[In a world very different from this one, since the beginning of time, humans and spirits lived in harmony. Most of the humans were not able to see them. But there was a small percentage that could. They used their abilities to demand things from them.]
"That story again?"
[Hush child, I need to talk about it to remember and you're the only one who listens. Let me continue.]
[Spirits in their tiny forms always flew around humans. They knew the humans were using them their own benefit sometimes. But with their extremely long lifespans, what little shenanigans these weak creatures were doing were interesting to them.ike a form of entertainment. So they would help them when they felt like it or when they found something interesting.]
[As they watched humans who just seemed to pass through them for generations they felt pity for these vibrant creatures whose lives burned faster than matchsticks. Almost like pets they tended carefully as they watched them age.]
[But the high level spirits were different. They weren't that interested in the affairs of these weak creatures. There weren't that many of them but all of them were powerful beyond their imagination. While spirits could only control their own element, a high spirit could control all of them. With powers so mighty how could they care for this bunch of foolish humans? So they didn't show themselves to humans easily, spending their time within their forests where they were one with nature.]
"A bunch of hypocrites, aren't they?."
[*Chuckles* Let me finish. As time went on and the humans advanced, their world fell into the claws of war. Great nations fell overnight as the war grew crueler day by day.]
[In one of those kingdoms, the palace was in mayhem. Borders were about to fall and their beloved kingdom was about to be destroyed by their enemies.]
[The freshly crowned young queen of the kingdom tried with all her might but couldn't find a way to save them. As she fell deeper into despair, she remembered the spirits. Same ones that always used to be around her while she was growing up. She found them again.]
[She begged them to get a high spirit to help her as only a high spirit could create a miracle for a kingdom surrounded by enemies on every side. Spirits were originally not going to help her as they knew the temperament of the ever so prideful high spirits toward humans. But as they watched the child they loved fall deeper into despair, one of them decided to try anyway. The tiny water spirit flew with all her might through the forest to find the high spirit who once saved her life.]
[As the high spirit with a gentle temperament listened to the water spirit request he wasn't very interested at the start, but seeing how desperately a spirit begged him to help a human, curiosity stirred within him. He wished to at least see the human who was so beloved by the spirits.]
[When spirit with the red eyes shinier than any gems she ever seen appeared right in front of her eyes, the young queen begged for help as her kingdom was about to be nothing but ruins.]
[Since the moment he saw her, the high spirit had taken an interest to her unwavering will. He agreed to help as he wished to watch her fate.]
[With the high spirit help the kingdom was reborn overnight. The high spirit and the queen fought one battle after another side by side and grew closer as the days passed. As years went by and seasons changed the other kingdoms around them started to join their kingdom one by one. As their power grew so did their territory.]
[As their kingdom grew at an unbelievable speed time passed and the battles ended. The kingdom became the greatest force on the continent and forced the other kingdoms to stop this meaningless war. With the collective power of their vessels help, they became an empire.]
[There were several kingdoms that refused to bow down to the power of the kingdom, but the empress did not try to conquer them. She had already spent her sweetest years in war. She did not want any more blood to be spilled over some land, she already had plenty. As she watched the celebrations from the balcony . She looked at the high spirit disguised as a human man and remembered all the things they'd been through. She knew the spirit was unable to feel the dependence and love she felt for him, and with the warend their agreement was about to be over. Soon he would disappear back into the forest he came from, out of her reach and never to be seen by her again.]
[So she made a final wish to him before he left. to be left behind, a piece of him and her that could connect them together, a child.
"A selfish request."
[Right? So did the spirit thought but it was interesting enough to him that she was wishing for his child. So he granted her request before he disappeared. Spent the night with the woman he watched over these short years.]
[He felt like he just blinked and she was not the young and inexperienced queen but an empress with kingdoms in her control, possessing enough power to command them all. She was no longer the desperate little girl who constantly needed his help. But he had no reason to stay any longer. He had completed their deal and she no longer needed him. He also needed to go back to where he belonged.]
[As he fulfilled her request and disappeared into the forest the empress was left on her own again. It was like he never existed in the first place. Like those years they spent together were nothing more than a lie. Like she was back at the start before the war, before he appeared in front of her in that palace garden, before she made that request to the spirits, before she fell for the man with rubies in his eyes twinkling brighter than all of the stars in the universe as he silently watched her kingdom develop day by day.]
[As tears fell down her cheeks she smiled. She was glad for her last request. At least she had proof of his existence with her. As days passed and seasons changed her stomach slowly grew. It was almost time. She spent her days attending her empire's affairs during the day and talking to her ever growing stomach at night. Her love for his child was evident in all of her actions as she slowly caressed her stomach.]