Days Go By

[Mishel Kryze]

Thankfully for mum, Riona was distracted by Eileithya's arrival. She missed the part about kimonos although, yes, Rio would look cute in one! "Okay!" She said with excitement leading the Priestess toward the sitting area so that they could look at the book that the fierymane lady had brought. The younger Kerrigan took her seat and promptly waited for the Priestess. Sitting down with her shoulders back and head held high, Rio looked like a little Siobhan (almost) with deep brown hair. "I am weady," she says with a smile looking between Eileithya and her mum.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Riona Kerrigan-Alcori"]


"Ready, Rio, ready. It's an 'r', not a 'w'," Siobhan spoke, emphasising the two letters in a long drawl so that the little one could see the difference. "Well, I shall leave you to it. You two have a good time," she smiled at both and then departed the living room.


Meanwhile, Eileithya had followed lil Rio to the sitting area. The gentle Priestess sat down on a couch and smoothed a crease in her long, flowing robe. "Your mother is a good woman. We've known each other for many years."


Before the Protectorate, before Firemane, to be precise. They'd had a fling for a while, but this writer digresses. "I'm very happy that you took so well the ceremony. It always warms my heart to see children there, especially non-Eldorai," she reached into her bag and fished out a book: "My Very First Codex: A Child's Version of the Holy Scripture."


There was a picture of Ashira in her garden on the cover. "There we go. Have a look at it. It's been translated into Basic and has many nice pictures! It's a basic introduction to Ashira and the other goddesses, without being too stuffy." Certain conservatives were very salty about children's religious books being written in anything that was not Eldarai. The same diehards were also very grumpy about "The Tale of the Goddess Casting Down the Accursed Arish" being banned by the Children's Educational Board for promoting racism.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Of course, Rio would come to understand that there were a great many people who knew her mother and had known her mother for 'years' in fact she'd most likely had known many of them for a lot longer than Rio had been alive. "I liked the singing," she says with a smile and then takes the book to the coffee table where she can view it. Riona flipped through the book with eagerness, it was a new book. She awed at the various pictures and tried to make sense of some of the words but some of it felt a little jumbled to her. Still, at four years old reading was a skill that had yet to be mastered. Rio pointed to a particular picture and asked, "whats this?"

"And what about this?" She asks the Priestess, and starts to wonder if all the pretty ladies around here have bright red hair and if she'd ever get any of that. "Will I get red hair?" She asks, it's random but again, she's four. "Mummy where's your friend?" She asks about the lady she saw in the room she wasn't suppose to go in. "Where's Mama?" And then she gets to looking around, "I wanna show Mama."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Riona Kerrigan-Alcori"]


"Oh, that's Ardarvia, the great goddess of law and justice. She's there to make sure people behave and punish evildoers. Your mother is very fond of her," Eileithya responded brightly, feeling grateful that this book only had PG-13 picture of the Great Goddess.


However, it seemed lil Riona had been ooh-shinied. In all fairness, this also happened to her mother a lot. "Well, when you're older you could dye it read, but I love your blonde hair. It's rare in your family. Makes you stand out."


The Priestess placed a gentle hand on Rio's shoulder when it looked like the little one was about to take off in search of the Firemane matriarch. "I think your mother is busy with work. You can show her a bit later and impress her! Would you like me to tell you the story of Ashira's birth?"

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Thank the Goddess for children's books and their versions of stories being told with such good taste. Yes, Riona was very much shinied out and wanted to know where her mums had gone. "But mummy and mama have red hair," she says honestly, "wait." She says, you can color your hair? Well that was news to Rio, "yous can colors your hair?" She was puzzled by this and intrigued all at the same time and it made her wonder - what her mum and mama's hair colors were, truly. Although Rio would figure that out on her own in years to come when she realizes her hair will be a lovely shade of brunette just like her mums. "When Mummy works she wears, she wears," the young one tried to think for a moment.

She knew when her mum went to work, it was not in her purple kimono and so the toddler was not quite buying that her mother was 'working,' although truth be told. Somewhere her mother probably was at work doing one thing or another. Ashira's birth? Oh that sounded interesting and Rio did love story time, "yes! Story!" She says excitedly, and one can only hope that the story of Ashira's birth would not trigger any other question!

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Riona Kerrigan-Alcori"]


This one can imagine a conversation along the lines of 'mummy, where do the babies come from?' 'Uh, I'll tell you when you're older.' 'Will you and mummy have another one?' Anyhow, on with the plot about telling the story of Ashira's birth. Eileithya was quite fond of children.


"In the beginning, before the dawn of time, there was a great darkness in the universe. Then came light: The sun, the stars and the moon were born. But the darkness was strong and evil beings were spawned by the Abyss. Wherever life was created, it withered away and died.


The celestial beings saw that this could not be and and so they joined to create Ashira, a holy being," the Priestess elaborated. She had a melodic, passionate voice that could make her words come alive and paint a vivid picture.


"The Goddess of Light, Fire and Air. Her fire burnt away the Dark and now at last there could be life. But her work was not done. You see, though powerful, Ashira could not be everywhere to fight the daemons, and she was lonely all alone.


So she gave up a little of her power to create her children, the other goddesses and deities. The first were Illyria, Ardarvia and Valora. To give them a home, she built Asur, giving it a garden of unimaginable beauty. To spread the Word of her glory, she fashioned beings out of clay and breathed life into them, creating the Eldorai."

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Riona sat comfortably and listened as Eileithya began to tell the tale of Ashira and in her mind she played out the story in vivid colors. Engrossed in the tale, she was - a young girl getting her education as it were. She was so still, as still as she would ever be, and she was so quiet. Bo'Sara her governess had never seen the girl like this before and was quite amazed. She did wonder why it was Ashira, why Ashira of all the creatures - did these celestial beings choose Ashira, even if she was holy. Surely there would be, or could be others? Riona wondered it - she then wondered, where she came from. If Ashira was created by celestial beings, how was she made? How did Riona happen? She wonders but does not say, and continues to listen instead.

The sun, the stars, and the moon - and yet there was still darkness, where life was - it was vanished. Ashira was made for the purpose of light, to ensure that life would continue - or so Riona comprehended. Riona again listened as the Priestess spoke of Ashira and Ashria's loneliness, indeed - Riona was lonely sometimes. She had only just made her friends at the Cathedral, Livia and Adril were still too little for her to play with properly. And so Ashira, created her children - Illyria, Ardarvia and Valora and gave them a home - building Asur, a garden. Rio didn't turn to look for she knew their home had a garden and so she wondered if Ashira's garden was anything like hers. The Eldorai were made of clay? How strange, and yet, how wonderful she thought. There seemed to be a pause and so, Riona decided to ask. "Where did I come from?"

The young girl's life had been an interesting one, and a tragic one. Born to an aristocrat who could not afford the scandal of her birth, given up for adoption to a merchant family living on Tabaqui in a beautiful village and bearing witness to their deaths and to the destruction of that village. And then, she was saved - she was saved and delivered from her fate on Tabaqui. Somehow, somehow she ended up with her mother - fate, divine intervention, Ashira's will? Riona had questions but she was still too young to ask them, but in time - she would, and for now. She just wanted to know where she came from, "if they beings makings Ashira then who make me?"

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Riona Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Birds and bees talk! "I believe the...exact mechanics are something to talk about when you're a bit older, dear," Eileithya said tactfully. This was the diplomatic grownup way of saying 'not for a while'. As a matter of fact, the Priestess did not know the precise origins of Riona. Siobhan trusted and was fond of her...but nonetheless.


She wrapped her arms around little Riona and gently picked her up, pulling the toddler into her lap. "Know that you're a product of love, dear. Children are...well, what happen when two people really love one another. The Goddess breathed life into you and gave you a soul."

 

[Mishel Kryze]

When she was older? Riona's little brow furrowed, the miniature Siobhan was not okay with this answer. At four years old she wanted to know where she came from, and before she could say anything, the Priestess told her that Ashira and breathed life into her. "Ashira makings me?" Riona questions, still holding that raised brow look on her face. She wasn't exactly buying it, but she would if it helped. A product of love? Mhmm, she would have left it alone but then she said two people, still she'd leave it alone for now and ask her mum where it was she came from. For now, Rio would accept the answer of Ashira - for now. A living, breathing miracle that is Riona adjusted herself in the seat, her little body curling into the sofa. "Ashira makings all things?" As she wondered if Ashira made Tygara.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Riona Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Originally it was said that Ashira only created Kaeshana and the Eldorai. The Kar'zun were not hers, nor were the aliens. Needless to say the Space Elves had undergone a massive culture shock when they realised there was intelligent life beyond Kaeshana - and that they had cousins on Tygara.


At this point, most races were considered to be Ashira's children in one way or another, though the Eldorai were obviously the oldest and most beloved. "Yes, you were. She gave you a soul, sweetie. Ashira created many beautiful things, including Tygara. There are some beings in this Galaxy that aren't her Creation. Evil creatures. For instance, the monsters Siobhan saved you from on Tabaqui," Eileithya said gently, hugging the toddler against her voluptuous bosom.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Rio smiled and snuggled into a little spot between the sofa and Eileithya. "Where's mummy?" She asked, which really was a fair question. "Can I show mummy my new book?" The toddler wanted to know if that was okay, and then she could show Mama. Curiously, the young Kerrigan slipped down from the sofa her feet planted on the living room floor. "Maybe Mummy is in her special room." Now that she's been told not to go there, she was just naturally curious as to what exactly it was and to explore it. After all, what was so bad about it? Mum was in there after all! "Maybe I takings you to Mummy's special room."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Riona Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Ah, yes, the special room! Siobhan, darling, you really need to be more discreet. Never underestimate the inquisitiveness of a little child, Eileithya thought to herself, suppressing a chuckle. Her friend had many qualities, but subtlety was not one of them. She wondered how Siobhan was adjusting to wearing clothes while in bed. "That's very nice of you, dear, but I don't think your mother would be happy if we visited her special room without permission," Eileithya said sweetly and got up quickly before Riona could take off like a hurricane. "I think she's in her office. We can go visit her!" she suggested jovially and took Riona's tiny hand, sliding her fingers into hers.