The temple of Zeus’ favoured. The time has come for you to take your place,a genderless voice whispers, resonating inside my head. My heart thumps as I step back and place my hand on my chest, as if I know exactly what I’m doing.
A moment later, the sound of rock scraping fills the room, as the base of the statue begins opening and reshaping, and there inside, sitting on a dark slab of stone, something gold glints.
“The relics for the Deimos King…” I murmur, realising whatthey are.
I pick up the first item, power humming through me, and my wolf surges forward, my eyes blaze brilliantly. It’s a shoulder plate, an ornate masterpiece of gold, so finely yet strongly wrought, it’s as if it’s made and manipulated by magic itself. Its edges curl and weave like the branches of an ancient tree, each line shimmering with a subtle, otherworldly glow as they intertwine to make a powerful armour.
My lips part as the words that I didn’t even know I knew leave my lips, “I swear to uphold the laws and will of Zeus and Selene, the gods who stand with our people.” My voice, albeit soft, rings through the temple as I fix the armour plate onto my right shoulder. Power surges around me like a chaotic storm, and I feel the mark of the ruler tingle along my back.
The next item I pick up is the helmet. It gleams like moonlight, its surface etched with sharp lines that look like they were carved by lightning itself. Two curved wings sweep up from either side. The visor narrows into a sharp point over the mouth, forming a helmet that looks like something from a superhero movie, one that would belong to the most powerful warrior on the battlefield.
“I vow to carry out judgement in their name and to protect in their name. I swear to act with clarity and purpose, to forsake pride and recklessness, and to embrace wisdom and strength.” I place the helmet over my head, and it fits so fucking perfectly.
Then I pick up the gauntlets, their surfaces gleaming like dawn’s first light. Crafted from the same gold, they are etched with intricate patterns that pulse faintly with power, as if alive beneath the metal. Deep purple jewels, smooth and radiant, are set into the knuckles, and a few are embedded with the runes of the Deimos symbol on the top of my hands, glowing like they areon fire.
I slip them on. The fingers don’t restrict my movement, and I know if I punch something now, they will do a lot more damage than without them.
I look up at the statue as I speak the last of my oath, “And when the storm breaks and darkness falls, I shall be the sword of the people. I will ride behind the Adonai to strike down any who bring harm upon us, and kneel to the gods who have blessed me. I swear it.”
The entire temple explodes with light, as far above us thunder roars, and I know the sky will be illuminated with lightning. The ground trembles, and I step back as it parts, but this time I’m not expecting what I see beneath my feet as a square area reveals itself.
Tomes. Thirteen tomes, which bear the symbol of the Deimos bloodline on every single one.
What are these?
I kneel, lifting one; beneath the Deimos symbol is written in the same language.THE BOOK OF BEASTS – Knowledge is Power.
I flip it open; the pages are aged, yet they are in meticulous condition. The page I opened shows a drawing of some kind of monster… frowning, I skim the language – it’s the one I can read. It’s not a monster I know of, but it breaks down the monster’s abilities, what advantages they have, how to kill them, and how to cure their poisonous bites.
My heart thuds as I flip the page and skim the next one. I place the book down and pick up the next book.THE BOOK OF GODS – The Key to the Immortals.
I open it, flipping it with my gauntleted hand. Surprisingly, itisn’t hard to do. There’s a drawing of a woman.
“The Goddess Hecate…” I turn the page, Apophis… Placing it down, I pick up another book. My heart is pounding as I realise I’m standing on the very key to everything we need.
My eyes dart over the titles.
Books on the gods, prophecies, monsters, the veil, the pillars. My hands tremble as I stop, taking a moment to look at the tome in my hand.
The small subheading stands out. “To Hold Secrets is both a Blessing and a Curse.”
This… this might be- no, I know this is what we need. These books will have the answers.
I pick up one book,THE HISTORY OF WOLF BLOODLINES, and a piece of parchment falls out. I pick it up and read it.
“To the one who holds my bloodline, I entrust you, the Deimos King, with the knowledge I preserved. For a great calamity will one day arise. May these hold the key to the past that I know my people will one day forget. – Andronikos”
“Hmm… isn’t he the one in that story about Helios?” I muse.
I pick up a few of the books, but quickly realise I won’t be able to balance them all. They’re heavy and thick. “Dad!” I call, my voice ringing in the emptiness around me.
“Shall we enter?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, I need some help to carry these.” Instinctively, I place my hand on each book, and they glimmer with my powerbefore it fades. Dad and Carter appear, and suddenly a wave of uncertainty fills me.
I look between them, trying to make sense of it as Carter whistles.
“That stuff is impressive. Think you got the coolest stuff.” He smirks.
