Chapter 1 Prologue

• The sun was shining as Alice Collins entered the temple and knelt before the statue of Eluin. The face carved in gold made it look like the god of healing was staring at her. She contemplated the short hairs cast in gold metal and the tunic that falls on his shoulders as if he really was there. Then he lit the blue candles in the front of the statue, the long red braid slipped on his right shoulder touching the navy-blue dress and accentuated over his bent knees. The smell of Aloe Vera on site calmed her.
• The woman prayed to Eluin, asking God to help her in her role as the village healer, to heal the sick of the day, or at least, if it was not possible, that he would guide her in her words of comfort to the hearts of those who stayed.
• Alice blinked a few times, annoyed with some supposed noise, felt the wind move the fabric that covered her, but had heard nothing else. He looked again at the golden image and remembered an ancient story, which his mother told him when innocence still covered his infant eyes, about the rise of priests in the world and how they were extinct. He closed his eyes and could hear his mother’s voice cradling his sleep.
• "Seven Gods, Diax, his wife Lunits, and their children: Eluin, Tunian, Paris, Auritem and Temenis. All responsible for the origin of the creatures.
• Some people were born with the gift of feeling the energy of the Pearl Forest, the sacred home of the gods, and using it for good. They were called priests.
• However, Eluin was not pleased with this creation, he believed that if there was one god for healing and another for nature, such ordinary beings should not serve this purpose. Lunits in his wisdom, smiled at his son every time he cursed, stating that nothing happened by chance.
• Another God shared Eluin’s ideals of priests. Temenis, the youngest, tired of living under the shadow of the brothers and hated by mortals, used to walk in disguise among them enjoying their company, however, the young did not conform to the fear that everyone except the elves and fairies had of death. While the brothers were worshipped, he received from mortals only terror.
• Thus, consumed by rage, overcome with envy and hatred, Temenis turned against the other gods, using the energy in the Sacred Forest to his advantage. He imprisoned everyone except Eluin, who because of his opposite, could not be imprisoned by the power of death.
• Both fought for days and nights, until the elder won and managed to imprison his brother as well. But he had arrived too late; the forest was dying and with the gods trapped, nothing could be done. It took a priest, but the youngest was cruel and vile, and murdered every one in the world.
• Without hope, the god of healing waited for the end. With the death of what originated everything, the whole life of the world would disappear. And in the end, only the gods would remain.
• Eluin had never felt so powerless in his long life, but centuries later, a thread of hope emerged. The god could feel a life being born and was not any one, he was sure that he had felt a new priestess born. It was ironic how the last hope was in a species he had so hated."
• Alice came out of her trance. The woman still hoped that the gods might one day walk again on earth and that the world would be saved. Maybe the last priest was closer than she thought. He thought of his daughter and immediately clenched his fists, fearing the possibility of the girl being the last existing priestess. And the dangers that would bring her.
• - Are you Alice Collins? - asked a deep and deep voice.
• Behind her was a group of men in black armors, alongside enormous creatures resembling white-eyed wolves. The black coat that swayed to the gray caught his attention, the claws and silver teeth were as imposing as the legs connected with blue lights.
• “ What do you want?” — Asked the woman with a tense jaw.
• “By order of the Emperor, you will be taken.”
• “Taken? On what charge?” — he asked seriously. He could not show fear. Even if his heart beat fast at seeing such strange creatures.
• The guards did not respond. She tried to fight, but it was in vain. They were strong. They took her to a black carriage drawn by horses of the same color. Inside there was a slender man, silver hair, such as the fangs of beasts. The thin, black clothes with golden details and the mask of the same color highlighted the deep flaying eyes of the unknown.
• “Good morning Miss Collins, it is a pleasure to meet you.”— he said with a slight bow of his head. “I am the Emperor and I intend no harm to you.”
• “What do you want with me?” — Alice answered with her chin raised, facing the Emperor with petulance.
• “ Don’t worry. You’re just a bait for your daughter.”
• “Mira? Why?” — Tried to move forward, but the guards stopped her. “Don’t dare…”
• “Rest assured. I will not lay a single finger on her. She will come to me of her own free will. After all, the family must always be united.” — The man smiled and moved his fingers, a silent order for them to follow the journey.
• Alice clenched her fists, worried. She knew that day would come but did not imagine it would be so soon.
• Well, Mira was turning 18 today. How much longer would she take her daughter away from her destiny? But no one prepared her for such a drastic approach.
• She thought about her adopted daughter. Her friend Liam had told her about her past. About Mira being special, about someone looking for her.
• He also told him about someone watching them, the Emperor paying attention to man’s actions. That someone could come to the girl’s aid in time of need.
• The woman stared at the village being left behind, hoping that this person could help her child.