The third day of fall, thirteen years of the new Age of Eser.

Desolate, the god of the sun, Felix wanders the lands alone. Not knowing when his Journey will end or even how long he has spent walking. To him, it wasn't as if he was walking towards something but as if he was walking away, away from his duties, away from his life, away from his past.

Felix was a young god, though by the standards of mere mortals, he was quite aged, with over sixty years of experience living in the lands of Menerva. But to the gods who lived upwards of a thousand years, it was as if he had just been born. He did not have the demeanor of a newborn, however, often appearing to the few who saw him during his travels as a jaded old man in a young body. He barely even looked like a god anymore as though Gods and mortals do share physical similarities with one another there is a certain Prestige a god carries around them. Felix didn't have that; he hadn't for many moons. To most who saw him, he was just a sad, jaded, Ingulian man, pointlessly walking to nowhere.

Felix found himself in a rundown Inn by the Great Forests of Elis. He laid on the wooden mattress he had rented simply staring into the empty roof before a knock came to his door.

“Who is it?' He asked.

“It's the Innkeeper.” The knocker replied.

“What do you want?"

“There is a Gelfling lad in the bar claiming he is your brother. He had a painting of you and everything.”

"I did have a little brat of a brother,” he said to himself.

"Hey Inn keep, how old is this lad?"

“Didn't say his age but he seemed about twenty."

“Not my brother. last time I saw him my brother was this annoying nine-year-old.”

“Can you just come and see him? He seems desperate to meet you.”

“Don't care, go back and tell him to piss off.”

The next day came and Felix packed together the little things he had on him and set out to continue his Journey to nowhere. He stopped by the Innkeeper to pay his room fee of 4Hol. As he was about to head out of the Inn, he felt himself being pulled back as a hand grabbed his wrist.

"Hey, you there. If life treats you good in any way I suggest you let go of me.” He said.

“I'm not letting you go, Felix.” The grabber replied. He was a young lad with pointed ears and a set of two multi-colored eyes, physical features common to those of gelfling descent,

“Have we met before?” Felix asked bluntly after spending a minute analyzing the lad's face.

"Can you seriously not recognize me?'

“Can't recognize a man I haven't met.”

“Galic's sake! It's me! Your half-brother."

“Lies."

"What do you mean by lies?”

“You're the one that tried to use the Innkeep to scam yesterday, aren't you?

"Scam you? Why would I do that? No offense, big bro, but you don't really look like you are worth scamming at the moment."

“I am not you big bro. you are a grown man, last time I saw my little brother he was nine years old.”

"The last time was over a decade ago.”

“Bullshit."

“What in the four realms do you mean by bullshit? How many winters has it been since you left Cyra?”

"Well, I'll say it's been about ten... Galic's roots, maybe you are right!”

“So you accept that I'm your brother?”

"No other way of explaining it, Matthew?!”

“It's Markus.”

“Well, Markus, it was really something seeing you. GO HOME!"

"What?

"Go home means go home, I'm sure it took quite the effort to find me but I'm not going back to Cyra no matter what sappy narration you...”

“Mum lived for a couple more years after you left.”

"What do you mean? She was pronounced dead days before I left."

“She lived somehow, though not very well, eventually kicking the bucket two years later.”

“She lived for two more years?"

“Can we talk Felix, I've been looking for a long time, that's the least you can do."

They moved their discussion to the back of their store where it was more private as the trees surrounding them kept them concealed.

“How did you find me? That must have taken years” Felix asked

“Actually, just one. After spending a few months going from inn to inn asking all sorts of questions, we were able to narrow down your path, which eventually led us to you.” Said Markus' escort, a short, Hydrian lady of similar age to Markus.

“Markus, who is this?” Felix asked.

"The name is Paige; I'm the god Orian's kid."

“Lies.”

“Why would I lie about that?"

“Orian swore an oath to bear no children, and Orian isn't an oath breaker.”

“Well, seeing as I'm here, talking in front of you, that clearly isn't the case.”

“I know Orian, nothing could make him break an oath.”

“Do you really know him though?” 

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“The last time you saw Orian was five decades ago, which is a long ass time.”

“Not long enough for a god like Orian's ideals to corrode.”

“Look, all I know is. There was a dying infant 20 years ago, Orian fed the baby his blood, turning her into his demi-god daughter and that infant was me.”

“Progenification? Why would Orian do that?”

“I don't know, nor do I really care. Anyway, I'm going back to the inn to get Iced tea or something.” Paige said as she left the two brothers.

“So how is Gordon?” Felix asked, breaking the silence.

“Uncle is fine, he misses you though,” Markus replied.

“I bet He does. How was she during those two years?"

“To make a long story short, a mess. She couldn't be left alone for five minutes without her screaming that there was someone in the room about to attack her.”

“So, he returned."

“What?'

“Never mind. Was she like that until she died?"

“No, like a week before she died she was just calm and even kind of happy.”

“What were her last words?”

“She asked me where you were, Told her you went out with some friends of yours.”

“Did she say anything after that.?"

“No, Just slimed before she stopped moving. Her death was very peaceful.”

"That's good.”

“Come back home Felix and stop this pointless....”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I'm Sorry but I'm not coming back, I can't go back.”

"You are the heir to Cyra. That doesn't only mean you take care of a whole ass empire but it also means you are supposed to take on the role of sun god. You can seriously just abandon that big of a responsibility?”

"What about you?”

“What about me?”

"Why can't you take on all that mantle, because if I remember correctly Gilane, The morning star, gave birth to two sons.

“I don't have the Sun's Grace.” 

“What do you mean?"

“I have only the grace of fire. nobody knows why but I possess zero affinity with the sun.”

“A god born from the sun without its grace? Are you sure you are actually my brother?'

“Please don't repeat that. You can see why I can't become the sun god. It was already a controversial situation since both of us don't Look Hydrian, with our lack of dark skin and scalp-mounted horns, how much worse would it be if I tried to rule over the people of the sun without an ounce of its power?”

“That would be an issue, I'm still not going back, Gordon has the sun's grace and is perfectly ruling the place so I don't need to intervene.”

“I give up. well if you won't follow me home, the least you can do is help me with a Divinity.”

“A divinity?”

“You know, the graces of a god manifested into an attribute or power for the god to use.”

“I obviously know what it is. I'm just confused about what you mean by help you with it. You know a god's divinity is a personal thing. not really something that can be taught to another god to learn.”

“I know that. I don't want to learn one of yours. I want you to help guide me with the one I'm trying to learn. I've been really struggling with it.”

"Try to attempt it in front of me first before I say if I'll help you or not.”

“Ok, But it isn't really anything of note yet.”

Markus clenched his fist, releasing a small flame that danced above his arm in a rather random and unpredictable way. Though nothing was particularly off about what was happening, something felt off to Felix.

“STOP!” Felix exclaimed with all his lung power as the flame began to take a more bluish coloration.

“What?!” Markus exclaimed out of shock.

“DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!”

"What?! No!'

“Then listen to me, never, and I mean never attempt that divinity ever again, Do you understand me?”

Though, at that moment, Markus had many questions as to why his brother just lashed out at him over an issue he failed to notice but the look in his brother's eyes kept him from uttering a word that wasn't "Yes, I understand.”

“Good, whatever you were trying to do I want....” Felix said before being cut off by the sound of a rustling bush.

“Who is there?' Felix asked.

"It's just me Paige. Sorry to break the Brother bonding time, but I kind of need you two.” She said,

“What for?” Markus asked.

“Some guys in the tavern could apparently tell that I'm a Lesser god and proceeded to ask for my help with some Demon trouble. I then accidentally told them that I know two other celestials that are here as well, so now they want to meet you guys.”

“Why would you do that?” Asked Markus.

“Like I said it was an accident.”

“How hard is it to not blurt out information like that? Felix, should we go meet them?”

"Why not? Plus I'm in dire need of money and those guys will probably give me some.”

“As a god aren't you supposed to help mortals regardless of payment?” Paige asked to a cold, emotionless, expression in the place of a proper reply.

In the tavern, they met with a trio of rather odd fellows, as they were not only strange in behavior but also in physical features. The trio consisted of a Hornless Hydrian, a short-eared Gelfling, and an Ingulian without a patch of scales across his face, which was a defining feature of the race.

“Oh Paige, you're back.” The Ingul in the group said.

“Yeah and I brought those two I was talking about,” Paige replied.

“You sure the older one is a celestial? He doesn't have that spark." The Hydrian asked.

“You need not worry about my godly status. What you do need to worry about is my payment.” Felix said.

“Aren't you a blunt one? You need not worry about payment.” The Gelfling said.

“Hey, why don't we discuss the demons we are being recruited to fight?” Asked Markus.

“What's the need in doing that, don't tell me a god like you is scared of facing a glorified wild animal.”

“If that's all that needs to be said, why don't we leave Immediately, we will be there by sundown.” The Ingulian said.

Hours passed as they headed deeper into the forest. they had reached a point where everything was dead silent with not even the occasional sound of a frolicking creature to disrupt such a loud silence.

“By the way, you lads are mortals right?” Asked Felix.

“Yeah, why do you ask?' The Gelfling asked.

“I just find it odd that a mortal would easily tell whether a person is a god or not.”

"Well, I guess We have encountered our fair share of God that we can....” The Ingul said before as he was struck with what seemed to be a sharp bolt of pure light.

“Why in the four realms did you just do that? Are you alr..." Markus asked.

“DON'T GET NEAR THEM!” Felix exclaimed.

“What?!” Asked Markus.

“Galic's sake, I thought this would be easy.” The Ingulian said, revealing dark sludge oozing out of his cracked skin. Like a little bird hatching from its egg, the sludge within the Ingulian crawled out of him leaving a lifeless and deflated Mortal shell. The sludge monster launches itself at Felix, coating him entirely with itself.

“Felix, I'll Hel...” Markus exclaimed as a similar black sludge oozed out of the arms of the Gelfling.

“Where do you think you're going, boy.” The gelfling said as its Mortal shell began degrading.

"Whatever you three are, you sure do have a lot of guts," Felix said from within the black sludge.

“Huh.” The once Ingulian remarked. Suddenly the three sludge monsters were pulled back to a dead tree.”

“How did you do that?' a sludge monster said as it tried to rush towards the three gods only to slam into an invisible.

“What in the four realms is this?” A sludge monster exclaimed as it banged on the invisible wall.

“Before I end all three of you, mind if you tell me what you three are exactly?” Felix Asked.

“Go kill yourself.” the sludge monsters snarled.

"Very well.”

As if it rained down from the setting sun, a sword made entirely of light fell between the sludge monsters, the light emitting from the sword grew brighter and brighter until it became unpleasant to look at directly.

“Any last words?' Felix asked.

“Wait, hold on, don't do it! Wait! Please Wai...” The sludge beast exclaimed.

With a snap of the finger, the light sword exploded into a massive beam of light, disintegrating all three monsters.

“What in the four realms was that?!” Paige exclaimed.

“What were those guys, demons?” Markus asked.

"No demon I've seen is capable of speech."

“Then what are they, Ordin gods? Paige asked.

“They might be Ordin in origin, but they obviously aren't Ordin gods,” Felix said.

"Then what are they?” Markus asked.

“False God,” Felix said.

“Huh?” Markus exclaimed in confusion

"Artificial beings, you can feel their lack of soul by viewing their Aura, that's how I could tell that something was off about them. If what I'm thinking is accurate this is bad, very bad!” Felix exclaimed.

“Why is it bad?” Paige asked.

"Because someone is making them. Those lads were defects, no stronger than a lowly demon. But who knows whether they can make one stronger than any god I've ever met."

“So, what do we do now?” Markus asked.

“I'm going to meet with Orian, he's the only one I can trust with this,” Felix said.

“Great, we were going to head back to meet with Orian anyway,” Markus said.

“You two aren't following me.”

“What? Why? We are headed to the same place.” Paige asked.

“You will slow me down. Plus I don't want this to be used as a way to try and get me to come back home.”

“Oh come on Felix. You said it yourself that this is a really bad situation. Let's go together. I promise I won't try and get you to come back to Crya.” Marus said.

"Still no. There is no real need to travel in a group and I rather not have two tag-alongs that I would probably have to constantly protect.”

"We don't need you to protect us constantly,” Markus said.

"Alright then, let's prove it. There are two twin blades hidden under your coat, draw one of them and show me your skill with it.” Felix said.

“How did you even know about..” Markus asked as he reached under his coat to find both his knives missing.

“What in the four realms?! They are gone?!” Markus exclaimed confusingly.

“Looking for these?” Felix asked whilst juggling two curved knives.

“When did you?” Markus asked.

“About five seconds ago, your eyes must have moved so slowly that you didn't notice,” Felix said as he threw the knives at Markus.

“Huh?!” Markus exclaimed.

“Anyway, bye,” Felix said as he carried his things.

“Wait, I want a second try.” Said Markus.

“Second try? Buddy if I wear someone out to kill you, you would have been long dead, life won't give you a second try then so neither will I.”

“Please, let me redeem myself.”

“Fine, It's a few hours until sundown, I will move at my normal pace, if you are still aware of my whereabouts by that time, I'll let you two join me.”

“That seems fair, let's do it.”

“Very well.” Felix took a deep breath before bolting into the trees at a speed hard to even measure let alone keep track of.

“That's is normal pace?!” Paige exclaimed.

“Come on, we can't lose him,” Markus said as he rushed towards the direction Felix dashed in.

Sunrise came and the two younger gods were left winded and completely devoid of energy, they had spent the last couple of hours running in random directions following the trails of the littlest noises in their pursuit of Felix.

“Why did I agree to this?” Paige asked shortly before throwing up.

“Come on, The sun is about to set. “ Markus said.

“Markus, right now I rather eat the very dirt I lie on right now than run for another second,” Paige said.

“Fine, I'll find him myself,” Markus said as he ran into the forest once again.

Felix from above within the trees had been watching his brother run pointlessly in random directions with such a great level of determination that he became almost as moved as he was concerned. He watched him continually run through the forest well after the sun had set.

“You do know the sun has set already?” Felix asked as he dropped down in front of a very winded Markus.

"I, I thought that....” Markus said before he threw up.

“Galic's roots! You are one hopeless celestial. Let's go.”

“To where?”

"What do you mean by where? you left Paige alone over a hundred meters from here, obviously to there.”

“Why are you letting me win?'

“Good question. I guess for a brief moment you reminded me of a man I once knew.”

“What was he like?”

“What was he like? I'll say stupidly ambitious like he would do, and say the most foolish things with complete genuineness. He was also a caring man Like all the world's problems were somehow his to care about."

“Sounds like a nice guy. What was his name?”

“His name? To my knowledge he didn't have one, he always just went by his given title.”

“And what was that title?"

“The Mortal God.”