14 A Virtuous? War (2)

A strange scene lay before Koel.

Before him stood the residents of the Bastion, quiet and collected they stood, weapons in arm as they stared at Koel. Not a shred of fear or despair to be found amongst them.

"So you still choose to play even now?"

"For the Goddess."

"We are the chosen."

In sync and without missing a beat they all responded, perfect in only harmony and faith. Bodies of all ages stood and blocked the road ahead, to the center of Bastion where the greatest temple lay, shrouded even now in the bright light of the sun.

"You disappoint me Vena."

With a single step, Koel had breached the gates of Bastion.

"I need no army for this."

That single, solitary, slow step broke the hesitant stand-off as the army of the Goddess charged, intent on shattering Koel's dead body.

Soldiers swung swords that bounced and shattered, archers released streams of arrows that never met their mark as women and children ran up to hold and delay Koel's steps.

None succeeded.

With a single step, Koel crushed those that stood before him into paste, splattering their righteous selves onto others.

With a sway of his arm archers tumbled from their rooftops and perches as they fell to the cold stone below, breaking and shattering limbs as they still crawled towards him, unfeeling of their pain.

With a dark fetid breathe, Koel drew in the last dregs of life from their bodies, releasing them and letting them fall with strange smiles upon their faces.

From the broken gates to the bright temple, the ground was paved with the fallen and the desperate, crying out to protect their Goddess, uncaring of their own plights even as the army of demise slunk closer.

"Vena, your puppets cannot help you. Such faith is worthless and vain, more akin to poison… more akin to you."

The light surrounding the great temple flickered for a moment but remained strong, determined to keep Koel away.

Growling from the back of his throat, Koel spoke.

"So be it."

With a clenched hand, Koel struck forward, plunging his arm into the light that surrounded the temple, to see what Vena had prepared against him.

With a flash of light, both Koel and the temple were gone, leaving Lyrea behind as she manically ran through the bastion. Seeking and searching for proof that Koel was wrong, to deny his actions, to show that there could have been a better way.

….

"Asmonon, how is it you see so differently?"

A cherry smile grew and dazzled a young Asmonon, infectious with its happiness, he laughed and stood under the warmth of the sun, basking in its glow.

"I think because I simply accept all that is, for what it is and not what it will be or could be."

Skipping around him a girl with a head full of blonde hair tilted and shook her head, "Nope. I don't get it."

"It's a bit like faith. You can make someone believe and guide them but you can't change what they are unless you fully understand them."

"Hmmmmmm… I know, " clapping her hands on Asmonon's shoulders the young girl kissed Asmonon's cheeks and smiled wider, "I'll let you do it for me."

This bright scene paused, shrouded by a dark cloud that grew and covered the warm sun, shaking as a dark gravelly voice spoke.

"I did not come here for the sake of a memory Vena."

The girl in the image turned and looked at Koel, "I know. You are disappointed and angry with us, I understand that…."

"YOU. Understand. Nothing."

With a wave of his hand, Koel scattered this once pleasant memory, leaving nothing but his skeletal corpse and that of Vena, the young girl before him.

With a sigh Vena looked at Koel, "I am sorry Asmonon…"

"Asmonon is dead."

"Is there nothing left of him..."

"...Nothing worth saving."

Her small hands clutched together, Vena knelt before Koel, her voice pleading as she begged.

"I know we betrayed you, that we destroyed everything, but we had no choice, it was only a matter of time before someone else did what we did first. And then it all would have been for nothing."

Her face lowered Vena humbled herself before Koel, "I give myself to you, stay here with me, in this world constructed of faith and I will do anything that you ask of me. Stay here and learn to love again, to forget the suffering you have had to endure… please Asmonon, it breaks my heart to see you this way."

With tears falling from her eyes, Vena remained on her knees as she wept at the sight of Koel.

"This was your grand plan, the matriarch of my prison, reduced to this. You rely on the feelings of a long-dead heart, in the hopes that I would remain here in this shell of a world with you… to reminisce and make you feel better…"

"... we can restructure it all. Make our own worlds to live forever in peace and happiness. That is what I offer you, rather than this path of pain you walk on, I offer you peace and a place to truly rest."

Koel scoffed at the thought, "You offer me worlds built on the false hope and prayers of those that you have drained. Those puppets outside, held together only by faith, neither alive nor dead, are meaningless."

Storming to her feet, Vena stamped her feet.

"Why can't you just listen for once and stop being so stubborn. Yes we were wrong, yes we messed up, but why choose to suffer for eternity when I am extending you a lifetime of peace and fulfillment. A way out of this disgusting spiral."

"Because someone has too…."

"...And it has to be you."

"It can only be me."

"There is no stopping you."

"No."

"Then do what you have to Asmonon. Spread my blood like the rain, smear me with all manner of filth, and defile me if that will ease some of your pain. I deserve it."

Extending a hand forward, Koel raised his skeletal hand, prepared to rip a goddess apart and scatter her across the world.

Only to pause.

"It is too easy," lowering his hand Koel stared deep into Vena as she knelt before him, powerless and undefended, "I have no need to defeat you in such a manner."

"STRIKE ME DOWN ASMONON. I DESERVE IT."

Shouting with fury Vena spread her arms wide, goading Koel into slaying her, wanting him too.

"It was me that planned everything. I designed your prison and ensured it would crush you to dust. To make you suffer."

"You let me suffer in a prison of my own making and I shall do the same Vena. If you like this falsehood so much then you can stay here forever."

"Asmonon no….please, anything but…"

"...Goodbye… Vena."

Turning his back Koel faded from Vena's world of faith, ignoring all of the words and abuse that she hurled at him.

"I always preferred the heavens to you. I never loved you. I can cope with loneliness. I will free myself and come after you one-day Asmonon. I don't deserve this. I don't feel guilty at all"

With a final sigh, Koel drifted away from the mockery that he had seen through since he had entered this world.

"Asmonon…please…."

Leaving a Goddess trapped in her own world of false faith, Koel's final words hurt Vena far more than any of her own actions had.

"You still lie to yourself Vena. I warned you about that... I told you that one day, you would suffer for your words and so you shall, from now and forever onwards."

Koel was gone and the memory of Asmonon as she knew him was gone. Only Vena remained, trapped in her own prison, unable to be freed by Koel's hand, he had refused to give her what she wished.

Even left unable to grant it to herself.