I wished I wasn't a miracle child. I wished I was like the rest of my brothers. Why couldn't Qirox have made me ordinary?
I woke with a start, heart racing, and burst through the settlement.
"Father! Father, I had a nightmare!"
From his mat, my father shot upright, eyes hollow, muscles taut as if ready to cleave some prowling night-beast in two.
"Tell it in the morning!" he growled.
"But Father—I need to tell you now! If I wait, I'll forget it!"
He seized my arm, his grip firm, his gaze heavy with concern.
"Son, if it matters, you will remember. Now go back to bed, before you wake the others."
As soon as Sol crested the horizon, I ran for my father's tent. My hands shook—I couldn't keep them still. I had to tell him the dream. I had to. I dared not enter, so I called from outside:
"Father! Are you awake?"
"Why are you here, Seppe?"
"I remember!"
"Then come. Sit."
I stepped inside, each footfall heavy with dread. My stomach turned. Something about this dream felt different—weighty. I lowered myself beside him, close enough to whisper.
"Father… it began with me running—running from six great wolves, their eyes burning, their jaws open. They were faster than me. We were in the deep woods, north, where the trees grow ancient. I didn't know why I fled, only that if I stopped, I would die. Then—they closed in. I was surrounded. I thought I was finished. But I stumbled, fell backward into a hole that swallowed me whole. I fell and fell, as though the earth would never release me. And when I struck the ground… I awoke."
Father's brow furrowed.
"Hmm…"
"What? Tell me what you're thinking!"
"I cannot say, son. But be wary of the woods. Grow strong so wolves cannot end you. Know the forest so you do not stumble. And when evil closes in, call out to Qirox. He listens from the depths of Vearda. I have blessed you with the Emerald Will—hold fast to him, for he will not abandon you."
"Father, what is the Emerald Will? I know we pray to Qirox for our crops, and that our herds are spared from beasts—but what is this blessing?"
He held my gaze.
"I have waited until you had the will to bear this burden. As my father blessed me, so I bless you. The Emerald Will is Qirox's gift, his power flowing through chosen vessels—protectors of the faith. And for you, I have something more. Qirox gave me a piece of the blessed tree, to craft for you."
I stared as he turned to his sack, lifting the cover with deliberate care. Time dragged like an eternity. At last, he faced me again, holding a staff.
The shaft was straight and strong, carved from northern oak. The top was veiled beneath a covering, but an emerald glow pulsed faintly through. My breath caught as he pulled the leather back, revealing a blade of living wood, radiant with green fire.
Without knowing when, I realized the staff was already in my hands—as though it had leapt to me, claiming me as much as I it.
"Father… is this the blessed tree?"
"Yes. It glows to guide your path. Use it with wisdom, for only you can discover its true purpose."
He reached into his sack once more.
"Here. A covering—for when you must hide its light."
He fastened the leather sheath over the blade, tightening the laces with care.
"Thank you, Father… But now that I carry this, will my brothers hate me more?"
"No, Seppe. They do not hate you—they do not yet understand their role is all."
"But they do hate me. You just don't see it."
"There is only so much I can do, son. You no longer need my protection. Qirox guides your path now."
I nodded, and rose slowly, almost ceremonially, before stepping back into the morning.
Frustration churned in me—he hadn't believed the weight of my dream. Yet I couldn't hold that thought for long. My mind burned with one thing only: the blade.
Even in my grasp, it seemed older than time. Beautiful, radiant… and heavy with a burden I could already feel pressing into my soul. I tried to ignore it, doing my normal tasks around the settlement, tending the herd, feeding the flock, and finally passing my watch over the herd to my older brother, Zaphon, for the night watch.
Now, Zaphon, though the middle child of the sons of Tamari, the first wife of my father, was the strongest and most honorable of them. Even the others acknowledged his innate ability to choose the right path.
Since I was done with all of my tasks for the day, I made for my tent. My mind was restless, I had tried to ignore the blade all day, but it called to me. As I neared my tent, I quickened my steps, impatient to stare into it. Upon entering my tent, I made sure to close all the openings to hide any light that might leak through.
Immediately, ripping the sheep skin covering off, I set my eyes on it. It was magnificent, like nothing I had ever seen before, with its beautiful ornament-like grain, a sharpness that would give even my brother's wolves fright, and a glow that fills my tent with splendor.
I fell into a slumber, holding fast to my newly acquired staff…
"Seppe, my love, wake up."
"Mother?"
"Wake up, It's dinner time, what is taking you so long?"
"Dinner? What?"
I thought it was the morning. What is this about dinner? I guess my stomach knows it's dinner. It wants food so bad, I guess that's because I haven't eaten yet today.
"We're having your favorite, lapwing, come on."
"Lapwing? Alright, I'll be right out!"
As I peep my head out of the tent, leaving my staff behind just for dinner, I see everyone, My Father, Mother, his other wife, older brothers, even my sister are all sitting around the fire waiting for me to eat. They all glare at me, as if blaming me for having to wait. My face blushes, embarrassed as I could ever be, "Sorry Father, I was hard at work today and must have fallen asleep when I got back."
"It is alright Seppe, just don't let it happen again, now let us feast on the birds that Zaphon and Ishaukon have caught for us."
"Thank you brothers!"
"Sit already Seppe!"
I sit and start devouring what my mother has prepared. She was right, this was my favorite, there was nothing that we ever had that compared to it. The lapwing was so rich and sweet, its texture perfect. I don't know how birds here get so fatty, but I know I like eating them. With the bird my mother even prepared some vegetables, this was a rare occasion.
What could it be for?
My father began to stand, as if preparing for something. He seemed almost nervous, eyeing my brothers. He coughed as if to prepare himself rather than prepare us.
"I have something to tell all of you."
Tamari, my fathers first wife, impatient for the news, scoffed.
"Spit it out then!"
My brothers are all trying to keep their laughter quiet now. My sister, the most patient among us, was just sitting, waiting for father to speak. With the utmost dignity she gave him encouragement to ignore the remarks.
"Go ahead father."
"Yes, Yes, I have news, I have given Seppe, the first born son of Yaruna, the Emerald Will. Now before any of you say anything too hastily, I have one more thing to say. When I had taken my leave into the deep north, I met Qirox. He is not just a spirit, and he has been watching our tribe for some time. Now, it was my duty to choose who I passed the Emerald Will to, but Qirox had chosen for me, and who am I to tell our creator what is right. He told me, "Yaquvos, the one I will give multitudes, I must tell you something, for it is why I have brought you here to me. Of your sons, Rabadon, your first born, shall not inherit the Emerald Will for his impatience will be his fall just as his mother.
Silean, your second born, shall not inherit the Emerald Will for his will is that of destruction, I cannot build my line upon such. Ilve, your third born, shall not inherit the Emerald Will for he has sinned against your daughter, and for that I have cursed him to have no place in my kingdom to come. Zaphon, your fourth born, Shall not inherit the Emerald Will, for there will be one from him who I will bring forth, that will cure the Vearda of its curse. Ishaukon, your fifth born, shall not inherit my will, for he seeks that which is unholy. Lastly, Seppe, your sixth born, and first born of Yaruna, I will bless with the inheritance of my will, for he is one after my own heart." This is what Qirox has told me, and for this I have given Seppe the Emerald Will. You may question me, but do not question what Qirox has told me for he has seen what you all do as we stand on his very body."
"Father? Qirox did not speak poorly of me, why not give me the Will, for I have served you well?"
"Zaphon, I do not know what Qirox has in store for you, but he has another inheritance for you, though it is a mystery."
Zaphon grunts and walks away.
I did not think father would tell them all so soon. What am I to do now, can even Qirox protect me from my brothers?
Rabadon, Silean, Ilve, and Ishaukon stormed back to their tents not saying a word, all clearly wallowing in the pit of despair. I am experiencing so many feelings right now. I don't know what to do, but before I even realize my body is already astride. I am sprinting. I have such a rush I feel no exhaustion, I feel like I am one with the air. Suddenly I am at the foot of the mountain by our settlement. I stop hearing a whimpering, that suddenly pulls me out of my current state. I closed my eyes, focusing on the sound.
Where is this coming from? I must find it. What if an animal is hurt, I must aid it to health.
Just behind me, I saw it. A small wolf pup, no others nearby. It must be lost, it doesn't look hurt at all. I carefully took it into my arms. It was the most charming thing I had ever seen, A shade of brown fur coated its body, its eyes were a piercing green.
It is not hurt I should leave it, it may find its way back to the pack, though young it was. I shall let it be, for Qirox will protect it, if it is meant to come back to me.
With the exhaustion suddenly taking me as soon as I turn to head home after setting the pup down, I lean on a tree so as to not collapse, soaking in all the air around me. The walk back felt infinitely longer than the run out here.
Finally, I am back at my tent, I see my mother still sitting at the fire though. Walking over to her, I ask, "Mother, what is wrong?"
"Don't worry about me Seppe, that is your fathers work, now go to bed and rest up my love."
"Okay, I'll go to bed as long as you do mother, I can't have you getting sick in the night air."
"Okay Seppe, I will take my leave from the embers."
"Goodnight mother!"
"Goodnight Seppe!"
I get back to my tent, grasping first for my staff. There it is. I can rest now.
Eyes closed. Fresh morning air flowing through my nostrils. I stretch, rubbing my eyes I realize—it happened again! I have to tell father again, maybe this time he will take me seriously. This time with far less rush than before I jog over to the head tent, father is still asleep.
"Father! Wake up! It happened again!"