"I have watched them all since the beginning,"
Asherah began, her voice soft yet filled with the weight of eternity. "Every being, every god, every creature born into this world. They are my children, each one crafted from the essence of creation, and each destined to fulfill a role in the grand symphony of existence. But even we, the gods, are not immune to the passing of ages. We have foreseen our end, the day when the stars will blink out, and the universe will reset itself once again."
The warmth in her voice flickered as she spoke of the inevitable. "It was then, in the quiet moments between one breath and the next, that we gathered—the rulers, the gods, and the keepers of all creation. We could not stop the cycle of life and death, nor the expansion and contraction of the universe. But we knew we could craft something enduring. A safe haven, a sanctuary where all that we held dear could survive the great resetting and bear witness to the new age to come."
She smiled gently, as if remembering a fond memory. "We chose Tir na nOg. That place, already full of magic and wonder, would serve as the eternal refuge for all life, flora, fauna, and peoples. Fourteen cultures, each with their own children, their own guardians. It was decided that this realm, this beautiful creation, would be their inheritance."
Her gaze softened, a mother reliving the joy of seeing her children come together. "But it was not enough simply to choose a place. We needed to ensure that it would stand, unbroken, through the ages. The gods of Love, Life, Nature, Travel, and Communication, all the pillars that uphold our worlds, came forward. Each pantheon sent their finest—the deities whose dominion spanned these vital aspects of existence."
Asherah’s hands trembled slightly as she described the gathering. "They stood in their circles, each grouping of gods ready to pour their essence into the realm. Love, the force that binds us; Life, the breath that sustains us; Nature, the foundation upon which we walk; Travel, the path we take; and Communication, the language that keeps us connected. One by one, they offered their strength, their power, and their very essence into the bones of Tir na nOg."
Her voice wavered slightly, the memory of their sacrifice heavy on her heart. "The gods did not hold back. They gave all they had, pouring their energy into the realm until one by one, they could give no more. They fell, unconscious from the strain, their immortal forms collapsing into the soil of Tir na nOg. Their power, their love, their essence soaked into the land, into the very air, strengthening it, weaving it into the fabric of eternity."
She paused, her eyes closing as if feeling the pulse of that power even now. "And when the last of the lesser gods had fallen, it was time for the rulers to seal the work. Each of them, from every pantheon, rose in turn. They cast their blessings, their authority, and their wisdom into the realm, sealing the power that had been gifted. And then, like the others, they too fell, exhausted from the magnitude of what they had given."
Asherah’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she spoke of her beloved. "El was the last to stand, my husband, the father of all. He had watched over us, over me, and over all creation since the dawn of time. With his final breath, he gave the greatest gift of all—the seal of Tir na nOg. His power flowed from him like a river, and when the last drop was given, he whispered to
The Void, to the Chaos from which all things came."
Her voice grew quieter, reverent. "The Void, in its vastness, looked upon Tir na nOg. It saw the sacrifice, the love, and the strength that had been poured into it. And it found it worthy. The Void granted it a special place, beyond time, beyond space, a witness to the rise and fall of universes, forever bearing witness to the cycles of creation."
She smiled then, a mother’s love for all her children evident. "Tir na nOg stands, my children, a place of safety and joy. The gods rest now, but their love remains in every blade of grass, in every breath of wind. They gave everything so that this place, this realm, might endure forever. And so, it shall."
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