Matilda once believed that Bade, the god of war, was her father. He was the first to hold her after she was born when he visited her mother, Zenia, goddess of winter, fire, and cunning. Bade named Matilda, which means mighty in battle, though Zenia had been waiting to name Matilda until her magic was defined.

Zenia told Bade that she intended to hide Matilda from her father until she was older, which he thought wise. Bade swore to never have a child until children can be born of love, and as a god, he would rather be feared than loved. Zenia advised him that even war can strengthen the defiant nature of love. Bade left, and Zenia resumed her life as if nothing significant had happened, though Matilda is the most recently born divine Skyward or Underling.

After three days of solitude, Zenia took Matilda to have her horoscope read by Orphia, the goddess of death and Bade’s mother. Orphia’s large burrow is full of rooms, like a honeycomb, and also contains her loom. Orphia used her scrying mirror to read Matilda’s horoscope and determine her magic power. Orphia asked Zenia about Matilda’s father, and Zenia admitted that he was a Skyward but didn’t reveal his name.