Ultimately, there are many critiques that one can beset upon me. Whether they stem from envy or wrath, whether hatred or malice, whether greed or injured ego, I care little for them. Yet for every million curses thrown upon my fortress walls, a lucky strike will scale the walls. One of them does sit upon my mind, the fact that we are made from dust and to dust we shall return. The issue of permanence and time swallowing all.

The reply is simple. If collapse is fated to happen, then the story leading up to that collapse shall be so great that it will re-write the universe.

If we are but flames destined to burn out, then the flames by my side shall create the greatest inferno to have ever burned.

– Excerpt from the private writings of God Arascus, of Pride.

Arascus stood on a balcony and looked over the jungles surrounding Central Requisitions. This had been the place where Elassa’s staff had been snapped by Fer, he remembered the celebrations held here after that battle. The defeat of Elassa’s force had marked the end of the White Pantheon’s invasion of Kirinyaa and it was the first Imperial victory that had been scored in the modern era. There had been more victories since then, in Epa, in Rancais, against the dreaded Jungle. Now Arascus looked down upon those intertwined trees that had seen the greatest celebration thrown in the Empire.

Below him walked the greatest victory to date. Baalka was meandering about on the ground, Anassa next to her. The two Goddesses were quietly chatting with each other as they picked fruit from the trees Iniri had once grown here. Peach and orange trees, so tall that they could have been great oaks with the fattest, juiciest fruit. The laughter of that little Goddess who barely reached up to Anassa’s waist was a victory that outweighed every victory so far. Arascus would take that laughter over the power to destroy the Pantheon a thousand times over.

The local garrison scurried about in a half-panic now that Divines were in attendance. There were only a few veterans of the Kirinyaan Invasion here, Arascus recognised the stockmaster and a few of the engineers who had requested not to be shipped off to Epa. But the rest though? All new soldiers who could pull perfect salutes in the mirror and nowhere else. A whole team was stood off in the distance, they had saluted Elassa when she walked past, and they were still saluting. Arascus wondered how long they would hold it for, he was already impressed by the fact they had lasted thirty minutes.

The door shutting and fast paced footsteps indicated Kassandora had come in. Arascus did not even turn to check as he listened to his daughter come close, he just knew her by the sound. Kassandora came to stand besides him, she had replaced her uniform with a spare from Central Requisitions. Crimson hair spilled out like a cape of red from beneath her black cap. “You called for me?” Kassandora asked.

“Indeed I did.” Arascus replied and patted the tall wooden railing. Kass leaned forwards on it and stood straight. “How are you feeling?”

“Neutral.” Kassandora said. “I have nothing to say about what happened in there.”

“I think you do.” Arascus said and Kassandora fell silent. A flock of birds flew from the mountains in the north. In the distance, those were the glorious rocks of red stone, closer to them was the mountains that Elassa had collapsed when she unleashed Worldbreaking over this region. The birds flew from the north to the south, and then out of view when they disappeared behind one of the great branches of Central Requisition’s central oak.

And so they stood. Kassandora could have all the time in the world. Arascus preferred she did. He could guess at what was going in her mind. From the corner of his vision, he saw her hands grip the barrier tightly and then release. He heard her sigh several times. He listened to the failure of words being started and cut off before a single syllable was even finished. It took Kassandora enough time for Anassa and Baalka to get into some sort of argument. Another Anassa in the same red dress of silk appeared by the original, and then disappeared. Probably off to get something. “Thank you for coming.” Kassandora whispered and leaned into Arascus.

“There’s no world out there in which I wouldn’t have.” Arascus put his arm around Kassandora’s shoulder.

“Mmh.” Kassandora said sadly. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“For being a disappointment.” Kassandora said quickly. Arascus let her stew, she obviously wasn’t finished. “For thinking we needed to get out by ourselves.”

“You played your part perfectly.” Arascus said and Kassandora close. “If you gave up, the four of you would have died. If you were more aggressive, Baalka would be dead. You did it perfectly.”

“But you did it.” Kassandora said.

“Kass.” Arascus made his tone harder. “Is it a competition?” Kassandora did not respond. She just put pressed the side of her head into Arascus’ side as the two Divines stared off into the distance. Baalka burst out in laughter when Anassa told her something. “It’s not Kass. It’s you and me and them.”

“I know.” Kassandora replied in a sad manner. “I know.” And so they stood. “Are you going to say it?”

“Say what?”

“All’s well that end’s well.” Kassandora said. Arascus had not told her about what he had signed. He doubted he would for now, she would take it as a failure of herself.

“All’s well that end’s well.” Arascus said and Kassandora sighed with relief.

“It did end well.”

“It did.” Arascus said and his daughter sighed with relief. “How are you feeling now?”

“Better.” The God squeezed the Goddess’ shoulder and they stood for a while more. It really was true, once two people knew each other well enough, there was little to say. Everything that Arascus had needed to tell Kassandora had been told before, he just enjoyed her company. Another flock of birds passed over the blue sky, Arascus waited until they disappeared. Kassandora would probably not request leave herself but she was the sort to feel the moment. “Do you see them there?” Arascus asked, pointing at the young soldiers still holding the salute. “They’ve been at that for an hour now.”

“By the book.” Kassandora said. “Hold until dismissed by a higher or equivalent rank.”

“You should go release them.” Arascus said and Kassandora smiled. She hugged Arascus once last time.

“Thanks dad.” She said softly. “Thanks, really.”

“Don’t worry, that’s what I’m here for.” Kassandora walked off and Arascus stopped her just as he heard the door open. “Kass!” The Goddess of War turned around looking like a person rejuvenated after a bath in hot springs. An eyebrow raised, red eyes glowing brilliantly. The words to make her day finally came to Arascus, shameful that it took so long. “If I were you, I wouldn’t have done anything differently.” Kassandora burst out in laughter, shaking her head and blushing at the compliment. She practically became a different girl when she laughed like. The usual looming, commanding presence of War’s Goddess pulled away to reveal something much sweeter. “Call for Neneria when you go.”

“Will do!” Kassandora said, still chuckling and laughing to herself as Arascus turned back around to watch Anassa and Baalka talk with each other. The Goddess of Disease was being caught up to speed, Arascus had done everything he could for her at this point. Clothes her size had been hastily found as had shoes. All of it had been prepared beforehand, months ago when Arascus had given his first failed attempts at waking the Goddess.

Neneria softly knocked on the door. “Come in!” Arascus shouted. “I’m by the balcony.” One down, now another. When he had seen them in there, Neneria had been in the far worse state. Now that she was out here though, now that all had ended well, she had started handling the problem herself. Arascus knew she would, Neneria had handled just as terrible issues in the past. Further back than even before she had been taken under his wing.

Neneria’s walk was delicate as she crossed the room. The Goddess of Death usually wore black, it was her favourite colour. Today, the dress was loose to deal with the Kirinyaan heat. “You called.” Neneria declared as she before Arascus, hands by her side as if she was pillar that was incapable of taking the pleasure to lean on the barrier.

“I wanted to see how you’re taking it.” Arascus said.

“I am obviously happy.” Neneria said flatly. “What happened, happened. I have done worse before.” Arascus took a deep breath. He supposed she wasn’t wrong. The two Divines stood there as Arascus gave Neneria far less time than Kassandora. The Goddess of War appeared from one of the doors to the great oak they stood on and stopped off towards the soldiers still holding rank. They made their salutes even tighter, their backs even straighter, when they saw Kassandora approaching. Baalka and Anassa both turned towards the show.

“I want you to know I’m not disappointed in you.” Arascus said and Neneria sniffed.

“I knew you wouldn’t be. I am disappointed with myself.”

“If you hadn’t tried to kill Baalka, she would have killed you instead.” Arascus said and Neneria leaned in, placing her head on his shoulder. Black hair met the black fabric of a coat.

“I’m disappointed at how much it hit me.” Neneria said. “There was a time when it wouldn’t have.” Arascus took Neneria’s hand in his own grip.

“Are you going to try to go back to that?”

“Do you want me to?”

Arascus had the answer immediately. He remembered how long it had taken Neneria to even give him a chance. It was only because he originally gave up on her, recalibrated on Olephia and then came back that made her curious enough to give him a chance. “No.”

“Then I won’t.” Neneria’s words were followed immediately by a deep sigh. “Don’t worry dad, I can deal with it.” Arascus believed her. That was the part. As much as he wanted to help, trying to force his way into her mind was the opposite of what she needed. Fer and Irinika and Olephia were the same way. Frankly, all of them save Kassandora were like this.

“Alright.” Arascus said. “As always, I’m around if you need me.”

“Don’t worry.” Neneria said, pulling away. “Who do you want next?”

“Kavaa.”

“Not Ana?”

Arascus quickly thought of a reason. Anassa, he wanted to save to the end. There was more to discuss than just how she felt. “She didn’t go in.”

“Alright.” Several of Neneria’s ethereal fairies appeared around the Goddess of Death and then disappeared into the wood floor as they went to search for Kavaa. Neneria herself walked off just as Kassandora got to the soldiers in the distance, said something to them and drew up a clean salute before sending them off. The men all saluted, turned on the spot, then marched off a few steps. Kassandora said something to them and the whole burst out in laughter.

Kavaa made a quick knock on the door and then walked in without bothering to be allowed in. Arascus rolled his eyes at that. He didn’t really care, it was just petty misbehaviour. “Neneria told me to just enter and that you wanted to talk to me about something important.” Kavaa said from behind Arascus. The God of Pride could just imagine how straight backed and serious she was from the tone. Arascus reached over and patted the balustrade he was leaning on. In the distance, a pair of helicopters were coming from the west. The white and pale blue colour scheme was Imperial Aviation School colours. Kavaa tentatively came and stood by Arascus. “So?” She asked.

Arascus began to talk without looking at her. “Kavaa, Goddess of Health.” He began slowly. “I have to thank you for Kassandora’s escape. I have to thank you for your entry into the Jungle and the healing of Fer after. I have to thank you for Waeh’s death. If I began to list the thanks in Epa, we would be here all day.” He turned to face Kavaa.

A grey little mouse. That’s what she was. Grey hair and grey eyes over black uniform that made her into a monochrome. Those grey eyes were sparkling like dirty diamonds though and her mouth was slightly open. A blush was rising into her cheeks. “But for what you just did, I have to thank you again.” Arascus took her hands into his and bowed his head. Even with that, she still had to twist her neck to look up at him. Her cheeks were set alight with crimson.

“I…” Kavaa said and burst out in laughter. “I…” She gave up on saying anything. Instead, she just took a step back and raised her shoulders as if flinching. “I just did my job Arascus. I just did my job.”

“Well your job is important to me.” Arascus said immediately. “And so are you.”

Arascus had always thought she would have a similar temperament to Kassandora, but in some aspects, she was even worse. Kavaa finally got some colour to her as her entire face turned red. Her eyebrows jumped so high they looked as if they were trying to jump off her head and she sucked her lips in. She swallowed spit and nodded as if in a panic. “Th-Thanks.” She said. “I…” Kavaa looked down at Kassandora, at Anassa and at Baalka, all three were busy talking between each other. She took her chance. She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Arascus.

And the God of Pride was stunned as he looked down upon this little mouse hugging him. Slowly, he hugged her back, patting her back as he would for Kassandora. “Thanks.” She said flatly, her voice cool. “I wanted to see what it was like.”

“How is it like?”

“I can hear your heart.” Kavaa said. “Thank you though. Really.” Which time was this? Fourth? Fifth? Arascus squeezed her and she squeezed him in response. “Really, thank you.”

Time to shift gears, Arascus just said what the plan was. “I’m planning on going to the UNN in a few days with you. Maybe even tomorrow, just so you know.”

“Thank you.” Arascus didn’t even know what she was thanking him for at this point.

“Don’t worry about it Kavaa.” Arascus said and slowly pried her off him. “That’s everything though.”

“Thanks.” Kavaa said again. At this point, Arascus didn’t know if he had temporarily shattered her mind or what.

“Can you go get Elassa?”

“I can.” Kavaa said, although she just stood by the balcony, looking down at a truck that was setting off with deliveries. No doubt something for the Ashlands armies.

“Then will you?” Arascus asked and Kavaa finally got the messaged.

“I will.” Kavaa said. She took a deep breath and stepped away, then stopped. “Arascus, I have a question.” Arascus was watching the Goddess go, so he just raised an eyebrow. “Did you teach Fer that, or did she teach you?”

“Teach what?”

“Gratitude.”

If there was ever something worthy a smile. It was that. Arascus even chuckled to himself. He shook his head at her. “Neither of us taught each other. It just is that way.” Kavaa smiled, bowed, and left. She was fast, or maybe Elassa happened to be close by.

Elassa floated up to the balcony. The Goddess of Magic stood floating in the air, untouched by the wind. Of them all, this one was the one that was unhappiest. And rather shamefully, this was the one that could lean to either needing her alone time or helpful words. And likewise, Arascus could see Elassa taking solitude as being abandoned or as being trust, or support as either genuine help or patronization. “Kavaa told me you had to something. She’s rather happy.”

“I congratulated her.” Arascus replied honestly. Elassa made no intention of standing by his side, Arascus would not beg her to. He stared the Goddess of Magic down, she had changed into a clean blue dress, but her fingers still bore the silver rings interconnected by chains and laced with gemstones. Around her neck was an amulet that had one of the fattest gemstones Arascus had ever seen and all of the precious rocks that were smattered across her, or just sewn directly into that dress, were glowing as Elassa channelled her magic. “I have received the report from Kassie. I know you panicked in there.”

Elassa nodded. “I shut down.” She said without a hint of shame. “I lost connection to magic. Baalka overwhelmed me and I spiralled, it won’t happen again.” Two Divines stared at each other for a few moments.

Kavaa, at least he could make educated about because of the fact she was close to Kass and because he had spent time with her already. Elassa though? The last time he had held a serious dialogue with the woman was before the Great War. As much as Divines thought themselves concrete cliffs, a millennium could weather even the grandest of cliffs. Arascus extended a hand. “If you need help, I am here. I trust you’re able to take what you need out of it.”

“And what do I need?” It was difficult to guess whether that question was argumentative or curious.

Some Divines were just impossible. “What happened in there happened.” Arascus rephrased himself to be colder. “But you’re still the Goddess of Magic, we both know you need a steady mind to operate. I’m making sure that you won’t be suddenly getting flashbacks of being incapacitated.” Elassa smiled at that and shook her head. Her dark hair did not move with the motion nor the wind.

“I understand Baalka overpowered me in terms of will. It’s not the first time I’ve lost a fight. It hopefully will be the last but I somehow doubt it.” Arascus replied with a slow nod and a smile.

“Do you want a wine?” He asked. Honestly, he didn’t know what to tell her.

Elassa smiled at that suggestion. “That depends on what you have.” That meant she was actually being truthful before. If she had said something about whether she deserves it or not, that would been the tell for her needing comfort. If she was more worried about the drink itself though…

“There’s a lot of Kirinyaan brew but there should some Epan drink. Tell the stockmaster.” Elassa made a sly grin and began to hover away but Arascus stopped her with a shout. “And get Ana first!” Elassa rolled her eyes and sighed, although she did as told. The Goddess of Magic quickly flew accelerated and then came to a stop between Kassandora, Baalka and Anassa and tapped the Goddess of Sorcery on the shoulder. Arascus saw her speak, and then Anassa turned to Arascus, high above her, standing on the balcony of the great oak in Central Requisitions.

Anassa was the only one who did not come. She just appeared directly by Arascus’ side a moment later. “You called.” As always, she smelled of exotic perfumes, her dress of silk shimmered in the sun that was beginning to set.

“I did.” Arascus said. This one did not need support. She had panicked but that was it. A moment of panic, some things were better left as moments of panic rather than grand problems to solve. “We have things to discuss.” Arascus said as he looked down upon this slice of the world. The red soil was magnificent. It took on the shade of a deep crimson in the sunset.

“I don’t know how much I can say.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you sign the Pact?” Anassa asked, her eyes strayed up to the sky.

“I did.” Arascus said and Anassa sighed.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t.” She said. “I don’t know why, but I just thought that you of all people would have found a way around it.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” Anassa said. “Because I believe in you?” How sweet, Arascus smiled and put his arm around Anassa’s shoulder. She leaned into the hug.

“I meant why shouldn’t I sign it?”

“I’ve tested it as far as I will risk my own life but I refuse to believe I can avoid it.” Anassa said. “And I know it appears to remind me whenever I think of travelling back into that room. I don’t know who they are, I don’t know what they want, I don’t know where they are either, but I know how to send people yet I also know I myself am not allowed back in there.”

“Why not?” Arascus said.

“Look up.” Anassa answered and Arascus looked up. He saw a blade hanging from the sky. A simple blade, a well forged and modest piece of steel. It glinted in the setting sunlight. “It goes away after a while, but it’s always there.” Anassa said sadly. “I can’t see yours and I assume you can’t see mine.”

“I can’t.” Arascus said.

“Mmh.” A sword over his head hanging from the heavens. Coiled around the handle and then dangling from the sky was all that held it up, a single horse-hair.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep