Chapter 7: Lunira

Half a Year ago

The cool air brushed against my cheek, carrying the scent of damp earth and grass. I could feel the rough blades beneath me, scratching at my skin as I struggled to rise. Pain coursed through my body, a deep, bone-aching agony born from my fall. I had been cast out of the Heavens, stripped of everything that made me who I was.

Once, I had been the goddess of Loyalty—the greatest irony of them all.

I had never expected this. I had never believed I would fall, not like this. And yet, here I was. My body pressed into the soft, damp earth, the cool air stinging my skin. I struggled to make sense of it all, but my memories were fractured. The divine energy that should have thrummed beneath my skin was gone, leaving only silence and a cold void.

But it wasn’t just my fall that haunted me. It was the memory of his.

Xyros. My brother. My twin in divinity. He had fallen first. I remembered the moment vividly. I remembered his rage, his anguish as he was cast down by the gods who once revered him. The god of balance, shattered and torn from the sky. His fall had come before mine, his betrayal a thing I could not yet understand, but one that left the balance of everything we had once known in chaos.

And then... I, too, had fallen.

I had woken here, in the chasm.

The land was unlike anything I had seen before. The chasm stretched wide above me, its sheer walls sprawling out like a massive scar carved into the earth. Sunlight poured in freely, illuminating the vast expanse all the way to its verdant floor. Massive ledges jutted out from the walls at varying intervals, creating terraces of life. Each ledge was its own ecosystem, thriving with greenery—wild grasses, vibrant flowers, and clusters of shrubs that clung to the rocky shelves.

The walls were adorned with cascading vines that hung like emerald curtains, swaying gently in the breeze that whispered through the chasm. Streams of sunlight danced across the surfaces, catching the dewdrops on the foliage and scattering rainbows through the air.

Below, the chasm floor stretched wide and inviting, a haven of lush vegetation. Trees stood tall, their roots sprawling across soft mossy ground, while a crystal-clear stream meandered lazily through the greenery. The sound of flowing water mixed with the hum of life, a symphony of nature thriving in this secluded sanctuary.

Despite its depth, the chasm felt open, bathed in light and filled with life. It was a hidden world, vibrant and untouched, sheltered from the chaos above yet brimming with its own quiet energy.

I pushed myself to my knees, wincing at the sharp pain that followed every movement. I glanced around me. The ledge I lay upon was lush with life, a small outcrop hundreds of feet above the chasm floor. The grass beneath me was soft, interwoven with moss and tiny blooms, the air rich with the scent of untamed nature.

I could feel the threads of loyalty, the bonds of trust that once connected all things. They were faint, weaker now, like the fading embers of a dying flame, but they were still there. The lives I had touched, the promises I had kept, all of them lingered in the silence, just out of reach.

I tried to focus, but the fragments of my memory shattered in front of me, slipping through my grasp. Xyros had fallen. And I... I had followed him, cast out for reasons I could not yet understand.

I staggered to my feet, my body unsteady, but I couldn’t afford to be weak. I was the goddess of loyalty. I had protected and nurtured the bonds of countless lives. But now, I was alone, and I could feel the weight of that loss.

The land around me called out, its energy ancient, but it did not answer my prayers. My divine essence was diminished, a hollow echo of what it once was.

I had to find Xyros. I couldn’t be the only one left.

I took a hesitant step forward, the soft grass cushioning my feet as I moved. The chasm stretched far and wide, its depths filled with the unknown. My gaze turned upward, seeking the distant edges of the land where I could almost feel him—Xyros, somewhere out there, lost like me.

But there was more. There had to be more. Whatever had brought us here, whatever had shattered our divine existence, I would find the truth. I would uncover the balance that had been lost.

For now, all I had were the memories of what I had been—and the hope that I could one day restore what had been broken.

And maybe... just maybe, find Xyros along the way.

I flew around for a few minutes, outstretched wings cutting through the cool, crisp air. The wind rushed past me, carrying the scent of moss and earth from the chasm below. The warmth of the sun bathed my feathers, a fleeting comfort in the face of the unknown.

The chasm stretched endlessly beneath me, its terraced ledges alive with greenery—clusters of trees, moss-covered rocks, and patches of vibrant wildflowers. Far below, a narrow stream meandered along the chasm’s base, its surface shimmering like liquid silver. The air here was alive, vibrant, yet eerily quiet.

As I descended, the first signs of civilization came into view. Structures—small and rough, but unmistakably crafted by human hands—jutted out from a wide ledge, nestled among the trees. Smoke curled upward from a fire pit, and the faint hum of voices reached my ears.

I landed softly at the edge of the settlement, folding my wings behind me as I approached cautiously. The settlement wasn’t large, no more than a dozen dwellings made of stone and wood, their walls reinforced with vines and earth. A communal fire burned in the center, and people moved around it, their movements purposeful yet subdued.

Their eyes fell on me almost instantly. Conversations halted, and silence stretched as every head turned.

"Who are you?" a voice called out, sharp and wary.

I turned toward the speaker—a tall man with broad shoulders, his hand resting near the hilt of a crude blade strapped to his belt. His eyes darted to my wings, his jaw tightening as though bracing himself.

"My name is Lunira," I said, my voice steady despite the weight of their stares. "I mean no harm. I’m... lost."

The man frowned, glancing to a woman by the fire. She nodded subtly, and he relaxed slightly, though the tension didn’t leave his stance. "What brings a goddess to this place?"

"I’m searching for someone," I said. "Xyros."

At that, the man’s expression hardened "Xyros?" he repeated. "You’re not the first to ask about him."

My heart quickened. "You’ve seen him?"

The man shook his head, but his tone softened. "No. But I know where he was last seen—Aeran, In Vayden, the capital city, Aerinae. If the rumors are true, he’s there, though whether he’s alive or not... that, I can’t say."

The older woman, the same one who had spoken earlier, stepped forward. "You’ve had a long journey," she said, her voice gentle. "Stay for the evening. You’ll find no paths through the chasm at night. Eat with us, rest. The journey to Aeran will be easier after sunrise."

I hesitated. The urgency to find Xyros burned in my chest, but the exhaustion in my limbs told another story. I nodded reluctantly. "Thank you. I appreciate your kindness."

The man motioned for me to follow, leading me to a small fire pit where a pot of soup simmered, its aroma rich and inviting. His family sat nearby—a woman with kind eyes and two children who stared at me with wide, curious eyes.

"Sit," the man said, handing me a bowl. "We’re not much for formalities here."

I settled onto the soft moss, accepting the bowl of steaming soup. The warmth spread through my fingers as I took a tentative sip. It was simple but hearty, the flavors of root vegetables and herbs blending perfectly.

"Do you always fly in like that?" one of the children asked, her voice filled with wonder. Children weren’t able to fly until undergoing puberty, that’s when their wings grew full and long.

I smiled despite myself. "Not always. But it’s faster than walking."

The family chuckled, the tension easing with the shared laughter. For a moment, I felt almost... normal.

As the fire crackled and the stars began to peek through the chasm’s open top, I listened to the family’s stories—tales of life in the chasm, their struggles and triumphs. They spoke of the beauty of the land and the dangers lurking in its shadows.

"You’re different from what I expected," the man said as the conversation lulled. "You don’t act like a goddess."

I glanced down at my hands, the scars and dirt that covered them. "I don’t feel like one," I admitted.

The man nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Aeran’s not far, but it’s dangerous. Stay on the roads, and don’t trust anyone too quickly. If Xyros is who they say he is, I hope the two of you figure out what to do.

I thanked him, his words lingering in my mind as I settled into a spare cot in their dwelling. The night passed peacefully, though my thoughts were far from quiet.

By morning, the family saw me off with food for the journey and words of caution. As I spread my wings and took to the skies once more, the chasm fading behind me, my heart burned with renewed determination.

Aeran lay ahead, and somewhere within its walls, Xyros waited. I would find him—no matter the cost.