1

The Solar theocracy is a reformed stronghold, strongholds are places that were meant to defend against The Wrath, heavily fortified cities as well as stockpiles of natural resources, in the years since the war ended those strongholds that had actually survived, had thrived.

This one was special because the population’s faith in the Gods never waned, even as their capital was assaulted by the harsh storms and those of the Gods, they simply accepted it as divine punishment, and saw their survival as generosity.

It is said that an ancient holy rite that was performed in this land, and such it’s inhabitants will always be the most devoted, for they had witnessed a Miracle.

Europa was filling me in on all this, apparently this was her first time coming here, Jupiter had been here once before, they were here in search of a ‘person of interest’. Since I was already with them it had to be someone else, just who would Jupiter be seeking out? I cursed myself for not trying to learn more before I met him…

Peculiarly Europa took of her glasses every so often when talking to me, I could only catch glimpses of them, every time I did they looked completely black though… shiny like a marble with a tiny speck of blue light in the center, it didn’t even look human…

I figured I shouldn’t bring it up, after all I could just be seeing things…

2

Even when I closed my eyes, I could still feel hers, I didn’t mind it at first but I started to feel uncomfortable, maybe I was being sized up or analyzed, but she didn’t look human, just stop thinking about it…

What she was talking about, the Gods had delivered punishment to humans due to a recent sin they had committed, Jupiter supposedly knew what it was but said he wouldn’t tell me, that was fine I had gone three years not knowing it it wouldn’t hurt now, but that was the problem the moment I learned he knew what it was I wanted to know as well.

“Europa why won’t Jupiter tell me what the sin was? is it that bad?” My question was only met with laughter, but she put her glasses over her eyes again, thank god, Europa and I had been sitting in a separate cart for a bit as we talked, Jupiter wasn’t able to fit in the rest.

If there was an emergency or something he would have to break down the doorframe, as well as his surroundings, being that large was something he could not control so it must have not been magic… how could you achieve something like that naturally?

“Jupiter doesn’t like to open up about a lot, and if you try to force him it’ll to you as much good as you’d expect, he’s about as stubborn as that armor he wears…” She seemed to pause for a moment, seemingly biting her tongue before speaking again “… you know I was there when it happened…” she seemed conflicted about admitting it, but she doesn’t look like she was even alive those years ago, so what did she mean?

Thinking about it, I could see her face clearly at times, I could read the expressions, feel the joy and stress she did, but when she looked at me, there was nothing, I had no face.

I have no face.

Intermission.

Four seats at a dinner table are currently filled, one more person should be paying a visit but for now it's only them, two children sit across from the adults.

Holding their heads in their hands, bags under their eyes and tired expressions on their faces, a sinking pit seemed to form in the stomach of one of the adults, and the other could not hold back the tears, they were at their wits end.

Even if no one else were around to tell them they knew they had done something wrong, their children were cursed, they were surely to blame, treading so far into God's domain that they were given such hurtful divine punishment.

It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment when it all started, a prophecy, a brother, all the pain and enlightenment, every memory seemed to take place at the same time, in the end it didn't matter, they found something forbidden and the repercussions were felt by their children.

One of the children had a thick blindfold wrapped tightly around their head, they couldn't help but cry and wonder why they weren't allowed to see, the parents knew it would only be more painful to see, the whole of it and what they had done.

The other was bound hand and foot by heavy metal chains, though they were still a child their body was that of a grown adult, more so than even their parents, the parents knew that the child would hurt itself or others, it was too strong.

Each of them didn't have the knowledge that their parents did, so it shouldn't be right that they were the ones punished, but it was exactly that lack of knowledge that could protect them, keep them from learning more.

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Soon, a brother would come, one that would take these children away and keep them safe.

For what knowledge they knew that bore The Wrath of heaven they only wished they knew more, such is the true curse of the seeker of truth, not one placed by any God or creature, but the fault that lies in the hearts of all men.

Otherwise known as The King.

Soon, their children would be safe. That was all they needed to know...

3

At some point during the journey I had fallen asleep, Europa had dragged me all the way back to the cart with Jupiter in it, and now she was pouting, apparently I was very heavy…

The people sitting next to me could be described as special, even if Jupiter didn’t talk much, even if Europa was a kid, I had never met people with such life in them, it was hard to describe but they felt like the only people I could talk to, I no longer felt alone after three years…

Jupiter, a towering knight, a legend to the people, there was rarely a soul that did not know hit name, it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say the majority of people alive today owe their lives to him, such was his strength, such was his mastery over magic, no one would so much as feel pain in his presence.

And Europa, who I have spent this trip learning about, lifelong at least for her companion to Jupiter, and fighter powerful enough to support him without being a burden, she bragged about her exploits and seemed to always try to put herself above me, which I didn’t mind, it seemed like she earned it.

Only I couldn’t so much as look her in the eyes…

A wide range of dry and unusable land now only stood between us and the heart of theocracy, such dry stretches were almost always the result of The Wrath, not much about the event is recorded, but the most people remember is the storms, the demons, and those who served the Gods, the very land had been torn up and thrown against the walls of strongholds.

You wouldn’t hear any of it from the people in this stronghold, there were too many of them that simply averted their eyes to the war, apparently not one of them had died during the whole ordeal it only affirmed their belief that the Gods were just testing them, Europa, who was telling me this seemed annoyed at that.

A densely wooded area was maintained just outside of a wall that surrounded the city, obscuring it slightly, but most of the structures that could be seen stood high above the wall, most notably being the Holy cathedral, The World Turned Upward, said to be high above the clouds a holy place, entirely for the divine, it was said to also be where the Savior God resided.

Thus the city at the center of Sol reached towards that place, with it’s peak being the place of worship, the gratitude these people had towards the Gods could be felt in its very structure, I had never seen something on such a grand scale, but somehow it felt almost unsettling…

It was the same as looking directly into Europa’s eyes.

4

We had already disembarked from the cart we were staying in, the caravan had reached its destination, I made sure to thank the person who powered it, the other two just walked off, only waiting for me to finish.

There was a special entrance for caravans which we had taken, luckily this was also the place with archways tall enough Jupiter could walk through the area fine, it was my first time in the city, I knew we were here to find someone but part of me wanted to look around with this powerful guide.

Inside the walls of the stronghold's heart was much the same, though the design was more like a maze, there were much more people around than I had ever seen as well, and more tightly packed buildings staggered with large pillars that supported structures higher up, making parts of the city in shadow even in the day, lanterns were the only thing keeping visibility.

Those in the city cleared a path for us, even in this city that respected Gods more than anything, Jupiter was still the world’s hero, though Europa seemed to be trying to stand in front of him, a smug look on her face, she didn’t have the greatest opinion of these people on the caravan, so maybe she was trying to defend Jupiter from something? it was fun to look at her struggle…

Though the two did not stop to talk to anyone here, only moving through the city with haste, Jupiter knew the rough location of our person of interest, and we were headed there right now, I guess we wouldn’t be staying in this city for long.

I tried to stop and ask some people questions, but Jupiter and Europa would just stop and stare at me, waiting for me to stop, without saying a word, was what I doing wrong? eventually I didn’t stop anymore, it seemed we were in a hurry.

Still, did we not need to talk to anyone? Jupiter seemed to know his way around the city so directions weren’t a problem, but something felt wrong about it, surely they didn’t think the people here weren’t worth their time…

Mindlessly following the two deeper into the city we began to reach the taller buildings and structures, small statues, since they didn't depict Jupiter I assumed it was some God.

All of the sudden, I felt sick to my stomach… I wanted to throw up…

5

It all happened so fast I had began recounting the events in my head so I could process what had happened.

Both Jupiter and Europa had stopped in their tracks the same time I felt that horrible feeling, they probably knew what was going on before I could begin processing it.

They were fast, faster than me as I turned around to see a man, falling.

He wasn't screaming or making any noise at all, his eyes were closed, and for the brief moments I could see his face, he looked like he was in pain.

Before long, and even before Jupiter could cover my eyes or Europa could catch the man, there was a sickening splat, the man was no more only gore and a puddle…

Blood splattered across my armor, covering up its pure white with red, Jupiter and Europa wear covered in it too, she seemed more distressed about it.

It was hard to think, my eyes wanted to clamp shut but they couldn't be torn away from events unfolding in front of me, I had to see what happened next.

Out of the viscera came a black ooz, one that started to warp into the human form, it climbed out of the corpse like shedding it’s shackles, every step it took it threatened to fade way, in between heartbeats it stepped closer…

Without so much as an utterance it walked, past Europa, past Jupiter….

It clung to me, and it held on tight...

For some reason I thought Europa's eyes grew even darker, so inky black they threatened to swallow my world whole…