Paradise Waning
Coronus fumed in frustration high in the noon sky. The blaze from his glaring eye seared the earth below, except in the valley of Vantaiga’s paradise. The majestic mountains that surrounded her valley cut away the harshness of his stare. The cool breeze rustling over the grasses pushed away his heat. Within the valley, it was calm and peaceful. Birds fluttered and chirped without care or concern. It angered Coronus that there could be such a place beneath his sky so contemptuous of his scorching judgement.
Vantaiga sat in a small grove beneath a tree as she watched the birds tease Coronus. Hidden beneath the shade of the leaves, the sun god could not see her smile. She thought it best if he did not know how much his frustration amused her. She was growing increasingly late for her first appearance before the high council. It would be difficult as it was without openly mocking the divine patriarch.
But she did not want to waste such a pleasant day thinking about her inevitable introduction to the pantheon of gods. Instead, she turned her attention to her valley and the beauty of life she could create around her. The valley was still sparsely forested. She hadn’t decided on what arrangement of trees she would use to fill it. Until she did, she covered the open spaces of the valley floor with grasses and wildflowers.
She had also summoned a few forest animals to give her company in her paradise. As they assembled before her, she fixed them sternly. “If you are going to live in my valley, it is for my peace of mind. If you cannot get along, I will kick you out.”
The Cougar and Lynx liked the idea of coming to the Goddess’s valley but were not happy with all the animals she had chosen to be there. “We aren’t going to play with Wolf, but we want to stay, so we’ll just find some place up in the trees and keep out of everybody’s way.”
“Well, as long as you’re happy with that.” Vantaiga was not expecting to get much excitement from the big cats. She just didn’t want to deal with their complaints.
The Wolf felt saddened by this. “With Cougar and Lynx in the trees, who will I have to play with?”
Vantaiga looked over the forest animals. “You could play with Fox.”
Fox quickly yipped, “No way. Wolf is too big and rough to play with.”
Vantaiga studied Wolf for a moment. He did like to throw his weight around, but she knew he would get lonely if he didn’t have someone to play with. “How about Wolf if you bring in more of your own friends to gather with?”
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Moose snorted. “I won’t come to a valley full of wolves.”
Vantaiga sighed with a long look to Moose. He was such a noble beast; he would be a great addition to her paradise. But she also didn’t want to be constantly scolding Wolf for harassing him.
“What if I give you long legs, Moose? That way you’ll be able to stay in the water away from Wolf. And you’ll be so nice and tall, we’ll all be able to see more of you across the valley.”
Moose thought about this for a moment before giving his agreement. “But they will have to be lean and stylish legs to go with my antlers.”
“Of course. Nothing less would be suitable for you.”
Fox brushed up against Vantaiga sadly. “But I still don’t have anyone to play with.”
The Goddess scratched Fox behind the ears. “Why don’t you play with Rabbit?”
Fox licked his lips. He liked that idea a lot. Rabbit’s ears perked up and she whined. “Fox will eat me. I can’t come to a valley like that.”
Vantaiga sighed with exasperation. She looked over to Moose, who was admiring his new, long legs. Such legs would not look good on the round and fluffy Rabbit. A clever thought came to her. “How about I give you long feet? And not just any long feet, but the fastest long feet of the valley.”
Rabbit twitched her nose and beamed at the Goddess. She turned to Fox and stuck out her tongue. “You will never catch me now.” Rabbit darted away into the flowers of Vantaiga’s valley. Within a moment, she was lost to them all.
Mouth agape, Fox looked between Vantaiga and the trail of Rabbit. “Now what am I going to do? I’ll never be able to catch Rabbit.”
Vantaiga threw up her arms. “You’re just going to have to use your wits to catch her.”
Fox huffed. “No fair. I want a gift too.”
Vantaiga squinted at Fox in irritation. Fox, with his piercing, slanted eyes, met her with an equally squinted gaze. Vantaiga broke into a laugh of fondness for the creature. How could she possibly deny Fox when he reminded her so much of her teasing Syffox? “Alright, then, I’ll give you a magnificently fluffy tail, one that you can wave more proudly than any other animal.” Fox gave a bark of delight and danced around Vantaiga to show off his new tail.
Vantaiga was pleased as well and glad that she could bring her attention back to her valley. As she turned to leave the animals, she noticed Fox snickering at her. She looked at the deceptive creature suspiciously. “What are you laughing at?”
Fox beamed back, flashing his piercing eyes at her. “I actually liked the idea of showing off my wits to catch Rabbit. I just wanted to see what gift I could sneak from you.”
Vantaiga grinned at Fox’s craftiness. He did indeed remind her of Syffox and the tricks he liked to play on her. “If you’re going to be just like Syffox, then you should look like him as well.” She turned Fox’s fur an auburn red like Syffox’s beard. Fox trotted off even more pleased than before. He’d managed to coax a second gift from the Goddess.
Vantaiga breathed with relief. The wildlife was settled, and the pieces of her paradise were coming together. There weren’t even any snakes to disturb her valley. Of all the beasts to invite, the Goddess was careful not to invite snakes. She found their cold-blooded nature too untrustworthy.
Blood is all there is. Vita is all that gives.
After the suicide of the High Monarch, the Senvia Empire is thrown into chaos.
Denegis Blanc, Second Son of Blood Denegis, finds his peaceful life shattered. In a world where power is inherited through veins and destiny is written in Vita, what remains when the old order dies?
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- Weak to Strong MC
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- Inspired by history, mythologies, and philosophy
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