Deity

Foreword: Hello, my name is Xamareth, this is my first published work on Literotica, decided that if anywhere was safe to post it'd be here. Besides the grammatical errors, I've done my best editing. I am open to criticism, however, I ask that it be constructive. This is a long story, broken up into chapters. Ive been working on it for years and this is the final testing grounds. I present to you; Deity..

***

Sitting by the fire, contemplating the futility of this quest, I stared at its unchoreographed routine. Like our small group, there was no rhyme or reason to its motion, simply chemistry in action. The shadows cast around us mesmerized me, the ancient limbs of the redwoods dancing in unison. Moonlight filtered through the thick canopies above, the grass rustling against the silky fingers of the summer breeze. I raised my eyes to Seria Cior, who smiled contentedly around a mouthful of rabbit. Even now, I knew that she was the flame.

"You shouldn't talk with your mouth full," I warned against the look on her face.

Her sister, Akina, palmed her chin and furrowed her brow. She was still thinking about Seria's proposal. She absentmindedly twirled a metal coin along her knuckles, her view never breaking contact. The flames danced in her green eyes and set her auburn hair ablaze in dazzling spectacle. The repetitive clink of her gauntleted fist was rhythmic and calming, like a fan at bedtime. The look she gave me before addressing her screamed, "Can you believe this shit, Melissa?"

"You think you can really find it?"

Akina turned her towards her sister, arms resting on her knees. Seria nodded enthusiastically, chewing more fervently in order to gush about her research. Akina reached into her jacket, pulling a flask from its inner pockets. She passed it to her sister, who took measured mouthfuls. I mentioned it as self-mastication when she swallowed, causing a small mist of water to erupt from her nose. After the odd mixture of laughter and burps, which somehow impressed me, she clapped her hands together and smiled.

"I've already expressed my theory to Zephyr and Arch Mage Leroux, who both feel confident in my research. Nathan should be here shortly with a few special items that she has so kindly been willing to loan us."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Loan" meant Leroux talked Seria into a deal that constituted the involvement of everyone, not just herself. Her grin widened, while Akina's expression matched mine. I wasn't excited about this anymore. Nathan was annoying on his own, but with this added insult of Leroux's hand forcing ours, I felt like we were biting off more than we could chew.

"Zephyr and Leroux being involved is better than The Hecatian Guard... or Queen Simitria. Those two have a greater collective understanding of the dangers we may face," I pointed at Seria, "and so do you, but why bring Nathan along? He's just gonna make stupid jokes and make dumb remarks about how pretty we are, blah, blah, blah..."

I mimicked a mouth yapping with my hand and then slapped it, relaying my discontent. I didn't hate Nathan; he was, overall, a very wonderful man to have in your corner. It was his incessant need to flirt... if you can even call it that. By the UnGoddess, was it grating! Seria crossed her legs, adjusting her silk cloak and robes as she leaned forward. The fire caught her asymmetrically styled bangs, deepening the shadows they cast over her eyes. The ambience and suspense of the moment made her seem more malevolent than impish.

"Officially speaking, Tuwor isn't real. No one has been there for at least ten generations and, as far as history is concerned, the version we know was simply a man-made sanctuary. It did not possess the same qualities as The Spire. I've been working on this for years now, and I'm happy to say that it is very much real. Not even Head Sister Alkera could coherently refute my findings! While we're here," she pointed her journal at the ground, "she's working on presenting my findings to Queen Simitria's Court. If that gets to the Queen's eyes... I could very well be up for a reward or even a title!"

I prepared myself for the intellectual onslaught she was about to lay on our ears. The diatribe was detailed, covering patterns and the intricacies within them that led to subtle codes and phrases. These all came together to guide her to the conclusion that Star Marble, the unblemished, darker than black stone that comprised The Spire, could lead us to Tuwor via The Verdant Ocean. I raised my hands in defeat, signaling her to stop her rant.

"Why are you the first person to figure this out then? Star Marble has been around for far longer than any of us, as history dictates. UnGoddess be damned, even the city was built where it was because of The Spire. This reeks, Seria. You're holding out and I need you to come off it. Just because your brain is big doesn't make mine small."

I folded my arms in defiance, staring her down with all my might. I didn't expect her to be afraid of me; I expected honesty. I trusted her with my life. I didn't see how she could not trust me with the truth. In silence, we glared, until she motioned for us to come to her. Annoyedly, I rose to my feet. I crouched beside her, Akina opposite me and Seria raised her bangs. At first, we were simply staring into a set of green eyes. The next moment, her left eye was engulfed in a phosphorous matte green light! I stumbled backwards, landing on my ass with my mouth agape. Akina did not flinch.

"You've been here already then?" Akina's tone was flat and measured, her jaw clenched; inside she was pissed, but she held it beneath the surface with practiced grace. Her hands slowly rose from her knees, outstretched for her sister's face. The waddle of her crouch-walking would have been humorous in other circumstances. Her hands balled into fists, the knuckles pressing gently against Seria's temple, where she then applied pressure! Seria yelped in discomfort as she attempted to escape Akina's strength, but we all knew this admonishment was well deserved.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I only came to make sure it was safe before I brought you! I had to prove it somehow and this was the only way! Melissa, make her stop!"

Akina's disappointment remained lodged against Seria's temples for a few more moments before relenting. Akina plopped down and crossed her legs, her token coin appearing from thin air and found its place along her knuckles. I still hadn't moved from my, quite aptly, floored position. She was now proof that The Deities could very well be real. If she came here, received that weird eye from something and was allowed to return to us, it meant a possibly nefarious force far more powerful than any of us could be manipulating her, however, I wanted to believe Seria was still in control.

"I only made it to the temple plaza; the pronaos, naos and inner sanctum were locked behind a massive door. I couldn't even see where the wall met the top of the structure... it went on forever..."

Seria clutched her body against the shiver that peppered her skin in gooseflesh. Her normally calm demeanor gave way to fear, which concerned me. If there was something more, we wouldn't know until we reached this place. I, for one, felt at odds with my own personal beliefs. Deities weren't real. They never had been. Millenia have passed and no one has seen or heard from the Deities in any fashion. Not even the most devout can claim it, because there was no proof. But this...

"That's Hathor's eye, isn't it?"

Seria thawed from the chill of her fear, turning her attention to Akina.

"She chose you, which means that Ra may very well choose me, if we can reach Tuwor."

"Wait just a damned minute!" I interjected, now perturbed by this sudden change in her attitude, "what makes you think Ra would choose you? They aren't even real! This has to be some form of curse or a spell that has been enacted on those ancient ruins. No one has been to Tuwor, ever, so this place is likely to be laced with defensive traps to deter would-be thieves! I would even argue that it's doubly true if Deities actually exist... a big if."

Now it was my turn to receive the brunt of their combined discontent. I wasn't some outspoken anti-Deist, but this was ridiculous. Sure, I didn't believe in something unsubstantiated. Who you worship isn't my concern, but trying to eschew other causes for the one you like the best was just disingenuous.

"It isn't," Seria extended a hand, "dare me to prove it?"

"Dare."

I clasped her clammy hand, certain that something else was at work behind this entire situation. We stood there in silence, staring each other down when the warmth rushed into my stomach. It was almost like nausea, but without the queasiness, until the thrumming began. I could hear my heart beating, the blood coursing through my veins. In combat, this could be attributed to adrenaline, maybe even a spell, but this held none of those similarities. The pressure was immense, her grip more so. I attempted to extricate myself but, like a contract, our union was ironclad.

She closed in, her eyes reaching further into the pits of my soul. The queasiness cloyed at me, weaving itself deep within the fabric of my very essence like violently pungent body odor. I reached inward for my Source, hoping that the strength of my magic, the very seat of my power would be enough to extinguish or, at the very least, weaken the effects. The moment I felt that connection spark, I could feel a darker magic on its heels, like a flame lighting a fuse. I tried to fill myself with Ata, but as that darkness grew closer, I felt the urge to panic and flee, lest be I swallowed whole. Seria, releasing my hand, lunged forward to catch me as darkness crept along the edges of my vision. Sweat was pouring from my face, my legs and arms were weak with fatigue; I felt as if I'd just taken on Zephyr in a one-on-one fight!

"I'm so sorry," Seria quickly spoke, the gentle warmth of her Source being projected outward returned some strength to my limbs, "I didn't think that Hathor would be so... rough with you. Did you feel that second Source, the one that was tethered to the edges of your own? It's called Ra'myook. It belongs to The Deities. It comes from The Void, the place between where we stand now and what Hathor called The Empty. She wouldn't explain anymore than that, not until I brought all of you back with me."

She released me, rescinding her protective warmth, leaving behind the feeling of almost being spiritually violated by something I couldn't face, let alone fend off. If any of this was to be believed, then I didn't want to feel like that again; Deity be damned.

"I don't think I can continue on with you," I choked, standing up to leave, "that was... horrifying."

My eyes stung as I turned to head back the way we came, but Seria stopped me.

"You can't leave," she admitted apologetically, "we have to see this through to the end. The Deities won't let us leave, especially not me. They need us to help them. I know that it can be scary but they won't kill us," she paused, "At least, I don't think they will, Melissa."

I peeled myself away from her. I ran my fingers through my locs, hoping to soothe myself, but not even the weight of my trinkets could ease that pervading sense of violation. I left the campfire, walking back the way we came. I could hear footsteps behind me but I didn't care. I needed to leave. Nothing was supposed to be able to touch my Source. It belonged to me! I felt a heavier hand grab my arm from behind! If it was Akina, I'd fight her to get out of this accursed forest. I tensed up, ready to buy myself the few seconds I needed to escape.

"Hey, Melissa, please... just wait a minute?"

The deep baritone of Nathan's voice sent a chill down my spine. His grip wasn't strong or threatening, but he had no intent of allowing me to storm off. His fingers were hooked into the soft meat of my inner elbow, pressed tightly against the tendons. I took a deep breath, pinching my eyes to make it seem like my tears were of anger rather than fear.

"Release. Me." I growled over my shoulder.

His grip softened, but he did not obey. His free hand left the pack on his shoulder and gripped the faded, silver medallion he wore around his neck. His deep aloeswood tone held the warm sheen of the distant flames. His bushy goatee moved with his lips, his brown eyes now creased with concern.

"I'm not entirely for this idea either," he whispered, "but please, remember that she is currently responsible for all of us. We are all responsible for each other, of course, but this weight is heavier for her. We all have something on the line here; your past, her entire scholarly reputation, her sister... my mom..."

He dropped his hands, my demeanor softening at the mention of his mom. She was a kind and sweet one, one of the few people in recorded history to have survived "The Unbinding", an event that only occurs when someone overwhelms their Source and effectively destroys themselves. Mama Dixon lost her tie to Ata, so she became what we called "The Untethered". Even without her Source, the manual skills she learned along the way ended up being her greatest assets, like building, inscribing and maintaining objects that contain or conduct Ata.

I looked over his broad shoulder at the others, reflecting on my actions and if I should go back and apologize for my outburst. I still couldn't shake the unease, that piercing sensation of its teeth lodged in my gut to the gums. Despite my diffidence, Nathan was right; we were all in this together. Bailing on my friends out of fear and leaving them one member short was selfish and unbecoming. I took a deep breath, sighed and walked past Nathan, slapping his shoulder harder than necessary. He stumbled backwards, his lips curling into a smile. We returned to the campfire, where I plopped down in front of my boulder. Seria and Akina smiled at me in that creepy way that twins do, showing me that all was forgiven.

Nathan sat down between the sisters, handing his bag over to the more astute of the two. She rifled through it, laying everything out in the light of the campfire. There were four large rectangular boxes, likely rations, four canteens, and two objects that looked far more important than the rest. The first was a cube with indecipherable symbols etched on its surfaces and emitted a soft blue glow. Each face was carved into smaller cubes that seemed to shuffle in their housing, despite me staring at it and not blinking.

"This is called The Relay and it works as you would think; each facing can be linked to memorize whatever area we walk through. It shifts on its own, keeping track of where certain doors or hallways are. I refuse to get lost in a labyrinth. I won't promise you guys that it'll work perfectly. I'm still worried about whether or not we'll even be able to access our Sources within those walls."

Seria gestured to the final object, an orb with gray clouds swirling within its depths. Unlike The Relay, the only light it emitted was the lightning arcing within.

"Arch Mage Leroux said this one had no real name, just that it detects a threat based on whoever's holding it. The more calm the storm, the less of a threat and vice versa. If it shatters--"

"Then we're fucked." Akina finished, now rummaging through the bag, "what is this extra--" she snatched her hand out of the bag, staring at her gauntlet. A cold mist wafted from the palm and fingers, creeping slowly along its length. She reached out to the fire and it quickly defrosted. If that had been bare skin, it may have been much worse. She shook her hand, droplets of water sizzling against the stones around the pit.

"What in The Void was that?!"

Seria reached into the bag with her bare, mind you, hands and removed a grapefruit sized orb that oozed a cold mist similar to Akina's gauntlet. This was heavier and more concentrated, like dry ice. Seria's phalanges remained unphased by the cold; another telltale sign of Leroux's and maybe even the Head Researcher's interference.

"This orb isn't particularly powerful, it's just Ra'myook imbued Star Marble. I was able to create this with Hathor's guidance and it's supposed to be our only way into Tuwor. She says that the others have erected a barrier that only Ra'myook can extinguish. I've been trying to figure out how to make it work. I can feel Her Source, but I can't quite use it for my needs. Once we get there, I might have a better time with it."

"Well, let's get going," Nathan said, "let's put all this guessing to rest and prove it once and for all. I, for one," he raised his hand, "still think it's true. I just don't think it'll be anything that we can really be prepared for."

Seria motioned to Nathan to grab the bag and I set about putting out the fire and making sure we'd left no litter. After I was satisfied with my perusal, we gathered ourselves and followed Seria. Nathan and I covered the rear.

"What do you call a soldier that happily replies to his orders?"

I groaned. In front of me, Akina looked over her shoulder, a smile on her lips.

"What?" she asked, somehow cheerful about his piss poor jokes.

"A jolly roger."

Akina burst into laughter, stopping to double over. Nathan smiled with jubilance, his eyes flitting between us to gauge our reactions. I grimaced, but in front of me, the gentle tremble of Seria's shoulders gave her away. How do you have a new joke to tell every day and they're all bad? How hard was it to be funny? I moved to backhand his ribs, but my hand struck metal, causing me to yelp in surprise!

"Not today," he joked, "I came prepared to take more abuse!"

He lifted his shirt to reveal a lightly plated undershirt.

"Oh," I replied, stifling a smirk of admiration, "clever now, are we?"

His eyebrows rose when he saw the slight quiver at the corners of my lips. Thankfully, he didn't say anything. After a few more moments of laughter, we resumed our journey deeper into The Verdant Ocean. The thickening canopy above was choking out the moonlight above. Seria reached into her pocket with her right hand and removed the stormy orb from the infinitely deep reservoir within her emerald green cloak. Without looking, she tossed it to Akina, who caught it with both hands. Another small, grape sized orb, known as 'mistlight', was retrieved. She tossed into the air above us and it shattered instantly, showering us in a pink mist. The particles illuminated a wider area around us. Akina intermittently bumped her sister with her hips as they walked, steering her around smaller obstacles. The small storm within the orb she held remained calm.

"The deeper we go, the more uneasy I feel," I admitted, "it feels like the trees are closing in on us."

Nathan patted my shoulder lightly, letting it rest there for a moment. I placed my own atop his and squeezed it gently. Over her shoulder, Akina gave a slight nod. Worry was creeping along the edges of my senses, like the shadows around us. The further we traveled, the deeper its reach became. He dropped his hand as I moved forward, motioning to Akina for the storm orb. She tossed it to me and I caught it, immediately disturbed by the storm's sudden violence. Nathan plucked it from my hand and the storm immediately reverted. The three of us stopped walking, suddenly finding ourselves in a morbid game of hot potato.

"Why is it doing that?" Akina asked, as it exchanged hands.

"I don't know," Nathaniel handed it to me, his face scrunched in confusion, "she said if the wielder detected a threat, right?"

I flipped my locs with my free hand, listening for the chime of my hair accessories colliding. If they made a noise, it meant there was ill will aimed towards me. Zephyr gifted me a set of obsidian, animal based trinkets and cured metal tubes with intricately carved designs. I only removed them when I washed my hair; other than that, I wore them religiously. As her daughter, she wanted me to have something beautiful, created especially for me. Mid-toss, Seria's hand appeared, pulling it from the air.