Leon R.M. Auguste

Inspiration is pulled from: The sometimes absurd, outlandish, crazy, yet vastly entertaining Greek/Roman Mythologies of the ancient world.

Poetics 1 (Excerpt from Mythos of Azernos)

“Captain, we’ve lost the citadel!”

“We must pull back; we’ve soon to lose the entire city!”

As the crisscrossing Athenian soldiers spun around to face the new threat from behind them, they soon thereafter faced their death as a huge eruption exploded right in front of them.

An unseen bomb had fallen through the night sky from a gliding aeroship above. It had landed with a devastating blow to all the soldiers and innocent bystanders still amidst the City of Athens.

This sprawling ancient city was slowly beginning to become overrun by technological weapons and the humans from high-above, the Heaven-bound humans, as they had been labeled so long ago.

As such, the Earth-bound humans were no match for their opposition.

Yet unbeknownst to either side of this deathly war, the gods and goddesses were also fighting throughout the battlefield amongst their mortal counterparts.

A few thousand yards behind the now two deceased Athenian soldiers; was the Goddess of Opportunity and Prosperity – otherwise known as Change.

She had transformed herself into a mortal man. As strange as this transformation had been, Change had disguised herself well enough – for no mortal eyes could ever see her true form.

She had moved upon the battlefield in this disguise for quite some time, as she made her rounds in protecting any such soldier who was unfairly outnumbered; comforting any such souls who were to pass onto their eternal slumber, and guiding those who yet still had a fighting chance to survive in this lifetime. Unfortunately for her, though, her ruse wouldn’t last for much longer.

For truth be told, she was not the only immortal upon this field of drylands and dead bodies.

For opposing her at this very moment, was both War and Death.

War was God of Discarded Life. He was a god worth a million tales and feared by many mortals and immortals alike. Having seen every battle conceivable to man and woman, he had plagued the lives of so many innocent souls throughout the eons.

But perhaps the most disheartening actor to come onto the scene of this newfound and unfolding situation was that of Death. Death was the Goddess of Tainted Souls, for she was precise in her extraction of any mortal life. Though she feigned a false sense of sorrow, once she had her prey within her grasp, Death was as wicked and mischievous as any god or goddess. She never left any opportunity open for Change to intercept her actions, for Change and Death were sworn enemies.

“Well, well, well – it appears the lonely Goddess has come out to play now?” Death stared curiously at Change as she spoke these haunting words with relative ease and comfort.

Change, not one to buckle down from mere emotions, slowly begun to revert back into her true form.

All the while, Change had grasped her Spartan’s sword tightly in her right hand and tightened the hold on her Aspis shield in her left hand. “You think your words have any meaning to me? You’re a fallen Goddess; Death. You live amongst the darker side of Utopira now. Nothing you say or do will ever matter to me anymore!”

Change was getting heated up as she felt her immortal blue blood boil for just a mere second.

War remained silent as he readied his large battle-ax. Yet, he did begin to walk towards Change as he grunted shortly with unknown displeasure.

But as the God of Discarded Life came ever the closer to Change, something was different about him now. War now slowly bellowed out in full-rage as he began to rush towards Change ever-the-faster.

Change, not one to be clumsy; was quick on her feet as she leaped out of War’s way just in time to counter-strike War’s bulky head-on attack.

Spinning around with ease, Change agilely leaped at War and struck him directly in his left shoulder blade. Temporary anger seeped through Change’s face as she glared at War with a knowing stare. Change knew War was the reason Death had left the ranks of the holier gods and goddesses.

Change could hear a deep guttural laughter build up within War’s mighty chest as he laughed at Change’s seemingly foolish endeavors to ward off their advances on her.

“You’ll never learn Change! You’ll never see the truth of our shared dilemma. We’re living through troubling days full of dangerous possibilities. Yet you have still not realized the truth of Judgment’s call!”

Change stuck her sword even deeper into War’s shoulder blade as War let out a deep roar of pain. Responding to War’s forward comment, Change glared daringly at the hefty man in disgust. “What gives you the right to influence such a fate? Whatever Judgment rules as fair and morally right shall eventually come to pass!”

Before War could say anything in response, Death had glided silently behind Change and was about to stick a small sword drenched in godly poison right into Change’s back.

But just before Death could make another move, an arrow came whirling from behind Death and Change, just as War had turned around to face the two goddesses.

The direct arrow was followed by an unknown voice. “Watch your back; Death was soon upon you.”

Change leaped airily out of the way as she had quickly caught sight of Death’s godly poisoned drenched sword. She just barely dodged her foe’s otherwise swift move, thanks to her unknown ally.

Turning her head to where the unknown voice had originated, she could see that it was Risk, God of Fortuity.

Raising his angled bow once more, Risk aimed it right for War’s head now.

Letting his arrow fly valiantly through the winds, Risk closed one eye as he watched his arrow jettison through the air. Nothing in all of godly life made Risk more at peace with himself than his bow and arrows. He was a hunter by nature, ever the willing and hungry to capture his prey, no matter what side they were on.

As this was going on, Death smiled shortly behind her veiled mask. The Goddess of Tainted Souls knew when it was time for her to take her leave from this scene. And as such, a dark swirling portal appeared beneath her feet at this very moment.

Falling deep within the confinements of The Unknown, Death had just as readily left the battlefield as she had entered it.

At the same time, the quick arrow, which had been let loose from Risk’s bow, had hit War directly between the eyes.

Change thanked Risk sparingly as she spun around to see War bellowing out his infamous roar of battle.

Enraged by the unexpected turn of events; War caused a rippling effect of unyielding aggression and deathly recklessness to befall any mortal whose ears could hear his calling.

Change, not leaving anything to chance, took Risk’s hand and began to run at inhuman speed as both goddess and god made their way far away from this battlefield.

They were moving at the speed of light almost.

Change could easily ride the rippling currents of winds better than any god or goddess in existence. She had found comfort in knowing this truth. For if there was anything Change had learned, it was that she could never trust War to be sympathetic – especially not to the holier gods and goddesses.

****

As this had been transpiring, on the opposite end of the battlefield – where the City of Athens was now in shambles and torn into millions of pieces, there were two other gods facing off with each other.

Having been rivals since the day they were born, there was bad immortal blood running deeply between their families. Even throughout the ages, these two gods were a testament to that deadly rivalry that had fostered between their separate families.

“You think Love has any such feelings for you? Do you think she even cares that you’re still among our ranks? Ha! You’re more of a fool than I had originally thought.”

“Our bond is of no concern to you, Triumph. Though she may very well be your sister, she is happiest with me!”

Opposing one another, Triumph, God of Victory, and Passion, God of Livelihood, were at odds with one another.

“A failure as always, even though you try so valiantly. You’ll never be god-enough to protect her. I won’t allow it, my young, foolish lovebird.”

Triumph was instigating Passion, trying to coax some sort of slip-up.

For Triumph, this was merely his way of preparing for his eventual victory. To make his opponent second-guess himself and to make him mentally weaker than humanly imaginable.

But Passion was not one to be taken down so swiftly. He was a god not taken to provocation so easily. He had learned his lesson long, long ago during The Second War of the Immortals. The very same catalyst that had caused the wide chasm of hatred between Passion’s family and Triumph’s own to grow wider and wider with every passing century.

As Passion remained silent, he readied his hidden daggers. He glared at Triumph with a cold and somewhat blank stare.

All the while, Triumph brought forth his spear. A mighty weapon, if any. Even Passion knew that his opponent was well beyond his level of battle expertise.

But Passion had one thing in which Triumph would never understand fully. The God of Livelihood knew all the secrets of life. He knew every weakness, and every strength, of his opponent. Even if his opponent happened to be his lover’s older brother.

Moving in an almost-hypnotic dance of battle, both Passion and Triumph were now slowly maneuvering around each other with hidden honor.

But just as readily as the two Gods were matched to fight, the sound of rain began to echo throughout the ruined city.

From high-above came the low and booming voice belonging to none other than Judgment.

“Lay down your weapons. Neither of you belongs here amidst the battlefield on this day.”

Triumph looked the most displeased as he maintained his steely gaze at Passion while simultaneously speaking firmly to Judgment. “Judgment – this isn’t your battle to interrupt!”

Without even another moment’s notice, the sound of loud thundering noise was apparent as a huge boulder had fallen seemingly out of nowhere.

It nearly took out Triumph’s head. Passion had flown out of the way quick enough to avoid an otherwise catastrophic; yet temporary, godly end.

“Turn back now, else I won’t miss next time.”

Triumph, grunting with massive disapproval, took his leave as he turned-tail and rushed out of the scene. Passion, looking onward at his escaping opponent, sighed in silent relief as he grunted in small displeasure himself.

Passion was not always so foolish as to believe every situation looked promising. He could be just as level-headed as any of the other holier gods and goddesses if he tried hard enough. And today was one such day in which he knew better.

*****

Change and Risk had made their way far away from the City of Athens.

Change had taken them to the far east end of The Alps. Yet she was not out of breath, for the immortals had more energy than any mere mortal could ever wish to harness in his or her lifetime.

Glancing over her shoulder, Change sighed with small relief as Risk questioned Change’s actions.

“You were supposed to be at The Banquet tonight? Yet you chose to disobey Judgment’s order? What of his wife, Intuition? Did you not think of helping her likewise? Surely she would have welcomed your presence. You know better than anyone else that she’s temporarily sick, as gods and goddesses are want to do from time to time.”

Change scoffed lightly as she looked out to the distance now. “You can’t assume every time Intuition falls ill that I’ll be at her beck-and-call. Anyways, Honesty and Hope are by her bedside.”

Risk looked somewhat suspiciously at Change as he questioned her motives. “Surely it was at your behest?”

Change closed her eyes and smiled slightly. “I’m the lone goddess for a reason. Wherever I’m needed here in the mortal world, I will follow the winds. I’ve no ties to bring me down. We’ve all our own parts to play, and you certainly have yours.”

Now Risk knew Change was speaking in double-meanings. There was something alluring about her but also something strange. Either way, Risk knew that Change never wasted her precious energy. She always had a rhyme to her reason.

Shrugging lightly now as he placed his arms over his head, Risk stared at Change as he began to try and decipher what she was after. “So, what was it that brought you down here anyways? You’ve yet to answer me directly.”

Change was quiet for a moment before responding in short. “Personal business, that’s as far as you’ll get with questioning me on this day.”

And with that, Change had left Risk’s presence in the blink of an eye.

Risk was now alone with a sinking feeling of uncertainty.

But even he knew what to do next. He also had personal business to attend to. A trio of special guests was waiting for him back in a different place. Fortunately, the place he needed to go to was not too far off from where he was standing at this very moment.

He would be off to the City of Rome, and not a moment too soon either. Two other gods and a single goddess were awaiting his most pressing message. He certainly couldn’t waste any more idle time, least of all on this night of nights…

Forever in Your Debt,

Leon R.M. Auguste

Source of photo: (click me to view photo credits!)