"In the beginning of time, two deities, Sol, thehigher God of the sun and Lunarius the Higher God of the moon, created the gods who helped them shape the earth, Calanthe, the god of nature who shaped the nature and the landscapes we walk on, Thalassa The god of the sea, who shaped the ocean and any body of water we sail on, Zephyrus, god of weather and climate, who shaped the clouds and breeze we feel, and at last, Chronos, the god of Time and Change, who shaped how time passes. With their own hands, they worked in unison to create the world we live in."
The old lady with the warm, hoarse voice paused, took a quick look at the kids who were listening intently, and then started again.
"At last, they created humans to populate the Earth. It was peaceful while it lasted. When one day, a blight broke out on the world, the skies darkened, the sea turned sour, the ground wasn't fertile anymore and trees only gave off fruits that were filled with a red goo that genetically alters the human being, When the Humans took a bite of the fruits, they contorted in pain, screaming in agony, horns slowly growing from their heads and sharp long teeth developing."
Every kid around Archer started to gasp in fear, but Archer looked fascinated by what he heard. "Whoa! So cool!" he exclaimed while sitting up on the cold floor of the tent that they were using for today's class.
The thought of scary demons made his eyes light up. Maybe one day, he'll find one and defeat it just like his father. "A massive war broke out between the gods and the Hellish creatures, which lasted for centuries, till one day, Sol worked together with Calanthe to create a Remedy that could cure the illness consuming the humans. However, this remedy wasn't potent enough to eradicate the blight completely, leaving traces of celestial energy. Thus, Celestial Dorea was made."
The kids, including Archer, gasped in fascination as their eyes were locked on their old teacher, Lathea. Archer's mind raced with possibilities. What was going to be his Celestial Dorea? "I'm going to be as strong as daddy!"
He yelled as he stood up and posed triumphantly. Everyone stared silently, looking at each other in confusion, and they burst into laughter. Archer's grin slowly disappeared as he heard the laughter. Why are they laughing? He thinks.
"Hey...! That's not nice..." he mumbled softly as tears started to well up. Lathea started hushing the kids. "Now now, kids don't make fun of your classmate!" she reprimanded whilst frowning at the kids.
Tears started to flow down Archer's cheeks, and he ran out of the tent. The cold autumn air slapped his face as he ran through the streets of Lumina, not looking back even though he could hear his teacher calling his name.
Archer got to the edge of the forest and ran deep into it. He was upset because he felt like no one believed in him. He was so upset that he didn't even notice the ravine in front of him when he was running and sobbing. He noticed the ravine through his tears and tried to stop in time, but he lost his balance and fell.
He fell down the ravine at high speed and let out a scream. He fell onto a huge bouncy mushroom that cushioned the fall and redirected his fall. He then bounced off the mushroom and fell right onto the ground. Before he blacked out, he heard muffled noises that seemed like someone calling out his name, but before he could recognize who it was, he fell unconscious.
Archer slowly woke up in a mystical meadow, lying on soft, long, light green grass surrounded by huge trees with pink leaves that were swaying through the warm breezes. He sat up and looked around in confusion. Where in Sol's name did he end up? Is he even alive?
His mind rushed with unanswered questions when he suddenly saw a boy kneeling in the grass, who was observing something in the grass. The little boy looked around the same age as Archer; he had short, golden, feathery hair and smooth beige skin with freckles on his nose, with very pointy ears. "An elf?- where am I?!"Archer mumbled under his breath.
But his words were loud enough for the boy to hear. His ears twitched, and he turned his head to Archer, startled. They both lock eyes. The boy had otherworldly eyes, a mixture of light blue and yellow. His pupils were diamond-shaped, and a faint glow emanated from them. Archer stared in awe. He then stood up and smiled warmly at the boy.
"I'm Archer! What's your name?" he said gleefully,
But before the boy could say anything, Archer felt extremely dizzy again. Instantly, he wakes up in a soft, comfortable, narrow bed. Archer sat up and frowned. Was this all a dream? Was the boy with the pretty eyes not real?
His pondering was interrupted by a pounding pain in his head; the long fall had given him a throbbing headache. The door slowly opens, and a familiar figure with sun-kissed skin and frizzy black hair slowly emerges.
"Honey, you're awake," said a soft, honeyed voice filled with relief. "Thank the gods."She murmured while patting Archer's head and embracing him.
"Mommy, I had a really weird dream." He said softly, almost sounding tired.
"We'll talk about that later. The most important thing now is that you're okay. You know you fell from very high...it could've ended very badly..." She told him softly, whilst his head was still pressed against her chest.
"Does your head still hurt?" She asked softly, her voice laced with concern. "Yeah...it really hurts," Archer expressed silently. "Don't worry, honey. I'll brew you some tea, and you'll be okay in no time." Said mom reassuringly with her casual, soft, honeyed voice.
She stood back up and rushed to the kitchen. After a little while, Archer's mother came back with herbal tea, which she had brewed herself with her celestial Dorea. She had the Dorea of brewing potions with a special powder that is infused in her blood.
Archer had seen her using her power before. She blew some type of powder into the cauldron she was using, and it turned the color of the powder into infused. It was really cool, thought Archer, although every time she uses it, it takes up a good chunk of her blood, so she can't use it a lot. It's a gift and a curse at the same time.
"Your teacher found you passed out next to a tree at the edge of the forest—why did you run away from class?" She asked, her eyebrows frowning in concern.
Next to a tree? At the edge of the forest? That's not where I fell... thought Archer as he frowned in confusion. How did he end up there? Maybe someone found him and brought him there? His mind was flooded with questions.
"...I ran away because everyone was laughing at me." Archer mumbles in a discouraged tone. "They think I'm not going to be as strong as daddy..." he continued as he wept silently.
Archer's mother's face softened as she heard Archer's words. She hugged him tightly and pressed his head against her chest whilst caressing his head.
"Hush now, Archer, don't listen to what others have to say about you. I know you will be a powerful hero, even stronger than your dear father. You just must believe in yourself and work hard, just like your father did." She spoke in a soothing voice.
At the same time, Archer looked outside the window, and he saw a shooting star racing through the night sky. Instantly, his eyes lit up. It was like a sign from the universe. The shooting star mixed with his mother's words gave him a newfound confidence.
"I will become the greatest hero in all of history!"