Solum

Prologue

The young woman looked down at the scene unfolding before her; a dreadful and horrendous sight it was. Dark clouds loomed over the skies, giving off an eerie vibe as birds and other small creatures scurried away into the forest. The cries of war resonated throughout the otherwise peaceful land as the bloodshed began.

Up above, in the heavens so high, she had been shielded from the violence that transpired below her. Shapeshifters, vampires, centaurs and witches alike began to fall, their bodies littering the fields. They fought with such detestation in their eyes that it sent a shiver throughout her body.

An expression bestowed itself upon her face: lips turned downward into a frown, eyes held a look of sadness in them. Her disappointment could not be mistaken. She looked to her husband, he too shared a look of shame.

He sat upon his throne, one he deemed fitting for a god as powerful as himself. Columns that nearly grazed the stars, made up the marble structure known to the humans as Olympus, but to those who knew; those who were given the power of the gods, Elipseus. The clouds beneath their feet never gave way. For eons they had housed the two as they watched the mortals from a distance, praising, but also disapproving when need be. Today, there would be none of the former.

"Their foolishness will be the death of them," he remarked bitterly, face solemn as the words escaped his lips.

The woman nodded her head in concur. Trouble had been brewing between her creations for over a decade now but she'd been too naive to believe a tragedy like this would befall them. Her all seeing gaze landed back down below, just as another creature, a centaur, fell at the hands of a werewolf. Her most beloved of all her creations. She felt partly at fault, for it was her favoritism that caused so much despair.

The dark clouds that had been looming underneath, opened and a downpour of rain began. It seemed even the earth had been saddened by the war. A deep anguish came upon her and she clenched her pale fists. She couldn't bear to sit by as hundreds died before her eyes. "Must we just stand by and observe?" She looked to her husband somberly, "It is our duty to safeguard them."

The man looked at his wife, eyes glazed over. He could see a deep sorrow that troubled her. He turned away, unable to see his mate in such way, "It is our duty to observe, without interference. That is the way of the gods Hestia, you know that."

"Then perhaps we are in need of change," her words were solemn as she criticized the rules that prevented her from intervening. For the life of her she couldn't understand why such rules were set forth. To protect, yet not assist. To guide but without involvement.

He touched her hand tenderly, rubbing small circles into her skin, an attempt to calm her down. He held her in his arms soothing her quivering figure, "As difficult as it may be we mustn't intervene. It is up to them now to decide their fate."

The woman pulled away from his hold, eyes glaring at him with a stern look, "Are your eyes blinded to the bloodbath that rages on below you? They are incapable of doing so. War is all they know, all they have ever known! Do you not care for their well-being?" She accused, her voice wavering towards the end.

The man was infuriated to hear such accusations and from his own mate no less. His anger visibly shown when he tightened his hold on his grand scepter. "Do you not think my heart pains at their suffering? That the mere sight brings torment into my every being? Have you already forgotten what happened the last time we intervened?" He roared. A look of sorrow flashed before the woman's eyes, not because of the tone he used but of the words he spoke.

With his voice softened, the man continued. "We cannot impose ourselves upon them, they must choose their own path."

He stood from his throne, making note of the half crumbled pillars that were in need of rebuilding. The blazing fire burning in the sacred hearth never ceased, crackling for as long as his wife took breath.

"After all, is it fair to hold their hands until the end of time?" His words held an air of truth that the woman just could not contend. "We have done all that we can. We must trust that they will make a fair decision," he squeezed her hand with much hope for understanding on her part. She gazed into her husband's eyes, fresh tears brimming hers.

"For their sake, I pray that you are right, Cerion."

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Don't you just love the name Hestia *shudders* That war seems very tense. Hmm I wonder what happened to the supernatural realm. Don't forget to drop some votes if you liked it