Epis and Aris

Epis had settled into the village with ease. When he had first arrived the village leaders came to him thinking he carried news for him, they were surprised to discover his only interest lay in one of their daughters who was still a mere child. The village was average, not fortified like Serse's where Neonee kept his workshop. They were not a village of warriors as was evident, they were also very far from the mountain.

They told him the tale of the black skeletons.

Sometime before there peaceful village was a approached by a number of skeletons that seemed to be covered in dust. They had thought about attacking, though they had few defenders. Then a boy arrived, who they said was alike to Epis. Though they did not know who he was.

They assumed he was coming to be the villages patron and had heard some good things about accepting. So they greeted him warmly.

Epis asked if they knew who he was.

They replied, adding with respect, that there was many of the younger gods and they rarely heard news, they did not know their names. They of course knew Epis and the other council members, and Epis was offended.

He was short with them, and rude in a few senses. However they accepted him and he made a shrine.

Epis asked to see the shrine and they took him to it. It was made of black stone, and at once he knew it was a shrine to Craftus.

They told Epis that several of the dusty skeletons had remained nearby, as protecters for the village. No monsters ever bothered them now. They were thankful for Epis's families help.

Epis did not have the heart to tell them the truth.

When he asked for the girl named Aris, they were even more confused. Naturally they brought her forth to him.

She was a small child, and looking upon Epis could not immediately see Maiella in her. She was too young to sing, and perhaps what Epis found saddest was though he loved her very much, she did not know him.

Epis did spend several days happily with her, he more had to play games with her. Here and there she seemed a bit like Maiella. After a few though, Epis begun to sink back into sadness. He loved Aris, but she was not the Maiella he had known. He wondered if she ever would be.

He knew that the Enderdragon had intended him to raise Aris himself and shape her into Maiella. But seeing her, living her normal life, happy, made him question this.

That night when he set to sleep he had another vision.

It started with Maiella and his son Norin. He saw Maiella running, the moment she tipped over. Her body cold and dead. Then her ender begging him to find Norin. Then something stranger, the white girl yelling about his son. Finally the last thing he could make no sense of, the boy who had been there with him.

When he awoke it was with a start. Tears were pooled in his eyes. He did not truly know what the dream was trying to tell him, but he knew it was urging him to search again.

Aris was not Maiella in the sense he wanted. He thought of something, though his mind felt dull and slow. Would Craftus hide his son from him?

He knew the answer to that, and knew he had to leave here.