It wasn't a cheerful day. Nor was it somber, but something about the gray clouds covering the sky seemed different. It was rare for the sun to be hidden for so long in Averon, but nevertheless, for the last 7 days, the sun was veiled by the soulless clouds. No rain no fog, just clouds. Maria sighed as she looked out the window, and thought "What a world we live in."

  From behind her approached a little girl hugging Maria's leg.

  "Mommy, why are you sighing?"

  "Nothing sweet pea, Mommy just wants the Sun to shine again."

  "Me too Mommy, should I ask Daddy if he can do it?" Exclaimed the young girl, with shimmering eyes looking up at her mother, and a radiant smile as she squeezed her one-eyed teddy with one arm, and the mother's leg with the other.

  "Haha. Go on Hilde, ask Daddy about the Sun, but please also tell him that Lunch is almost ready"

  The little girl ran to her father in the Living room.

  "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. Me and Mommy want to see the Sun, can you get rid of the clouds? Pleeeeeaaaaasssseeee?" The Girl jumped onto the lap of the scruffy man. His eyes were still engrossed in the newspaper.

  "Now Hilde, the weather is something not even the Sovereigns, the King, or even I can control so easily. Well maybe the Sovereigns, but I wouldn't know since I never met them, but when I do I'll ask them to keep the sun shining forever."

  "Hmph. Daddy, you are just making up excuses. I know the Gods aren't real."

  "Hilde, did you tell your dad about lunch yet?" Came the voice of her mother from the Kitchen.

  "Well, it seems like we should go eat before your mother eats us." The man stood up and picked up his daughter with a little bit of momentum, making her giggle.

  "Daddy I know the Sove... um Gods aren't real but can you tell me some more stories" The daughter looked up with gleaming eyes.

  "Sure but let's first eat"

  As the family dines together, sharing laughter, there is a moment of silence. Hesitantly, Maria asks her husband "How are the war efforts?" The husband takes a few bites, not looking up from his plate. "The papers say we are winning, but ... I don't know Maria. When I faced them ... it didn't seem like we could ever win. You know I was at the coast right, the number of ships they had seemed endless. I'm lucky I got injured and got to come back home But who knows, maybe we found a weakness, or they aren't strong, just plentiful." They both spoke in hushed voices to not catch their daughter's attention.

  "It will all be fine, the Sovereigns wouldn't leave us undefended." Maria chuckled as she said this because she didn't believe herself. After hearing the word Sovereign, the daughter looked up sharply and looked at her father. "You promised to tell me stories! Please tell me now." The daughter, not having heard anything of the previous conversation remained a bundle of brightness.

  "Alright then. Where should we start? How about the first Sovereign?"

  "yeeeeesh!"

  Maria started cleaning the dishes, again looking out the window, silently listening to her Husband talk.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "A long long time ago, when the beasts were still the ones who ran all over the place, humans were always scared." The man's rough voice softened as he spoke to his daughter and he had a small smile on his face as he talked to her. " But then came the first Sovereign. He learned how to use the Mana around us to grow stronger. But that wasn't enough. He taught all the other people his power so that someday they could build cities and towers and castles." As the man continued to talk, the little girl's mouth kept opening just a little, and she kept squeezing her teddy just a little tighter. "After a long time, humans finally became strong enough to beat the beast and the first Sovereign built a home in the forest for him and his family. You see the first Sovereign and his family were so talented they quickly became the most powerful humans, with the first Sovereign being the strongest. He stayed hidden because he was scared that he was too powerful. One day, once the first Sovereign became so powerful, he came back and spoke to all humans. <

  > That day he left forever with his family, maybe into a new world, but it is said that when he left there was purple rain. Since then, whenever purple rain fell, people thought either the sovereign returned, or someone else had become strong enough and left."

  The daughter's eyes sparkled. "Purple rain? Wooaaahh, but why did I never see purple rain?" The father again chuckled, "Well, no one has seen the purple rain sweet pea, but everyone believes that out there somewhere is the first Sovereign along with all the other Sovereigns.

  "And can I become as strong as the sovereigns, Daddy?"

  "Sure, as soon as you can become as strong as me, and I am very strong?" The man gave his daughter a wink and roughed her hair up a little. Now go to the library and read a book.

  As the little girl ran through the doorway, Maria spoke up. "Honey?" His voice laced with concern "What's happening outside?" Her husband approached her and looked through the kitchen window with her. Out there, just beyond the horizon, bally of light were zipping through the sky, coming closer and closer. The balls quickly flew over the house, and the couple ran outside and saw the balls striking the castle of gold. There was a moment of silence, as it seemed the world had come to a standstill. The balls of light, like stars falling from the sky, expanded, and slowly both Maria and her Husband could feel an uncomfortable heat. Her Husband ran inside to their daughter, but nothing would help. Maria knew it. She closed her eyes and chanted one final time to bless her and her family with protection as the world went dark.

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  Pain. She felt pain. Endless, Unwavering pain. Her eyes were still closed, but she didn't dare open them. She couldn't think through the pain. It felt like her skin had been seared off her bone. The world was still silent. No screams, no wails, just silence. She didn't know how she was alive, she didn't know what had happened, right now she only knew pain. Her shallow breaths and rising and falling chest sent further pain down her entire body, but it was clear she had survived.

  "Oh, what do we have here?" A voice sounded out of nowhere. Not nowhere in the sense of suddenly, but nowhere. There was nothing here except for ashes and rubble. If Maria opened her eyes, she would be met by the sight of her dead husband's mangled corpse badly burned, and soulless eyes. "How did you survive child? Hhm, a divine blessing? You must have lived a very pure life to receive this from them. I shall give you the mercy of a painless death child." The voice was raspy, cold, and detached. Maria knew that was not the voice of a human. Going against her deepest instincts she opened her eyes, and all she could see was the endless expanse of the dark grey sky, around her it seemed like life had ceased to exist, and the only bits of color were the dots of distant flames.

  "Your gods have abandoned you dear. But fear not a noble soul like yours deserves respite. They have kept you alive in suffering, but through my mercy, I will set you free of your pain." Maria felt something leaving her body as if her very essence was being pulled out. In her final moments, something, perhaps maternal love or desire for closure, made her look to the side. She saw a familiar one-eyed teddy, singed, and coated in blood. Just a little further, she saw a small hand poking out of the rubble, devoid of life. A single tear streamed down Maria's body "Mommy will see you soon sweat pea, so very soon" she whispered as the light left her charred body.