Present

-She'll be fine, don't worry. -said an unknown voice. - I already treated her wounds and now she needs to rest.

-Ok doctor, but what about the arm? She looked very hurt. -replied Joseph's voice.

-There were only superficial wounds on her skin, however she suffered a lot of internal damage to her right arm… But she will recover, as long as she rests. -replied the doctor. -What exactly happened?

-We were attacked by Hunters. Their leader went after her and tried to kill her. - replied Joseph.

-Hunters? I don't think they have enough powers to destroy a person inside. Hunters are not very smart; they fight more with brute force. And it would certainly be rare to find one who has already been in contact with one of the fountains, at least in this region... - said the doctor.

I opened my eyes and tried to turn to where the sound was coming from, when I immediately felt a twinge of pain and groaned. I looked directly at Joseph's concerned face, standing beside me. On his left, was an elderly man with a white coat and a charismatic semblance. At the back of the room, as far as possible, Dominic sat looking at me.

Ignoring the doctor’s and Joseph’s claims, I struggled to sit on the bed. I had probably lost consciousness due to the large amount of energy I released when attacking the Hunter. Many years had passed since the last time I dared to use those cursed powers.

-I'm fine. - I said trying to convince them and myself. – I apologize for the trouble I have caused you.

-Your arm...

-It doesn't hurt.

The man in the white coat checked my injuries again and moved away from the bed.

-I'll leave you alone so you can have more privacy. Don’t hesitate on calling me in case you feel any strong pain. Excuse me. -said the doctor, leaving the room. Joseph then approached my bed and sat on a chair next to me.

-It was just an accident Althea. It was nobody's fault. What matters is that you are fine now.

The feeling of guilty in my chest instantly increased with Joseph’s words. It was the moment to have the conversation I was avoiding in the last hours. I needed to be honest with them about myself, even though I was not fully sure of what I was.

-These "accidents" will continue to happen Joseph. And by now, the news that I escaped that place are going to spread. I was arrested for a reason and unfortunately, I cannot assume that my existence will simply be forgotten. The government will not stop hunting me. I believe that you already have your own problems, a path that you have decided to follow, and I do not want to divert you from it. You have already helped me a lot and I cannot ask you for more. I cannot risk your lives.

-Althea… we are on the correct path. You are worth risking our lives. -replied Joseph.

It still didn't make sense. I barely knew them.

-I know you saw what I can do. I am not normal. I can hurt you by accident… or even kill you. You don't know what I'm capable of. Even I don’t, but I know I have no control and...

-Actually, we know who you are Althea, perhaps, even more than you yourself. Dominic... - continued Joseph, turning to the figure still sitting motionless in the back of the room. - It is time.

-Yes. It's time. – said Dominic finally getting up from the wooden chair and now coming towards me.

- Right. I'll stand guard outside.

Then, Joseph left the room, leaving the two of us alone. Dominic sat next to me and straightened my covers. Slowly he started to speak.

-In this world Althea, there is a story, a legend, that go back as far as the foundation of the humanity and of the first civilizations in Eberon... a story of which you are one of the protagonists, even without knowing it. - Said Dominic, in a low voice, almost whispering. He then sighed and started speaking once again. -This legend that dates back thousands of years ago, at the beginning of our society, when the deities came to our world and blessed us with the fundamentals of our creation.

“It is said that, after spreading their knowledge, the deities then left this world, going back to the dimension of their origins. However, one of those deities decided to live among his creations and that’s when the continent of Eberon was founded. “

“He, one of the creators, had everything you could imagine, especially amazing powers. His powers, however, slowly began to corrupt his good heart. Nothing and no one could overcome him, and as time passed, he became more and more arrogant to the point of considering himself immortal and above all others. He then, started to consider himself the ruler of this world” Dominic continued. “The only thing that made him as human as his creations was the fact that he was hopelessly in love with a woman, who also loved him back. She was the reason of his stay in this continent, and he would do anything for her.”

This was certainly an interesting legend; however, I could not understand the connection between that story and mine. Dominic seemed to have read my thoughts and he suddenly said:

-Have patience, I'll get to the point soon.

Dominic then continued telling the legend.

“The deity then married the woman and had two children. Shortly after his second child was born, he met a man. A foreigner, who had heard stories that a god lived on that place and decided to confront him. This man then proceeded to watch him until he discovered his weaknesses.”

“It was a day like any other when the deity entered his home and found the foreigner holding his wife, threatening to kill her if he did not surrender his power and riches. But the man did not believe that there was anyone who could go against what he was and represented. The foreigner then took his wife's life right in front of him, cutting her throat. Only at that moment, the deity realized that he had just lost what he loved most.”

“He killed the foreigner for revenge and collected his wife's body to bury her, but before that, he climbed to the top of the highest mountain, as close to the other gods as possible and knelt down, asking their powers to bring his wife back to life. Even though he was a god himself, alone, he was not able to create life neither bring someone back from the dead.”

“The other gods then answered his request, but in exchange, they made the lonely deity abdicate everything that brought greed and threatened the life of the ones he really loved, including his own powers as a god. The gods gave him a sacred artifact, where he was to put his power and hide it where no one would ever find. So, the deity did his duty, and the other gods brought the woman back to life.”

“What the deity didn't realize was that his two children were his heirs, his descendants. Not only of his riches, but also of his powers.”

“When the youngest son was 20 and the eldest son 25, the man, who was no longer immortal, died. His wife left shortly after. And from this moment, the world’s balance started to collapse. The eldest son was ambitious. He had unlimited strength and did not intend to hide it. He believed that him, as a descendant from the creators, had the right to rule over the land, which led him to look for the artifact that his father had once buried, seeking for more power. The youngest, on the other hand, had a pure heart and fought against his brother and his greed. But neither of them was ever victorious. So, the brothers followed different paths, each forming a family; and two clans came into existence. Each clan was always blessed with a single child, a boy, who was then inheriting their father’s power. The war never ended. Each descendant had only one son who insisted on fighting the other. And this continued century after century, until the present time.”

-Do you mean to say that there are still two descendants of the creator living among us? Two people with the powers of the gods? -I asked, in amazement and a hint of excitement. That story was surreal; however, it came close to the stories and legends that I heard the sailors telling when I was a child.

-Yes. And both are the reason for the current war.

-But I still don't understand...

-One of the most outstanding characteristics of the descendants is their unique eyes. They have eyes colored differently from any other human. Violet eyes. -Replied Dominic, while staring at me with a serious semblance. 

My heart beat faster. Was that what I was imagining? It couldn't be. The story didn't add up.

-I understand that is difficult for you to believe. You spent your whole life being deceived about your own existence. Also, as I said, this story is a legend, meaning that not all details of it are historically accurate. But the existence of the heirs is known all around the continent and the islands surrounding it. -continued Dominic. – When we will leave this island and meet more people you will be able to verify that what I say is true and…

-Is not it. -I said, interrupting him with my trembling voice. -Even though this legend indeed sounds like unreal, I can’t be the one you are talking about. I am not… a male.

-That is why you are a threat, and that is why the other Descendant fears you Althea. You are a descendant of a deity, a Creator of this world. You are Althea Haeres, the first heiress of the Creator’s powers.

My heart skipped again when I heard my full name, as if my subconscious had been waiting for those words for a long time. It all explained why I was different. Why I was a threat. Still, it was unbelievable.

-But... all the heirs were men, and I am a... I am just a weak girl after all. I cannot be a threat to the other descendant. –I insisted. Suddenly another fact came to mind. - But is that the reason the government considers me a criminal? Do they think I am a descendant? Why would they care about...

-Orion Haeres. World Government Leader. Highest authority in the navy, the army, and in Eberon. -said Dominic in a somber tone and his face was filled with disgust. –Also, your opponent and the reason for your imprisonment.

I wanted to keep denying it, even with my body and soul insisting that those words were something I was bound to accept. It was not possible. My existence was insignificant. I couldn't be who Dominic said.

-Then why am I still... - I hesitated. Maybe I didn't want to know the answer. - Why am I alive? If the government had me in their hands then why didn't they kill me?

At that moment I shivered at Dominic’s expression. His eyes burned with anger and there was no life on his face. His fists were clenched in his lap and it looked like he was about to kill anyone in front of him. He seemed dangerous and I could not understand why this conversation made him feel that way. Dominic seemed to feel the same pain that I felt in my chest at that moment, mixed with hatred.

-You, Althea, are the hope of this world. It is the "breaking" of a cycle that lasts thousands of years. Your arrival was predicted in a prophecy, years ago. You still don't know the extent of your powers, but he wants it for himself. Orion wants you more than anything. You are the object of his desire and he... -Dominic hesitated for a second, and then took a deep breath to continue. -You are the only female descendant that was ever born. He believes that this is a sign, an opportunity. If the two descendants were to unite and produce a child... That child will be the most powerful being in the world, a complete being. A deity. A child with the inheritance of two descendants. Orion will not rest until he has what he wants, and he has half the world to fight for him. However, the other half is on our side.

His words made me even more worried and confused than before. It was too much for my head. That was not the answer I was looking for or expected. The very idea of my existence was an internal conflict. Especially now that it was no longer denied. My existence was awaited.

After a moment of silence, I manage to gather my thoughts and stare at Dominic once again. So many questions were passing through my head that I didn’t even know from where I should start. So, I started from the ones that I was the most curious about.

-May I ask you… How do you know all this? How can you be sure that I am who you are looking for? You may be mistaken. It might be a coincidence that I have eyes with shades of purple, but it doesn’t mean…

Dominic’s expression became even more frightening and I couldn’t continue talking. That was a question that he didn’t want to be asked. With possibly an answer he didn't want to give me.

-I apologize for my question. I was impolite, you don’t need to answer. - I told him, hoping this would make his eyes come back to normal.

-No, no. Don't worry, I want to answer, but I'm afraid you will come to hate me after knowing everything... everything I did.

His words shocked me. I could never hate the man who had once again given me the opportunity to live.

-Hate you? I would never have that right! -I said, with my voice louder than I wanted. -I have no right to hate anyone. How could I hate you when you just saved my life Dominic? How could I hate someone who gave me the freedom again to feel the warmth of the sun, the smell of the sea? You gave me the freedom to see beyond the darkness for the first time in years. It is not up to me to judge you for your past.

On impulse I took his hand, which was still tightly closed. He relaxed at my touch and I kept holding him until he was completely calm. At the same time, I found my own impulse strange... I had never touched a man willingly like that. However, it didn’t feel awkward.

Then, Dominic once again started talking.

-It’s been only one year since I went against the government. Before joining the rebels, I was something I despise today more than anything. I was one of them; a General. -He stopped and analyzed my face, searching for any sign of rejection. I kept my expression serious, without showing the surprise I was feeling. A general. One of the men who tortured me so many times during my life.

“My father is a renowned naval admiral and I followed in his footsteps, only in the army. I worked directly for Orion. I did the services that were considered special, the dirtiest possible. I killed many people, with my own hands Althea. Few believed that I had such strength and therefore underestimated me. I was too young and used to even be proud of what I did.”

“A little over a year ago, my father said that I would be honored by Orion, that I was old enough to know the plans that the World Government had and that I had also achieved a position of high prestige in the Army. I, too, had already gained Orion's trust, as had my father. So, I was taken to the most feared and safest prison in the world; a place where Orion sends his greatest enemies and strongest opponents or threats to his government. And that is when I met you.”