Outside a storm was raging and Engilde I and Elder Irvin sat around the fireplace. Staring into the fire was kinda hypnotic and I remembered the times when I was with my family in the old world. We would sit around the campfire and grill meat and vegetables. After the meal, we would often sit and talk, singing songs as we stared into the flames. It was a great time and as with all great times, it went by far too quickly.
"There was a time..."
Elder Irvin began, but I was still staring into the flames looking at its everchanging tongues licking at the firewood.
"...when the gods were walking among the people."
I nodded noticing the tone of Elder Irvin. That is probably going to be similar to the Fall of man in the bible.
"And great were the actions of the gods! Mountains shook and fire erupted from the earth and the river flooded almost daily. The proof of their might and power in front of everyone's eyes."
Elder Irvin sounded like he was in awe of his god's powers, but try to imagine a land where fire, floods, and earthquakes were a daily occurrence. To me, it seems horrifying.
"Thanks to the gods we were able to survive and become stronger every day. Strength ruled back then and challenging the gods was happening every week."
He flexed his muscles and I could see him trying to take on Uisce and was flabbergasted. There is no way in hell I would ever try to take on Aer when I am so much weaker than her.
"It was then when Eyvaldur was born. During his birth, Domhain was shaking the earth and flames were erupting from the earth. Even the stars seemed to celebrate the birth of a great man. And as he grew up it seemed like the signs spoke true. With five he was already hunting wolves and with ten he challenges a bear and won. He brought triumph after triumph to his village and many women challenged him to gain the right to bear his children. When he turned twenty he challenged Domhain himself."
Elder Irvin grinned and even Engilde nodded as if that was only natural.
"Domhain agreed of course and both of them went at it. Their fight was mighty, indeed as the earth split beneath them and shook so heavily that even the village was said to be destroyed. As Eyvaldur and Domhain rang with each other others had to flee as the earth threatened to swallow them. That day many people died and only the strong were able to survive!"
What a great story... Meaning that all the children probably died? What exactly are you trying to convey here?
"After a week of fighting Domhain stood above Eyvaldur in triumph, but has lasted a full week Eyvaldurs eyes were full of vigor and determination. He was the first human that Domhain blessed as he was impressed by his strength and stubbornness. That same day Eyvaldur collected only the strongest and left the village towards the north where he sought stronger enemies to train himself and challenge Domhain again."
Are you sure he wasn´t exiled because he massacred a lot of innocent villagers?
"Long were his travels and his strength only rose battle after battle. He was the first one to leave the village to gain even more strength. But by the time he finally returned the Gods were no longer around. All that was left of his once proud village was poor old men and women scrambling to survive being abandoned by the gods because of their weakness. Eyvaldur was furious and left again to search for the gods, but many of the men following him remained to protect the now abandoned village."
Luckily for them, he did not slaughter them because the gods left because of their weakness.
"He turned south first and found not the gods, but a vast forest with trees as tall as mountains with small animals. At first, he laughed at them, but their bites were dangerous, and after he fought them only survived because of Domhains blessing. Ashamed of his weakness he trained even more furiously and after defeating them he went towards the west to search for the gods."
So he found poisonous animals like snakes?
"The gods weren´t in the west either and all he found were strange creatures that handled fire and were surprisingly weak. All they managed to do was wave their sticks around and run away. So he turned towards the east."
Are they monkeys?
"But the gods weren´t in the east either. He went onward without finding anything remarkable. But he refused to give up and struck the earth in his fury. Calling out to Domhain. First, he asked him to come back, then he challenged the god once more, and in the end, he was mocking the god for his cowardice. But nothing happened and the gods remained gone. He turned around and looked at his men and women who followed him through thick and thin. Not many were left for they were not as strong as him. A sudden sadness rose in his chest as he looked at them and proclaimed loudly the end of the search for the gods. In exchange for following him, he swore to protect them through any dangers that may come. And at that moment Domhain showed himself. He heard the vow of his favorite warrior and took Eyvaldur into his embrace turning him into stone that to this very day stands proudly and will protect the village that he founded until Domhain himself release him from his vow."
So he was punished! Why is Elder Irvin acting like he got rewarded?
Elder Irvin stopped and basked in the aftermath of this glorious tale. I looked at Engilde and she was in a similar trance. I feel very bad about this, but...
"... so why did the gods leave?"
Elder Irvin threw me an irritated look and sighed.
"Fine! I will answer your questions. Do you have more?"
Oh boy... How could I not?