Shadow of the Abyss

Without pause, Altair, followed by Tasha and Alyssa, crossed the island, making their way toward the Twelve Pillars in the distance. Through the dense fog gradually thickening until mortal eyes could not perceive their surroundings, they trekked, coming to a stop just outside a clearing before the entranceway.

There, through their domains alerting them of movement, they perceived a strange creature that gave Altair pause: A centaur, a large creature that possesses the upper body of a man and the lower half of a stallion, entered his domain.

The creature was massive, with the height of nearly four grown men, wielding a glaive to match. Padded in leather-hide to mask the chainmail beneath, pointed the tip of his Glaive towards Altair.

"State your name!"

Altair did not sense the presence of a star within the centaur; rather, they seemed much like a monster that grew through what it devoured and time lived. He approached, wondering if Thanatos took the same way.

He shook his head no, recalling this was his Pantheon, in a sense his domain. He was sure to possess some semblance of Authority as the God of Death.

"You are speaking with Altair Blackwood, King of Earth," herald Alyssa coldly. "Step aside, the Queen, her ladyship, Klonia awaits." She was growing more and more frustrated by all these side stops. It hardly seemed as if Klonia, much less Athena, had any good faith in inviting her Master.

The Centaur, Talv, growled, "It's not up to you to decide. I am—" Bearing off, noticing Altair had already crossed him before instincts had instructed him he'd gotten so close. He spun on his hooves, sweeping his spear to split him in half.

Altair did not react, discerning the action alone through his all-knowing prescience; Alyssa interceded on his behalf, parrying the blow with one flick of her infernal lightning sword.

A hail of embers swept across the fog, pushing it back with shattering force.

Altair continued on his way, waving, "Bring me his head." and he was gone, Tasha flickering to his elbow. He crossed the stairs into what seemed like a temple forged of ashen stone. It was a stunning thing, perhaps beautiful, if not for the obscuring fog.

Twelve stunning pillars stood in the open, piercing through the clouds into infinity. Each of them radiating a powerful divinity, capable of captivating mortal understanding, carrying twelve different symbols.

He found Klonia standing before a pillar that bore the symbol of the Golden Owl: Athena's crest. He'd recognized her almost immediately. Though felt no attachment like Alyssa might have. Amazons had been taught to love war, love the thrill of battle, to love their queen. And yet, despite experiencing her life, only a coldness blistered in the young king's chest.

"Klonia," he said, drawing close. His footsteps humming across the stone, up the twelve pillars.

"Did you know… The Amazons once belonged to the God of War, Ares?" she said, brushing a palm across the pillar of Athena. "But after the Great Change, Athena stole it. Invading our lands, she systematically slaughtered the previous queens. She rewrote history. Wiping the minds of the mortals…"

"That was allowed beneath the Shadow Proclamation?"

"You assume everyone is aware of the Shadow Proclamation. Most, I assure you, are not aware. Those who had aligned themselves with Ares, the ones you met, rejected Athena when she descended and were allowed to keep their memories. They are the descendants from over a few Cycles ago." Her eyes dimmed, swaying towards the Young Lord, silently appraising her while she did the same.

Her heart dipped, finding all his intent and presence hidden away within his heart, shielded from her perception. Klonia knew what it meant. She'd read the old script about spiritual manipulation. Its practice had been lost to time but not its history.

"Did Master Thanatos teach you?"

"You know Thaan?"

Klonia looked every bit pale, "Y-Y-You call him Thaan? He is the God of Death, the God who is said to be able to carry the souls of other gods into the depths of the Underworld."

"I do. Thaan's a really chill guy. Extremely honorable. We had dinner together the other day. I have to say, I managed to make him chuckle once. The best achievement of my life.

Although…" his eyes scanned the area, unable to perceive the existence of his companion. "I don't see him."

"Chthonic Gods are paid respect beneath Gaia herself," said Klonia, pointing her finger downwards as if to insinuate their place of worship is below the earth.

Altair scuffed. "That's rather insulting."

"I did not create the tradition," said Klonia kindly. "My ancestors did. They were all frightful of the Chthonic Gods. After all, who isn't afraid of Death? Or the One Who Governs Death itself?" she paused, shaking her head. "But I meant no harm by it."

Altair's expression seemed only to darken, but before he could continue, Klonia spoke up," They are frightening beings, Lord Blackwood. Mortals don't understand that… Not even I understand how anyone could worship Death. Yet some do. They are Gods, and upon the Death of loved ones, we pay them honor so that their souls might find peace. "

"Enough of this tangent. Why am I here?" Altair demanded.

The mist whirled at his words, swallowing him before he could hope to resist. By the time the fog had faded, Altair felt a heavy ache in his chest. Gradually, the ache became something of a burn.

"What is this?" He growled, clenching his chest.

"Divinity," said a gentle voice, carrying a hint of surprise in the tone. "Mortals typically can't exist on Olympus without igniting into flames. You truly are part God."

As the ache began to settle in his chest, Altair looked at the woman, the goddess, in all white, leaning onto the settee. She was a stunning thing, encompassing the meaning of beauty to its fullest. Her eyes were as icy as her smile, yet across her face, it seemed to warm his heart, distracting him from something else…

Altair felt he'd missed something. But couldn't quite place it.

"My name is Athena."

"Altair Blackwood," he reciprocated.

Athena gestured for him to sit, forming a chair out of nothing. He took a seat, staring at her silently.

"You don't seem honored," she said.

"I could say the same thing," he fired back, and the two smiled.

"How was your time away? You seem different. Colder." Athena remarked, conjuring the both of them a glass of ruby red wine.

"Hell. More than you can imagine."

"I've been to the Nine Hells. Although that was in a lower dimension. Still… it shouldn't be that different."

Whirling the wine across the glass, he arched a brow, "What were you doing in the Nine Hells?"

"The Silver Devil dragged me down there to threaten me. And in the end, I caved."

"...Zariel Snow… Right?"

A dark sharpness cut across Athena's pearly eyes. She frowned. "Your knowledge of the God Absolution is disturbing."

Altair took a sip of the wine, his eyes snapping wide.

"You like it? I had Dionysus create it for me. Despite being an absolute swine, not even I can deny his craft. In all the Myriad, his is the best." She savored the wine, enjoying the child-like glow across Altair's face. He seemed every bit of the boy she once saw not so long ago. "Well?

How do you know about the Silver Devil?"

"Are you that afraid of him?"

"Yes. We all are."

"Lunafreya, my Big Sister, told me about him. Those two have a somewhat cordial relationship. Or so I think." And his eyes narrowed, "But what is this all about, Athena? Surely you didn't invite me to Olympus for nothing."

"I'm deciding," she answered. "I'm wondering if you're ready?" Nails rattling across the wine glass in a soothing rhythm, she sighed. "Truthfully. I'm in need of your services. Most of the Olympian Gods are. A fact that most of us don't like to admit.

The Old Gods are dying out. Newer Gods like you are taking over, and we are losing power."

"So you're not a Fell God," Altair said, once again startling the Goddess of Knowledge.

"I'm an Infringement God. A High Ranker. But that isn't important. What is important is our extinction. The Shadow Proclamation is going against us. It's giving the Newer Gods time to grow, time to slaughter our people.

Even as we speak, several of my Worlds are on fire, and I can do nothing about it."

The Prince took a sip of his wine, savoring the delicate notes across his tongue with exquisite precision.

"And so you want to make me your champion? Thaan said as much. And I agreed. But what I don't understand is why me? I'm sure there are more qualified individuals."

Athena did not flinch and said," And I've already acquired them. But I want you. I've even prepared you a gift. A gift I'm sure you won't refuse."

Altair could sense the olive branch but did not reach for it yet. "But why me? I'm sure you saw the Devil by my side. You even saw my altercation with the First Family. Heralding me around as your champion will cause much discord."

"Yet your head is held high." Athena pointed out. "I won't try to comprehend what happened over these past five years… but your spirit is not broken. I've watched you for a very long time. And you possess one of the finest mindsets I've ever seen. You're poised, hardworking, a little too lustful for my taste, but even when you engage in sex, you gain something out of it."

"So here's my gift to you. With your permission, I would like to fuse Gaia into Earth."