Kite stared at the scroll as he laid in his bed. He used his light magic to light the fragile paper on the nightstand. His magic alone had conjured up the strange image of the tree. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the stuff his mother used to tell him as a child, back when he lived on Berronia.
---
[Ten years ago- Berronia]
Kite sat in his bed as his mom told him a story about the titans that created his universe.
"There are many Titans in our vast cosmos, but there are twelve who rise above the rest. The original Titans."
"Original titans?" Kite hummed.
Kite's mom nodded. "Each represent a core concept. The oldest is Vorarex, the titan of the void. The second oldest is his wife, Nyxeria, the Titaness of the Night. The third is their oldest child, Lumeriana, the Titaness of the stars. All the stars in our universe are part of her essence."
His mom ran her fingers over the book she was reading. "The fourth is Ignisar, the Titan of Fire. His fiery nature is echoed in his son, the fifth Titan, Terrakon, the Titan of Earth and Mountains, whose fiery heart forms the molten core of every planet."
Kite hummed and looked down at the ground. Was there really a fiery heart in the center? It sounded both cool and scary...
"And the rest?" Kite asked, curious.
"The sixth great titan is Aquara, the Titaness of the Seas and Rivers, whose tears provided many worlds with water. Those worlds without water are said to be that way as he tears dried up from so much crying prior. Her counterpart is the seventh Titan, Ventusar, the Titan of Winds and Skies, whose breath created the winds that sweep across every world."
Kite imagined an unseen big guy blowing everywhere during a storm.
"The eighth is Vitara, the Titaness of Life. It is said that every being sprang from her essence, and to her, they will return upon death. Her husband's Mortarion, the ninth Titan, the Titan of Death and Decay. He is feared by many, but in truth, he is merely the other side of the coin. Death is a natural part of life."
At the time, Kite hid under his blankets, scared to think about death.
His mom chuckled and ruffled his hair. "It's okay, Kite. No need to be scared. As long as I'm here with you, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Kite poked his head out some more. "Really?"
She nodded. "I'll cute down everyone who hurts you with my sword if need be."
He smiled slightly. "Even bullies?"
She hummed. "Well, if they're your age, I'll probably just bonk them over the head with the hilt or something."
Kite giggled at the thought.
"Who are the other three titans?" Kite asked.
"There's also Temperatia, the Titaness of Seasons and Change. She is called the orchestrator of the grand cosmic cycle, the shifting of the seasons, the rise and fall of civilizations. Her dance is the rhythm of life itself."
Kite hummed.
"Then there's Myster, the Titan of Mysteries and Knowledge. He holds the answers to the universe's greatest questions, and it's said that he whispered his secrets to those who sought wisdom. The twelfth and final Great Titan is Chronosar, the Titan of Time and Space, who binds the universe together. His heartbeat is the ticking clock of the cosmos."
Kite's mother closed the book with a soft thud, her eyes meeting his. "And so, the twelve Titans watch over us, their powers interwoven into the fabric of everything we know. They are distant, yet ever-present, guiding the destiny of all living beings."
Kite lay back in his bed, his young mind filled with images of the mighty Titans. "Do they ever come to visit us?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.
His mother smiled, tucking him in. "In a way, they do. Through the ki that flows within us and the world around us, they are always close. And some say that the Titans can be found by those with a strong heart and a quest for knowledge."
Kite's eyes fluttered closed as he drifted off to sleep, dreams of Titans and cosmic adventures waiting to unfold in his slumber.
---
[Present day]
Kite opened his eyes, the memories of his mother's stories still vivid in his mind. He looked at the scroll, the image of the tree etched into his memory. Could it be that the tree was a symbol of one of the Titans? Perhaps Vitara, the Titaness of Life, whose essence gave rise to all beings?
Or perhaps not. His mom rather told him that Vorarex and Nyxeria were the children of the Goddess of Light and her counterpart, the God of Darkness. The statue of the Goddess of Light he and the others found in the sea cavern underneath the ruins pointed toward them worshipping the most ancient goddess.
He sighed. His gut told him he wasn't even in the universe of the titans anymore. But in another one.
His eyes went to the Cosmic Tree. There was another story he recalled his mom telling him. One that was similar to what Tomas and Liliana said about the Cosmic Tree.
---
[Eight Years Ago]
Kite and his siblings, Soren and Rika, sat by the fireplace as their mom recounted a story to them.
Rika smiled as she rocked herself in anticipation for the story. "What's the story tonight, Mama?"
Their mother smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting the flickering firelight. "Tonight, I'll tell you about the Tree of Worlds."
Soren, who was the second oldest of the trio, raised an eyebrow. "Is that like the Titans' story?"
"In a way," their mother replied, settling into her chair. "But this is a story about a tree that goes beyond just this realm. It's said that the Tree of Worlds stands at the center of a large black sea, its branches and roots reaching into every reality. At the top of the tree is a beautiful rainbow, displaying the radiance of all light. While at the bottom is the swirling vortex of the dark sea from which the tree and all sprang from.
Kite leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Is it a real tree, Mama?"
She smiled. "Our ancestors claim it exists. Our most stories history speaks of how we originated from that dark sea. The Goddess of Light named us the guardians of the Tree of Worlds, where each of the tree's fruits represent a vibrant universe. Our people have been far and wide, to places foreign yet perhaps familiar to us."
"Fruit?"
She nodded. "Indeed. And like with any fruit, there are certain beings seeking to devour it."
Kite's eyes widened. "Devour the fruit? Why?"
She crossed her arms. "Well, fruit provides nourishment. To them, they're nothing but food. Although, that's not the only issue. Like real fruit, a universe can sometimes decay if not take care of and fall into the vortex, lost forever."
Kite and his siblings gulped.
Kite's mother leaned forward, her voice taking on a somber tone. "That's why our people, the Guardians, were tasked with protecting the Tree of Worlds. It's a sacred duty, one that has been passed down through generations."
Kite, wide-eyed and captivated, clung to every word. He stared at his mother's sword, displayed over the fireplace. The blade seemed to shimmer in the firelight, a symbol of their family's legacy and unyielding duty.
"Have you ever seen the Tree of Worlds, Mama?" Soren asked, his skepticism giving way to genuine curiosity.
Their mother smiled wistfully. "No, my dear. But our ancestors have, and their stories have been passed down to us. They tell of a place of awe-inspiring beauty and infinite possibilities, where the boundaries between worlds blur, and the essence of all creation converges."
Rika's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I want to see it one day! I'll protect it just like you, Mama!"
Their mother chuckled softly, pulling Rika into a warm embrace. "And I'm sure you will, my brave little warrior. All of you will. I have no doubt that you will carry on our legacy."
Kite's heart swelled with pride and determination. The stories of the Titans and the Tree of Worlds were more than just tales to him—they were a reminder of his heritage and the responsibilities that came with it.
As their mother tucked them into bed, she whispered softly, "Remember, my loves, the Tree of Worlds is not just a place. It's a symbol of unity, of the interconnectedness of all things that have ever existed, exist, and will exist. As long as we hold that in our hearts, we will never be truly lost."
---
[Present Day]
If his people were indeed the Guardians of the Tree of Worlds, then perhaps this Cosmic Tree was a part of that ancient duty. The statue of the Goddess of Light they had found in the sea cavern underneath the ruins suggested that the people here might have worshipped her, much like his own ancestors.
Kite resolved to find out more. Maybe, just maybe, they were on the verge of something monumental—something that could unravel the mysteries of his clan and perhaps even reveal a hidden branch in Eldoria.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Kite extinguished his light magic, leaving the room in darkness. He closed his eyes, letting the memories of his mother's stories guide him into a deep, restful sleep.