Chapter 53: The Myth of Creation

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The next morning, Eric was awakened by a maid sent by the Saintess.
“Your Highness, it’s time for your class.”
Eric’s scalp tingled instantly, and all drowsiness vanished. He sat up wide-eyed, his mind racing to recall what homework had been assigned yesterday and whether he had completed it.
None.
No homework at all; graduating seemed like a thing of a past life.
Startled by his own instinctive reaction, Eric regained his composure and was fully awake.
“...Understood.”
He rubbed his face. He had just become the prospective Saintess yesterday, and today classes were already starting. Was that ceremony yesterday essentially the enrollment?
Getting up, he went to pay his respects to the Saintess. The elder looked at him for a moment and asked, “How are you finding your stay here?”
“Not bad,” Eric replied. Aside from everything else, the living conditions were impeccable.
“If you’re not used to it yet, that’s fine—you’ll get used to it after fifty or sixty years.” The Saintess said.
Eric forced a dry smile.
After breakfast, the Saintess personally accompanied him to his first class of the prospective Saintess training.
“Saintess, Prospective Saintess.”
The classroom was located in the seminary within the monastery, a vast hall with many seats, presumably also used by other nuns for sermons. The nun who was to teach Eric had arrived early and bowed to both of them.
Eric was asked to sit in the front row, facing the stern-looking nun teacher, while the Saintess watched from the back.
“I am Ymir, a preaching nun at the seminary. From today onward, I will teach Your Highness the history of the continent and the Church.”
Having introduced herself, Ymir began the lesson immediately.
In the Church, all history begins with myth.
The first lesson in continental history: The Creation of Yela.
“In the ancient dawn, the world was chaos—nothing existed but a sea of energy.
“Countless years passed. At opposite ends of this sea of energy, two spiral sea eyes were born—one black, one white.
“As time went on, the two sea eyes expanded until they met. In the fierce collision of energies, the earliest gods were born.”

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“They were...”
Eric, of course, had heard the creation myth before. In fact, his childhood tutor’s very first lesson was the creation myth, though not as detailed as Ymir’s, and without listing the names of those primordial gods who appeared only once.
...Surely the Saintess wouldn’t include this in the exam?
Eric glanced toward the back of the classroom, only to be struck in the face by a burst of white light, which exploded harmlessly on him.
Startled, he realized it was just a light orb from an illumination spell.
“Focus. Concentrate. Do not let distractions disturb you,” came the Saintess’s voice from behind. “Ymir, if he gets distracted again, feel free to administer a mild reprimand.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Eric sighed and apologized, standing up. Ymir invited him to sit and continued the lesson.
“These gods mated and multiplied, giving birth to more gods. The merging sea eyes continued to expand, devouring everything—the sea of energy and gods alike.
“The gods tried in vain to stop this devouring. Many perished in the process.
“Until the serpent god Asara and the winged god Noket gave birth to the goddess Yela, born with all wisdom and power. Under her leadership, the remaining gods united to sever the sea eyes. They lifted the upper half to become the sky, and the lower half was pressed down to form the earth, thus shaping the earliest world.
“Almost all gods lost their power and died in this process. Yela sacrificed some of her power to restore a few gods, who were grateful and obedient—such as Elowen, god of nature, and Albert, god of truth. From then on, all divine power came from Yela.”
Eric’s intuition told him this section was a later addition, designed to incorporate other influential beliefs across the continent.
Unaware of his fleeting thought, Ymir continued to the myth’s final part:
“Yela gathered the blood and flesh of the dead gods, mixed it with earth, and created humanity and countless other living races. She decreed humanity’s divine duty was to serve the gods. Those who fulfilled this duty could ascend after death to the gods’ realm above the sky and enjoy eternal bliss.
“From the severed sea eyes escaped energy and resentment, falling upon the earth and forming the first demons. They do not worship the gods and harbor hatred for humanity.
“After creation, Yela led the gods’ ascension to the divine kingdom, becoming the king of gods, the one true deity, revered as the ‘Goddess of Creation.’”
This was the Gaia continent’s version of Genesis.
Years later, revisiting this myth, Eric could discern many deliberate settings.
The Yela faith was not the earliest religious worship on Gaia, yet it became the dominant belief encompassing nearly all races—a design meticulously crafted by Rafael, the Church founder known as the Holy Prophet.
After finishing the creation myth, Ymir paused and asked Eric if he had any questions.
“Your Highness, do you have any doubts about the Creation of Yela?”
“No, please continue.”
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The lesson then shifted to the earliest settlers Yela created—their struggle to establish and thrive on the continent.
This part still bore mythic elements but mainly recounted recorded true history passed down over millennia: the birth of human tribes.
“...On the rugged mountains bordering the Gladia Province and the Kingdom of Valane, a group of highland ancestors united to form the earliest local tribe. They were brave in battle, united in spirit, their strong bodies unafraid of the mountain’s chill, their resolute will expanding and prospering the tribe. Among them was a valiant figure—an ancestor of Your Highness, Eric.”
Eric was stunned, then almost smiled. So the course even included a segment tailored specifically for him.
“Eric, what was the name of your ancient ancestor?” the Saintess, who was auditing behind, asked.
“I do not know, Your Highness. There is no record in the family history,” Eric replied.
“Really? I’ll write to Edgar and ask.”
“...Sorry, Your Highness, I had forgotten.”
The development of the highland tribe was only part of the ancestors’ history. Overall, the early humans adapted quickly, multiplying and expanding. Small tribes grew into larger ones, which evolved into small cities—a vibrant scene of life flourishing and nature thriving.
But!
Eric awaited the inevitable turning point, yet Ymir suddenly stopped, bowed to him, and left.
Only then did he realize half the morning had passed—the class was over.
This kind of mostly lecture-based class, requiring only attentive listening, felt like hearing a story. One lesson was quite relaxing, though the Saintess behind seemed somewhat fatigued.
“When the continental history reaches that stage, we will start the Church history. Next is scripture interpretation—you must be diligent.”
The Saintess seemed to have no intention of continuing to audit. Eric rose to see her off.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Also—” he recalled last night’s matter, “I want Alaina to stay at the monastery and attend some classes on my behalf, then teach me as my tutor.”
The Saintess glanced at him.
“I won’t say more, but remember this: familiarity breeds contempt. Do not forget your status.”
Eric bowed his head in acknowledgment.
“I understand.”