Often after reading a passage she would discuss it with Drevass. The story of Aldon she found especially interesting.

"Drevass, when I lived in Barona City, there were five hills. One of them had the palace, one had the college, and two just had parks. The fifth had a temple. It was the largest temple in the whole city, and it was a temple of Aldon. If Aldon doesn't have any power, why is he the head of the gods?"

"The humans believe something very different from what we believe, Serali. Didn't you hear the story of the Age of Creation when you were a child? And wasn't it a different story?"

"Yes, I do remember hearing it. My parents followed the Creator, as much as they followed any god. Religion wasn't talked of much in our house, Papa always said that we should leave the gods alone and they would do the same for us. But I've discussed religion with a few humans. The story I heard from them didn't have Bright Ones in it at all."

"Your human parents followed the Creator? That is quite unusual. Most humans don't acknowledge the Creator in any way. They worship the Bright Ones as gods, with Aldon at their head. Though I've heard it said that the Easterners worship the Creator. I'm not an expert on human theology. One thing I do know it this, the worship of Aldon only fulfills the prophecy that the Creator gave at the beginning. Aldon is worshiped and honored, but I doubt it bring him any joy. False honor seldom does."

"Galen would agree with you that honor doesn't always bring joy," said Serali with a sigh.

"Who is Galen?" Drevass inquired, curiously.

"He's a human prince. Everyone bows and scrapes in front of him, but they all want to get power from him, they don't really care about him at all. He said that he'd rather the friendship of a single peasant girl who didn't know who he was then the honor of a thousand royal toadies."

"A wise man, this Galen."

"Yes, he was that."

Now after the world had been made, and set in its place circling the sun, to be lit with sunlight by day, and yea a moon was also made that there might be light by night, and oceans and land placed in their proper places upon the world as had been sung in the beginning. Yea, after all this had been done, the Bright Ones told the Creator that all was prepared. So the Creator looked upon the world, which was yet without life, and said "Now is the time to make life upon the world." And when one of the bright ones, whose name was Pelor, began to make an intelligent being, to place life upon the Earth, the Creator halted him saying "All thing in their proper order." And Pelor was much ashamed, that he had not seen this in the song at the beginning of things.

Now the Creator placed a seed upon the Earth, and commanded it to grow, and it grew. So after the Bright ones also made seeds, and all manner of plants grew. And the making of the plants was long. But lo, after this making was done, and green things covered all the earth, the seed which the Creator had planted had grown into a great tree whose branches were white and whose leaves were green to surpass all other greens. It bore no fruit, neither nut nor seed of any kind, but stood alone.

And after the creation of the plants was done, the Creator began the creation of animals. And this he did by making an egg. He set the egg among the branches of the tree, where it waited while the Bright Ones made the animals. And they made all manner of creatures, both those that swam in the oceans and those that flew in the air as well as those that walked upon the ground. And the making of the animals was long. But when all had been made, the egg which the creator had made hatched. And therein was a bird like no other seen upon the earth, whose plumage was white to exceed all whiteness. And after the bird had hatched, the tree wherein it sat bore fruit. And the fruit likewise was white, but it yet had no seeds within, for the tree stood alone.

Now after the making of the animals was complete, the Creator began the making of the intelligent beings. And he began again by making an egg. Now Aldon had watched the creation of all things with jealousy in his heart, for he could not create. And when he saw that the Creator had made an egg, he taunted him saying: "Thou shouldst think of something new, for behold, I have already seen that trick." But the creator answered him mildly saying, "Perhaps thou hast, but it is a good thing nonetheless, and I will not unmake it." And he placed the second egg upon the ground, beneath the branches of the tree.

And it came to pass that even as impatient Pelor reached forth his hand to place upon the Earth that which he had thought from the first, that the egg cracked and out of it came a Dragon, whose scales were white even as the whiteness of the bird and the tree. And the Creator spoke to the dragon, and named him. But his name is not known among dragons, neither spoken among the Bright Ones. For he is called First Father of Dragons. But at the time of his birth he stood alone, and there was no mate for him.