When Fortia first gave me the proposition for an Of Empire, I accepted it wholeheartedly. It fit in line with all the scientific and theological theories we have regarding Divinity. One would have to be a fool as to not accept it. It would be a mark of cowardice in the same way that children avert their eyes to pretend that something terrible is not happening before them.

Now, I am all the more certain that Of Empire is a consideration in Arascus’ policies. We can see it in the analysis of Arascus’ Post-Pantheon Peace conflicts. The Reclamation War, started by Kassandora, consisted entirely of speeches for the good of Kirinyaa, for all humanity, and attacked the White Pantheon as a waste. The Peacekeeping Operation against Kirinyaa was publicized. Elassa’s unleashing of Worldbreaking upon their central command base was circulated in all media publications. Even now, the Goddess of Magic is pervasive in Imperial Propaganda. The case of Epan Separation was the only conflict which did not rely on flooding wavelengths and screentime with unifying blazing propaganda. A fool would think that maybe Arascus recalibrated his efforts when the answer is before them: The War of Epan Separation was a war where the Empire was merely a supporting actor.

Compare Epan Separation and the Rancais Anarchian Conflict. Anarchia was just not a rogue Goddess to be defeated. Anarchia was flaunted as an existential threat, a Divine that could leech creatures of all their strength for her own narcissistic greed. The Empire was a righteous reclaimer of Rancais, a stalwart defender of Epa and the unstoppable bulwark that would protect all the good in Arda before it was stolen by Anarchy.

The Surface War against Tartarus is ramping up to be the greatest Imperial publicity campaign yet. Already, trailers for documentaries regarding the preparation against Tartarus are being prepared. News footage shows the fortifying of Epa and the Central Mountain Region in Kirinyaa. From Ausa, we see footage of magicians creating some ritual magic called many things: Sokolowski’s Sledgehammer and Ashwinds are colloquially used. Even in EIE, we see it referred to as the Atmospheric Battering Ram.

I will not go into specifics, I simply wish to point to the cohesive narrative that is rather obviously being painted. This is not a war between two nations, it is not even a war against a world. This is, at least from the Imperial perspective, Arda’s last and desperate stand against monsters from the abyss of Tartarus. They are employing a unifying voice in regards to all humanity, not just the Empire, they talk of weaponry as if the planet itself wields them.

What is happening is obvious. They are trying to manufacture their own Divine and they have not realised that Of Empire already is imprisoned somewhere on Arda.

Fortia and I have a headstart.

– Excerpt from Maisara’s Private Diary.

Fortia once again found herself walking through Olympiada. She gave the environment the most meagre of thoughts. A thousand years here had been enough time to learn the secrets behind every nook and cranny. Every twisting alleyway of finely carved statue. Every statue to the White Pantheon or installation that somehow spoke of Pantheon Peace. The huge buildings, each one unique yet each one twisting and curling into the next as if they were all just part of the same pattern. Minor Divines that still lived up here, ones who had been failures amongst the lands of mankind and who needed a place to settle stuck their heads out of windows, or bowed, or scurried away, or just gazed in awe as the embodiment of all Peace walked past them.

There would be no sightseeing today and there was nothing to sightsee anyway. Allasaria’s district was the only one that was still populated and that was because her Seekers had been recalled from the whole world to wait on Olympiada in anticipation of their Goddess returning. If Tartarus had already agreed, then Paraideisius would not be far behind. Most likely they were simply arming themselves in preparation for a military campaign on Arda once again.

Maybe when they returned, when Allasaria was here, when Arascus and his Empire was defeated once again, then things would be different. Maybe glory would return to the mountain that sat silent and droll. Not now though. How it happened, Fortia could not even point to.

At the start, they had lost Atis and his hunter’s lodges had slowly emptied themselves without a Divine. By the time his blessings had run their course, the great temples dedicated to hunting had not seen a visitor in a month. Then the three turncloaks; Kavaa’s loss had shut down the White Pantheon Temple of Health and her Clerical barracks. That turned to getting rid of the constant pilgrimages for health up to the mountain too. Helenna’s loss and more pilgrims went, as did most of the support staff. It had always been a joke that Helenna was the mountain’s steward, now, with floors covered in dust, the joke was not so funny. Iniri’s loss was the final blow to the pilgrimages. The only people left were those who were seeking to join a minor elemental cult, Theosius’ smiths, or Allasaria’s seekers. And Iniri had taken her gardens with her too. The mountain’s peak sat above clouds, plants would not grow naturally in this blistering cold.

Gone were the oaks and roses and thorns and fields of grass, now replaced with dried dirt which the planet did not even have the gall to rain on. Elassa had taken her mages, her mages had left the basic weather controls. The power in those had run out. Now winds raced through every road of Olympiada, they whistled passed Fortia’s knees and even shook her skirt of heavy metallic scales. She had to tie her hair up and wrap it to her front to stop it whipping her cheeks. Frost from cold air built up on most buildings.

And the final blow was in Fortia’s and Maisara’s own retreat from the mountain. Gone were the two grandest armies that once sat upon the mountain. Gone were their servants and stewards. Gone were the shops that tailored to them. The supply wagons.

The Divine Mountain sat almost empty. The grandest peak in Epa had been the greatest institution in the world for a thousand years. And now it sat as little more than a mountain peak with a mausoleum of empty temples.

There was nothing to sightsee.

Fortia quickly made her way to Theosius’ District. Grander than the Force’s cult-complexes, lesser than Kavaa’s, Fortia’s own, Maisara’s or Allasaria’s. It had always been a middling step-child in the schemes of Orders. Theosius certainly employed more than Zerus or Alkom, his smiths numbered in the thousands. Life did return here but it could not compare to that almost awed-festivity that had always been up here.

Men and women looked out through windows when they heard a Divine was approaching, and they watched in silent reverence as one of the founding members of the White Pantheon marched through their marble streets. It was clean, Fortia had to admit that. But that was all it was. The locals loyal to the God of the Forge hurried away back into their homes and taverns as they cleared a way for Fortia. Her reputation preceded her, it seemed.

There was no point in investigating the schools and forges. Fortia had been here when they were carving the mountaintop into what it was today. It was a quick road to Theosius Forges. The God claimed no castle as his own, the building on top was merely his school. The main staircase led to the reception of his greatest school. The staircase by its side, leading down and unguarded, led to the God’s demesne. Supposedly one should book a meeting with him before pestering.

Fortia did nothing of the like. She just entered that staircase and pushed open the huge steel door. It was heavy even for her although the joints were perfectly smooth. The moment Fortia stepped inside, she felt how warm the air was. It certainly wasn’t fresh, there was a pervasive smell of fire and metal, but she had smelled worse. The next step and Theosius shouted. “Who goes there?” The God’s voice was a low rumble as if an avalanche was given power to speak.

“It’s me.” Fortia replied as she walked through the corridor. Down to the left, she had been here many times in the past. Then straight. No door at the end. She stepped through into the one room where Theosius could almost always be found.

The God of the Forge stood slightly taller than her. He was standing around a steel table on which was a small horse of steel, a miniature that could fit in a human child’s hand. A hammer lay next to it, tools arranged in neat rows hung off the walls. A fire roared in the side of the room. A bot with molten bronze or other alloy sat upon it. Fortia only gave it a quick inspection, and that was to check for weapons. Save for hammers, there were none. Her eyes went to the God.

Theosius stood there, bare-chested and muscled, his jaw covered in stubble, as he silently watched her. His lower half was just covered by rugged forge trousers filled with pockets and held up by a belt. And with eyes of orange, the same shades that were seen in roaring forge fires. “Greetings.” Fortia said.

“Greetings Fortia.” Theosius answered in a low rumble of a voice. His eyes looked her up and down and took her in. “What have you come for?”

“Information.” Fortia answered. She never had that skill Arascus or Kassandora did to get people talking. To her, Theosius was just another God. A grand one, and powerful certainly, but just another Divine. There was Maisara, there was Fortia, and then there was the rest of them. “And I’d prefer if you would be silent to the others that I am asking you about this.”

“My lips spill no secrets and my mind holds many.” Theosius answered. “Don’t bother asking to tell you of words I’ve exchanged with others.” He crossed his arms and stared down his nose at the Goddess of Peace.

“It’s about the Godstone prisons you made during the Great War.” Fortia said. That had to get his attention. Those smouldering orange eyes glared at her. He did not even bother raising an eyebrow.

“What of them?” He asked.

“How many were built?”

“Six.”

“Where are they?”

“Five are here.” Fortia stared at him for a moment. Five? Shouldn’t it be four? Unless Of Empire was hidden here. Now wouldn’t that be treat?

“Can I see them?”

Theosius sighed and shook his head. “If you were a minor deity, I would be more than happy to show you.” He stared at her for a few more moments. Fortia wanted to know what was going on inside of his head. “Why?”

“Because I need to inspect them.”

Theosius rolled his eyes. “There’s nothing to inspect.” He turned on the spot and began to walk off through the warm room before disappearing into a corridor. “Come along you stubborn woman. Come along.”

Fortia did not even bother with arguing back at the tone as Theosius led her through a huge corridor. It was clean here, although everything was dark stone rather than the usual marble. Pantheon policy only demanded a cohesive exterior, inside their buildings, everyone could decorate how they wished. Theosius decorated his hallways with empty armour stands and holds battered into the which should have held swords or other weapons. Now that they were walking, Fortia supposed she wouldn’t get a better chance to scout out the God’s allegiances. “Why are you still up here?”

“And where should I go?” Theosius asked. “To your coming rebellion?” The Goddess of Peace almost tripped. She stood there, staring at Theosius’ muscled back. He took a few steps and didn’t even bother slowing down for her. “Don’t act surprised Fortia. It’s obvious even to children. You move your armies off the mountain, you have a meeting with Tremali, you’re suddenly in Khmet to protect it from Tartarus.”

“It’s not that.” Fortia said.

“No.” Theosius said. “I’m sure you have grand reasoning.” He sighed and shook his head, coming to a stop and turning back around. “It matters not to me. Kavaa had the same playbook. It’s not difficult to see.”

Even though what he was saying was true, Fortia would not let a slight like that slip. “Are you accusing me of treachery?”

“Then are you stupid?” Theosius asked. “But we both know you are not. I cast no accusations, I care not for your war. Come, I will show you what you seek and then you will leave me until something is needed.”

Fortia stared at him through the corridor. He was taller, tougher physically, but the God had no chance in combat against her. To think he had such a mouth on him after being so quiet in Pantheon meetings. “Of all people, I did not expect this greeting from you Theosius.”

“Why not?” Theosius asked and cocked his head back. “Come along Fortia, I’ll show you what you want and then get out of my hair.”

“I thought you were more reasonable.”

“The only one I could reason was with Atis.” Theosius said. “Now are you going to stand here or are you going to get moving?”

“Either way, you did not answer my question.” Fortia said. “Why are you still here?”

“I answered it Fortia. Where should I go?” Theosius said.

“What can this mountain offer you?”

“Do you know that Arascus has already extended an invitation to me?” Theosius asked. “Here I thought you were going to ask about that.” Fortia raised an eyebrow, the God did not even flinch under her gaze as he stared at her. “I will give you the same answer I gave him. It is not my war, I wish you luck, I promise not to hassle you as long as I am not hassled. The world has moved on, I care not for my irrelevance. There is a certain pleasure in it even.”

“Is there?”

“Kavaa understands.” Theosius said as he turned back around. “She once told me that the hospital freed her from annual pilgrimages to counter the flu. Modern industry has done much the same to me. The God of the Forge is no longer just a factory for massed arms.” He shrugged, turned a corner and led them down another set of stairs illuminated by glowstone from his own forges. “There is no wish for me to return.”

“And if you were asked for weapons?” Fortia asked.

“Depends on who is asking.” Theosius replied. He turned and looked up at Fortia, five steps behind him. “Why? I see your skirt is damaged.”

“I shortened it.”

“Why?”

“It cooks me in Khmet.”

“That can be fixed.” Theosius said. “You should have dropped that armour a thousand years ago.”

“But I did not and I will not.”

“Did not. Will not.” Theosius said, shaking his head. “That’s the story of your life.” He kept on leading, muttering to himself. “Did not. Will not.” Fortia could almost feel him rolling his eyes at the words. “Do you know what you should have and did not?”

“What?” There were a great many things Fortia could think of already.

“Uphold Pantheon Peace.” Theosius said and bitterly took the final step. He waited for Fortia to descend the staircase.

“Shut up Theosius.” Fortia replied back. “What do you know of Pantheon Peace? How did you assist us in it?”

“More than you.” Theosius said. “From day one, I knew I made a mistake.”

“And here I thought the turncloaks had already left.” Fortia said.

“Don’t compare me to Kavaa. I cast my coins in your bag and I shouldn’t have. The Great War should not have included me.”

“And you told me not to accuse of treachery to the White Pantheon.”

“Your comment would hold if the White Pantheon hadn’t been turned into a damn joke.” Theosius said. “Kassandora was correct.”

“In what way?”

“The only thing that bound us together was pure luck. What changed Fortia? What changed from ten years ago? Are our opinions so different? No. Leona was here. The moment she died was the moment we tore ourselves apart. A thousand years gone.” He snapped his fingers. “Just like that. Leona died and not even in the span of a year were we looking at war on Arda. Two years and what? Arascus has all of Epa and Tartarus marches on our world again. That’s what our foundation of luck and luck alone amounted to.”

“We tried to stop it.” Fortia said.

“Spare me.”

The Goddess of Peace rolled her eyes and assumed silence. No point in discussing that then. They would end up arguing and she’d lose the one source she had. “What about making weapons again?” She asked as they turned down another corridor. The floors were clean at least, glowstone still was embedded into the walls.

“Spare me Fortia, I cannot take the hypocrisy.” Theosius said.

“What hypocrisy?”

“From you.” Theosius said. “If Kavaa asked to forge me a blade, if it was Helenna, Zerus, Elassa. Hell, even if Fer or any of Arascus’ loyalists crawled up here. Even if it was him himself, it would be done. Not for you.”

“Not for me.” Fortia had to say to it to process it.

“Not you, not Maisara, not Allasaria.” Theosius said. “Come now, we are close.” Fortia came to a stop and Theosius sighed from ahead of her. “What now?” He did not even bother turning to face her.

“Why not me?”

He slowly turned around to gaze at Fortia. There had been times when Fer and Fortia had met in battle during the Great War, she remembered how the Goddess of Beasthood had gazed upon her with nothing but the thirst of bloodlust. Fortia had seen Kassandora’s madness twist the woman’s face when the Goddess of War won battles and ordered slaughter of the survivors. Even Irinika’s cold and zealous eyes, utterly convinced of themselves no one else. But Theosius’ disappointment was something else entirely. The man gazed her up and down again with such uncaring sorrow that even if he had the power to end her on the spot, he would not do it. For a moment, Fortia felt as if she was not worth even putting down like a mad dog. He took a deep breath, crossed his arms in front of his bare chest and leaned on the wall. “Between the two of us, just privately, pinpoint the moment when Pantheon Peace failed. When was it you realised it was untenable?”

And Fortia stood there, taken aback. She stared at Theosius, unable to form a word. When her mouth opened, she knew it was wrong. “When we declared war on Kirinyaa.” Theosius did not even bother to reply. He just closed his orange eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again. Fortia spoke again. She knew it was wrong, Pantheon Peace had a rotten foundation long before Kassandora had escaped. “When we decided to leave Fer be and not execute Kassandora.” And this time, the God of the Forge stared at her. He raised an eyebrow. Fortia tried again. “When a Pantheon created for the sake of winning the Great War tried to enforce peace.” No reply again but that was it. Fortia knew that was it. “That’s it Theosius. It’s because we tried to continue our project with that foundation.”

“I care little for Maisara’s foundational theory Fortia. Arascus proved it wrong anyway. I believe in change.”

“When then?” Fortia asked.

“It was during the proposition for Pantheon Peace, when you and Maisara told Allasaria that your Orders and yourselves should be exempt. When she agreed, when Kavaa stepped forth for her own exemption, that was the most Pantheon Peace died. It could never hold up when built on such hypocrisy. Do you know what I did a day before that?”

“What?”

“I shattered my armour and arms. Save for your precious Orders, not a single blade left my forge for a thousand years.”

“Is this what it’s about?” Fortia snapped back. “Are you jealous you got played?”

“Call it jealousy, call it rage, I saw the new era we promised be ripped away from us.” Theosius just watched her. No emotion across his face. Nothing. He may as well have been a statue that demanded an explanation.

“Peace had to be enforced.” Fortia said.

“That’s why you’ve never beaten Kassandora.” Theosius said. “Because for how much stronger you are than her, she knows she is the Goddess of War.”

“I’m the Goddess of Peace.”

“And your innate power is to summon your spear.” Theosius said. “Like I said, spare me. I care only in that I want to take satisfaction from watching the project the three of you spent a millennia sabotaging collapse in on itself.” Theosius stood, a wry smile spreading on his lips, as he watched Fortia.

“It’s easy to gloat when…” Fortia’s words trailed off. She was going to say when Theosius did nothing. The man had singlehandedly kept the White Pantheon armies from running out of arms. His enchanted equipment was responsible for the army that finally managed to chase Neneria away. After the Great War, it was not Fortia nor Maisara nor Allasaria who had beaten swords into ploughs. She took a deep breath and shook her head. “It was the most ambitious project in the whole world. We kept it together for a thousand years. That is the mark we’ve left behind.”

“Kassandora is the Goddess of War and War alone. She excels at it because it is all she knows. When Leona died and I saw the lot of you going into her cell to rely on her intelligence, who did you think was playing who? The Goddess of War walks and all that is left in her wake is war. I’m sure you knew. I’m sure Maisara knew. Kavaa and Iniri and Helenna must have. Allasaria too. Kassandora is the Goddess of War and war alone.”

“After Leona died, we knew war was coming to the Pantheon.”

“If it wasn’t them, then would you, Maisara and Kassandora have led us into civil war?” Theosius asked and Fortia stood there, eyes wide as she tried to think of an out. It was obvious what they had been doing, wasn’t it?

“Yes.”

Theosius smiled at that and closed his eyes again. “I appreciate the honesty, there is no judgement between us. The idea of a permanent Pantheon is what was crazy in the first place. I’m just glad you kept me out of it.” And then he pushed off the wall. “Thank you Fortia, this has settled questions for me.”

“What questions?”

“Merely questions.” Theosius said. “Stubborn you are, but you’re not unreasonable. Come now, I will show my cubes and you can leave me out of your war.”

“And if Allasaria comes back?”

“Then Allasaria comes back.” Theosius said. “I have a gift you know.” He started to walk. Fortia followed. “My power is a true blessing, I am not particularly threatening without someone to supply. Allasaria has proven already she has a distaste for killing, there is no reason for her to kill me.”

“And if she uses you?”

“Who hasn’t?”

“So you’re ready for another thousand years of Pantheon Peace.”

“It won’t be Pantheon Peace without you.” Theosius said. “I care not. I will simply leave and resign myself to some small town irrelevant to the grand schemes of the world.”

“You can’t forget the world.”

“Can I not?”

“The world won’t forget you.”

“Then it won’t.”

“Coward.” Fortia muttered and Theosius laughed from ahead as he came to a stop before a steel door.

“Fortia, you are a pleasure to be around.” He said. “But I care not who or what remembers me. The world’s opinion on me has no impact on me.”

“Then why did you shatter your armour during Pantheon Peace if the world is so irrelevant?”

“That Fortia, is an answer you would never understand.” He sounded as if he meant it. “Believe it or not, I believed in something greater than myself.” His hand went to the doorhandle. “Why do you wish to see them?” Fortia stood there, baffled, unable to answer. How would she even answer that? The silence hung on for minutes. Theosius took a deep breath and shook his head. “Keep your secrets then.”

He opened the door and stepped in. Fortia followed behind him. Inside was nothing glorious. It was just a large room, a warehouse illuminated by glowstone. There were five crates there. Four unassembled, one dirty, the tiles around it disfiguring and cracked. Each one of pitch black material so dark it may as well have absorbed the light from around it: Godstone.” Theosius pointed to it. “That’s the one I recovered from Arascus’ tomb. It’s Baalka’s poisons, don’t get too close. I’m waiting for it to leak out so I can study how they broke it but they must have used drills with enchanted diamonds to chip away. Months of work probably.”

“Where is the sixth?”

“I don’t know.” Theosius said. “Honest answer, I gave it to Leona in the Great War.”

“Did she say where?”

“I asked.” Theosius smiled and sniffed in humour. “She predicted this meeting then. Do you know that?”

“What did she say?”

Theosius did not bother to change his voice even to mimic that he was speaking for someone else. “She said: One day, one of us will ask you where it is. I’m not going to tell you. That moment will save your life.” Fortia took a deep breath. That was a classic for the Goddess of Luck.

“I wouldn’t have killed you whether you knew or not.”

“I know.” Theosius said. “She lied to me, I don’t particularly care.”

“When was it taken?”

“Summer of Eighty-seven.” Theosius answered. Fortia took a deep breath. That only confirmed the worst-case suspicion. A Divine that truly carried all the rage of the Empire and the White Pantheon combined. He just looked and Fortia and sighed. “It’s not Irinika, it’s not Arascus, it’s not Kassandora, who could it be?” He mused. Fortia turned to look at him, her eyes going wide.

“Don’t tell me you know.”

“Anyone with half a mind will work out who it was. I thought it was Anassa for a while, but then it came out she was just locked in some contraption of Elassa’s.” He shrugged. “And after she escaped and I saw it, I knew. Besides, it was just standard White Pantheon policy. Who let Baalka created the line of poison in western Arika to stop the Jungle and we put our heads in the sand and pretended not to know. Who let Fer was around to roam as long as was contained to the Taiga and let Guguo deal with it. That is standard Pantheon policy. That policy began when Helenna was told to personify the Empire as all evil. We had omniscient Leona then, she said it was fine. The woman was never wrong, was she? Helenna does not have enough of a spine to not do as told. Well, it’s not difficult, is it?”

“Say it.”

“Of Empire.” Theosius said.

“How long have you known?”

“Since before the Great War ended.”

“Why did you not say anything?”

“Did anyone even bother to ask?” Theosius asked. “The White Pantheon’s legacy is that it didn’t finish the job. Not in Pantheon Peace, not the Great War. We have all read Kassandora’s works. What does she say about victory?”

“Victory is annihilation.”

“The ultimate goal of war.” Theosius said. “Because Kassandora knows what she is. The White Pantheon too I suppose.” He shrugged. “For there is a certain honesty in us, isn’t there?”

“That’s the last word I would use.”

“No, there is.” Theosius said. “The White Pantheon was created in the shadow of Empire. Even when we won back then, we could not step out the shadow. It has haunted us for a thousand years and now its back. Whatever issue we faced did not matter, it was simply hidden in the shadow. From Of Empire to Arascus’ escape. It did not matter. You are Fortia, the Goddess of Peace to safeguard the world from the Empire. I am Theosius, the God of the Forge to give us arms to protect us from the Empire. I could list us all like that, that’s been our purpose for a thousand years.”

“Don’t bother.” Fortia said and Theosius kept on going on.

“Poor foundations from the start, in all of us.” Theosius said. “For a wartime Pantheon, we were perfect. For a peacetime one, we weren’t. Allasaria once planned to replace us, do you know?”

“I do, with Ciria and Waeh and Halkus.”

“Do you know why she didn’t?”

“They were inept.” Fortia answered and Halkus smiled.

“The Goddess of Light, incarnated in a time of war, looked upon the creations she made in times of peace and hated them.” He smiled to himself. “If that is not justice, then I do not what is. That is similar to you.”

“What?”

“Fortia, Goddess of Peace, Peacebringer.” Theosius listed off one of her ancient titles. “Humanity got it correct eras ago when they saw you and gave you that title. Peacebringer.” He said it again. “Look down upon them all you wish, but you have to say that they have a sense of intuition that we do not. It’s a deliberate title.”

“I don’t see it.”

“Peacebringer.” Theosius said as if he found humour in the word. “Not Peacekeeper.”

It was over. Fortia would go mad if she had to listen to another sentence slither it way out of this bitter God’s mouth. “Are we done here?” Fortia she snapped. Theosius made a show of looking around at the unassembled cubes and the prison Arascus had broken out of.

“Have you finished your inspection?”

“I finished it when I came in.” Fortia said.

“Then come.” He turned to the door. “I’ll walk you out.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep