'The Major Gods, often called the Higher Gods, were for untold ages of supreme in the realm; they were of great heights and incredible power. There are seven of them. The most powerful and important was Cytheria, the Lightbringer and Life itself and Oikos, the Darkbringer and Death itself. They ruled over the Gods and their creations.
The other notable Higher Gods were Mereia, the Higher God of Wildlife that provides companionship to the people, Amyris, the Higher God of Love and Divination that guides the for faith and pleasure; Rydas, the Higher God of Beauty and the Arts, showing people the beauty of life; Sephria, the Higher God of Justice and Balance, creating balance and order to the people and lastly, the—'
Excerpt Introduction of the Higher Gods, written by Scholar Heremias
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𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧
"𝕿𝖍𝖊 waters from Kellonia is rising, Your Highness." A scholar of Kellonia said, wearing his Kellonian tunic as he reported what Bastien's fear was.
The waters are rising. What his ignorant father thought was nuisance was now endangering the lives of Kellonians.
He may never be a firm believer of the gods but he was desperate. The council have discussed the possible ways to stop the waters from sinking the lands of Kellonia, but found none. To evacuate a city means a lot of homeless citizens finding a place to stay. Kellonians won't even leave their land, they couldn't bear to leave their arts behind. Their god behind.
Rydas was their god, showing their love by erecting statues, created paintings and sung melodies about him.
The scholars have warned the king but the king got distracted by the luxuries of being a royal have that it made the king ignorant. So the scholars have turned to the heir, who at first would not believe such claims but once he traveled to Kellonia, he knew. He knew that Kellonia was sinking.
Not only Kellonia faces the problem but Boeotika have suffered immensely, the forest was dying. The Huntresses, who were known to be fierce and hated strangers in their lands have sent a raven to ask for an audience with the king—which the king declined as he continued to screw his harem every chance he got.
The Huntresses of Mereia, who has sworn loyalty to the Goddess of Nature, Protection and Wildlife. They guard over the Boeotika. Their Lead Huntress was Hippolyta who took over after Katrise's 'retirement'. An euphemism for death. Everyone knew how a Lead Huntress retires, either in war or challenge.
Paxos, where his younger brother currently resides, also had troubles. The fish were gone, fishermen have come back with no food to sell and the people of Paxos are scared to hunt the animals in the forest in fear of provoking the Huntresses.
Bastien's head started to ache as his thoughts were clouded with problem that his father continues to ignore.
Theodoros, his brother have sent a raven with information about the problems. Apparently, some myth was starting to arise, a story that Cytherians have feared; that the Mistress of Cythera was waking and was not happy with how we treated the land. He have not heard this myth until he have read an ancient tome his brother have told him that made him intrigued.
The Mistress, the daughter of Cytheria and Oikos, once helped thrive Cythera and its people; gifted with the power of all elements to protect its lands. Angered by the way the Cytherians treated her Mother's land, left and sunk the kingdom that once stood in Kellonia as a warning to the people. It was told by the 'witnesses' that she would wake up someday and would bring judgement to the people who have wronged the lands. After her disappearance, a stone wall with written prophecy or what he would like to think were orders, appeared in the Kellonia with warnings. Putting the fear of Oikos on its people.
After he read the myth, he knew he had to see the wall the book was referring about, only to find it covered with paintings of the local Kellonian artist. Bastien was thoroughly pissed by the act of Kellonians that he almost—almost killed the artist. Kellonians lived freely when it comes to art, it's the Duchess, she have forgotten the wall and did not enforced a law about it. Bastien was grateful that his brother had a copy of the prophecy.
Where Bastien was skeptic, Theodoros was a firm believer of the Higher Gods. Theodoros always visit the temple and pray for the Gods. They were the complete opposites.
Bastien didn't dare to insult his brother's belief. He had grown skeptical about the Gods and believed that the people have created the stories to scare the Cytherians from doing something stupid and reckless.
Bastien looked at the map carved in the table, staring at the region of Kellonia. A once powerful region until its fall, led by an idiot King who owed a lot of debt to the wrong people. The Fall of Kellonia was well known for everyone, a greedy king who liked to call himself a the New God, stronger and powerful than the Higher Gods—his currency was his weapon, spoken ill words towards the Higher Gods, mocking them and began spreading stories of his godliness.
Until a certain woman came on their large gate and destroyed every inch of the mad king's possession, his castle, wealth and his bloodline. Ending the Clain House.
Once the House of Clain fell, House of Viridian rose; making Naros its new capital of Cythera.
"The Huntress, Hippolyta reported that the animals were too afraid to venture out alone in the forest at night. Often hearing whispers and cries of their animals." The scholar shivered at the thought of what beast lurks in the forest to have the Huntresses—one of the most strongest, fearless and vicious warriors in Cythera, be afraid of their own home. The one they swore to protect. "Good news was Paxos have started to catch fish for export and the people have not died from their week of starvation. I just wondered where all the fish went for a week." The scholar mumbled the last part to himself.
Bastien let out a sigh of relief. 'At least something good came out with it.' He thought.
"Has the king even bother to visit these meetings?" Bastien had to ask, even though he knew the answer.
The scholar, whom Bastien suspected to be a prude, flushed furiously and gripped his tunic tight. "No, your highness. The people have seen him... participating in such... frivolous activities." He stammered at the end.
The need to rub his temples was strong for Bastien but he didn't want to show the scholar the stress he had. His father's activities was well known in the Kingdom and often frowned upon due to the fact, he did not bother to listen to the cries of help of their people. Bastien had asked once why he would not attend these type of meetings and was only given a response of, "Cythera has no enemies, we are at peace. Why bother visit such meetings to discuss war, to whom? Ourselves?" Bastien could remember the laugh his father emitted.
After their talk, Bastien began strategizing on how to continue their reign as he heard from his spymaster, Kepheos that some people were beginning to think that the King is not doing his job but of course, his father knew the rumors and did what an ignorant king would do. Throw gold coins at the people who question his reign and the people would forget their initial thoughts as the idea of gold coins was more appealing than the fact Cythera is dying.
He dismissed the meeting, a meeting that only consisted of ten people and most of them were around his age.
They feared for their future, when most of the leaders have ignored the problems because of the gold coins his father toss around like it's rocks for him.
Bastien walked away from the council room and made a beeline for the stables, as he made his way outside the palace; odd familiar noises can be heard down the hallway.
He gritted his teeth as he knew his father was fucking another woman in his room, loud and frantic noises can be heard. He saw a maid, speed walking along the hallway, fearing of disturbing the king on his fuckfest.
He did not understand how he could be related to his father, what his mother saw in that piece of shit. He was thankful his mother was now at peace, he knew she couldn't bare to witness all the stupidity his father did.
It's one of the reasons why Theodoros left Naros. He could not bare to watch their father screw his way around Naros.
Bastien may love to fuck women but he had respect for his lovers and himself.
He ignored the noises from his father's room and headed for the stables, he had a job to do and unlike his father, fucking was not his utmost priority. Even though, he hadn't felt a woman's warmth in a long time.
Kepheos stood near his horse, Flintlock, brushing his mane with such ease.
"How you survive walking past those halls, you sir may have the thickest earwax around Cythera." Kepheos laughed, shaking his head at his own joke.
He slapped the back of Kepheos' head. "As if you don't make those same donkey noises in bedroom." He shot back.
"I think you mistaken me for your father. I don't sound like a donkey when enjoying a woman's presence." Kepheos halted his brushing and set the brush aside, putting Flintlock in it's place, he turned to face Bastien with his hands on his waist. His once joyful look turned serious. "Theodoros have gathered enough information for your search and believes he knew where—"
Bastien cut Kepheos off, "I can't believe I'm even considering this idea." He ran a hand on his face, leaning back against the wall.
"Well, myths did not start from nowhere. It all started in stories and stories are usually told by the people who witness them. Don't forget that myths are stories but forgotten." Kepheos said.
"Are you sure, you don't work at the Great Library?" Bastien jokingly asked. Kepheos, was another believer, having a mother for a Huntress who left for his father and lived as a Guardian of the Great Library in Paxos. Kepheos believed that there's greater power than riches.
Bastien respects his friend's and brother's belief.
If it weren't for the fact that a stone wall with a prophecy about Cythera, he wouldn't even consider doing this.
"I already told Chryseis that she's in charge while father fucks his harem."
Chryseis, his friend and lover--when their need arises. She was one of the people he could trust deeply and he rarely trust someone.
"How he never gets tired, I'll never know." He said with no hint of humor. "Don't even wanna know."
The caretaker of Bastien's horse have arrive with his stallion, Blackwing and his gear. "Your Highness, Blackwing has been prepped and three of your men you requested is now waiting for you in the gates."
Bastien didn't like to bring many people to his mission, he wanted to keep it as a secret not because that he was ashamed to even consider the notion of this but he didn't want to give the people any idea to hope or let his father hear of this.
Kepheos and Bastien both rode their horses and walked towards the giant gates of Naros. The people of Naros are mostly asleep or about to, a perfect time to leave Naros without gathering attention.
He saw his friends, Tellias, Kiran, and Phelan waiting for him; laughing on whatever joke they were sharing.
Kiran, who was the first to see Bastien smiled mischievously and joked, "Ah, the Prince has arrive. Where shall we escort you? To your secret lover or your another secret lover."
"At least I have a woman that warms my bed unlike you." He snickered, but he knew Kiran had fair share of stories about bedding women.
He snorted. "At least I pick the best ones."
Kiran beds women who are soft and obedient. Whereas, Bastien always chooses the strongest one; Tellias often joked why Bastien picks the fierce lovers. The prowess of the Prince was often whispered behind his back, as if their whispers wouldn't reach him.
Nothing could get past Bastien. He knew all the dirty secrets the people hide from others.
Bastien didn't have the mood to joke anymore as the thoughts of his father's activities soured his mood.
"Let's just go before anyone could see us."
Phelan who rarely spoke, known for choosing the people he talks to, said, "Let's hope the Mistress woke up on the right side of the bed."