Ancient Kaeyama Lore II

Part 1

Content Warning: There is minor discussion of suicide

The nightly winter winds howled as snow fell. “You want to play this game, sister? Fine. The Kaeyama shall become our battleground.” Aletha’s mind hissed after she buried the two High Priestesses and stared blankly at their markers before putting her hood up and fleeing into the night with her followers, who once worshipped the twins. A rift had begun and the people. The planet especially in the crossfire of these two Goddesses. The cores glowed as trouble brewed below the surface.

“Or this is how the story goes. These Time Crystals can be faulty for showing past events, but I will never question my Goddess’ decisions or actions on what happened that fateful day. May those High Priestesses who lost their lives over nothing rest in peace.” High Priest of Destruction Rainerius wrote in his personal journal before letting out a sigh and leaning back in his chair. The reddish skinned man twirled the white feather with black tip quill in his hand as he pondered what he had written and what he was told/shown.

“Faulty or not, there’s no way a Time Crystal could fabricate what they showed. Something happened between the two sister Goddesses, and I don’t just mean the lack of worship between the two. Something was brewing long before that occurred.” Rainerius thought while staring up at the wooden ceiling of the inn. He was on a mission that Aletha had given him personally to do, which he accepted with no questions asked. But as he continued to travel, the more he questioned what is the truth, and what is a lie. “I wonder if speaking with Morrigan, the Goddess of Death, to get in touch with those High Priestesses to get some answers?” The High Priest of Destruction knew he was taking a gamble on pulling such a stunt, but something nagged at him to look into things further.

“Why do you get like this?” Rainerius growled angrily under his breath at himself while stamping out the silly idea as patrons of the adjacent Tavern quietly talked among themselves. The man knew he never questioned Goddess Aletha’s judgement or orders when in her Lady’s present or around the armies to launch an attack on Nephele, who was called the Goddess of Life. Yet whenever he was alone, his mind wandered and questioned, especially his own morals when giving orders or being put on missions. The man adjusted his black biretta as he felt it slipping off his head. While he normally didn’t care, he knew others would, and he wanted to look as professional as possible.

Considering he was near enemy territory, Rainerius shouldn’t worry much about appearances. “High Priest of Destruction?” A man’s voice boomed causing the priesty man to nearly fall out of his chair at the sudden speech. “Yes? How can I be of service?” Rainerius questioned as a disheveled Black Panthera shifter man stepped forward in tattered clothes. The priest stood on guard as he didn’t know what this person was planning, yet he could sense the man was in dire need. “Can I please talk to you in private? I need to speak to someone about that damnable Goddess of Life.” The man snapped, startling the High Priest at the sudden reaction. “S-sure. Follow me.” Rainerius said as he moved from the table and headed towards his room.

“What is your name, if I may ask?” He asked to break the sudden silence that had fallen between the two men as they stopped in front of an inn door.

“Jiro. Yours?” The Black Panthera shifter answered gruffly as the two entered the single bedroom with a nightstand, couch, desk, and small fireplace. As the priest closed the door behind him, he gave him his name. “Rainerius. Please take a seat.” He offered the desk chair as he sat on the made bed. “What seems to be the issue, Jiro?” Rainerius asked in a low tone once the two were settled as pain came across the other man’s face. “My family. They were killed during a fight.” Jiro started to say with a shaky breath before continuing. “This fight was caused by Nephele herself as she made a surprise attack on Aletha’s men. Innocent lives, including my wife and children, were caught in the crossfire. I want revenge on her. I know it isn’t going to bring them back, but the pain. It’s too much to bear in this cold, cruel world.” He snarled as Rainerius fell silent to gather his thoughts before speaking again.

“I understand, my son, and you are correct - revenge is not the answer to this.” Rainerius said before closing his brown eyes while folding his arms to ponder a solution. “This man needs closure. And I need answers to things that are plaguing my mind. Morrigan… She may be of assistance to this.” He quickly opened his eyes as his face twisted into determination. “It might be a long shot, but the Goddess of Death, Morrigan, might be of help on getting closure at least. You know, see your loved ones one last time.” He announced as Jiro’s features became perplexed, yet hopeful at the thought. “Are… Are you sure this is going to work?” Jiro remarked with skepticism and hope as the High Priest gave him a nod.

“Yes. I mean it is a longshot, but this could be beneficial to you. I can understand and sympathize with you as to why you’d want revenge on Nephele, but that will not resolve your broken heart.” Rainerius said solemnly as his mind went back to the past event images he had seen between the two Goddesses while thinking about his late lover, who was also killed by Nephele before he was chosen to be Aletha’s Priest of Destruction. He shook his head as there were far more important things to tend to. “We can go to the local Death Shrine as soon as the twin suns are up.” The man of Destruction announced as Jiro gave him a nod in agreement. “Sounds good. I shall take my leave and see you in the morning then.” Jiro replied as Rainerius shook his head. “Please don’t go. There’s no point in leaving due to how late it is and despite my title, I am concerned about your present condition.” He said noting the fresh wounds that were peeking out from his holey clothes as Jiro grumbled something under his breath.

“You are far from fine, my friend. How you managed to come to me in your condition is beyond me.” Rainerius remarked at what he had overheard while walking over to his belongings and pulled out a medical kit along with a healing staff. Jiro grumbled under his breath when the priest came over. “Just the staff. Nothing else.” The Black Panthera shifter ordered as the High Priest shook his head. “Sorry, but that’s not how this works. You know Light Magic alone can’t heal wounds - not without making one violently ill or possibly killing them.” He retorted as Jiro let out an annoyed groan. “Fine.” Jiro said with defeat in his voice as he removed the destroyed pale brown shirt to allow the other man to work. “What happened to you?” Rainerius said out loud when looking at fresh and old wounds across the dark muscular shifter.

“I was fighting Nephele’s men. After they killed my family, I couldn’t hold back.” Jiro replied as he glanced away while rubbing his shoulder. “It was a suicide mission. I wanted to be with my family.” He whispered as tears fell as Rainerius nodded in silence. As the man darted around, Jiro noticed something across the Priest’s neck. It was a large scar that looked as if someone attempted to decapitate him. “Uh, it isn’t any of my business, but what happened to your neck?” He questioned as Rainerius frowned as he sat on his haunches. “Just like you, I lost someone near and dear to me during one of the Goddesses fights. Nephele was also the cause of this incident and my near death. But the Good Goddess, Aletha, saved me. Regardless of what she’s referred to now, she is still a Goddess of Life, and prevented me from dying that day. Despite my protests, I should say.” The Priest responded in a low tone.

Jiro gave the man a sympathetic nod. “Is this how you became a High Priest of Destruction?” He asked. “Yes. While not my first choice of work, it pays the bills, and it makes me a permanent reminder to Nephele.” Rainerius replied flatly as he finished his work. The sounds of rushing winds blew in the background as silence fell between the two men. “I’m sorry for your loss.” Jiro whispered as Rainerius gave him a small smile. “It’s fine. While the pain has numbed over the years, I’m more than happy to serve my Lady Aletha, and help people like yourself. It’s late. We should get some rest before getting to the Death Shrine. You know how those deities are if you're not refreshed and looking presentable.” The High Priest said half jokingly as the two men shared an agreement laugh before Rainerius headed towards the couch. “You can have the bed. I’m fine with the couch.” He remarked. “Uh, thank you, sir. You didn’t have to do that.” Rainerius flashed him a smile. “It’s fine with me and besides this is too small for you anyway.” He said before they went to sleep.

As soon as the twin suns rose, after breakfast, and readying themselves, they headed towards the Death Shrine that was at the edge of town. Once at the shrine’s entrance the two men looked at one another as a brisk spring breeze blew past. “Let’s go.” Jiro said as he started to head inside. Unknown to the two, Nephele’s scouts had followed them, and were following their movement. “We need to move now before they reach the inner chamber. If we kill them there, we’ll be in loads of trouble with that Death Goddess.” The hooded man on the right said as the man on the left gave him a silent nod before they ran after.

As Rainerius and Jiro silently walked down the narrow corridor, they overheard echoing footsteps close behind. Before the two men had a chance to react, the scouts ambushed them, and started hacking away at them with their swords and iron clubs. After several minutes of screaming, failing to protect themselves, silence filled the shrine as the scouts fled the area as Morrigan appeared. Anger and rage filled her black eyes as she signaled to the others that they had to do something to stop this.