Ashes fell like snow upon Viraeth's Hollow. Grey, withered trees with their barks split open in silence while the cold wind swept over the once holy and divine land. The ruins of the shrine lay in mourning, its walls half-swallowed by gnarled roots, its once-sacred altar now nothing more than a husk of its former beauty.
It was here, in this place of death and silence, that a child was found.
No one witnessed his coming.
The druids had long since migrated away leaving behind the soil they once spoke to.
There were only the winds, the trees, and the faint flicker of yellow starlight from a rent in the clouds—unusually several stars flickered, something that had not happened in generations. It was as if they returned, just for a moment, to watch.
The infant did not cry. He was shivering, his skin was cold yet flushed faintly with silver veins. His right eye shimmered gold, the left a deep, abyssal black. And carved into his body were peculiar marks–or perhaps runes– enchanting yet unnatural. He was awake–yet seemed hollow and still, wrapped up in a green silk cloth and placed upon the broken hand of the ruined statue.
None might ever know how he reached there– left alone in the ruined wasteland. The cloudy sky began to clear, revealing the moon and the stars surrounding her.
"Villeren Yllza Viraethis…"
A flowy figure emerged from the far woods approaching the ruined shrine, chanting sacred words in a trembling voice–slowly getting louder. The maiden proceeded towards the silent infant. Treading over the dull sand, she reached her hands towards the infant–with an unusual expression on her face she stared into his eyes.
The boy lay still–not a single sound could be heard from him. The curious maiden could clearly see her own reflection inside his golden eye. It took a moment–but then, a smile bloomed over her face, like something long forgotten.
"This feeling... how can I appreciate the thought it again..."
She gently kissed his hand and held it firmly gazing towards the exceptional starlit sky and with a soft voice whispered.
"Is this the fate I must bear…Is this your answer?".
"You are shivering…", the druid carried the child, her long silver hair tangled like roots.
She began humming a lullaby, slowly walking past the ruined shrine towards the forest.
The child had fallen asleep. The woman walked past the moss-covered debris, past withered trees and wilted flowers. The once-divine Shrine of Viraeth was nothing more than a graveyard of nature and moss-covered ruins.
"Sevah!"
A panicked druid wielding a blade stepped out from the bark of an overgrown tree where she had been camouflaged.
"Sevah, the whole forest felt your departure."
Her expression changed when she noticed Sevah with a child in her arms. She took a deep breath and took on a more serious tone.
"Where did you find the child?"
"He was left at the shrine, I could not sense anyone else around. Don't worry."
The druid knelt down to see the child's face. He was trembling. She raised her left hand and placed her right on her chest, closed her eyes, and channelled some of her energy into the shivering child– providing warmth. For a druid, manipulating magic- or Asyth, as it is called in Theryndal is naturally ingrained into their existence.
Sevah feeling a lot more relaxed in the presence of her friend, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Zuli."
"Do you plan to raise him?"
"I must," Sevah murmured wistfully. "I cannot bring myself to abandon him in the ruins–even the forest has begun to wither in the far edges…"
Her voice slowed down near the end. She turned her head slightly, eyes drifting away with a wistful gaze. Unable to speak another word, she shook her head, wishing she never brought the topic up. For a moment, silence hung between the two druids. A sharp gust of wind swept through as the crows perched on a withered branch let out a series of screeches and took flight, leaving behind a bitter chill in the air.
"Sevah," Zuli said, lowering her head. "I was not strong enough…my inability and weakness resulted in his corruption, forgive me."
Sevah's lips trembled as she closed her eyes. The silence pressed heavily between them. A tear fell down her mourning eye. She glanced at the sleeping child, then turned towards Zuli and murmured.
"Please…don't say that. He was brave–just unfortunate. You did everything you could."
Zuli responded with a faint smile.
The stars slowly faded away as the sun rose. The druids delved deeper into the forest and arrived near The Viraeth Grove. Zuli peeked at the sleeping child once again, with her eyes as curious as they can be.
"What will you name him?"
"I… don't know. We don't even know who his real guardians are."
"He does not look like an elf child, is he the offspring of some unknown or extinct race? I have never seen such peculiar body marks,"
Those marks on him were indeed peculiar. There have been many myths and stories about children being born with marks, although most have never seen it. The engravings on his face gently glowed under the sunrays.
Sevah paused for a moment as she remembered something.
"I remember Mihr describing to me a tale from his hometown. The pixies guide lost children to divine shrines where they might be reborn–it's some kind of tradition."
Zuli sighed.
"I might've believed that… if I'd ever actually seen one of those little beings in my lifetime."
"They do exist; I met one… quite a few years ago. Only for a few seconds."
Zuli sighed again.
"So, are you actually naming him Pixie?"
"No. The Chronicles of Viraeth speak of Faenhei—the true name of the pixies."
Sevah, stared at the sleeping boy. A smile bloomed on her face, just as a mother first naming her child.
"But this child… shall be called Fael."
Zuli's eyes widened, surprised seeing her friend express a smile which had not happened in a long time. She gazed over the child's face and smiled faintly. "Then may Fael grow healthy and safe in your hands. If anyone can raise him, it's you."
They continued onwards in the forest trail, leading towards the Grove.
A bush suddenly rustled at a long distance behind them. Zuli, having sharpest ears in the Grove clearly heard it, yet decided to stay silent and continue onwards.
Soon they reached inside the Grove, a group of relatively greener and leafier overgrown trees species known as Tursim trees. A small druid population inhabits this place. Druids are one of the many races that inhabit Theryndal. They were created by Viraeth.
The druids were engaged with the forest. Bathing in the freshwater stream, tending the gardens, and feeding birds and fish were part of their daily chores.
Although it wasn't the first time the druids had witnessed adoption, years passed without someone being adopted. Over the years, they had grown familiar with the sight of fellow druids raising children found by fate. So, when Sevah brought Fael into the Grove, they welcomed him with gentle warmth.
Sevah and Zuli approached the elder druid, looking like a withered old bark and her face covered with wrinkles, chewing on a thick twig. A white bird perched on her thin arms as she prepares the vine cradle for Fael.
"Sorry, I couldn't hold back myself this time either. He compels me to visit the shrine every night.", said Sevah in an apologizing tone.
The elder sighed.
"You need to forget about it him before his influence makes you maniacal. At least you brought a child this time."
The twig in her mouth cracked. She spit it out and murmured.
"Such a twisted fate for one so small… You have never brought someone this young before."
"I hope for him to grow healthy and learn about himself," Sevah replied, placing Fael gently in the vine cradle.
Other druids gathered around for the occasion. The overgrown Tursim trees stood tall, their carved trunks hollowed by time and care—forming natural dwellings for druids and the children they had taken in. In the grove's heart lay a circular gazebo, its wooden frame entwined with blooming vines and moss.
Zuli hears another rustle far away, inaudible to everyone else. Suddenly the potted plant behind the gazebo falls down.