Boeotika, or Mereia's Forest is a hidden land on the western side of the Cythera. It is the home of the Huntresses of Mereia and their protected animals. The lands have not been visited by outsiders in the last hundred years.
The region is said to be surrounded by the forest, large tall trees and are guarded by the unknown creatures. The Arrowhead of Huntresses leads those who are sworn fealty to their Higher Goddess, the Boeotikans choose their Arrowhead by strength, intelligence and faith. There are no heirs and royalties, only Huntresses choosing their Huntress leader.
When an Arrowhead retires, it is not by old age. It is thru a challenge to another nominated Huntress, if not, by death in battle.
Excerpt from Boeotika: The People and their Cultures, written by Scholar Marien
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"πππ fucking idiot!" Tellias screamed at Bastien as he watched Kepheos cut the vines that were wrapped around his body. Bastien's body was uncomfortable being trapped in a rock wall.
Luckily, during the fight the dagger in Bastien's boot fell and landed behind Kepheos, enabling the spymaster to cut through his restraints. They spent the whole time watching Kepheos struggled to reach the dagger and cutting himself free. Once free, he cut Kiran from the vines and luckily, the vines were not a struggle to cut since Kiran wasn't struggling like Tellias was right now.
Now, Kiran stood quietly as he stared at the mouth of the cave where the once sleeping woman ran off toβmore like glided.
Panthea was still stuck from the frozen ice and freezing her ass off. Bastien have no excuses over his actions, he knew he had to do it. He just hope the harsh winds of the mountains have somehow thickened Panthea skin to the cold. He didn't know why but he didn't like how the woman would think of him. Was it because of my brother? He thought to himself. Bastien didn't like that Panthea would think of him differently, since she was the one who welcomed him with warm smiles and greetings.
The Skyrian woman was glaring at Bastien with such venom, in disbelief that he would try to kill the Mistress of Cythera. Bastien knew that Panthea's mind was full of anger at him, he didn't need to read her mind.
Bastien couldn't believe the myth was true, yet he had witness the woman control every natural element there was. Even with her weakened state, she managed to emit power from her and that was beautiful to witness. She fought with grace and danced her way on the fight as if she was one with the nature around them.
The way the woman fought... it was a temptation.
Especially, she wore no clothing.
Bastien was a red blooded man after all. He appreciated beauty and that woman who tried to kill him was beautiful. Strong. Fierce. He simply cannot ignore the way she was breathtaking, dangerous and enchanting. There was something about her that bothers him but Bastien ignored that feeling, he didn't have time to entertain such thoughts when a woman like her was on the loose.
"You could have gotten us killed!" Tellias screamed as he struggled in the binds which only tightened as he moved. Kepheos was glaring at Tellias as he tried not to nick the man who was busy yelling profanities at Bastien.
Bastien have not yet said a word.
"Couldn't for once, just in your skeptical mind of yours be considerateβ"
"Enough, Tellias. What matters is we're all alive." Kepheos said calmly, now cutting more vines around Tellias' hips.
"How are you calm about this?!" Tellias asked, his eyes bulging in frustration. "The bitch almost single handedly murder four people, naked!" Bastien didn't know if he was angry that they pissed off a child of two Higher Gods or he just got his ass handed to him by a woman, naked nevertheless. Somehow, Bastien thought it was the latter; especially if Tellias was trying to impress the woman who was now openly glaring at Bastien.
Kepheos ignored Tellias and gave Kiran a quick look. "You okay there, Kir?" He asked.
"What have we done?" Kiran whispered. A quiver in his voice. A first for him, this guy wasn't easily phased.
No one said anything, Bastien began strategizing every possible outcome and all of them were bad. Bastien mind was still a mess from the way the woman blocked his influence like it was nothing. Was she a Tesserian? No one could block him from their thoughts except those people.
Maybe that's why Tesserian tried to pillaged Cythera. For her. From his time spending in the Great Library when he tried to know their enemy, Tesserian first came here when the talks of the Mistress became bedtime stories for children. They first came here as kind and curious about their culture and their land, when they came back to their homeland, they always return here to barter but each time they return to their lands, they return here changed more aggressive and pushy for more.
No, he thought to himself. All the scholars have proven that Tesseria has no beliefs, they worship the gold. Not gods. They couldn't know about Cythera's Higher Gods, from his past endeavour in the Tesserian he tortured, they were faithless and believe in nothing but brute strength and power.
"If you didn't try to kill her, we wouldn't be in this situation." Panthea seethed, Bastien could imagine the ice around her legs melt from the heat of her anger. "You disrespected Cytheria's child. Oikos would strike you to death."
A move in which he absolutely regret now. Since, if Caelleria was indeed a child of Cytheria and Oikos, those two were very much alive.
And not because he was scared of the Higher Gods but because the woman could have been an ally. An ally who could defeat an army with a flick of her wrist, Tesseria would never recover from that. They would be ravaged by such force. Many people would kill for this type of power. They would be kings, queens; fuck, even gods.
"We just made it worst!" Tellias said, knowing all too well about the prophecy. "We just gave her a reason to start a genocide. Kerre!"
"We might but I saw her eyes. She still hadn't made her decision. She could have had us killed but she didn't." Panthea said, staring at the same direction Kiran was looking.
"She was probably weak, the woman slept for years. She would have drain her energy fighting all of us." Kepheos said, "My mother told me that the Mistress has a kind soul, just tired. We may still have a chance. Or not."
A bad feeling was nagging him, not because of the Mistress but something else, he couldn't pinpoint.
"Cytheria may help us." Panthea prayed for the Higher Gods.
Bastien's side was beginning to itch.
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The commotion caused quite a ruckus, the Elders have sent guardians to Andania. Thankfully, someone was carrying a heavy blunt weapon. A hammer. They now all know that the Mistress was awake and angry by just looking at the destroyed cave. The once beautiful sanctuary was a cave of rubble, one of the Skyrian was muttering in Skyros as Bastien was being freed. He didn't need to read his mind to know he was cursing Bastien. The Skyrian managed to free Bastien from the wall and Bastien thank the men.
Now, they all stood outside from the cave, the whole place was floored with enough evidence that the Mistress was real. The whole place was wrecked, cracks covered the ground and the once beautiful serene cave was now, a ruin. The whole place looked like it was about to collapse.
"If you weren't the Prince, I would have smack you hard right now, that your soul would leave your body and let Oikos drag your ass to his realm." An Elder woman said, appearing on his side as the others began giving orders. He knew the Elders didn't like Bastien before, but now, he gave them enough reason to. He knew that he won't be invited back here or even welcomed with warm hands.
He just gave them another reason why Naros was not a worthy ally. If this solidifies Boeotika and Skyrias relationship, Naros was truly fucked. He may actually need a miracle for that.
Bastien chuckled drily. "Forgive me for betraying your trust, but I did what I had to do."
"Just don't do it again, your Highness. It's an insult to Cytheria Herself." She tutted as she walked away from him.
He stared at the trail of destroyed field, two vertical lines heading towards Boeotika. They have to find the woman, she was the greatest threat for Cythera.
Hopefully, the woman was forgiving.
"A raven just arrived. It's from your brother." Kepheos said as he held out a parchment to Bastien with Theodoros' handwriting.
'Bas, we have felt a great disturbance in Paxos and guessing from the timing you have. It means you have found the Mistress, I'm planning in heading to Kellonia to study the wall again. The scholars here are frantic, we have tried to keep this from the people. Father may have felt it also, I do suggest on keeping an eye on the Mistress, I'm sure you're completely capable. For Cythera's sake. Meet me in Kellonia if you can.
- Theodoros'
They needed to find the woman soon, it was probably easy because of the trail she left but not that easy to immobilize her.
Bastien would need Panthea's eagle. It would help them a lot faster than the old fashion way but he knew Panthea would rather jump in a pool of lava than accompany him anywhere. Unless she was given an order to accompany them.
He looked at the sky, hoping to see the sight of the golden eagle. Bastien didn't know how to convince the Skyrian woman to join his men.
"The Elders have summoned you, Bas." Kepheos said as he stared at the group of old Skyrians, awaiting for Bastien.
He sighed and knew the Elders will not welcome them or anyone anymore in Skyrias.
The group stood calmly as if a greater threat didn't almost killed four people in their lands. As usual, their head named Talos, stood in the middle with his arms crossed in front of him. He was frowning, the others were too busy glaring at Bastien.
"Your Highness." Talos greeted him with a smile.
"Elder Talos." Bastien greeted back with a slight nod of his head.
Talos stared at him for a few minutes, waiting and judging Bastien like it was his job. Talos's gray hair swished along the wind, his Skyrian clothes protected him from the onslaught of the wind and a feather pendant hung on his chest.
"Whatever reason for your motives to kill the Mistress, let it go. Killing the Mistress won't do you good, you'll just give the Higher Gods a reason to punish Cythera. We all know you are not a firm believer but if not for yourself, think about your brother." Talos's words made Bastien sound like a child and selfish. Bastien knew Talos just used his brother as a reminder on why he was here in the first place, if Theodoros ask to move the mountains, he would even though that was entirely impossible. His brother was his lifeline, the reason why he was still sane.
Fortunately, Bastien had a little have a plan for the woman. He wont just say it to the Elders. This plan that he hoped would work, he already thought of it while he was being freed.
"I don't ask for your forgiveness, but know that I always think for the greater good." Bastien said, his hand on the hilt of his sword. His hair was in a disarray state from the strong gust of wind.
The other Elders were glaring at him like he was some disease they wanted to eradicate but they didn't say a word. Not out of fear of him but they didn't want to disrespect Talos.
"We have already told Panthea that she'll be accompanying you to finding the Mistress. We only have one advice for you: don't make the same mistake." Talos said with such finality.
"I will heed your advice."
Another Elder stepped forward and said with such hauntingly voice. "You have awaken the Mistress and now, we'll pay for it."
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Cythera had changed so much.
She didn't know how long she was asleep because the Cythera she knew was not this... lifeless, Phenikas was flying above her, trailing her. Caelleria was still naked but she started to feel exhausted as the rush of adrenaline fades. Boeotika was dying, their forest had turn dark and corrupted. What have they done to Cythera, was it hard not to kill what her mother created.
The sight angered Caelleria, she should kill all its residents as a warning. Whatever Cytherians touch, dies. Boeotika should be the first example for all the Cytherians to see. As soon as she had enough energy to do so.
Caelleria walked tirelessly in the forest, she heard whispers amongst the trees. That was new, she thought. The Boeotika she remembered had no whispering trees, just forest and beautiful temples to worship the Higher Gods.
Phenikas let out a high pitched shriek, he was her eyes. She knew Phenikas would protect her at all cost.
"Be my eyes, Phenikas." She whispered, Phenikas answered by shrieking and flying away faster ahead of her.
Caelleria's leg began to buckle as she forced her weak body to run. She may be a daughter of two Higher Gods but she still bleeds. Her vessel had limits if she continue to overuse her vessel, there was no doubt that she'll destroy this body. She wouldn't dare try to use her ability because she knew that it would drain her badly. She needed to go to Itchaia, people there would probably welcome her better rather than from Skyrias but first, Kellonia.
Caelleria hid her armor and weapon in the ruins of the castle.
Her head ached, she began seeing black spots in her vision. Phenikas' came back and flew lower than before, matching her pace.
The whispers were getting louder, it was not helping her at all. All she felt was frustration and her yearning for silence.
Caelleria wondered what the Boeotikans did to this forest to make it so dull. Last she heard was the Leader of Huntresses, the Arrowhead Galateia, a close friend of hers had a strict law when it comes to protecting wildlife.
She barely saw any animal in Boeotika.
Her head was spinning, Caelleria gripped a nearest tree to support herself. She panted as if out of breath and gripped her side.
A loud snap of a branch emitted from behind her and Phenikas went to struck the looming figure behind Caelleria, she turned to face the person when she saw a woman letting go of the string of her bow and a sharp pointed arrow headed straight for Phenikas, the eagle was too close and unable to dodge the arrow but he tried to move when it struck it's wings. Phenikas let out the loudest shriek she heard, Caelleria covered her ears as anger filled her as she watch Phenikas dropped to the ground, twitching.
"Phenikas!" She screamed in agony, she won't allow her only companion to leave her alone in this dark place.
In retaliation, whatever energy she left; Caelleria flicked her hand to the left and a large rock formation suddenly appeared on the woman's right and hit her until Caelleria heard a loud bone crack and Caelleria pulled her hands back to her, forming a clenched fist and watched as vines popped out from the ground, grabbing the woman on the waist and enveloping her until she couldn't move.
Caelleria couldn't take it anymore and fell, losing herself to the darkness, yet again.