Long ago now. Longer ago than anyone can remember besides the eldest Chosen, there were few people left alive. The God War had devastated not only the world, but the population of Cyla also. The survivors were scattered and starving. During the 400 days of the final battle, many across the world died due to the lack of water and food. When The Twelve finally won, the world needed to be rebuilt, essentially from nothing. Society had been smashed beyond any hope of repair without the intervention of the Chosen. They gathered and rescued as many people as they could. This was before the time of the islands. The people were gathered into one city, Baikaa. All told, when the Twelve had scoured the globe for survivors, only three million souls were discovered. Sadly many perished even while the search for survivors was ongoing. Baikaa, while largely unscathed by the war, was in need of rebuilding, maintenance and administration. The Twelve took up residence in the city's central tower. A building made from old world materials that would not crumble for thousands of years. This shining beacon in the centre of the new world would later serve as inspiration for the towers on the islands.
The people who had been brought to the city were too few to handle all the tasks that were needed. Even with the Twelve's assistance, the task of rebuilding the world seemed nearly impossible. To bolster the numbers of capable labourers, The Twelve devised a plan. They could create anything, but also needed to conserve water in those early days. The Chosen thus gave birth, as it were, to the avatars. They were people for all practical purposes. However they had some peculiar traits. While being created as adults they carried only basic knowledge. They also had no blood to conserve water. Instead they were powered directly by the power of the gems. Once created they were nearly independent of the Chosen. Only if gem that created them was destroyed would they vanish into dust again. In many ways they were the pinnacle of the Chosen's power. A true extension of the influence of The Twelve that could act independently to serve the will of their masters.
With time they learned and grew into people in their own right. The people who had initially been quite prejudiced against them, grew to see them as normal members of society. The Chosen were the only ones that could sense the energy in them. That is if they knew what to look for and were looking for it to begin with. One fact about the avatars, is that they would live as long as the gem that created them existed. Or until such time that they were not needed. They were not invincible and could be destroyed by damage however. This afforded them even more humanity. Once Baikaa had been completed many generations later, the avatars had integrated into society as normal members. The Chosen no longer needed their services, but they were allowed to continue as normal people as long as what they did never adversely affected 'real humans'. In the time of the islands the avatars became the servants of the towers. The humans having grown in number work mostly outside of the tower. More avatars were eventually created. Almost everyone one meets in a central tower is an avatar. They are no different than humans in most respects. Some oven have families of their own, though they naturally cannot procreate.
"Wep is on such avatar, though he is quite young. Only around thirty."
"Twenty-six." Wep interjected.
"Thank you, Twenty six. So that is then, why the wound, while painful and certainly life threatening, did not bleed."
"I really thought you knew. All Chosen seem to." Wep had not been able to look Saiyi in the eyes since she found out. The look on her face tore at his soul. Saiyi sat at the breakfast table stunned. She wasn't angry or exactly upset.
"I couldn't have known. I didn't know that things like avatars existed."
"Saiyi." Shiwa reprimanded.
"What?"
"Things, really?" Wep asked in a low voice. His eyes showed the hurt of the deep cut she delivered. He looked worse now than when he had been shot.
"I'm sorry." Saiyi defended. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just such a weird concept to me. I mean I'm human."
"Are you?" Shiwa said, crossing her arms seriously. Then she pointed at the amulet around the young Goddess' neck before she continued. "You should consider yourself fortunate Sah. To find immortal love as a Chosen is rare. Trust me, I know. Besides you were never going to have little blonde babies bouncing about."
"Shi." Saiyi had tears in her eyes. She felt as if a wall had broken down and revealed an entire world she did not understand once more. "Each time I think I understand the world, it flips and shows me a new and confusing side of itself."
"Sah, that's just life. That's just youth."
"I wish it would stop."
"Sah." Wep spoke as softly and warmly as he could. "It's still me. Nothing changes."
"Doesn't it?" The Goddess stood to leave.
"Saiyi." Shiwa held her hand, pleading with her eyes. Wep likewise seemed to be on the verge of tears. But he couldn't cry Saiyi realised. He also couldn't blush. That at least made sense to Saiyi now.
"I just need to clear my head guys. Please." With that she lifted into the air and shot into the blue above disappearing into the distance.