The morning broke in silver.The mist crawled low across the ancient ruins of Eyela’s first home, now sacred ground, now the shrine of Evilside’s sorrow. The stones trembled with memory, the air heavy with the echo of a life torn apart long before she became a goddess.Every Liroid, Assassin, Divine, Poison, Shadow, Void, Fire, and even the distant bloodlines gathered in the valley. Tents stood open. Children clung to their parents. Lovers held hands. Elders whispered blessings.And at the heart of it all stood Evilside, mortal in shape yet heavy with a power that never slept.Beside her stood Snake, holding her hand.He always did when this story was told.Her fingers were cold today, colder than usual. Snake felt her flinch even before the artisans stepped into the circle, their painted faces shimmering, their voices rising with the first verse of her history.This was the first year she allowed the full version.The year she allowed them to speak of Seyal’s death,of her parents’ b

Kavan’s POVThe valley pulsed with festive chaos, laughter, firelight, the scent of roasting meat, and the shimmer of violet lilies that glowed faintly between tents. Yet all of it felt distant as Kavan clutched the empty cup of blood-root wine, trying to steady the pounding of his heart.Passion had warned him of the trance.She had not warned him how real it would feel.He remembered the world-tree, its roots coiled through the heavens, its branches swallowing the sky. He remembered Evilside’s chains, her fury, her transformation. And most of all, he remembered Heartless… eyes filled with fire, naming Cellon as Cellok, the “Rebirth of Darkness.”And then, impossibly, she had looked at him.And he had spoken the Liroid tongue. A language he had never learned.He shivered.Now the trance was over, yet the echo of that ancient world clung to him like frost.The Feast in Full SwingThe valley bustled like a kingdom reborn. Men hauled whole boars onto spits; women stirred cauldrons of ve

Morning broke with a silver light that poured over the valley like spilled moonwater. The Liroids rose before the sun itself, for the Ninth Day was sacred, the day of unions.A day where every paused engagement, every delayed marriage, every newborn awaiting a name was finally brought before Evilside’s shrine.It happened only once a year.And no Liroid would dare sleep through it.The Ceremonial ValleyThe valley that the night before had hosted wild laughter and wine now shimmered with an almost holy stillness. Mats were rolled up, fires extinguished, tents opened to reveal families preparing themselves with calm purpose.Sky lifted banners.Forbidden carried ceremonial blades.Darkside wore a crown of black lilies.Rebellion helped the youths arrange long carpets woven from root fibers.Even Death was awake early, nibbling on roasted nuts while lying across her mother’s lap.“Lazy girl,” Darkside muttered, still braiding her daughter’s hair.“You’re the lazy one,” Death mumbled bac

The Eleventh Day dawned with sharp wind and silver light crawling over the valley.Unlike the Tenth Day, heavy with vows and death’s breath, this day pulsed with excitement.Training Day.The only day when every Liroid, regardless of guild, lineage, or rank, could walk into another guild’s circle and learn.A thousand tents emptied into the massive training fields spread across Cellok’s valley. Weapons glinted, magic stirred, guild banners whipped in the wind.Children ran ahead, eager.Warriors cracked knuckles.Elders stretched joints that had not moved in decades.Even Evilside stood at a distance on a high platform, observing the first formations with quiet satisfaction.Snake’s Training CircleIt was known across the valley:Snake’s circle filled first… and fastest.Dozens crowded around him: Assassins, Divine Liroids, intelligence Liroids, even a few Dogs who admired his deadly precision.Snake stood calm in the center, arms crossed, faint irritation in his eyes.“I said thirty,

The valley glowed with soft morning light, the Death Trees humming like ancient instruments. Every branch held dormant death-arrows, waiting… watching… judging.The Thirteenth Day had begun,a day meant for stillness,for rest,for peace.But for the Liroids, peace was always on the brink of chaos.The First Ritual: Silence of the HeartDark and Doom sat beside each other under the shade of a Death Tree.They did not speak.They did not look at each other.They did not even breathe loudly.Snake walked past them with Trina and Shiver, whispering to his family:“Look at them. The real miracle of this festival.”Shiver snorted. “This is torture for them.”Trina elbowed him gently. “Keep your voice down. Even sound travels differently today.”She was right, the air felt like a single whisper could shatter stone.For a moment, everything was quiet.Then…The Death Arrow’s First Kill of the DayA shout erupted from far across the valley.Harsh. Angry. Out of place.It cut through the holy