Mel'yde, the Balance

Mel'yde is a being created by **Ter'ot** to control the cycle of time within Eprea, but does not claim him or any other **Celestial** as a parental figure. She is a higher Celestial, born from nothing and controller of all things kinetic.

## History

Mel'yde's creation began due to the constant quarrelling happening between the twin children of **Kurro**, with her first duty involving helping the two share the skies. The **Flyrs** of **Lunalah** were the first to see Mel'yde descend from the skies, the large dragon being the one to create the treaty between the siblings. Due to the Flyrs witnessing her birth and arrival, Mel'yde is a common favorite amongst the playful race. The Vlennite's also revere Mel'yde, due to her being the Skysplitter.

As well as help control the day and night cycles, Mel'yde journeyed on to assist the other **Celestials** in their endeavors as well. She assists **Celena**, **Pafella**, and **Eiryot** in particular.

With Celena, Mel'yde sends a message on the winds to the wolf, informing her of where to bring the cold and warm winds to shift the seasons.

With Pafella, she sends a message to let the lovebird know when and what plants to grow in certain areas, depending on that areas season.

With Eiroyt, she assists with the decision of when it is time for an Eprean's life to come to an end, generally being the one to send the young raven to fetch their souls.

Due to Mel'yde's heavy involvement in the forces of life and death, she had earned the title of the Fateholder by the Epreans. It is said that once an Eprean has passed on, that a flash of Mel'yde's form will appear before them with an hourglass in her hand. She turns the hourglass over, allowing the Eprean an hour in the stationary plane of time to review their lives before they pass on.

Between her duties with the other Celestials, Mel'yde continues with her check ups on the two twins. However, she secretly had gained an interest in the **Frostseer** in particular, using her check ups as an excuse to visit and get to know the Celestial better. Mel'yde and Alene became closer and closer with time, building a relationship similar to that of lovers.

Some believe that Mel'yde's relationship with Alene is why some nights last longer than the days, and Ania was quick to discover this as well. Once the hot-headed phoenix had arrived to confront Mel'yde, she made an agreement with him to have half of the year where his days were longer as well, with his concentrated during the warmer months and Alene's concentrated during the colder.

### Today

Mel'yde is an elusive **Celestial**, not being seen by any other race other than the **Vlennite** and **Flyrs**. To have another race be seen by the Celestial is unheard of, but not impossible. The only other time another race of Eprea would see the Celestial is at the time of their death, where they see her cut their thread of life before them, allowing **Eiryot** to whisk their souls away. Epreans who manage to narrowly evade death but still witness the Celestial tell tales about seeing her long claws run over the delicate thread, and how strangely peaceful the experience had felt.

At first, the stories of Mel'yde appearing at death made Epreans believe that she was an evil and malevolent spirit, but the rumors were smothered out once **Pafella** informed her followers that Mel'yde assists in bringing life. Despite this, some continue to look towards Mel'yde with a hint of malice.

For an Eprean to commune with Mel'yde directly, they must meet two requirements: be that of the Flyrs or Vlennite races, and bring an unripened fruit to her shrine. The fruits must be placed on each side of the scale within her shrine until each side is perfectly balanced. Once the harmony has been met, Mel'yde will appear in her physical form. She will take the fruits and speed them up to a perfectly ripened stage, hearing out the Eprean as she enjoys her meal. At the end of it, she will decide on if she will bless the Eprean or give them their advice. Once the commune is finished, Mel'yde vanishes once more, to a place that Epreans can only guess. Some believe that Mel'yde resides within the threads of time itself.

## Physical Appearance

Mel'yde's true form is that of a large faerie **dragon**, sands falling from her horns and filling her wings. Magical bindings form the sands into webbing in her wings, often leaving behind a trial of glittering sands as she flies.

When interacting with her worshippers, Mel'yde takes on the form of a **Vlennite**, with half of her body representing the Solaraeths, and the other half representing the Lunareth's. Sands cloak along her shoulders, and her eyes appear to be filled with stars.