"Love" by Michael a Gra King

In the times before Light, and Dark was just a mystery in the veiled future, there was a Devine known as Crass. He was an evil thing, bent and haggard, taking on the appearance of what he believed. His face was a mass of slimy scales, and rabid disease. His body had contorted and was now bent like a broken root. On his back, were a pair of blackened wings, which were more bone than anything else.

Truly he was a miserable creature.

He was cruel, disgusting, and yet, he had longings. He just didn"t realize, or if he did, maybe he figured it was too late.

The other Devine"s looked at him with loathing, and distaste, remembering the majestic creature he once was, reduced to... this. He had been their friend, much respected in the temples of Essence and Breeze, and feared in the Shrine of Rage. He was outcast, and banished.

There came a time, many centuries after Crass was exiled, that the Goddess of Fate felt a need in the Shimmering Walls of the Great Break. It cried out for warmth, and a Light to bring forth beings with will and dreams. So, she drew on all her strength, and conjured a flame. But this was no ordinary flame, for it had a beating life force. It flew from her hand, to take its rightful place in the Great Break, where it resides to this day.

It just so happened that Crass was passing through the Break at that time, and bore witness to this flame, as it flew across the void. Never had a heart and body as cold as Crass"s felt such warmth, and he fled from it, in terror.

But, as is the want of all sentient beings, his curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself drawn to it more and more. He was enamoured of it. It"s beauty, its structure. Everything thing about it was... perfect.

There came a time, some centuries later, when Crass made up his mind to enter the flame. After many attempts, he finally managed to do so, but was immediately met with a pain so intense, it almost destroyed him.

The pain quickly died away, and Crass was left feeling no different. He made up his mind to break his ban, and went to the temple of Breeze to pray.

As soon as he entered, he got ready for outrage and alarm, but what he got was shock mixed with joy. Crass was confused.

He made his way to the altar, but happened to pass by the Great Reflecting. He stopped and could not move.

He was whole again. His body was straight, his face cleansed, his wings had regrown, and from his spirit there shone forth the brightest silver hue ever seen in Heaven.

Crass was overjoyed. He went straight to the Great Break, and to the same spot where he had watched the Flame for all those centuries. He sat still, and gazed at it.

And he sits there to this day, love in his heart, warmth in his soul, living as a sentinel, of the Heart of Existence.