The crowd whispered amongst each other and some shouted and pointed towards me.
"That's the swordsman!" One Olympian from the stands screamed out.
I quickened my pace towards the arena gates to leave. I felt the eyes of every citizen piercing through me. I made it into the waiting area for the other fighters as they stared at me speechless. I exited the door onto the streets and was already circled by the Olympian guards.
"Guardian Aethos requests your presence." One guard said without breaking eye contact.
I had to simply oblige. If I had my sword, it may have been a different story, but I could not risk creating more issues. They walked towards me slowly and I held my wrists out in front of me. They put energy bracelets around my wrists and ushered me along the streets. I was paraded around as onlookers pointed and rumored. I couldn't hear them due to the vast population of people surrounding me. The guards led me down the dirt roads until we came upon a large palace not far from the arena. It was massive in height and proudly displayed golden banners along the sides of the walkway. I walked up the steps to the massive palace doors and they slowly opened as I approached. Olympian guards lined the halls and welcomed me into the palace. The guard closest to me took off the energy restraints as the doors closed behind us.
"He is up those stairs, take a left and it will be the room at the end of the hall." The guard said before departing the palace.
I climbed up the steps towards the hallway, it was decorated with gladiator trophies and paintings. It had two windows on the outside wall that gave the hallway some natural light. I reached the doors that had large brass lions for handles. I pulled the doors open and was welcomed into a massive room with a large round table. A rather large Olympian sat on the other end of the room in a throne like seat.
"Welcome swordsman. I am Aethos, guardian of Olympus. Please, indulge in my query for a moment and take a seat."
He had a demanding voice that was often found with kings. I took a seat.
"Why have me escorted here?" I asked.
"My team was on an exploration detail to the outer civilizations, hunting for beasts that held some purpose in the arena. They came across Darru. My intel tells me that you were there. So we gathered some information before apprehending you and detected these other world beings that were in close proximity to you." Aethos paused for a moment. "You engaged in combat and instead of engaging, I had them record everything for me. The power those beings held, those weren't natural gifts. We had energy signatures pick up soul energy. You understand how vile and dangerous that stuff is right?"
"I've seen it first hand. These beings you speak of, call themselves horsemen. They operate at the hand of Zeus." I said.
"Zeus? The guardian of Earth?" Aethos seemed to have his interest peaked a bit.
"Unfortunately, whoever is playing this game, isn't the real Zeus. He has taken his power and seeks to take this galaxy. I am a main target due to Nibiru being a big key to his success."
"So, you face a being who has taken Zeus to the underworld, and now plays God with his gifts?" Aethos asked with raised eyebrows.
"Seems so, guardian." I said, unsure of what title he lays claim to.
"The energy source that was emitted on Darru, the one that fled. He said something about the Forge. But he does not appear to actually be on the Forge. We picked up his reading on a planet called Xeno." Aethos spoke still eyeing me inquisitively.
"Xeno? The planet that houses the golems and ogres?" I asked.
"Yes, a fairly primitive group that we monitored for quite some time. Would have been great to influence that in the arena, but due to the intergalactic law, we cannot take civilized creatures on primitive planets." Aethos shrugged but still seemed to day dream at this idea.
"Why would they be there? Why are they hiding among these primitive planets?" I asked.
"I can only assume they are harvesting souls of the weak. If they started with something like the Forge or maybe even Olympus, they would get detected and face a guardian. They hardly stand a chance. They are laying the foundation for their bigger plan." Aethos filled a mug with what looked like ale.
"Why are you helping me? Shouldn't you be imprisoning me for the Galices incident?" I asked.
"You seem to ask many questions to answers you already know boy. The video along with the readings on Darru, I have no reason to believe you are a threat. Nor should you be a wanted criminal. If you can stop these creatures from tearing apart my galaxy, I can resume the arena games. If they succeed and become a bigger threat, then I have to get involved. I enjoy the simplicity of life swordsman, plus, you seem to have things handled."
"I appreciate that. What exactly is a guardian?" I asked, feeling a little foolish.
"In due time, let us focus on you getting the hell off my planet and head to Xeno to stop whatever is happening." Aethos nodded towards the door and I got up from my seat and departed.
I walked back down the corridor and saw a cloak sitting on the bannister. I donned it and exited the palace and headed straight for the docking area. The crowds were still amassed on the streets. I heard the whispers of what had happened in the arena and I forced myself from making eye contact with anyone as I snuck about.
"This swordsman still had no right to kill the founder of the Forge!" One civilian shouted.
"He should be forced to fight in the arenas until his debt can be paid in full!" Another shouted.
I pushed by many guards, although I figured they weren't a threat, I could not take that chance. I made it to the docking area and went to the nearest terminal. I needed to find the ship and meet up with Fjorn and Marie. I passed by Popes mercenary ship and heard the Collector loud and clear from outside.
"How is it, that you cyborgs are the most dull mercs in the galaxy? What the hell is a swordsman without his sword!!" He shouted.
"Sir, he won in the arena, you should be happy." I heard Popes voice crack as he was being screamed at like a child.
I smiled a bit. That cocky little weasel got what he deserved. I found the access to where our ship had been parked, it was under an alias. Horseman was the title.
"Good one, Fjorn." I thought, rolling my eyes at the ridiculous name. The ship was still a little battered but looks operational. I walked to the side and released the hatch to board the ship.
"Lad, how the hell did you get out of there?" Fjorn asked.
"The guardian spoke with me. He actually did us a favor." I responded.
"Aethos helped us?" Marie asked. "Highly unlikely Xander. Why the hell would he do that?"
"Simplicity was the only answer I got. Along with the real location of Hercules. We need to get to Xeno fast."
"Xeno? Where is that?" Marie asked.
"Golems and Ogres. Nasty beasts, but they are as dull as the rocks that form that planet." Fjorn said.
"The horsemen use soul energy, what do you guys know about that?" I asked.
Fjorn paused for a moment and glared at Marie.
"My kind are the only ones I know linked to souls." Marie said pursing her lips and evading eye contact.
"Marie. Please explain in depth." I said.
"Shapeshifters get a piece of DNA to shapeshift. But to truly consume and become another being, we have to take their soul or even fragments of them. Mon'Gal, our father, runs Purgatory for the sake of remaining powerful." She said.
"Are you thinking what I am thinking lad?" Fjorn asked.
"I think we know who Zeus really is." I said.
"That's not possible. He's locked away in Purgatory. If he doesn't stay there, the mystic would know along with the rest of the galaxy. There has to be someone running it, or it runs rampant and spills into the living realm." She said, visibly breathing hard.
"Marie, who else would take down Zeus and become him?" I asked.
She sat there staring off into space unsure of how to respond.
"What's his game? Does he plan to take more souls from this realm and just try to be God? I don't quite understand." I said.
"I have no idea Xander. But you need to understand something. If it is truly Mon'gal who is doing this, I cannot be here with you or Fjorn." She said, trembling.
"Now you listen here, we are a team. We can't abandon each other because we are afraid. We can do this." Fjorn attempted to calm her down.
"Mon'gal is the guardian of shapeshifters. He can bend us to his will. We are an essence of him. He will turn me against you both." She said, tears welled in her eyes.
"You are stronger than that Marie. Let us depart from Olympus and head for Xeno. It's time we took the horseman of war off the playing field." I said, reassuring my team, we can do this.