And she said, Father, Father, give them their freedom, as Thou hast given me mine, and give them this world, as Thou wouldst have given it to me. And so saying she made haste to die.

--Irsos 19:12

And she said, How have I offended Thee, that Thou hast led me to this place? And so saying she made haste to die.

--Calemsis 17:5

This was not meant to be the age of miracles.

There was a time when the Lord and His angels walked the earth, and all who looked upon them knew their power and were afraid. But that was long ago, during the many aeons that saw the creation of the world. It has been nearly two thousand years since the earth was in every respect complete, and perfect, and the Lord gave it to His daughter Anaia, who was more perfect still.

It has been nearly two thousand years since she was slain, and her Father, in grief or obedience to her will, withdrew His hand from the world. The Lord in His heaven may hear prayers, but He does not choose to answer.

Kyria Anaia's will was wise, and mankind has governed itself well in the age that followed. Who can say if the nations would have risen, and flourished, as they have, had they kept their heavenly protector? Who knows if they would have built their steamships, and raised their parliaments, if they had not had to rely on their own judgment? In the past five hundred years they have outgrown even the rule of the Hierarchs, who once governed in the Lord's name, and the new priests will tell you that this too, is good, is right.

But now, in the high places and the small, the world begins to move...

....and the placid halls of the university flare with deadly heresy...

...and the queen of the salons trembles, and the watchers at her seances swear that the visions that attend her are real...

...and a once-hardheaded businessman returns from the desert raving of wings and death...

...and the last heir of the Hierarchs contemplates the ruin of her house, and prepares to sell away her family treasures...

...and the nations whisper war, war...

...and all might pray that the world had not forgotten miracles.