Claimer: Mine, all of it mine!!! Buwahahahaha!

Author’s note: This is sort of a side to my series (Once: the Saga). It’s a general description of the place my story takes…place. (My, that was redundant.) In case you get confused by the two names down there, ‘Gowery’ wrote the Essay while ‘Etoile’ wrote the book.

**Note: an excerpt from ‘History of Creation’ by Etoile of Xernile

Esrevinoby E.Z. Gowery*1

            Greetings, one and all! I have been tasked by our magnificent king Kerion the Valiant to instruct you all in our glorious past. First off, however, we must discuss Creation and all its surrounds.

The first places to Become, as you all know, were Jairalla and Graelithe. Subsequently, the Great Goddess Oras arose from the Nothingness, setting in motion the great river Tyme. In the Nothingness she made her home. It was-is-will be- called Omni, the Watch place of All. Lastly, our revered Forefathers Alpha and Omega*2 created Cozmonia. It is here that we now reside in.

            There is no living being that endure in the Absolute Black of Nothingness. It is a void which seeks to consume all of Creation. If a being were to arrive at the Vast Emptiness, it is probable that it would be annihilated or horribly altered by the Evil. The Changed Beings of Nothingness are completely wicked, fearsome and dangerous. No one should be as foolhardy enough as to consort with these loathsome creatures or dare explore the Absolute Black.

            I shudder at the thought.

            Next, we shall move on to the Ancient Places. Graelithe is a place of darkness, too.  It is important to note that its darkness is dissimilar to that of the Nothingness. The Absolute Black is a horrifying, maddening thing. Graelithian darkness, on the other hand, is comfortable and vastly more preferable. A famed Peorese theologian once described the dimness as ‘much like the time when you turn off the lights and go to snuggle warmly in your bed’. While I beg to disagree on such frivolous a description, it has been depicted to be a cheerful, sort of homey darkness.

            The inhabitants of Graelithe are the mythical Dracoinnes*3. They are in the scriptures portrayed as clever and majestic beings that raised our Father Lucius. The Dracoinnes are also described as creatures with majestic wings, which are made of incandescent scales in many hues. From light gold to the palest lavender (as the Holy Book Illumina proclaims), their scales are gemstones illuminating Graelithe.

            Though it is dark, it can be said that Graelithe is one of the most cheery and lighthearted places in Creation.

            The same can be said of Jairalla. Yet in place of darkness the denizens are bathed in Continuous Light; a place that is neither hot nor cold, but has the most preferable temperature imaginable. The light is also exactly right, not glaring or too soft. It is here that the Seiraphae reside.

            It is said that the Seiraphae brought up our Dark Mother Kali. They are reputed to be wise and holy beings that have feathery wings the color of ivory. A Seiraph’s eyes are constantly changing, always turning a different color.

            Let us leave the places of the Ancient and go to Omni. The Watch-place is protected by the five guardian rings which are said to be fashioned by the first guardian of Cozmonia*4. These rings are made of immense unknown powers; we can only speculate on how potent these magics are. Inside Omni is a calm lagoon known as Lake Yamaro (in the antediluvian Nipponish tongue meaning ‘stop’). Here all time is frozen; this is where healing can be attained. Legends state that water taken from the lake will either stop an object in motion or heal a mortally wounded being.

            Surrounding Lake Yamaro are the three Houses of Oras. The first is Nag’Daan, where all past events could be viewed. Most of the spirits of the dead dwell there so that the Goddess could consult them in Her need. The second is Kasa Lakuyan. This is the House of Present Happenings. The last is Haharap, a lone mysterious structure that alters its shape continuously. Unlike the Houses Nag’Daan and Lakuyan, which are stable, Haharap is full of uncertainties. The convoluted webs of prophecy knit a fabric finer than any cloth in the world, and it is in this house that the Weaver creates his tapestry.

            Now, we are done with the places of myth and legends. It is now time to focus on our own beloved dwelling: Cozmonia.

            At the center of Cozmonia is the place known as Awit, where Lucius/Alpha and Kali/Omega supposedly created our lands. No human Being has ever been there, so its appearance has never been proven. In an extensive study of our carefully preserved manuscripts the first men described it as a place full of loveliness and laughter, of goodness and music blending together in one flawless harmony. It is also said that those pure of heart and with souls of beauty traverse there when they pass away to dwell blissfully with our forefathers.

            There are many planets created, but the most significant one is our world, Niellé. It is a globe of deserts and seas, forests and ice lands, fertile valleys and savannahs, and Beings of every kind. A great many species reside here; they are of every color and feature imaginable. It is impossible to describe these noble creatures appropriately for they are each without compare.

            Lastly, I shall describe to you the countries. In our world, there are only two continents and several small islands. Keuly is made up of three countries: Elyxa, Cralen, and our very own Xernile. Peory and Marelx are located in the continent Jenyta. Gerys is somewhat of an anomaly, belonging to both continents. Finally, the independent island nations are collectively known as the Maharlikas, with Mayaman as the richest city in Niellé.

            That is all for now. I hope you have learned something from this small history/geography lesson. As of now, we human Beings live in a time of relative peace, with a few minor exceptions. The E.L.F. (Elian Liberation Front) are waging terrorist attacks against Elyxa, and the powerful city-isle of Matigas Ang ’Ulo (often referred to as Matigas) is pleading separation from the Maharlikas. The Peace Council, made up of the most prominent nations in the world, is trying to solve these dilemmas.

            It is my hope that you, the hope of the future, would continue to maintain this peace and lead our Niellé to fulfillment.*5

            I shall end this with our Oras’ famous words: ‘Peace in the land is a step towards perfection.’*6

Fin

Footnotes:

1: I intended to make Gowery as the pompous type of scholar who thinks very highly of himself and his rather stuffy opinion. But he tended to become a little poetic at times. Did I succeed?

2: While I have focused on the Alpha and Omega legend, this is a world full of people, who inevitably have different religions and beliefs. The Alpha and Omega legend is the Genesis, if you will, of the Gawain Faith.

3: Yes, I based the Dracoinnes on dragons and the Seiraphae on angels. They aren’t bad or good creatures. They’re opposites, yes, but they are what they are. Black doesn’t necessarily have to be evil. White isn’t always holy. I’m just trying to make a point. I hope I don’t offend anyone with these thoughts, but absolutism has always irked me. We are, as humans, shades of gray (or the colors of the rainbow, if you’ll prefer that. ^_^)

4: Actually, I’ll have to write some legend on ‘the guardians of Cozmonia’ sometime.

5: This book is actually a history textbook for kids. I got the idea when I saw the Toldnedran accounts in the ‘Rivan Codex’ of David Eddings. Tee hee.

6: No, she didn’t really say that. It’s a little off, but hey, imaginable!

On the Origin of Names:

            As some people might have noticed, I based much of the names on the Filipino language. Others, on my small knowledge of other tongues (‘Yamaro’ does mean ‘stop’ in Japanese). The rest are deviances from baby names (thank the inventor of baby name books!) and my own imagination.

            Are there any comments?

            Review!

            Thank you for your time.