AN: OKAY, finally a chapter that isn't boring lol, I'm still new at this whole writing stuff so bare with me guys ¯\_༼ ಥ ‿ ಥ ༽_/¯.
Akolite wandered on the top of the mountain late at night, the highest of all in Usham. His thoughts were dark. Not the 'I will murder someone tomorrow.' thoughts.
But the thought of his wife and their long years of marriage. He kicked a pebble, skidding along the slant of the terrain as it bounced and fell below the mountain.
He was wearing a brown coat and pants, the clothes of a commoner and not that of a Greater.
Tears began to fall again, sniffing away his pain as he didn't wipe them.
He stopped at the edge of the cliff. The clouds below wouldn't let him see how far the land was, let alone the city of Hailbrad.
"Dear Almighty..." He took out a carved wooden heart from his pocket, old and smooth, "... I am hopeless."
With the last of his strength, he threw the wooden heart into the air. Dropping below into the clouds as he watched it crumble.
His life gone. His two kids gone. His wife cheated on him.
Turns out, none of his kids were his all along. And his wife was secretly in an affair with one of the Greater's. Powerful men who could command the air, land, ocean and other natures.
She used him only as a way to keep the Greater from being exposed. And he had heard he liked the idea of toying with him.
How did he knew about this? Because he returned one time late from work in the middle of the night and heard them doing the deed.
Thinking about it just made him hurt. Made his echoing piteous whine pathetic. No one would hear him here, good.
He lifted his foot, and readied to fall into the deep.
The wind breezed, he took it all in and then. He took the step.
His perspective shifted as he fell, the wind breezing around his face as he felt the cold stinging his skin. It would all be gone anyway, just like the tears from his face.
He passed the clouds, there he saw the beautifully lit city. No one would know he would die tonight, so what's the point in admiring it? Nothing.
He closed his eyes, accepting his pain, his fate as he hears the wind howling. And then...
A warm sunlight.
He opened his eyes, he was met with a sea of yellow flowers, brushing against the fabric of his clothes as the beauty of the place mesmerized him.
Was this death? That couldn't be right. If this was death, this would be a far colder place... But it was so beautiful.
The ground beneath him trembled and a shadow passed overhead. He turned around, no one.
"Do they care about you?"
A rumble in the distant like a thunder. He looked for the sources, what was that?
"Hello? Who are you? Where am I?" He asked.
"You are in your mind, child." It said.
The Voice was neither man nor woman, but a mixture of his own compacted with other voices he cared about in his life.
"You must decide," it said, "do you want to take back your family? Or do you wish death upon the Greater?"
The man's eyes widened in shock.
"H-how do you know? Are you Almighty?" He said, then added, "I don't want to do any of those things. I don't deserve my family, I don't want to kill."
"Is that truly what you want? Do you want your body to rot in a forsaken mountain?"
Just as he was about to reply, an enormous figure emerged from the distance. Its entire body looked like it was covered in black veins, rotten, and abnormal. Yet, all he could feel from this thing... Was sincerity.
The giant approached him, each step rumbling the earth as he loomed over him, the sun shining brightly in contrast to his rotting figure. Like an angel depicted in the church paintings but less melting skin.
"I... No," he began to cry, "I miss my mother. I wish I could've been there with her instead of going after Elizabeth."
The giant stopped, looking down at him.
"I wish... I could change my fate, I wish I could've served my mother a glass of water then maybe I would've done something better." He said, wiping away his tears.
"Then I will grant you that wish, child." His hand came down, slowly, his finger reached towards him as if to connect.
The man looked at it with hope, eyes so familiar the god would recognize it so well. Then, the man ascended.
* * *
In the city of Hailbrad. The people were celebrating tonight's festival.
Children ran across the street, laughing and chasing each other as the adults were busy partying outside instead. The city officials have begun the fireworks.
Crackling in the night sky with bright colors like embers of a fire. Those who had money were able to afford seating in the grand stadium, where the event was held officially.
Those who couldn't, had to listen from the speakers. A speaker that was a hovering white skinned statue. A stone statue sculpted from one of the Greater Artist's work.
Lusintsia, a maid from a well known tavern. Held her daughter's hand as they passed through hordes of crowds, some were selling food in the market stalls, and others trinkets or perhaps good luck charms.
She wanted none, only to quickly get to the stadium before the second event began. As she had a ticket, she saved up for it and her child.
"Mom, my feet hurts..." Her daughter said, looking down.
Her mother heaved her up, carrying her in her arms as she smiled.
"Don't worry, we're almost there." She said softly, "you're going to love it."
They arrived at the large stadium, tall walls and a short line towards the entrance. Soldiers in purple outfit with spears patrolled the area commonly here, to avoid any trouble.
The street around it was lit with lamps, and the statue that was erected to the wall of the stadium outside, began the speaker's announcement.
"Dear citizens!" The announcer proclaimed through the white chiseled statue, "The second event will start in ten minutes. The Greaters will be attending soon, please bring your children for blessings."
The guard at the entrance checked her paper ticket with a magical symbol on it, turns out she was the last and nodded for her to go through.
As the people outside were gathering their children, she had brought her own inside. The noise of the outside died down, and replaced with a much quieter tone as she saw everything here.
The large flat field in the center and rows of seats on side as thousands of people were getting ready.
"Woah," her daughter said, "mom, this is so awesome!"
A large chiseled statue was in the center, this one was more alive and mechanical, moving purely with mana as it danced in the center. Its arms streaming white light as it flew in the air and landed gracefully.
Lusintsia looked to her left, and found two seats empty. What a good coincidence. She sat her daughter to the side and both of them watched the intermission.
Ready for the second event to begin.
The statue finished it's dance and bowed to the crowd. Everyone clapped, splendid performance was what she thought.
"Thank you for attending tonight." The announcer finally spoke, though no where to be seen, "now, are you ready everyone?!"
The stadium erupted into a cheer, her daughter clamped her ears shut with her hands. Her mother didn't notice it.
"Now, for our first guest, roll the drums."
The gate at the other end of the field opened, drummers marched out with big sets. The music began, battering the drums as trumpets followed after.
They marched into the center playing, the announcer continued as fireworks exploded in the top. Illuminating the grand stadium with beautiful lights.
Her mother stared in awe.
The daughter whimpered, looking down as she covered her ears tightly. She didn't do anything, simply stayed there uncomfortable and in pain.
"Welcome! Greater Hanox of the Elisphad. The champion of the ocean god!"
A figure descended from the fireworks, clad in golden armor with a Trident in his hand. His long streaming hair behind his helmet like there was a water, he gently landed. Then bowed.
The entire crowd once again became more noisy, and this time her mother noticed her daughter Civilia whimpering. She took her in her arms, and wrapped her in her coat.
"Are you okay, Civ?" She said through the noise, "just bare for a little while, okay? We'll get a blessing from the Greaters, then you'll be healed with your illness."
The little girl nodded, still covering her ears as though her head would explode anytime soon.
"Greater Vesiphat of Knorgedian! Champion of the sky god!"
A figure descended from the sky once more, landing on the land as dust drifted upon his impact. When it settled down, he was revealed in a glowing green armor. He took off his helmet and dropped it.
Everyone was stunned, silence permeated the room as the face of their glorious sky Greater smiled to all of them. He had a blonde hair, sharp face, and a flashy grin.
He waved to everyone, then it erupted in a cheer.
"For our final guest, give it up for Greater Gara! Champion of space god!"
Lusintsia held her daughter close, enjoying the view but concerned as well for her daughter. She just needed to wait a for a while before the Greaters would give their blessing, she heard they could heal. And she wanted her daughter to be better.
The Greater champion of Space came descending, a tradition over the long years. He wore resplendent black armor mixed with white, a his face covered by a helmet. He floated inches off the ground, and waved enthusiastically to everyone.
"Thank you for coming here, Greaters!" The announcer spoke, "now our Greaters have urged us to proceed with the blessing as early as possible. So everyone can enjoy the activity after! Give it up for the three of them!"
Everyone cheered, Rose up, and shouted their names in order.
The three Greaters stood there, waving and possibly smiling. Well, the Sky Greater was definitely smiling, enjoying the attention as much as he wanted.
'Its here, it's about to happen... My baby girl is going to get better soon.' she thought.
As soon the as noises died down, the Greaters gathered closer. The Sky Greater stepped forward, hands to his side as they began to glow brightly.
Lusintsia held her daughter close, she was feeling much better now as Civilia witnessed something incredible.
Instead of the bright white light from the Greater's. Civilia saw something above beyond the fireworks and beyond the dark clouds.
A faceless feature, smooth skin that looked like it was kneaded yet it spiraled terribly making holes for its face. It retracted back into the darkness until it was gone.
The Sky Greater slammed both hands together, bursting alight in white as the energy spread around the stadium, and outside to bless the ones waiting. It reached up to the edges of the city and faintly outside the walls.
Then everyone clapped.
"Honey?" Lusintsia cupped her daughter's face, "are you... Oh no.. "
She clamped her ears shut again. She dreaded that feeling, she heard some blessings won't work regardless the difference of Champions as others just have terrible illness. An illness to the brain that was part of them, that the blessings could not heal.
Tears flowed down her face. A sad contrast to the joyous shouts from the stadium, she took her daughter in her arms rushed out the grand place in haste to make her daughter feel comfortable.
"I hate all of you..." She muttered underneath her breath.