We Are Taking Down the Goddess

The Old World

[Floating Island, above Ennore]

With every contraction came intense pain. Loud screams dominated the royal chambers, stretching to every corner of the nearby rooms. The silk sheets soaked in blood. When the contractions subsided, only for a brief moment, the woman took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to cope with the pain. But, as soon as that moment passed, another wave of agony followed, taking over every section of her body. The woman screamed again.

Nothing could be more brutal than that sharp piercing pain. Over a dozen maids attended to her every need. Some brushed her sweat. Others held her hands. While the rest made sure she was warm and as comfortable as she could get.

-        “Wait. Wait. All right. Push.”

The woman nodded and let out one final grunt. Her lower body tightened, her flesh stretched, and the baby slowly fell into the hands of the midwife. After a short while, the newborn let out its first cry.

-        “It’s a healthy baby boy. A precious gift from Elidy.”

Hearing those words, put her heart at ease. The mother took a quick look at her newborn. He was the most beautiful thing she has ever seen. A bundle of joy. The woman smiled as her soul left her body. Her hands and feet laid lifeless.

-        “Your child is in great hands. Rest easy and may the goddess give you peace.”

The midwife mourned. For those whom lived thousands of years, death was just a simple transition to a new life. But, it was still devastating to see one of your own die before your eyes. Yet, bringing a new elf into this world was an honor only few could achieve. Many elven families wanted a child. Someone who would continue their legacy. But, that kind of luxury was never within their reach. Being born into an immortal race meant that procreation was limited. Even those who were blessed to give birth would most likely lose their life in the process. And this baby was that miracle. The first birth after five years of no elven progeny. His tiny body wrapped in the purest and most expensive silk.

The gate to the prince’s chamber swung open. The light from the hall illuminated the place, revealing bits and pieces of stunning deep blue skin, laying comfortably on the royal bed. A woman’s perky chest peaked through the Charmeuse sheets. The lightweight fabric gently brushed against every inch of her naked body. Her hourglass figure was simply ravishing. Taken aback by the enticing atmosphere, the maid faced the floor.

-        “My apologies, your highness. I didn’t know you have company.”

-        “No problem. What is it?”- Prince Folwin pushed the covers aside, stood up, and put on a robe.

-        “But, that woman… she will…”

-        “Speak.”

-        “Ehm…The chosen one was born. A healthy baby boy.”

-        “I see. The goddess kept her word.”

-        “Yes, your highness.”

-        “What about the mother?”

-        “Unfortunately, she didn’t make it.”

-        “Ah…Well, make sure she gets the burial she deserves. We must celebrate new life and honor hers.”

-        “Understood. Excuse me.”

The maid left in a hurry and closed the door behind. While the prince was reaching for his royal attire, not far from the bed, the stunning naked woman crept up behind him and wrapped her long hands around his chest. She savored his well-toned body.

-        “It’s a pity that elves have to die this way. One by one they fall. And for what? To bring a new elf into this world? Giving birth is more like a curse, then a blessing.”

-        “It’s a risk we are all willing to take.”

The woman brought her finger up to his lips. Their tongues intertwined in a passionate, rough kiss. Her hands moving from his chest, to his abdominal muscles, and down towards his muscular thighs.

-        “The world as we know it is about to change. Tell me, my prince. What happens when thousands…no…millions of elves die? How will you replenish your forces, then? Or, are you going to rely on the adventurers, once more? Is that a risk you are still willing to take?”

-        “The things I do will guarantee the future of my race. The fate of my brethren rests in my hands. I believe that’s something both of us can agree on. Isn’t that right, Xeneth?”

The woman’s deep red eyes stared right into his soul. Irresistible and tempting. Her touch, intoxicating. Whatever he wants to do, she could make it happen. She could fulfil even the deepest, darkest desires. Just her scent was enough to send anyone into a trance. The prince felt it. He knew her seductive aura all too well. The two locked eyes for a moment.

-        “I see you’ve already picked a side, my prince.”

-        “What about you? Who will you choose?”

Suddenly, the prince slammed the woman against the wall, her exposed back touching the cold bricks. He grabbed her hands with one arm, and secured his fingers tightly around both her wrists. Bruising her skin. His left hand dropped to her thigh, just above the knees. Xeneth couldn’t move, even if she tried. His grip was too strong. Her feet barely touching the floor. He lifted her up as if she was lighter than a feather. Yet, he used plenty of force to keep her locked in place. If anyone else stood there besides her, they would be terrified. Angry even. But, the succubus loved every moment of it. A huge smile formed on her face. Then, their bodies became one, their breathing changing with every thrust. From here on out, there was only passion. Pure and raw attraction.

♣

[Ringborg Cay]

The campfire glowed in full flow, flames making their way upwards. Its smoke twirled in a charming way. Aiko focused on the heat as Ren rested in her lap. Although it was hot outside, inside the tent it was a completely different story. The animal hide that covered the roof provided a perfect temperature, keeping the heat of the blazing sun at bay. While the fire created an ideal atmosphere, calming the girl’s weary heart.

-        “Is this the chosen one I’ve been hearing so much about?” – the elder smiled.

-        “She is nothing special, if you ask me.” – Yakeru chuckled and took a bite of the freshly cooked fish.

-        “You’ve heard about me?” – Aiko uttered.

-        “Such a frail young girl, indeed.” – the elder continued. “Everyone knows of your existence, young one. They might have not seen you, but they know.”

-        “How?!”

-        “The stars align. The dead speak. And the wind changes its course the moment a chosen one is born. Here.” – he sniffed, before he lifted the hide covering the main entrance to his tent. “It’s happening already.”

Suddenly, the world became a snow-globe. Powerful winds took Aiko and Ren by surprise. The white clouds and sunny weather she saw earlier were immediately replaced by icy-petals blossoming in the sky. The blizzard forced the cyclopes back into their lairs.

As the blizzard raged, Ringborg Cay came to a standstill. But, soon the streets were covered in screams. Women yelling from the top of their lungs until their throats ran dry. Their voices pierced even the loudest of winds, creating a grisly atmosphere.

-        “What’s happening?! Where are these screams coming from?! Why is this place covered in snow?! What’s going on!!!?” – Aiko panicked.

-         “Come inside, kid.”

-        “Yakeru is right. There is nothing for you out there. Take a seat, Aiko. You have much to learn.” – Kana added.

Although shaken by the drastic climate change and horrifying shrieks, Aiko subdued her desire to go out and see. She let the hide cover the entrance once more, and took a seat by the campfire. Her mind flooded with questions.

-        “Tell me, youngling. What do you know of the cyclopes?”

-        “Ehm…nothing much. Only that we were told not to go near your territory. I remember the women in Wolfmore telling us scary stories. Only meant for young girls. The cyclopes will do “this”. The cyclopes will do “that”. But, that was it. You were just a story.”

-        “Do you know why that is, little one?” – the elder took out a pipe made of some beast’s horn and lit it up under the campfire.

-        “I could never wrap my mind around it.”

That’s when the elder flipped the pipe, lightly tapped the shank, and sprinkled some its consistency into the fire. The blaze changed color, enveloping the flame with a purple hue.

-        “Let me show you, then.”

It burned with passion, changing and morphing, until the flames revealed a perfect picture right at the center of the heat. The girl saw something that looked like a forest. It was packed with thin trees. A glade or a clearing, maybe. As she leaned closer, she immediately realized it was neither. But, something completely foreign to her. Having spent most of her life in the desert mines, she has never seen anything like it. Soil submerged in water, ground barely firm to touch, and tall reeds covering bits and pieces of the surroundings. There was barely any sunlight, only small pathways too slippery to walk on. It was a damp and gloomy place wrapped in moss.

-        “This is the Swamp of Terreborg, or the Dying Slough as other races would call it. What you are seeing are fragments of the Old World. Times long gone, yet its effects still linger.”

-        “What do you mean?” – Aiko mumbled.

As the elder finished that sentence, a giant monster dropped dead in the middle of the swamp. Blood oozed from the massive opening in its neck. The creature looked like a wild boar, but ten times more fearsome than any wild pig Aiko has heard off. This one had massive sharp teeth and a couple of pointy horns sticking out of its head. Its trunk robust and short, with muscular legs strong enough to topple a huge building all by itself. Yet, it lay dead there, like some sort of easy prey.

Then came a monstrous creature, a savage beast. Aiko could smell it all the way from the burning fire. It reeked of rot. Unwashed, decomposing skin. As light illuminated its face, she quickly realized it was a cyclops. But, the giant figure looked more tribal compared to those she met at Ringborg Cay. Its body was bare. Covered with countless cuts and bruises. With every single wound more infected than the next.

The creature bent forward to lift the boar off the ground, when a giant cudgel flew towards its left hand. It went right for his elbow, tearing his arm limb from limb. The beast let out a roar.

Another cyclops emerged from the forest. It grabbed one of the nearby trees, pulled it off the ground with its roots still intact and went for the cyclops’s head. Just as the massive tree was about to flatten his head, the wounded cyclops stood up, and sunk his feet in place. He immediately used his healthy hand to block the oncoming attack. The tree landed with a crunching blow, rendering his other arm useless. But, he lived. The colossal monstrosities clashed.

-        “What?! They are fighting each other? Why?”

-        “15,000 years ago, before Elidy claimed the celestial throne, cyclopes were wanderers. Simple brutes. Driven by their primal instincts to survive.”

Then, the image in the fire changed. It displayed burning cities. Toppled markets, and flattened bodies. Humans, elves, fairies, and all kinds of magical beings fell at their feet.

-        “Without a tribe or a place to call home, cyclopes devastated various regions in search of sustenance. A single cyclops was all it took to sack these settlements. They even killed their own kin.”

-        “Oh…no…” – Aiko was mortified.

-        “But, there was something else that was more important than food, but much harder to achieve. An unquenching thirst that must be controlled. Whatever the cost.”

-        “What is that?”

The image in the fire changed again. It showed beautiful elven, human, and half-beast women getting snatched from their homes. Girls in their prime, dragged by their feet and into a dark lair. The horror in their eyes. It wrapped around their bodies like shackles around their neck, slowly twisting their minds into insanity.

Some of them would dig their nails deep into their skin to bleed out and die. Others would slam their heads against a nearby rock as the creature dragged them across the road. Literally, anything they could think of to ensure a quick death. But, many of the women weren’t even given that chance. When the cyclopes noticed their behavior, they lifted the young girls off the floor and placed them over their shoulders, away from harm’s way.

Their shrieks shook Aiko’s soul. They bypassed her ears and went straight for her heart. The girl’s eyes filled with tears. She had no idea what awaited the women in that grisly lair. But, whatever it was, it was worse than death.

-        “The need to reproduce.” – added the elder, with a firm tone. “The previous God of Time, the one who ruled before Elidy, made sure that our kind goes instinct. Slowly and painfully. He took away our female brethren, and left us to fend for ourselves. It divided us. It tore us apart.”

The image in the fire kept morphing, reshaping. Countless women laid on the floor. Their eyes devoid of emotion. As if, their souls were ripped from their bodies. All but husks remained.

-        “We never surrendered. We kept pushing back. Unlike the elves and fairies, we are mortal. It’s the only thing that keeps us alive.”

-        “But…but…” – her voice trembled. Her hands shook. “Your kind is massive. That…doesn’t even make any sense. How…how is that possible?!!”

-        “We have our means.”

Aiko was horrified.