our world and ravaged it, incessant in his quest for Reyla. For years, Reyla hid deeper within his lair, leaving his people to die, afraid to take a stand against Toth. Finally, in an attempt to save his world from the wrath of his brother, and to preserve what was left of his dignity, Reyla emerged from hiding. A long and bloody battle ensued, the details of which would be too long to recount within a single lifetime. But at the end of it, Reyla was on the ground, injured and weak, while Toth moved in for the final strike.

Sensing the end was nigh, Asan dove between the two, her body taking the brunt of the blow, mortally wounding her. Distraught, Reyla called upon the last of his primordial magic and banished Toth from Amaria, trapping him in the abyss, just above the land, just below Paradise. With the last of his strength, Reyla passed on his final blessing to Asan. Although her physical form was mortally injured, her soul was still intact. As such, Reyla gave to her a second body of a new creature, the phoenix. A fiery creature that is reborn from the ashes in which it dies. As he watched it take off into the distance, he relinquished his physical form to the earth and joined his brother in the abyss, lighting Amaria with his radiance during the day, while his other brother, Lhune, who remained neutral throughout the scene, joined them in the Abyss and dimly illuminates the realm during the night hours, mourning the falling out of his brothers.