Eastward Bound 4/4

DanMachi The Dragon's Return

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(Musical inspiration comes Rome 2: Total War's "Wrath of Ares" and Skyrim's "From Past Present.")

Chapter 13

Eastward Bound

Part 4 (Final)

The Movement of the Gods

…

Smoke rose from the city of Valua, the capital of the Kingdom of Rakia. The air smelt of charred flesh the screams of people could be heard bellow the top of the tall fortress tower where Ares could only watch in horror. Outside of the city was an army arrayed in colors of red and gold, the emblem of the army was an eagle over a golden sun that shone against a red field. The Empire (1) had come. Catapults hurled boulders of flame that struck walls, homes, and many other buildings. The magic of the Empire caused those boulders to explode upon impact, causing enough destruction that many thought the invaders were using magic swords. Clouds of smoke billowed above the city, and the black clouds began to reflect the light of the red flames, giving the sky above a smoldering look that heralded death. The explosions of the boulders that struck the city sounded as peels of thunder, and the flashes of light gave the heat of dragon-fire.

Ares heard screams again, this time of noble ladies who wished to see the spectacle before them. One month ago, an emissary of the Empire came before Ares and demanded he bow and submit himself before the gods of the Empire. Ares laughed, demanding a fight in return. Not only had the Empire pushed him back, but the army of that was on Ares' doorstep was less than half the strength the Empire could muster. Twenty-thousand soldiers devoted to the Empire now bore the black banner (2) of the Empire's wrath, and they were ordered to show no mercy until the citizens of Rakia renounced Ares. By numbers, Ares would have been able to crush the Empire, but the Empire's superior technology, the strength of its arms and armor, made much of Ares' attempts to drive the Empire away a failure; to make matters worse, the Empire had many who were higher levels than Ares could muster.

Ares felt his knees tremble under him. He had lost battles and wars before, but never like this. Even when he lost wars, it was never at the lives of civilians. Many of the gods agreed that the rules of war should dictate that harm would never come to those who can't fight. Orario, of course, was the shining beacon of that rule, even going as far as to ensure their wounded enemies would recover and return home. The Empire did no such thing, and the collapsing walls of Valua saw to that. The screams of death, the death of soldiers and civilians, soon turned to screams of suffering and desperation. They were the screams for mercy, the screams of invaders having their ways with defenseless women, the screams of parents who held their dying children. The Empire would quickly get what it wanted: Rakia's renouncement of Ares.

Ares wondered how Orario would respond in the north-west, or even Telskyura even further south-east. The elves in the north-east, however, would care little. The war god guessed the elves would mockingly laugh at him in their safety behind the Alv Mountains. But if the Empire was as strong as it was already, what was stopping it from invading its other neighbors? How long until the Empire decided to grow once more? How expendable did the gods of the Empire consider the lives of the mortal races? No such questions were answered by the time the Empire had secured the Rakian capital and its citadel occupied, and it wasn't long until Ares came face to face with his conqueror. Before him were two gods, one of whom was upon a throne carried by ten human slaves, and he bore a golden mask that was engraved with an image of the sun.

"Mars," Ares gritted his teeth at the god who was not enthroned. Mars smirked at Ares, his crimson hair only faintly reflecting the bloodlust he unleashed upon the city.

"It's been too long, Ares," the victorious war god answered. "I was hoping for more of a fight, but you aren't a strategist like Athena."

"I'm sure you had a reason for this unprovoked war?" Ares growled; fists clenched.

"What's the point of any mortal war?" Mars smiled. "Money, of course. To take, make, and use resources, why else would anyone wage war? Mortals do love to fool themselves into thinking that war can be waged for revenge or self-defense, however. Only the righteous divine can wage war for any other reason!"

"For the right to rule," Ares returned Mars' smile, drawing his sword along with Mars. "The god you're following isn't Jupiter."

"Jupiter established his legacy well," the masked god finally spoke and pointed at the sky. "But he was ultimately weak, like Zeus was before Freya and Loki. The legacies of the gods are mine to take. The High God has forsaken this world, and has a name forgotten by the gods. But I will take the seat above all the gods and spread my name to the four corners of the world. All shall remember Sol Invictus, that even the Dungeon will tremble before me!" (3)

Mars dashed forward, a wild grin upon his face and bloodlust in his eyes. The blades of the dueling gods flashed, reflecting the sparks that were created with each connection of their dangerous dance. Neither god took their eyes off each other, but Ares could tell he was being driven back into a corner. Desperate, he swung his sword at the neck of Mars, hoping to end the duel with his quickest blow. Mars' sword was faster and stronger, and the he broke Ares' blade under his strength. Mars grinned darkly as he pointed the tip of his sword at Ares' throat.

"Wait," Sol Invictus lifted his right hand. "It would do nothing to simply send Ares back to heaven."

"My lord?" Mars awaited the command of Sol Invictus, but Ares could only frown with uncertainty.

"We shall send him to heaven, but bind his physical body here," Sol Invictus said cruelly. "Cut his body into twelve pieces and send them to our neighbors, so they may know what happens to those who resist."

…

"It's been too long, Ryuu," Astraea smiled when she pulled the elven warrior into her embrace. "You've grown so much."

The warrior of justice merely fell into the grasp of her Familia goddess. She wasn't sure what to say to the very person she told to leave Orario for the sake of the elf's revenge against Evilus Familias she had thought murdered her comrades. If it wasn't for Bell Cranel helping her find the truth of how the other members were slaughtered by the Juggernaut, even if that monster was summoned by Evilus, she never would have been able to make peace with her past; she could now feel her dear friends were now at rest. Bell had saved her that day, not just her life, but from the pit of her own despair. She was in love with him, though, for Syr's sake, she could never truly admit it.

"I haven't grown," Ryuu whispered after a long silence between her and her Familia goddess. "Not really."

"You have," Astraea softly said back. "Even if you don't know it yet, you have. I can see that in you. Alise would have been proud of you."

Alise, who was once captain of the Astraea Familia, held a special place in the elven warrior's heart. She was someone Ryuu looked up to as an older sibling, and Alise's advice had always stuck to Ryuu's heart. Alise told Ryuu never to let go of the man who was able to her hands in his, and that alone started Ryuu's careful watch of Bell. The elven warrior couldn't help but wonder what Astraea saw that made her stronger. She couldn't help but ask herself if Alise would see her as stronger. She also wondered if Alise would have approved of her actions thus far.

"Why are you here?" Ryuu asked suddenly and quietly. "Why did you come to this place? When I asked you to leave Orario, I thought you would go somewhere safe!"

"You could say I was led here. I felt called to these mountains," Astraea smiled. "When we parted, I was in despair. I wanted to help pull you from what you were planning to become, but your pushing me away made me fall into my own grief as your fall did to you. What if I made each of you work harder at becoming stronger? If I pushed you, would everyone had lived?"

"I don't think so," Ryuu muttered sorrowfully. "What killed them wasn't directly Evilus, but a monster of the Dungeon that had all the strength of a Monster Rex. Evilus had intended to control the beast."

"A monster like a floor boss?" Astraea echoed thoughtfully. "I see. You did well, Ryuu, regardless."

"I abandoned justice!" Ryuu cried. "I haven't done well, nor have I been faithful to your vision!"

"Vengeance is easy to commit, I agree," Astraea spoke softly. "But, had you not dealt with Evilus, what would have happened to Orario?"

Ryuu stayed silent in arms of her goddess. Silent tears streaked the cheeks of the elven warrior, who could only cling tightly to Astraea as if she were the only source of light and warmth left in the world. The goddess smiled warmly at the remaining child of her Familia.

"In that moment, your heart was filled with lust for revenge," the goddess continued, "but your actions prevented Evilus to rebuild after the nightmare of the twenty-seventh floor. You gained not only justice and peace for our Familia, but the people of Orario. Your actions saved the city from a second nightmare, even if there were remnants of Evilus left."

"Lady Astraea?" Ryuu whispered at last and pulled back for a moment to look into the eyes of her goddess. Astraea kept her smile wiped the tears from Ryuu's eyes.

"Your actions themselves may never be condoned, but the conclusion was just," the goddess said. "Well done, my beautiful child. Please, be release your burdens and your guilt. There is nothing that needs to be forgiven."

Ryuu threw herself into the arms of her goddess once more and wept. She wept for her former companions, for sending her goddess away, and for herself, but her tears were filled with relief. She felt Astraea ease the burden she had carried with her for past several years and take it away from her. Before Syr had helped carry her burden, she had long wanted to kill herself. And now she could share the same beauty with her goddess that Syr had shown her long ago.

"Who are your friends?" Astraea asked after Ryuu had finally quieted down.

"Ah!" Ryuu pulled away and bowed before her goddess. "Forgive me, Lady Astraea. These are my friends and companions: lady Riveria and lady Lefiya, both of whom are high elves, Ais Wallenstien, who serves the high elves in the Loki Familia, and Syr, a Titan claims she is with the Freya Familia."

Astraea raised an eyebrow as the women introduced themselves. The goddess took her time studying each of Ryuu's companions, as if she were searching their souls. When Astraea's eyes fell upon Syr, she frowned slightly.

"You're from the Freya Familia?" the goddess pondered.

"Y-yes, goddess," Ryuu said, feeling some discomfort from Astraea's gaze on Syr.

"I'm not sure what is more surprising," the goddess shook her head after a long moment of silence, "that a Titan has made contact with mortals, or that a Titan is somehow wrong!"

"L-Lady Astraea?" Ryuu frowned. "What are yo—"

"Or maybe the Titan wasn't wrong," the goddess directed at Syr, ignoring Ryuu. "Maybe the Titan only revealed half of the truth."

"So you can see it?" Syr asked coldly, with a raised eyebrow.

"You can't see what isn't there," the goddess retorted before turning to Ryuu. "Your friend is part of the Freya Familia, and altogether not part of it. She has no falna. But, she does have traces of Freya's power."

"How could you tell?" Syr smiled mysteriously while everyone else cast looks of confusion between each other.

"All gods have the power to see souls," Astraea returned her gaze to Syr, "but some gods are better developed at it. Gods of justice must see the colors of souls to judge them. Freya has such an ability, but she does not use it as I do. Your soul, however—"

"I ask you not to say anything further, Lady Astraea," Syr stopped the goddess. "That is the business of Lady Freya and mine. But, please believe me when I say that I am on your side."

"I will not question your loyalty," the goddess said after a moment of silence between them. "Freya is many things, but she keeps her word, and trusts those who follow her to do the same."

Syr sighed in some relief before offering Ryuu a small smile. Ryuu returned the smile, though it was weak and unconvincing. The elf owed her life to Syr, and any thoughts of the slightest distrust between Syr and Astraea troubled her greatly. Still, despite the tension, Ryuu was thankful she could breathe easily once more.

"Now," Astraea turned her attention to Riveria, "may I ask what you're doing here?"

Riveria nodded and the high elf began her tale of the past several weeks to the goddess of justice. Astraea listened quietly to the words of Riveria, with few questions in between, save in concern of Michael. On occasion, Astraea's gaze shifted to Lefiya, and the Ellmίrë that hung at her breasts. A sparkle of light would faintly glow inside the jewel whenever Astraea would gaze upon it, as if to verify the words of Riveria; though the goddess guessed that the jewel was more likely to be studying Lefiya. When Riveria had finished her tale, Astraea sighed.

"This whole thing troubles me," she said softly. "I dare not believe even half of it, but I know you're not lying. If Michael is here, it can only mean that the world is going to burn. The gods know the Titans for being harbingers of doom, but they normally walk only the shadow realms, collecting the souls of the dead. That one appears in the land of the living is nothing short of coming disaster."

"You almost make it sound like it would be better if they didn't show themselves," Syr frowned.

"Don't mistake me," Astraea furrowed her eyebrows, "they are certainly bad news, but I would much rather they come so the world can be saved. Which is why I'm going with you."

"Lady Astraea?" Ryuu looked to her goddess, a faint yet hopeful smile painting her lips.

"The elves need to come out of their isolation," the goddess returned a bright smile to elven warrior. "If they don't help the rest of the world, they will die soon after Orario and the human nations are wiped from the earth. And, of course, we need to get over these mountains as quickly as possible. It seems I haven't made friends with the spirits of the eagles for nothing!"

…

According to the world history of eastern half of the northern hemisphere, the two greatest arguable empires that would spread culture from ancient history until now would be China in the east and Rome in the west. The connecting point of trade between the two powers was a highway called the "Silk Road," which started around modern-day Shanghai, China and ended at modern-day Istanbul, Turkey and Alexandria, Egypt. These empires would eventually be succeeded by Mongolia in the east and Spain in the west, and those two were ultimately succeeded by the British Empire, which all but ended with the conclusion of World War 2.

In the ancient world, the black banner was used during siege warfare. It was primarily used along the white banner that signified diplomacy. The invaders would offer, for a time, a chance for a city to surrender. But, after that time, the black banner would be raised as to say "the time of mercy is over."

Much of Roman mythology is influenced by Greek mythology almost to a point the Romans were just plagiarizing religion and slapping different names onto their gods. (They were, of course.) Of course, much of that may have to do with the fact that Romans claimed to be Greeks (Trojans) in exile. This eventually came to make a statement that "the Romans conquered the Greeks with the sword, but the Greeks conquered the Romans with culture." Sol Invictus seems to be a bit of an exception, as he was a new Roman god that took over the entire religion, but also retained major traits of major Roman gods such as Jupiter (Zeus) and Mars (Ares). Sol Invictus seems to be a slight copy of ancient Egypt's attempt at monotheism through "Aten," who was also a sun god. The only difference between Rome's attempt and Egypt's attempt at monotheism was that Rome was completely okay with it since Sol Invictus seemed to honor all of the gods of the Roman pantheon. Aten just kicked every Egyptian god to the curb, nearly forcing a religious rebellion. Another acceptance of Sol Invictus was his use by Rome in order to persecute anyone who did not submit to Roman culture/religion. Sol Invictus reigned in the Roman Empire until Constantine legalized Christianity about fifty years after the cult's start.

…

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