Amaranthine
undying, immortal; eternally beautiful and unfading; everlasting.
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There was once a story, of a god and a mortal boy.
The god was yin and yang himself, for he carried light on his right and darkness on the left. Ice and fire they were called.
The mortal had nothing, unlike the god, except for his eyes that saw the beauty in everything, and his hands that held the world in boths its cruelty and kindness.
It was unfortunate, for a god and a mortal cannot be.
For immortality and mortality are death and life themselves.
Their love soon became a curse, and their time robbed.
Soon, the god was left all alone.
————
The sun rose again.
And again.
And again.
The war continued on.
Continued on.
Continued on.
He was a war god, born from the seeds of the great god of flames, and the womb of the goddess of the south. Ice and fair mixed into one, that is what he is.
Shouto, he was called.
White and red hair, heterochromatic eyes, and a body befitting a god. He looked a lot like the young mortal men that walked along the forest road, but unlike them who aged as quick as the change in time, he stayed the way he was.
The sun warmed his cheeks. This was his favorite spot in the entire castle, perched along the very top balcony of the highest tower. If asked by the nymphs, who served as his servants, why he chose this stoned place rather than the comforts of his own bed, he would cast them out with a glare.
Endeavor lived in the skies up above, for he controlled the sun and its powerful flames. His halls were filled with forests and rivers and flames, though they coexisted peacefully, Shouto would never know how. He was occasionally called upon his presence—attending his counsels and feasts that were too stiff and tense for the young god's tastes.
His mother, Rei was her name, lived peacefully. The goddess of the south controlled the snow and ice and had the most beautiful castle perched at the highest mountain, wherein it almost touched the sky.
His brothers and beautiful sister lived amongst them—unlike Shouto, who lived inside the stone castle of warmth and coldness.
Because unlike his siblings, who were free as the birds, he was someone who was bound to his father.
He was a war god, but fought not his battles, but his father's. War after war. Kingdom after kingdom. Flesh after flesh.
This stone castle was his cage and seal. As strong as he was, Shouto's powers could end the world if he wanted it to, or so as the elders had said everytime he'd eavesdrop his father's counsels. Though he did not mind then, for his queen mother would continuously whisper how beautiful and dazzling his ice and flames were. He was still a child then, and oh, how foolish he was.
'Twas a night of a full moon, and all he could remember was how gold ichor dripped from his mother's chest, staining her jewels and silk dress.
My lord, why do you prefer this highest balcony instead of your comforts?
For I wish to fly away one day, was the answer left unsaid.
"We have finished our duties," Came the head servant, head lowered and hands tucked together in front of her. Shouto could faintly see how she trembled in fear everytime.
"You may go," And in one wave of his hand, she was gone. Time flowed past by quickly, and now, the moon was high up in the dark sky, not one flame of his fathers in sight. With this, the young god jumped off the balcony and unto the garden.
White filled his vision, for the garden was full of white roses. They are his mother's favorites, and Shouto wanted at least one thing that can be sighted inside his castle that reminded him of her. With the wind gentle and soothing his being, he sat down on the soft grass bed and soon found himself drifting to sleep.
————
The next day, his older brother, who goes by the name Touya came to visit.
"You do know you have a bed, don't you?" Came his first greeting one Shouto's eyes opened. Teal eyes and black hair, the god before him was a wielder of blue fire. It's uniqueness was often talked about by the gods, for it has no trace of heat, and burned only by its coldness.
"I don't use it often."
"Ah," Eyebrows raised, an amused look on his brother's face. "That's why the maids were frantically looking for you all over the castle. What a waste of feathers. You really should use it more, I say. Not only for sleeping, but also for one's desire—you can bring girls into your bed with those handsome looks of yours my dear younger brother."
"I am not like you, Touya," The young god dusted grass off his clothes. "I have no such earthly desires."
"Father will want an heir."
"It is not desire or love," A huff. "We both know he is devoid of those. And besides, if I were to want a child, then I would not have one. For I do not want him to go through the pain of being an underling to father."
"Sooner or later you'll be forced to have one, still," Touya waved his hand, rustling his cloak and revealing the golden hilt to his sword.
"Why do you think that I am here?" Grass crunched under the young god's boots. "It is because I have defied his orders a many times already. Much to his dismay."
"Won't deny that," The older god chuckled. "You should have been there when he went on a rampage. That day had been the hottest since the beginning of time."
They talked and talked and talked for a long time, as brothers would. They talked about the new kingdoms to the east. How the god of the wind, Hawks, managed to blind a titan with only his wings. It seemed like the greatest god, All Might, who controlled not only the earth but also the universe up above managed to annoy they're father more. It also looked like they're mother was well on the south with their siblings too.
Touya left once the sun started to set and Shouto was soon left all alone again. The head servant appeared beside him to bid him farewell for they have finished the day's duties. As usual, the god had only himself as company for the rest of the night.
—or so he had thought.
The wind was still and the bugs were silent. It was peaceful and serene, not until the rustling and the snap of a twig shattered it completely.
The young god stood up, stepping his way towards the rose bush from where the sound came.
"Come, show yourself," He spoke in a very, deep voice. "Who is the person who dare trespass the castle grounds of the war god."
A sudden yelp and more rustling and snapping of twigs, and several moments later, popped out a boy who held a straw basket in hand. Hair whose color showed the beauty of nature, and eyes bright amidst the darkness of the night. It was a mortal.
"It is I, my lord," He replied with a shaky breath. "My name is Midoriya Izuku."