Lightning cracked through the dark clouds of the night sky, thunder boomed seconds later. Freezing rain poured down relentlessly onto the garden below. The full moon’s glow was masked by the large clouds of the storm, the land being covered in darkness. Darkness everywhere, save for a few small glowing embers around a small crater underneath a large maple tree.

From the crater emerged the cries of a newborn. It cried and cried throughout the night. It cried until a limousine moved near it. From the limousine a figure emerged and approached the maple tree, moving across the garden path, the cold frigid rain not seeming to have an effect on him. The closer the figure moved towards the tree, the fainter the cries became. It seemed that it had sensed the figures presence.

Stopping right before the tree, the figure was joined by another one much smaller figure. The two conversed with one another, discussing the situation.

“What is this?” A feminine voice spoke to the other figure.

“A gift from the gods.” A masculine voice came from the other figure.

“This child is our gift?” The woman asked in disbelief.

“Yes, this child is a sign of greatness to come.” The man said as he walked into the crater. Looming over the crater he took a good look of the child inside; it was a boy. The baby was inside of a small cradle and stared directly at the man in front of him.

No longer crying the baby reached its small hand out towards him with dark black eyes. The man stared back with his own, crimson-coloured eyes. The man gently picked up the child and carried him out of the crater, shielding him from the rain. As he emerged from the crater the woman quickly took the child in her hands.

Peering at the baby with violet eyes, the woman’s long silver hair flowed down and tickled the baby’s cheeks, who giggled at the feeling. She let out a small smile.

“He’s beautiful.” She murmured.

“Yes.” His deep gravely voice rumbled out.

“They summoned him?” She asked him.

“Yes, the gods sent him down here to us.” He said as he returned back to the limousine. “Come dear, let us get out of this rain.”

The two re-entered the limousine and the man called for the driver to return home. As they travelled back through the garden the two of them watched the baby as they travelled along.

“What should we name him?” The woman asked.

“His eyes remind me of my great grandfather.” The man rumbled. “Bryson Colin Coldwater was a great man, who defeated entire armies by himself. He ruled his land with great power.” The man’s black gloved hand gently caressed the baby’s face.

Staring right into the eyes of the newborn the man whispered. “I wonder if you can become even greater… Bryson.”

“I can not wait for him to be introduced to his siblings.” The woman said with a gentle smile still staring at the newborn.

“We’ll introduce him to them in the morning.” The man said and the woman nodded in agreement.

***

Inside a massive pristine palace there were golden archways and marbled statues on every wall and pillar. In the middle of the room was a massive lavish throne, with soft pillowy cushions. On the throne laid a figure.

The figure was that of a beautiful woman. She had long flowing golden locks of hair, a gorgeous white silk robe adorned her perfect body, hugging it softly, a regal and mature aura emitted from her.

That is, if she wasn’t lazing about the throne so hap-hazardly. Cleaning her nails and listening to a band of musicians on the side play their instruments.

Seemingly from no where came flying down a heavily robed figure from the ceiling of the palace. Landing before the lady on the throne it kneeled down before her.

“My lady. The boy has been sent.” The robed figure reported.

Immediately perking up from news. “He has? Fantastic!” She said ecstatically. Getting up from the throne she sauntered towards a massive screen and activated it. As it turned on it displayed the limousine that the two figures and the baby had entered driving through a massive garden and headed towards a massive mansion.

The lady watched the screen with glee. “It’s finally happening!” She cried giddy with joy.

The robed figure had followed her to the screen and the knelt behind her. It shifted its weight awkwardly as the lady stared at the screen with glee.

“Um. My lady. Forgive me for interrupting. But… are the others aware of this?” He asked hesitantly.

“Hmm? Who cares? They won’t be waking up.” She said dismissively. The band playing in the background quickly ceased. All the members stared at her and then back at one another uncomfortably.

“But… we… we can’t just go against the will of the Great Six.” The robed figure stammered out.

“This is the will of the Great Six.” She said still not paying the figure any mind. “They wanted heroes to save the world. I am simply speeding up the process.”

“But the heroes need to be approved by them my Lady! It is there will!” The robe figure said desperately.

“And my will means nothing?” She hissed out. The robed figure tensed. “Am I not the goddess Afa that all yearn for?” She said finally turning around and stared down the robed figure, who in turn bowed even deeper into the ground.

The entire band stood there stock still not daring to make a sound as they watched this interaction. The lady, Afa, moved closer towards the robed figure.

“Are you telling me what I can and cannot do?” She snarled.

The robed figure stood still, fear engulfing them. Before they could say anything, another figure appeared. Appearing in a plume of flower petals another figure appeared. He had a mix of red and blue hair and wore a great white robe and held a strangely purple wooden staff. The staff was curved at the end and had some strange gemstone attached to it.

The goddess Afa turned towards the newcomer; eyes narrowed. Before she can say anything the newcomer quickly spoke.

“My lady, is this child headed to the Coldwater estate one of the great of heroes that you speak off?” He quickly said.

The sneer on Afa’s face quickly turned into a smile as she laughed out loud. “Of course not!” She said in a giggling fit. “Oh, Zarall you fool, you say the most hilarious things. The Coldwaters? Heroes? Ha, please.” She said hand over her mouth as she continued to giggle.

“Of course, my apologizes my lady. Then, what is this boy suppose to be then?” Zarall asked, as he did so he motioned the robed figure to move out of the way. The figure obliged.

“He’s going to be a villain obviously.” She said with a wave of the hand. Staring back at the screen which now displayed the baby, Bryson, with his new adopted parents.

“The child of cold-hearted Coldwater house is a perfect adversary for my heroes.” She said.

“Lady Afa. May I inquire where you got this boy? Furthermore, how are you going to get the heroes.” Zarall asked.

“Oh, I made a little deal.” She said simply.

“A deal with who?”

“Someone with funny looking eyes. He gave me the ability to bring this boy and the heroes into this world.” She explained.

“What did he ask in return?” Zarall asked.

“To play around with the world. He’s going cause some things to occur. Or whatever.” Afa quickly blew off.

“May I ask why?” Zarall asked.

Growing a bit annoyed Afa said, “You sure love your questions don’t you. He wants the same thing I do, a fun story. I get to choose my heroes and I get a villain.”

“Sorry for the questions, but I do need information as a god of guidance. So would you mind me asking more about your wonderful heroes?” Zarall said kindly.

“Mmm, I suppose so. You do need to know these things to be of any use.” She said with a shrug.

“So… where are these heroes going to come from and when… and where is this… villain from?” He asked again.

“The heroes are from this place called earth or something, personally picked by me. They won’t coming here until thirteen or so years. I can’t have there be corrupted before the story begins. That villain… well, he’s from somewhere else. It doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that he’s going cause some mayhem for me.” She said as she moved back to her throne and laid back down.

“Any other questions?” She asked. “Or can I enjoy myself now?”

“Of course, of course.” Zarall said giving a polite bow as he left the palace hall and teleported himself away.

Zarall teleported himself into a empty, dimly lit room. With a heavy sigh he leaned on a wall and shook his head. A moment later the robed figure from earlier appeared before him kneeling.

“Thank you for saving me, my lord.” The figure said.

“No worries. She can be quite the goddess to deal with.” Zarall chuckled sourly.

“So… what shall you do sir? The Great Six are asleep and most other gods aren’t here.” The robed figure asked.

“It’s simple. We watch over the Coldwaters. Watch over the boy… Bryson. See what happens.” Zarall said.

“Won’t he grow up into a monster?” The robed figure tilted its head curiously.

“No one is born evil. As long as he gets brought up right, he will be fine.” Zarall said with a smile.

“Brought up right? By the tyrannical Coldwaters?” The robed figure asked in disbelief.

“Well, he may have a little help.” He said with a grin. “Come we have a few things to prepare.” He said as he began to teleport once more, the robed figure followed suit.

***

As the limousine arrived in front of the grand mansion a line of servants awaited them. As they emerged out of the vehicle they were quickly attended to by the servants. Offering umbrellas to shelter them as they moved into the mansion.

As they entered the vast ornate mansion, they were greeted by the head butler.

“Enjoy your ride out master Coldwater?” He greeted with a bow to the large man with crimson eyes.

“It was acceptable, Phillip.” He said giving Phillip a cursory glance, before noticing movement from the stairs above. Looking up he took a glance of a few children. His children.

“Why are you still awake?” He called out.

The three children watching from the rafters froze. They stood still not daring to move.

“Come down here.” Duke Coldwater called them down.

Slowly they shuffled down the stairs, all of them stared at their father, with caution. There was a clever looking boy, roughly seven, a pretty five-year-old girl and a very sleepy three-year-old.

“Why are you still awake?” He asked once more.

The oldest boy with black hair spoke up, staring at his father with his own crimson red eyes, “We saw a star fly down. We wanted to see.”

“Hmph.” Was all duke Coldwater said.

“What happened to the star?” The five-year-old silver haired girl with one eye red and the other one violet asked.

“The star became your new brother.” Duchess Coldwater told them showing them the baby.

“Our brother is a star?” The youngest boy with silver hair and violet eyes said in amazement.

“Yes, his name is Bryson.” Duchess Coldwater said.

“He’s the same age as Sable.” The older boy said.

“Yes, he is. Now it is late. Head of to bed, you can play tomorrow morning.” Duke Coldwater said.

With that a couple of the servants guided them back up stairs and into their rooms. Turning toward Phillip instructed him, “Prepare the biggest available room for Bryson and tend to him.”

“Right away sir.” Phillip said, bowing before going to prepare his instructions.

A few minutes later, young baby Bryson was moved into a large room and a decadent crib. Both Coldwater parents gave their goodnights to the now sleeping child. As they left the room, duke Coldwater turned towards the sleeping child and whispered in his low rumbling voice.

“Welcome to the family. I expect great things.”