The Rise and Fall of Alphana pt. 1

In a beloved temple gleaming with many treasures, one fit only for a goddess…

The haunting musk of aging glory; Gold brilliance now a fading brown despair, Silver valor now blank in it's dis. Conscience fluttering her eyelashes, bitter in the remembrance of past softness and warmth. It was the curse of never-ending that plague her.

"I just need more power, more believers to free me."

'Power, what they stole from me, what I need… Power!'

Words that weigh her, while age can't touch her. Time multiply rolling her desperation and growing stress, a back now unable to remember the height of divine posture. Her glowing skin, only a hauntingly pale copy now. Every look into that mirror was a reminder of what was lost. A dream longing in sleep, turns to waking nightmares as the labeled years of regret.

'The days before this silence…'

Science only an echo in the face of Faith, humans had nothing else. They hung in the grips of the heavens, their joy or despair completely out of their hands.

"Mommy, where's the water?"

'Goddess my grandmother could no longer come to pray, I pray for rain. Please save her.'

'May my dry throat and concave appearance transcend that heavens carrying my faith.'

It was a boy, slender and young, pale and smooth, eyes that express steel coolness. His existence without waver by his wasting body, eyes of hunger did not match his gray hued eyes. So many begged for water and food, borderline curing this test for faith and even some so empty that only nothingness rang into the heavens. He was deep in his unfazed resolve in faith.

'Goddess please save my people, barren lands have got us eating at ourselves. My people are weak and faltering more, they say this is just to test our faith. Goddess, why must your test even reach children too young to read or stand?'

It was only after many moments that felt like forever longer to mortals did the goddess answer, with a rumble of sky. It was the swirling of clouds and cracking of the earth, it was then that the air torn itself and folded back to reveal the glow of gold and the innocence of white. It was the cherubs song that dripped like honey from the hole in space and time.

"Because, faith can be easily forsaken I take very careful measures. You, however, have made me rethink this act of loyalty."

It was the click of golden heels, the sway of white satin stretched over the curve and bends of her ebony flesh. Her voice, melting ears of all around.

"I've come for you today. So let you reignite that passion of our people."

This was the beginning, the day human's could no longer ignore the animals they harbor in their souls . Soft her gently lips, planted between the furrowed was blessing by physical touch. She was never more glad to come to land, he built of faith and yet devoted to no god or goddess.

'The faithful to me, but not devoted? It's time for you to experience becoming my apostle young serpent.' It was the urge to own, will such mental fortitude to be hers and hers alone.

Her power flooded his body, searching every inch for a creature befitting his soul. His luster and coolness, only one animal could truly encompass his existence.

In his shock, this new power caused tingling to ripe though his skin. His bones bend and compressed, pulling and enlarge. The lack of legs, lack of arms and the reflection of scale covered skin.

Those before the temple once praying, were now found mending horror into their awe of faith. It was the wave of hands meeting ground, knees and hands meeting in trusting of faith coming true. It was the booming of her power, the booming of his new forms pulling on him. This was her bless, she walked and rest her head to his. Light enveloped him and he returned, permeating of scales shrinking to one a dark and lushes purple. Adorning his chest, that single scale holding two stars.

"My grandmother used to speak of a day that she remembered so well, and yet it seems only she was destined to recount that day. It bothered me, after all how could so many people simply forget that day a goddess blessed a child? I most find the reason, the reason no one remembers.

She used to say that on one day in the mist of a drought, the heavens had made a flashy entrance and saved them. So I am not looking for the reason the goddess is no longer with us."

"My child, may you be remembered as Cobra. You will join me in the temple while I stay on earth. My followers, this is my blessings for you. You have sacrificed and lived in suffering for your belief in me. So now you can thrive in so many ways from now on."

This performance we praised and applauded, they felt as though their prayers were heard in this moment. It was a moment many had start to believe would never come in their lifetime, the joy become too much for them.

Over the months to come, the crops returned to their previous state. The rain came and the land was again moist. This was hailed the Holy Miracle, which set forth the Miraculous Millennium.

"After the Goddess Alphana came to earth, everything was happy and no more had to suffer. Grandmother would often speak of the six boys to follow Cobra into living at the temple. She used to blush some every time Barnes was mentioned, the feathers he would drop in his owl form would always intrigue her.

They would later be called Barnes, the Owl of scholars, Val Pan, the Panther of defenders, Cobra, the serpent of patience, Leo, the Lion of loyalty, Van Squire, the Squid of the deep, Kona, the Koala of peace and Thrash, the Boar of the Mountains.

Grandmother would always talk about how Barnes and Koma were so close before they were blessed, they would search for things worth reading. They were the village's greatest stars."

"My goddess we wish to become your students, your servants. Please teach us so we may lead our people better." It was the unison they had, the way even the seventh looked into the eyes of the Goddess without hesitation.

'When did these child decide to come? And that young serpent seems surprising waiting my answer.'

Melody was rang one more, "My student, why would you bring me more children as faithful students?"

You could feel the tension growing around them, it was the thoughts she pulled back overrunning her mind.

'You come because of him, you would teach him?'

'Would you not also hear our prays?'

The Goddess could see it, could see the hunger in all their eyes. 'The scholar, he would be interesting to let read the holy text. He could teach the power of me, he could stuff all the things I need to further my greatness.'

He steps forward, his soft brown hair, short and yet it would sway and bloom with no care. She found herself seeing again what lead her to earth. The hug she gave and uttered one word, once more she let her power flow into the body of others.

"I have to know why Grandmother would tell me not more about the children, nor the Goddess. I need to search high and long to find the answer to my many questions.

The next time that I come back, I will learn more and find just what they won't say about the. Let this lead me to an adventure."