Chapter 0: Eclipse (Patreon)

On the first night of summer, the townsfolk of Næmyris gathered by the lakeside. Moonlight glistened off of the gentle surface of Lake Emyr in a picturesque fashion. For many, it was a beautiful sight that spoke to the magic of the Goddess and her lunar eyes.

Of course, there was more to the gathering than just admiration of the world’s two moons. The real reason everyone had gathered, what made that night truly special, was that there was going to be a total eclipse of Illyria’s closest moon, Rowan’el.

The Goddess would smile on all of them as the eclipse brought her spiritual essence and the Divine Realm into harmony with Illyria and Her people. It was with that in mind that the townsfolk came together with their hopes and prayers on the tips of their tongues.

More than half of the town had made their way north to the lakeside, with many smaller gatherings happening throughout its various districts. With the sense of community and good cheer that came with the eclipse, practically everyone was feeling particularly blessed that night.

Alas, there were some who couldn’t see what made it quite so special; or more accurately, she didn’t want to see. Amidst the thousands of people present, a young girl looked up to the moon with weary eyes, its crimson glow catching on her brilliant red hair. She sighed audibly as she collapsed to her knees, catching the attention of the woman who sat next to her.

“What’s the matter, Rowan?” the woman asked, painfully aware of the fugue her daughter had been suffering for much of that year.

“Did we really have to come all the way to the lakeside, Ma?” Rowan responded with a hint of complaint in her voice.

“Yes, dear. How else am I going to thank her for my beautiful daughters or ask for her to help give you both back your smiles?”

The response came quickly, yet softly so as to not carry too far with the last part being practically inaudible, even to Rowan.

“We could have thanked Her from home,” Rowan yawned, “or at one of the smaller gatherings.” It wasn’t like she was being deliberately indignant, she just didn’t appreciate being roused from her attempts at slumber. She had, after all, been dragged halfway across town for something that she felt was highly unnecessary, especially in her somewhat depressed state.

Rowan’s mother shook her head with a slight frown. “You know why, Rowan. It’s like music. Together we Resonate, amplifying the voices of our spirits far beyond what we could manage by ourselves. If we want to be heard, it’s better we pray together. You should have covered all of this with Master Idyr.”

“We might have. Maybe I’d remember better if I was allowed my beauty sleep!”

“Quiet dear! You don’t hear Tehri complaining, do you?”

“Because she’s already asleep! She’s been asleep since before we even got here!” Rowan responded somewhat bitterly as she looked down at her sleeping little sister. The younger girl slept soundly, her head resting on her mother’s lap.

“So she is,” the woman responded, looking slightly put out at being reminded that her younger daughter was indeed sleeping in her lap. ”Still, as the older sister, you should be setting a good example for her.”

“It’s not like she’s going to wake up, regardless of what I do, so what’s the point? She could sleep through a thunderstorm! Not to mention how she probably hates me! Maybe if I act more outrageously, she’ll stop ignoring me so that I can be a role model. A-a-and…”

Rowan trailed off. She didn’t really believe what she said. If anything, she was to blame for the distance that had grown between them. At this point, all she was doing was venting her frustrations and sadness. She was exhausted and it was making her needlessly irritable. Her sleep had been highly restless for weeks now, and with the summer solstice fast approaching, she felt like it was only getting worse, as if the rising sun was beckoning something to awaken within her. She hated it. She didn’t want to be annoyed with her mother, Tehri, or her friends. And so she choked back a sob, angry at herself for disturbing everyone else’s peace.

For a moment, it looked like her mother was going to scold her for the outburst. Only, she brought her in for a comforting embrace and sang softly as she stroked Rowan’s hair.

♫Hush now little one
the day is won
Sleep now little one
The sun is gone

Mama’s here
to wash away your fear
Mama’s here
to wipe away your tears♫

Rowan cried in her mother’s arms, and as her tears streamed from her violet eyes, she found herself being lulled almost to sleep by the calming lyrics of the Ferran Lullaby that her mother sang. As Rowan’s eyes grew heavy, she heard people calling out that totality was nearly upon them.

As the eclipse reached its peak, time seemed to stop; a glimpse into the witching hour, the moment that Illyria and the Divine realm were almost touching. In the absolute stillness of that moment, the first screams carried far, only to be followed by the thundering of hooves.