Aurel

Aurel, Flowing Shadows
Second Born of the Ancients


Nazhren’s creation did not remain unnoticed, of course. Others saw and reacted. The first of those was Imjir. He reached into the fabric of the world, took the deep black-blue shadows the dawn painted into the woods and formed a being from them.

A long creature, reminiscent of a serpent, with scales shining and shimmering in the fleeting light, painting all the colors of the sky. The big wings as they unfolded revealed a darker blue, flowing and shimmering as the dark shadows around them, dark lines painting complicated moving patterns on them in any moment. His head was adorned with a flowing blue many and crowned by a set of impressive antlers. Eyes as deep and dark as night opened as the creature uncurled it’s long body and lifted it’s head.

“Listen, and listen well my child. I am Imjir, and you my creation shall be Aurel. You shall flow from the shadows and dance with them as would I. But you shall also make sure to look over the balance of this world, collect the knowledge it can give you and protect it. Look for the ones my brothers and sister will create, and get to know them. Always keep your eyes open.”

With that Aurel was alone, filled only with a longing to see as much as he could, learn as much as there was to learn. And so he set out, through the trees surrounding him.

He quickly found the other being that shared this world with him. Animals, the creatures of the woods. Impressive stags with racks of antlers rivaling his own, small rabbits running around the trees and through the shrubs, packs of wolves roaming the land looking for prey, bird that flew the sky without effort and so much more.

He spent a long time just watching, unnoticed. He blended into the shadows effortlessly on a thought, evaded the watchful eyes of any of the critters he observed with interest. Days passed like that. Weeks, then months.

Aurel found himself lonely in his woods. He started to approach the creatures he watched over. At first they startled seeing him, fled his form towering over them. Then they learned quickly that he was not to be feared, approached him with curiosity and without fear. But still it wasn’t enough, because these were not real companions.

Until one day, where the woods that had become his home met with massive towering mountains, jagged bodies of stones and earth, he met a being he didn’t know yet. It was a bit smaller than him, on four legs longer than his, scales a stormy dark blue and wings in yellow and gold. Eyes like a storm that looked at him as the thing landed between his trees.

“Who are you?” He asked, suddenly certain that this one was created from the gods like he had been.

“My name is Ahern, child of thunder and you are?”

“I am Aurel. I come from the shadows.” He responded, his lips curling into a smile.