“Tell me you have a lead,” Battar’Vedel, God of Gods, said as he strode briskly through marbled corridors with an entourage close to his heels.

“Your majesty, it hasn’t been long enough for my Seekers to catch his scent. But, the scrying pools have narrowed his location to the Ashwyn continent.” Arthemin, God of the Hunt, responded as she struggled to match Battar’Vedel’s lengthy stride. She grimaced giving the answer, knowing it would not be enough to appease their ruler.

“The Ashwyn continent? We need something concrete! Ishniel’s champion is gathering strength each moment we delay. Soon they will boil the damn oceans!” Battar’Vedel said.

“Young Gods like yourself don’t remember the Eruption. We were nearly eliminated. Our Mantels were destroyed!” Battar’Vedel continued, stress evident in his voice.

Laurian, God of Chains, took the moment to shuffle forwards.

“Holy One, I have a potential lead.”

“Speak at once, and don’t you dare waste my time,” Battar’Vedel said, powerful eyes snapping aside to glare at the diminutive jailer. Laurian had been tasked with keeping Ishniel’Whragthiri’s power locked away. Something he had clearly failed.

“My Champion recently bound a human displaying powers of the flame in Ashwyn. He could potentially be Wrath’s Champion.” Laurian said while wringing his hands.

Battar’Vedel abruptly ceased his brisk stride. Full focus locked on Laurian.

“You will bring this man to my Champion.” Battar’Vedel commanded. “He has the power to determine the nature of this man’s abilities. We must be sure the threat is eliminated and he’s not some minor God’s plaything.”

Laurian bowed his head. “It will be done at once, Your Majesty.”

Battar’Vedel ran a hand down his face. “Time is of utmost importance in this matter, we must not let this cancer grow.”

My constant companion for the past few days sat stoically past the bars of my cage. His gaze never left my body, leaving me under constant supervision. I hadn’t been able to so much as twitch a finger without his permission since these damnable chains encased my body. It was beginning to drive me insane. The energy and strength of my fire had become my only companion after the death of everyone I knew, and living without it left a hollow pit within me. I felt empty, as if my ability to feel was stripped from me.

I was being paraded to god knows where in a cage strapped atop a wagon, forced to endure the stares and whispers of soldiers who marched on either side. My jailor was one of constant vigilance and unending patience. I couldn’t remember seeing him even take a piss.

I finally broke my own self imposed silence.

“At least tell me your name if you’re gonna eye fuck me day and night.”

The knight tilted his head, eyebrow rising as our wagon jolted over a rock.

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“So you do speak. After your display with the general I expected more of a mouth on you.”

I glared into those blank gray eyes hidden under a shining visor.

“You’re one to talk. I’ve barely heard you say ten words in the past couple days. All you do is sit there and stare at me.” It had begun to creep me out, that constant stare. I felt like we were doing battle just looking at each other.

He tilted his head to the sky. “I am Kavon, and I speak with my God. His words are the only ones I find necessary.”

“Your God? Are priests supposed to put innocent villages to flame and slaughter women and children?” I snapped.

His eyes tightened. “I am no priest.” His gaze lost concentration, as if a memory caught his attention.

“But I am sorry about your village, war can truly be terrible.”

“Fuck you,” I spat. “You don’t get to be sorry. Tell your God to kiss my ass.”

He leaned back on his chair, refocusing on me. “And what does your God say about your actions?”

This took me aback. My God? “No God speaks to me. I make my own decisions.” I said not quite believing my own words. So a God had spoken to me, I concluded with a chill.

That caught Kavon’s attention, and he leaned forwards with interest. “A Champion whose God stays silent. Very interesting.”

I tried to shift in discomfort, but the chains halted any movement. “And what does your God command of you? To rape, pillage, and burn your way through Ashwyn?”

His gaze became laser focused for a moment, drilling into me. “He commands me to present you to The Champion.” He said The Champion with reverence, stating it as a title to be respected.

I was starting to wish I hadn’t opened my mouth, the things he said and the way he said them confused me. Champions had been myths in my village, mythical beings who carried out the desire of Gods. They were said to slay dragons and save princesses from peril. Apparently a few Champions had banded together to extinguish the Eruption thousands of years ago. But it was all campfire stories, like how Babayaiga would snatch naughty children and devour them for power.

“The Champion? Who does he follow?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

Kavon made some sort of practiced motion with his left hand, slashing it across his eyes before pounding the fist into his stomach.

“God of Gods, Father of All, Supreme Leader, and Master of Arms among many other names.” He leaned back in his chair once again. “You will meet The Champion soon enough.”

I let the conversation die soon after that, overwhelmed by the information gathered in so short a time. Why had I garnered the attention of the Gods? Surely killing a few soldiers didn’t necessitate a reaction like this. If that were the case, any soldier would be brought to The Champion after a few campaigns. It had to relate to whatever God contacted me. I swore to the sky. What the hell was happening? This God of mine had gotten me into this mess. Hopefully he could get me out too.

I contorted myself awkwardly to take a piss in the waste bucket my captors had so graciously provided me. Kavon was kind enough to loosen my restraints for such actions, but only for my lower body. It was an embarrassing ritual I had to go through, and one I despised with my whole being.

BOOM!

The ground shook with a violent tremor as screams filtered towards me from the front line. Kavon jerked to his feet, calling for an explanation. Soldiers scrambled to ready themselves as officers shouted for order.

My bladder was curiously no longer full, so I readied myself cautiously for what was to come. This could be my chance to escape, I thought as I gave a sidelong glance at my shining captor. The chains wrapped around me tighter than ever before as he turned again towards me.

“You will not leave my sight,” he said.

I only grinned as more explosions filled the air.