End of Light

PROLOGUE

The tale of Idos and Vadra is known by all. It's told to us as bedtime stories when we are young. We grow up with it, and by the time we have our own children, we will be able to recite it to them. And so on and so on. I can still recall my father's voice; his words lulling me to sleep.

Long ago, this world was split in two. The separation between both halves of the planet ran deeper than anyone would think possible. Deeper than the absolute core, it seemed. And how could it not? While one side hemisphere was bathed in the sweet golden light of the sun, the other was shrouded in the daring darkness of night at all hours. Eternal day and eternal night. The sun never crossing the same sky as the moon. Instead, they each towered over their lands, never migrating from their post. The land of the night had come to be called Vallis, while the land bathed in sunlight became known as Soleis.

Idos, the god of day, worked hard to provide plentiful nutrients and sunlight to create bountiful crops and livestock for the people of Soleis. Vadra, the goddess of night, used the moon to pull the tides in her favor to give her people fish and fresh water. After a long drought on Soleis lands, Idos went in search of water for his people's crops. Idos found himself over the Glizon Sea, named for the sea god himself. He wasn't expecting to find Vadra. She was hunting for more food for Vallis after a sharp decline in the fish.

Idos was quickly overtaken by Vadra's beauty. He apologized for plotting to steal freshwater from her side of the sea and offered Soleian livestock as a gift. At first, Vadra was angered by Idos' attempt to steal from her. But she quickly gave in to kindness and charm. In return, she gifted Idos with rain for his lands.

They continued to meet like this for several months, trading their goods with each other, and eventually, they realized their love for each other. It is said from that moment on, the sun and moon began to share the entirety of the skies. The sun would rise and set, followed by the moon; it was an endless race after one another. And it was all because of the love the sun god and the night goddess had for each other.

Vallis was soon able to reap the rewards that the sunlight brought. They began to grow crops and raise livestock of their own. And because the moon visited them once a day, the Soleians were able to catch more fish and collect water for their crops. All was well and balanced in the world. This continued for several thousand years... until it stopped.

Glizon, the sea god, was jealous of the friendship and love that Idos and Vadra shared. One day, he conjured up a spider web of lies to trick the two. He whispered in Idos' ear that Vadra had confessed her love for him and that she never actually had feelings for Idos. She only used him to take control of the opportunities the sun brought to Vallis, and now that she had them, she wanted to be with Glizon.

'It's a saddening betrayal,' Glizon said. 'You must reap justice for you and your people, Idos. Take back your sun from those Vallis snakes.'

That evening, while Idos stewed over what he had learned, Glizon met with Vadra. He claimed to have witnessed Idos stealing more fish and freshwater than what Soleis needed while her back was turned. Glizon spoke of Idos' selfishness to convince Vadra that he never truly loved her.

'It's a saddening betrayal,' Glizon repeated. 'You must reap justice for you and your people, Vadra. Take back your moon from those cruel Soleians.'

The following day, Idos and Vadra confronted each other on their lies and deceit. Idos' anger was so unforgiving that he seized the sun from Vallis. Vadra reciprocated his anger by pulling the moon from Soleis. It was the end of an era of peace.

Today, anyone who would have borne witness to a land where the sun and moon shared the same sky was long dead. Onle the folktales remained to carry on the story. In recent decades, Vallis and Soleis have learned to be cordial enough to allow trade and travel between both lands.

The story of Idos and Vadra continues to be passed from generation to generation to describe a far better world than what we find ourselves in today. They say this is because we don't want to forget our people's history, but perhaps the real purpose behind this story is to create hope where it has been lost. Hope for a brighter future. Hope for a world that may one day return.

This story depicts the events of my people, the Soleians, and our neighbors the Vallians.