Chapter 1 The Elcarim twin birth ( Origin)

The village of Aethel was hidden deep in a valley, surrounded by old, misty mountains. For hundreds of years, only women lived there.

Their lives followed the seasons and the moon. They worked together in gardens, and the sound of their laughter filled the valley. Their homes were made of clay with grass roofs, decorated with flowers. Girls played in fields of colorful flowers, their happy sounds mixing with the pounding of grain.

In Aethel, there were no men. This was normal for them, something that had been for so long. They had their own way for babies to be born, a special and secret way that everyone respected. Once every hundred years, something called the ‘Elcarim’ happened. It wasn't a normal birth.

This Elcarim was important, a way for their village to keep going. The boy was special, a temporary protector of their future.

This hundred-year time had come again. Lyra, a kind and strong woman, had been the one that gave birth.

But this Elcarim was different. Instead of one baby crying, there were two!

Lyra had given birth to twin boys.

The women were shocked and amazed. Twins had never happened before.

They knelt down, quietly praying and wondering about this double event. The air smelled of herbs and new life. This was the Elcarim, but times two, a sign they didn't understand.

The two babies lay wrapped in soft cloths, their little hands tight, their faces red. The women looked at them with awe. This was a double miracle, or maybe a puzzle. Soon, they saw the differences between the twins. The younger one had darker skin and cried loudly. He didn't move much but seemed strong. His dark eyes were already open, looking around. They named him Noal, a name that sounded strong.

The other twin was smaller and looked weak. His cries were soft and sad, as if being born was hard for him. His skin was very light, and his eyes stayed closed. They named him Healnor , .

The chief woman in the village, Elara, who was very wise, came to Lyra, who looked tired but happy. "Lyra," she said quietly, "two sons. The Mother has given us so much. But…" Her face looked worried.

Lyra looked at her two sons, loving them deeply. "They are both my children, Elara. Both gifts. They need to be loved and cared for equally. They are Aethel's future."

Elara frowned. "Lyra, you know the way. The Elcarim… he is the one. One is chosen to… to make sure we continue."

Everyone knew what she meant, the old rule was harsh compared to the gentle scene of a mother with her babies.

Lyra’s eyes showed anger. "My sons will grow up with love. They will not just be used. They are alive and deserve happiness."

Elara sighed, feeling the weight of the past. "Lyra, your mother's heart speaks strongly. But our ways… they are what keep us alive. They have for so long."

Then, Elara spoke a sad but firm decision. "The Mother needs balance. The one must be pure, not sharing life with another. The rule… it is clear."

Before the next full moon, the old law of Aethel was followed. Lyra, the mother of the two special boys, was taken to the quiet woods outside the village. There, watched by the elders, the tradition demanded its sad end.

Her life, after giving them the Elcarim, was given back to the earth, a sacrifice for their all-female world to continue.

The cries of her baby sons, now without a mother, echoed through the village, a sad sound mixed with the leaves, a strong reminder of the cruel price of their survival. The future of Noal and Healnor, the twin Elcarim, was now dark and uncertain.

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