The narrative focuses on Atvertha, a young goddess who is learning about mortals from her mother, the powerful sun goddess Avtexia.
Setting:
The story takes place in a grand, well-lit library-like room within the palace of the gods. This space is filled with books and has a serene, almost inviting atmosphere that would entice any avid reader. It's a stark contrast to the earthly forest below, where it is nighttime, and a mortal man lies injured and unconscious.
Characters:
Atvertha: A young, silver-haired goddess with violet eyes, she is curious and compassionate, despite being taught that mortals are brutish and unworthy of attention. She is the daughter of the sun goddess Avtexia and god Helion, and is destined to manage the state of the world at night.
Avtexia: The beautiful and stern sun goddess who rules over both the mortal and magical worlds. She holds a strong prejudice against mortals, viewing them as a source of chaos and destruction.
Unnamed Mortal Man: An injured human found by Atvertha in the forest, he becomes the subject of her compassion and curiosity.
Spider: A sentient creature living in a cave, who assists Atvertha in caring for the injured mortal.
Plot:
During a lesson on mortals, Atvertha listens as her mother, Avtexia, expresses disdain for the human race, describing them as violent, greedy, and unfaithful. Despite this, Atvertha's curiosity is piqued, and she questions whether all mortals are truly as bad as described. Her inquiry is cut short by her mother's harsh response, which includes a strict warning against marrying a mortal.
Later, while looking down upon the earth, Atvertha witnesses a mortal man lying wounded in a forest. Driven by a sense of compassion, she defies her mother's teachings and flies down to help him. Using her divine powers, she heals his wounds and transports him to a safe cave, providing him with food, clean clothes, and a bed to rest on. She entrusts a spider, who lives in the cave, to watch over the man until he recovers.
Upon waking, the mortal man is confused and amazed by his surroundings. He marvels at the torches lighting the cave and the provisions left for him. Unaware of Atvertha's intervention, he thanks the gods for his unexpected salvation. Meanwhile, the spider observes the man's recovery, contemplating the unusual kindness shown by a goddess towards a mortal.
The excerpt ends with the man changing into the clean clothes provided and preparing to leave the cave, symbolizing the beginning of a potential encounter between the divine and mortal realms, driven by the compassion of a young goddess questioning the rigid beliefs of her elders.
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