The color of Divinity II - The truth of Legends

The color of Divinity
Part II – The truth of Legends
By Ellnyon


Summary: Ten years later, Edyane returns home hoping for peace. Instead, he learns that the war he’s coming from is far from over. Amidst doubts, treacheries, reencounters and sudden revelations, many things seem different. Edyane himself is not the same either…Did his heart change as well?

Notes: And finally TCD, Part 2! I’m sorry for my long absence but real life complications have a way of sneaking up on you and you know that everything that can go wrong always does. Hopefully I’m back on my own two feet and ready to continue where I left off. These first chapters may be a little confusing, but please bear with me. All will be explained in due time. So, thanks to all of you readers who patiently waited, and, of course, those who also rate and review. You know I love you. To those new to TCD, please read “The color of Divinity Part I: The delusion of reality” first or, for a shorter version, the following prologue…To those familiar with the first Part, the prologue brings new developments so be sure to read it, too, ok? As always please enjoy.


Prologue

Ethen are a special kind of creatures belonging to the Eth male warriors and the only ones in that race able to bear children. Few in number, they have been protected and labelled weak by their kin due to their scarce magic powers and fragile but beautiful features and bodies. Also, contrarily to the other males, it is very rare to find an Ethen with dark hair, this event occurring only once each thousand years. This Ethen, cherished above all others, is said to possess the power and wisdom of the Gods, being by many, considered a God himself, as only he can see and understand them.

This story starts with Meanea Guinare, a High class Ethen of Meya, who has, despite his status, peerless beauty and endearing manners, a very difficult past. His parents were killed when he was only a child, leaving him alone with a baby brother to raise. His promised one died too, two years before their marriage, stripping Meanea from its protection. An unmarried Ethen of fertile age is disgraced in the eyes of Eth society. And so, fearing the repercussions of remaining single, Meanea travels to N’Alaera to engage in an uncommon marriage between an Ethen and a human. There, he reencounters his passionate fiancé, the kind middle-aged king Fenaleos, and falls in love with his son, the handsome and dashing prince Edyane.

Edyane is the only prince of the most powerful of the human countries: N’Alaera. Blessed with attractive looks, extraordinary fighting skills, clever mind, impetuous conduct and his subjects’ reverence, he has everything a young man might want. Everything, but Meanea. The prince was against his father’s wedding from the very start for various reasons. And that was before he met and fell in love with Meanea. But, at the same time, other events also demand his attention. During the Tournament, part of the wedding’s festivities, two Eth princes arrive with unsettling news. A millennium war (that few believe in), against the evil Death Whisperers from the South, is about to break. And an epiphany during an unplanned combat reveals to Edyane that he is to take part of that war as the North Alliance’s supreme leader. The Maguenta’s Heir, chosen by the Gods.

Totally fascinated by his father’s fiancé, it takes all of Edyane’s great willpower to choose glory instead of love. So, in the end, while his father marries the man he loves, he marches for war with his best friends Quera, Tenaii and Andro, in order to protect his people. And most importantly, in order to protect the cute, bratty Iadden, who he admires deeply but can’t quite figure out if he hates or loves.

Iadden Guinare, Meanea’s younger brother, was believed to be an Eth ever since his birth. With his true identity concealed from everyone by his Ethenim and his tutor Sanari, he was trained and taught like an Eth by Athios (his guardian). Because he is descendant of generals and powerful Eths no one ever questioned his amazing abilities despite his young age.

But Iadden was never an easy child. Too clever, generous and obstinate for his own good, he is despised by the noble classes he belongs to and adored by the common people that serve him. Never feeling at ease in the court where his peers made fun of him, but obliged to endure it for the sake of the LAW, he favours his brother’s marriage for their family’s wellbeing. Even more so when he senses Edyane might endanger his brother’s proper happiness. Thus, Edyane becomes his most hated enemy as soon as he arrives to N’Alaera. Also because the prince has everything Iadden always wanted to achieve and never could. But hidden beyond the envy grows a huge admiration for the charismatic prince, bordering on profound adoration, and he also becomes jealous of the attentions Edyane gives Meanea.

Meanwhile, the still unknown but supposed Ethen of dark hair sent word through Meya’s Council that Iadden is the Maguenta’s Heir and so they assign him to lead the armies in the incoming war. The boy seems to prove their words right by showing his incredible skills at the Tournament, but Athios and his closer friends still think he’s not ready to face the horrors of death and destruction.

Of course Iadden sees this as a chance to be useful and respected by his kin and jumps at the opportunity, but the others, including Edyane, are completely against it. The prince manages to prevent Iadden’s parting to war, much to everyone’s relief and the boy’s dismay. After a heated discussion and a shaming reprimand by his elder cousin, Iadden flees to a strange tower in Maguenta’s High Temple, where he finally understands why he quite never fit in. He is the black haired Ethen of the Legends, he can speak to the Gods and he is destined to guide the Maguenta’s Heir, Edyane, to victory. But only after he grows up and with the help of his guardian and Midaen’niel, the Dream seer chosen by the God of Gods: Maguenta

Midaen’niel Siekih is an Ethen cousin of Iadden. Having lost his Ethenim as a baby and with no other Ethen in the direct family, he has spent most of his years with the Guinares, while at the same time being spoilt by his father and older Eth brother. A free spirit, much like Iadden, Midaen’niel is wise and calm, always proper in front of others but rebellious on their backs. Iadden’s best friend and confidant, he learnt how to use a bow (thanks to his cousin), at the same time he matured fast by seeing in his dreams the misfortunes of others and many times his own (including the excruciating death of his adored brother), while not being able to change the outcomes. He is promised to Lnorien Erephine, genius general of the Alliance, but who doesn’t care much for him.

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The truth is that, as the Legends foretell, this world is not exactly a place where peace is a constant. While the kingdoms and races of the North have managed to achieve an agreement and live in relative harmony with each other ever since the Maguenta’s order of monks was created, the same can’t be said from the people of the South.

No one knows exactly why, but ever since the days Maguenta lived on what later was to become N’Alaera’s mountain chain, there were always dark shadows glooming from the South. Some say that as Maguenta on the North, another God, or more accurately, a Goddess with equal power walked the earth on the South. Iairra, Goddess of the Demons and the Underworld, whom the Death Whisperers are feverous worshipers of.

Death Whisperers is a name used by the north inhabitants referring to the races of the south for they are all condensed in a single empire: the Zãìnea and in an order of demon magic followers: the Black Wizards. They are feared humans who’ve mastered dark magic and use it to their horrific purposes. Their ambition knows no limits and they can’t feel despair, nor fear, nor death, nor pain.

Over the eras, it became reality for the Death Whisperers to attack the Northern countries in order to spread death, conquer and enslave their people. No one but a few selected people knows the reasons, but somehow the bloodiest and most destructive of those wars happens each thousand years when the Death Whisperers get more powerful and vile. It is called the Millennium war.

In the past, necessity brought the Northern countries together. In a desperate effort to stop the Black Wizards, they created an Alliance that exists to this day. And led by the Maguenta’s Heir and aided by the Sacred Ethen of dark hair, they have managed to defeat the Black Wizards time and time again over the ages.

However, even if this era is a millennium war age, few believe it. And with the Death Whisperers already on the move, those few have to march on faith alone for the South in order to prevent a full invasion. Among them travel the Eth young warrior generation, N’Alaera’s prince and his loyal armies and the Igolian tribe of women warriors.

In the beginning, everyone thought the war would be over in a few months if not weeks. But, ten years have passed since then, and the Northern armies have had no respite. All this time just trying to prevent the further advance of the Death Whisperers’ armies, they have grown scared, physically tired and emotionally drained by the many deaths, tortures and horrors they have faced throughout the years. The strength and faith of their leaders, mainly Edyane and Lnorien’s have kept them holding up until now for the sake of their families and countries. But faith and strength don’t last forever and more than the Death Whisperers, despair is becoming their worst enemy.

To the surprise of the Alliance armies, great news arrive to the front of battle at the same time the Black Wizards retire from their positions. Unexpectedly, agreement has been found between the North and the South and White peace has been established. The war is over. It seems they also were inflicting heavy casualties to their foes. Caught by surprise, the generals of the North, who didn’t even know that negotiations were in effect, don’t know exactly what to think of this. But upon the retirement of their enemy, before the joy of their men and the unquestionable source of their orders, they pack their weapons and start the long awaited but slow return home. Only a few soldiers are left behind to ensure the alert of a new vague of attacks just to make sure.

What they don’t know is that this is but a scheme created by the Death Whisperers to wipe out their strong antagonists for real. For Kizaí Arën, the ultimate leader of the South empire, has influent people of the North on his side. Like the second prince of the Eth, Nlie’sieri, who driven by ambition and envy, is ready to do anything to achieve his goals even if for that he has to sabotage the Alliance and deliver to her enemies the only person who can really defeat them: the dark haired Ethen. On N’Alaera, Iadden’s tutor (and unknown uncle), Mieri, passes as a caring teacher while he plots with the Eth prince so that he can exact revenge on his blood family.

But Maguenta never fails those who have faith in him. And his followers are also alert and active. The only question remaining is: will they be listened to and able to warn the Alliance on time?

TBC…


Notes: Ethenim is the equivalent to mother or “birth father”. It refers to the Ethen who gives birth to the child. ‘Nim is short for Ethenim and translates into ‘mummy’ or something similar.