Previous Story Segments:
- The Enigmatic Nicon and the Secrets of Ēlysia
- A New Dawn: A Celestial Encounter
- A New Dawn: Unrestrained Power
- Ancient Battles and Celestial Intrigue: A Dark Epic
- Ancient Battles and Celestial Power: The Collapse
The Chronicles
A Peaceful Moment in Ēlysia
Back-Story:
From the Celestial Realm, Elpis grew amongst the beauty of Ēlysia, knew no other life beyond Peace and Prosperity, a realm that knew no violence, Elpis’s first 1500 Years of life was simply, her youth was filled education and playfulness – though she had discovered her emotions seemed to have an interesting effect on her surroundings, family would take notice how the flowers would bloom during moments of joy, or storms would gather in moments of frustration, with damaging consequences if she lost her temper.
This uniqueness would earn her a place amongst other gifted individuals of Ēlysia’s most prestigious Academy, but even at the Academy her gift was unusual, and drew the attention of more powerful figures with wariness – except one; Nicon.
Nicon, a figure whose entire existence had been one of balance, how he maintained a calm authority amongst so many and had been carved into the edifices of so many important buildings and structures that stood in Ēlysia decided to attention the ceremony at the Lyceum where he would introduce himself to Elpis, offering to take her to learn her ability and to control it, an offer that Elpis hesitantly accepted.
From the First day of her training, Elpis would move from realm to realm learning basic’s, though ‘Realm-Crossing’ as Elpis came to call it, was heavily disorientating for her, and in one such crossing she would discover a world so far removed from the comfort she had seen growing up and the worlds Nicon showed – a world of utter devastation and ruin; the realm controlled by a Celestial being she’d never known existed; a Destroyer; Zor’Githas – a being so different to what she knew it had instantly drawn her curiosity, a draw that Nicon noticed, but it had also drawn the Destroyer’s curiosity, seeing something new and so pure it had had an effect, up until Elpis’s recruitment by Nicon – Zor’Githas had been known as the ‘Newest’ of their Celestial Realm despite how long he reigned as the Destroyer – but Elpis’s arrival had now taken that title.
From that first encounter though between Elpis and Zor’Githas it created a mutual curiosity that would never settle for either, even as Nicon took Elpis to a world he called ‘Gaia’ after the personification of its controlling entity itself, Elpis would remain curious about Zor’Githas, and the more Zor’Githas discovered about her, the more drawn he became – the Hope she held for Mortals, beings he saw as little more than clay to be moulded when he saw fit, it simply drew him in, finding her love of Humanity interesting.
Even as thousands of years would slowly go by; that pull remained present leading him to break his usual traditions and begin walking amongst his fellow Celestials in the Ziggurat in Ēlysia instead of remaining in his own Realm – it would eventually even extend to ‘Gaia’ itself – walking amongst Humanity as it slowly developed, though Zor’Githas saw the Greed, the Warlike Tendencies and made the effort to try getting Elpis to distance herself only to be met with her refusal, even when put in danger, Elpis would not give up on Humanity.
Even when Wars broke out; Elpis remained as Humanity’s steadfast protector, speaking of their beauty and capability of compassion, their arts refusing to let their warlike tendency to sway her.
Introduction:
“Enough!”
Elpis’s voice rang out, sharp, loud with ancient authority as she and Aphrodite came under attack, various arrows thudding into the ground or nearby tree’s, their decision to investigate the strange Cultists they’d overheard had led them to this moment, to this ambush, and now, in a life-threatening situation, Elpis’s usual need to protect humanity from her own people dropped to defend herself for a change as she drew her arm upwards sharply, a simple gesture as she moved it into a wide arch – the very ground obeying her command immediately as it heaved and bucked; the earth turned to liquid in the sudden movement as Elpis commanded.
As Elpis stood in the centre of this chaos, her hands gesturing in different directions, her attention split between different dangers, Aphrodite kept low as she observed what was unfolding – then she saw it happen; the first arrow that struck Elpis in the back of the hip – it struck with such a jolt Elpis staggered forwards, her breath hitched, eyes widened before two more followed immediately after – sharp, painful that stole what breath remained as she twisted around sharply, gesturing wildly as she stumbled, crashing down and landing awkwardly as her elbow sank into the dirt, her focus shattered as the world tilted.
Aphrodite moved instantly skidding down to her knees beside Elpis – as one of their attackers rushed forwards, raising a sword high above his head, the world seemed to sudden shift – an arctic iciness settled over the battlefield, breath misting as a wave of primordial terror struck the attackers – then space itself seemed to tear open.
When Zor’Githas materialised, he did so not as a man, but as a storm of focused fury – as his boots hit the earth, a shockwave of raw entropy rippled outwards, the ground didn’t just break, it ceased to be; trees, stone, and the very air were rendered into a portrait of absolute destruction, the man with the sword didn’t even have time to scream he simply dissolved, his armour, his flesh – his very being turned to a fine, grey ash that was swept away by the freezing winds.
The violence of the moment vanished as quickly as it had arrived – Zor’Githas dropping to his knee beside the fallen Elpis, hearing Aphrodite comment about something to do with trying to take advantage “I have never tried to manipulate her” he growled in response “Her devotion to these…, creatures…, is maddening, but her compassion is what makes her, her, and I only wish to preserve that spark”
“These hurt; stop arguing!” Elpis howled at them – a call for action to Zor’Githas who moved with great care to lift Elpis upwards before carrying her back through to their own realm followed by Aphrodite.
Chapter 1:
Within the Celestial Realm – the veiled dominion far removed from the Mortal Realm, it was a vision of beauty, Ēlysia – a city that rose with gleaming spires of marble and gold, adorned with friezes depicting valiant warriors and celestial beings – the sight of Grand Amphitheatres and temples with their elegant uniformity and the signs of technologies that spoke of the civilisations advanced existence and far removed from any other.
At the very centre stood of this beautiful city stood the Ziggurat – a tiered structure of obsidian, a dark structure that stood in direct contrast to the white marble of its surroundings, the centre of power of Celestial beings that refused to bend, chambers filled by ancient and sterile authority.
It was here, inside the Ziggurat’s healing wing, air smelling of ozone and crushed lavender that Elpis was laying on her chest, her Long Dark Hair purposely positioned over her left its ends purposely tied as it stretched below her waist and prevented it from curtaining her face as her cheek pressed into the silken pillow, her back still aching from her recent visit to the mortal realm – the wounds healing, but unusually slow, and the ache that remained even their advanced medicine seemed to struggle to mask.
As Elpis’s eyelids began to flutter, she began becoming more aware, blinking slowly revealing those luminous Violet eyes as she try to get the world to focus the first thing she really saw was the dark shadow being cast from the window causing her to let out a muffled groan that drew the figure’s attention – Zor’githas, turned from the window at the sound and slowly moved towards the bed, his dark robes whispering at his movement.
As Elpis’s eyes focused on him, she remembered the last thing she said before falling asleep, her cheek warming as she saw it as clear as day as if it just happened a moment ago.
She remembered how he had touched her cheek while she barely moved, her slurred ‘Sleepy’ as she had giggled in a drugged stupor – as Zor’Githas purposely settled onto the edge of the bed, his hand gently traced its way down her face “So…” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that would normally shake the world “Still tired?” he asked, a subtle grin turning his lips, his usual amber eyes once again adopting Elpis’s violet as his rare smile seemed to change the Destroyer’s features completely
Elpis simply stared up at him a moment before gently shaking her head “No.., but my back feels like it’s being chewed on by a Cerberus”
Zor’Githas let out a soft, sudden exhale, a gentle sound masking his amusement as he rolled his eyes, the gesture lacked any bite, the amusement was obvious to Elpis “I do wish you would listen to me; Humanity…, Mortals, they are chaotic creatures that always give into their violent urges; they are unpredictable things that should be beneath your notice”
“No” Elpis retorted, the effort to sound authoritative, yet it simple came out like a gentle squeak that only caused her cheeks to enflame scarlet as Zor’Githas simply struggled to contain a grin “Humanity is worth protecting, they are capable of great things…” she told him in effort to re-assert her tone
Zor’Githas maintained his grin before softening his expression and leaning down close, keeping his eyes locked on hers as he strokes her cheek “You really must have a thing for getting yourself into trouble or even pain my dear”
Elpis gave a stubborn nod as she stares at him before deciding to just change the subject “Where is the Healer…, and wasn’t Aphrodite in here earlier?”
“Aphrodite decided to go speak with Nicon” Zor’Githas answered, Elpis let out a groan knowing she would likely be getting a lecture sometime soon as she planted her face back into the pillow letting out a long, dramatically muffled groan “Wonderful….” She said, the words muffling into the pillow “I’m going to get a sermon aren’t I, please…, just let the Destroyer finish me off now”
Zor’Githas again struggled to contain his chuckle as he watches her carefully
Chapter 2:
Within the council chamber the atmosphere was tense, clinical compared to the healing wing, here, Nicon stood by what looked like a shimmering tear within reality itself, his eyes observing through a ‘window’ to the mortal realm, his hands resting behind him – even here, in this space Nicon’s very presence commanded the world around him, the subtle glow of his golden hued eyes not once drifting away as he listens to the discussion around him, before he finally interrupted, his voice firm, soft and vibrated through everyone present “They aren’t healing as they should” he said
The Healer stood close with a tray of the three arrows that had been extracted from Elpis’s back; the tips stained dark.
Nicon’s gaze finally drifting as his left hand raised for a brief flick of the wrist, the ‘window’ to the mortal realm closing in an instant as he turned to look at the Healer as Aphrodite sat nearby, her legs gently swinging back and forth “Why has her body not healed as it should; we do not usually require medicinal herbs for such trivial weapons”
“Because these are not the typical kind of arrows Nicon” the Healer said with a soft, soothing voice despite the pale pallor of his face “They seem to have been submerged into some kind of poison we’ve never encountered before, native to Gaia”
Nicon turned his eyes towards Aphrodite “While amongst the mortals, we overheard the discussion between some shadowy types, talking about some kind of ‘Dark Master’ they seem to be Cultists of some kind, not the usual type either, they call themselves the ‘Children of the Minotaur’ , we suspected that they were linked to Zor’Githas….”
Nicon’s brow furrowed as he listened “The Destroyer…” there was a pause “Targeting such a primitive species…, that is unusual for him, normally he waits until they are capable of destruction on a global scale”
Aphrodite thought a moment “They don’t seem to be connected to him though; or…, he isn’t encouraging their worship at least, when we were ambushed, and Elpis was hurt, he didn’t descend to their realm like a disgruntled master, he came like their executioner, there was no hesitation, no kinship with them only…, fury”
Nicon thought carefully “There is a pattern here” he murmured as he looked away “He is a Destroyer, and yet, whenever Elpis is in danger, he will protect…, no…, not just protect, he goes out of his way to annihilate anything around her”
“I think things might be rather obvious in that regard as to why Nicon” Aphrodite commented drawing his gaze “She is different whenever he is around…, I have observed their interactions before; and if ever he touches her, she doesn’t pull away, she seeks to move closer to him”
“He is a Destroyer” Nicon looked at her carefully, but he knew what she was getting at despite the sound of his confused tone “Can a Destroyer…, fall in love?”
“Anything is capable of emotion Nicon; you know that” Aphrodite said leaning forwards, Nicon once again becoming silent “You should watch them Nicon; see how she doesn’t pull away when he makes contact; he should scare her, yet he doesn’t”
“I am going to need to observe more closely it seems” Nicon murmured, though the unease in his eyes suggested he already feared the answer he would likely find
The council chamber seemed to be colder now, the air thick yet still – the marble floor reflecting the faint glow from various luminous crystals providing what is usually, a warmth to the light they create, as Nicon stood still deep in thought, hands clasped behind his back, he simply let Aphrodite’s words process, the healer and a few silent attendants linger.
Then, there was a ripple of pressure, the temperature truly seemed to drop once Zor’Githas seemed to just appear as though the realm had blinked him standing there, his dark robes settling around him, his eyes, no longer violet, but amber once again, burning with a quiet, dangerous focus.
Chapter 3:
Nicon slowly turned, his gaze drifting to Zor’Githas “We were just speaking about your ‘heroics’ within the mortal realm” he said, his voice a steady, gentle sound
Zor’Githas merely gave a subtle tilt of his head before moving a step forwards, his eyes momentarily finding Aphrodite as she sat swinging her legs back and forth watching him with a sudden growing curiosity “Heroics?” he rolled his eyes a moment
Nicon then gestured towards the tray the Healer was holding “Tell me…, did you provide them the means to craft arrowheads that can harm us?” he queried; not yet an accusation, merely a question of concern knowing the Destroyer’s penchant for causing trouble even amongst their own kind
Zor’Githas’s eyes flicked towards the arrows “Any culture can create such a primitive weapon Nicon”
“Not one capable of harming our kind” Nicon watched him carefully “it seems that some kind of poison has been used, native to Gaia itself; did you influence it?”
There was a flicker of amusement that touched Zor’Githas’s mouth, cold and sharp as he eyed Nicon carefully “I whisper in the ears of the powerful, change the flow of land, perhaps poison a well or cause chaos where I want it, I do not provide them with the means to poison a Celestial Being”
“So…, you deny having any connection to these new Cultists” Nicon made a move forwards, stepping closer to Zor’Githas as he maintained eye contact “These Cultists claim to serve a ‘Dark Master’ style themselves as the ‘Children of the Minotaur’, a name you have often received before from worlds you have destroyed; they have now attacked Elpis, you yourself admit to wanting to cause a conflict between our people and mortal kind, your actions to draw us in to a war, do you expect me not to question your involvement in this?”
Zor’Githas’s amusement evaporated – the temperature, already cold dropped further; the air felt like arctic ice, Zor’Githas’s amber-hued eyes changed to crimson, the chamber seemed to darken; he didn’t step back, create space as he would normally do, instead, he stepped closer, not threateningly, but with the weight of a collapsing star “When Elpis was struck…, I felt that” he states, his voice a rumble that seemed to hit the room
Nicon’s eyes remained fixed as Zor’Githas continued.
“I will never deny my anger at how our people have shrunk away in fear of beings that don’t understand us, I won’t hide my nature or my intent to cause chaos; but should anyone, Mortal or Celestial dare to touch her, I will not stop at merely wiping out a few hostile actors, I will go beyond destroying continents, I will end all things”
A tremor ran through the floor, a subtle ‘crack’ going nearly unnoticed save for the Healer’s momentary glance noticing a subtle line across the marble; Nicon’s eyes narrowed, he felt the shift “You would destroy even Ēlysia…, for her?”
Zor’Githas’s gaze sharpened – there was no hesitation “Yes” the silence that followed was;
heavy
reverent
terrifying
For not just Nicon, but also Aphrodite; it clicked – it wasn’t manipulation, not obsession nor was it strategy; this was devotion, raw, instinctive and cataclysmic in nature.
“I will not be questioned again when it comes to Elpis” Zor’Githas warned, his tone icy as the room vibrated around them before he finally turned, his robes whispering at his movement as he made his way from the chamber, leaving the chamber cold, small and shaken
Nicon’s eyes drifted to Aphrodite; a new truth settling over them both “A Destroyer that is protecting…, this will become dangerous for all of us”
Chapter 4
The corridor of the Ziggurat stretched long and silent as Zor’Githas silently made his way through, his expression unreadable, his steps faster than usual; sharper, more driven – he passed by many others of his Celestial brethren, including the ‘Master of the Dead’ Aїdes – the being that was in charge of a realm treated like a depository; an archive that recorded all lives that had passed, similar to Zor’Githas, Aїdes wore long dark robes.
“Zor’Githas” he greeted coming to a stop directly in front of the Destroyer “You seem to be in a hurry”
“And you’re in my way” Zor’Githas’s eyes maintained the crimson hue from his interaction from Nicon; immediately noticed by Aїdes who felt a sudden tension build
“Then I shall not keep you; only mention your recent actions have given my domain many new souls to catalogue”
Shaking his head, Zor’Githas slipped right past Aїdes with barely an acknowledgement beyond a grunt, he paid next to no attention to any others who bowed as he passed, his mind was fixed on Elpis; his thoughts drifting to the moment he had felt that pain that surged her body when she had been struck, the way her breath hitched, the sound she had made, his eyes narrowing.
He hated that sound – he hated that he remembers it so vividly, and there was a part that hated that it mattered so strongly to him.
The closer he got to the Healing wing, the more the tension in his frame shifted – not softening but focusing.
Reaching the door, he paused to steady his breathing, expression smoothing into something more controlled, then; he entered.
The room remained the same as it had previously; now though, as the light began to dip outside, the luminous crystals within the room had begun to brighten, the warmth filling the gentle space with a subtle hum; Elpis still laying on her stomach, her hair still pushed to the side, breathing slow and uneven.
Slowly, he lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed, not touching her; but close enough that the mattress dipped beneath his weight – his eyes, once again the same violet as Elpis’s, lingered over her sleeping form, watching her; quietly.
Her fingers twitched first before her eyes fluttered – a soft groan escaping her throat as she shifts, wincing at the aches in her back; she sensed him before her eyes found him “Githas?….” she murmured, her voice thick from sleep
His posture straightened “I haven’t woken you, have I?”
Elpis blinked a moment, her violet eyes hazy but warm “No…, maybe…” she pressed her lips a moment before offering a smile “Just nice to know you’re still here” she said before lowering her head back down against the pillow; her cheek pressing into the silk
“I never left” he grinned
“Liar” she retorted, her lips curving into a faint, sleepy smile “You look worried”
He scoffed softly – a sound that would be laughter in anyone else “I do not worry, you should know that”
“Hmm.., you do” she whispered, turning her head a little to keep him within her sleepy gaze, moving her hand to reach towards him a moment – he seemed to hesitate, just for the heartbeat of a moment, before turning his palm face up on the mattress as her hand came atop of his, her fingers curling around his in an awkward effort to interlace them causing Zor’Githas to grin
The Destroyer’s shoulders loosen, just barely as he kept watching her “You frightened me, you know that don’t you” he admitted quietly, a confession so soft, she barely heard it
Her eyes softened “I’m not going anywhere…” she slurred, eyes drifting closed “Someone needs to keep the Great Destroyer in check” she murmured
Zor’Githas watches her carefully; the warm moment between them hung fragile, warm and impossibly gentle.
Written By
Westley H.
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