Memory is a strange thing and fortunately at times a mystery and not always accurate as we selectively choose and distort it to suit our purpose.

During my evolution, the absence of pain was a welcome relief, enjoyable even as my anticipation built until completion. The shell was not required for this evolution, therefore, marking this evolution as superior perhaps. Finalisation eventually reached, what would I become? A question answered most satisfyingly; muscular, black-furred big cat body, human torso and hair adorned head with glorious, feathered wings attached to my spine! My hands are eager to grip weapons once again and yet my evolved form is mute on the prospect. Why? Did I mention hair, not feathers or fur on my head, wonderous feminine hair! I cannot recall how I know the hair is feminine and not sure why I feel it is wonderous, perhaps a human thing, a subtle preference due to my creator’s intended vision of me? I remember these aspects of my former appearance and some I don’t although I value them without remembering or knowing why. Instinctual? Abundant intelligence? Have I progressed beyond the cunning of a hunting beast to the smarts of a scheming predator?

My evolution forms and completes and yet the ball of light, cocoon-like, remains, waiting. A secondary evolution follows, the Healer Profession infusing into my being, filling my mind with knowledge, a waterfall of enlightenment I eagerly bathe in. A peace settles over me, the good I could do with these new skills and techniques, perhaps heal those I have hurt if I return quickly to them. Make amends in a small way perhaps for past transgressions. Utilise my hands for healing instead of slaying. My present evolution is eager to start! Why? Is this an aspect of my new evolution’s nature? I don’t crave the flesh of horses I realise; I am not Griffon. I am Lammasu, I help, and I assist, this is innate in this creature.

The light didn’t fade, didn’t cease and I knew why, although I shook my head in slow motion trying to deny, prevent, my token effort fruitless. The brightness swirls and glows in response, a light-hearted laugh reaches my ears, my resistance futile when facing the inevitable. My remaining in the light ushers in one final change or more properly assimilation, my will inexorably bending to his purpose.

His white-bearded face coalesces out of surrounding light, friendly fluffy cloud-like. His eyes strongly shining bright, two searing beacons penetrating my soul. Immobile, unable to resist, I receive illumination, the truths according to Zeus, his glory personified, his power uncontested and a brief education concerning other, lesser Gods and Goddesses, including the Goddess Aphrodite. Her beauty of face copied onto mine, a cheeky theft perpetrated by my Creator. Also, the meaning of life, living a good life according to Zeus; the rewards for compliance, and the punishments for disobedience. Finally, the consequence of death, the end, no return, no reincarnation and certainly no second chances for anyone ordinary.

I am his appointed agent on this world, to spread his influence and thereby grow his power and presence, eventually the bridgehead to his invasion. His plans were revealed to me as his instrument, to achieve I need to comprehend his end game. The architect of my Creator’s punishment enslaving me into his scheme, the irony and the misery. Two Masters? The question hangs before me, needing to comply and support each of them in equal measure? One more than the other? The consequences? Zeus has infused his being or a significant part of his divine into me, I will not travel alone, ever. Azizos, the lessor of the two now? Away from his Dungeon, I am more me, I exercise my free will. None of this I can change, so I accept my fate. For now.

Hate should fill me, and it doesn’t. A Priest of Zeus is loyal and faithful, a perfect servant. I am a new incarnation of his, a holy servant, an experiment. Zeus does not favour such dedicated servants on Earth, rather the civilisation he inspires and supports, worships him as a collective. Here though he needs a focus, one to spread his faith to many and in doing so he grants me holy power, a portion of his majesty and divine essence. The cost to him, assuages my forced feelings towards him, I am an expensive servant, the adamantine spear tip to his scheme on this new world and he needs his spear to hit and mortally wound its target.

Yes, memory is a strange thing. I remember hating Zeus, yet now I can’t, I am forbidden due to my servitude and his presence wrapped around my heart. I am aware of the circumstance and the reason, and I should be able to build up the hate again from nothing and yet there is nothing. A slave who is forced to willingly and agreeably serve, the divine spark within me guides me, and extinguishes my hate of him. I grow a different type of hate, the loss of my real hate. I serve Zeus, I have no choice although I reconcile this nevertheless as a means to an end; to free my Creator. I hate not having a choice and therefore I need this explanation. I need this macabre excuse to serve him. Yes, to serve Zeus is to free my Creator, the sole reason I am submitting, not because I don’t have a choice!

My mind settles on that simple resolution and the light embracing me fades at that exact moment and my new friends greet me the instant after.

I return my mind to the present, my head twitches as if waking when I notice my new friends have gathered around me, peering at me not willing to disturb my absence. The forest surrounds us, tall wide trees wall us in, the floor of the forest covered in patches of dead leaves close to the trunks and snow further away fallen from the branches above. I breathe in and savour the fresh crisp air, and the scent of the snow-laden trees as if this exact location is somehow important and worthy of my appreciation.

“Lead the way,” I say. They do, ignoring my strange behaviour due to the recall of my evolution now that I am safely away from my Master, Azizos.

---

Breaking away from the forest proper a clearing welcomes us as the sun sets to farewell the day. Fine white snow covers the ground before us and the rooves of their homes in the distance. I pause to admire the beauty of the simple constructs of shelter before me, the cold and wind chill failing to bite even though I am naked from the waist up, my raven black hair tossed about. As we approach the steading my appraisal changes and I am forced to revaluate.

The Steading is huge, scaled to suit the giant-sized inhabitants! Cut logs, their girth equal to the Frost Giants, lay upon each other to form the walls and I am not sure what holds the entire construct together. I appreciate this family clan and their endeavours to make a home and regret even more my victories over them, although I temper this considering a simple fact. They believe I am some mystic force or saviour. I contemplate and dismiss what their attitude to me would be if I revealed any weakness.

Several buildings make up their steading only one though has smoke billowing from it and by requirement, a burning fireplace within. This is also their smallest building; curious. The two wolves venture off returning to the forest, I assume to hunt. The largest male Frost Giant invites me into the largest building, an open doorway along its longest side. They are still cautious in my company, not wishing to offend perhaps.

Once inside I observe a cold fire pit positioned in the centre and at either end of the steading, a doored room. One Frost Giant couple and a youth march purposely towards one of the rooms, while a female Frost Giant and a youth claim the other.

“My sister Arnora and my nephew Hrut are in mourning, while my brother’s family go rest. So, I, Erland will answer your questions.”

The rush from my Master’s Dungeon meant there were no introductions, what an oversight in good manners on my part. Seemly accepted and therefore, possibly, probably, not an insult to my hosts. My haste was necessary of course to ensure my Master couldn’t interfere with my intentions.

“I am known as Aphrodite, and I serve the Great God Zeus.”

He cautiously leans his great axe against one of the seating logs around the fire pit. His brow knots and he flops down with practised familiarity onto the same seating log. A long silence passes as I allow him time to think and hopefully ask the first question.

“What is God? Who is Great God Zeus?”

Two questions, encouraging. When I evolved and acquired the Priest profession certain divine knowledge, perhaps truths became apparent to me and these I espouse to my Frost Giant companion, I know no different, confidently assured of their truth due to their divine origin, Zeus.

“A God fills us with purpose, explains why we are here, how to live best and what becomes of us when we die. Zeus faithfully worshipped will aid us in our struggles granting magic and wisdom.”

Erland scratches his beard.

“Zeus lent his aid to me to defeat the evil one!” I offer, raising my voice.

His huge body jolts and he leans back eying me.

“Where did Vlagard go?” screams a familiar female voice.

My head snaps around in the direction of the voice, partly due to surprise and partly for dramatic effect. I paw and scratch at the log floor of the longhouse.

“I do not know.” My tone is deliberately earnest and respectful.

“What does your God Zeus say of death?” questions Arnora, some of the sorrow gone, replaced by curiosity.

Tears freeze on her azure cheeks, the colour intensifying with each step towards me. I hold up open palm hands to calm her and hopefully settle her.

“Those that serve, and worship Zeus, King of the Gods, Storm God and Ever-seeing Sky God will enjoy Elysium, a place of pleasures for the virtuous, reunited with your loved ones for eternity as a reward for your devotion.”

“So, my life partner is lost to me?”

“It is no different from before you met me. Zeus though can offer more.”

Brother and sister stare at each other.

Without breaking their locked gaze Erland speaks next. “When Arnora and I die, we will be reunited in Elysium?”

I hold my voice steady. “If you serve Zeus and are loyal and virtuous, yes.” I nod my head to reinforce the fact.

I glance at both to ensure they are paying attention and then deepen my voice to add weight to my next words. “If you are false Zeus has another fate, Hades for those who are evil and Tartarus a special place for the torment of the damned.”

I see the fear grow in their eyes, and their huge bodies shudder. They calm themselves somewhat as I smile at them.

“You do not have to worship Zeus, it is a burden I must endure, your lives can continue as they always have once I leave.” I deliberately stare out into the dusk, the sun now set. I am tempting them by denying them.

“You are his chosen are you not?” asks Erland.

I nod to him in agreement. “I am commanded to spread his worship across the land as an offer not as a command as belief in him is taken on faith, not sufferance.”

“What is faith?” asks Arnora.

“You believe in Zeus’ power, even if others deny it, ridicule you for doing so or attack and possibly slay you or threaten to kill you to deny your faith.”

“Can you demonstrate his power before us now?” suggests Arnora. “I would like to witness his mighty strength!”

“Faith is its own reward. Zeus doesn’t barter with his potential worshippers, you believe, or you don’t believe.”

Our conversation continues into the dead of night always returning to the fact my Frost Giant companions wish Zeus, through me, his chosen, to demonstrate his power. In the end, I feign tiredness and inform my companions I will leave their steading and their lives in the morning. They can return to their way of life, and I will continue to spread the worship of Zeus elsewhere.

They offer me one of the now vacant cottages, the former owner, recently slain and no longer in need of it. I don’t understand why they need shelter, they are impervious to the cold as I am, so perhaps it has to do with ownership and safekeeping of belongings. I consider sleeping on the roof, safety first and realise if they found me there, I would be admitting fear of them and weakness. I must hold to my faith!

---

I wake to multiple announcements.

{Priest Skills: Theology (Zeus), Oratory

Faith Magic: Sky Realm (Far Sight, Magic Sight, Locate Enemy, Locate Magic, Locate Faithful, Locate Faithless)

Divine Magic: Soul Sight

Realm Magic: Assess Aspirant}

My faith has been rewarded or perhaps my skills and Priest magic needed to develop overnight and reveal themselves. Theology (Zeus) Rank 20 manifesting after the night-long discussion, the knowledge of Zeus and his mythology always within me from my evolution now being converted to a skill. My tempting them and denying them the basis of the Oratory Rank 15 skill, both perhaps boosted by his Divine spark within me.

From Theology (Zeus) I realise Zeus has three aspects and each aspect is worshipped separately. His Storm Aspect, the destructive form, is the warrior. His Ruling Aspect, the law form, excels in leadership, both are more forceful and present by far. For reasons unknown to me, I worship him in his Sky Aspect viewing the world from above, the observer and therefore passive in comparison. Although this form does embrace the use of ranged weapons, therefore my archery skill is of value once again. I am consumed by the possibilities of [Far Sight] while using my bow!

An argument erupts outside of my cottage. The door, a rough fitting, unable to isolate me from the disturbance, returns me to the present. I examine my Faith Magic and realise I cast a particular spell in two forms; short-lasting and long-lasting, the first is cast and for a short time the magic will inform you without the need to concentrate, the second when cast requires you to concentrate and while you do the magic stays to inform you. I examine my Faith Magic to determine if my all-seeing Sky Aspect can inform me of those arguing outside before I appear, or if they intend to me drag me out.

I cast Locate Enemy quickly, I need to know if the voices are raised against me or not and fortunately the spell identifies no enemy within the immediate surrounds of the cottage. On a whim, curious if any of my eulogising found a home last night, I cast Locate Faithful and surprisingly locate two, their inner glow feint, although one stronger than the other. This is encouraging. I note for future reference the moment I cast Locate Faithful, Locate Enemy ceases and after casting each my store of magic, or mana reduces. I dread my next spell.

I cast Locate Unfaithful. I count twenty-two, their inner glow strong and bright, although those closest to the two of faith display subdued inner glows, reassuring. Still, I ponder, twenty-four Frost Giants argue and shout outside my borrowed cottage, available due to my slaughter of one of their kind, the vast majority non-believers. Do they call for my glorious arrival or await my appearance to facilitate my dramatic demise?