Ancients

By Sébastien Sargent-Charbonneau

In the forest, south of the mountain range, lived three siblings. Not by blood, but by a cause. One to keep the people of the land safe. The Elf was a teacher, knew many things and shared that knowledge to the young, so that they may use it wisely and pass it on to their young. The Angel was a caregiver, showing compassion and love to all; hoping that they may all love every single thing as if they were the same, while still keeping that unique magic they all hold within them. The Fairy was a healer, helped the sickly and the wounded get back on their feet, empowering them, giving them hope that they may accomplish anything they set out to do; she taught to be who you are and use that to become strong. All was good, just as their Mother intended. Father, however, thought that this was not enough. He thought that his children should not just live in happiness, for that would lead them to false hope, and much, much worse in the future. In this fear he came to the Elf and said to her “Angel is beautiful isn't she?”

“Why yes she is Father.”

“She gets a lot of attention for her love and beauty”

“Yes she does Father”

“Doesn't that bother you? Doesn't it bother you that your knowledge is being overshadowed by something as silly as beauty?”

“Sometimes, but there is no need to feel envy.”

“Oh but envy is not what I question here my sweet Elf. I fear that knowledge will not be passed down if all the focus is on beauty.”

“You are right Father. But what are we to do?”

“Oh but I have a wonderful idea. Take her beauty.”

“Oh no! I could not do that. That would tarnish our relationship.”

“Ah but of course not. She would lose her beauty yes, but her message would be stronger. People would still love her just as much despite it. Her message of love would still flow. And your message of knowledge will be viewed more. Giving people more to think about.”

“Oh Father, how right you are. I will do that tonight”

As the Elf mentioned, she went to the Angel's place of rest that night and stole her beauty. However, and to the dismay of the Elf, the people did not love the Angel anymore. Her beauty gone, she became like the night sky, cold, baron, and without life. Her love did not show anymore, she only showed malice and hate. She became sad. She was now Fallen. No longer our beautiful Angel, only a Fallen; and with it, our Elf was now a Traitor. 

Without the love the Fallen was preaching, the land fell into war, chaos and madness. Traitor's knowledge could not stop it for the rage and anger they all felt, blinded them. So Traitor went into hiding, hoping to keep the knowledge safe. 

Surrounded by people in need the Fairy called to action, empowering those in need and healing those who are injured. She became the most loved of the siblings, the one hope left across the land. Father did not like that hope still prospered and devised another plan. He went to the Fallen and said “My daughter, Fallen, what is wrong.”

“The world is fallen into anger and the love has disappeared.”

“I don't know what you are talking about. They seem to love Fairy very much.”

“Yes they do. That is good, the world needs love.”

“Yet, she isn't teaching love. She is only teaching how to empower and believe in oneself. She teaches how to become stronger. Don't you think that will lead to more wars? More hate? We don't need that.”

“Oh my! You are right my Father. We cannot let that happen. I should go out and teach love again.”

“Do you think that is a good idea? Your beauty is gone and the world turns to her now for guidance. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one to have stolen your beauty.”

With that thought, Fallen turned to rage. She stormed to the Fairy and attacked her maliciously. Maiming and disfiguring the body she once had. Taking away all power she once had. Warping it into something new. Something ugly. Something filled with hate. The people watching were mortified, afraid and shocked to see Fallen doing that. Slowly Fallen became something she didn't recognize anymore. He became a Demon. He was now darker than night with glimmers, like stars, showing on his skin where hope once was. He was shunned and cast away. Forever hated by the very people that once loved him so much. Forced to breed hate all over the world, creating children to plague the land he once loved. 

As the people turned back and came to the Fairy, they were to late; she was now Warped, skin burning red with flames of change and stature much much larger than what she once was. She became weak, and the people lost hope in her.

They then turned to Traitor, she had the answer, she would know what to do. This was a time of unease. Knowledge was being passed around and taught, but was never improved on, never took the time to ask the questions. This was not what Traitor intended. She wanted people to learn, not to just repeat. But she had no control. War did end, for now; but in that time people developed hope that their new found knowledge would help the people of the land prosper. Father had failed again. Hope was still prospering all around. So Father tried one last time. He went to Warped and told her “It is so sad to see Demon do something so terrible to you. What an awful brother.”

“He really is. But why would he do that?”

“He thought you stole his beauty.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Traitor stole your beauty and never decided to let you know, despite him preaching to share knowledge to the world.”

This angered Warped. She did not understand. Why would you take advantage of a power you have to only suit ones needs. She thought this must not go on. She left and confronted Traitor “WHY DID YOU SAY NOTHING”

“What do you mean?”

“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!” she paused and took a long, deep and winded breath “ You caused war to our land, you created hate amongst our people, and fed lies to our history.”

“I did not wish for it to be like this”

“Well, neither did I” As she looked at Traitor with sad loving eyes, she cursed her. Turning her hair blue with grief. “You will forever keep this a secret, you wanted no one to know, well no one shall. All knowledge you keep will forever be kept secret. All secrets and events that happen in this world you will know. You shall never be allowed to share. Only keep. Brother Keeper, you shall wallow in your loneliness, only surrounded by your knowledge” And she never came back. Leaving Keeper in his solitude. Contemplating with all the knowledge in the world, and no one to share it with.

As she left, the curse had an adverse effect. It turned all of her remaining hair brittle, short and purple, the colour of power. She had become Cursed. As Cursed looked around this world, he vowed that all those who abuse their power shall feel his wrath. All those who abuse their power shall be cursed with it, never allowed to harm the weak. With that, the world lost hope. Knowledge was no longer being shared. If you shared knowledge you committed a sin of power. Love was no longer allowed to be felt. If you loved you committed a sin of knowledge. People felt weak. Strength was a sin of love. The circle of madness grew throughout the ages, and the siblings became Ancients. The Ancients watched over the land, governing, making sure the sins were to never be committed again. Only waiting for Mad to be created from this ever growing circle.