The Winds of Liberation

Prologue

ZephyraA small town burns, houses reduced to rubble as fire and black smoke rise to the heavens. The bodies of humans lie scattered in the streets, while goblins and orcs roam, their broken, rusted swords scraping the gravel, blood dripping from their cruel blades.A loud, forceful thud echoed as it struck the round table. The water orb before us flickered, showing the destruction unfolding in Elysium. I blinked several times, my gaze shifting to Aetheria, the Goddess of Mystic, who was visibly furious, her violet eyes blazing and her clenched fist turning white. Her deep purple robes, embroidered with constellations, shimmered faintly, amplifying her commanding presence."They've taken another follower!" she roared, her magical aura crackling with frustration. Across the table, Morgrim, the God of Abyss, leaned forward, his black robes swirling with shadows. His sharp features twisted in a scowl, and the dark mist surrounding him churned violently. "Is there no way we can stop this?" he asked, his voice heavy with helplessness.I clicked my tongue in irritation. Fifteen of my own followers had perished in that town."Why can't we just intervene and create a new world?" Ignis, the God of Pyro, blurted out, his booming voice tinged with desperation. His crimson tunic, embroidered with flame-like patterns, flared briefly as if responding to his frustration. Eira, the Goddess of Cryo, shot him a glare from across the table, her icy blue robes shimmering like frost under moonlight. Her silver circlet glinted as she leaned forward, her breath visibly frosty."Are you insane, or is your mind only flames and ruin?" she snapped, her voice as sharp as frost.The argument between the two intensified, their voices rising. Flora, the Goddess of Dendro, sat beside me, her green dress adorned with blooming flowers that shifted colors with the seasons. She watched the quarrel unfold with quiet determination, then leaned closer and spoke softly, her voice tinged with urgency."Zephyra,"—she called me by name—"Maybe it's time we gave them more power."I turned to her, surprised by her suggestion. Flora, usually so measured, now spoke with fire in her green eyes. Before I could respond, the God of Electro overheard our conversation and pointed a glowing finger in our direction. His purple cloak, crackling faintly with energy, swirled as he stood, his amethyst eyes blazing with indignation."I've said this before," he snapped. "Giving them more power will only make things worse. The kings and emperors of this world have already used magic to wage war against each other. Do you think they'll use this new power any differently—out of greed and hunger for control?"Terra, the Goddess of Geo, clad in golden armor that gleamed like the earth's core, and Nerina, the Goddess of Hydro, her robes a cascade of flowing water, both nodded in agreement. They cited the past failures of our interventions.The cacophony of arguments around me felt like a storm threatening to tear the heavens apart. My patience wore thin as the gods hurled blame like arrows. I turned to the water orb, its surface flickering with the fiery image of Elysium's burning town.Then, as if answering a silent plea I hadn't realized I'd made, the orb shimmered. The flames and smoke dissolved, replaced by a calm, azure sky. Slowly, the vision shifted—no longer Elysium, but a different world.Earth.I leaned closer, captivated by the scene unfolding before me. A crowd gathered in a grand square, their cheers like the rustling of leaves in a gentle wind. In the center stood a man—aged, yet commanding. His silver hair glinted under the sun as his voice rang out with calm authority."The Roman Federation will rule Earth once more. Let a thousand years of peace begin. Humanity has rid itself of the lust for war..."The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers rising like a symphony of hope. The vision filled me with a sharp longing, but also a quiet determination. If peace was possible on Earth, perhaps Elysium could be saved too.The voices of the gods faded into a dull hum. My patience snapped."Enough!" I slammed my fist on the table, the sound cutting through the chaos like a blade. My emerald gown billowed as if carried by a sudden gust, my voice steady and sharp. "I, Zephyra, Goddess of Anemo, Goddess of Wind, have an alternative plan—one that could save Elysium and ourselves. But for it to work, I need your trust—all of it."Volume 1 - DeathVictor MarcellusMy heart ached, like a slight burning sensation, as I sat down at the head of the large table, where most of the important guests were dining, as I finished my meal. The buffet was bustling with guests and politicians greeting each other. It was the great celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Roman Federation, twenty years after the last war ever fought on Earth.Feeling my tiredness from the banquet, I stood up easily, forgetting the fact I'm in my nineties.The buffet was buzzing and the music swelled, making everyone around me feel at ease as the aroma of spices and herbs mingled with the smoky smell of roasting meat. The golden chandeliers above reminded me of the wealth and peace I had brought to Earth.I made my way out of the crowd and shook hands with a guest who noticed my presence. Being the 'father of modern Rome' made me stand out as guests toasted on my direction. Their laughter and relaxed conversations were in stark contrast to the days before the Federation was founded, when diplomats engaged in heated arguments. That is now a distant past."Hey, Victor!"A familiar voice greeted me, followed by a firm slap on the back, making me stumble forward — clearly elder abuse at this point."Damn it, Nilsson, I'll sue you for elder abuse if this keeps up," I threatened, giving him a sharp look that wasn't one of genuine hatred, my breath slightly hitched.Nilsson, an old friend and my counterpart in diplomacy, grinned at me; his mischievousness obviously hasn't changed in recent years. He wore a tailored blue suit that matched his piercing blue eyes."Grumpy as ever," he joked as we made our way to the balcony."Your suit goes well with your eyes; I'll give you that," I said, complimenting him."And you still look sporty in your nineties. If there was a competition with the other grandpas like you, you could probably win," he said, laughing at the thought."You're ridiculous as ever," I replied, though I couldn't help enjoying the fact that I could outdo some of the older people in the buffet. Nilsson laughed heartily."I'd put fifty grand on you. No question," he said, obviously sure that I'd win.Our playful banter was what I needed most, as the decades of leadership and sacrifice had weighed on my chest for so long. We both turned around to look at the buffet while guests and politicians exchanged light-hearted topics."You know," Nilsson began, his voice softer now, "I'll never understand why you spend your retirement doing all this bushcraft and survival nonsense. Aren't you supposed to be enjoying life instead of doing those things?"I smiled faintly as I gathered my thoughts to reply, "Uniting Earth into one world government has kept me busy all my life; I've missed out on a lot of things, and that includes my hobbies.""Sleeping on dried leaves is your hobby?" he retorted, and we both laughed.The laughter died down as we leaned against the balcony, watching the others below exchange pleasantries. My chest tightened slightly, but I waved it off as fatigue."I admit," Nilsson broke the silence. "I never thought that wars could be a thing of the past as a diplomat. You really have solved the existential question of international relations; you pulled off the impossible, Victor."His words brought back troublesome memories of the time when I was still a diplomat to a world leader, and especially of the time when I was not yet a diplomat.Lira."No," I replied and then corrected him. "Lira, Lira saved the world, not me," I said. There was a pang of longing for her in my voice."Your childhood friend Lira?" Nilsson turned around and raised an eyebrow.I nodded, unable to return his gaze. "Ever since I met her and lost her, it was her dream of a peaceful world that got me this far."Nilsson fell silent and looked back at the balcony in the distance. "She must be proud of you by now, up there."I felt a pang of pain in my chest, though it felt unusual, more like discomfort than emotion, but I repressed it. It must have been the sincere loss for her."Anyways," I said, changing the subject. "When will my speech begin? I really want to get back to my estate. I have a schedule for a week of bushcraft in some woods."Nilsson shook his head in disbelief. "This again?" Suddenly my chest tightened sharply, and I leaned against the balcony for support. The pain in my chest slowly and gradually increased, becoming sharper."Look, grumpy old man, the guests really adore you," he said, but his voice slowly faded to a distant hum, as if I was underwater. I struggled for breath as I clutched my chest."It's just that you should enjoy this banquet and stay for a while..." His voice broke off as the sounds became more distant and muffled. I slumped, my knees weak on the floor, and felt Nilsson's hand on my shoulder.I heard his worried tone, but it sounded distant. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what was happening.The world around me began to spin; dizziness and lightheadedness worsened. The pain in my chest intensified, and I could no longer breathe.Anxiety and fear set in as I realized this was serious. I heard Nilsson calling for a doctor, his voice distant, as I collapsed to the floor. I lay on my back, gazing at the late afternoon sky, its red and orange hues blending beautifully.The loud beating of my heart muffled the voices of those around me. My vision blurred, and I could only make out the faces of those trying to help. Nilsson's voice reached me faintly, reassuring me I would be fine.I forced myself to smile and looked up at him. "It'll be fine," I said in a weak voice. "It'll be fine..." Then my eyelids grew heavy as the longing for slumber became unbearable. I closed my eyes and gave in, drawing my last breath and surrendering to the darkness.***Darkness.Complete, total darkness.It felt as if I had woken from a deep slumber into an empty void. I tried to close my eyes, only to realize I had none at all.No. I don't feel like I had a body at all.Fear crept into my mind, but a small thought whispered that it was pointless to be afraid.It was quiet—no noise, no sensation, not even the sense of time.Then suddenly, a light shone from the distance, its whiteness shimmering.What the hell is going on here?I moved toward the light—floating rather than walking, as I didn't seem to have legs.The light grew brighter as I approached. I moved faster, wanting to escape the darkness. The piercing brilliance was almost blinding.I found myself in a kind of... arena?Where the hell am I?I was standing on what looked like a cloud. Surrounding me was a five-foot-high wall, the length of a bus. The crystalline walls shimmered, etched with patterns of gods. Some glowed brightly, others faintly, while a few were crumbling and broken.I looked up and saw what looked like figures."Victor Marcellus, Father of Earth," a female voice rang out, enchanted and commanding."The pantheon of Elysium needs you."