Elysium

Lugh’s war room

“He’s flanking us! HE’S FLANKING US!!” Lugh shouted, twisting and turning in his seat. He held a gaming controller in his hands, moving the control stick and pressing the buttons in a panicked manner.

“I got him!” exclaimed Ariel whose face went from stressful to relief. The screen flashed the words ‘first place’.

Lugh got up and fist bumped Ariel. Since there was still time before the retainers entered the fantasia world, Lugh and Ariel decided to do some team building exercises. They had been playing a popular team shooter video game for the last few hours. Truly, what better way for two youths to bond and grow together than competitively playing video games!

Ariel placed the controller down on the table, he needed to rest his eyes for a bit. He still couldn’t believe that he was in heaven, or at least a place that resembled heaven to him. “Hey, lord Lugh,” Ariel said as he rubbed his eyes. “Why do you want to win the Tryfing?”

To Ariel, it was a bit unfair that only he spoke about his desire to win the Tryfing. It was only fair if Lugh told him his desire for returning to Eden. Lugh didn’t say anything; he looked down, lost in thought. This was probably the most serious Ariel had seen Lugh in the time they were together.

“We tricksters have always been known to cause trouble for others in Elyisum.” Lugh shifted in his seat. Failinis was there on his lap sleeping. Lugh started to pet him. “In all of history we pranked or caused some sort of chaos. Some deities say it is just in our nature. But really we learned it from someone else. Someone we trusted, someone we thought of as a true mentor and an older brother, who didn’t see us as the young deities that constantly got in the way of others.”

Ariel looked at Lugh, he could see the pain in his face. Just who was this deity? Ariel thought.

“His name was Lucifer. He taught us our skills and abilities of shapeshifting. He also was the reason that Eden was closed off.” Lugh’s face had filed with immense sorrow when he uttered Lucifer's name.

Ariel started to feel his blood-boil at the mention of his name. The name of Lucifer, during his youth he would hear that name in church or in media and feel this strange sensation.

Pure unadulterated hatred. Contempt, sorrow, anger, rebellion, resentment, revenge. But Ariel couldn’t understand those feelings, he wasn’t a very religious person. If anything, he secretly hated God for making him feel different from everyone else.

“He was the one who suggested we look like young teens to piss off the older deities.” Lugh chuckled, slowly petting Failinis who snuggled closer to Lugh to comfort him.

“We were treated like children, and I’ll agree that some of it was warranted. I personally messed up erasing a Piseóg, a type of Celtic curse placed on humans… Nuada has never let me live that down.” Lugh shifted his eyes to the ground at this point. Talking about his greatest shame was just too much for him.

In the corner he saw the signs they used during the Trickster strike. “Deep down we all knew why they didn’t trust us… why they didn’t respect us. We just didn’t want to admit how bad we missed up before the great rebellion,” Lugh said painfully.

“I just want to be respected. I don’t want my sins and the sins of my trickster brethren to define us anymore,” Lugh said as he looked Ariel in the eyes. “The only deities that treated me like their equals were big bro Cu and lucifer. Cu is in Eden coz he won the first Tryfing. So, I want to at least see him again.”

“Would you… even want to stay in Eden?” Ariel asked. Listening to Lugh it felt to Ariel that he had no true desire to enter Eden.

Lugh was a bit caught off guard. Was he underestimating Ariel the same way the older deities underestimated him? It made Lugh laugh a bit under his breath, reminding him of conversations with an old friend. His first human friend.

“Honestly?” Lugh paused. “No.”

Lugh got up from his seat. Failinis jumped to the ground and then ran to cuddle with Ariel on his seat. “I love living here, I love being in the trickster club. If we win, I want to go to Eden. I’ll speak with father and ask him to revive a fallen deity from the eternal oblivion.” The eternal oblivion. It was the place the souls of deities and angels rested upon in death. Unlike humans, there was no cycle of rebirth for deities or humans. There was no heaven or hell… just eternal oblivion.

The only way for a deity or angel to be sent to the eternal oblivion was by being killed. As these beings can live for eons. During the great rebellion many angels died, Micheal remembered the report being that of a few hundred thousand. Deities are harder to kill than angels; only five of them had been killed during the rebellion. All by the hands of Lucifer and his ten Nephilim, the strongest fallen angels and deities of his army.

“If Father could grant me that request, then I would relinquish my right to stay in Eden.”

Ariel grabbed his fluffy friend and pulled him close to his face. Failinis began to lick Ariel’s nose. “Who is the deity you want to come back to life?” Ariel asked as Failinis kept licking his nose. Lugh turned around to face Ariel.

“Loki’s brother, Thor.”

///

Australia

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Charlie’s small apartment

The echoing boom that Achilles made shook Charlie. Currently, he was hiding behind Freya. Freya had a ticked off expression on her face. “Why can’t I pick him? This human wishes to fight and has the will to enter the Tryfing.” Achilles face was stone stoic, something that was incredibly rare to see. Until recently, that is; the role of Judge had changed the Greek heroic deity.

“This battle is no ordinary Tryfing, Lady Freya,” Achilles said. He then turned his face to the cowering Charlie “ No offense, young man, but you are far too weak for what’s going to happen.”

These words crushed Charlie. That's all he had heard the last few minutes, weak and weakest. Freya had told him he would be the weakest retainer in the competition. Now, the judge of the Tryfing was doing the same. Freya let her emotions show on her face and spat back at Achilles. “I don’t care if you are the judge! Charlie has a strong desire to enter and fight for me! Is this because of what happened between us centuries ag—”

“No.” Achilles calmly but assertively interrupted her. “It has nothing to do with us, Freya.”

Freya bit her lip, there was more she wanted to say but she knew she went a bit too far in trying to bring up their past. The more she thought, the more she realized how out of character Achilles was acting. He would have loved to see an underdog rise up to take up the challenge of the Tryfing.

“Achilles… you know something, don’t you? Something about this Tryfing that you can't tell anyone?” Freya said with concern on her face. Charlie was a bit lost but was able to keep up with the two, wondering what the connection the two had long ago was.

“No comment. Using this young man would be a detriment to your chances of winni— unless…” Achilles tilted his head to the side and looked Freya straight in the eyes. She could feel his glare judging her. “You're not trying to win?”

“Of course, I am! There is no greater honor than victory in the Tryfing.” Freya's voice crackled as she gave a short laugh, and her horrible acting skills were on full display. Even Charlie cringed and had to hide even farther back so Achilles couldn't see him.

“I know you, Fey. What you're doing makes no sense. You would never pick a man to represent you and picking one who statistically, cannot compete on a base level with everyone else.” Again, different words but the same meaning. WEAKEST. Charlie already had low self-esteem, and the crushing blows these last few minutes had erased the small amount he had obtained in his lifetime. He wished Freya had just left him dead. As he started to cry he remembered something, one of the last few times he spoke with his friend, Carmichael.

“Come on, C. We can still turn our lives around! Let's go to the gym together, anything at this point. We just have to push ourselves. I don’t want to stay the same anymore! I want to be better.”

Charlie kept crying, Carmichael was always positive, always trying to do something with him to improve themselves. Yet, it was Charlie that denied him. All he ever said was no, no, no every single time. How truly sad and lonely had Carmichael been? Charlie was so surprised that Carmichael had committed suicide; he was always so happy-go-lucky. But Charlie's low self-worth and esteem prevented him from doing anything.

And the thought hit him. One that he lightly felt and was trying hard not to acknowledge. He was one of the reasons Carmichael killed himself. He’d cried out to Charlie wanting to change his life but Charlie had been too selfish in his own world to even try. They both were lonely and had no guidance. So, Carmichael probably failed in his goals and took it as a sign that he was never going to be the person he wished to be.

“I hate myself,” Charlie whispered as the two deities argued in the background. Some friend he was, he thought. That's when he saw the figure of Makoto, the elf woman from OGA 5. She was a very popular character that appeared in the last 2 OGA games; Carmichael had gotten it for one of Charlie's birthday.

“No more, I want to be better.”

Charlie grabbed the figure and walked up to Judge Achilles. He was scared and nervous but this was the first step he needed to take… One he should have taken a long time ago.

“I know I'm not strong at all… I mean look how Lady Freya found me,” he said with his voice trembling, his teary eyes were laser focused on the ground. NO, he needed to look up, that's what Carmichael would have tried to do! He needed the courage to look Achilles in the eyes!

“Lady Freya sensed my desire to be stronger. I want this opportunity more than anything in the world. Even if I can't win… I won’t be the first to lose!” Charlie started to raise his voice more and more, yet his eyes were still fixated on the ground. He lifted the figure of Makoto up for Achilles to see.

“I want to fight for Lady Freya as a woman, like this character that I look up to!” Still, Charlie looked down.

“Come on, C! Get the courage… look him in the eyes and demand what you want! Take the first step.” The voice of Carmichael rang in his thoughts and in that moment, Charlie looked up at the deity.

“I want to change myself and be better. I can only do this if I participate in the Tryfing,” Charlie said with conviction in his eyes.

The first step had finally been taken.

///

Hell

Warden Hades’s domain

Hell existed much like Elyisum, in the in-between of subspace. While Elyisum was in the heavens, hell existed in the ground of Earth. Around the Earth's core. The wardens of hell each governed their own domain and divided the work evenly between each other. All the wardens of hell were held to the highest regard and the honor they had, for their few deities were the strongest.

Zhong kui was taking his time looking for his retainer. He was a deity that felt making calm and calculated decisions would lead to the best possible outcomes. Honestly, he was surprised at the rumors he was hearing about deities already finding their retainers so quickly. But no matter, he was not like the others and will do things as calm as he always had. Zhong kui was asked by his coworker Hades if he could come and cover administrating new souls for him.

“I know you have to look for a retainer, kui, but I have an important meeting I need to attend and no other warden can do it.”

Zhong kui was happy to help; Hades had always covered for him. It was only the right thing to do. As he was entering Hades’ main office, he saw that Hades was speaking with another deity. As Zhong kui got closer he saw Frejr, Freya’s twin brother speaking to the warden in a hushed voice.

“It’s not set in stone yet. I’m waiting for her to give me the telepathic okay but take that soul to the side for me for the time being,” Freyr said right before Hades saw Zhong kui enter.

“Kui! Thanks for the help, brother. This meeting I need to go to is beyond important!” Hades said getting up from his chair and hugging the burly Chinese deity. Freyr bowed to the two wardens with a great amount of respect. “Thank you for your time warden Hades, and good luck warden Zhong kui. If my sister loses I’ll be cheering for Lady Inari, and if she loses I’m be cheering you on next.”

Zhong kui chuckled. “I can’t wait for your support, Freyr.”

Hades started to grab some papers and put them in a skeleton briefcase. “I can’t stay to chat long, the next batch of souls are now coming in. These souls are a few back up ones from the last week. Don’t feel like you have to move all of them kui.” Zhong kui nodded and took Hades’ seat as a line of souls started to float into the room. As Hades was about to leave he turned around pushing his glasses up in the process.

“How has the search for a retainer gone so far?” he asked.

“I’m taking my time, many humans would want the honor to fight in the Tryfing and win a wish of their desires,” Zhong kui said as he stamped a few papers on Hades’ desk. He looked at the soul in front of him and pointed to the left, guiding his soul to the afterlife.

“But that does not mean they themselves are honorable. Still, I’m not worried, an honorable human will appear within the time limit for me.” Zhong kui stamped another paper, guiding another soul.

“That sounds just like you, Kui. I still think you need to take risks sometimes. Anyways, I’ll be back soon, thanks again.” Hades sprinted off for his mysterious meeting. Just as he left, Zhong kui was about to stamp the next soul's paperwork when it started to speak to him.

“Hmm? Oh you overheard me speaking with Hades?”

Human souls that just died had no corporeal form. They were a mass of energy in the form of a circle, floating in place. They also couldn’t be heard unless the deity or angel knew death speak, which all wardens of hell instinctively know. The soul moved in place wildly. Zhong kui nodded and shook his head in place, listening to the soul intensely.

“I see, you said America, correct? I’ll have to look at this person you recommend for the Tryfing.” Zhong kui grabbed the soul’s paperwork and placed it to the side on the desk. It was always his policy to listen to any request a new soul had. Mostly because newly formed souls were usually too weak to speak.

“Step to the right young soul, and I’ll let you know my decision. But first I need to fill in for Hades.” Zhong kui’s face was covered but even still you could see his warm smile under the cloth. The soul jumped to the side in order to not hold up the line any longer.

“A strong fighter in America…hmm…” The loud echo of a stamp was heard next.

3rd Tryfing

Official judge: Heroic Greek deity, Achilles.

Support judge: Angel, Damaris.

Chosen deities:

Ra: Demi-God: Darren Donaldson

Lugh: Knight: Ariel Morales

Zhong Kui: Exorcist

Inari: Polymath: Kento Sanosuke

Freya: Assassin: Charlie Wilson

Nuada: Conqueror

Minerva: Tactician

Team Arc-Angel: Hero

Fantasia world: underdevelopment.

Starting year: not yet decided.

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