Chapter 2 - A annoyed Goddess

A woman sat in her plush yet simple chair, a desk was in front of her with many papers stacked neatly in a pile, across from the papers was a tall cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. The oranges were picked from the forests of IllCrest at her request. She took pleasure in taking small sips of the juice now and then as she thought up new strategies. Her and some of her followers was in the study room of the shrine that was dedicated to her in MotoCin, not too far from the Omaga-Geta Kingdom.

The temple was commissioned by King Omaga and Queen Geta to curry favor with the Goddess in order to get ahead of the other kingdoms. It only cost the lives of 105 (107 if you count the two workers that went missing during the final phases of construction) workers and about 350,000 gold but it was worth it for her immense knowledge and advice. It was a large vast and somewhat suffocating room to any one who wasn't a scholar or purveyor of knowledge. Where on the clean and immaculate shelves there was books upon books of information on various subjects she would give out to anybody looking to expand their knowledge because she had read them all. Twice, in fact. The room itself smelled of fresh paper and the powdery floral scent of white lotus.

Her long and muted platinum blond hair fell like an ocean across her sturdy shoulders. She adorned a light pale blue blouse that matched her cold and calculating eyes and a well-crafted skirt that was the same color. Despite the regular clothing, Any mortal can look upon her and tell immediately that she was a God bye the way she carries herself.

She wore silver bracers on her shoulders and fore-arms that allowed her to deflect any weapon and godly magic with ease. She continued to write battle formations, strategies, words of wisdom, and encouragement to her fellow soldiers. She was the Goddess of Knowledge known to many as Androcien, or to her fellow gods, Andros. If you needed help with a complex problem or needed some simple guidance, she was the Goddess to pray to.

If you were a alchemist or inventor who needed help with advancing society and creating new things that would benefit the human race, she be right there in a instant. Teaching you all sort of concepts that and having you look at the project from angles you never even considered.

If you had a moral quandary, then you better off praying to Amalech, The Goddess of the Sun or hell Aphros, the First Goddess of Love and Mother to Erosa. She thinks in pure logic, and sometimes that doesn't make the answer any less horrific than that of a blood thirsty dictator.

Her servants and warriors stood in the room with her. The Soldiers silently chatting among themselves about the coming battle with Narvath and Erosa. The servants making sure everything is neat and tidy and being at the Goddess's beck and call.

 

 

"That ignorant fool, Narvath keeps letting his anger take over his judgement, Erosa is no better, A conceited slut just like her mother, so utterly selfish." Andros coldly muttered as she wrote down on her parchment the best place to ambush Narvath's troops. One of her strategies was called the sinkhole syndrome. She took one of her writing stencils and snapped it in half. She threw it in the pile with other broken stencils.

It brought her some relief. She couldn't help but do this whenever she had to fight or solve a problem thanks to her completely incompetent peers.

"Why must they make everything so difficult?" Andros thought as she slammed her fist down gently on the table so she wouldn't break it like she did yesterday, but this action still caused all who were in the room with her to jump in fear.

She sighed and try to smile to calm her faithful guardians and scholars but that only serve to make them more terrified. Andros just shakes her head with a annoyed sigh, which made all the mortals in the room heart dropped in fear.

If it wasn't Shangor, The Thunder and Fire God cheating on his wife for the 4th time and her having to go calm down Miriam and prevent her from burning down the great halls. it was most likely Eris, The Goddess of Discord causing chaos and destruction just for the fun of it. Leaving a big mess she along with Amalech and a few others would have to clean up. She knows this wasn't logical but...

"I'm glad Amalech killed her." She said out loud without meaning to. The soldiers and scholars act like they heard nothing as they carried on with their duties diligently. Androcien thought of Eris's sons and felt a little guilt, she wonders if Malakai hated her for being there, aiding in his mother's demise. 

"I suppose i couldn't blame him if he did. I can't put myself in his position to properly empathize either. My apologies Malakai." She thought to herself somberly. 

What was so hard about acting like a fair and balanced God? A God that didn't cause havoc by destroying a mountain out of rage? By messing with the mortals and breaking their sense of reality and driving them to the edge of sanity. Although she knew that question was foolish the moment it entered her mind.

There is no one true way to act like a God nor was there any guidebook to help them. She thinks on her contemporaries and how angry she gets with their actions and wonders if that was foolish of her.

Wasn't Eris just following her nature? It's not any different from her seeking knowledge and teaching mortals so they can advance their society and bring about prosperity. If the Goddess of marriage and family can just chuck her second-born son off the heavens like garbage just because of Shangor being a terrible husband, who was she to judge? Could she even judge them? 

"Why in the seven hells below was she still married to that buffoon? Even Serbronco as simple as he was is a better fit and more loyal than that thunder-infused simpleton who chase after his libido like a dog after meat." She thought to herself again as she sighed. She might not have any room to judge in theory.

But still, she was the Goddess of Knowledge! A living idea to the pursuit of intelligence and higher learning. She wasn't doing pointless chaos that endangered thousands if not millions of lives. So many mortals have suffered because of their foolish mistakes. The very intelligent people in the MotoCin Empire and other places that worship her and look to her for guidance and wisdom. They needed to be protected and ready against the constant misfires that her divine contemporaries bring. 

"And sometimes it feel like I'm the only God that understands that they're supposed to be leading humanity to the future and not terrorizing them!!!" Androcien screamed to herself in her head with superiority as she ignored the other Gods that were well-liked by the people like Amalech, Kai, Serbronco, and others. 

 

 Although she couldn't help but feel like a complete hypocrite as her anger died down little by little. There was times where she let her anger overtake her judgement, these was the times she was most ashamed of. Like that one girl who beat her in a sewing competition.

"It not like i didn't warn her of her arrogance...i.." Andros faltered in her thinking, she knew she was just making excuses. Who was she to criticize her peers? She was clearly no better than the rest of them. 

"And yet i persist in my foolhardy belief that i am a shining example of a Goddess..." Androcien thought as she placed her face in her hands and held her breath.

"My goddess, we have someone here to visit you." A Guard at the door said, snapping out of her moral crisis, She saw a young kid jumping up and down, he looked around 14 years of age. He had dirty blonde hair and was wearing a white shirt with black trousers, and shiny black shoes. His eyes was a deep purple just like his mother.

He was the child of Myraniss, Goddess of Time and Ruthskarr, Hero of Legend.

"What brings you here, Child of Myraniss?" Andros questioned, a amused smile on her face, she was welcome to a distraction. Which speaks volumes to the dire state her inner self was in.

"This ought to be entertaining." She thought to herself as she rest her head on her hand and gazed upon the excitable boy.

"Well, long story short, i need a favor. You see, there a book i really want to get my friend Garwik, his birthday is next week. But the book is sold out everywhere i check. And trust me i went far and wide. So i heard that you in need of a messenger from the scholars in the front and here i am!" Zylon spoke quickly but Andros understood him.

Andros stared at Zylon for a long time, making him uncomfortable and anxious.

It was true, she did need one as the war didn't show any sign of stopping. She can only send so many messenger owls, and half of them got torn apart by a flock of white doves.

"Erosa, you will pay for this. I swear-" Erosa cut off the line of thinking. She breathe in deep and exhale, the wind blowing Zylon's hair back and knocking some papers out of the scholar's hands. 

"Does...do your parents know you're here? Why not just ask Myraniss to go back in time to grab that book? I'm sure that she would do it, considering it a special gift for your best friend." She asked the little tyke.

"Well i told my father and mother that i was going out to find work, my father was very encouraging, and i think my mom already knows what I'm doing. But please, for my birthday Garwik got me the Life & Taxes prohibition edition even though it was sold out! I have to return the favor! And plus He got Life and Taxes prohibition edition with his own money he had saved up! If he can do that so can i. What kinda friend would i be if i didn't repay him? Besides i need the extra money anyways, i keep spending my allowance on snacks. And also my mom have a thing about using time to do something so triv-triva-"

"Trivial?" Andros asked, very amused at the little tyke's trying to pronounce the word. With Myraniss, She figures that was the reason, she remembers all too well when she asked Myraniss a favor to go back in time so she could prevent that one embarrassing war between herself, Satrina, and Aphros that would forever be a stain on her legacy.

"Why would i do that? You made the choice when you, the Goddess of Knowledge decided to entertain this foolish idea. So now you have to live with the consequences." Myraniss told her as she drunk a coffee that her coral-haired elven assistant brought her.

"Yeah, And to be honest. I want to get this gift with my own hands, just like Garwik did for me. So may i be your messenger?" Zylon pleaded in a whole speech that he probably could have summed up with two sentences.

"But considering this is the Goddess of Knowledge, i need to impress her with my speech." Zylon thought as he hoped he made a good impression.

The Goddess had to keep herself from laughing, however the wide smile was present on her face. Life and Taxes was essentially a role playing game hugely popular among low-life criminals and demons and Gods alike for it mimic of ordinary mortal life. This includes paying bills, going to work, getting into pointless arguments, sometimes murder and adultery. She had played this with her followers and it was very fun. The times she played with her fellow Gods however....

Well let just say game night is now cancelled indefinitely thanks to her. Another embarrassment to add to the growing list. She can still recalled throwing beer in Aphros's face when she got her jailed in the game and the whole fight that happens afterwards.

"You know that being my messenger is no easy task, you may be heading into active war zones. You may see things that could corrupt your mind...on Erosa and Narvath's side. They're degenerates." Androcien calmly explained to the boy.

"I don't care. I do anything for my friend Garwik." Zylon told the Goddess. Standing firm, even if he didn't know what he was getting himself into.

The fact this demi-god would go through Myraniss knows what just for his friend was...really inspiring, actually. 

Moronic, but inspiring.

Andros nodded and walked over and placed both hands on his shoulders, scaring the young child as her pale and greyish blue eyes glared into his deep purple eyes.

"It alright Son of Myraniss, i understand. But what makes you worthy to be my messenger?" Andros asked carefully, she was curious, as he was the son of Myraniss, he was a demi-god she guess? The reason why the jury was still out was due to his father also being a Demi-God so she might have to do more research on this topic as the was no official term for what the offspring of a God and a Demi-God should be called. He might have some special power that might help her and her army. While his father Ruthskarr is the son of Satrina , Goddess of the Hunt and was known for his heroism and surprising gentleness. He could communicate with all animals and even used their abilities. She may have an inkling to what this power already is, but there was no harm in confirming a theory.

"Well-" Within saying the first word of his sentence Zylon vanished from Andros's sight.

"I'm pretty fast!" She heard Zylon said from behind her.

 Andros turned around and lo and behold Zylon was sitting there with a silver warrior helm on his head, smiling brightly, clearly proud of himself. The guard reach up to confirm that his helmet is indeed missing. He laughs, He needed more light-heartiness around this place.

Andros smiles. She found her messenger. With this enthusiastic boy, she can already feel victory within her grasp. She walks over and takes the helmet gently off the speedster's head.

"Yes you certainly are aren't you? Alright it's a deal. You should tell me the book your friend Garwik wants and i will see if i have it." Andros told the giddy Zylon, She interacted with Garwik's mother, Krania The Goddess of War a few times. She was rowdy, uncontrollable, and likes to mock the others, specifically her. She was nothing like her calm and rational father, Fenthur, The sorrowful God of War. In one way the problem that is Narvath is because of Krania giving him some of her power to save his life. Stupid bit-

"Well my friend is a avid reader as you may guest, but he have this one series that he really loves." Zylon said as Andros is snapped out of her mental tirade against Krania.

"It called the Heart of the ancients, it about a man going through trials and tribulations to save his wife from the clutches of an evil goddess. Along the way he meets a smart-mouth female elf warrior who distrust humans, a agent of a star goddess that wants to stop them and-"

Androcien walked over while Zylon was busy talking to her expansive library.

"Heart of the Ancients." She said, smiling. The books rearranged them five times before the series of books she asked for came up. The bookshelves themselves was carved out of a special material only found in a fable land known as Mount Mammoth. The working name for this special metal was currently Spirituclum. She was studying the potential of this new material along with Malakai, The God of the Forge before this braindead war broke out.

She took the book and placed on the desk of the still talking Zylon.

"But anyways, he hasn't read the third book yet and i really want to repay him because he went out of his way to get me that game and he didn't have to do-" Androcien gently put a hand on his shoulder, stopping his explanation.

Zylon looks to see the books on the desk.

Heart of the ancients: Beyond Death, Love Immortal. 

Heart of the ancients: Two souls forever intertwined.

Heart of the ancients: I know one thing, is that i love you.

"Zylon, if you become my faithful messenger, these can be yours." Andros said, placing a hand on his head.

Zylon's smiles brighten, Garwik is going to be so happy.

"You got it!"Zylon said, putting his hand out for a handshake. How precious.

Andros placed her hand over his and shaked. She then took the paper she was writing in and finish the rest of her details with surprising speed. In a blink , she wrapped the paper with a black bow. She handed it to the curious Zylon.

Alright, your first task involves sending out this plan to the general of my army stationed just outside of The Azulanco Kingdom in Chuptala. Her name is Mika Saldara, Brilliant fighter and planner, She have long black hair and she wears silver armor with a blue and gold flag representing her home kingdom of Ludenberg which is located in the country Illcrest. " Androcien explained, pulling out some documents and placing them within a satchel bag before giving it to the eager Demi-God.

Zylon was surprised at this information but kept the new questions he had to himself.

"Got it! Thank you!" Zylon said as he put on his satchel bag and within a blink, ran off to Chuptala.

Androcien watch the demi-god run off, things was going her way. She smiled to herself, her guards and scholars was astonished at this, it been a while since they saw her truly happy. It was scary as all seven hells but in a good way. You know the feeling of falling but you know you're dreaming so you just enjoy the feeling? That what they felt like.

 

Androcien walks past them. They stood at attention, awaiting her orders.

"I be away for awhile, but i be back. I'm going to try to talk some sense into Narvath. He can't be that stupid, after all. Until then remain here until further notice, dinner is at sunset." She Instructed her faithful scholars. In her heart she knew she was probably going to smack Narvath back to when he was just a lowly human but it doesn't hurt to give her supporters morale boosters after all. She still had a image to maintain in order to guide humanity forward to a new age of knowledge and prosperity. 

 

And if she fails that, she needed someone to hit anyways. So why not the cause of her current frustrations?