54. Incarnates | Beyond the Firmament: Tales From the Cosmos

Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

54. Incarnates

- Written by Gift C Enyadike Jr

The Titaness, Fari Hasira, now scattered across space like ashes, would live an untold number of mortal lifetimes; sometimes two or three at the same time on the same world.

Most of these were short and violent, often ending with the would-be Jarwan worlds that failed. Those pieces of her were lost forever. The ones that remained were no less turbulent. Very rarely would an incarnation, what we who know call a Farharaat, meet the standards of old age, on any world.

As a mortal, she was more vulnerable than ever before. For the Paadlan, who had so feared her as she was, are a vengeful and spiteful lot, and they plagued the Farharaats wherever and whenever they were born.

13. The Evening Star | Beyond The Firmament: Tales From The Cosmos

Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

 13. The Evening Star

- Written by Gift C Enyadike Jr

Da Vaada held out his left hand and Udamu went silent. There was a red stain on the beautiful cosmos that had once been a sister to Teyra, and he mourned it. A deep regret had filled his heart. Not regret as you and I understand it, but as it was once understood: A great sorrow for the loss or absence of something pleasant.

Once again, Onárstil stood before throne, shielding his face not from reverence but from shame.

"What have you to say?"

"Let me try again."

"That is all?"

"I can do better with a new world."

"You were given one."

"Then give me another."

"You have one. It is yours. Return to it."

"So I can gaze upon your perfect world?"

"You were the Morning Star, seen before the Sun rises. Mars will shine brightly as the Sun sets, so that it shall be seen before sleep and remembered in dreams."

Onárstil's hidden face no longer carried shame, but anger, "I do not want it!"

"It. Is. Yours."

Onárstil left the throne and returned to Mars. The planet's firmament had been all but destroyed, so he could see into the far reaches of spaces and the first thing he saw was Teyra, bright and blue and still full of life. 

His own light had dimmed from his festering rage, which only served to make Teyra all the brighter and for the first time, he was cast in shadow. 

12. Mars | Beyond The Firmament: Tales From The Cosmos

 Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

 12. Mars

- Written by Gift C Enyadike Jr

Onárstil descended upon his new world with a host of angels in his wake. 

As I said, Vaada Pari was a twin to Teyra, but smaller and with two moons instead of one due to the greater amount of water. Very little work needed to be done, as the canvas had already been primed. All that was needed was to paint the landscape with life, and so it was. 

From the ground and from the sea came all manner of great beasts that would easily dwarf any on Teyra. The people were no different, bigger, stronger and overwhelmingly beautiful, having been made in the image of their creator. The angels that were with him, sang and praised him.

11. Father's Gift | Beyond The Firmament: Tales From The Cosmos

Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

 11. Father's Gift

- Written by Gift C Enyadike Jr

Da Vaada knew all. He saw into every heart, including Onárstil. The Morning Star who stood before him, covering his face, as all do.

"What troubles you, my son?"

"I wish for a kingdom."

10. The Morning Star | Beyond The Firmament: Tales From The Cosmos

Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

 10. The Morning Star

- Written by Gift C Enyadike Jr

The angels, as we often call them, were raised to a higher status. The greatest among them, who had been the brightest among the stars, could stand before the throne of Da Vaada, though none could witness him directly. In fact, they would always need to shield their faces as they sang his praise or sought his counsel.

9. The Heavenly Hosts | Beyond The Firmament: Tales From The Cosmos

 

Beyond The Firmament

Tales From The Cosmos

 9. The Heavenly Hosts

- Written by Gift C Enyadike Jr

I don't think I need to tell you that infants need guardians, my Acolytes. Watchful eyes and guiding hands to keep them safe and on the right path while they explore the world around them. Humanity was in its infancy, and so it was given guardians. An army that would abide in Da Vaada's strength and obey his commands.