1 The Prologue, Death Is Sad

The world of Emiris is a prosperous one, a cradle world whose civilizations combined amount to roughly 3 billion people. At this moment however Death was firmly focused on just one, a soul that was bright enough to be described as Resplendent and white enough to be called pure was flickering rapidly as it burned the last of its fuel. That itself was completely ordinary, in fact almost every soul looked and did the same as a life came to the end of its alotted span. Instead what was not normal was that this soul had been called to her attention by her brother Dream, and when she finally got to see it for herself she had to agree, she would be an excellent choice. As she waited for the soul to arrive nearer to its end, she pulled up the Souls dossier and sank her consciousness into the hall of memories, to better see what exactly set this soul so far apart from others.

The soul belonged to a Emilia Forest; Sex [Female], Species [Human], 21 years of age and no known relatives. in fact judging by the connections listing in her personal files her bloodline would die with her, her family tree was more like a desiccated stump taken over by termites...

but while sad, none of that was what brought her to Dreams attention. Dream had seen an ambition and potential in Emilia's dream realm that was rare to find in a cradle world as soft as this one, unlike the greedy or prideful ambition common to those who often rise as lords amongst humankind, this girl had a more ephemeral understanding of power, she felt deep in her soul that the universe was larger than she realised, and she wanted more. such a situation vannot be said to be unheard of, but it has been well established that no matter which world and which species, that such a seemingly simple feeling was somehow obsurdly uncommon, and she was in fact just what the doctor ordered- well if by doctor you meant a being that was named by the gods as being one of four Eternal powers that were born alongside the universe.

and now this soul, the soul of one Emilia Forest, whom Dream had noticed a long time ago was about to die - her wishes unfulfilled and her life spent almost completely alone before improbability knocked and decided she would die at the young age of 21, whereupon what made her, well 'Her' would be snatched up by him and his sister and sent to a world far away from this one to fulfill an old promise. Death and her siblings had made a deal centuries ago when she represented her family and convinced a very talented and promising young god to take over stewardship of a dying world. to nurture it and pull its few and dwindling inhabitants out of the mire and reverse the enveloping entropy. the task was not an easy one, and required a huge investment in animus and attention to the point of limiting this promising young god to one worthless dominion instead of what could have been spent towards a dozen prosperous ones.

and now just before Emilia's soul flickered and guttered for the final time before dispersing; death drew Emilia into her embrace, cutting her ties to life and feeding her enough animus to last a century or two and sending her into a deep and dreamless slumber. Death gazed at the soul of Emilia and tapped her chin, "two hundred years should serve as a good enough gift to send her off, but it doesn't seem enough to make up for us interfering in her natural cycle, does it little brother?".

Dream smiled a little at his sister, "I still consider it a cosmic joke that you dear sister, the kindest among us, was forced to enforce and watch over the entirety of the Dominion of Death... but yes, she deserves a little more, a blessing from each of us i'd say. lets see what amazing and fantastical gift i can dream up."

Dream thought closely for a time before placing his focus on the bright little orb in his sisters hands //By the Grace of Dreams Eternal I grant to you this gift, what one has dreamt can be made real, reality is just the strangest of dreams//.

Death snorted "you are as ever a gifted poet little brother, but even if i can't match the form, i think i can give her something she will cherish just as much."

"i do not doubt you sis. your strength is only matched by your insight, but lets hurry it up yes? we still have to pack her up and send her off to little Rellis, I think he's been patient enough considering how much we've asked of him."

Death sighed, " you are right, but seriously, sometimes I realise just how tired of this I am Dream, and here we just throw another unsuspecting soul into the pit. Ferrying souls in their final moments is hard enough, i don't know how to cope now that entropy has woken so long before its time. and i feel worse knowing that if she survives to realise her dream, these gifts we've granted her will turn into the heaviest of burdens. Still, it is as it is, and with any luck, she will have us to guide her way."

//By my Grace, I grant you a gift no other may claim, and that no other may grant. By my Name Eternal, I name you Emilia Forest, I Name you Kin.//

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