"For the unspeakable crimes you have committed against the Council of True Gods, we will now carry out the following sentence bestowed upon 'Thunderus the Great God of War.'"
The voice boomed outside the mansion, shrill and mocking, like a blade scraping against stone.
My mother froze mid-sip. The teacup in her hands shattered as it hit the floor, many small pieces scattering like tiny, glittering daggers. Her face turned pale, her lips trembling. Then, without a word, she bolted out of the living room, terror etched into her every movement. Confused, I followed her.
This was my first mistake.
As I reached the window, I heard the faint strains of a choir. Hymns, lively and bright, echoed through the cloudy afternoon. Vibrant colours burst against the dreary sky, raining down like confetti.
We won?
A smile spread across my face. Victory. Of course. My father must have led us to triumph once again. I wonder if we'll hold another banquet as usual.
I pushed through the crowd of servants gathered at the windows, eager to catch a glimpse. But as I reached the front, my mother's face stopped me cold. Wide-eyed and pale, she stared ahead, unmoving.
I turned to the scene outside.
It was a procession, yes, but not one of celebration. My father knelt in chains at the centre, his bloodied figure slumped in defeat. His shattered axe—once his symbol of pride—lay discarded in the dirt like garbage.
What… what was going on?
A man stood beside him, holding a scroll. His voice cut through the air as he read from it, loud and cruel. But I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. His face was pale, almost sickly, his bulging eyes scanning the crowd with glee. A smile stretched unnaturally wide across his lips, splitting his face like a wound.
The man wasn't right. Everything about him screamed wrong.
"By the decree of the divine court." He continued, his smile turning into a creepy, demonic grin. "Thunderus shall be stripped of his title as one of the True Gods and is sentenced to death by essence extraction." My mother was shaking, trembling. Thoughts raced through my head. Bad thoughts. Painful ones.
"The crimes of Thunderus are: leading a rebellion against the council of truth, massacre without a just cause, involvement of the mortal realm in personal vendettas…" he trailed off listing a bunch of things, my dad sat there in defeat, not even trying to fight back. My mother shook her head in denial, panic radiating from her trembling frame as she rushed towards the front door.
Letting her go was my second mistake.
Several servants tried to stop her, but there was no way for them to stop a true god.
The choir continued with their hymns as a collar. They attached a dog collar to my dad's neck. Next thing I knew, he was shrieking in pain. His body, soul and essence splitting apart. No, they were being ripped from each other.
He cried out with the last ounce of his strength. His voice roaring through the mansion, as if the last cry of a dying soldier.
"CRYSTA, STAY BACK! I fought so you could protect him—protect Cairith! Don't make my sacrifice worthless. Please… stay with our son."
It was a benevolent effort, but landed on deaf ears. My mother flung the door open. Only to see dad's body go numb, hitting the cold ground with a loud thud. Time seemed to slow as I waited, desperate for any sign of life. But he didn't move.
My mother shrieked as she rushed to my dad's side. Her face contorted with anguish.
"W—what happened t—to…" I stuttered, my cheeks burned as tears carved their way down. My body knew what was wrong, but my mind failed to catch up. Medius, are senior most butler, hugged me tight. His glasses, foggy.
"It's alright, lord Cairith. It will all be alright." His voice cracked as he caressed my hair.
"Moving on to the second criminal. Crysta, Goddess of Life, you stand accused of treason for failing to report the crimes of Thunderus. By decree of the Divine Council, you are hereby stripped of your essence and sentenced to exile in Zentral, the mortal world."
The voice pierced straight through my heart as I tugged on Medius's black coat, tears turning into wails. As if crying would solve something. Anything.
My mother glared back at the shrill man, eyes filled with tears. Still mourning her dead husband, she released the full extent of her powers. The ground trembled as vines burst through the earth, coiling and twisting like wild serpents. The air itself howled in defiance, a storm of her creation. Her eyes blazed with fury as she glared at the man, daring him to take another step.
The man shrieked at the horrifying aura surrounding her before maintaining his posture. He spoke out in a calm voice. "Are you sure you want to resist?" His eyes shifting towards the window I was looking out from. "Even if you kill all of us here. Do you think you'll be able to protect your son from the full force of the council?" He added.
Still trembling, my mother continued to glare at him. Her decision was quick, the fury wavered. The storm quieted. The vines withered.
"Smart decision," he said, his grin appearing back on his ghastly face. They also put a collar on her, just like they did with my dad. She didn't resist. This time, only her essence was ripped out. She gritted her teeth as if bearing an excruciating amount of pain before passing out.
She was carried back to the palace, while my dad's body was tied to a pole in the middle of our domain's slums to rot.
That day, I lost both my parents in a matter of mere minutes.
...…
"Lord Cairith please eat something, you will die of starvation at this point" said Galore, one of dads most loyal butlers, offering me a tray of food.
I jolted out of my daze, looked at his worried face. Before going back to staring at the everbloom tree in our backyard. It reminded me of the times me and my parents played near it. Those memories were the only source of comfort I had left.
Just then, Medius appeared from the corner, walking down the hallway. Slamming his fist into the wall, staring at a piece of paper. He looked angry. Sad.
"They took another chunk." He said with a grim look on his face.
"Another one? Which God was it this time?" Spoke Galore, looking down at the floor.
"Goddess of Space. Freya."
"Her again? She's already stolen most of Lord Thunderus' domain."
"We can't do anything about it. We can't protect our territory without Lord Thunderus or Lady Crysta— I am so sorry, lord Cairith. I didn't notice you." Medius said. His words were bland but his tone was apologetic.
"It's alright, dad was a hero and I am sure mom will be alright too" I smiled back, trying to hold back my tears.
"It's about time I stopped grieving." I stood up, dusting my back.
"While you are at it, don't you think it's time you lot exited my property?" A chilling voice echoed from the corner of the hall.
"Who is it show yourself." Medius spoke out surprised.
There was no response, just the clicking of heels, echoing through the hall. After what felt like an eternity, came out a young, tall and bold lady. Her gaze was enough to send chills down my spine. Her calm attitude mingled with her ice cold aura seemed like it was screeching out, demanding complete presence.
"What do you mean your property. Lady Freya?" Medius asked, taking a defensive stance.
"Exactly what I said, you low life." She clocked a brow. As if suggesting Medius to calm his ass down.
"Your dear Thunderus thought strength alone could defy the council. Look where it got him—chained, broken, and rotting in the town square." She continued, her voice brimming with sarcasm and disrespect. Examining a random ice shard she conjured
"And look at his pathetic so—"
"Watch your words. Lady Freya, you might defeat us both but you won't leave here unscathed either." Medius glared back at her. Galore was shaking with anger but held it in.
"You pathetic mid gods think you have even a remote chance at beating me?" She chuckled.
"So be it. If either of you puts a single scratch on my body, I'll leave this estate. Heck this entire domain alone." She challenged.
Galore, finally reached his limit. He stepped forward, curling his hands into fists. Running straight forth at Freya. His fists taking the shape of pointed daggers.
"Stop it idiot—" Medius tried to step in, but it was too late.
My legs trembled, frozen in place. I wanted to scream, to stop her, but my body refused to obey.
With a single flick of her finger, Galore was sent flying out of the window. The only thing that followed was a loud thud.
"Are Thunderus' servants this weak?" She chuckled "no wonder he lost in such a pathetic manner,"
I was shaken up, rushing to the window. The ground was red, as a pool of blood formed. At the centre of the pool lied Galore, completely still. I called out to him. Yet he lay there unresponsive.
I turned around in a panic only to see Medius, pinned to the wall with a nail made of ice, lodged in his chest. His limbs, missing from his torso. Eyes filled with rage. Body slowly turning to ice, from his neck which was being strangled by Freya.
"I am so sorry, my lord," Medius whispered, his voice cracking as blood dripped from his mouth. The cold bite spreading through his torso. He struggled weakly, his one remaining arm twitching as though trying to reach for something—someone—but it fell limp by his side.
"My only regret…" he gasped, his body trembling as frost overtook him, "…is failing to protect you." His eyes, filled with sorrow and rage, locked onto mine one last time.
Then the ice consumed him fully. A single tear crystallised on his cheek before shattering into dust.
"M—Medius?"
I wanted to scream, to run, but my legs were stone. My mind swirled with anger, grief, and fear, but all I could do was watch as everything I knew was ripped away.
My eyes turned to Freya, filled with confusion and anguish, as she admired her handiwork.
My body moved before I could think, all that was left in my heart was dread and the instinct to punish the one who stole everything from me.
Just then I felt something hit me. Hit me hard, it was cold, like a lance of ice. Before I could realise what was going on my vision faded and everything turned black.
day…" I choked out, my voice barely a whisper as the world turned black. "I swear… I'll make you pay."