Chapter two: The Shadow of Fate

Chapter Two: The Shadows of Prophecy

In the heart of the Room of Stars, Mavis and Theron stood, surrounded by the cosmic splendor that momentarily took a backseat to a grave discussion. The usual aura of timeless serenity within these hallowed walls was now tinged with a palpable tension. They faced the daunting task of unraveling the prophecy about Ludachel, a being whose arrival signaled a shift of epochal proportions.

Theron's voice broke the silence, heavy with the weight of impending change. "The emergence of Ludachel as the first god of death isn't merely a singular event; it's a disruption to the celestial order, a threat to the fabric of existence itself. His power to extinguish divine essence introduces a peril unprecedented."

Mavis processed his words, battling the storm of emotions and thoughts they unleashed. "How can this be? The gods have always stood beyond the veil of mortality. To think Ludachel's very presence could usher the end of immortality..."

Theron affirmed, his gaze lost in the cosmos' ever-changing vista, "Exactly. Ludachel's realm extends beyond the cessation of mortal life, posing a direct threat to the gods' eternal existence. An abnormality that could sever the realms' interconnected threads."

A cold realization dawned on Mavis, halting her pensive pacing. "Such knowledge will undoubtedly sow discord among gods and demons alike. Ludachel's mere existence is a catalyst for conflict, alliances, even betrayals, as all seek to either wield or neutralize this power."

Theron's countenance was a mask of unreadable resolve. "While the gods ponder their next move, the demons might see Ludachel as a coveted weapon."

The gravity of their words hung between them until Mavis, with a newfound urgency, voiced her deepest concern. "And Ludachel, intertwined with our lineage, how do we shield him? How do I protect my son from the maelstrom his existence portends?"

Turning to face her, Theron's resolve reflected in his deep gaze. "We must prepare Ludachel, guide him through the coming storm, ensuring his safety and understanding his nature. His power to affect gods means we must shield our essences as well."

Steeled by purpose, Mavis found her resolve. "Together, then. Our decisions must be deliberate, our alliances fortified. The celestial knowledge at your disposal and my connection to the life essence might hold hope against the chaos Ludachel represents and no need to worry about his nature, Lu is kind and empathic, it's not his nature I worry for, it's his mind and those who will wish to manipulate it."

Theron, extending his hand with galaxies swirling around it, emphasized their daunting task's magnitude. "Our first step is to delve into ancient texts and wisdom. We need a comprehensive strategy, one that encompasses all realms."

Mavis joined her hand with Theron's, their shared determination palpable. "To the archives. We'll unearth all there is on Ludachel, crafting a plan to thwart the cataclysm he might bring. We must prevail, for the sake of existence itself."

Theron's gaze lingered on Mavis, noting the worry that marred her youthful visage. "And if we find nothing? What of plan B?" She whispered, desperation veiling her voice.

"This is our Plan B," Theron replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Confused, Mavis stepped closer, seeking clarity. "And Plan A was?"

He offered a nervous smile, manipulating a strand of planets in a mesmerizing orbit around them. "Plan A was to conceal him, place him beyond even Sheriphem's reach."

This revelation hung in the space between them, underscoring the magnitude of their task. Theron's plan weaved a tapestry of cosmic hide-and-seek, a testament to the lengths they'd go to protect Ludachel. Together, they ventured towards the archives, their mission clear yet fraught with unknowns. In their heart, the silent hope that understanding and wisdom might offer a beacon in the shadow of prophecy looming over Ludachel's destiny.

——— ——— ——— ——— ———

The archives of the Room of Stars had proved fruitless, a vast majority of celestial knowledge yet silent on the matter of Ludachel's curse. The air, thick with the dust of millennia and the heaviness of unresolved fates, seemed to stifle Mavis and Theron's every step. Shadowed by towering shelves that seemed to stretch into infinity, they emerged with heavy hearts. Every tome, every scroll, every fragment of ancient wisdom had been scoured, yet no answer to be found. Their path seemed increasingly narrow, the looming specter of desperation drawing ever closer.

"It's as if the universe itself conspires to keep Ludachel's destiny shrouded in mystery," Mavis lamented, her voice echoing faintly against the marble and the ages. "Not a word, not a hint in all these texts about stemming such power, not even his birth is mentioned, which I might add has me stumped given the fact that I pushed him out of my holy passage."

"That's disgusting, but yes very odd indeed." Theron states, his resolve a stoic mask yet eyes betraying a glint of burgeoning resolve, nodded. "We've scoured the past; now we must negotiate with time itself. Jutis remains our sole hope."

The name of Jutis stirred a whirlwind of contemplation within Mavis. Known as the Keeper of Ages, Jutis possessed the unique ability to bind and bend time, to lock away elements within temporal folds until predetermined eras. Yet, his assistance was not easily enrolled. Isolating in nature and cryptic in motive, Jutis was a god who weighed the fabric of time like strands within his immortal loom. Would he see Ludachel's situation as a thread to be tightly woven or clipped short?

"Seeking Jutis's aid bears risks," Theron continued, his voice a steady rhythm amidst swirling possibilities. "His power to seal Ludachel's essence within a temporal lock is unparalleled, but so is his foresight. He may perceive Ludachel's future in ways we cannot."

Mavis squared her shoulders, the decision crystallising with formidable clarity. "Our only course, then. We must seek out Jutis. Ludachel's fate—and our own—may hinge on this plea."

"He is the God of time, he would have known of Ludachel all this time, because unlike I, he can choose what to feel through future and present, whereas my visions are simply what the cosmos wants me to see, so given that Ludachel wasn't taken from you the moment he was born can be spoken in itself."

"I hope you are right, Theron."

---

Under the cloak of a starless night, Theron teleported them to the Veil of Time, the ethereal domain where Jutis resided. This threshold between times flowed with the hues of eternity, each step forward a passage through ages untold.

Jutis awaited them, his presence as Intricate as the aeons he governed. Time coalesced around him, a mixture of might and mystery.

"Mavis, Theron," Jutis greeted his voice, the echo of aeons. "To seek my aid is to walk a narrow path. What future do you seek to weave, or unweave, within my domain?"

Theron spoke with unyielding earnestness, laying bare the essence of their plea. "We seek to bind Ludachel's power, not through suppression but safeguarding. A temporal lock set to release when he reaches his twentieth year, giving him the chance to embrace his birthright responsibly."

Jutis's gaze, piercing and all-seeing, lingered on them. "The god of death, a child yet untouched by his destiny. You ask of me to alter the weave of time for a singular soul."

Mavis stepped forward, her resolve shining brightly. "Not merely for one soul, but for the preservation of balance. Ludachel's unchecked power threatens all."

Silence enveloped them, the weight of epochs in Jutis's contemplative pause. His holiness was shrouded in long white hair and his silver eyes showed his age whereas his youthful appearance could not. Finally, he spoke, "Your plea, born of love and fear, has reached the heart of time. I will aid you, but with condition. Ludachel must be guided, taught the gravity of his role within the cosmic ballet. When the lock opens, he shall stand ready, or all will be for naught."

Relief and newfound determination surged within Mavis and Theron. This pact with Jutis was sealed within the heart of time, lit a fragile path forward. Ludachel's destiny was now intertwined with the threads of time itself if it wasn't already, a beacon of hope that they must nurture till it was time for him to claim his own.

As they departed from Jutis's realm, the dawn of a new chapter in their journey emerged. The path forward was fraught with uncertainty, yet guided by the promise of a future where Ludachel could stand as the god of death, balanced and wise.

The destiny of all was now being woven in the loom of time, with Jutis's intervention marking a pivotal stitch in the fabric of what was to come. Mavis and Theron, armed with a temporal solution, faced the challenge of preparing Ludachel, of turning the tide of prophecy through guidance, love, and the hope that destiny could be shaped by those who dare to defy it.

But something did

Theron finds himself bombarded by multiple visions of Ludachel's demise and the potential downfall of Acar. Amidst this turmoil, a chilling shift in the night air signals not just a change in climate but a shift in the moods of the twin colossal gods, Seraphim and Sherphs. The makers of gods themselves have felt the sudden imbalance caused by Jutis's temporary pause on one strand of time. It's an error that sheds light on the extent to which the great deities keep watch over their children.

"Fuck." Theron breathes as he is forced to watch multiple visions, seeing only one rocky path that might end in balance.

As Theron's haunting visions fade, he collapses into the reassuring embrace of Mavis, who tenderly brings him back from the grips of his distortions. Foreheads touching, his gaze locked with hers, he shares a grim revelation.

"Mavis, we're not safe yet. Those who seek Ludachel's demise draw closer, and they must not discover his existence. We must conceal him entirely, not just his powers," Theron implores, his hands tightening on her shoulders in desperation for their family.

"Who's coming for him?" Mavis's voice trembles with Trepidation.

"Mother and father," Theron's words hang heavy in the air, carrying the weight of a dire truth.

"They can't harm him, he's a god and we locked his powers before they awakened so the change in mortality has not yet taken effect on the divine." Mavis protests, her hope struggling against the impending threat.

Theron's expression darkens as he reveals the harsh reality, "We didn't just seal his powers; we stripped him of his divinity for a time. Ludachel is now mortal!"

The revelation lands like a heavy blow, leaving Mavis crumpled on the ground, hands turning white from her grip in her brother's cloak, her spirit weighed down by the gravity of their actions. "What do we do now?" she asks, her voice laced with defeat.

With a steely vice grip, as he pulls Mavis to her feet, Theron lays out their course of action. "Plan A: we must hide him at all costs until the time is right."