He was nervous, to understate it by a margin wider than a river. Nadim was positively not okay. His entire body felt weak and his brow was sweating. His stomach certainly wasn't strong right now. 'Calm down, calm down.' he repeated this in his head again and again to himself.
They were moving through the city, him, the royal guard, and king Basil… The entourage was only a minute out from the smith that he was guiding the king to. 'W-what do I say? What will happen to the smith? I mean, the king's dream said casting it out would result in destruction. But the destruction of what? Us? Someone else? Is the smith the source, or something else like his materials?'
As all of these thoughts ran through his head the entourage came to see the house and workshop of the smith. The sounds of banging metal could be heard, they approached and King Basil spoke, "Only two guards, Captain, you as well." the pair walked forward escorted by two of the royal guard closest to the king.
Once they were in the workshop they found the smith working away, sweat on his brow and an air of focus around him. After a minute he set down his work and turned around whipping his head with his forearm. Mairus froze in place when he saw the four men in the doorway of his workshop. After a few moments, he looked at each of the four men. He caught Nadim's eye, the smith slowly began to kneel after looking down, "Your highness, I…"
King Basil smirked slightly, "Hello. You may be wondering why I am here, well I will explain but first I have two questions for you." Mairus lowered his head slightly in accent, "What is your name?" the question seemed to surprise the smith slightly but he answered nonetheless.
"I am Mairus, your majesty." the king hummed at the answer and then asked.
"And are you the one who made this Captain his sword?" the smith nodded slowly. "I am told you made this, 'steel' through trial and error. Is that correct?" The smith didn't ask how he knew its name, it was obvious. Mairus just nodded at the half-truth he had told, "Stand."
The command wasn't harsh but Mairus immediately attempted to meet it when he heard it, "Look at me." Mairus paused for a moment before quickly looking at and meeting the king's eyes. Basil looked at him for a moment before smiling, "Would you like to know why I came to talk to you about the sword? And do speak up."
"A-ah, yes. Yes, I would l-like to know your highness." the guards had taken one side of the doorway each, Nadim was behind and to the left of the king, and no less nervous.
"Well, you see I received a dream from the fates." Mairus' eyes widened, "Yes, shocking indeed. From what I remember of the dream a sword of silver shine was of import. And that I needed to find its source." the smith slightly nodded along, "And when I summoned all of my officers I found that one came forward with a silver-grey sword, which he had gotten just this morning."
Mairus kept silent and hoped his face was not showing how nervous he felt. The king spoke again, "So, tell me. How does a smith in my city, that I didn't even know existed to create an entirely new metal, one stronger than bronze, and only by 'trial and error'?"
Mairus didn't know if he was actually supposed to respond and was about to say something when the king spoke again, "All I know is that that. Doesn't make sense…" the king began to walk around inspecting the workshop, "I mean after all wh-"
Basil cut himself off when he saw the silver metal shine of two objects. Mairus seemed to slightly panic when the king started to walk over to his workbench. The shrine and his amulet were sitting there. The king looked at the two objects before he spoke, this time with his back turned, "What, are these?"
Mairus quickly attempted to calm himself, "T-hose are a shrine and amulet...your highness." he began to slowly and quietly breathe deeply.
The king turned to him, "Really? Because I don't recognize the symbol to the...deity? And these are made of this, 'steel'." The king took another look at the two objects, "And two kinds of polished granite in each, quite the costly and unique objects you have."
The king walked up to the smith and spoke in a slightly harsher tone, "Tell me where you got both these? Or I'll have you thrown in prison immediately"
"They were given to me!" his voice wasn't loud but it wasn't quiet. The royal paused as he assessed the smith.
"By who?" the king's voice wasn't as harsh but it still had an edge to it.
"A...a god." that sent a shiver through everyone but the man who said it, but Mairus was nonetheless still scared.
"Who?" the king's tone wasn't harsh, but it was certainly cautious.
"A god I hadn't known of before they came to me." Mairus seemed to be remembering something after those words.
"What is this god's name?" the king's tone was still cautious, possibly even more so.
"The titles I was given were, The Machine God, The Motive Force, and I was told I could call them 'Omnissiah'" the foreign word left his mouth and the king seemed to consider them for a moment.
"This god gave you these," he gestured back to the amulet and shrine, "and the steel?"
"They gave me the knowledge to make my own…" the king paused at that before speaking slowly.
"What... did it cost?" the smith shook his head.
"It didn't cost me anything. They made those," he pointed at his shrine and amulet, 'His? It doesn't matter!', "and several more for themselves with use of my forge in exchange for some ore. I was given steel ingots. The amulet and shrine were given to me with a blessing to my hammer, in exchange I have to continue to hone my craft. Maintain my tools and…" the king waited for more expectantly, "that's it really."
The king thought for a few minutes, "Will they come back?" the smith shook his head.
"I, don't think so… they said they doubted that we would meet again soon…" the king raised an eyebrow.
"A god, doubted?" the smith swallowed and spoke in a neutral tone.
"That is just what they said," the king thought for another few minutes before nodding to himself.
"You will be given resources and support to make steel, but only for me and those, I tell you to. Do you accept?" the smith nodded fast before he responded.
"Yes, your highness. Of course, I take it I am not in trouble?" Basil smiled at that.
"No, but do keep it that way. Captain." Nadim straightened at his name being said, "You will be put in charge of delivering orders for commissions to our good Mairus. And ensuring those orders make it back me my palace. You of course can use your men to ensure it is done properly." the king leaned in and spoke quickly and quietly, "Have at least two men watching his house and workshop at all times, I will send a messenger for you to send orders to your men with. Don't let him out of sight until your men are here."
The king smiled, "What did you say?" the words came out of Mairus' mouth before he could stop himself.
The smile remained, "Just arranging for your guards, we'll need to keep you safe now that you are working on royal commissions. After all, you live in the poor section, and... until we have a place for you closer to my palace. Some guards will have to do." the king turned and left his two guards following.
After half a minute Mairus spoke to Nadim, "When I said tell your friends I didn't think you'd bring me the KING!"
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Around the same time
The Machine God focused on their connections, their power. Before long they were able to bring their senses up. They looked around, they were smashed against an anvil. The hammer forging something new, 'Hephaestus is hard at work. He seems to be… not on Olympus. He is north far enough north and is further west…' The lord of Mars watched the god work for a while before a flash of memory came to them.
It was a factorum, giant baths of molten metal were poured into moulds. Menials went about the assembly line creating components. Their eyes were in an overseeing magos. One of the components being made was a powerpack for a las pistol. The memory cut off, '...yes, that may be useful.'
Hephaestus finished his work, it was an intricate mechanism. It didn't seem to have a practical application but it was interesting nonetheless. Hephaestus got up and left the room and after a few minutes, the lord of all machines moved on. Their vision changed they saw Athena, clad in her usual wear minus some of her armour.
She was working on a tapestry, the same one they had seen her work on the day before. 'Has it truly only been a day? We suppose we have done much to fill all our time.' as that thought came another person, no, god came in. It was Artemis.
She also didn't appear any different from before, "Athena, are you ready? It is nearly time and we don't want to be late. You know how excited Persephone gets about seeing us. She has probably been waiting all day."
Athena grinned, "I am just making the finishing touches Artemis. No need to be so impatient." after half a minute she stood up and began to remove her tapestry before folding it up. "Alright, now we can go."
As they walked out of the palace the goddess of the hunt turned to her half-sister, "Do you really need to bring your spear and shield? I mean you don't have the majority of your armour on. What, are you expecting a minour fight but not a full-on battle at the grove, so you don't need your armour but do need your weapons?" her tone was teasing.
Athena smirked, "No, but you have your bow. So why is that?" Artemis huffed at that and mumbled out a response while rolling her eyes. The two transformed into birds that began to fly, Artemis was a falcon and Athena was…
'This is… odd.' it was one thing to see from a new body, the bodies, in this case, being Athena's spear and shield. But when the goddess transformed she placed her weapons into her power. She was recreating the dimensional space technique that was used on Olympus on a much smaller scale. They could still see in all directions from their 'body' but Athena was out of view now. A blindspot in a way, so while they were sure she was flying incredibly fast through the sky with Artemis as an owl. They could not say for sure.
They weren't in Athena's body, more like in the area around her. It was, again, odd. After a few minutes the duo, unwitting trio, arrived at yet another dimensional space. Once inside the sight of green was everywhere, the only structure was a decent-sized house. Not small, but not large.
The two goddesses transformed back and resummoned their weapons. They walked towards the structure and were greeted by two women. One was a goddess the Lord of Rusted soil was familiar with, Demeter. And next to her was a younger woman, they had yet to pin down who this was as they observed the goddess.
Her appearance was bright, with bright greens, blues, purples, and flowers throughout her hair. Yes, bright was a good way to describe it, her hair was also a shining blond. Her eyes were the same green as Demeter's… 'Ah, perhaps she is the daughter of Demeter. What was her name? Persephone… and she is the queen of the underworld.'
"Artemis! Athena! It is so good to see you!" she ran over to the two approaching goddesses and embraced both of them. "I have missed you both."
"We missed you too Persephone." Athena's voice was a more quiet happiness to Persephone's more vibrant joy. Artemis for her part smiled a bit awkwardly and didn't say anything then. "Alright well let's go sit down, then we can eat, and then finally I can give you your gift."
The group of immortals all moved into the house. And by extension so was the One of Invisible Works. The four athanatoi all sat down at a wide table that could probably sit at least ten people. "No nymphs joining us for dinner? There are always so many around here, it feels odd to not see any here."
In response to Athena's question, Persephone made an answer, "Well, we had a bunch in at lunch and besides I don't get to see you two that often at all so we can do with fewer people in the conversation."
The group of makares all ate and talked for at least half an hour. The Lord of Rusted Soil was about to go check on Hephaestus again when something caught their non-physical ear. "Mother told me about the meeting yesterday, what do you two think about it?"
Artemis who for most of the dinner was silent spoke up, "Well. I can't find anything, nothing to track, no trail. Honestly we probably just need to be ready for whatever it is, even if it turns out to not even be threatening or dangerous."
Demeter and Athena nodded, "Well, this morning I told mom we should tell the underworld just in case, they might even know something. But she wants to just wait for Hermes to get here tomorrow though." her tone was more factual than passive-aggressive, but her mother felt the need to defend herself nonetheless.
"Well, I don't see a reason to make Hermes anymore busy than we have to by calling him here now." both Artemis and Athena looked slightly uncomfortable but didn't say anything.
"I do have enough authority to just cal-" but Persephone was cut off.
"Hermes is busy enough, I understand that-" she, in turn, was cut off.
"I was going to say I could call my husband." instead of saying Hades, she had emphasized the marital connection. Demeter frowned but Persephone felt that her mother didn't have to get grumpy each time the marriage was mentioned. Not like her mother didn't get to spend most of the year with her anyways.
Athena jumped in before the two got into an argument, "I think they should know about this, the fact that father didn't call Hades means it probably has slipped his mind due to the stress. But the underworld is a very large and ancient place. Whatever it was could be down there, since we can't find it here it is entirely possible."
Artemis nodded, Demeter didn't look happy but sighed and nodded. "Alright, you can call Hades," Persephone smiled warmly at her mother, "but later, we aren't done with our visit yet." the humour in Demeter's tone was almost odd but the other three goddesses chuckled at the inflections on her words.
It was now evening and the food was eaten, Persephone stood first followed by her two half-sisters. Demeter somewhat reluctantly stood too, they made their way outside. Almost unconsciously both the goddess of wisdom and the goddess of the hunt picked up their weapons. So used to having their symbolic arms in hand, each for different varied reasons.
Once outside Demeter asked a question without any distaste, "Where should we? Uh... Where are you doing this?" Persephone looked thoughtful for a moment before she responded to her mother.
"Here should do nicely unless you have any reason to not do it here." here, was a patch of field that only grew wild grass not far from the house. Demeter shook her head in the negative but her expression appeared to be slightly soured. The daughter and mother both turned forward and away from the pair of visiting goddesses. Their expressions could have changed after they turned away and the Lord of Mar wouldn't have known since from their shared position neither they nor the guests could see the hosts' faces.
Power, Persephone's strength was greater than one of her appearance would imply, it would have been humbling to most. To the Machine God, it was merely fitting for her position. Though admittedly they knew little of the underworld and had a hard time grasping the concept of the underworld itself.
It was perhaps something they had forgotten but they had no recollection of there being an after life. The Lord of All Machine Spirits knew they as the Motive Force held dominion over souls and especially their own spirits but it brought up uncomfortable questions. Did they hold domain over the souls of those they had met?
They had only made small spirits so far, they knew that they could create greater and smarter spirits for grander and more complicated machines. And they knew some of their priesthood and embraced the Motive Force strongly. A flash of images came into their mind, bolts of lightning streaking from a priest.
But, could they create human souls? They were taken out of their thoughts by a rumble, purple and green waves of power were plunging into the earth. The intent of those waves seemed to be attempting to reach and connect to something. This continued for a few minutes before a slight rumble came from the ground.
The earth split open and from it emerged a god, dark clothes. Black robes and cloak hid red highlights, eyes of near glowing teal. Hair an almost black colour, where it shone it came out in something close to purple. His face was younger than one would expect, but it had hints of age to it, a short beard on his chin and lips, and wear on his features. His features were sharp, yet not to the point of oddity. On his head was an almost ghostly glowing halo, the same colour as his eyes.
As the god stepped forth he smiled at the sight of his wife, "Persephone," the two hugged for a moment before he noticed Demeter, Artemis and Athena. Though Demeter was the main focus of attention, "Demeter, ah, Artemis and Athena apologies I wasn't expecting you to be here."
No one said anything but Persephone, "Hades, I hope I didn't pull you away from anything too important." the Lord of the Dead smiled. Demeter's expression was neutral, or at least tried to be. Athena's was pleasant, and Artemis while not really neutral didn't display much emotion.
"Nothing more than the usual, is there a reason you've called for me. You didn't seem urgent in your call, but there must have been a reason." he looked at the other goddesses.
"Yes, Hades, have you received any word from Olympus recently?" Hades brow furrowed but shook his head, "Yes we thought that might be the case." Persephone relayed what she knew and the three goddesses who had actually been informed by the king of Olympus the day before provided more details.
The One Who Receives Many Guests was now thinking deeply, "This is concerning," he said while not looking up, "I haven't noticed anything different and nothing has been reported to have been out of place...wait." He turned to the three Olympians.
"The warning was that it was familiar to both Gaia and Uranus yes?" all of the goddesses nodded, "And the only other possible lead we have is that Helios felt watched. Correct?" another series of nods. "They contacted Zeus two days before yesterday, so it has been nearly four days now, yes?"
Artemis tilted her head before nodding, "I guess, does it matter?" Hades slowly nodded.
"It might, I think I have something that could be relevant." that got their attention, "As you know part of the reason the underworld is so vast is because it is a space like Olympus and here." the goddesses hesitantly nodded.
"It is larger on the inside than what contains it, that is necessary since Tartarus has made his true form reside there." the goddess tilted their heads at the impromptu lesson, "Much like Gaia is the earth and Uranus the sky, but can assume incarnate forms without leaving their true forms like we are now. They're true forms are so large they make up the landscape, we literally live in them to an extent."
The god put a hand to his head as if nursing a headache, "Though it would be more accurate to say they created and now inhabit those things instead of them being bodies-" Hades was cut off by his wife putting a hand on his lips.
"Husband," he looked at her when she spoke, "we know all this, why are you telling us?"
He pointed to her hand and she lowered it with a small bit of humour, "I am getting there. As you know Tartarus's body makes up the lowest and most brutal section of the underworld. He is always asleep, but as you should also know many of my servants and fellow chthonic gods are children of Nyx." the line of reasoning had yet be drawn in the goddesses minds.
"Nyx is almost always incarnate in the underworld so she can be with her children and husband. And Erebos as her husband is there because his true form fills in the cracks of and crevices the underworld." to the goddesses it felt like rambling.
Demeter sighed and asked, "Where are you going with this?" Hades looked at her before making general neutral gestures with his hands as he spoke.
"I am making connections so you all understand. Around four days ago Nyx and Erebos felt a bit unwell, at least that is what Thanatos said to me. And on that same day I was told by the Furies that Tartarus had a small quake." Athena and Persephone seemed to understand but Artemis was slightly lost.
"All of them are primordials. That's why you were asking about Gaia and Uranus." Artemis tilted her head.
"Why should that factor in?" Demeter got it, and paled.
The goddess of the harvest spoke, "They are all primordials, all were affected. While Gaia and Uranus said it felt familiar, but was different."
Persephone said the final line but by that time Artemis had put it together and was now gripping her bow harder, "If all primordials felt the same thing, or at the very least something at the same time. And some said it was familiar, then whatever was familiar but different was likely another primordial."
Hades nodded, "A primordial we don't know about." Demeter looked at him and asked a somewhat hostile question.
"How come you didn't immediately contact us about Tartarus shaking, or Nyx and Erebos feeling ill." Persephone was about to speak before the King of the Underworld replied without hostility.
"The quake was momentary, and both of my other resident primordials were fine a few hours later. And they had no idea about what caused their feeling of sickness. Was I supposed to send Olympus news of basically nothing? I didn't know it was significant until you called me here and told me more." Demeter frowned but nodded nonetheless, conceding the point. "Now the question remains, what do we do about this?"
Artemis was back to her questioning tilt, "What do you mean, what do we do? Obviously we find the primordial."
Hades shook his head, "No, how would we find it. We don't know anything specific about it aside from its category. And even if we could find it, it has yet to make its existence known until now. And it hasn't done anything since." the others looked at him frowning, knowing that they really hadn't found anything. Mostly due to not knowing what to look for.
"How do we know what the other primordials felt wasn't the metaphysical equivalent to rolling over in bed." the four goddesses, including his wife looked at the god with different expressions, "Ok yes it's a weird metaphor but you get my point."
As the olympian and chthonic deities spoke, they worked out that they should tell Hermes and have him inform each of the Olypmians by letter. So as to safe the messenger some time so he didn't have to explain their findings to everyone each time. By the time Hades was leaving it was nearly sundown.
The Trinity pulled back their senses and found themselves once again in their chapel. The air smelt of incense, the two sticks that had been lit were now nearly gone. Their holders had ash on them and there was little in the way of among them was enough people for the building to be nearly full. Though that didn't take much.
All were in prayer, or silently breathing. Several directed towards themselves, not surprising considering this was a temple to them, and they were here to pray. Pray, ah they had been so focused on the meeting between the goddesses the tri-part deity had unconsciously held their prayers off.
Once the prayers were allowed in they came crashing in, new titles as well, though they were in the same vain. They were rather direct, 'The One of Crimson Robes' and 'The Lord with No Face'. There was a pattern they had noticed was that they all prayed first by stating their name and titles, then by declaring the reasons that they were either pious or what they had done for the Machine. And ended it with some form of request. It was almost like a transaction, though they didn't see it as such. The primordial deity began to filter through each prayer, some were doable, others not were not yet so. And some… well.
They sent a small amount of warmth through the chapel, it was subtle but some noticed and looked up to find the Lord of Invisible Works had shifted around. They were now facing the doorway. "Thank you for not disturbing our meditation, we have heard your prayers. Know we shall do what we can, but do not expect the world to bow to all your whims, and do not expect us to."
The deity began to move towards the doorway, releasing the air flow in the chapel, so it was free. 'We still have time, but we have it put off enough. We have gathered knowledge, now all we have to do is gather materials.' a pause in thought as they flew in search of what they needed, 'The Lord with No Face, they called us. They likely took a look under the hood after we hadn't shifted in hours. Well, that epithet may not stick around for long once morning comes.'
AN: If you are wondering why I haven't been updating, it's because of both laziness and school. Well, reasons don't matter, here anyway. So here is the thing. This story is extremely fast in what I have fit into just a few days. And slow, since there are so many words for just a few days. Might do some more general narration type deal to progress some events in future, maybe, IDK.
Also please tell us about the usual pronoun thing.