Craos stood at in the Throne Room of the Endless Place. All was silent within the Universe; the confusing babble of Mankind had not yet assailed the Maker's ears.
Tu`il stood behind him, his gold body and white eyes gleaming in the darkness. After a few hours, (for Time had begun when the Worlds were made), the First Man spoke.
"Master?"
Craos stirred. "Yes, Tu`il?"
"On what do you ponder?"
"On My Universe, Tu`il." Another moment of silence followed. "I made these worlds Perfect." Craos turned to face Tu`il. "With one exception."
One golden eyebrow raised. "Master?"
"I want intelligent beings, Tu`il. Beings to worship me. Beings that I can bring Home here when their moral lives end."
Tu`il considered this for a moment. "The Helpers are all immortal, as are the Angels. I'm the only one who isn't - is that what I'm for?"
"Yes, Tu`il." Craos turned back to the view of the Universe. He spoke a Word and a single planet came into focus. A lush, green planet, teeming with resources and life.
"This is your new home, Tu`il. Name it."
"Cortalia."
"Well named. There are but two things left until we can send you down to that world. Firstly, you will need to be taken out of your Divine Body. It will be left here, guarded, until the day of your return to me. Secondly, you will need a helper." Craos turned back to Tu`il. "Close your eyes, First Man."
Tu`il's white eyes closed slowly, the white orbs becoming crescent moons, slivers, then the eyelids covered them fully. Craos stepped toward him, and touched Tu`il's forehead with his right thumb. The golden skin began to fall away, but the flakes of gold reformed into a shell some thirty feet away. Tu`il, after a few moments, opened eyes- eyes as blue as the summer sky at high noon.
"Lie down, First Man."
Tu`il, now in the frail flesh of Mankind, lay down on an obsidian alter that rose with Craos' thought. Craos stood over him, deliberating. He then, gently, ran his finger down Tu`il's right side. The skin and muscle split gently apart under the God's touch, down to the smooth, white rib. Tu`il stirred in his sleep. Craos turned to ensure he remained asleep, and, satisfied, returned to his work.
He carefully touched the rib. It came away in his hands; and another grew instantly in its place. The muscle and skin closed as Craos' hand drew away, carrying the still warm rib. Turning, Craos
walked to another alter that had risen a moment before. He laid the lone rib down on it. He said a Word again, and the Magic began to work.
The rib floated a few inches above the table. Besides that, everything was still for a moment. Then, a skeleton began to grow from the rib. The spine appeared, then the other ribs, then the skull and appendages. As soon as the bones were all present, the muscles began to form. As soon as the red tissue was completed, the skin began to cover it. The skin, instead of Tu`il's gold, was of a silver sheen. The hair was a raven black.
Craos stood back, admiring His handiwork. The body was slighter than Tu`il's, yet possessed invisible strengths that First Man lacked. A perfect partner. Craos again took an Orb of Life and placed it on First Woman's forehead. After the same effect it had on Tu`il, her white eyes opened and she breathed into her lungs the Breath of Life.
Tu`il, who had awakened, walked over to her alter, by which she knelt, worshiping Craos. She looked confused as Tu`il gently took her arms and drew her to her feet. As his hands met her silver skin, it fell off her as his had and flew over to the Golden Statue, where it reformed into a feminine shape.
Tu`il held her at arms length, and a satisfied smile crept over his features, to be mirrored on hers. He put his strong arm around her shoulder, turning to face the Maker, who was smiling Himself.
"Thank you, Master."
Craos, still smiling, said, "What shall be her name, Tu`il?"
Turning to look into the brown eyes of his beautiful partner, Tu`il took his time. Finally, he stirred and said, "You drew her from my flesh and bone, Master. She shall be called Te`ara, for she shall be my queen."
"So be it."
No comments:
Post a Comment