ASHES BEFORE NAMES

Before names held power… before monsters knew fear… there was only will.
Will birthed Desire a force that claimed all one wished.
But every power demands a price. The strongest were first to master it.

Desire forged power, now called willpower, transforming those who wielded it.
Those with desire but weak will became corrupted unstable forces tearing realms apart, feeding on others.

From this chaos, the Paragons emerged sculptors of a new age.
They crushed the corrupted, restored balance, and ushered in a fragile peace.

The Hall of Names rose at the divine plane’s heart a marble court etched with flame and history.
Every name allowed to exist glowed on its walls.
Silent. Cold. Absolute.

Nyxion, once a Paragon, stood chained at its center.
No armor. Eyes dull.

The high table watched immortal faces carved with judgment.

Lior, Paragon of Order, rose.
His voice echoed, sharp and cold:

“For falling in love with one tied to the Corrupted barbarians who raze our lands you stand accused, Nyxion.
You chose her over your people. Refused her detainment.
And worst… you bore a child with her.”

Nyxion’s fists clenched.
One word pierced his mind Fear.
He erased every trace every name, every memory of the child.
So how did they find out?

Footsteps shattered the silence.

Clad in iron and blood, the Paragon of War entered.
His battered armor bore scars of battle mud and dried blood caked every dent.
A fresh bandage covered his left eye.
His gaze never left Nyxion as he strode to his seat.

Lior continued, unshaken

“Your actions violate the Veil Charter.
Your punishment  severance of Paragon title and divine power.
You, your child, and your woman cast into the deepest Dark Realms to dwell among those you raised above your own.”

Nyxion lowered his gaze, voice barely a whisper
“I accept your punishment.”

But War was not done.

“Is that all?” he growled, fists clenched.
“Did our fallen brothers mean nothing?
I’ve watched my men die defending lands you now betray.
You lay with their blood? Bear their stain?”

He stepped forward, rage swelling.

“The thought of our divine blood mingling with vermin stains our honor.
I propose we purge the wretched spawn and its cursed mother.
Let them burn to ash. That is the only justice.”

Silence gripped the Hall.

Some Paragons looked away. Others held breath.

Nyxion slowly lifted his head  eyes once warm, now hollow.

“If they die,” he said quietly,
“this world will burn.”

His body glowed.

Lior stood, raising a hand.

“Let shadows claim you.
By power vested in me, Lior Ren Altair, I sentence you, Nyxion, for treason.
Cast into the Dark Realms for eternity.
Your wife and child shall be purged.
Through this… balance will be restored.”

The Hall rumbled.

A golden scale shimmered behind Lior vast, blinding.
It tipped heavily.

Divine chains erupted from the floor, coiling Nyxion.

Absolute Order.

Lior’s decree became law.

A dark portal opened beneath Nyxion’s fee a swirling gateway to shadows.

Nyxion did not fight.

As chains dragged him down, he whispered one last truth:
“A god who has nothing to lose… is no god at all.”

Later, deep within a forgotten cave, a cloaked figure stood silent, steady cradling a crying child.

“Hush, little one… before they catch us too,” he whispered.

Raising a finger, he summoned a soft orb of light, flickering in the dark.
The child’s sobs faded, replaced by curious eyes reaching for the glow.

The man smiled faintly.

“Your father was always a hassle charging in headfirst, talking later.”
He chuckled lightly.
“He fell in love with your mother.
Now your grandfather and the Paragons are at each other’s throats.”

The child laughed quietly, captivated by the light.

The smile faded.

“Hopefully… you won’t have to see any of it.”

He raised his hand a shimmering blue mist drifted down like stardust, gently enveloping the child.
He hummed a soft lullaby as sleep claimed him.

After a pause, a green sigil appeared on the child’s left hand, marked with ancient runes.
A translucent sphere formed, pulsing softly.

Stepping back, the man whispered,
“Your father will come for you, little one.
Just wait a little longer.”

Silence filled the cave.
The light dimmed.
Darkness swallowed them both.