Cambrian
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The Age of Chaos Ch. 24 (Original Fantasy)
🕑 Added 2025-03-05 23:00:07 +0000 UTCA/N: Treading lightly...
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Sophia wasn’t an idiot. She knew full well the moment that Aureo had rejected the idea of leaving the city entirely that they would be bringing him to the heart of his power. Hell, he hadn’t even made much secret of that fact either. Perhaps she shouldn’t have allowed Oren to help him into the pool without some assurances, but even demanding such a thing seemed like a terrible way to get their relationship off on the right foot.
She was just so tired. Physically, she was fine, but emotionally, she was exhausted. Nothing had gone right for her since her father’s death. Nothing had been as it should have been. But this… this feels like it should be a sure thing. They’d saved Aureo from a truly horrendous captivity, killing his captors and torturers and rescuing him from the depths of their prison. Then, they’d brought him here to recover.
As far as he should be concerned, they were friends. If not friends, then they were at least allies right? Even still… Oren’s words from the road come back to her in that moment. It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you. The River God was smart to ask questions. He was wise to use them to reach this point before signaling his suspicion too.
Sophia knew she had to give him some sort of answer to his query. Oren certainly wasn’t going to speak without her approval. But… she was hopeful, not stupid. She had to tell Aureo something, but she definitely didn’t have to tell him everything. In fact, as much as it pained her to be so duplicitous… if she worded things right, then she could steer Aureo to certain conclusions without having to actually tell a single lie.
“Oren is an Otherworlder.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia sees Oren stiffen up at her words. It’s the perfect reaction truth be told, because it makes it less likely that Aureo will realize they’re hiding anything deeper than that. And indeed, just this much is enough to make the Minor God’s single eye widen in shock.
“An Otherworlder…”
He trails off for a moment, clearly having to process the reveal. All the while, Sophia can see him healing in real time. Goldriver’s patron god is submerged within the waters of his domain and finally able to recover from months of torment and torture. His battered, bruised, torn up body is slowly rejuvenating itself and even his missing fingers are beginning to grow little stubs. The foot the God Hunters took from him is also slowly reconstituting itself, though that injury seems to be taking the longest. Well, that and his eye.
Finally, Aureo lets out a soft chuckle.
“Are you sure your Law’s daughter? The King of the Gods certainly wouldn’t approve of an Otherworlder running around.”
Sophia flushes at that, her jaw clenching and her hands curling into fists at her side. She can feel Oren looking at her worriedly… but frankly, she doesn’t want the Otherworlder’s pity right now. Jutting out her chin, she meets Aureo’s needling with an acidic tone.
“My father isn’t with us anymore. And desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Again, no lie. Aureo looks at her, peers at her… but there’s no deceit in Sophia’s words. The deception is in what she’s NOT saying… and if he questions her further on this, he might just uncover the truth.
“… You’re not wrong. Summoning an Otherworlder is a truly desperate measure… but these are indeed desperate times.”
Sophia restrains herself to a small sigh of relief, one that Aureo will hopefully take as her relaxing because he’s not judging her. In reality, Sophia is more relieved that he bought into the deception that she’d summoned Oren herself AFTER her father’s death when she’d done no such thing.
… It’s not lost on the goddess that this is precisely the lie Oren peddled to her back when they first met. The idea of an Otherworlder being summoned under Law’s nose and trained in secret for years was just so outlandish and ridiculous that most people would default to assuming he’d been brought to Creation after the King of the Gods had already been slain.
Maybe eventually they would be able to tell Aureo the truth, but while he wasn’t a God of the Heavens, she still didn’t know how he would react to finding out he was sharing a cave with the God Killer himself. Especially when Oren is still carrying the Celestial Dagger he used to destroy the runes on the walls, break open Aureo’s cell, and cut through his shackles back in the catacombs.
“Still, to think one could become so strong so fast… truly, Otherworlders are scary beings aren’t they?”
Sophia bites her lower lip, throwing a glance to Oren. Aureo wasn’t wrong and Oren, through his feats and deeds, was direct proof of that. Otherworlders were capable of immense destruction with enough time and energy. Though Aureo was wrong about the time frame, just as Sophia had been. Oren’s strength and power wasn’t the result of just a few months, but rather years of focused training.
“Oren is… reliable enough. He’s dangerous yes, but not to me.”
Oren gets this look on his face that forces Sophia to turn her eyes away from him. She doesn’t want to feel compassion for her father’s killer. She doesn’t want to pity him either.
“Oh? I suppose that’s a subtle way of saying he IS dangerous to me… is that it?”
Jolting, Sophia looks to Aureo, her eyes widening slightly.
“N-No! That wasn’t… he’s dangerous to God Hunters, Lord Aureo. God Hunters and anyone else who wants me dead. You have nothing to worry about so long as you don’t attack us. And why would you? We helped you.”
She puts a little bit of steel in her voice on that last part. Sophia is happy they saved him, don’t get her wrong… but she’s not going to let him boss her around and she’s certainly not going to bend over backwards to please him either.
Aureo pauses for a moment… and then chuckles.
“Ah, I was wondering if you had a backbone. Good to see it. And please, you can drop the Lord… so formal, heh. I guess that’s just the way you all talked up in the Heavens, hm?”
Sophia furrows her brow, wondering if he was just testing her or something. If that was the case, she didn’t like it. At the same time, she couldn’t exactly blame him after everything he’d been through. In the end, all she can do is try to extend an olive branch and hope he’ll meet her halfway.
“No… but it is how we were taught to address foreign deities such as yourself. It’s simply a matter of respect. But… you can just call me Sophia as well, if you like.”
Aureo’s lips curl into a smile.
“Well met, Sophia.”
Silence falls over the cavern after that, and Sophia wonders if Aureo has no further questions. The River God seems to be relaxing for the time being, his one remaining eye drifting shut as he luxuriates in the healing spring. Maybe… maybe this was her chance to ask HER questions at long last. It was doubtful she’d have a better chance than this, what with how relaxed Aureo currently is.
“It’s… earlier we talked about desperate times and desperate measures.”
Aureo hums in agreement.
“… The situation is perhaps more desperate than even you know, Aureo. Tell me, does the name ‘Raythe’ mean anything to you?”
The River God doesn’t really respond for a moment, his eyes remaining shut. Finally his lips move even as he lays there in the healing waters.
“Mm… can’t say that I do, no. Should the name ring a bell?”
No, in fact it was the exact opposite. If Aureo HAD known Raythe, Sophia’s not sure how she would have reacted.
“Perhaps not. He was a god you see. Specifically, he was a God of Lies and Duplicity.”
Aureo’s brow furrows, his lips curling downwards into a frown.
“Those are not domains I’ve heard of, I’ll admit. Most domains here on the Mortal Plane are connected to a physical location of sorts. Forests, mountains, oceans… rivers.”
Sophia nods. That lined up with what she knew as well, that’s why Raythe was so strange. But not only that…
“He hunted Oren and I down. Eventually, he came for us personally, but not before sending all manner of obstacles our way. And the majority of those obstacles… took the form of God Hunters.”
That gets a reaction out of the River God. Aureo comes up into a seated position in an instant, turning to face her with BOTH eyes open now. The other seems to have healed at some point in their conversation, because both of his eyes are staring her down, glowing slightly with power.
“… Excuse me.”
Sophia smiles thinly.
“It’s why we came to Goldriver in the first place, I’m afraid. Raythe is dead, he made it clear that it was him or us… and we chose us. But before he died, he spoke as though the God Hunters were his pawns. He talked like they were working for him and others, even if unknowingly.”
Beneath the water, Aureo’s hands curl into fists at the same time that his jaw clenches.
“… Others. You mean other deities.”
Sophia nods enthusiastically. She’s admittedly a little eager to get to the heart of the matter. Maybe finally they were closing in on some answers.
“The impression that I got from Raythe led me to believe he had the backing of other gods and goddesses. And looking at how fast the God Hunters spread across the Mortal Planes and how quickly they inserted themselves into so many places where they shouldn’t have been welcomed nearly as quickly as they were, I have to wonder. How much help did they have? And who among the divine would stand to gain from all of this deific blood being spilled?”
Aureo looks disturbed by her questions. Good, because they disturb Sophia as well. Someone had set Oren against the Heavens and from what he’d told her and the things Raythe had said, she was confident it wasn’t JUST the God of Lies and Duplicity. There was more at work here. There were more hiding in the shadows, she was sure of it.
“Do you know anything about these gods? I know you were surprised by Raythe’s domains, but please think long and hard on this. Have you ever heard even a whisper of anything like this before? Perhaps it wasn’t just gods of the land and water who stayed behind on the Mortal Planes when my father built the Heavens millennia ago. Perhaps there was another group of gods who were in hiding all this time."
Aureo looks stricken by the thought. He looks down at his restored hands and a shudder runs through him.
“Perhaps… but the idea that the God Hunters have divine backing gives me little solace Sophia. I… don’t have any idea who you could be talking about, I will admit. I’m only a little over a thousand years old and like you said, the separation of the Heavens and the Mortal Planes was… thousands of years ago.”
Well, he’s twice her age still, but Sophia isn’t about to admit that. Still, it’s distressing to hit a dead end. While she’s glad they were able to save Aureo, she finds herself wondering where to go from here…
“I think I know who would know, however.”
Sophia blinks, pulled from her thoughts by Aureo’s next words. He looks thoughtful for a moment, his eyes moving to the stream that leads away from his healing spring briefly before going back to her.
“My father Oceanus is an Ancient God of the Seas and Winds. He was around before the separation of the Heavens and the Mortal Planes. If anyone knows about these hidden gods, it would be him.”
Oh… oh that sounds perfect! Sophia can’t help but smile.
“Yes! That sounds like exactly who we need to talk to! Maybe he could tell us what’s going on and where we might go from here!”
Aureo nods, before looking to the stream again.
“My river actually goes all the way to his domain. Now that I’m healed, it would be child’s play for me to transport the three of us to the coast. And from there, I can contact him.”
Is this what it feels like when everything is going right? Sophia isn’t sure she’s felt this light and happy in ages. Smiling from ear to ear, she’s about to ask Aureo when they can leave. But before she can, he continues on.
“Of course, we can’t leave yet. I have unfinished business here in Goldriver first.”
Oh… right, of course. Sophia swallows thickly, the knowledge she’d gleaned from Commander Hogarth’s letters weighing heavily on her mind. The city leadership had betrayed Aureo to the God Hunters. They’d let the God Hunters pay them off and sacrificed a friendship between Aureo and Goldriver that had lasted longer than any of them were alive.
Sophia would be a hypocrite if she demanded Aureo ignore his vengeance for the sake of her own. She couldn’t in good conscience try to talk him out of going after the Goldriver Nobles who betrayed him while she was planning to use Oren to kill everyone involved in his summoning, the slaughter of the Heavens, and the propping up of the God Hunters.
Letting out an explosive breath, Sophia slowly nods.
“I understand. Oren and I will help you take your revenge on those who wronged you.”
Oren shoots her a look at that but doesn’t question her, thankfully. Aureo, meanwhile, lets out a little laugh.
“I appreciate the offer Sophia, but that won’t be necessary. Your Otherworlder is certainly a powerful tool… but I’m no slouch myself. Flooding the city and drowning its inhabitants will be far easier than having him slaughter them all singlehandedly anyways.”
Wait… what?
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A/N: Oops, he's genocidal.
As always, Leave a Like and let me know what you think!
Comments
Bob
A little late but got stalled with the chap 22 ban. Me thinks this isnt gonna happen but I could be pleasantly surprised! For some reason a little old testament consequences would be a refreshing read.
Alun Lewis
Oh...shit...Aureo is really in a "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" mood. Except t the god who would have done the sorting is already deceased...or it's now Sophia's responsibility to judge the wicked from the innocent. Ugh. Maybe have Oren & Sophia offer a compromise if they can't talk Aureo down from taking a page from the Book of Genesis for his revenge plans: they lure the corrupt city leaders into the Temple District and Aureo only floods that portion of the city, so obly the guilty get suited?
Travis
I hope they don't let him do it, simply because it would basically prove the God Hunters 'right' to people who might currently be assisting/hiding other gods.
anony
I wonder how Sophia’s domain of equity will handle that declaration.
FunnyHats
So I'm guessing the clue to where these other gods came from the negative/evil domains. If the heavens split from the mortal realm my bet is on a underworld/hell existing also. It could be where they got the imagery for the illusion from. The fact that other gods don't know about it is interesting and I don't have a answer for that. Also, as a spirit God oren probably acts more like a force of nature in actions then human aligned domains of heaven which would explain the attitude of drowning a whole city.
Touch
Genocide let’s goooo
Cambrian
Lmao you did!
Caleb S
I called it 😂
Orion9137
Definitely the kind of solution a god would come up with lol
Oliver Jenner
There's Definitely People in Goldriver who need killing but thats the people in power who made the decision to turn on Aureo. They may have been manipulated but someone (or many someones) are likely going to have to die to sate Aureos quite understandable bloodlust and better that be the leadership than the entire city
Avalon
I kind of hope that they just let him do it. It would be something new, and lead to interesting things in the future as Sophia and Oren have to grapple with what they allowed to happen. If they stop him, it would probably lead to them killing Aureo, having to take a long trek to find Oceanus, where he would discover that they killed his son, and would end up with them either killing Oceanus or having to flee, which just seems kind of cliche to me. Either way could be a good read if done right (and I think Cambrian could do it right), but them letting Aureo kill the town, and then growing to regret it as they realize what exactly they allowed to happen and have time to think it over, would be much more original and interesting in my opinion. I could also lead to the breakdown in Oren and Sophia's current dynamic, as Oren starts to think that following Sophia in her vengeance isn't some manner of redemption or penance, it is just a path of killing more innocent people.
Will Something
I’m just hopeful it doesn’t end in Aureo’s death, but plenty of good reasons not to smoke the whole city even aside from genocide… biiig target on their back for having a god so obviously back at full power.
TheFirstSword
Not surprising that Aureo's in a kill 'em all mood, but I'm somewhat hopeful that they're able to talk him down from it. Either way I'm looking forward to see how things continue.
