Inner Fire Prolouge

                                                                          PROLOUGE

         The light sparkled and reflected of the polished stone. Spires of the Eternal Palace rose like fingers of creation seemingly from nowhere. Enormous waterfall flaked both side of the palace, falling hundreds feet to create a brilliant scene of a million stars as the light refracted through the spray. Trees and flowers of perfect symmetry dotted the courtyards and gardens. Everywhere one looked was the beauty of perfection, for this was no ordinary place. This was the seat of the Eternals, creators of all there was. For eternity they had spread their love and kindness far and wide to create a universe of exacting perfect order.





         The Eternals themselves were creatures of unending beauty. Every feature of their corporeal form was flawless. The men with their bare chest and muscular bodies were charged with the keeping of the heavens, planets, stars, all things of material form. The women with their elegant flowing robes and ample attributes were charged with breathing life into that material universe.

         

         From the beginning of time the Eternals were masters of their existence. They had created a universe of perfect beauty and balance. But on this day events had transpired that threated to bring all their works to total destruction. One of their own had created something dark and sinister. So unknown was this concept to the Eternals that they didn't even fully understand what it was. What they did know was that this creation could undo. It had the power to wither and remove the life from the things they created. The one responsible for this abomination was being restrained in fear he would unleash it upon them all. Now they gathered at the Eternal Palace, so that their Leaders could decide how to go forward, and what should be done with the one responsible.





          Degimous was on his knees, head bowed, hands fastened behind his back. He strained against his restraints. He knew it was futile to try; the golden glowing bands were made of pure life energy and could not be broken. Those gathered around him were staring at him with their golden eyes, waiting.





         "Degimous, why would you attempt to such a thing?" a female voice, as beautiful as the purest falling snow asked.





         He would not answer, his reasons were his own and he would not give her the satisfaction of knowing why he had created such as thing.





         "Will you say nothing in your defense?" she asked with great sadness in her voice.





         Moving closer to him, he could make out the hem of her white robes. The smell of every flower ever created filled his nostrils. He yearned to reach out and touch her.  She had been his constant companion since the creation. She was his friend, his confidante, his wife for all of time.





         "Husband, will you not tell me why, my love?" The last part little more than a whisper.





          "I am sorry Goddess, I will not. Do as you must, but I will not destroy it." He allowed himself to say.





         For all eternity, he had been by her side, watching as her divine powers had created the cosmos as she saw fit. Worlds had come and gone, lives of countless being floating in and out of existence at her whim. Her divine powers granted her domain over all things. Even now, that he had taken some of that power from her; she still held sway over most everything in existence. His newfound power could only take away what she gave so freely. Still to Degimous, it was enough. To have a small piece of the divine power reserved only for the female Goddess. He had done what other males had only dreamed. He had created a new power and he would not give it up, not even for her.





         "No it is I that is sorry my dear Degimous. I cannot allow you lose in existence with the power you have created."  The Goddess said as she laid a hand softly on his head.





         She then turned and faced the multitudes of her kind gathered there as witness. All eyes were upon her as she returned to her Throne set elevated on a dais.





         "GABIERAL" Her voice boomed as if everywhere at once.





          Suddenly as if from nowhere, Gabriel appeared beside him. He was a beast of a being. Taller than them all, his frame was solid and ripped with muscles. He was a Constantine, an enforcer of the Goddess' will. Never before now had their sect been called upon to enforce it.





         "Yes my Goddess" His deep voice said as he approached her throne.





         "Degimous has been found guilty of crimes against the Goddesses and threatens the peace of all creation." She said never taking her eye off her husband.





         "He is to be cased off into the void."





         Degimous raised his head. He could see the tears set in the Goddess eyes. He knew he would never see her again. The void was the space between realities. It was a place of nonexistence. Whatever went into the void never returned. He knew the sentence was absolute. It was a sentence of dead, if such a thing existed for his kind.





         He had been tried and sentenced to eternal damnation in the dark depths of nothingness. His only companion would be the eternal power he had created and would now nurture.





Hence was the birth of the Keeper of the Damned and the Dark Arts.

         

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