The Greatest Sin

Petty existential crises exist for all of us. Our purpose here? Are we even alive? Are we just figments of imagination? If humanity was to disappear, would we go with it? I assume every single one of us has come across these thoughts every now and then. We settle these qualms or we go mad.

There is one crisis of confidence I cannot ignore whatsoever though. That is the question of today’s Divines. Gods rarely change through the ages, this is most evident with Fortia and Maisara. Their ideas of Peace and Order are called barbaric and dystopian nowadays. Maisara’s Order is work for unity, Fortia’s Peace is even simpler: it simply means ‘a lack of war’. Yet they still hold to these beliefs, I presume they will hold to them until they die.

And now, we have Divines incarnate in the Age of Pantheon Peace. They are completely different, almost alien, to us. If conflict were to ever return to Arda, if the fragile alliance between the three worlds was to be broken, who will rise to defend us? The Great War killed off most of the powerful Divines forged in ages of conflict. I cannot envision Ciria or Waeh or Halkus ever leading a conflict. Kassandora’s imprisonment is a contingency for this, she will be dragged out of that cell and made to command because there is no one like her, I doubt there will ever be anyone like her again.

There are not a lot of the old guard left.

- Excerpt from the secrets texts in the White Pantheon’s closed library. Written by Goddess Allasaria, of Light: ‘Untitled.’

Ciria snapped her fingers and a table rose out of the sand. A grand, long table, with more than enough space between the two sides. She stood there, smiling and excited, that finally negotiations had been figured out.

It had been a long month trying to reason with the two sides. First Elassa had vetoed any possibility of Olephia being present, then Arascus came in and said he wanted Allasaria. Elassa was wholly against that idea, but she did want Anassa present. Then Arascus had suggest Fer, then they had to go back and forth about why Fer should be there.

Kassandora was no surprise of course, both sides wanted her there, as was Arascus. Fortia came in on Ciria’s request, one they both had little qualms to. Ciria was happy about that, Fortia was the Goddess of Peace, of course she would be helpful in peace negotiations. Then Arascus simply suggested bringing everyone, Elassa shut that down immediately and the number was limited to three per side. And on and on it went until three representatives of each side were chosen: Elassa, Fortia and Zerus on one side, and then Arascus, Kassandora and Fer on the other.

Ciria had no qualms with any of them. She merely smiled to herself as she smoothed out her dress. A pure-white shawl with a scarf of red. “How do I look?” She turned to Halkus. Her husband stood in a pristine suit, he was as tall as her. With dark hair and orange eyes and a hard face that looked as if he was carved as stone. Some of the Divines she knew considered him hard-headed and uncompromising but he was actually lovely and sweet.

“Beautiful.” He replied and sat down as chairs made of sandstone rose out of the desert sand. They had chosen a location close to a nearby town. Elassa not once budged on bringing mages, but they would be staying nearby. In return, Arascus made sure the place would not be far off from Kirinyaa, the border was within sight. Ciria turned to Waeh and looked him up and down. A paragon of poverty, the God rejected every gift people brought him but their faith. He wore a grey shawl, one shoulder exposed.

It was odd that he so tall, but Divines nowadays appeared shorter than they did in the past. Waeh was more than thrice Ciria’s age and her head reached up only to his shoulders. He was thin but lean, like a young man who ploughed the farm. He looked over at Of Civilization and Of Industry and smiled. “It’s the first time I meet him.” He spoke softly, his voice with all the gentleness and sweetness of a breeze drifting through flowers. “Honestly, I’m nervous and excited.”

“I am too.” Ciria said as she took her seat in the middle. Her scales appeared on the table. Scales to solve all problems and quandaries, they had never failed her before. No matter what two people wanted, that set of golden scales could bring compromise and satisfaction to both sides.

“As am I.” Halkus took his seat. “I don’t know what to think.” He leaned back and took a sigh. “We shouldn’t have come so early.”

“It’s never bad to be early.” Ciria said gently as she started to fiddle with her golden hair, it was straight and neat. She had made sure to look as good as possible for today. She giggled to herself. “Honestly, I don’t think it will be too bad.”

“We’ll see.” Waeh said from her left. He moved the sandstone chair closer as a sliver of the Sun appeared in the distance. They had arranged for thirty minutes after dawn. “I don’t like that the three who left the Pantheon won’t be here.”

“They didn’t want to. I’m not going to force them to attend.” Ciria said and the two Gods on either side nodded. Such was the way of the world after the Great War. Compromise and willingness. Ciria took a deep breath as they waited. They didn’t have to wait long. “Look!” Ciria said as she pointed north. Three Divines were moving to them. Elassa and Zerus in the air and Fortia on the ground.

“That’s not a good look.” Halkus said. Elassa wore her dark blue. Ciria had read about it in history books, ancient magician’s battledress. She hovered slowly, a white staff in her hands topped off with a large white diamond. Zerus was next to her in a white-gold shawl. And Fortia walked below them, in her golden armour and spear in hand. She knew of the White Pantheon, although she didn’t know them personally. Allasaria had told her to stay away, so she did.

“They look like they’ve come to fight.” Waeh said.

“There’ll be no fighting here.” Ciria clicked her tongue as her heart started to beat faster. She looked south. “They’re here too.” And from the south. Three figures walking across the desert sands. In dark coats as they kept up a fast pace. Arascus, it had to be him, in the centre. Tall, taller than any Divine Ciria had ever met. With dark hair brushed back and a sword on his hip. His coat fell behind him to his knees. Then crimson-haired haired Kassandora. The books always wrote about Kassandora and her hair coloured like spilled blood. She wore a similar uniform, but with a greatsword strapped to her back. Ciria sighed again.

Old Divines and their ways. She supposed it was fine if both sides brought weapons. Her eyes went to what had to be Fer. Smiling, arms behind her back as she strolled easily. It was too far to hear, but the woman looked to be whistling idly as took steps. It was odd, Of Beasthood was supposed to be civilization’s antithesis and yet they had the same shade of hair. The only difference was that while Ciria’s was straight, Fer’s was unbrushed and fell down her back as if it was a cloak.

Elassa’s party got to the table first. Ciria had always assumed herself tall, but she was the shortest between them. Even Elassa had a good inch or two over her. They sat down silently and watch the three approach. “It is good to see you.” Ciria introduced herself. “I am Ciria, of Civilization.”

“We know.” Elassa said, not taking her eyes away from Arascus once. She sat there, dark-haired in between the other two. Her staff started to hover by itself and she crossed her arms.

“Zerus of Lightning.” Zerus said. He was reminiscent of Halkus, but taller, muscled more, with a weathered face and close cut stubble of grey. And he had perfect blue eyes that looked over at Ciria, Halkus and Waeh without so much as a single emotion.

“I am Fortia.” Fortia said as she stabbed her spear into the ground. Ciria merely smiled pleasantly. She had expected the White Pantheon members to be less… rude. Old Divines, old ways, she supposed. But then, this was why she was going to show them a better way to move forwards together.

Ciria had originally wanted to bring journalists here to record this moment for all history, but both parties had been against that. And so it would be a private meeting. She was no stranger to compromise, so there was nothing to do with it. “They’re taking their time.” Fortia said. Zerus looked up at the sky, his eyes glancing at the sun and the shadows on the ground.

“We’re actually early, they’ll be here on the dot.” Fortia rolled her eyes but said nothing. Fortia pulled out her phone to check. Zerus was right. The White Pantheon had come three minutes early. And Arascus arrived exactly as the clock turned to the half-hour.

He stood and looked over them. He went to Ciria, to Waeh, and Halkus first. Cold calculating eyes that sent a shiver down Ciria’s spine passed her by as he stood there. In that black uniform, with the greatcoat, the sword, the way he carried himself, the sheer size. That is what a God should look like. Ciria pushed the thought away, that is what old Gods looked like. That was a different time for mankind.

Fer sniffed the air. These were the new Divines? This is what the world had come to? She looked over at Ciria again. She had expected Civilization to be monumental and towering. To come armed with sword and shield and heavy armour and... That was the Ciria? She bent her head to look at her from a different angle to make sure the woman wasn’t hiding behind illusions. She smelled like small-fry, like the Divines that were city-mascots in the past.

Was she just hiding her strength? She had to be, right? It was impossible for the Goddess of Civilization to be… to be just that.

Ciria saw Fer looking oddly at her and smiled. Fer was the one she was most worried of meeting. When Arascus had said he would be bringing her, Ciria didn’t know how to respond. This was supposedly the Goddess of Beasthood, the antithesis to her. Irinika was to Allasaria, and yet… Ciria’s smile grew as she bowed her head. Fer looked rather lovely, with those cute ears and the tail whisking behind her. “I am glad all you came.” Ciria said as Arascus’ party took their seats.

“We’ve come.” Arascus said. “Although I do not see the point in this.” He looked at the scales in the middle on the table. Kassandora was next to him, the woman had almost disappeared. Shorter than Fer and Arascus, by a noticeable margin, but that only made her as tall as Zerus. Ciria wished she wasn’t so short. That Halkus could tower like Of Lightning or Of Pride. That Waeh had more bulk to him. They had dressed up, and yet they were obviously the three weakest at the table. And she pushed those thoughts away. So what if they were weaker? The world wasn’t built on war. The time when strength decided hierarchies ended eight hundred years before she was born.

Ciria answered Arascus as she spoke softly to all of them. “I do not want to see pointless bloodshed over millennia old feuds. We’ve built a stable world, and I wish to conserve that stable world.”

Kassandora leaned forwards as she listened to Ciria. This was Ciria and Halkus and Waeh? The three great peacekeepers of this age? The greatest Gods of the Pantheon Peace age? This was them? She looked at Fortia on the over side of the table and saw her own emotions spiral across that woman’s face. The same confusion and borderline disgust. And only one question rose up in Kassandora’s mind, one she could not answer in a satisfactory way.

If this was Ciria, why did they plan so much?

Ciria did not know what she said wrong, but something there apparently was wrong. Arascus raised an eyebrow as if humoured. Elassa rolled her eyes. Fer yawned and bent to lean down on the table. Zerus sighed and Fortia spoke.

“We built your world Ciria.” The Goddess of Peace said.

Ciria smiled gently. This agreement would be her greatest achievement yet. She could make any mortal see reason, now was the time to move up into the leagues of Divines. “I am not saying you did not. But what I see is that our peace will be shattered. And I don’t want that.”

“Ciria.” Arascus said gently. “It is good to meet you. You too Halkus.” The God of Pride said nothing to Waeh. “But I would ask for you to stay out of our conflict.” Ciria smiled, that she could work with. All she had to do was show him reason, and then he’d see they could work together on building something greater.

“I understand you have history together, but I merely ask that you do not let your hostilities burn down the home we all share.” Kassandora rolled her eyes at that.

Fer smiled up at Ciria. What a cute little goddess. Downright adorable. Like a little mouse that tried to stop a bear from fighting a tiger. So sweet. What a heart of gold.

Ciria smiled back at Fer as she finished. Kind words always helped. People simply needed to understand. Kassandora spoke up. “Ciria, are you serious?” She asked coldly.

“We are all serious.” Waeh said gently, but his voice travelled far. The six Divines turned their heads and looked thunderstruck at the three.

“It is simple negotiations.” Halkus added.

“What does each side want?” Ciria spread out her arms with a smile to include all of them.

“Arascus wants world domination.” Elassa said quickly. “And I will not serve under him, it is as simple as that.” Arascus leaned back and laughed.

“Is that not the dream of every Divine? To be known throughout the world?” He said loudly.

Zerus came in. “Very smooth, but you didn’t deny her, did you?” Arascus answered before Ciria could get a word in.

“If people call me small, I do not bother to deny them either, do I?”

“Smooth once again, but that is the crux of the matter. You tried to conquer us once, we are still here.” Zerus said.

Arascus responded once again in that jovial tone. “It is grand to talk about dreams when you’re living in your own Zerus. Do you not have world domination already? Tell me, what country is safe from your shadow’s mountain?”

“The White Pantheon ensures stability and peace throughout the world.” Elassa said.

“So do I. Just look at Kirinyaa, finally standing up for itself.” Arascus finished as Elassa was about to say something again.

“Wait!” Ciria shouted. This was going out of control. An emotional argument between them was the worst that could happen. “There has to be some compromise to this.” Fortia and Kassandora both chuckled. Elassa turned, eyes squinted as she looked at Ciria, her mouth open. Fer’s ears bounced up and down as those cat eyes narrowed at the Goddess of Civilization. She only smiled and purred.

“Excuse me?” Elassa asked.

“There has to be a compromise.”

“This is like asking two mountains to kneel to each other Ciria.” Arascus said. Elassa smiled at that.

“That at least you have correct.” She said. “There simply will be no compromise, I will not serve under a tyrant.” She looked at Zerus and Fortia by her side. “None of us will.” Zerus nodded and Fortia rolled her eyes. Ciria smiled at them, she had seen the opening.

“This is the way, see, you just agreed with each other.” She hoped they would not see.

Zerus had known of Ciria throughout the years. It had been Allasaria’s decree she would not be invited to the Pantheon. Back then, it had caused a scandal. How could the Goddess of Civilization not be part of the Pantheon? He understood it now though.

A Goddess this dim, for her own good, should not be allowed near the levers of rulership. If she had to actually lead rather than help, the world would simply devour her. He shook his head and sighed.

“Ciria.” Arascus spoke slowly. “Are you? Do you understand what is going here?” Fer chuckled from near him and Fortia slouched back on her chair. Halkus stepped in and grumbled.

“Don’t insult her like that. It is obvious what is going on here.” The God of Pride merely looked Halkus up and down turned back to Ciria.

“I do!” Ciria said.

“And that is?” Arascus asked.

“You two hate each other, and you pretend you will never work together.” And the six Divines looked at her as if she stupid. Arascus and Zerus were the worst, they only gazed at her in pure confusion. Kassandora chuckled. Fer let out another humoured purr and Elassa looked up to the sky. Fortia shook her head and spoke up.

“We do not hate each other.” Fortia said flatly. “That is just wrong. There are people I hate, but the three in front of me are not part that small club.”

“Why thank you Fortia.” Fer said sarcastically. Fortia gave the Goddess of Beasthood a flat glare and then continued.

“We’ve worked together in the past.” Fortia said slowly. “I think everyone at this table has fought each other at some point. Those two.” Fortia pointed to Kassandora and Elassa. “Worked to stop her some sixteen hundred years ago.” Fortia’s finger went to Fer. “But times have changed. This isn’t hatred Ciria. We’ve all sat down and had our own private debates on this. This is simply the most rational choice of action.”

Ciria blinked. How could it be? How could they honestly sit down and decide that bloodshed and violence and broken families and lives lost were the way forward? That burned homes and ruined nations somehow could be acceptable? They stared at her as if she was idiotic but what was this? This was pure idiocy in its truest form! “So what do you both want?” Ciria asked slowly. Kassandora brought out a piece of paper and slid it across the table.

Peace Demands.

Dissolution of the White Pantheon.

Fortia sniffed in humour at that. Elassa merely looked up flatly at three ahead of them. Zerus rolled his eyes. Ciria took the paper and put it on the scales, one side fell with a slam. “And what does the White Pantheon propose?”

“Dissolution of Arascus’ family.” Elassa said flatly in response. The scales moved and tipped to the other side. Ciria looked at her, and then at them. Her scales weighed everything, but it was interesting that the family was worth more than the Pantheon. Ciria had assumed them to be equal. When the scales balanced, they could agree and compromise. Now, it was just finding out how to balance them. Arascus leaned back.

“That’s simply not going to happen.” He said. And Ciria sighed. She had just been making progress.

“Likewise, the Pantheon will not dissolve.” Elassa said.

“You’ve already lost half your members.” Arascus said.

“You mean we’ve had three turncoats and two losses.” Fortia said. “The losses are bad true, but the turncoats you can take.”

“Is there nothing else you can have?” Kassandora sighed from the other side of Arascus.

“Ciria, you are wed to Halkus.” The Goddess of War said.

“I am.” Ciria replied proudly. She and Halkus were made for each other. They were the light and purpose of each other’s life.

Kassandora sat there and shook her head. Ciria, frankly, should just die. A title like Of Civilization should belong to someone worthy of it and not this naïve little girl who thought everyone in the world could just forget their worries, hold hands and dance together.

“And does that ever cause you problems with the other Divines?” Kassandora asked it calmly, but the words sounded as if she knew the answer already.

“It does not.” Ciria answered and looked to her husband. They shared a look together and both shook their heads.

“Not here either.” Halkus reaffirmed.

“And if you had a larger family then?”

“I consider everyone my family.” Ciria meant it earnestly, but Kassandora still sighed.

“And here we have the crux of the issue. You simply do not understand what our bond means.” She extended her arm to Arascus and Fer. “A White Pantheon dissolution is farcical because that is the only they feel safe against us.” She said it slowly. “The only way this ends is through the eradication of one side. They will not join us because we do not want them, so they have to band together because they would not be able to fight us alone.” She finished with a sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. Elassa found issue with that.

“While you’re factually correct, the way you’ve phrased that is wrong. It makes it sound like we’re the pro-active force here. You are the ones who started the Great War. We will not let you seek dominion over the world.”

“Why do you not want them?” Ciria asked. That could be a way of attack for her. If everyone joined under Arascus, then they wouldn’t have trouble. The man had been correct at the start, the White Pantheon did have world domination.

“Which one do I start with?” Fer said lazily. “Zerus is alright, but he’s lazy and doesn’t do anything. You have to work him up or drag him out of bed to move. Sceo is temperamental and has mood-swings. Alkom is too prideful for what he does. Fortia and Maisara have the same problem, which is that things need to go their way or no way, Elassa thinks she is much smarter than she actually is.” Fer raised an eyebrow. “I think that’s the main problems.” She dropped her chin onto the table, arms outstretched and smiled up at the three Divines on the other side. Her fangs showed themselves.

Fortia rolled her eyes and spoke. “You mean me and Maisara like having things done correctly?”

“That’s exactly the sort of attitude I was talking about.” Fer said from the table.

“Don’t come to me with attitude.” Fortia snapped back.

“Oh? What will you do about it?” Fer was just as fast.

“Don’t argue!” Ciria shouted to calm them down. “What if you joined the White Pantheon then?” Arascus, Kassandora and Elassa all laughed as Fer yawned.

“You understand the issue is that we don’t like them, and they don’t like us?” Fortia said.

“So you do hate each other!” Ciria had been correct.

“We simply do not like spending time together. It would be a disaster.” Arascus said. “Before you were around. Even you.” Arascus motioned to Waeh with a flick of his head. “There were greater Pantheons about. With hundreds of Divines, all of those descended into civil war. The only reason Allasaria’s has survived this long is because none of them can match the Goddess of Light herself.” Was the man lying? He didn’t seem to be, but Ciria had never considered the White Pantheon to be anything but a force for good. And yet he described it as a tyrannical regime.

Arascus looked at the three young Divines. Now that they had grown comfortable. It was time to scout and investigate what they were about. He simply refused to believe that Ciria was this weak and pathetic. The Goddess of Civilization had to have a hidden ace in her sleeve. He tapped Kassandora knee with his under the table.

“I have one thing to ask.” Kassandora said. “What would those scales equalling out even do? There are certain things we simply will not compromise on, no matter how many incentives are given.” Ciria happily extended her hand to the scales. If it made them trust her, she would tell. “They simply weigh and measure. I am a peacekeeper, they help people understand how much their problems are actually worth.”

Kassandora, quite honestly, was thunderstruck. It was actually that pathetic?

Arascus leaned forwards and took the piece of paper off the scales. “So what if I offer myself?” He said and the scales slammed down towards him. “How do we measure that?”

“I don’t want you.” Elassa said and the scales tipped back to be balanced.

“That wasn’t the question, who measures the value? Is it my opinion of myself? Or is it Elassa’s?” Ciria answered earnestly as the six Divines stared inquisitively at her scales.

“It’s just a visual aid, there’s no magic or anything to bind people to it. We’ve moved on from forcing our wills onto others.” Ciria said proudly.

“So what’s the point of it?” Fer asked then giggled and scratched her head. “Sorry for being stupid, but… can’t I just go back on my word?”

“You’d love doing that.” Fortia said from the other side.

“Not my fault if you get tricked.” Fer snapped back. Ciria looked at Fer and smiled. She was cute, and she wanted to learn. Beasthood would be possible to civilize after all.

“There is nothing, it is for a new age, a better age, were we trust each other.” Ciria said and Elassa rolled her eyes.

“Oh please woman. Spare me with the grandiosities.” The Goddess of magic sounded exhausted. “Just shut up. The only reason you appeared as you did is because we brought peace to the world. Frankly, there’s more to debate about with them.” She inclined her head to the three on the other side. “Than with you. Arascus should be down on his knees and apologizing to you for starting the Great War and making the events that lead up to your incarnation.” Arascus smiled in humour as he looked at Elassa. She merely raised her hands, her voice loud and accusing as she stared at the three across. “Well, I’m right, aren’t I? Look at her!” She extended an arm out to Ciria.

Ciria sat there, thunderstruck. She never even dreamed about people liking her, much less demanded that. But to hear something like said from a Divine, and not just any Divine but a member of the White Pantheon. It did hurt.  “Now now, you shouldn’t bully little girls Elassa.” Fer said.

“Shut up.” Elassa said as Arascus rolled his eyes.

“Make me.” Fer said from the table.

“You think I can’t?” Elassa said.

“Oh I know you can’t.” Fer straightened herself and returned to a sitting posture. The only person taller than her was Arascus. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have needed Kassie’s help back then, would you?”

“Do you really need to fight that much?” Halkus asked.

“This war won’t end until one side claims total victory.” Arascus said. Fortia nodded at that.

“Peace is enforced. War is let loose.” The Goddess of Peace said. “It is as simple as that.”

Ciria thought quickly on what to say. She had assumed Fortia would be on her side, but she had some entirely different idea of what peace was compared to Ciria’s. Some incomprehensible sort, peace was enforced? Peace was bestowed. Peace was freedom from war. It wasn’t… They were old Gods though, maybe they did need a competition between each other? “What if you fought between yourselves?”

Ciria gave her compromise. If blood had to be spilled, then blood would be spilled. If they wanted to fight so badly, then why shouldn’t they? If she had a thousand years, maybe she could reconcile, but Arcadia and Kirinyaa were in arms race now. War was rising on the horizon and Ciria wanted to push it back down before it scorched the world. Kassandora sighed. “Ciria, what would that do?”

“Well, one of you would win?” Ciria asked.

“And?” Kassandora said. “What does that change?”

“Well, we’d have peace then.” Kassandora opened her mouth to answer and Fortia raised her hand to stall the Goddess of War.

“This is my demesne, let me speak Kassandora.” She said and turned to Ciria. “What would that do? If let’s say Elassa die, would her mages disappear? If Kavaa was assassinated, where would the Clerics go? It’s the same situation with my Guardians or Maisara’s Paladins. If Arascus was to die, would that extinguish war within Kassandora? Would Fer not seek revenge? That would not be Peace Ciria, that would be a ten-year ceasefire, twenty-year if we’re lucky. And then we would go again. And again. Until only one of is left. And then the world would bow.”

Fortia took a breath as Ciria felt walls close around her. All she had done in conversation was simply convince them that war should be done. If she had done nothing, maybe there was something to be rallied, but this? This was a band of mad Gods proclaiming how much they wanted to kill each other! And Fortia, Goddess of Peace, continued. “Peace is enforced. We have Peace now because the White Pantheon enforces it. Because there is no to match us. The greatest threat to this world isn’t a new weapon, it is a shield that will convince someone that they can stand against us. Arascus has become that shield for Kirinyaa, and he is on track to becoming that shield for all of Arika.”

“The Anarchia issue for example, in the past, it would have led to civil wars. Now, Maisara has gone and executed everyone with even a trace of that Goddess’ stink on them. Peace has been enforced. Or what do you think happened? That we went for a nice chat with them? That we somehow convinced them of our lofty ideals and they decided to hold hands with us suddenly? No Ciria. No, Maisara went to enforce Peace and Order, and she did.”

“I…” Ciria. “It’s just wrong though.”

“You are allowed to say that because you’re made within this peace, so you cannot see it. We are outside of the peace, so we do see it. It is good you’re this way and I don’t look down on your for it, but this is not your demesne. Our hands are soiled so that yours are forever clean. Kassandora will agree with me on this, if she died, her army would come seek revenge. It is that simple. It does not end when we die, it ends with the total eradication of the other. Total war into total peace.” Kassandora smiled at that as Arascus nodded and turned to the Goddess of Civilization.

“Fortia is right, but there is another issue. Any sort of competition is worthless. We have a champion that is undefeatable.”

“Do you?”

“Olephia.” Fortia sighed and shrugged.

“I cannot argue with that.” She said. And Ciria stared at them. Why did they want to fight? For simple power-plays? Could they not agree? Why could they not? They sat here, talking to each other as if they knew each other, and yet all they did was agree why they should sacrifice millions of lives for each other!

“I just have one question though.” Arascus spoke to the three young Gods. “To you three. What would have happened if we did bring Olephia? Or Anassa? Or Neneria? Or if Elassa had rolled in with an army of mages?”

“We trusted that you didn’t.” Ciria said earnestly. Arascus smiled and shook his head.

“That’s it?” He asked. “So if this table descended into a fight? What would protect you from the crossfire?”

“I am here.” Waeh spoke up, his voice cold. Arascus finally turned to the other God of Pride.

“You are.” He said, his voice grim. “And?”

“Do you know what I am?”

“Allasaria’s copy of me.” Arascus said coldly.

“You’re evolution.”

“I’d have to be dead for that to be true.” Arascus responded. “I would have killed you already were this not peace talks.” Ciria collapsed into her chair. And now Waeh was in the crosshairs. It would have been better to just stay out of it. To not have to listen to Fortia’s moralizing, to just leave them and clean up the mess.

“You wouldn’t be able to.”

Arascus withheld the smile on his face. And so, Waeh had been baited. Now what was this false God’s power?

“Would I not?” Arascus said. “If Kassandora were to draw her sword right now and go for your head, would you be able to stop her?”

“I would.” Waeh replied coldly.

Kassandora felt Arascus’ knee brush against hers. That was the signal.

The chair flew out from underneath her as she launched across the table, Joyeuse materializing in her hand, ready to take that man’s head off.

And then her body hit a cliff. As if the air had hardened to some unbreakable stone. She had been moving, and then she stopped. She tried moving her head, but couldn’t. Only her eyes jumped about at her body, there was nothing holding her, she could feel the warm breeze on her fingers. But she couldn’t move. No matter how she strained, it was as if her own body was rejecting her will.

Ciria squeaked as Kassandora stopped mid-way through her lunge and Waeh let out a deep breath. He did not even look at the Goddess of War as he continued speaking to Arascus. “I am not you Arascus, I do not hate you, even though I should. I am the God of Humility, of Pride that Serves. There is no Divine nor blessing I cannot touch. You cannot harm me even if you wish to.”

“This is the difference between us.” Arascus said. “People wish to serve me, they are forced to serve you.”

“Phrase it how you wish, I am the check that stops divinity from overruling humanity at every turn, I am not so young as Ciria and Halkus here. I’m not of their age of Pantheon Peace.”

“But you are Waeh.” Arascus said. “You are of this new race of observer God. If you weren’t, you would be sitting on a side now.”

“I am merely a Divine, a servant of the mortals. If I was omnipotent, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation, would we?” Arascus smiled as Kassandora growled from the middle of the table. Fortia, Elassa and Zerus were staring up at her in shock. Fer had her eyes narrowed on Waeh, she sniffed the air every now and then. Eventually she growled.

“Can you release her now?” Arascus asked calmly.

“She’s already released.” Waeh replied coldly. “Do not test me again.”

Kassandora stood up on the table and straightened as she inspected her body. She moved her arms, Joyeuse disappeared from her grip as she turned and jumped off. “I apologize gravely.” She said. “I am the Goddess of War, you can imagine I’m always up for a challenge, I will restrain myself better from now.”

Kassandora finished lying through her teeth as she straightened and looked at that meagre figure. Ciria was nothing, she was little better than a taller elf. A set of scales that weighed decisions? What a worthless power wasted on such a grand title.

But Waeh was the opposite. What a terrible power wasted on such a worthless soul.