《Pantheon Online 》Chapter 13: Simple Shrine
Advertisement
Erik Fjord, Harald's father, growled at Ania as he stormed his way towards her. "Did you kill him? Then make up this nonsense about him trying to sell you off to hide your crime? Everyone here knows of my son's valour! Yet he was never enough for you, was he?"
Sarri pushed Ania behind her back and planted herself in the way of Erik's mountainous figure. Erik glared at Sarri as if daring her to try something. He was not about to allow some wench to put a stain on his son's honour without evidence.
"You heard what she said, Erik! I suggest you back off until her father comes back. Then we can settle this according to our laws!" Sarri's gaze was like fire as she held Erik's line of sight. Neither of them was backing down at all.
"Laws! Laws, you say? Fine! Then I invoke the right to Trial by Combat! May the Gods strike me down if Harald is guilty of what she says!" Erik turned his head to spit on the ground in front of Ania. Sarri was so shocked by Erik's challenge that she failed to react.
Like a dark cloud, Erik forced his way back through the crowd and soon disappeared from view. The villagers dispersed after that. Looks of pity were evident upon their faces whenever they stole a glance at Ania. Even Sarri did not know what to say. After all, a Trial of Combat was usually carried out until one of the combatants died or the victor spared their opponent.
However, it was apparent that Erik would never spare Ania for what she had said. Even though most folks did not believe the Gods were real anymore, they still believed in the validity of the Trial. At one time in their history, this was how all criminal trials were held. At that time, they thought the Gods watched over the fight and ensured that the guilty party lost.
Advertisement
It was an old custom, and nobody alive in Eraldsfen had ever witnessed one. However, it was still a legal custom, so nobody could deny Erik of his challenge. Sarri was beside herself with worry. It was most likely that these would be the last twenty-four hours that she would ever spend with her daughter.
However, when she glanced at her daughter, she saw no trace of fear on her face. Sarri immediately became even more concerned. Perhaps the shock had been too much for Ania. Little did she know that Ania felt like she had no reason to be afraid. After all, she actually had a God on her side!
Colt stood a little bit behind Ania with a solemn expression on his face. He was feeling pissed that someone was trying to kill his only follower after he had just got her! Did Erik have a death wish? Or at least, that was what Colt was thinking. However, he had no way to intervene right now. His DP was empty, and he had no clue how to regenerate it!
Colt was cursing Erik within his mind as he tried to figure out if there was anything that he could do. It was useless, though, as he was unable to influence the mortal realm with his body. As a dark mood claimed Colt's mind, he helplessly followed Ania as her mother dragged her off home.
There he learned that Ania's father, Mikel Eraldsen, was currently away on a raid. Sarri bombarded Ania with memories that she held dear over a simple meal of rabbit stew and old bread. Colt was in no mood to appreciate the old stone house. There were only two rooms, the living room/kitchen and a single bedroom.
Colt sat by the open fire and stared into the flames as he waited to see if a new Quest would trigger. He was convinced that a quest might be his only hope for saving Ania. Colt was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice that the fire had already become mere embers, and darkness had taken over the Eraldsen home.
Advertisement
'Hm, when did it get so dark?' Colt's thoughts were disturbed when soft snoring entered his ears. As he glanced around, he noticed that neither Sarri nor Ania were present. 'How long have I been sitting here?'
Colt frowned as he pulled up the interface to check the time in real life. It was no surprise to gamers like him that time usually passed faster in games than reality these days. His eyes wandered to a corner of the screen. Colt let out a surprised gasp as he doubled checked the time.
Having spent half a day in-game, he was surprised to find that only half abhor had passed in reality. It did not take a math genius to figure out that he could spend a week in-game for seven hours of sleep each night. Two weeks if he pushed himself to stay emerged for fourteen hours straight each day as he was used to.
"Lord Exile…" Ania's soft voice whispered from the gap in the wall that led to the bedroom. "I'm sorry it's not the welcome that I promised."
Colt's eyes moved to examine Ania's trembling lips and the redness around her eyes. 'She probably thinks I'm angry about it. Though I guess, that's a valid fear when you're dealing with a God.' Colt let out a long sigh as he thought about how to reassure her.
On the other hand, Ania took Colt's sigh to mean that he was growing tired of sticking around here. After all, why would a God stay with mortals if they were not receiving benefits?
"It's not much, but I've made a small shrine to you. I promise I'll make something better once I can convince the other villagers to believe in you!" Ania's tone sounded desperate as she bit her lower lip. Colt, on the other hand, had just become intrigued by her statement.
"Show me!" Colt excitedly got up onto his feet and followed a hesitant Ania into the bedroom.
His eyes fell on three small rocks piled on top of each other with Skardian runes written down them. His mind could not comprehend their meaning, but he assumed that it was Gamertag written in their language. A stick of incense burned in front of the rocks, releasing a pleasant smell of pine trees in the room.
[Simple Shrine to Exile detected… Do you wish to bless this shrine? Y/N]
'Yes!' Colt exclaimed in his mind. 'Perhaps there's hope after all if I can increase my Authority again with the Quest Reward!'
[Founding Your Religion… Please Stand By…]
Advertisement
Shades of the Moon
I'm rewriting this story! I have taken down Arc 2 and Arc 3 already to avoid spoiling my new novel. The only reason I'm keeping the first 10 chapters is nostalgia; the writing is awkward and the story is not plotted out properly, but it's here if anyone wants to compare it to the new one. If you'd like to read a more professionally written version of this story, I highly suggest checking out my Synergy. Synopsis version too-many-to-count: “I see,” Kiona said. “But . . . you’re changing once again, aren’t you?” The entity considered her question, lifting a clawed hand towards the night sky. They observed the back of their hand idly, watching the glowing orange veins pulse alongside their pitch-black exoskeleton. The wind picked up right then, and Kiona shivered—just as much from the cold as from the savage grin on the creature's face. “That’s right,” the entity said, clenching their hand slowly into a fist. They let out a quiet laugh, staring defiantly at the Moon as it rose from behind the clouds. “We are shades, yet not exactly. Not like the others. Here, in this world, we've become something more. We are the Shades of the Moon.” There was a heartbeat of silence, during which Kiona joined the entity in their skygazing. The light-green Moon loomed over the city, shining like the entity's eyes. It promised otherworldly knowledge and terrible secrets. It promised progress. It promised change. In that moment, Kiona couldn't have imagined anything more beautiful. “Shades of the Moon, huh?” she said, smiling a bit. It had a nice ring to it.
8 192The Shadow Domain - A litRPG
Carter Hart receives a pair of glasses which allows him to enter the Virtual fantasy world of Baria. He is pulled into the dark underworld of an MMORPG and has to fight to survive. Literally. On his quest he meets another adventurer named Alora with her own secret, a plot for revenge. Not any revenge, revenge against the elite, for they have taken something that was very precious to her, her hardcore account. Together they venture forth into this magical world, Gnome wizard and Human ranger. But as soon as the son of Elite businessman Chang, finds out about her revenge plot, he sends assassins after her. In real life. This is the start of the Baria tales. The story of how an a-grade student on his way to engineering school in a dystopian world meets a girl from a rich elite background and together they find a way to show the elite how to have humanity again.
8 174The Benefits of Hearing Voices
Darius never liked the voices, so he decided to try to silence them. But did it work? Hey guys! Hope you like this story!
8 156The Year Before Eternity
A retelling of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast. After 100 years, Kieran Pietre Erik, Crown Prince of Gaerin, has lost his chance to break the curse that befell his kingdom. Now, he lives for all eternity as the beast. The only people left alive in the abandoned castle to keep him at bay are a maid, her child, and the Prince's guard. Stuck in an endless cycle, they've lost all hope of freedom. Until someone resets the curse. Astrid Delacroix is beautiful and intelligent - and vain. She longs to be free of her boring life in her small hometown, where she has to put up with the small-minded. She toys with the people around her; she knows she doesn't belong in their world. The only things keeping her from running are her ill father and their crippling finances. When her father, in a desperate attempt to steal a rose made of solid gold from an abandoned castle, is held captive by a beast, Astrid switches one form of captivity for another. But her attempts to gain her freedom trap her into the curse that imprisons the castle's inhabitants. Now, with a new addition to the curse, they are given one, final year to free themselves from this neverending nightmare.
8 215Everythink is grey
A story of a teenage protagonist living in one of the few safe zones in a post apocalyptic world with his friends as they just try to make it day to day.
8 386Avneil - being with you
Started: December 18, 2017Ended: August 13, 2019Status: Completed Editing: In process Description:Based on Avni and Neil's married life.....this story is a Fan Fiction of Avneil from the show Naamkaran.....this story continues from the point when Dayavanti is captured by the police......This story will be about the ups and downs of avneil through their beautiful journey of marriage....Do check it out if ur a Avneil fan...
8 532