The Greatest Sin

Lyca’s body started to burn up as Fer held him close; A mother bear holding her cub tight in an embrace.

Maisara and Fortia walked in their armours. Kavaa had come to speed up the healing. The weeks of suffering ended in a few moments with nothing but a touch from the Goddess of Health. Maybe some other time, she would care about what this meant. Was it some show of mercy from Allasaria? Kavaa going against the Goddess? She didn’t care that much, her mind was simply overtaken by Kassandora’s words about Arascus. Maisara hated plots back then, and she hated plots now.

Maisara took the lead as they entered the White Pantheon’s observance room. A place with a door tall enough to clear even Allasaria’s terrible height with two feet to spare. It was classic Old-Olympiada. Marble with gold inlays, the table too tall for a human to use. No chairs, you stood or you didn’t attend. Magical lamps floated in the air, they cast a warm light today. Long ago, this was the war-room; Allasaria’s failed attempt at eradicating war reached even names.

The Goddess of Light stood at the table already, clad in a pristine white dress. She looked up, those golden eyes acknowledged Maisara and she went back to tapping the folder. “I wish everyone was as punctual as you.” Allasaria said and Maisara almost missed a step. A compliment? From Allasaria?

“It is what it is.” Maisara replied, she took her spot close to Allasaria, Fortia got in between them.

“You deserve an apology.” Allasaria said.

“You won’t mean it anyway.” Maisara said coldly and Allasaria shook her head.

“I lost control last time.” Allasaria began in a quiet voice and Maisara interrupted her.

“What happened, happened. The only reason you didn’t end up as I did is because you’re stronger than us.” Maisara stopped the Goddess of Light with those words, and Allasaria shut up. She sighed and shook her head again. They waited for the rest of the Pantheon. Late as always. Fortia broke the silence.

“Thank you for allowing Kavaa to heal us.” She said and Maisara bit her cheek. Why did that deserve a thank you? That was Kavaa’s damn job! What role did the Goddess of Health serve if not healing?

“It should have been sooner.” Allasaria said and sighed again. “Before anyone comes, I would like to propose something.”

“What?” Maisara’s tone may as well as have been a strike of thunder.

“An end to these games we are playing.” Allasaria turned to the other two. “I’m not saying we will suddenly become friends, but I want a stop to the arguments.” Maisara crossed her arms and snorted as she turned to face the Goddess of Light. Allasaria was slightly taller than Kassandora, that meant there was a good several inches of height she had over the Goddess of Order. Maisara hated those several inches.

“In other words, you want us to do what you say and that’s it?”

“I am in charge of the Pantheon Maisara. That isn’t going to change.”

“Likewise, I’m not going to suddenly start pretending I think you’re deserving of that position.” Allasaria shook her head.

“If not me, then who? Maisara, it CANNOT be you!” Maisara’s eyebrows rose and she burst in laughter.

“Did I ever say I want it to be me?”

“Then WHO?” Allasaria roared. “WHO? Or do you want voting again?” No one wanted that, voting was simply handing the reins to Helenna.

“Anyone but you.” Maisara said. “You’re not good for us.”

“I don’t try to be good, I do what is necessary.” Allasaria said and Maisara bared her teeth. The words were stolen right out of her textbook.

“STOP!” Fortia shouted from in between them. “STOP FOR ONCE! Both of you!” Maisara sighed and turned back to the table, ignoring Allasaria completely. Allasaria returned the gesture.

“Do you know what I would do if I was you right now Allasaria?” Maisara said, her eyes focused on the middle of that circular marble.

“What?”

“I would fly out and drag them here by the neck.” Allasaria merely shook her head but she held her words. Zerus arrived next, Sceo by his side. Lightning and Sky, one in silver robes, the other blue. The two eldest among them. He inclined his head when he saw Allasaria and Maisara’s expressions.

“I apologise for the delay.” He said. Maisara wanted to remind him how fast lightning should be, but she did held her tone as her mind strayed back to Kassandora. HOW? She had to be lying. She had to be. But then research on Divine families was never done; Allasaria had banned it during the Great War. Who knew what sort of connection they had to each other? Mortals could feel their blood-kin, why should it not apply to Gods? Then she had to tell everyone! Arascus was free! Arascus was out there!

Maisara said nothing. A promise was a promise.

Alkom strayed in. God of the Sun, dressed in reds and oranges and nodding to acknowledge Alla. Then Helenna’s brigade arrived. The Goddesses of Love, of Bounty and of Health; Helenna, Iniri and Kavaa. One in crimson so daring it should be banned, one in a disgusting cornucopia of colours hurtful to the eyes, and Kavaa, in a simple green dress. Fitting for a coward. “I see we’ll have to wait.” Helenna said out loud as she strolled in confidently. “Good thing we have you here Zerus, there’s a lightning storm brewing between them two.” If looks could kill, Maisara’s gaze would have executed Helenna a thousand times over.

“Now’s not the time Helenna.” Allasaria said. “Save your comments for another time.”

“Have you got something to announce to us?” Helenna said. “A suitor finally come to-“ Allasaria lifted her hand, a tiny beam of light shot past Helenna’s cheek and cut off a few strands of red hair.

“Shut up Helenna. I will not ask again.” Helenna recovered from the shock quickly and she flicked her hair back. Her mouth smug as she no doubt thought of some grand retort which was a yet another masterpiece of wit.

“I didn’t know yo-“ A blast of light knocked Helenna down to the floor. Maisara smiled in satisfaction. True, it was Allasaria doing it, but frankly, anything that shut Helenna up was satisfying.

“Heal her Kavaa.” Allasaria said coldly. The Goddess of Health ran off to Helenna. A simple touch and Of Love as back on her feet. “And be quiet, I will not let you be healed next time.” Helenna finally shut up as she patted her stomach through the hole in her dress.

Theosius came next. God of the Forge, dressed in fine silks that would be the complete opposite of what a blacksmith wore, he merely took his place at the table without an introduction as they waited for Elassa. Someone had to be late, always had to be late. It wasn’t the White Pantheon if they were all on time. The Goddess of Magic finally flew in after a half hour. “Apologies for the delay.” She said and took her place next to Allasaria, opposite of Fortia.

“Let us begin.” Allasaria spoke and Maisara re-counted the members again. “There are twelve of us here. Leona is still in hiding, I’ve talked with her maid, she is rolling dice to hide.” That didn’t bother Maisara, Leona being gone was the whole reason for this crisis. “However, we also lack Atis.”

“Oh no.” Fortia mumbled.

“About two weeks ago.” Allasaria pulled out a large photo from her folder and passed it Fortia. She looked it at then passed it on as Allasaria kept on speaking. When Maisara saw it, it was just a picture of just of eastern Karaina’s geography, a red dot was marked on it. “We lost a drone. A Sky-Eye autonomous reconnaissance drone. The serial number is at the bottom of the picture. The red dot is the location.” Allasaria took a breath and continued.

“Now drones do go down every now and then. It wouldn’t be a worry in any normal situation. There’s six circling Fer at all times.” She brought out a larger map and unfurled onto the table. Six red dots, dates and times next to them. “All six drones went down.”

“Even if there was a storm, that shouldn’t happen.” Theosius said, his brow furrowed.

“There was none.” Sceo spoke up. “The Guguoans break clouds with magic to ensure optimal hunting conditions.” Allasaria continued before the discussion devolved into theories.

“The local security forces thought the same.” She pulled out twelve pieces of paper and passed them to Fortia. “Take one, pass it on, that’s a copy of the commander’s report. They decided that the Guguoans were downing the drones to hide some sort of magic or artefact of theirs.”

“Preposterous!” Elassa shouted, Allasaria didn’t even pause for the interruption.

“They sent out an atmospheric surveillance drone. The images are of lower quality but…” She handed out more pictures as the folder grew thinner. “Well…” Maisara’s eyes immediately went to the black spot of charred land in a valley. It was from so high that there was little detail to be seen, but it was the obvious aftermath of a battle. Fortia’s hands started shaking as she looked at the piece of paper. “Now Fortia.” Allasaria continued. “I have a question for you.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“Atis was last seen in Olympiada having a conversation with you. He left immediately. I hope you knew where to…” Allasaria’s tone said she knew the answer already, but she simply didn’t want to believe it.

“He…” Fortia put the piece of paper down and steeled herself. She leaned on the table, grabbed the edge and shook her head. “He said he was going to join the Great Hunt.” Allasaria’s golden hair grew a tiny bit duller, her eyes lost some of their sharpness and she sighed.

“I see.”

“Don’t tell me…” Fortia said. “I didn’t push him into it…”

“No one is blaming you Goddess of Peace. It is one thing when we have an argument and Kavaa has to heal us.” The Goddess of Health gave Allasaria a dirty look for that comment. “This is another entirely.”

“What happened?” Maisara asked. Allasaria pulled out a photo, another low-quality one from the atmospheric drone. A red pen outlined a patch of brown. Then another, the patch of brown was moving north east. And another. And another. Too fast to be humans, too slow to be flying Guguoan cultivators.

“These images were taken yesterday. This whole situation reached my desk only a few hours ago.” Allasaria clicked her tongue. “I can only come to one conclusion from this.” She said. Maisara already figured it out. From everyone’s expression, the rest of the table did too. “The Sixty Third Great Hunt has ended and Fer won.” Allasaria pulled out a portrait of Atis’ face. Rugged and stern. “From today, I will assign Atis, God of the Hunt, as missing in action. If he does not make an appearance within two months. He will be reassigned to dead.”

Maisara almost fainted as she heard Kassandora’s voice in her head again. “Arascus is free.” She opened her mouth to tell them and the words caught in her throat. She made a promise. Her Divinity was built on that promise.

The table descended into shouting, then accusations and argument.

Maisara remained silent throughout it all.