Atum
Father was impossible.
At least, that's what I thought.
No matter how hard I trained, no matter how much power I gained, I could never surpass him.
Not that I wanted to.
Well...
Maybe a little.
I stood atop one of the mountains surrounding Eden, watching the stars that Father and Mother had lovingly nurtured over countless ages.
The universe was beautiful.
But beautiful things needed protection.
And that was my dream.
To become strong enough to stand beside Father.
Not behind him.
Not beneath his shadow.
Beside him.
"Brother!"
I sighed.
There she was.
Selene.
My little sister.
She floated through the air, surrounded by butterflies and moonlight.
"I've been looking everywhere for you!" she complained.
"And I've been hiding everywhere from you," I answered.
She pouted.
"Mean."
I chuckled.
Selene always had a way of making everyone smile.
Even Aunt Oshtur.
Especially Father.
Honestly, Father spoiled her too much.
Actually...
Mother spoiled both of us.
Not that I was complaining.
"Father wants us," Selene said.
I frowned.
"Am I in trouble?"
She giggled.
"When are you not?"
Rude.
SeleneBrother Atum was weird.
He always acted serious.
Always training.
Always trying to become stronger.
But deep down...
He was kind.
Even if he denied it.
As we returned to Eden, I saw Father beneath the World Tree.
Mother stood beside him.
And Aunt Oshtur sat nearby, reading one of her magical scrolls.
Home.
Father smiled.
"Atum. Selene."
Immediately, I ran toward him.
He laughed and caught me before I could crash into him.
"Careful, little moon."
Mother smiled warmly.
"You spoil her."
Father grinned.
"She's my daughter."
"Of course I spoil her."
Atum simply shook his head.
"Hopeless."
Mother giggled.
And Aunt Oshtur nearly burst out laughing.
Honestly...
Life was peaceful.
But sometimes...
I would catch Father staring at the two empty seats beneath the World Tree.
And sadness would appear in his eyes.
He always smiled afterward.
But I knew.
He missed someone.
One day, I asked Mother about it.
"Who are those seats for?"
Mother became silent.
And Father, who had overheard us, smiled softly.
"They belong to your uncles."
"Uncles?" I asked.
Atum blinked.
"We have uncles?"
Father nodded.
"Two younger brothers."
"Chthon and Set."
His voice was gentle.
But I could feel pain hidden within it.
"Where are they?" I asked innocently.
Father looked toward the stars.
"Far away."
"But one day..."
His smile returned.
"They'll come home."
Atum and I exchanged glances.
Neither of us fully understood.
But we could tell.
Father loved them deeply.
Very deeply.
AtumLater that evening, I found Father standing alone.
The stars reflected in his golden eyes.
I approached him.
"Father."
He smiled.
"Atum."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
I hesitated.
"Were you always this strong?"
Father laughed.
"No."
"Strength isn't something you're born with."
"It is something you choose."
I frowned.
"But you're the strongest."
Father shook his head.
"No."
"The strongest beings are those who protect others."
His gaze drifted toward Eden.
Toward Mother.
Toward Selene.
Toward Aunt Oshtur.
And somewhere beyond the stars...
Toward those he had lost.
"I became strong because I had people I wished to protect."
I silently listened.
And at that moment...
I understood.
Strength wasn't about power.
It was about love.
SeleneThat night, the four of us gathered beneath the World Tree.
Mother.
Father.
Brother.
Aunt Oshtur.
And the two empty seats.
Father smiled as he gazed upon the heavens.
"Good night, little brothers."
Mother held his hand.
And though sadness remained within his heart...
There was hope.
Hope that one day, our family would become whole again.
And beneath the endless stars...
The children of Creation dreamed peacefully.
Unaware of the destiny that awaited them.
To Be Continued...