Belton Harrald's mother, Ailsa, was as devout a follower of
Aroden as any in the city of Oregent, working tirelessly in service of the
Azlanti-turned god, before his "mysterious disappearance" (her words,
not Belton's), and evermore feverishly in the wake of the unfulfilled promises
of the Starfall Doctrine. She would go on to tell Belton before her death that
he must keep his faith honed sharp, for Aroden's test of their faith was merely
that. "Gods do not answer letters." she would say, begging Belton to
reconsider his misplaced faith, and come back into the light that had spawned
him.
You see, Belton was not a normal Harrald, born into a life
of lumberwork or mining "future," empty and short as such a one may
be. Belton's "father" was always a mystery to the child, not truly
understanding the power of the gods until his 13th birthday, when he was awoken
by so brilliant a sunrise he felt he may go blind with his eyes shut tight.
Upon adjusting to this brightness, Belton realized that, in fact, it was not a
light shining on him, but rather one from within him. Ailsa had always told
Belton that, truly, he had been born of her faith, but being precocious,
cynical, and doubtful, he believed rather that his mother had been secretly
hiding an affair with a member of Aroden's clerical brotherhood in the city.
Why else would Father Timo had cared so well for the boy growing up?
That year, Belton discovered myriad clues and answers
relating to his own existence, and his powers. He had been born of his
mother's faith, this much is true -- a solar of Aroden who had visited Oregent
had been so lovestruck by the beautiful, young Ailsa that he could not
contain an outpouring of his celestial energy, something she accepted
wholeheartedly. Timo, believing Belton to be the proof of Aroden's impending
arrival, (Harrald truly would be befitting a sign of this magnitude, would it
not?) took great care to immerse the boy in all the truest, most devout teachings
of the church, taking him on as an apprentice the very moment his halo
appeared, assisting Belton in easing the physical, emotional, and interpersonal
pain of growing into his fledgling wings, and upon seeing his size, introducing
him to the ways of the inquisitor.
One day, while out exploring the wilderness, 14 year-old
Belton caught something, no, someone? out from the corner of his eye. A
beautiful elf-like creature, absolutely stunning, and also with wings, though
hers were dark as night and full of stars, flitted between the trees and rocks
of the mountains. "How lucky you are," it said to him, "to
discover yourself in my presence." Belton had heard stories of Desna from
Timo, but he'd left out the most crucial part: her absolute, devotion-inspiring
beauty.
Not wanting to disappoint his mother, the solar
who was his biological father, or Timo raising him, Belton kept his love for
Desna secret, squirreled away in his heart... until, that is, the arrival that
never came.When Timo and the other followers of Aroden lost their power, it
became clear to Belton that the only worship safe was that of the eldest gods,
and that of the strongest pull - love and adventure, and love of adventure. He
began searching out Desnan clerics and roving worshippers, attempting to gain
the favor of his beautiful goddess, but never meeting the kind of inquisitors
of Aroden's churches. This was when Belton decided to take it upon himself to
find his way as such, but before leaving his mother, he promised to carry a
well-worn copy of the History and Future of Humanity, in preparation for
the inevitable return of Aroden.
