Chapter 20: The creation myth
The guard looked at Jaden with his eyes shining brightly, as if he were seeing something or rather someone, within him. Which couldn’t be much farther from the truth; he was an illusion, after all. How could he remember or reminisce about something when he himself was a hoax created by the city to appeal to them?
Jaden looked at the guard and shook his head.
’I must be imagining things...’ he thought as he turned his head back towards the mural.
He pointed at the mural and asked.
"So can you explain this to me?"
The guard nodded and began to explain the mural before them.
"It’s the myth of not only the birth of the gods but also of the very birth of creation..." he took a pause and pointed at the silvery white flame and continued.
"Before the creation began, only the endless void existed... There was nothing in the void until the seeds of existence started to sprout within nothing; that was the beginning of something taking birth within nothing."
"The void allowed unbridled evolution... the seeds grew, but most of them fell to their own evolution... until a final seed of existence was left, and it evolved further... it was uncontrolled like others, but it had a controlled pattern, a path other seeds didn’t get to tread and thus the genesis flame came into existence."
Jaden thought that he had heard that name somewhere else before, but didn’t know where.
He moved his hand and pointed at the star-like sparks coming out of the genesis flame and continued in a reverential tone.
"The genesis flame flared and seven sparks fell from it; those sparks were part of it, but they held their own will and thoughts, the spark evolved within the void, and thus the Gods were born."
He pointed at the first star, which was blazing orange like the sun.
"The Sun God of Passion, Love, and Radiance."
His hand moved and pointed at the second star, which was chrome-coloured like a dreamy cloud.
"The Dream God of Fate, Imagination, and Possibility."
He took a deep breath as if calling out the very titles of the gods were making him tremble, his hand moved again, and he pointed at the third star, which was like nature’s green as he spoke.
"The Nature God of Life, Prosperity, and Fertility."
Jaden looked at the mural with an awestruck expression... he hadn’t expected the mural to be related to the very creation itself.
’This...’
He felt goosebumps rising all over his body with every word of the guard. He was too awed to think of anything, so he just listened attentively.
The guard’s hand moved again, pointing at the fourth flowing gold star, he added; his tone was much heavier this time.
"The War God of Conflict, Change, and Ambition."
The guard closed his eyes for a moment. He took a deep breath, opened his eyes again, and pointed at the fifth star, which appeared to be like a blue, stormy sea. His tone was both revered and fearful, and the fear was taking most of it.
"The Storm God of Chaos, Ruin, and Barriers."
His hand moved, pointing at the sixth moon-like white star.
"The Moon God of Tranquillity, Illusion, and Reflection."
And at last his hand moved towards the final shadowy black star; however, he stopped midway as his body trembled... he collected himself and spoke in a fearful tone.
"The Shadow God of Death, Silence, and Peace."
He paused a little, letting his words settle within Jaden’s mind, who stood there with an awestruck expression.
"They were the seven gods of the pantheon."
Jaden’s expression fell into a frown as he turned toward the guard and asked with a puzzled tone.
"Were?"
The guard nodded at him and dropped the bomb he was holding.
"The gods are long dead."
Jaden’s eyes turned wide as he stuttered, his tone stunned.
"D-dead? How is that even possible?"
The guard shook his head and replied in a dark tone.
"We don’t know... I believe no one does. The gods have long since entered their slumber after all."
Jaden continued to stare at the mural before him as his thoughts churned.
’The Gods, the creators of all, the first beings, are dead? How is that even possible?’
’Is this actually true? What if it’s just a lie and the gods are still alive?’
’How would we mortals even know if the gods were alive or dead?’
He took a deep breath and rubbed his face as he concluded in his mind.
’It doesn’t matter... it doesn’t matter if the gods are dead or alive... the only thing that matters is the reason behind my transmigration, nothing else.’
He looked at the guard with a solemn look and spoke.
"I think we shouldn’t delay any longer."
The guard looked at him with his usual stoic expression. He nodded before turning back and walking towards the arcane library where the curator was.
The duo continued in their steps, but Jaden’s mind kept drifting back to what he had just found... his thoughts, however, were related to something else.
’The genesis flame... it looks the same as the flame I had seen within the dark void after my death.’
’Was it a part of Genesis Flame or something similar to the Awakening Flame? They both appeared similar to each other...’
He shook his head and let the thoughts sink in at the back of his head.
’I have to find a way to leave this city first.’
His eyes blazed with resolve as his steps became firmer.
Soon, the duo reached an enormous gate that had the creation myth mural carved on it; the gate dwarfed them... it was so big that one might think that it wasn’t built for humans at all.
The guard walked forward and placed his hand on the door. Just as he did so, a heavy chime rang within the hallway.
The gates began to creak as they opened by themselves, as if pushed by phantom hands. The guard turned back towards Jaden and added in a flat tone.
"Go in."