<Note: Read my comment at the end>

Day after day passed, and the man and his wife continued to care for the creation Áronyeh had given them. They studied everything around them with childlike wonder: the plants that grew, the animals that romped about, the ways of the river and its creatures, and the rolling of the heavens.

The time Rayôn and Qeyrah loved the most was at the end of every seven days, in the late afternoon, when Áronyeh would visit them and walk with them. Even though they felt his loving presence with them at all times, it was special when he talked with them face to face. They would tell him of all their experiences and the things they had learned of his creation, and Áronyeh would listen to them in delight. Rayôn often did not understand the workings of what he had studied, and he would ask Áronyeh about them. But to his inquiries, Áronyeh responded, “The mysteries of my creation are for you to explore. If I told you these things, you would not be able to discover them yourself. Continue to study and ponder, and take joy in what you find.” And so Rayon did, with Qeyrah at his side. And the more they studied what Áronyeh had made, the more they understood; and the more they understood, the more they stood in awe of their Creator’s infinite wisdom.

Rayôn and Qeyrah loved each other, and after the passing of two years, they were delighted to discover that their love had born fruit: Qeyrah was with child. When the days were complete, she gave birth to a boy. The man and his wife watched him grow into a pale, wide-eyed willowy lad with a shock of nut-brown hair, full of life and eager to understand the creation around him. When he could walk and talk, he went out and spoke to the beasts and the birds, and they understood him, and in their own way they would respond to him. His parents realized that the Mighty One had given him incredible gifts, and so they named him Vúnyeðel.

At the passing of four years, Qeyrah gave birth to another son. He too was pale, but grew shorter and stockier than his brother, with great strength in his limbs. When he had grown half his father’s height, he could lift twice the rock that his father lifted. Therefore his parents named him Durfil.

At the passing of seven years, Qeyrah gave birth to a daughter. She began to grow into a lovely girl, wide-eyed and willowy like her brother Vúnyeðel, but with black hair and olive skin like her mother and father. When she could walk, her brother Vúnyeðel took her hand and showed her how he talked to the beasts and the birds. He taught her his skill, and she learned. Then she exceeded him: for when her brother approached the beasts and the birds, they would speak to him, but when she came to them, they would sing. They walked under the trees, and at Vúnyeðel’s approach they would seem to whisper in delight. Yet with his sister at his side they would sway and dance, and even shower them with tiny blossoms. Rayôn and Qeyrah could sing; so could Vúnyeðel and Durfil. Each sang with a unique and beautiful voice, but the voice of the girl was the loveliest of them all – and at her voice, the works of her Creator responded in joyous song. So Vúnyeðel named his sister Shereynah. Rayôn and Qeyrah were pleased at this.

At the passing of twelve years, they had another son. He grew tall and tan like his father. When he was still learning to speak, he would joyously help his parents in everything they did, and would shout in excitement, “Qayél! Qayél!” Therefore his parents named him Qeylen.

At the passing of fifteen years, another daughter was born, and they named her Rhonnah.

After Rhonnah, Qeyrah bore Rayôn four more sons and four more daughters, as is recorded in The Generations of Rayôn; from these seven sons and their wives would spring the folk known as the Firstborn. But in those days of joy, before the sundering of the Firstborn from the Second, every new child was an unblemished blessing in Arah.