Deicide: To Kill The Gods

XĪNG HUA'S POV

It had been a while since we'd been in this position. Atlas lay, sleeping calmly, with me sat at a chair beside his bed. Yet, during the time we'd been apart, he had changed so much– mentally and physically. He had lost a majority of the baby fat on his face and now looked far physically stronger, and was taller than I was– when we'd been the same height just a few years ago. I smiled subconsciously, brushing a few strands of hair from his face, the light casting rays of light onto his body which was warm to the touch.

‘If your feelings were any clearer, you'd be a window.’ A teasing voice sounded through my head, along with a gentle chuckle.

“W-what? Who's there?!” I cried, face turning a dark shade of red, eyes scanning the room for anyone who could be talking to me.

‘Look down. And keep quiet, you'll wake him up.’

My eyes darted downwards, to find Atlas’ bond perched on his chest, looking up at me rather smugly.

‘Anyway, as I was saying. Your feelings are so clear it's almost painful. Yet, like all boys his age, he’s… likely incredibly oblivious.’

“Th-they are not!” I replied hotly, crossing my arms over my chest. The nerve of this beast…

‘Anyway, I'll keep my mouth shut. Try to calm down, he's waking up now.’

The beast smirked at me, and I stared towards the ground, hair hanging loosely over my face. Taking a deep breath to recompose myself, Atlas’ eyes slowly dragged open as he let out a grunt, yawning and sitting up fully.

“This seems oddly familiar,” He said with a grin, before I wrapped my arms around him tightly for what felt like the first time in forever. He seemed hesitant to return the gesture for a few seconds, before awkwardly wrapping his arms around my body. After a few seconds of hugging, we let go of each other. My mouth opened to bridge the silence, to say something, but he had already begun talking.

“So, how’ve you been, Your Majesty?” He teased. So, he had picked up some of Meryll’s attitude whilst living with her. I punched his arm in retaliation with a pout, huffing quietly to myself. “You can’t hit me! I’m an injured patient!!!” After about a second, we both burst into laughter. His bond nuzzled the crook of his neck as they engaged in some kind of silent conversation in likely the same way she’d talked to me. Nonetheless, I wasn’t privy to it, so I didn’t take much notice.

“To answer your question, I’ve been well. I haven’t been slacking, Xiao’s been working my socks off…” I rubbed my arm, massaging a sore area. The past year had been nothing but work to increase my soul control, and I was happy to say it was paying off. Noticeably, there was no burn scar left behind by Jasper’s attack thanks to Xiao’s intervention, but I couldn’t help but absentmindedly rub the area sometimes.

There were a million things I wanted to ask about. Yet, the words died on my tongue as I decided to settle for a simple question, smiling.

“...What about you? You’ve changed– and– you didn’t have her before,” I said, gesturing to Isabella.

Atlas shifted his position from sitting cross legged on the bed to sitting at the edge, facing me.

“Okay, let’s start from the beginning. After we fell, I was saved by Meryll. Jasper had done damage to my soul core, so instead of getting up and saving you straight away, I was forced to wait a year. During that year, she trained me, so I worked to help clean up the forest,” He said. Quite clearly not telling me the full truth, his eyes darted towards the ground, seemingly trying to look anywhere but at me, perhaps in fear of what I’d look upon him as if he did so.

“I have an affinity to all five elements– I’m a penta-elemental.” My expression didn’t visibly change, but I was inwardly shocked. An affinity to every element was, quite frankly, unheard of. “I’m also capable of the divergents lightning and ice. When I use my Kismet’s second stage, I can use sound and gravity as well.”

He was… talented. But something was off. His aura didn’t give off the elements that they should. Soul naturally occurred in six states– basic soul, and then five particles for the five elements, which is what elemental sages used to generate and control the elements. However, for him, it was almost like he was taking basic soul and turning it into soul particles of the elements. Which wasn't feasibly possible, so I ignored the idea.

“Anyway, I saved Isabella from a group of illegal beast traders, and she’s been following me around ever since. Originally, I thought she was just a horned wolf, but yesterday, I found out she was a…”

“...Dragon.” I finished his sentence. Atlas’ eyes widened somewhat as he pushed himself quickly off of the bed, hand on my shoulder as he leaned over me, body warm. I turned, and Atlas held the hilt of a knife in his hand, Xiao standing in the doorway looking smug. Meryll made her way from behind the doorway and grasped the Guardian’s hair, pulling on his sharply as he let out a few ‘ow’s, muttering curses.

“I apologise for the intrusion. Xiao doesn’t know what it means to let a patient rest.”

“H-how long have you two b-been standing there?!” I exclaimed, words faltering.

“Well, before you two hugged. That was rather amusing, admittedly.” She said smugly.

“M-M-M-MERYLLLLLLLLLLLLL!”

—

ATLAS REYES’ POV

Months dragged by, and I found living with Meryll, Xiao, and Hua wasn’t bad. I quite enjoyed it, actually– it had been a long time since I’d felt the warmth of family. Or, rather, I doubted I never had. But my mind always went back to Atlas’-- my– family. The longer I spent here, the more time they didn’t know where I was, how I was, whether I was alive or not. And even though they weren’t my family, I was now inhabiting the body of their son. Therefore, I had a duty to perform, and continue to be their son in his place.

After learning that Xiao could create a sort of… magical remote connection between me and them using my water magic and his wind magic, along with sound magic, he had set me up in one of the rooms along with Hua for moral support.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in. Upon opening my eyes, a screen had formed from the magic, connecting us both despite the fact we were miles away. A woman leaned close to the screen, her eyes widening upon seeing me.

“C-caspian...” She said, her voice quivering as she stared at me. Her hair was the same shade of black mine as before Isabella’s interference. Her eyes were a beautiful, brilliant violet, to the point it reminded me of… Diana. My head bowed, hanging low, as I desperately made an attempt to hide the tears falling from my eyes.

A man entered the frame, with auburn hair and amber eyes. “Elizabeth…” He whispered, sinking down to our knees. “It’s our son. Our son is alive and well.” I wasn’t sure how they’d recognised me with my changed appearance, but it was quite clearly simply just a parent’s intuition.

They sat there, hugging, and crying tears of joy for a while. I didn’t say anything, not wanting to interrupt the moment, and when they were finished, that’s when I chose to speak up.

“It’s been a while, Mom, Dad. I know you must be wondering where I am right now, and I’m safe. I’m with some very trustworthy people. You’re in Xing, right? Well, I should be headed there soon enough. You don’t need to worry about me. Just a little longer, and we’ll be together. I promise.”

The apparition began to shake, and with a small smile, I allowed it to fade. Tears dripped down my face and onto the floor. Plink, plonk, plink, plonk.

It had been two months, and I still couldn’t forget Diana. Hiccuping, I wiped the tears from my eyes and face, and the snot from my nose as I let out an “ew…”. Hua had wrapped her arms around my side, cradling me gently, and the tears continued to flow down my face. I had to get over it eventually. Somehow. But for now… I couldn’t. For now, the tears would continue to fall down my face and onto the floor, until I could no longer cry.

“Don’t look at me, I’m a mess.” I mumbled to Hua, but she didn’t respond, only squeezed me gently. Isabella nuzzled into my hand, attempting to calm me down as she licked at my palm, meowing softly.

‘I know you’re feeling terrible right now.’ I heard Isabella’s voice as I cast my gaze downwards toward her. ‘I know you’re feeling broken and hurt beyond belief, and I know you’re going to put up a front and hide it the moment you leave this room. But know that we are bonded, and I am with you. Whatever you think you are, whatever you become, I am with you. Whatever you turn into, we turn into together.’

Her words of reassurance caused me to begin to bawl my eyes out for a few moments, thanking the stars I had such people by my side. After I was finished, I pushed myself up, getting to my feet.

“Let’s get going, Hua. Xiao’s going to kill us if we’re late to this evening’s training session.”

—

Two more months dragged by as I practised controlling my Kismet as well as being in-tune with Isabella. I had noticed Meryll spending more time alone in the study in Xiao’s oversized cottage, seemingly working on something. So whilst Xiao was outside, yelling at Hua like some sort of drill sergeant (I could imagine him with a whistle and a cap screaming ‘GET ON YOUR KNEES AND GIVE ME TEN’ already!), I took a peek inside of the room, my curiosity getting the better of my politeness.

However, it appeared Meryll had noticed me from before I had even looked inside as she turned around slowly, a small smile on her face. It seemed pained, with her body positioned in a way that purposefully hid whatever was behind her. Shutting the door with a gentle click so nobody else walked in, I leaned against it, hands behind my back. My bond leapt off of my shoulder, landing on the floor gracefully before jumping up into Meryll’s lap as she cradled Isabella in her arms.

“Grandma, why have you been acting so shady lately?” I asked, getting straight to the point. There was no point beating around the bush. Not right now, anyway.

“I haven’t,” She said with a small smile, “I’ve just been contemplating a few things. And writing a letter. To my daughter.”

“You have a… daughter?” I asked, slightly surprised. I had never seen any pictures in Meryll’s house of a daughter– or a husband, or of anyone, for that matter. Not even her.

“Yes. I haven’t seen her since I moved here, and I was thinking of having a letter written to her. Which reminds me, along with another few things I have to talk to you about, could you please deliver this letter to her? She lives in Xing, which is where you are headed.”

I nodded, taking the letter from her hands. It was sealed with magic, and on the back, there were the words ‘To Claire Ambrose’ written in ink and elegant handwriting.

“So, what was it you wished to talk about, Grandma?”

She snapped her fingers, and a glossy bubble enlarged from the point at which her fingers touched. It became about the size of the room, and I glanced around, before looking at her, confused.

“It will prevent anything being spoken in here from reaching the outside, Captain-Commander Xeno.”

My body instinctively entered a defensive stance after hearing my past life’s name, muscles tensing.

“How do you—”

“Calm down. Even if I did wish to harm you, in that feeble body, there isn’t much you would be able to do about it anyway. Besides, there is much to discuss.”

I relaxed somewhat, but I still felt rather anxious due to the fact I couldn’t tell how much she knew about me– whether or not it was to the extent of things even I didn’t remember.

“I see all that is seen and unseen. All that has come before and all that will come after, Xeno.” She said, smiling wistfully, before continuing. “Your future is that of a bleak one. In many millions of billions of futures, you sow nothing but destruction for this realm. Dark forces will soon begin to mobilise, with you at the epicentre of their plans– for you are the singular variable.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Or, rather, that thing within your chest is. Think of it as though it were a key. The one who holds that key will be the one that breaks the stalemate the gods have been locked in for centuries. And, with the weak state you are in, it will be no difficulty for them should they decide to kill you and take it.”

She paused, her expression sorrowful.

“Lives will be lost. Countless, innumerable amounts of lives. However, you must become strong enough to write the ending, or else they will write it for you. I will leave you with some advice.

One, become stronger. Strong enough so that you can decide who you ally with in the coming war for yourself. Strong enough so that even the gods, who bow to no one, will treat you like an invaluable asset in the coming war.

Two, do not trust the deities, and question every word that leaves their lips. They are merely devils in celestial skin. Not everything is always as it seems– they will lie to you, trick you, and hide the truth in order to seem better than they truly are. The truth of this world that has been hidden will be revealed, in time.

Three, live your life. Xeno, you are a warrior who sacrificed everything for the strength needed to protect his people. And in doing so, you forewent any form of humanity or emotions. In this life, find those who matter to you and keep them close to your chest. Hold them dear, and fight tooth and nail to keep them safe. Anchor yourself upon them. Because they will slip through your grasp before you realise it.”

Her words left thousands of questions in my mind. Questions I didn’t have the answer to. Questions I knew I’d likely never have the answer to, even if I searched the lands for thousands of years. My head hung down as I contemplated what she had said.

“But if my future is already written, then–”

“Fate has its eyes on you, child. You will know. Within those millions of billions of futures, it is up to you to choose the one future in which you are happy.”

I just hoped she was right.

“Now, you and Hua will be leaving tomorrow. The Succession Ritual Tournament approaches– and you need to reach the Capital before the end of the week, lest she be disqualified altogether.”

Her words had taken my mind off of the ominous premonition. That was right. The task at hand was to enter the tournament and win. Snapping her fingers again, the bubble dispersed, and I headed towards the door. Before leaving however, I turned.

“I’ll deliver that letter for you, I promise. But if I know anything… I know that she would probably prefer you to deliver it in person, Grandma.”

She only smiled sadly, a smile that carried over a thousand burdens, as I closed the door. One day, I hoped she would share them with me.

If only... I had known that would be the last time I'd ever see her smile. Maybe then, I would've at least-- told her how much she meant to me, to all of us.