"Oops..."
A loud crash came from behind the crowd as the pot shattered on the floor.
"I'll fix it later—more importantly, who's this cute little guy?"
A young, slender elf leapt out from the gathering, his wide eyes sparkling with excitement and a bright, infectious smile lighting up his face.
Close behind him, a small Thiraxi child clung to his hand, peeking out shyly.
The child gazed at Fael with awe, as if she were witnessing the birth of her own little brother. Her eyes shimmered as she gently poked his soft, chubby cheeks while he slept peacefully. She blinked twice, curious, then turned her head.
"Mother, who is he?"
"His name is Fael," Sevah replied with a gentle smile. "You both have a brother now. Take care of him for me, won't you?"
These were the children the druids had taken in long before Fael arrived—each of them lovingly entrusted to Sevah's care. In fact, they were also found abandoned by Sevah in various forgotten shrines. The ones discovered by the druids were the fortunate ones—placed in gentle hands. Devout followers of Viraeth would never turn away an abandoned soul.
"You can count on me, Mother. I'll train him once he grows up!"
Zuli let out a sigh and facepalmed. "You say that now…"
"And I will play with him," the young girl interrupted with a grin.
Fael had awoken from all the commotion, yet he didn't cry like most children would. Instead, he lay still, silently gazing up at the canopy above.
The Elf and the Thiraxi child stared at Fael in silence. Slowly, Fael turned his eyes toward them. As his gaze met theirs, a spark of joy lit up their faces—his eyes were unlike anything they had ever seen. His golden eye gleamed even brighter in the sunlight, while the other shimmered faintly—like a starlit night sky.
"I'm Lark, and this is Myne," the elf said cheerfully, lifting the girl into his arms.
Elves were among the most populous and intelligent races in Theryndal. Their capital, Isareth, stood as the largest and most advanced city in the land—a beacon of knowledge, art, and arcane study.
The Thiraxis, on the other hand, were a rare and enigmatic people. Little was known about them, aside from their deep-rooted knowledge of pre-Fragmentation Theryndal and fluency in the Old Tongue.
Hearing his siblings say their names, Fael—like any curious infant—tried to mimic the sounds. He mumbled something in response; it was a decent attempt.
The Elder stood up and drew closer to Fael. "You don't even know where you are, do you, little one?" she whispered. "This grove has raised many lost souls… We take what the gods cast aside and let the forest make something new." She closed her eyes, "You will be safe here."
It was nearly time for Lark's training session with Zuli.
Although druids are more attuned to Asyth, most are unable to weave it into offensive spells. Their asyth thrives in healing, shielding, and nurturing life.
But Zuli was different. When she took on her physical form, she chose the path of the blade. Now, she trained both kin and kindred in the art of swordplay.
Life in Theryndal has never been the same since the Divine Fragmentation.
Though the truth behind the event remains shrouded in mystery, one thing is certain: it tore the world apart. Deformities, corruption, and decay—all trace back to that cataclysmic moment.
Those who could not withstand the overwhelming surge of Asyth became corrupted into beings known as Nephis—undead creatures trapped in a cruel paradox.
They cannot truly die, yet with each death, they lose fragments of their sanity and memories.
In Theryndal, especially after the Fragmentation, death is no longer an escape. Not even the living is free; no soul can rest in peace.
Zuli mastered the blade, fully aware that her kind cannot always rely on the younger ones for protection—those who aren't limited to healing and defensive abilities.
As commander of the Grove Guardians, she led the druids she personally trained, forming a disciplined force dedicated to protecting the Groves.
Every night, they patrolled the forest borders, holding the Nephis at bay and shielding against corruption.
***
Years passed like drifting petals. The Grove watched over the children and taught them language and about ancient legends.
Lark had grown into a proficient swordsman, often showing off his techniques to the druids and his younger siblings. He was a praise-seeking young man—confident and proud of his skills.
Myne had turned ten this year and certainly was adored by all the druids. She was perfect in every aspect, a fast learner and a nature lover with interests in Botany and Floriculture. Her brilliance stirred admiration among the druids.
There was a small carved hollow inside a Tursim tree near the gazebo, where the druids kept ancient scriptures and tomes. The little library was overseen by Mrs. Marie, the druid and florist who taught Myne. Whenever she wasn't playing with Fael, Myne could always be found nestled in there, nose-deep in a book.
Fael cried often in his early years and Sevah was always there to calm him. She spent most of her time with Fael. She showed him places he'd never seen before and sang him lullabies.
His brother and sister, ever wild spirited, would sometimes sneak away from their lessons to find him.
As the moons circled and days passed by, Fael began to walk. His steps were unsteady at first, weak and wobbling barefooted across the moss with Sevah just a breath away.
But soon he ran freely chasing birds and splashing through the stream. He smiled and laughed and was easily integrated into Lark and Myne's group.
The druids watched him grow with quiet reverence. There was something different in him. Most animals approached him without fear.
"He has a pure soul," elder Myra once whispered, as Fael sat beside her beneath the purple tree. That was the only purple tree that existed in the Grove.
Zuli gifted him a wooden sword, carved from branches and engraved with his name. "Use it to protect yourself and the ones you love," she said with a gentle smile. Fael, too young to grasp the weight of her words, accepted it with wide eyes and a soft giggle. To him, it was just a toy.
By the time he was six, the Grove had become his entire universe–a realm of laughter and joy. He had learnt to speak by then and the druidic way of life was prominent in him.
When not playing with his siblings, he would tend to garden and play with animals. Lark had already begun teaching young Fael on wielding a sword. Zuli allowed it since he was still too young to join her training sessions.
He would imitate Lark's movements while he was training.
Myne and Fael quickly became close, he learnt a lot about flowers and nature from Myne.
"That one is called peony, and that one is lavender," Myne kept impressing Fael and the druids. Her knowledge of nature was incredible.
Fael pointed his index towards the potted lavender.
"Sister, your hair looks just like this lavender!"
A faint blush crept up Myne's cheeks, and she quickly turned away, pretending to inspect another plant.
He's too innocent… it's not fair.
The day passed quickly, Fael and his mother stared at the horizon as the sun was about to set.
"Mother, why is the day so short?"
Fael asked with a puzzled look on his face.
She turned towards him and smiled softly.
"It's a very long story; I will tell it to you someday."
Fael didn't seem convinced, but he returned a smile anyway and ran off towards the gazebo where Lark waited.
"Hey Fael," Lark called, ruffling his brother's hair. "How's your sword training coming along?"
"I can cut a melon in half now, in one strike!"
As he grew older, his admiration for Lark deepened. There was a quiet comfort in his presence–a sense of safety that never wavered.
Lark, ever the doting big brother, couldn't help but admire how clever his younger siblings were. Sometimes he wondered if they'd outsmart him one day. He cared for them deeply and swore to protect them at all times.
Lark chuckled. He patted Fael's head, "Attaboy. Keep practicing and you will become a master swordsman in no time," he said with a grin. "Big brother will always be there for you."
"Aren't you supposed to be on night patrol with Master Zuli today?" Myne chimed in, sneaking up behind him and poking his side.
"I need to spend time with my cute little brother too, you know?" he sighed dramatically, slumping against the gazebo's pillar.
"Can't argue with that," Myne mumbled.
Fael responded with a grin.
My brother and sister are the best!