9 Creation and Sins

Gerold and Raenar were sitting in the study room. They were still talking about their secrets. Raenar was shocked when he heard him talk about the biggest secret of his house. They kept this a secret for years and were able to strengthen their house again. He wanted to keep this a secret until they are strong enough to take what was theirs. However, a stranger came and had information about their ancestry. Raenar did not know what to say so he asked, "What do you want?"

"Nothing but faith. I will help your family to regain its glory again with my powers so you can help me by spreading my beliefs," said Gerold calmly.

"Why us, there are many other families in Lys whom you can benefit more?" asked Raenar cautiously.

"You are right but why did you think only about Lys? Other families won't be able to help me outside of Lys, however, your house can. Your house was once hegemony and influential power in Essos and even in Westeros." Gerold was playing with a quill in his hands.

"But how are we going to do that? My house is not a prominent family and without the position of gonfaloniere, we can't control the military of Lys. It is a position elected by Magisters so it is nearly impossible to put someone on our side to the position. Besides, my family only sells bed slaves. It's the lifeblood of Lys." Raenar was a little uneasy because of the sudden change of plans. He was planning to secure his family with his daughter but this stranger changed everything.

Gerold hardened his glare, "When I'm done, there shall be no slaves in Lys." As someone from a more modern world, he was against the idea of slavery, "I can help you by introducing new products to market, you can make a profit from them. However, I want 60% of the sales revenue. I will use the money for progress. However, you don't need to worry because the things we would be selling will be revolutionary."

Suddenly, Raenar's business spirit woke up, "Sixty per cent is too much, I can only give forty."

Gerold looked at him like he was looking a stupid monkey, "I'm not haggling sir, I'm just explaining my own plans so you can obey."

***********

On the following days, Gerold stayed in the manor and didn't go out. He was given the biggest room in the manor. Originally, it was the private room of Raenar's wife but it stayed empty after her death.

In the period of his stay, Gerold got close with the Rogare siblings. He was surprised when he invited them to pray with him in his room because of how easily they agreed. Gerold thought this as a side effect of being near him. His aura was affecting them mentally. Both siblings, surprisingly, became fervent believers and because of this Gerold blessed them with his holy light. Their bodies and souls were cleansed, their hairs nearly became whiter than snow and they were showing signs of wisdom beyond their age.

Aemar was helping his father and learning the management of businesses. Although he was a little childish, he was serious when it came to business.

As for Elaese, at first, she was cautious of him but after getting close she opened up. Now, they were able to talk comfortably with each other. Elaese was a serious girl, after her mother's death, she became the mother figure for Aemar so she had to grow up early. Knowing that Gerold was her brother's saviour, she was more than happy to know her. She was helping Gerold and providing his every need.

Raenar was also working day and night, Gerold gave him blueprints of new products so he was busy managing his businesses. Especially, after freeing and giving twenty gold coins to all of his slaves. Because of this act, he became a hot topic in the city but everyone thought that it was because of his son getting healed, he did something like this.

However, the reality was different from their imagination. Their first product was already spreading towards other Free Cities. When it was introduced to the market, it was like a gold coin found in the streets. Everyone with money started to buy it. They were selling mechanical clocks. In any continents of this world, there was not something to measure time accurately. After a week of its selling, orders started to come from other Free Cities, especially Braavos. Iron Bank was very impressed with its use because to them, time was money. Raenar already reserved the second batch for Iron Bank. Although Iron Bank was their old enemy, if they did not know their identity, it was not a problem.

Meanwhile, Gerold opened soup-kitchens in many places of Lys, under the name of House Eragor. Poor and like were flocking to it and Gerold quickly made a name for himself in the city. They were calling him Kepa, especially slaves. Kepa was the meaning of "father" in common tongue. It was not a strange feeling to hear this for Gerold because in his old life he was a priest. His church members were calling him Father so he accepted it quickly.

Although he was eleven years old child, after his rebirth his body became taller and older than normal so he was looking like a twenty years old young man with a handsome face.

At night, he was talking with slaves in groups. He was listening to their problems and healing their wounds. They were seeing him as a young man sent by Gods to save them.

After every meeting, Gerold was praying in another room. This became his routine but one night, after the meeting, one of the slaves got curious and, with his group, went to Gerold's room. When they saw Gerold praying his eyes closed they asked, "Kepa, what are you doing?"

Gerold opened his eyes and said, "I'm praying to God."

One of the slaves looked at him with a confused face and asked, "Which god?"

Gerold smiled and started to talk about the things he talked with Raenar and Aemar. He told them about God and demons. He talked about magic and where it came from. When his talking was done one of the slaves frowned and asked, "Then where did we come from? Did God also created us?"

Gerold looked at him and started to talk about creation, "If we are going to talk about us, humans then first, we need to talk about our world. God created our world in seven days. On the first day, he created light and separated the light from the darkness, calling light 'day' and darkness 'night'. On the second day, he created an expanse to separate the waters and called it 'sky.' On the third day, he created vegetations and dry grounds and gathered the waters, calling the dry ground 'land', and the gathered waters 'sea'. On the fourth day, he created the sun, moon and the stars to give light to the earth and to govern and separate the day and the night. On the fifth day, he created every living creature of the seas and every winged bird, blessing them to multiply and fill the waters and the sky with life."

One of the slaves interrupted his speech and asked, "Did God also created monsters in the Summer Sea? They are horrible things, why did he create them?"

Gerold warmly smiled, "I will also talk about it, now where were we… On the sixth day, he created the animals to fill the earth. He also created man and woman in his own image to commune with him. He blessed them and gave them every creature and the whole world to rule over, care for, and cultivate. He gave them magic so they can become one with nature. On the seventh day, he finished his work of creation, he blessed and made holy our world. He forbid the breeding of two races and creation of another race. Should someone do he decreed that said people shall face his wrath. He was so tired that he went to sleep. This was the creation of our world and us."

Gerold looked around like there was someone in the room other than them. All of the slaves became cautious but they relaxed when they heard Gerold talk again, "However, on the eighth day, the horror came. When God fell asleep, demons awakened." The room suddenly became gloomy, "They made monsters with their own blood, in the water, in the air and in the land. Humans started to fight to survive so demons offered them power and fulfilment of their wish, in return they wanted to change their appearance. Humans thought it was not a big price to be paid and accepted it. Some of the humans became black, some white, some slant-eyed, some silver-haired, some grey-skinned and some taller than trees. They fought back and won against monsters. However, their differences drove them apart. They were disgusted with each other's appearance and they thought they were their better with their own looks. So they fought, each group took a part of the world for themselves. And here we are, with different looks fighting each other because of the temptations of the demons."

A girl around the age of ten asked shyly, "Hmm, can I ask something?"

"Of course," said Gerold.

"Did the demons kidnapped the Valyrians?" asked the girl.

"Hahaha, of course, they didn't. It was the sins of Valyrians that caused their fall. They grew so powerful and so big that they wanted more. They enslaved other people and at that point, their sinful ideas began to come into reality." Gerold looked at the faces around him, they were looking with horror, wonder and curiosity, "In the Valyrian Freehold of Basilisk Point, they bred slave women with animals. It should have been impossible with the magic they had but they offered sacrifices to the demons. They killed infant boys and used their blood in dark magic to create new races. While these races were let loose in Sothoryos and other continents, Valyrian people faced the wrath of God by his decree. Their mountains exploded, their people died, their dragons withered… Many years before the Doom of Valyria, the same thing happened in Westeros. You should know the Long Night, right? At that time, the humans living in Westeros were known as children of the forest. They were grey-skinned, scrub and weak. Only their magic was strong but their enemy was humans with magic and strong bodies. So they tried to create another race to save them. They did what they wanted, however, their creation turned them down by the decree of God. Nearly all of the children of the forest were killed and now, they are facing extinction…"