Page 1 of The Divine Shallows
PROLOGUE
Where Silence Weeps
Beneath the paleglow of a full moon, the rulers of Neramyr received a summons to gather at the Temple of Caena by order of the High Priestess. Assembled around the Divine Shallows—a sacred underground cistern—stood fourteen formidable kings and queens. In the presence of the fourteen divine fey, the ancient waters pulsed with an otherworldly magic, beckoning to each of them.
The delicately curved edges of the Divine Shallows were hewn from moonstone and marble. These opalescent borders served as the keepers of an ancient, arcane water preserved from the Old Age. Etched upon their stone surfaces were intricate ivory symbols that gleamed softly in the dim light.
Standing barefoot and calf-deep within the center of the Divine Shallows was the High Priestess of the seven realms. She possessed hair of dappled slate-gray, pulled back tightly beneath an ornate headdress. Her floor-length robe was woven from threads of alabaster, the silken material cascading down her lithe frame and billowingaround her ankles in the waters beneath her. A long strip of cloth was cinched around her waist as she stood with her time-weathered palms upturned, speaking into the Temple’s silence.
Echoing off the hallowed walls, her voice carved through the quiet.
“Tonight, in this sanctuary of Caena, we are gathered to honor the birth of the firstborn princess of Eriden. Tonight, we shall ask the Moon Goddess to grant her divine blessing upon this newborn life.”
The High Priestess turned to the white-haired king and queen that stood nearest to her and signaled them to approach.
The queen cradled a newborn wrapped in soft cloth, while the king tenderly placed a hand on her back, guiding them to the edge of the Divine Shallows. With bare feet, they entered the celestial waters, navigating the gentle currents until they reached the awaiting High Priestess.
Gently cooing at the bundle nestled in the queen’s arms, the High Priestess remarked, “King Eamon and Queen Eddra, the seven realms of Neramyr celebrate the birth of your firstborn. How fortunate that the Moon Goddess has blessed an heir upon you after a century. What name have you bestowed upon this wonder?”
With a tired smile, the queen softly spoke, “Her name is Elyria.”
“A name as beautiful as the child,” the High Priestess praised. “Now, as the moonlight draws near, let us begin the sacred rite of the Mark of Caena.” Extending her arms, she motioned to receive the infant from the queen. “May I, Your Majesty?”
The High Priestess’ arms bore the marks of time, etched with weathered lines that told tales of age and wisdom. Adorning them were intricate ivory patterns, resembling inked descriptions of the eight lunar phases. These markings glinted with luminescence, as if moonlight itself was harnessed and turned to ink, then painted onto her skin.
They were a beautiful thing—the markings.
Iridescent, they shifted between opaline hues at different angles. Starting from the innermost part of the High Priestess’ upper arms, the first marking depicted the delicate curve of thenew moon. Tracing down her limbs, they portrayed the successive phases of the moon until culminating in the final phase—the waning crescent—resting at the very center of her palms.
“Of course, High Priestess,” replied the tired queen as she handed her baby over cautiously. Her own arms were adorned with similarly intricate iridescent markings.
Identical to those of the High Priestess, the palms of the queen’s hands bore the same waning crescent. However, the distinction arose in the patterns along the queen’s arms. Unlike the High Priestess, her arms bore no lunar phases. Instead, they were enveloped in moonlit strokes shaped in the pattern of dragon scales. These scales extended from her arms, vanishing into the folds of her modest dress. In truth, the intricate scales were inked on every surface of the queen’s skin, save for her face and neck.
The queen’s husband, the king of Eriden, possessed a similar pattern of opalescent dragon scales on his body, yet his markings were uniquely his own.
The High Priestess cradled the baby in her arms, carefully unwrapping her from the cloth. The infant’s skin was lively, still flush with a delicate pink hue. Atop her head lay a crown of hair as pure as freshly fallen snow, while her eyes shimmered with polished silver that rivaled steel. Framing her cherubic face were elegantly pointed ears. She bore the unmistakable traits of her parents and their kin—white hair and silver eyes, distinguishing features of the fey of Eriden.
Yet, her most remarkable trait would reveal itself in time.
In a matter of years, four fangs would emerge from her gums in place of canines. This distinct characteristic was passed down solely to the descendants of the first king of Eriden.
With the infant nestled in her arms, the High Priestess instructed the king and queen to exit the celestial waters and reclaimed her position in the center of the DivineShallows. The arcane waters lapped at her calves and curled around her legs, radiating with a luminous aura in acknowledgment to her presence.
Then, the High Priestess invoked the words of a divine ritual she had performed countless times before.
“Esteemed kings and queens of Neramyr, we gather on this auspicious day to commemorate a momentous event. After a century’s wait, King Eamon and Queen Eddra proudly welcome their heir, Princess Elyria of House Fangwright. Tonight, we partake in a sacred ritual, as old as time itself, witnessed by generations past. We invoke the Moon Goddess to determine the worthiness of this life to bear her Mark. As Elyria enters the sacred waters, we ask the Moon Goddess, Caena, to bestow her blessing upon her. May she welcome another daughter of the moon and grant Elyria her divine magic to wield in our realm.”
Following this, the High Priestess cradled Elyria upright in her arms and gradually descended the infant into the celestial waters awaiting below.
In unison, the fourteen kings and queens encircling the celestial shallows upturned their palms and raised them level to their waists. Each of the fourteen pairs of hands bore identical markings to those of the High Priestess—the center of their palms inked with the same crescent moon.
Together, the rulers tapped into the divine magic bestowed upon them by the Goddess, invoking the moon deity to grant her divine Mark upon the newborn heir.
The magic in the Temple surged, filling the air with primordial power and ancient energy. While the otherworldly aura of the chamber intensified, the waters within the Divine Shallows eagerly responded, swirling with anticipation. In the peak of the water’s fervor, the High priestess closed her eyes and offered a final prayer as she submerged the infant beneath the arcane waters, releasing Elyria into its embrace.
Curious gazes trailed the infant’s descent into the celestial shallows, watching as she disappeared beneath the waters. Gradually, the newborn faded from view until she vanished entirely.
As the seconds stretched into minutes, the surface of the Divine Shallows remained eerily still.
