The Lore - Part 5
Good Zeus, it’s getting colder by the minute here…
If you’re still reading, know that you have made me happier than I’ve been in quite a long time. Even as I write, I am beginning to feel as though I am writing to a friend, not someone I fear I’ll never have the chance to meet.
My dear friend, if there is one thing I’ve learned after my many, many years in this world, it’s that it is entirely possible to find good even in the midst of evil. Allow an old man a slight digression.
There was once a giant who had gone through most of his life the same as any other of his kind, thinking of nothing else but the downfall of his enemies. During a particularly terrible battle, he was left for dead by the rest of his clan. A group of human mages took pity on him and restored him to health.
Though it would eventually cost him his own life, he stayed on with the humans, trying to work towards peace between the two warring species. During the short while I knew him, he related to me one of the most important pieces of our history – the events that led to the birth of our revered Goddess Theia and her corrupted sister, Cadena. You see, he had been present during Hecate’s final test.
Preparations
The sun had not yet begun to rise when the Goddess Hecate arrived at the Thunder Clan’s Stronghold. She was met with resounding cries of “Hail Goddess Hecate! Hail Goddess Hecate!”
Hecate smiled to herself. Once she knew for certain she was the bearer of the Lucent Heart, not only would she have the praise of these creatures, but all of Mount Olympus as well. Why, if she possessed the power of the Lucent Heart, Zeus’ rule would be a mere formality! Hecate would be the true decision maker. After all, who would dare to argue with the most powerful being in the universe?
“My trusted companions, this is a day you will remember for all eternity! You shall tell your children and your children’s children about how on this day you helped me to awaken the power of the Lucent Heart! Make ready for the heavens and do not be afraid! With my power, no harm shall befall you!”
Now as the giant told me this, I was most perplexed. Why would Hecate, who at this point was nearly mad with power, need the assistance of giants in the first place?
In truth, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that the Lucent Heart was hers, there was still a tiny nagging feeling in the depths of her soul that told her she did not possess it, and a mere whisper of Zeus’ warning that caused her to worry that her actions could indeed disrupt the universe. So you might say that the giants were there as a sort of “plan B” in case anything should go awry.
The goddess produced a giant caldron in the center of the crowd. Bottle after bottle of strangely-colored brew manifested itself at her command. She poured each of these into the massive pot, then, with the same sharp stone she’d used before, she pricked her finger and squeezed one drop of blood into the very center of the concoction.
With a wave of her hand, flames roared down the mountainside and sprung high around the cauldron, sending the strange substance into a vigorous boil instantly.
With another wave, the concoction cooled and the Dark Goddess invited all in attendance to drink.
One by one, they sipped the brew, and one by one, their skin developed a faint purple glow. Each began to feel strangely lightheaded, and some began to doubt Hecate.
“What poison is this!? We were foolish to trust you!”
“We will fight you to the last!”
But Hecate remained perfectly calm. “Be still, my friends. No mortal creature ever lived that could weather the effect of goddess blood so quickly. You will feel better in a moment.”
True to her word, each giant in turn began to feel a surge of incredible power racing through their veins. Their senses were heightened, their bodies strengthened, and what’s more…
…they were hovering off the ground.
It was time. In a short while, Hecate would know once and for all if the Lucent Heart was hers.
To the Heavens
It was a sight no one had ever dreamed possible – thousands of giants, gliding with ease through the air, racing up higher and higher beyond the reach of any other bird or beast.
It was strange to see Acadia so far below them. The universe spread out before them, serene and silent.
Soon, the star Hecate had chosen came into view. Though it was nearly too small to be considered a star, its massive size overwhelmed those before it. The giants carefully spread themselves out around its perimeter and readied themselves for Hecate’s direction.
Hecate closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding against her chest so hard, her ears throbbed from its beating. “This is the path I chose… I will see it through…” She whispered, willing herself to calm down.
She reached out towards the star. Her palms began to glow… then her fingers… arms… and eyes.
The star began to glow brighter… then suddenly, it shuddered violently! Hecate growled as she struggled to regain her hold on it.
Within moments, every inch of her body felt as though it was being burned alive! Searing pain flowed from her fingertips, and it was as if some force was literally ripping her power from her. This wasn’t right. This shouldn’t be happening.
“…Lucent Heart! I command you… awaken!” The goddess cried.
Another electric burst of power shot forth from her, causing a slight tear in the star’s surface. Its flames soared higher, blinding her momentarily.
Frustration, pain, and fear swirled in Hecate’s eyes. The giants could only look on, waiting with bated breath for the moment Hecate might need their support.
Hecate lost all awareness of her body. The excruciating pain was far too great, even for an immortal being. Still, she pressed on, sending another surge of energy at the star.
The tear deepened, but as it did, the heavenly body was sent into an erratic fit, as if trying to free itself from the goddess’ reigns.
Hecate held fast. “L-Lucent H-ar… I must… h-have it…”
It was all too clear. Hecate was not the chosen one.
Suddenly, she felt it. The godly power that had been draining from her was nearly out. She was on the verge of becoming mortal.
And a mortal within the depths of space would not survive beyond a moment.
“G-Giants! …H-Help me!” She gasped.
Almost instinctively, the giants raised their hands to the star. Hecate’s power sprang forth and joined together to create a barrier. The giants struggled to hold their positions as flame and stardust swirled around them.
Hecate ruefully released her hold.
“No… How…? How can this be…?” She choked.
All this time.
All of the praise, the accolades, the assurances that she was the one…
How could this have happened?
Hecate was startled from her miserable thoughts by the frightened cries of the giants. They, too, were nearing the end of their godly powers. Her own had replenished only slightly after her brief rest, but she knew she couldn’t leave the star in such a state.
“Be strong, my brothers and sisters! We shall seal the star!”
Hecate blasted the star’s tear. The giants’ barrier instantly dispersed and their energy was drawn to Hecate’s beam.
The star shuddered again and again, but each movement seemed to diminish in magnitude, until the star quietly bobbed in front of them.
The giants were nearly devoid of Hecate’s power. She knew she couldn’t let them die – not because of sentimental reasons, but because the giants would swiftly respond with an all-out war against her and the rest of Mount Olympus. An unstable star was more than enough to worry about for now.
“…Go! Return to the world!” Hecate waved her hand weakly and the giants began to descend automatically toward familiar ground.
My giant friend was among the very last in the long formation gliding away from the star, and the memory of what he saw never faded…
Hecate, face contorting with pain, was trying hard to seal the tear, but at some point, she looked as though she’d realized her efforts were futile. The glow about her body faded and her pained expression changed to one of worry.
A massive amount of stardust was swirling near the tear. Every so often, the remnants of Hecate’s power flickered and fizzled through the dust before settling in with a faint glow. The giant had never seen anything like it before.
But all too soon, both the goddess and the star were out of sight and moments later, his feet touched Acadian soil.
If you’re still reading, know that you have made me happier than I’ve been in quite a long time. Even as I write, I am beginning to feel as though I am writing to a friend, not someone I fear I’ll never have the chance to meet.
My dear friend, if there is one thing I’ve learned after my many, many years in this world, it’s that it is entirely possible to find good even in the midst of evil. Allow an old man a slight digression.
There was once a giant who had gone through most of his life the same as any other of his kind, thinking of nothing else but the downfall of his enemies. During a particularly terrible battle, he was left for dead by the rest of his clan. A group of human mages took pity on him and restored him to health.
Though it would eventually cost him his own life, he stayed on with the humans, trying to work towards peace between the two warring species. During the short while I knew him, he related to me one of the most important pieces of our history – the events that led to the birth of our revered Goddess Theia and her corrupted sister, Cadena. You see, he had been present during Hecate’s final test.
Preparations
The sun had not yet begun to rise when the Goddess Hecate arrived at the Thunder Clan’s Stronghold. She was met with resounding cries of “Hail Goddess Hecate! Hail Goddess Hecate!”
Hecate smiled to herself. Once she knew for certain she was the bearer of the Lucent Heart, not only would she have the praise of these creatures, but all of Mount Olympus as well. Why, if she possessed the power of the Lucent Heart, Zeus’ rule would be a mere formality! Hecate would be the true decision maker. After all, who would dare to argue with the most powerful being in the universe?
“My trusted companions, this is a day you will remember for all eternity! You shall tell your children and your children’s children about how on this day you helped me to awaken the power of the Lucent Heart! Make ready for the heavens and do not be afraid! With my power, no harm shall befall you!”
Now as the giant told me this, I was most perplexed. Why would Hecate, who at this point was nearly mad with power, need the assistance of giants in the first place?
In truth, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that the Lucent Heart was hers, there was still a tiny nagging feeling in the depths of her soul that told her she did not possess it, and a mere whisper of Zeus’ warning that caused her to worry that her actions could indeed disrupt the universe. So you might say that the giants were there as a sort of “plan B” in case anything should go awry.
The goddess produced a giant caldron in the center of the crowd. Bottle after bottle of strangely-colored brew manifested itself at her command. She poured each of these into the massive pot, then, with the same sharp stone she’d used before, she pricked her finger and squeezed one drop of blood into the very center of the concoction.
With a wave of her hand, flames roared down the mountainside and sprung high around the cauldron, sending the strange substance into a vigorous boil instantly.
With another wave, the concoction cooled and the Dark Goddess invited all in attendance to drink.
One by one, they sipped the brew, and one by one, their skin developed a faint purple glow. Each began to feel strangely lightheaded, and some began to doubt Hecate.
“What poison is this!? We were foolish to trust you!”
“We will fight you to the last!”
But Hecate remained perfectly calm. “Be still, my friends. No mortal creature ever lived that could weather the effect of goddess blood so quickly. You will feel better in a moment.”
True to her word, each giant in turn began to feel a surge of incredible power racing through their veins. Their senses were heightened, their bodies strengthened, and what’s more…
…they were hovering off the ground.
It was time. In a short while, Hecate would know once and for all if the Lucent Heart was hers.
To the Heavens
It was a sight no one had ever dreamed possible – thousands of giants, gliding with ease through the air, racing up higher and higher beyond the reach of any other bird or beast.
It was strange to see Acadia so far below them. The universe spread out before them, serene and silent.
Soon, the star Hecate had chosen came into view. Though it was nearly too small to be considered a star, its massive size overwhelmed those before it. The giants carefully spread themselves out around its perimeter and readied themselves for Hecate’s direction.
Hecate closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding against her chest so hard, her ears throbbed from its beating. “This is the path I chose… I will see it through…” She whispered, willing herself to calm down.
She reached out towards the star. Her palms began to glow… then her fingers… arms… and eyes.
The star began to glow brighter… then suddenly, it shuddered violently! Hecate growled as she struggled to regain her hold on it.
Within moments, every inch of her body felt as though it was being burned alive! Searing pain flowed from her fingertips, and it was as if some force was literally ripping her power from her. This wasn’t right. This shouldn’t be happening.
“…Lucent Heart! I command you… awaken!” The goddess cried.
Another electric burst of power shot forth from her, causing a slight tear in the star’s surface. Its flames soared higher, blinding her momentarily.
Frustration, pain, and fear swirled in Hecate’s eyes. The giants could only look on, waiting with bated breath for the moment Hecate might need their support.
Hecate lost all awareness of her body. The excruciating pain was far too great, even for an immortal being. Still, she pressed on, sending another surge of energy at the star.
The tear deepened, but as it did, the heavenly body was sent into an erratic fit, as if trying to free itself from the goddess’ reigns.
Hecate held fast. “L-Lucent H-ar… I must… h-have it…”
It was all too clear. Hecate was not the chosen one.
Suddenly, she felt it. The godly power that had been draining from her was nearly out. She was on the verge of becoming mortal.
And a mortal within the depths of space would not survive beyond a moment.
“G-Giants! …H-Help me!” She gasped.
Almost instinctively, the giants raised their hands to the star. Hecate’s power sprang forth and joined together to create a barrier. The giants struggled to hold their positions as flame and stardust swirled around them.
Hecate ruefully released her hold.
“No… How…? How can this be…?” She choked.
All this time.
All of the praise, the accolades, the assurances that she was the one…
How could this have happened?
Hecate was startled from her miserable thoughts by the frightened cries of the giants. They, too, were nearing the end of their godly powers. Her own had replenished only slightly after her brief rest, but she knew she couldn’t leave the star in such a state.
“Be strong, my brothers and sisters! We shall seal the star!”
Hecate blasted the star’s tear. The giants’ barrier instantly dispersed and their energy was drawn to Hecate’s beam.
The star shuddered again and again, but each movement seemed to diminish in magnitude, until the star quietly bobbed in front of them.
The giants were nearly devoid of Hecate’s power. She knew she couldn’t let them die – not because of sentimental reasons, but because the giants would swiftly respond with an all-out war against her and the rest of Mount Olympus. An unstable star was more than enough to worry about for now.
“…Go! Return to the world!” Hecate waved her hand weakly and the giants began to descend automatically toward familiar ground.
My giant friend was among the very last in the long formation gliding away from the star, and the memory of what he saw never faded…
Hecate, face contorting with pain, was trying hard to seal the tear, but at some point, she looked as though she’d realized her efforts were futile. The glow about her body faded and her pained expression changed to one of worry.
A massive amount of stardust was swirling near the tear. Every so often, the remnants of Hecate’s power flickered and fizzled through the dust before settling in with a faint glow. The giant had never seen anything like it before.
But all too soon, both the goddess and the star were out of sight and moments later, his feet touched Acadian soil.