“Praise Adam!” - A common exclamation among Adamites.

  The three Gods disappeared as quickly as they had come. “But what about the two Gods who fell? And how does this relate to Adam?" the disembodied voice of Padre Angelos continued, "Well, as humanity would discover, Gods cannot die. The Great Exception is the Only Son, whose sacrifice we forever remember. However, the impact was too great for either God to recover from. They shattered into countless fragments. Shards.”

  Leo stared in awe as bits of the mist began to coalesce into blue and white flickers of light, and the floor turned into a vague form of all the lands as if it were a map brought to life.

  “And for centuries, these shards drifted into the heavens. One day, it is said that one of these pieces looked down upon the Earth. It saw the decline of the Benelim Kingdoms, those destined to guide us, and the desperate state of the realms of men, and it remembered the God it used to be. It fell down to the Earth, infusing itself into Adam. He was only three days old when it happened. As he grew older, he noticed strange things. Sometimes when he spoke, the world did weird things, as if answering to his words like a command. These would eventually be proven to be the first magical spells. However, it would not be ’til Adam was thirty that his true power revealed itself. ”

  The image changed into a town. Leo quickly realized it was Venito; the stone fountain and marketplace looked infinitely livelier in their prime.

  Even with the bodies of Maelim everywhere.

  Their twisted and wrecked forms were charred, and tar-colored blood ran through the streets. Adam stood amongst the bodies, his toga torn and his skin scraped. Adam’s eyes glowed bright, brighter than any Godshard Leo had ever seen. Adam looked at his hands, confusion written on his face. Surviving cittadini stared at Adam, and they shrunk back when he tried to approach them. Adam ran off, the vision following him as he entered a building. Leo presumed it was Adam’s home.

  “In the aftermath, Adam burned with questions. What was he? Was he still human, or was he a God trapped in human skin? How was he able to cast spells reserved for the Gods? He set out to find answers, determined to learn about this strange condition that had transformed his life so.”

  Adam exited the building, wearing a grey hooded cloak, determination in his eyes. The images shifted fast, so fast Leo could barely keep up. He saw distant lands, lush golden-wooded forests, dark trees with red leaves, mountain passes, dank caves, restless seas, and on and on the visions came.

  “Adam wandered for years; some say nearly a century. Even after a hundred and thirty years, Adam looked no older than fifty. He met the Benelim, including High King Ioannis himself. He met the Gods and even had an audience with Mighty Terra in her dark wooden hall. What was said between them, none can say. He was confused and desperate for answers; it was unknown if he had received any. Finally, after countless journeys, fate brought him back home, and trouble was brewing.”

  Leo saw the familiar lush green of the Cradlelands. Monsters trampled the fields and orchards. The visions distorted wherever the daemons were. Leo didn’t mind. He didn’t think he could handle seeing such monsters directly, even if it were a vision.

  The images changed. Adam stood before a tremendous stone-walled city gate. He was distraught, tears in his eyes as he pleaded with the soldiers on top of the bastion.

  “Adam sought to warn his countrymen about the danger, but he had been gone so long that no one even knew who he was! ‘Who was the stranger with bizarre eyes to tell them what to do?’”

  Adam moped off. The day turned into night, and the daemons arrived soon after. Time sped up to the aftermath. A city in ruins, flames rising fast, and smoke choking the air. The tragic events repeated themselves, Adam looking increasingly desperate with each town.

  “Venito, Ventoso, Submersio, Bastia, Raveno, Metavia. No one listened to Adam, and they all paid the price. Until at last, Adam found people who listened.”

  Adam approached a stone wall more significant than the others. Leo cringed as he realized what city it was and shook his head. Primus. He tried not to let more recent events cloud his judgment. This was a thousand years earlier than the atrocities the city would eventually commit. It was different then.

  “The cittadini of Primus were no stranger to utter desolation and heeded Adam’s words.”

  Time seemed to speed up once more. A sizable garrison of soldiers formed on the walls and behind the gate—legionnaires with ironed armor, great tower shields, and pilums at the ready. A large crowd of disheveled and bruised people approached the walls, carrying wagons full of broken possessions and starving children. An armored man came to the rampart and scowled at them.

  “Survivors came from all the other cities. They had gathered together and sought refuge within the walls of Primus. The capitano, a man named Theodosius, wanted to drive them away. They had ignored Adam’s warning, and he believed they should suffer the consequences. Why should they open the gates for them now?”

  Leo frowned. Evidently, some things never change. Adam appeared on top of the wall.

  “The refugees begged for Adam’s forgiveness and mercy, and their plight moved him. He told Theodosius to let them in. The townsfolk were overjoyed as they rushed inside.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The visions shifted forward; monstrous creatures approached the city. “The daemons laid siege to Primus. They were led by Hanbi, a gargantuan daemon Lord who took the guise of a massive lion.”

  Hanbi roared at the wall, causing Leo to plug his ears. The walls trembled, and cracks appeared. The soldiers scattered as the walls came down. The daemonic horde charged. The legionnaires’ shield wall barely held against the onslaught. Men stabbed at daemons’ hides with their pilums, and black blood flowed.

  “The people of Primus fought valiantly and did not fight alone.”

  The daemons attacked from every direction, outflanking soldiers, dragging them down, and tearing them to pieces. The refugees stopped them in their tracks, armed with clubs, crude spears, pitchforks, and even rocks. They pushed the daemons back long enough for soldiers to reinforce.

  “Had Primus not let the refugees in, things might have gone differently. Even during these days, Adam was wise and compassionate. That is the true measure of a Godshard’s power.”

  Adam stood atop the rampart, lifting his arms high, raining fire down from the heavens, slaying large swathes of the daemonic host in holy fire. Hanbi crashed through the gatehouse with another earthshaking roar, sending stone and wood flying in all directions.

  “Adam told the others to keep back. He would deal with this monster. The daemon-lion could sense the shard within Adam. It intrigued him.”

  Hanbi licked his lips. Adam stood his ground and began to chant quietly. He closed his eyes. Hanbi rushed at the Godshard and, in one bite, devoured him. The people of the Cradlelands were shocked, and Hanbi roared triumphantly. Leo smirked. He knew what was coming next. It was his favorite part.

  In the next moment, Hanbi exploded in a storm of burning gore. Adam was alive and seemed to glow pure white like the shard of a God he was. The entrails and blood burned away at his touch.

  “Hanbi was banished, and the people were jubilant. The victory was theirs.”

  Leo watched as the crowd of people gathered around Adam. The admiration, the joy of the group, tears of happiness. The sighs of relief. It made the victory at Venito seem small and insignificant. They might have “liberated” the town, but in truth, they merely denied it to the dread-wasps. But this? This is what a victory was, what a hero looked like. Not an avenger, but a protector. Leo shook his head. Best he just enjoy the show.

  “Theodosius apologized to the refugees and Adam for doubting them. He begged for forgiveness and wanted to know what he could do to make it right. Adam smiled as he put a hand on the young capitano’s shoulder. ‘You already have.’”

  Time sped up once more. The survivors rebuilt the city of Primus. Adam used his spellcraft to assist. Lifting vast slabs of stone, or literally reversing the damage done by Hanbi, causing time itself to go backward on segments of the wall.

  “Adam was forever more respected and loved by the people of Primus and of all the Cradlelands. He had rallied them all together, and they liked the taste of unity. The city of Primus was now the Republic of Primus. A nation made of many. But as for Adam . . . ”

  He placed another great stone block down. He looked exhausted, his breath heavy and his eyes tear-stained.

  “Adam felt alone. He had sought a wife after the battle. He laid with several women over months after the victory. Despite his efforts, Adam was infertile. An unexpected curse. He couldn’t create a dynasty, a lasting legacy, not even a family. Even with his longer lifespan, he was convinced that once he died, that was that.”

  Abruptly a large crowd of people gathered around him. He was taken aback by the sudden commotion.

  “Or so Adam thought. Some visitors had arrived, and they were looking for him. They claimed they were drawn to Adam after hearing word of a mysterious man with the power of the Gods.”

  Six people pushed through the crowd. They all had glowing eyes like him. Adam’s eyes widened. He strode over to them. They stared at each other, reading each other. Adam smiled.

  “The first generation of Godshards. They all had similar stories. Three days after they were born, a blue light entered them. Together they figured out what had happened, and the term Godshard was created. The six Shards dedicated themselves to following Adam. He would no longer be alone. Adam might not be able to have a family, but perhaps this could be his legacy.”

  The scene shifted to a shoreline. The day was grey, and the seas were roaring. Adam and his followers were kneeling on a sandy beach. Their grey cloaks were in tatters, blowing fiercely in the salty breeze. Their hands were folded, and they were bowing toward the sea.

  “Adam begged for Aquarius’s blessing as he and his disciples put their plan into action.”

  The Godshards got to their feet and raised their hands together toward the sea. They chanted in unison, and their eyes glowed brightly. Rumbling shook the land, and the ocean became restless. The waves were fierce, and several nearly hit them. At last, a great landmass arose from the sea. It was several miles across, and the stone was sturdy.

  “They created a haven. A place where they could learn and study more about themselves. A land that was outside of the rest of the world. A home that would not be bound to any kingdom, empire, or God. Politics were to be left on the shore, and hatred and violence would not be permitted. A place that would go on to become the Island City. ”

  The image changed to Venito once more. Adam stood in the town square, his students at his side. He looked older and weathered. His hair was solid white. And yet he towered over them triumphant. He held books in his hands.

  “We celebrate Adam because he was the first of the Godshards and one of the greatest ever. He had an unwavering duty to his people and believed in using his powers to help humanity. To guide it and to protect it. His research and his beliefs would go on to define the Adamite tradition, which would be built upon by the Godshard brothers David and Solomon to form the sacerdozio. Adam’s insight would become invaluable. Although most people are never blessed with a Shard of His essence, the teachings of Adam apply to all. Help one another, support each other, and protect each other. Life is what you make it.”

  Suddenly the vision of Adam flared to life, and he stared directly at Leo. “Fear not, for He is coming, and I will be at His side at the end of days.”

  Leo had no time to process the weird sight, as the images faded to unveil the town square again. There was an initial pause as everyone glanced at each other. Leo was in a daze, like just waking from a dream. He turned to Martin, who looked just as out of it.

  “You okay?” whispered Leo.

  Martin nodded. “Uh-huh. What about you?”

  Leo nodded. That was a lot to take in. Leo stood for a moment to catch his bearings. He rubbed his temples. The haze was clearing, although the various images lingered beyond his eyes. Leo turned toward the two Godshards, standing side by side, waiting patiently. They must have known how the visions would go. Once they saw that everyone was awake enough, they bowed. The crowd murmured before clapping. Perhaps they would have cheered if they hadn’t still been dazed.

  “Thank you! Thank you all!” proclaimed Salvatore. The two Godshards raised their arms. “Hail to Adam the First!”

  The crowd cheered in reply.