I lay lounging in a lounge chair on the lovely grassy lawn surrounding our divine cabin. Cheating somewhat, I tampered with the climate to make things nice and sunny, with a hint of a breeze so that I wouldn’t be too hot.

The breeze also brought the smells of the trees and flowers from the nearby forest and meadows of wild flowers.

Part of me felt somewhat bad enjoying myself, lounging in a such a manner when I was thinking about the next couple of things I needed to do before I set off on a crusade of destruction. Yeah, maybe crusade was the wrong word. Even though this was a holy war, the terms crusade, jihad, and the like were all too limiting.

Yes, there was a higher purpose for this war of destruction. But beyond the higher purpose, I had no noble aims for the war. I was being selfish as I wanted to see, and hold, Aggard once more. And all Aggard desired was revenge, pure and simple. Desire and revenge were not pure reasons for wanting to annihilate the world. Yet by setting us three up as dark deities, we would become the enemy for future generations. At least the world would continue to survive, in some form or another.

But before I went to talk to Celameth, there was something I needed to know. I summoned my Herald, Florita. She came quickly and formed herself a lounge chair next to mine. Instead of her usual flowing pristine white robes, she wore an extremely revealing black bikini. It really was not much more than thin strips of fabric.

Her body was a perfect ratio of curves between hips, waist, and bossom. She had a perfectly flat stomach and lean limbs which were shapely. To be honest, her honey coloured skin didn’t quite match the black bikini. A paler colour seemed like it would work better. But black was my colour, so she dressed the part.

Of all the goddesses, she was the only one willing to get close to me, not being put off by Alis’ slightly possessive manner. In fact, recently she and Alis had started to get on well with each other. Part of me was happy for that, another part worried.

It didn’t help when I saw them both looking at me with hungry eyes, as if they were about to devour me. I guessed it wouldn’t be long until the place where Celameth had once filled would be filled once more.

Not that I really resented either Alis or Florita for acting this way. It had been me who had started this process back when Celameth had been the First Watcher.

‘I take it you called me over to discuss the situation within the divine realm?’ Florita said, happily lounging nearby in her chair.

‘Yes.’

‘Well, I know you have me and Benecto on your side. Alis and my discussions about our loyalty have come far, but the rest will depend on her. Oh, she told me she wants to talk to you this evening about something important.’

I was troubled about what Alis was going to talk to me about. It sounded serious, and if Florita knew about it, then, maybe… Oh, well. I’ll have to wait until tonight.

‘Umm… Not going to ask about it, this will be fun.’ I heard her say with a chuckle in her voice. ‘Our old king announced his retirement and will partake on the Journey. So you don’t have to worry about him being used as a rallying call against you. As for the rest of the deities and divine spirits, only a small minority are rallying to your banner.

‘The rest say they will raise arms against you. In fact, some of those who used to be my supporters have already turned against me. One even tried to kill me. Benecto killed them instead.’ She said as if the whole situation was but a minor bit of trivia. ‘Since then, no other deities who have not already sworn for you have agreed to meet up with me. Instead, some have already started to take action, turning their followers against the followers of Aggard.’

Religion, whilst it could be beneficial and could do great wonders for the world, had its shadow side. And this was it.

Florita stood up and bent over me, shading me from the sun. I looked up at her. She really was sexy. With a slight bow, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. ‘Until tonight, then.’

She then vanished.

Yeah, fine, tonight. I wasn’t sure if it was something to look forward to, or not. Anyway, the choice had been taken out of my hands, but if it was, I thought it could be, I was glad it would be Florita. Not only was she sexy, she had an enjoyable personality, and was also a nice person. As a bonus, not once had she held the fact I held a blade against her throat against me.

First, though, I had to deal with Celameth. By now, Alis should’ve made her into her demi-god. All that was left for me to do was to gift her full control over Netherfane Fort and tell her to get ready a throne room for me. Maybe now her sense of power and majesty would be able to be useful.

With that I moved myself to Netherfane Fort. I appeared on top of the seemless grey gate house. Instead of the small harbour which could have only housed a few ships, there was a much larger hexagonal harbour. It was so large that even along the outer defensive and sea walls, there were a multitude of warehouses and shipyards.

There was even an inner hexagonal harbour, which had space for a small fleet of ships. Of course, it was empty right now. I walked around the central grass lawn on top of the gatehouse.

On the platform which led into the complex of circular towers stood five colossal statues, which stood almost fifteen meters tall. In the centre was one of me looking somehow inexplicably ferocious wearing armour and holding two axes. Standing next to me on my right was Alis, wearing armour and holding a sword. She looked extremely beautiful, and even though she was standing still, looked graceful. To the other side stood Aggard, looking beautiful, serene, and wise. It appeared to me her statue was looking at my statue with a loving gaze.

Then, standing just behind my right shoulder, was the statue of Florita. She was wearing a long, flowing sleeveless dress, which made her look extremely beautiful. Her statue was slightly behind mine, but the body language and where she was standing made it look like she was supporting me like a loving wife. Her gaze, while regal, held a soft look in it, if you saw it from this angle.

From up here, it looked like all three of them were surrounding me, supporting me, and were intimate with me. I guess it was the truth. But why had I been made the centre figure, and not Aggard?

That felt wrong to me.

To me Aggard should’ve been the centre. We all were supporting her.

Maybe it had something to do with that last statue. It was pretty boy Benecto. This time he was wearing sleeveless mail armour. Benecto’s statue stood far in front of us four. He held a round Greek hoplite shield and a spear. His pose was that of a warrior ready for action in battle, shield out in front of him, spear ready to stab.

From down below, I guess that statue would make a grand impression. Even from up here, I could feel the intensity of his stance and expression.

In looking down at the five statues, I finally grasped something that I had not fully comprehended before.

I was a god. Not a hero, not someone powerful. Not human.

No.

I was a god.

And finally, I would be able to stand next to Aggard, take her hand as an equal, and with my other wives, we would be able to end her long centuries of isolation.

I looked towards the dark shadow looming hungrily in the far distance. Instead of malice, I felt eagerness and love.

Aggard, I am coming for you, please wait.