"It's been so long," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I never thought I would see you again."

"Who are you?" I asked again, my voice more forceful this time.

The woman hesitated before making a grim expression

"My name is Lyra," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "But you may know me as the goddess of creation."

I froze, my mind unable to comprehend what Lyra had just said. Was she truly the goddess of creation? Or was this some sort of trick?

"Wh-what do you mean?" I stammered, my gaze not leaving the woman's face.

"I mean exactly what I said," she replied, her tone firm. "I am Lyra, the goddess of creation."

My mind raced as I tried to process this information. The baby, the mysterious symbols on its body, the rapid development, it all made sense now.

"What does that mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"What does it mean? Well, to be honest, I don't think you would understand," Lyra explained. "But I need your help to ensure that this child has a loving childhood."

I nodded slowly, feeling a sense of duty wash over me.

"The future that lies ahead for my child is grim, and your involvement with him will certainly lead to your demise, but should you raise him as your own, I will make your passing as smooth as I can."

I nodded again, understanding the gravity of the situation. If Lyra was truly the goddess of creation, then I had been entrusted with a monumental task.

"Of course," I replied, my voice steady. I will raise the child as my own and do everything in my power to protect it. But what do you mean by my doom? What dangers lie ahead?"

Lyra's expression darkened, and she looked at me with sorrowful eyes.

"I cannot say for certain," she replied. But know that there are those who would seek to harm my child for their own gain."

I nodded again, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I would do whatever it takes to protect the baby, even if it meant putting myself in danger.

"Thank you for entrusting me with this task," I said, my voice unwavering. But may I ask what these symbols on his forehead mean."

"It's the sigil of the one true king. I can't say more than that, but I will tell you that morality is subjective; one who is called a monster may be another's saint."

Lyra's words left me with more questions than answers. Who was this one true king, and why was the baby marked with their symbol? And what did she mean by morality being subjective?

Despite my confusion, I knew that I had to focus on the task at hand: raising the baby as my own and protecting it from any harm.

"Oh, one last thing. Let me also point out that Karthren is not as holy a place as you may believe. When I made it, it had the potential to be something sacred, but now it just houses bureaucrats who falsely claim to represent me. Truly no better than the squabbling kings below." Lyra sighed.

"What do you mean below is their life outside of Karthren?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Yes, there is a world below, Karthren," Lyra replied a hint of sadness in her voice. "A world full of chaos and destruction, where power and greed rule all. But there is also beauty and love, hope and redemption. It is a world that my child will one day have to navigate, and I pray that they will be able to bring about change for the better."

I listened to Lyra's words, feeling a sense of responsibility wash over me. I knew that I had to raise the baby to be strong and resilient, to be able to face the challenges that lay ahead.

"I will do my best," I replied, determination in my voice. "I will raise this child to be a force for good, to make a difference in the world."

Lyra nodded a small smile on her face.

"I know that you will, but remember to look at the bigger picture. It isn't always as simple as good vs. evil. The world is complex, and there are often shades of grey. But I believe that my child, with your guidance, can bring about positive change."

With that, Lyra left, disappearing into the night. I stood there for a moment, still in shock from the encounter. But eventually, I turned my attention back to the baby and to my duty to protect and raise it as my own.