Cylus devoted years to this place. Carving river valleys, creating oceans and the floating islands he'd one day call home.

But it was still barren. Sure, water sloshed along the surface, but that was it. No creatures could roam this dry, hot expanse.

He did not realize how long it had been until one of his children paid him a visit. A starskipper called Everlast.

She claimed to be the last of her kind, that in his absence they had nearly become extinct. She was old and frail, far beyond healing. Her beautiful blue scales had dulled to a simple gray, her horn broken and cracked.

The two spoke of the good old days for a while. Spent their last times together. Without Solais, no more starskippers could be born.

"I have a request, mother." She gave a hearty cough before continuing. "I see no life here... when I am to die, I want you to form me to a seed. Let it be the first you plant here. I wish to be with you and Sol forever."

That wish couldn't have waited any longer, could it?

Everlast's death was but a day later. As requested, all four remaining sages came together and formed her remains into a glittering silver seed.

Her mother planted the seed at the exact spot they had spoken the day before. There sprouted a colorful tree that grew and grew. Over the span of a month, this tree has become the largest remaining being on this planet. Everlast was one with her parents once more, and the first wisps of life had begun to form on this barren rock.

There were tears. Pride and sorrow. The loss of his family turned to his greatest achievement. Cylus did not know wether he wanted to quit or continue, though he pushed on. For his family.

From the Evertree, millions more were seeded. Great winds carried its seedlings across the planet, and even more were ferried between the islands by Everlast's descendants.

Soon, this barren little rock was teeming with life. Plants of all kinds, split off from one another. A flourishing ecosystem, absolutely abundant with creations.

One that Cylus knew his family would be so proud of if they knew.

He had a feeling they did, somehow.