The sun was starting to rise and with it, the glass city was mostly sunk back into the glass beach once more for the day. She loved to watch it, from high up in the air, it was stunning and awe inspiring sight to behold. The colours, the way the light played off the glass in all directions, since the first she had witnessed the city sinking into the glass she had loved to come and watch it rise and fall. She would of course visit the city from time to time at night to walk the streets and meet the locals, but whatever opportunity she could take she would enjoy the spectacle of the city rising and setting with the sun.

With the city now gone for the day light hours, the angel dropped from the sky and landed softly upon glass that made up the beach. Facing the rising sun she smiled, blue eyes bright and almost glowing in the light of day. Sirona at around five feet and nine inches tall, perhaps a little taller in her armour thanks to her boots. Her armour was mostly black and grey, her breast plate an off white, chain male around her upper arms and thighs to keep her flexible and mobile. A space for her large white feathered wings to go through and allow her to fly on the back of the breast plate. She wore no helm, instead covering her head was a hood tough cloth of some kind, almost looked metal as well, but it was protective all the same. On her face were tattoos, three almost claw mark looking lines under each eye, a black square in the middle of her lower lip and two more lines arching down and then back up to each side of her chin.

Standing there in the rising sunlight with her wings spread out she was a striking sight indeed. Taking a deep breath of the salty morning air, Sirona drew the long sword at her side and carefully stabbed it point first into the glass to keep it upright. Next she removed the shield from her hip, since she couldn't put it between her wings. The shield she placed upon the sword's hilt and waited a moment to make sure everything stayed standing.

Satisfied the angel removed some prayer beads from a pocket on her armour and knelt on her knees before her sword and shield. Holding the prayer beads close to her lips she lowered her head and started to softly whisper prayers to Onnen, the first world tree. That tree was no longer standing, but she knew things that others did not.

Sirona would say her prayers and then start to think of a way to get the new lands that she had heard of. She felt a draw to those lands, away from her home in Onnen, she could not explain it, yet she wanted to go and see those new lands that the insects had tried, and failed, to invade.

Paradox had never traveled to the new world before. Word had spread quickly through both Canelux and Parvpora that a new land, Onnen, had been created. Naturally, she felt a strong desire to travel there and see it for herself. She had heard magnificent stories about the City of Glass, or Mahakoe, how it and it's people were made entirely out of sea glass, and the city itself rose and fell with the moon like the tides. It sounded like a beautiful place and it had taken her a long time to reach the Zamatye shoreline along the new continent. This world was different from the other two, and yet it had striking similarities, but all in all, it was a nice place to come.

She walked a long time along the sea glass beach, marveling at all the different colors in the moonlight. They glowed and sparkled like small stars, reflecting the real stars off their smooth surfaces. The small crystals crunched quietly under her hooves as she went. She felt the cool salty breeze come in off the sea and blow through her mane and tail, catching the strands and swirling lightly through the air. She gave a deep breath, holding it momentarily in her chest, before letting it slowly out. She closed her eyes, twitching her ears towards the water as she heard the breaking of the waves against the shore. It was so peaceful, here on the beach in the dark. She could just see the light radiating off the glass city a way out. It was as beautiful as she imagined, but she wouldn't reach it in time to explore it tonight. No matter, she wasn't in a rush. She was enjoying herself as it was anyway.

She slowly drifted her feet towards the water, stepping lightly on the glass stones. Soon the water was lapping gently at her hooves and fetlocks. It was cool and refreshing, but she wouldn't go in much further than halfway up her canon bones. The salt in the water would stick to her fur, and she didn't want to waste too much of the day washing it off. Another breeze came in off the coast, blowing her hair and tail around and billowing out her blouse. When it calmed down, she straightened it back out and tucked her mane back behind her ears. She looked up and saw that the stars were fading out with the coming light of dawn. She was saddened to see them go but looked forward to the start of a new day.

As soon as the sun crested the horizon in the distance, she saw the city shudder almost and then slowly sink back into the earth. It was a sight unlike any she had seen before. It's disappearance so quick, so sudden, and so incredibly quiet. One moment, a giant crystal city stood proudly along the beach, and the next it had disappeared back amongst the glass crystals from which it rose. She would look forward to seeing it resemble itself at sunset and once again return to its former state. She continued along the beach, even though the city had disappeared. She was thinking about finding a place further inland to sleep and spend the day when a flicker of light above her caught her eye.

It was the shine of the new day coming from the breastplate of a flying woman high above her. She stopped and watched the woman and her bright white wings fly through the air. She got closer and landed nearby. Her ears perked forward in interest as she watched the woman. She wore metal armor, like a knight, similar to her armor that she left back home. She had a sword and shield with her as well. She watched her quietly as the woman stood, stretching out her wings and then planting her sword in the glass ground. She placed her shield on top of the sword. Paradox cocked her head sideways for a moment in confusion, her tail flicking against her hocks. 

Her ears twitched as she heard the wooden clatter of beads as they were taken from the woman's pocket. She knelt in front of her sword and shield and while holding the beads, started speaking quietly. It seemed like a prayer, but she couldn't be sure. She didn't want to interrupt her, especially in such a silent, peaceful setting such as this. Instead, she turned on her forehand to face the sea, in order to give her as much privacy as she could. She clasped her hands together, lightly pinning her ears as she closed her eyes and bowed her head toward the sun. She would speak to the winged woman when she was finished with her ritual, she had all the time in the world to wait. 

It took Sirona a few minutes to get through her morning prayers and then she sat in silence for another two minutes. She was speaking in the language that the monks had taught her, the same one they used for their prayers to Onnen. She knew more than the average monk did, but that was in part because of her heritage as an angel and that she knew the elder monk's secret as well.

Finishing up her two minutes in silence the angel got back to her feet and put her prayer beads away. With a small smile she got her shield and hooked it back on the side of her sword's sheath and then sheathed her sword. Stretching her wings again as she looked to the morning sun, Sirona was about to take off but then noticed that she wasn't alone when she looked up the beach to see the centauress. She hadn't been there before, at least not that Sirona noticed, and she hadn't made any noise either. Sirona smiled, had she come upon Sirona when she had started her prayers and then allowed the angel to finish her prayers.

Sirona decided that she wanted to speak with the centaur and made her way over to her with a soft smile. Since she sensed no threat from the centaur Sirona pulled the hood of her armour down, exposing her black hair that hung free down to her shoulders, and better displayed her face tattoos. Carefully approaching the centaur Sirona bowed slightly with a smile. ”Greetings, lady centaur.” She intoned, voice friendly. ”Is the morning sun not lovely? I thank you for allowing me to finish my prayers.” She paused a moment to consider her question. ”I am Sirona, a pleasure. May I ask, my lady, what brings you to this beautiful beach? I have yet to meet a centaur, I've only read if your kind until now, so, please forgive me if I ask too many questions.”

Paradox heard the angel finish her prayers and stand up, flicking an ear back at the sound of the metallic clinking. She opened her eyes and slowly turned around to face her almost at the same time the winged woman turned around to look at her. She smiled at her and she returned the smile. She stood still as the woman walked over towards her. She came and stood next to her on the glass stones, she was tall for a woman but still shorter than most men. "Hello, winged one," she said respectfully. She asked about the sun and she turned back to look at it, still smiling. "Yes, it is a beautiful sight, only made more glorious by these stones of glass. It's really unlike anything I've ever seen before."

She turned back to the angel and nodded. "Of course Sirona. It would have been rude to interrupt you." She was quiet as the angel introduced herself. "My name is Paradox, it is very nice to meet you. I have come to this beach because I have heard the stories of the crystal city and its rise and descent with the tides. I saw it as I walked along the beach last night. I was not disappointed, but the stories simply don't do it justice. It's much more magnificent in person than any words could describe it." She shifted her weight casually on her hind legs, tipping a hoof to the side, her tail swishing lightly. She watched Sirona remove her hood, letting down thick waves of black hair.

Paradox smiled at the mention of the stories about her kind. "At least you have heard of us," she spoke lightly. She shook her mane, the long hairs cascading down her back. "I've stumbled upon quite a few individuals early on in my travels that have never dreamt of such a thing as I. I have caught a lot of people by surprise." She took a step to the side. "If you would like to walk with me, you may ask as many questions as you like. I will answer them as best I can. It's nice to see people who show interest instead of resentment towards us. We don't exactly have the best reputation."

"I don't think I've ever met an angel. I've read about them as well, but have never seen one. The books don't do your kind justice either, much more spectacular than any words could portray on a page." She stopped a moment and looked in her bright eyes, seeing the fire and strength inside her. Yes, it would be difficult to describe such an incredible creature in words. Though words are unlimited in use, their portrayal on the page is still limited. Somethings were better seen in person, angels were no different. "So, what questions do you have? I'll be happy to answer them." 

Sirona smiled when the centaur replied in kind with respect and kind words and complimented the area they were in as well. ”Paradox, a unique and lovely name, it is very nice to meet you as well.” Truly Sirona did like the name Paradox, it wasn't what that she would have expected from any race to use as a name. But she liked it now that she heard it. ”I do love this place, I try to come here as often as I can around midnight to visit the locals when the city is awake. They don't pay much attention to me but it I enjoy just wondering the streets and taking in the sights and sounds. As you saw I do like to do my morning prayers in the morning sun here as well, it is so tranquil.”

The angel spoke of her limited knowledge of Paradox's kind, inquiring if she could make further inquiries about Paradox's kind. She was pleased to hear that she could. ”I'd be pleased to walk with you, Paradox.” She replied with a broad smile and started to walk beside the centaur when she decided on what direction they would walk in.

She stopped when Paradox did and smiled warmly at the kind words offered to her. ”You are too kind, Paradox, and please, feel free to ask anything of me in turn. I'll answered as best I can.” Once the walk continued Sirona picked her questions carefully, she was very curious but didn't want to ask anything that might be insulting. ”Do you know where you kind originally came from? Hm, that said, where did you come from? Now that I think about it I haven't heard of any centaur herds in this area before, are you alone, Paradox?” She asked, a bit of concern slipping into her voice as she spoke. She left the questions for there now, not wanting to overwhelm Paradox at the start of the conversation.

Paradox was enjoying Sirona's company as they walked along the beach. The angel was very respectful and polite. She turned an ear in her direction as she mentioned visiting the city and its occupants at midnight. That must be a sight to see, a crystal city with people made of glass. Such an experience was hard for her to picture in her mind's eye. She'd make a point to return here around midnight and explore the city, that seemed the prefered time for outsiders to enter the glass city. She also seemed open to answer questions about her race, which was very nice.

As they walked, the angel next to her asked her a couple of questions. She smiled thoughtfully before answering. "There are a couple legends about where we came from," she said with a small smile. "The Herd Mothers and Fathers say we are the result of a bedding between a man and horse. Another story is that we come from the man Centaurus and that he created our kind. He was the result of the man Ixion mating with the cloud nymph Nephele and being born disfigured, he spent his entire time amongst horses and mares. My herd believes that story to be the true one, we even named a constellation after the great Centaurus. Though his father Ixion is the reason for most of our savage and lustful behavior and history. Personally, I don't know which story to believe."

She paused a moment before continuing to speak. "My herd lives in the Highlands of Canelux, hidden amongst the trees and the mountains. Very few of us break out of the herd and travel beyond its borders. After the incident with the Lapiths, my kind became very scarce. We became scared of people and remained hidden as best we can. I had the fortune to meet a human child at a young age and discovered that not all the stories about humans were true. I sought to meet more of them when I became old enough to travel outside the herd. I look up to the centaurs Chiron and Pholos for guidance, the few centaurs that desired knowledge over both lust and drink."

"As for your third question, yes, I am alone. Unlike the rest of my herd, I am very comfortable in my own company." She smiled at the angel. "My kind are very draining after a while and they are very unpredictable in the presence of alcohol, even the mere smell can make them ravenous. I have a strong distaste for the stuff, I hate seeing how it changes my people, so I never felt the desire to indulge in it." She shrugged her shoulders. "It's not a big deal to me. My sort doesn't really value knowledge, or books, or the sciences, I'm an oddity in that respect. I've always felt out of place with them. I feel more comfortable with people now, but initially, I was very uncomfortable. But with time, I've learned the customs and manners of civilized society." 

"What about you? Where are angels from? I thought they worked for the deities?" She cocked her head to the side slightly as she looked at the angel, one of her ears higher than the other. Her hooves clicked lightly on the glass and the sun showed warmly on her side. It would be a nice day to be out on the beach. Especially with such pleasant company. 

The angel listened closely to what Paradox was saying in answer to the questions posed, it would have been rude not to, and Sirona was curious anyway. The story of where they came from, or at least the two versions that Paradox told her, to the angel, were fascinating. She pondered on those ideas for a moment, wondering if Paradox and her kind would ever know the truth of where they came from. It was a question that Sirona had yet to answer about herself at this point, since waking up by the world tree sapling she had no memories of her past. She knew herself and what she was and all of her training with the sword and shield, but not a lot beyond that.

However when Paradox went on to speak of where she came from, the angel's head snapped over to eye her at the mention of Canelux. Suddenly Sirona had more questions than before; was that not the name of the new lands that had been discovered? The ones that the insects in their hubris attempted to invade and failed? If Paradox was from these lands did that mean she was exploring Onnen in the same fashion that Sirona wanted to explore Canelux? So many new questions to be asked!

Paradox went on to say that she was here alone, and more about her herd and their habits. Sinful, that's the word that the angel would use to describe the herd if what Paradox was saying was true, and Sirona had no reason to believe the centaur was lying to her. To be so obsessed with alcohol and lust was something that Sirona just could not picture, not with the way her life had gone since waking up. Yes she had drank before, a sip of wine with a meal was a pleasant thing now and then. But to be drunk, and always wanting to be drunk, no, that was too far, too much of a sin in her mind. As for lust, well, Sirona had never laid with anyone before, she had no desire to do so either. Not that she believed sex itself was a sin, procreation had to happen, but lust itself was a sin, in her mind at least, and that was something she wasn't about to take part in at all.

When Paradox asked of Sirona the angel stopped in her tracks; deities? Deities?! The angel looked to the ocean for a moment and then back to the centaur, confusion written all over his face. ”Deities? You have Gods in your lands? You spoke of, uh, Canelux, was it? That is the new land that has been discovered, the one the insects tried to invade?” She asked, still looking confused. ”I, I had no idea, the monks never told me, but they may not have known either. But they worship Onnen, the first World Tree, if they heard of these Gods then, perhaps they wouldn't believe in them?” Her world was spinning now, she had not expected this. ”I am sorry, Paradox, I will answer your questions but, I must ask more of my own. These Gods, what are they like? Are they truly Divine? Immortal? All powerful?” She paused just a moment, perhaps more context was in order.

”So you can understand my confusion I can tell you this much. I awoke among the monks in the northern part of Onnen, in the Abshah'mal Monastery, as you see me now. I knew who and what I was and all of my training, but I knew not why I was within monastery or what my purpose was. I also did not know where I had come from, I have some ideas, and sadly the monks have their secrets that I have sworn to keep, so I cannot tell you. But it's all I had to go on. But, now you speak of Gods, ones I have never heard of, and now I am not sure what to believe.” Sirona explained as best she could in short, she could give more detail later but at the moment she wanted to know more about these Deities and what that could mean for her past and her future. If angels served the Gods in some fashion, then why was Sirona in Onnen among monks that worshipped a dead World Tree?

Paradox was enjoying her time with the angel. Sirona was polite and pleasant and she was nice to talk to. After she had finished speaking, there was a short pause in the conversation and the angel beside her suddenly stopped. She worried she had said something wrong, perking her ears toward the angel in surprise, and then a small turn on the forehand to face her better. She looked down at the angel, seeing her confusion and wondering why she was confused. Her thought was soon answered by Sirona's reply, which then resulted in her own subsequent confusion with her ears turning to the side.

"You have never heard of the Gods?" She asked her in surprise. "Or Canelux? In Parvpora and Canelux we have several Gods as of late. Though personally, I've never met any of them, at least not any instances that I can recall. From what I've heard they are very powerful and immortal. They each command certain aspects of the world or elements of the land and together they keep everything in balance. They helped fight in the battle against the insects as well, I served underneath the goddess Dalanesca, I believe but I've never met or seen her directly. I do know they exist, maybe not the type of Deity you believe or imagine, but the gods of Parvpora and Canelux exist. I have never heard of Onnen or the First World Tree."

She stood quietly while the angel continued. She learned about her history, her awakening with the monks of the Abshal'mal Monastery, and her confusion about her current condition. "I don't believe I've ever heard of the Abshah'mal Monastery. Is that near here? I've never been to Onnen, this great land was only discovered a short time ago, this is my first time coming here. Canelux and Parvpora have been known a long time." She was silent, as she tried to figure out how to continue. She had never met a person who didn't know about the world or the deities. But then again, she was in her place once. Early on after she had left her herd in the mountains, she didn't know a whole lot about anything. It had taken her time to understand the vastness of the world and the people in it. Sirona too would need time to understand and see everything as she did.

Sirona shook her head in reply to Paradox's question, no she hadn't heard of any of it. But what was this Parvpora that she spoke of?! Yet another continent then? ”The Monastery is far to the North of here on a floating island.” She answered first while still going over everything that Paradox had said. ”Onnen was the name of the first World Tree, and is the name for these lands as well.” She took a deep breath and looked out to the waters for a moment putting things together in her mind.

”Months ago we had a continent wide earthquake, the largest anyone alive has ever felt, but there was something strange about it. Weeks later our fishermen and merchant sailors were starting to find that their journeys to the West were taking a day or two longer. It was theorized that the earthquake, such was its strength, shifted the whole continent. We later discovered, or rather the insects did, your homeland, up until then we never knew there was another continent.” She paused again to think furrowing her brow in frustration as she tried to get things tied together. ”Only the insects for a time knew of the lands when they tried to invade, thankfully they failed, but, in truth, they were acting to their nature. Still, I am sorry the for loss of life, on both sides, for such a needless invasion. I am happy to know that you came out of the fighting alive, Paradox.” She apologized. ”I assume this Parvpora is yet another continent, yes? Is it like Canelux in any way? Here I was thinking I only had one continent to try and explore, now I have two.” She gave a small laugh, but she wasn't complaining.

”But, until you spoke of them, we hadn't heard of them, at least word hadn't reached the Monastery yet. That might be news my monks friends will want to hear. But I believe first I will go and meet this Gods myself if I can. Perhaps one of them can tell me of why I woke up among the monks at the Monastery one day.” She sighed, that was a lot to take in for sure, but she was mentally up for the challenge that might come from trying to meet the Gods.

Paradox's ears perked up at the mention of a floating island. She'd seen a couple bizarre landforms in her travels, but never one like a floating island. She was rather curious to see it. The angel talked about Onnen the first World Tree and then discussed the earthquake that had shaken the world, including Parvpora and Candelux. She remembered it, the earth had shaken and some buildings even fell as a result of the violent tremors. Up until that time, she hadn't felt an earthquake before. Sirona attributed the insect invasion on the mainlands as a result of the earthquake shifting the lands over. It was an interesting theory and a conclusion she hadn't drawn from her own observations.

Though, she was rather surprised to hear that the insects invaded Onnen as well. She nodded in answer to her questions. "Parvpora and Canelux are continents, yes," she said. "They are both rather similar, minus a few small differences. I know Canelux better, but I enjoy Parvpora just the same. They are both unique in their own ways." She watched the angel laugh and allowed herself a small smile. She continued to listen to her talk about the Monastery. "If you ever need company, I'd be happy to accompany you," she offered. "I may not be as fast," she said eyeing the angel's large white wings. "But I have the endurance of a horse on my side. I can go for a long time. That, and I'd like to meet the Gods myself, in all my wanderings, I've never had a good opportunity to visit their temples."