The Legend of Beladeia and Andrayus
Beladeia, a young Ca’Ti woman, was known to her people for her kind heart and beauty and her hard-working and generous spirit. Sadly, a war between her people and those of Malatene was the only life she’d ever known.
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Long before she was born, quarrels had forced apart the once-friendly nations. Soon those quarrels turned to hatred and anger and eventually battles and war. Beladeia’s family did their best to survive those years, but no family came out unscathed. Before her fifth birthday, Beladeia had become accustomed to burials and mourning traditions.
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Families of the people of Ca’Ti and those from Malatene, shed blood for a cause none of them understood. For the original quarrel had long been forgotten and all that remained were remnants of the animosity between the two nations.
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As the moons rose and set, Beladeia grew from a small child to a beautiful young woman, all while battles and war-ravaged her people and took potential suitors from her grasp. Worried her beauty and youth would soon go to waste, Beladeia’s family sent her away from her home village in search of a life partner.
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Her journey was a treacherous one and took her through a dangerous section of the land that was thick with thieves, vandals, and those looking to profit from the war. Her family had instructed her to stick to the main road and only travel through that section of the land during daylight hours.
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She’d nearly reached safety when disaster struck, and a group of bandits determined to do her harm attacked her. They forced her from the path and demanded valuables and money, of which she had none. With nothing to offer the bandits, Beladeia faced the prospect of losing her life to them instead.
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As she cowered in fear, Beladeia suddenly heard the welcome sound of hoof steps striding in their direction. The idea of a new target excited the bandits, and they quickly abandoned Beladeia and hid in the bushes by the roadside to wait for the new passerby.
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To warn the travelers, Beladeia darted away from the bandits and ran back in the direction she came and into the road. She froze when she came face to face with a small group of Malatene soldiers on horseback. Their leader drew his sword the moment he recognized her as Ca’Ti, but something about her nature gave him pause.
“Please, sir,” Beladeia begged. “There is a group of bandits ahead that intend to do you harm. I fell prey to them myself and didn’t want another to be harmed by them.”
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The man looked at his companions briefly before turning his full attention to Beladeia. After looking her over, he sighed and put his sword away. “What is your name, Pretty One?”
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“My name is Beladeia,” she said, lowering her eyes. “I only wish to travel through to safety. I mean you no harm.”
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“Very well, Beladeia,” the man said. “We will assure your safe passage.”
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“What should I call you, sir?”
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“My name is Andrayus.”
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Andrayus held his hand out to Beladeia and pulled her atop his horse with him. With a swift kick of his foot, the group flew down the path toward the bandits. When they approached, Beladeia pointed out their location in the bushes.
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Andrayus and his group quickly subdued the bandits and escaped the danger thanks to Beladeia’s help. Once free of the danger, Andrayus led the men to a clearing to rest and took Beladeia further up the road.
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“Thank you for your assistance, Beladeia,” he said with a smile. “Is there any way I can repay you?”
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Not wanting to trouble Andrayus, Beladeia declined his offer.
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“My repayment is being able to continue my journey in peace,” she said, “and that you can continue yours as well.”
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Andrayus bid Beladeia farewell, and both went on their separate ways. Their paths were fated to cross again, however. Not two weeks passed before Beladeia found herself in a difficult situation. She had arrived at the city in which her family sent her to find a partner, but her people soon discovered how she had helped Andrayus to escape a deadly trap. Because of this, they sought to punish her in the town square.
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Just as she was being dragged into the street to receive her punishment, Andrayus came through town. Seeing Beladeia suffering broke his heart, and he stepped in to save her. Unfortunately, this was more of a reason for Beladeia to be punished.
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How dare she develop a relationship with someone from the country of Malatene, the sworn enemies of the Ca’Ti?
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Likewise, the members of Andrayus’s own country who were present in the city also did not approve of his attempt to help Beladeia. Like those of the Ca’Ti, they felt Andrayus should also be punished.
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They dragged him into the street alongside her as both their people proceeded with their devious plans. Andrayus and Beladeia spent their last moments on earth begging for the other to be spared. Sadly, it was not to be.
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As the pair took their final breaths together, a pair of bright lights emitted from their bodies and flew above the townspeople. Together, the lights swept over the people, and each realized the sorrowful mistake they had made that day.
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Both Beladeia and Andrayus had helped each other in their time of need and ultimately gave their lives in punishment because of their kindness. Both the Ca’Ti and the people of Malatene were heartbroken because of the mistake and vowed to forever be indebted to one another.
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The bright lights flew into the sky and created a beautiful set of constellations that can still be seen hovering over Eridiana and Malatene to this day. The sacrifice of Beladeia and Andrayus brought together the two countries, who now share a bond that cannot be broken.