Part 1
Still. Silence. A whizz of an arrow skimming across the surface of an oak tree, missing it by centimeters. Anahit was distracted. Not only could hunting calm her unsteadied heart. She had read over mounds of paperwork that morning. Listened to countless prayers from her followers. The feelings arising in her from the last couple of days were familiar.
She pulled her arrow back yet again, focusing her attention on a small rabbit scampering past her, near an overgrown hedge. Silence fell yet again around her. She allowed the sounds of trees rustling and rushing water from and nearby river to take over her completely. Her long white robe blew in the fall air while her tangled curls brushed against her dark sun-kissed skin. Feeling the pressure from the bow before the release was invigorating for her. She hummed along, enjoying the hunt.
A sudden snap came behind her causing the goddess to whirl around. Her arrow was pointed towards a tall, handsome young man. “Tir!” She half yelled, lowering her arrow.
“You’re a bit rusty Anahit,” he said with a wink.
“You just startled me is all.” The goddess lowered her bow and stored her arrow back with the others. She rushed to hug Tir and he gladly reciprocated the gesture. “What do I owe the pleasure my sweet younger brother?” She asked.
“By seconds,” he said with an edge of annoyance. “Nane called a meeting.”
“So sudden! I wasn’t aware one was scheduled for today.”
“It’s an emergency.” His voice sounded urgent.
“What happened?”
“It’s—”
Before he continued there was an abrupt flash of light.
A muscular man stepped out in front of the two. He was wearing a polished Japanese brocade embroidered with black roses. His sleek long black hair and domineering frame, as well as the sword hanging at his waste gave him an intimidating look. As he walked forward with a slight limp. An iron leg was hidden underneath the layers of silky fabric he wore.
“Anahit, Nane called a— Oh, Tir, you got to her before me.”
Tir “hmphed” at this statement and turned back to his sister. “It’s Nane and Chronus. They’ve talked to the fates about something. She did not disclose much of what they discussed though.”
“But it has to do with her. With Scarlet Death,’’ Aries replied.
“We don’t know that for sure.”
“Does she have something to do with what’s happening in your home country Aries?” Anahit asked, worry showing on her face.
Aries eyebrows were brought together, creating a stress line. Anahit could see he barely got any sleep from the night before. How could he? His home country had become enslaved under Fujiwara’s reign. Tension was growing in the region.
“She called a meeting for everyone. Come on you two.” Was the only thing he responded before ascending to the heavens once more.
“Everyone? Even the minor gods?” she enquired to Tir.
“Everyone.”
Major, demi, and minor gods made up the higher court of Olypias. Major deities were one such as Anahit and Aries, those personally bestowed and appointed by creator gods. Creator gods held immense chi, or in other words, vital energy, and bestowed some of the chi unto major deities. Chi, though, depended on one’s path to godhood, not entirely of the creator gods who gifted it. For Anahit, her chi became stronger through the art of fighting and hunting. She carved a way to godhood through the bow and arrows held in her hand and the followers she amassed. Demi gods were deities born from other gods and their relationships with humans. Although such a paring was strictly forbidden under Nane’s rule, there were still some who found themselves being born with such a background. Their chi was passed down from their parents to them but depleted rapidly, more than that of major gods. On the other hand, minor gods were beings appointed by major gods and demigods. They remained humans with immense chi. Their purpose was like that of oracles in that they could communicate with deities.
Anahit, Tir, and Aries made their way down the halls of Olypias, a building set apart for the higher and lower court gods, goddesses, and deities. As they passed through the winding, crystalized corridors minor gods, goddesses, and deities moved out of their way, whispering amongst each other as they passed.
As they walked Anahit turned to her brother. “How goes guiding newfound souls to the underworld by the way? Enjoying meals with Hades?”
“Oh yes, I love to spend my days reporting to a kidnapping psychopath with paternal issues.”
His appearance was identical in stature to Anahit. His golden-brown curls were the same as Anahit’s, falling neatly above his shoulders. Tir’s dark olive skin seemed to glow from the light spilling in through Olympias’ windows. It was a shame Tir could not truly fall in love with Daphne, Anahit thought, they would have made fine children. And her parents would have stopped pestering her to take a husband…
Aries let out a faint chuckle at Anahit’s comment. It seemed to ease the tension slowly building around them.
They entered the court of Olypias where Nane was, greeting other deities. Her draping robes were ordained with jewels and fine cloths of various earth toned colors. The goddess in no way appeared like Anahit or the other major and minor gods, goddesses, and deities of the court, for they still retained their human forms. Nane appeared ethereal, with branches bursting from her large body. At her feet roots attached themselves to every corner of the room. Her arms were set lightly on her enlarged stomach, but instead of having her belly there it was earth. A snake found itself slithering up the frame of the goddess’s body reaching its way to her bosom to rest its head. The face of the goddess emoted a concerned expression. At the top of her head displayed various flowers and plants growing from the very roots of her scalp. Nane was no minor nor major deity, for she was a creator goddess.
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Settling down on the upper half of the court room next to Tir and Aries, Anahit looked across the gradually filling hall.
“I thank you all, each and every one of you, for meeting on such short notice,” Nane began. “As many of you have felt, there is a growing… tension, whether it be in your homelands, of those who worship you, or of distant worlds. I too have felt such worries and angst. In my consultations with Chronus we have foreseen an unforeseen end of the world.”
An audible gasp and growing murmuring filled the great hall. Minor gods and deities, nymphs and demigods looked around with utter horror and fear. Anahit glanced at both Tir and Aries, both showing growing grief. Aries, Anahit noticed, had his hand clenched with the whites of his knuckles showing.
“Silence, please, steady yourselves.” Nane raised her hand, instantly shushing the congregation. “Just as we have seen the end of the world, so too did we see a world resolved. It was written many eons ago, before many of you all came to be, that such an event would sweep the world. Chronus, in his manipulation of time, showed a world to me shrouded in darkness and disdain. A world taken over through revenge and pure hatred. A world unlivable, unreliable, and unrecognizable. In those visions I saw a figure amongst the ruble and destruction, a figure cloaked in red.”
Whispers again erupted in the hall. Anahit’s heart sunk in that moment. Turning yet again to Aries, they briefly made eye contact. The calamity, bringer of carnage and chaos, was none other than the same who fought Aries a decade prior. The same who took his pride alongside his right leg.
“Many of you have heard this figure being referred to as the ‘Scarlet Death’. Molded by Chaos himself, the demon has been a threat to many of you. Your brother amongst you, Aries, faced the retched beast only a decade prior, at Mount Haku. This very same Mors now stands as the one thing leading to our world’s extinction.” Nane paused here. Her face was stern and unwavering. She looked around the room, and although it was brief, Anahit noted the faint sadness in her eyes.
“I have selected a party to visit Mors in Epithmia. They are to subdue the creature, and if possible, have it fight for us, not against us.”
An eruption of anger and statements of disagreement were thrown at Nane in that moment. Some minor and major deities stood, hurling words of annoyance and fear towards Nane. Others gossiped to those they sat next to. Anahit herself stood up at such a ridiculous request. “Befriend a demon such a Mors!” She stated bluntly. “I would rather face Moros’s torments again than do such a request. Nane, you cannot be serious, can you??”
Tir stood with her and could sense his twin sister’s anger rising. “Remember sister, they have foreseen a world that does not end. Be patient. When has Nane ever misled us?” Anahit briefly calmed at this statement, but Aries seemed to grow more upset. His rage seemed to penetrate the great hall.
“Get chummy with such a thing? You’re asking for the deaths of whomever you send Nane. I have been loyal to you. Even then, in the wake of Chaos’ influence bleeding into land I once called my home I believed in you. But now, this, Nane you have abandoned me, you have abandoned us. I will not side with Mors, and I doubt any other being here will too.”
A heavy, unnerving feeling shifted in that courtroom at that moment. Major, minor, and demigods equally shivered at such a change. Nane vines grew, interweaving and tumbling between their feet. The entire courtroom seemed to be pulsating.
“I abandoned you boy? Your brashness has always put you in such unprecedented predicaments. Might I remind everyone here, including you Aries, why you fought Mors to begin with those many years ago. I had warned you of such foolishness, especially when you almost shifted the fates of many mortals’ lives. Do you not remember the last god to do such a wicked thing.”
Her voice stung like venom and her vines circled around Aries just as predators to their prey. Anahit knew very well of the god she spoke of, for he was the one to bring about the end of Tigranocerta. A selfish, vengeful god. The very thought of him made her blood boil.
“I reduced Jupiter, stripping away his godhood. His gold blood ran red in Olypias. I am not against such actions with you, Aries. Beings commit selfish, immoral acts, mortal or otherwise. For him, he committed one most foul as to perform the ritual of fragmentation.”
“I ask of you all such task not to insult you, let alone abandon you. I ask it because I am desperate. Of the years I have successfully protected you and made you warriors of Olypias, I now task you with protecting the world. A task I have been preparing and molding you for. A task only you… It seems to me…” Nane paused, reeling back her vines. With that the room seemed to calm briefly. “…that there is some difference among each of us here today. There is a difference between us and mortals. Among mortals and wondering souls. Despite that difference there are still friendships and unions to be made, love to be felt, and feelings to ponder.
“It has been stated by some of the greatest philosophers that being likeminded cannot benefit unions, in particular friendships. I do not mean to be so teachy, but I too find myself looking upon the poets that I create in amazement, for they speak beyond what I have breathed into them. Here, in this great hall, I plead before you as creator of you all in desperation of your support and friendship. For if I fail to receive it on this day, I am no better than of Mors, and of Jupiter, for I doom all.”
The room was still at this moment. Anahit did not dare to breathe, for she felt it would betray her wavering feelings. Tir sat very still next to her with a wonderous gaze that reminded her of when they were young. In that moment she gazed upon Nane with deep reverence. Anahit stood, facing Nane and the entire hall.
“Mother Nane, you have been a parent to me, and I have only felt the deepest love towards you. I speak, just as myself, separate from the great hall to say that if no one will go forth, I will. I have loved, I have lost, and I have fought. I have cried, bloody and broken on battlefields. I will continue to fight, to remove judgement, to protect my followers and those I care about. All this and more I do not just for you, but for life itself.”
Nane smiled at this speech. Anahit watched as her eyes seemed to soften when she spoke. The corners of Nane’s mouth curved, forming a deep and honest smile. “Anahit, my dear, you are to subdue Mors, Chronus has underscored that it must be you. With you of course two would obviously assist.” She then motioned to Tir and Aries.
Aries, evidently angered, relented. Anahit was not sure whether he relented for her sake or for the sake of his own egoistic desires. Anahit could see it now, theatres retelling the story of the ‘great’ Aries saving the world alongside an ill-tempered goddess holding a bow and arrow, and her twin, a poetic know-it-all. The actors would drone on that the god of war desired pure redemption and held an honest heart for humanity. She chuckled at the thought. Aries was far from those thoughts. In fact, Anahit would bet all her followers that he wanted vengeance. Nothing would fulfill his ego quite like a task such as this.
Tir, on the other hand, she could sense was annoyed. She could already hear him complaining to her throughout the trip that she dragged him yet again into one of her tempered power trips. To her dismay he did just that. Not soon after the meeting adjourned the three major gods left for Epithmia, the immoral city.