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“You are a god among men, and you must bring their salvation. Always, you must watch over them. You are the only one that can. Save them all.” His father had told him this repeatedly, ever since he could comprehend words. Little Vauthry knew what his destiny was from the start. He knew that he had to keep everyone safe as a god does. Once his father would step down from his position as mayor of Eulmore, he would be the one to keep the paradise going. He would protect them from Lightwardens and all the pain and suffering the outside world held, until the bitter end.
Deprived of human contact, he barely knew the real needs of the people, following only the way his father acted and what he preached. He had to keep the utopia going, that was all that mattered. Yet, there was one time in which he escaped the confinements of his home, and he met one close in age in danger of being hurt by a Lightwarden.
“Help me, someone, please!” The teenager screamed, shaking in place, unable to move his body away from the towering figure ready to turn him into one of their own. Yet, that swing of its sword is stopped the moment the god among men raised his hand.
“I will aid you.” He voiced, the Lightwarden calming down the closer he got. It turned into a docile beast, quietly sitting down, and lowering its head before the smaller boy. The petrified kid stared in awe as this happened, finally being able to turn to the other. It was a kid just like him, maybe even smaller in stature…
But there was something different about him. He was pale – almost even ghostly white – with blue eyes hiding away in a smoke of black surrounding the edges, and blonde wavy hair that he kept in a tie. It was beautiful as it was eerie. He looked almost like a Lightwarden but also a refined, noble human. This savior of his turned and locked eyes, smiling.
“T-Thank you, sir… I mean, uh…”
“It’s Vauthry.” He said, the other kid gasping in surprise. Of course!
“Oh! You’re the mayor’s son! I’m so sorry, Your Highness!” The boy said, kneeling quickly. He knew better than to try and act as an equal with them, with the soon-to-be mayor. They were more than royalty; they had kept them protected and would keep doing so. No wonder Vauthry had been able to pacify the beast, but… “Are you not far from home, sir?”
Vauthry observed the other, the boy’s face plastered to the ground, this was how it should be. He was a holy being, as his father told him regularly. This was how people should act around him… Somehow, it felt odd as it felt gratifying. He wouldn’t deny that he wanted the kid to stare back at him, to have the chance to maybe play together for a little while, but that would be unbecoming.
“Lift your head and stand.” He spoke without thinking, allowing for the kid to look back at him. It was fine, right? After all, it was his order and the other had to follow. He just couldn’t tell his father. “Yes, I suppose I am a little far from home…”
“Oh, thank you, sir. Would it be too much to ask why you’re far? Uh, I could lead you back, if you’d allow me to.” The boy commented, respectfully staring to a point a little distant from Vauthry’s eyes.
“It would not. I… was a little tired of the same old room, the same old delicacies. My father will not allow me out, so I decide to take a stroll by myself. It is a secret so you will not mention any of this to him, or anyone.”
“I will not, Your Highness.” The boy commented, grabbing onto a basket full of fruits and starting to walk on their way back to Eulmore. The sun was scorching, the road rocky and desolate. He was grateful he had been able to pick up so many fresh batches, exactly what he had been looking for. Glancing over at them on their way, he pondered upon the boy’s thoughts. The same old room, the same old delicacies… That was exactly what he was tired of, too, enough to risk himself for fruits taken fresh from trees. “Here, sir. It is an offering as thanks for all the things you have done and will do for us.”
A hand extended, he offered him a peach he had been able to find lying around nearby a wilted tree. It was special, the boy thought, so he’d deliver it to his savior. Vauthry held the fruit and stared at it in awe.
“I’ve never seen this type of fruit.” He commented in whispered surprise. The boy giggled and nodded.
“I heard about these recently, I wanted to find a tree full of them, but this one was the only surviving one I could find. All the trees were dead and only one of them preserved this singular fruit close to it. I guess, it might represent you somehow. The lone surviving apricot. The tamer of beasts, our real savior.”
Vauthry was baffled. The shape of the fruit was unlike any other he had seen before. The boy was right, this fruit was just like him; different, ethereal, worthy of reverence. He tried it and was just as surprised, squealing in delight at the taste. Yes, surely all of its form had been crafted by nature to symbolize him. And this boy had found him just as Vauthry had found and been able to save him. This was all meant to be.
“This is delicious. I will treasure this gift.”
“May your reign be everlasting, Your Highness. I hope to be there to witness it.”
And, yes, he was able to witness it, though from the outside. Having been thrown out of paradise, he lived close by trying to get a chance to reenter. Yet, Vauthry’s benevolence knew no bounds.
He had heard of these unfortunate events, and he had recalled that boy and his acts of kindness. He could be saved, he only needed to be pacified. Just as how he could calm Lightwardens, he knew he could calm humans.
“I need only give part of the precious light, envelope them in it. Remind them who their god is.” He commented as he was able to make manifest that fruit, the one he dubbed meol, containing the same shape and hopefully the same taste as that one apricot the boy had gifted him long ago. He would know, wouldn’t he, that this was his god giving him a sign… All of them would see the sign, the form, and accept it. They would praise it and be welcomed into salvation.
Gleefully, the now adult man gobbled down the meol, eyes brightened up, aether disrupting with every bite. Once he was done, he stared back at the distant home he had taken for granted before. This was a sign, and eventually he’d be able to come back. Smiling to himself, he whispered:
“He truly did treasure my gift.”