In the great spiraling Gyre, the line of being and experiences, the Creators Layon and Leer gave birth to Lifarí Zarem, a god of perfect benevolence and power, whose purpose was to bring forth his own children into the Lifaríor, the great Gyre of godhood that spiraled into eternity. They then left him to his own means, to continue the Lifaríor in his Gyre.
When Zarem's Lifaríor was complete, he turned to the dark realm below the Realm and ordered the creation of the stars. They were without counting, great and small. But they were lonely, so Zarem ordered the creation of the planets and moons, which danced about their fiery guardians in order and glory.
One of these worlds in the realm below the Realm was Libera. Zarem looked upon Libera and knew it would be a chosen world among many, one that would bring about the fulfillment of many great destinies. He called forth Aedar Luna, whom he loved, and showed her Libera.
“Luna, my beloved Aedar,” he said to her, “behold Libera, a chosen world to me. Upon other worlds have I set many Aedar, the demi-god spirits who maintain order in the worlds under my command, but only to you shall I give Libera. To you I give the orbit of the moon and its phases, and to you I give the movement of the waters that have shaped this world. To you I give guardianship over the Baratull spirits who will enter mortality and inhabit the world, as long as you faithfully abide by my commands.”
And Aedar Luna bowed deep before her Creator, whom she loved, and said, “Let thy will be done.”
Zarem spread his life-giving wings over Libera, brushing it through earth and sky, and the sentients of Libera came into being. They were first of five races: the Unia'a, the elven kind born after the image of Luna. The Morva'i', the centaurs. The Bii'a, the fairies of Libera. The Hakaan, the winged wolves. The humans, those that would spread and claim all of Libera for Zarem's children. In a later time came the Crin, the lizardmen.
The races grew in culture and magic. Great cities and kingdoms were established. Powerful bonds between families and clans created a tight-knit fabric of love and respect. Zarem poured down his blessings upon those who followed him, as did Luna, whose waters circulated life throughout Libera.
After some time, many of the sentients appeared to forget about Zarem. Zarem sensed their ignorance in their gloriously abundant lives, and as they forgot, he found there was a void in his heart.
Loneliness. As he pondered over what could be done to bring about a good change to his chosen Libera, he looked upon the world.
His attention was soon drawn to the pool at the beginning of the world, from which all the waters of Libera flowed. There he saw Luna, whom he loved above all others, at the mere of water. He perceived a loneliness in her too, and as he observed her come and go to carry out her duties as an Aedar spirit, Zarem was filled with compassion towards her.
At one time when she was away from the pool, Zarem came down and left one of his golden feathers on the hill crest above her pool, and then concealed himself and watched. Luna returned to the pool, found the feather, and smiled as she tied it to the belt of her dress. About her, the forest shimmered with the colors of Fall, changing with the season.
And, Zarem saw, she was happy.
When she departed the next day, he returned and placed a second feather by her favorite tree. Thereafter he concealed himself and watched. Luna came back to her pool and saw the feather. With a laugh that rung like a crystal bell, she tied it alongside the first feather and gazed at her first quarter moon. It became ensconced in a glorious light, even in the middle of the day, and not even the sun could make it fade away.
And, Zarem saw, she was happy.
On the third day, when Luna went forth with the two feathers on her hip, Zarem left a feather on the surface of the mere. Then he concealed himself and watched. Luna came back in the deeps of night and saw the glowing golden feather on the pool. She walked across the water, lifted it to her bosom, and smiled.
Zarem came forth from her forest, his body shining with divine light as he watched her with deep ocean-blue eyes. Luna looked upon him and bowed reverently.
“My lord Zarem,” she whispered, her voice full of a love she had not yet spoken to him. “I am honored by thy presence. It is You who has been leaving me these glorious gifts, the gift of the seasons and the glory of the moon...but what does this feather do?”
Zarem walked across the water himself and came to Luna. His wings unfurled partway around her.
“As I, thou hast been lonely here at the pool where all waters flow out,” he said. He gazed upon her, enthralled by both her elven beauty and the pure countenance that flowed from her spirit. “I have compassion on you, my beloved Luna. This gift is for thy use and will, for whatever you want.”
Luna met his loving eyes, her entire being wrapped in warmth from his own aura. She then looked upon all of him, upon his humanoid body, upon his saurian head and legs, upon his strong arms that had borne worlds into existence, and upon his wings that had given life to countless sentients across the darkness of space. She looked upon him, and she knew then what he wanted.
“Lord Zarem, thou knowest I love you, for I cannot hide anything from you,” Luna said, “and I know thou hast loved me for many ages, even before Libera was born. However, I see thou hast also been lonely as thy children forget about thee and go their own ways.”
“I have been lonely because of them,” he agreed, admiring her perception. “I do love thee, Aedar Luna, and I would have you at my side not just as a servant, but as my wife. It is a gift I would wish to give you, a Legend that will bring about a glorious change in thee and the world of Libera.”
Luna smiled, and he saw that she was very happy. Zarem brought her spirit into his arms, and their embrace flared with glorious light and power as he sealed their bond. When Luna pulled away, she held the feather over the water and let it drop.
The feather shimmered and melted into the water, and Luna crouched and reached into the water. From the water she pulled two infant beings, male and female, and cradled them in her arms.
“Behold, Lord Zarem, those created in your image,” Luna announced. “Molouk, They Borne From the Water.”
Zarem looked upon these children and burst into joyful song. Luna sung with him, and the forest swayed and danced in the power they created together.
Zarem and Luna took the Molouks and raised them until adulthood. Soon thereafter, they placed them in the land that came to be known as Ramirra, a place abundant with water and good soil. Zarem returned to his place in the Realm to watch over all his creations, and Luna remained in Libera.
In a token of gratitude and love for Zarem's care over her creations, the Molouks, Luna drew forth part of her spiritual essence and the light of the moon and created the Moonstone, a divine stone of great power. This stone she gave to Zarem, although she could always hold it if she wished, and it pleased him well.
In return, and that his glory would reside with Luna and all of Libera, Zarem drew forth part of his spiritual essence and the light of the sun and created the Sunstone. The Sunstone remained with Luna at the pool for ages, and was Luna's most precious possession.
In the millenniums to come, the Sunstone was whisked away by mysterious means from her pool. When it did go, Luna then knew it was time for prophecy to be fulfilled. She knew that her Legend was to be unraveled in its entirety, even though she could not foresee then what the result of the Legend would be. Neither could she be completely prepared for the greatest tests Zarem had for her.
§
“I saw the world in its split state between Den'verden, the One Inner World, and Libera, the Outer World, which had been punished for its wickedness while the righteous were preserved within the Borderwall. It was akin to a veil that separated day and night. I wondered at this, and wondered too whether all of Libera would see morning again.
“I prayed to Zarem and Luna. I begged for mercy upon those lost in Libera. In vision, Luna came to me and said,
“'Fear not, Raphael, my chosen servant, for this is part of the Legend of Draconite. Even before the beginning of Libera was there a way for the morning to come again, for Zarem knows all things.
“'Ruler of water, moving over all, I shall teach another. One who shall help me. One who shall reveal my name in body. Incarnate, worthy one. Flame upon the water, daughter of my image.'
“Blessed be the names of Zarem and Luna! Blessed be Zarem, the God of All, who knows all things that transpire on the great Gyre of Time. Blessed be beloved Luna, life-keeper, guardian, goddess who shall one day walk among us as one of us.”
–Excerpt from the Book of Raphael, dated about 8297 After Creation.
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