Good day, my dear readers!
First of all, I owe all of you an apology. I have been MIA for weeks and for that I am deeply sorry. Truth is, I was in a pretty bad place mentally and had to step away from the novel and writing in general. It just didn't feel right.
Now, I am back, though. After focusing on my art for a while and simply...living, I am ready to expand and explore the Hidden Kingdoms again.
Every world has it's own lore, it's legends and myths. And this one is no different. And as it often happens, myths turn to belief and religions are created. So...let's talk about religion a little, shall we?
The most prominent religion in the Hidden Kingdoms is that of the human population. Being the only non-magical race, they pray to deities and direct their hopes and wishes to them.
The most major religion worships Avia, the sun goddess. She has many titles next to her name: Sunbearer, Mother of the Daystar, The Phoenixborn.
This last title refers to how Avia herself came to existence.
"In a time, where the skies and the world were shrouded in darkness, magic itself created the birds of fire and flame. They roamed the skies and the world saw it's first light. It was fleeting, however, because the phoenixes disappeared periodically, to replenish their energy.
Wishing for more light and life, one bird of fire used all of his remaining energy and fed his magic into one little spark. As the bird faded away, the magic in his last spark gave birth to a new being: Avia. She carried the light and flame of the phoenix inside of her and it grew and grew as her first days went by. Until suddenly, a ball of energy and light burst forth from her body, soaring up into the sky.
She had given birth to the sun. Since that time, the daystar brightens our days and only leaves to replenish it's fire, giving way to darkness to claim the world again until it returns and rises anew the next day.
Avia herself stayed in the world and watched life spring forth. She built a high tower in the south of the realm, close to the mountains. As time went by, people of different races settled down close to the tower. First the elves, with whom she graciously shared her magic and her wisdom. Later the humans, who simply basked in her light and praised her for gracing them with light hand life.
Those golden days are long past, and Avia has disappeared. She left her tower to the elves and the city to all folk who lived there. Where she went, is unknown. But as long as the daystar is in the sky, her magic and good will is with all who praise her."
That is how this tale goes. Much is myth, but there is also a lot of truth. The one known to mankind as Avia, is known to the elves by another name and they also know what she truly was: one of their kind.
Cilelieth was the first known elven sun-mage. It is true that the was the one who built the Golden Spire and it is also true that she resided there as the first humans settled close to the tower. Having never encountered an elf before, they believed her to be a deity and thus the cult around her began.
Where she went and if she is still alive, is unknown even to elvenkind.
Well...that shall be it for today. As always, my dear readers, I hope you have a great day or night, wherever you are.
Amber
