Tales of the Yas'el

Prologue

In the beginning, when comets collided and spinning trails of gas and dust were pushed and pulled together the Yas'el were born. Among the spinning stars they glittered and twisted. Serpentine smoke and claws and wings. Brilliant shades of crimson and sapphire and jade sparkling against the endless abyss.

We ruled the stars and as the world cooled, we became the masters. We could hear the songs on the wind and the stones in the earth. We ruled over them, that is what we were meant to do. We were formed from the stars and they the mud of the earth. We were terrifying and brilliant, for we had our gifts. But as with all beauty, jealousy crept into men's hearts. Born of mud they crawled to the surface and saw our splendor. Jealousy gawd at their hearts for they could never have been like us.

For with our wings we soared on the winds. Playing with the sun and moon and stars. On our feet we ruled as Lord, your Grace and Prince. We commanded obedience and loyalty. While they toiled and died in a blink of our eyes. We lived for millennium until we would rejoin the stars. Wishing for our gifts but never receiving them. They bided their time. They played their part well, for we never realized how black their hearts had become. Not until that lowly serf stole what was dearest to us.

We guarded the stone Xifeur for it was the only thing that could control us. Uncommonly brilliant, it swirled with the colors of the cosmos, with a heart of pure diamond. It sparkled and sang a endless song. It sang to us as we unearthed it and we found that it would be our undoing. For it was the most dangerous gem we had come a crossed. We guarded it so that none could use it against us.

The Princess was the strongest of the Yas'el. For she could shift without blinking. Dangerous and beautiful, she had been promised to a prince of our people, to continue the strongest bloodline, until the thief stole from us. Wanting her for himself, that lowly thief stole into our castle, snatching her and Xifeur. Using the stone, he bent the princess to his will and stole out on her back. War began in ernest, as her family tried in vain to rescue her. Until one by one they all perished. Over the years she bore him many tainted children. Until one night she killed him, took the stone and fled further into the mountains. Where no one dared go. Never to be seen again.

I don't know what she was thinking, as no record remains if there ever was, on her thoughts. But to me, He was a right bastard if you think about it.