Art Of Divinity Cosmos: The Beggining of All

Aether stepped forward into the light, and at once, the world bent around her.

It was as if the very fabric of space folded inwards, engulfing her in a brilliance so pure it seemed to erase all shadow, thought, and even time itself. Her body became weightless, her senses overwhelmed by the immensity of the illumination. There was no pain—just transcendence.

Then, silence.

And from that silence, a new world emerged.

The blinding light dimmed, revealing a vista that took her breath away.

She stood upon soft, emerald grass that glistened as though dew had kissed each blade with starlight. The air shimmered with unseen energy, and every breath she took felt like a whisper from something divine. Before her stretched a vast landscape—an endless glade where the flora pulsed with vibrant colors that shifted like auroras.

Towering trees, their leaves made of translucent hues, swayed to music unheard. Petals rained softly from floating flower-like orbs, and fauna of unimaginable form and beauty walked freely, seemingly unbothered by her presence. The world was alive, breathing in harmony, each creature a note in a cosmic symphony.

And in the center of it all, rising into the heavens, was a monolithic tree.

Its roots tunneled through the very horizon, each one as thick as a castle wall, stretching into the distance like a vast nervous system. Its bark shimmered with a silver-blue sheen, glowing softly, and at its peak stood a tower spiraling into the sky. Upon that tower's pinnacle, a crystal—multicolored, faceted like a prism—hovered, suspended in a dance with the surrounding winds.

As Aether took in the sight, a small golden orb appeared before her, like a miniature sun, no larger than a closed fist. It hovered at eye level, radiating warmth and peace.

Aether blinked. "Where are we? What is this place?"

Then it spoke.

Its voice was feminine—gentle, serene, the sound of an eternal lullaby.

>"Welcome, bearer of the flame. Follow me."

Before she could ask more, a voice rose within her—Aetherius, calm but unusually firm.

<"We should follow. This one speaks for what lies beyond. Refusing is not... permitted."

Aether furrowed her brow. "Not permitted? That's ominous."

"Exactly."

She sighed. Her voice was dry, if only to herself. "Well, I didn't come all this way to be indecisive."

The golden orb shimmered, then spiraled upward before descending slowly toward what appeared to be a storm cloud—a swirling mass of condensed white mist shaped like a seat, flanked by soft, roaring winds. The orb's light touched it, and it stabilized, forming a small platform of solidified air.

Aether stepped cautiously onto it.

The cloud obeyed, lifting her into the sky.

Wind rushed past, not harsh but exhilarating. The world beneath unfolded like an epic painting, the harmony of the sanctuary revealing layer after layer—floating isles, crystal ponds, skybridges that shimmered like moonlight on water.

Aether looked toward the massive tree that dominated the realm. Her guide remained silent.

"Are we going there?" she asked.

The orb pulsed, but gave no answer.

Then a voice whispered from her mind—not Aetherius this time—but something older.

<"Seek your answer, not your destination.">

The journey stretched on, timeless, but somehow brief. When the cloud descended again, it landed at the base of the massive tree.

The roots here were like walls, some towering above her, forming natural corridors. As she approached, the bark shifted, and a passage formed in response to her presence.

She entered, and immediately, light burst from within.

A surge of rainbow-colored aura flared out from the tree's inner sanctum, bathing her in so much light she instinctively fell to one knee, shielding her eyes.

Then came the voice—older than dust, textured like weathered stone and ancient winds. Feminine. Scratched by centuries.

<"Is that you… the last Arthurian blood?">

The question thundered not through the air, but through her very being.

Aether froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Arthurian?" She looked inward. "Aetherius... what is she talking about?"

But there was no reply.

Only silence.

The bark before her split further, revealing a towering door wrapped in glowing vines. The vines pulled away slowly, respectfully, and from behind them came an overwhelming light.

The small golden orb shimmered one last time and spoke.

>"You may proceed."

Then it faded.

Aether, hesitant, stepped through the doorway. "Inside, the world changed again."

She now stood in an impossibly vast cathedral—no, not a cathedral, but something greater. The architecture was seamless, too perfect to be crafted by mortal hands. Pillars of opalescent marble lined the infinite halls. Floating chandeliers of radiant crystal lit the space with warmth that came from no sun. Along the length of the chamber were rows upon rows of thrones—empty, but grand.

Each throne was unique—carved from elements not found on Earth: one of glass and starlight, another of obsidian wrapped in constellations, a third of woven gold-threads that sang with every shift.

"This was a court... A divine court."

She approached the center, and from the farthest end of the chamber, a figure began to approach—walking slowly, each step echoing like poetry.

And when the figure became clear, Aether stopped.

That, woman was... beautiful.

No, more than beautiful. She was terrifying in her elegance.

Long hair black as void drifted behind her like ink in water, fading into golden strands that danced like starlight. Her golden eyes bore into Aether's soul—two stars burning with intelligence and madness. Her pale skin shimmered slightly under the light, and her black and gold uniform clung to her form like shadowed silk.

Aether instinctively stepped back.

The woman smiled—a smile that knew too much.

In her hand, she held golden crosses strung together like prayer beads, but they felt more like talismans of domination.

"Welcome, Aether," the woman said, her voice both mocking and maternal. "You've come far. I trust the ride wasn't too dizzying."

Aether narrowed her eyes. "Who... are you?"

The woman chuckled softly, brushing hair from her face. "Names are complicated. But you may call me... Taiji."

The way she said it was casual. But something in the air bent at the mention of it.

As if the world around them recoiled.

Taiji stepped closer, her aura dark yet mesmerizing. "You stand now in the heart of the Sanctuary. In the halls where the echoes of gods find rest."

Aether tried to remain composed. "Why was I brought here?"

Taiji tilted her head, as if examining an insect that suddenly learned to sing.

"Because you're the last piece of a story that was never meant to be written. And because, dear girl…"

She leaned in close, eyes glowing brighter.

"You still believe in happy endings."

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