Donath's Family

All throughout Ridgeline Fortress City, the citizens were of two different mindsets. On the one hand, you had people who knew the powers of the Phoenix they worshiped as a God, on the other hand there were those who hated their lot in life, angered by the monopoly on power that the God's possessed.

For the citizens of the Empire who had no desires other than to live serving themselves, this was a great opportunity. Humans can kill gods! I want to be a part of this! I'm going to join the army.

The announcement also reached the guards throughout the city. They, like everyone else, were of varying opinions on the matter. 

For those who knew of the powers that the Legendary Bird type Monster, a Phoenix, wielded, they were understandably worried. They dropped what they were doing to find their families. In doing so, began the mass movement of the city. One such family owned a bakery. 

Fortunately for them, they lived on the second floor of the bakery and had their family all together at the start. But even so, the eldest there, seemingly old enough to be a grandmother, stumbled and staggered as she heard the words. 

"Mother!" A mature aged woman shouted out as she ran over. She didn't look a day over 40. 

"Grandmother!" A young woman panicked, grabbing hold of the elderly woman and supporting her weight.

A boy and girl came running over, the boy carrying a cup of water, and the girl carrying a towel. Their faces were clearly worried. 

"Mommy, is great-grandma going to be okay?" The little girl cried, tears flowing. 

"Ah, I'm sorry dears, I was just a little surprised at the news. I loved our guardian Deity so much... To hear that someone ordered her slain... It breaks my heart. I should recover from the shock after a little rest." The Elderly woman said, forcing a calm and gentle tone as she patted the young girl's head. 

"Grandmother, you don't think that Lady Eternia is really dead do you? She... She can't be gone, can she?" The mother of the two young children asked, tearing up a bit herself. 

The young boy saw his mother, weeping. This feeling... What is it? He thought as he grew annoyed at the crying. Not really so much that it was happening. And then a hand landed gently on his head. 

"Son, what you are feeling now is... Well, difficult to explain in small words. But, for the sake of time. You should understand it as fury. And it's natural to experience this feeling when someone wrongs yourself and your family." A young man said, with a face clearly twitching with his own bout of fury at seeing his wife and child crying. Those bastards will pay for this! He thought. 

"Father, didn't we give offerings to the Goddess today? Grandpa took some for Lady Eternia. What happened to him?" The boy asked, having been clear of mind upon the reassuring touch of his father's hand. It was like my father just took all that fury away to himself... Thank you, now I can cry! He thought as tears began falling from his eyes too. 

"I don't know what happened to him, Son." The man grimaced. 

"Donath, We must prepare, I fear my Daughter's Husband will not return... Let us begin preparations to beg for forgiveness." An elderly weak old man said, having now managed to come down the stairs. He was barely holding himself together. If it wasn't for my "Resilient Heart" Skill I obtained in my youth I might have died from the shock just now. To think that kind man, who worshiped her Ladyship , Lady Eternia, would just commit such a grave sin. 

"I see... Mother, please watch over everyone while I prepare the carriage. We have to leave the city as soon as possible." Donath, the little boy's father asked, with a pained expression. 

However, his mother in law... was in no shape to be watching herself, let alone anyone else. The woman upon remembering that her husband was part of the mission... She knew there was never going to be a day she would see his face again. 

"Even if he had been brainwashed, there's no... No way he'd come back. Not after committing the worst possible sin imaginable..." Donath's Mother in-law muttered, collapsing to the floor on her knees, leaning against the wall. 

"Donath, I don't believe we have to leave. Lady Eternia is a fair and just Goddess. I still remember the day she helped my friend give birth to your father in-law. If a child possesses magic, they and their family will always be spared from the wrath of the Gods. Something like that, I think. And just look at these two cuties. They have some magic potential in them don't they?" The elderly woman said in a soothing voice. 

Donath looked at his children, hugged his son and then smiled. "Let us put our faith in the Goddess. I don't think we'd manage to get away now anyway. The streets are overcrowded... I doubt Blitz Riders would manage to get through." He said, and then handed his son over to his wife. "I'll take Mother up the stairs so she can lay down. I'm sure the shock is... Well you can see it." He said, holding back his fury. 

Donath then lifted up his mother in-law, and they went upstairs. Once there he laid her down in her bed. And pulled the covers over her. She was awake, crying. 

"Why did this happen?" Donath's mother in-law cried, muffled by her own tears. 

"The answer is not going to make you feel better, Mother. But, it is the greed of men." Donath answered with a sigh, choking back his own emotion. "For now, know that Father did not do this willingly. He was never that kind of man. If he was, I wouldn't have allowed him to give his blessing when I took your daughter's hand in marriage. He was only able to live because Lady Eternia had made it possible. Without her help, he wouldn't have made it." Donath continued. Even though the mother's blessing is by far more important to Lady Eternia's followers. He thought, but now wasn't the time to say this. 

"I know..." Donath's Mother in-law cried in response. 

Donath patted his mother in-laws shoulder gently, twice, before he moved to stand up. And then the sound of the announcement began to crackle to life again...