Days passed, and the three brothers roamed the barren land, each step leaving faint imprints in the dust of their new domain. The earth was vast and silent, with no voices but their own to break the oppressive stillness. Beneath the pale light of the sky, they wandered together, their bond still unbroken, searching for meaning in their existence.
Kaelus was the first to grow restless. "We were born to rule," he said, his voice sharp as he gestured to the empty plains. "But what is a kingdom without people to fill it? This world is lifeless. We must create life to serve us."
Orus frowned, crouching to run his hand over the dry soil. "Life must come naturally, Kaelus. The earth will decide when it is ready. We should listen and be patient."
Kaelus scoffed. "Patience is for dreamers. If the earth will not give us life, then we must take it into our own hands."
Dagon remained silent, standing apart from his brothers, his gaze fixed on the horizon. His dark eyes glimmered with thought, but he offered no words to the conversation. He simply observed, his heavy presence unyielding and cold.
On the tenth day, the brothers found her.
She appeared in the distance, a faint figure against the horizon. At first, they thought her a mirage—a trick of the sun against the barren plains. But as they approached, they saw her clearly: a woman standing alone in the vast emptiness. Her hair was black as night, flowing freely around her shoulders, and her skin glowed faintly, as though she were a piece of the rock from which they had been born. Her eyes, deep and knowing, reflected both warmth and sorrow, as if she had seen every age of the world in a single moment.
The brothers stopped, awestruck. She stood as if waiting for them, her posture calm, her gaze unwavering.
"Who are you?" Kaelus asked, stepping forward with cautious curiosity.
The woman smiled faintly, her voice soft but commanding. "I am Seraphyne," she said. "And I have been waiting for you."
Orus tilted his head, his expression filled with wonder. "Waiting? For us? Why?"
"Because you are the beginning," she replied, her voice carrying an ethereal weight. "And with beginnings come burdens. This land is empty, but it need not remain so. You are its fathers. I am here to guide you."
Dagon's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, he spoke, his voice deep and measured. "Why would the earth send you?"
Seraphyne turned her gaze to him, unflinching. "Because even the strongest hands need direction, and even the sharpest minds need tempering."
Her words seemed to pierce through their doubts. The brothers stood in silence, the air between them heavy with unspoken questions.
Kaelus broke the stillness with a grin, his calculating mind already turning. "If you are here to guide us, then tell us how to breathe life into this empty world. Show us how to create."
Seraphyne stepped closer, her presence as steady as the earth beneath their feet. "Life requires more than power," she said. "It demands sacrifice, unity, and purpose. You must give part of yourselves to the land, and in return, it will grant you its blessing."
Her words lingered in the air, and the brothers exchanged glances. Kaelus's eyes glinted with ambition. Orus's gaze was thoughtful, searching for the truth in her words. Dagon remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Seraphyne extended her hands, palms up. "Do you trust me?"
Kaelus stepped forward, placing his hand in hers without hesitation. "If it brings us power, I trust you."
Orus hesitated but followed, his hand trembling slightly as it met hers. "For the sake of the earth, I will trust you."
Dagon was the last to step forward. He placed his hand in hers firmly, his dark eyes locked on hers. He said nothing, but his silence was answer enough.
The ground beneath them trembled, and the air grew thick with energy. Seraphyne closed her eyes, and the brothers felt something stir deep within them, a force they could not explain. It was as if the land itself had awakened, responding to their presence.
From the soil around them, small green shoots began to rise, sprouting leaves and blossoming into vibrant plants. The barren plains began to transform, spreading outward in waves of life. A gentle breeze carried the scent of growth, and the brothers stood in awe, watching as the world began to change before their eyes.
Seraphyne opened her eyes and smiled. "Life has begun," she said softly. "But this is only the first step. Now, you must nurture it, protect it, and teach it to grow."
Kaelus's smile widened. Orus looked to the sky, his expression filled with hope. Dagon remained still, his dark eyes fixed on Seraphyne.
As the sun set, casting golden light over the newly born land, the brothers stood side by side, their bond unbroken. For the first time, the world felt alive.
"Beneath the rock, the roots now grow,
But seeds of chaos lurk below."
Unbeknownst to them, the gift of life would become their greatest burden—and their ultimate undoing.