Ares, god of war, stared in abject horror as Valua, capital of Rakia, his kingdom, his city, went up in flames.
There aren't many things that could horrify Ares. Anger him? Of course. He was the god of war after all, it came with the job description.
Surprise him? The city of Orario had been doing a pretty good job at it, surviving a few dozen wars against him to a stalemate
(No it wasn't a defeat, even though they'd lost more men than the enemies. No it wasn't a retreat. It was a tactical advance away from the enemy. Do these people not know strategy?)
Faze him? Even he gave a shudder or two when he heard of Evillus. Bunch of nutjobs with more than a few loose screws in their heads. Where's the fun in killing weak opponents who couldn't defend themselves? Much better to let them arm and prepare and then kill them in displays of martial prowess
Horrify him though? Well that's a different matter entirely. Ares was the god of war. He'd participated in thousands of battles, sieges, and skirmishes all around the world. Even before he came down from the heavens to join the fun, he'd bore witness to the countless conflicts mortals seemed to revel in.
He'd seen slaughters and massacres the likes of which other gods had never seen before. He'd seen deaths by the millions. He'd shed more blood than any other god in the history of the world. He'd seen wars that ravaged a land for centuries leaving it bare and dry. It would take something to utterly horrify him.
Something like the capital of Rakia burning with flames so hot and so fierce, he could feel it from where he stood miles from the nearest ember, unable to do anything as bright red fire licked the tall towers of Valua's palaces and walls.
The royalty district had been done for, burnt black to ash and smoke and smitherins. The noblity district is where most of the fire is concentrated, spreading to the rest of the city like a giant red flaming octopus. Half of the military district is burning as the other half tried desperately to contain the inferno.
Suspicioulsly, the commoners district remained untouched. A good news one would say, though not Ares, not in the slightest.
"Lord Ares," A rider came up in front of him, head lowered and unable or unwilling to look Ares in the eyes. "There riders up ahead."
Riders? Refugees no doubt. Cowards fleeing from his city instead of doing their duty by trying to put down the flames. He spurned his horse forward.
He expected soldiers or officers to report to him or a bunch of scared, cowardly, commoners.
He instead got a Goddess and what seemed to be a shape-shifting Almiraj in the guise of a boy.
He blinked as a pair of fierce, purple eyes glared back at him in defiance.
"Astrea," He said. "What an…unexpected surprise."
Astrea's eyes narrowed at him. They were never particularly close, but they weren't particularly spiteful towards one another. Ares scoffed at the Goddess stupid ideal of justice and virtue, but he could respect her strength and conviction. Her familia was and, in Ares' mind, is one of the strongest and most formidable opponents he had ever seen to date.
A shame he wouldn't be able to face them in battle once again.
Finally the goddess of justice opened her mouth. "Ares," She said, voice more tired than anything. "I don't have the time for this. I need to get out of here as soon as possible."
"Oh?" Ares asked raising an eyebrow. "What's with the rush? I never know you to be an impatient one."
"This isn't the time Ares!" Astrea burst. "I need to leave this place immediately or-"
Ares ignored her and turned his attention towards the white-haired, red-eyed boy. He yelped as his gaze found him. Spineless coward. And tried to hide underneath the white horse that….
"Lord Ares," One of his generals whispered. "Isn't that…Konabos? Your…"
His warhorse. One of the four warhorses Ares had deemed fit for carrying him into battle. He stared back at Astrea who'd clamped down her mouth at the mention of its name.
"So stealing one of my horses and burning down my city? I never knew you to be one who could do such things Astrea."
Astrea opened her mouth, but the boy beat him to it.
"W-we d-didn't steal it." The boy said truthfully- wait what?
Ares' eyes stared back at Astrea. She sighed and placed a palm on her face. "It's true. If anything he's the one who's trying to steal Bell."
Ares opened his mouth, but he was interupted when a loud, piercing, howl was heard around. Horses reared and men screamed. The boy jumped and Astrea paled. "Oh no." She whispered almost too soft to be heard. "We're too late. It's here."
Ares was about to ask her a question or a few when the titanic, black monster appeared in front of of him. It looked at him like he was a mere inssect with its...one…eye…
Ares' face was as white as a baby's milk. Even he had heard of the legends. Even he had heard of the stories. Even he, the god of war, would never dare to face such creature in front of him.
The One Eyed Black Dragon opened hi mouth, flames sprouting from inside it as it howled.
"STAY AWAY FROM MY FRIEND!"
…what?
Ares didn't have time to ask anymore questions as flames filled his world.
xXx
It was four in the morning, about seven hours after the capital of Rakia had been burnt down, and a Dragon and a Goddess and a would-be-hero who may or may not be a reincarnated Almiraj had been drinking solidly for three of them.
Astrea had been against Bell getting drunk, but she couldn't do much more than weakly protest when the alcohol had taken effect. There was a reason she had avoided drinking whenever possible, even after her childdren's death and the practical dissolution of her familia.
"-And that's why I gotta get to Orang Utan, I mean Orario. Had to go there and beat the big bad dragon and pick up girls in the Dungeon. That's what grandpa would've wanted. You understand?"
"I do," The One Eyed Black Dragon – who'd gone by the name of Oliver or Olly – said, not completely undrerstanding him, but believing that he got the gist of it. Bringing girls to Dungeon and stuffs. Really he's not one to kinkshame, but isn't the boy too young to be do those kind of things? That Goddess should do something about it he thinks.
"I knew you would understand!" Bell said, manly tears streaming down his eyes as he lunged and hug – or atleast tried to hug – the Big Bad Dragon who'd just burnt down a city not a few hours ago.
"Bellll," Astrea drawled, appearing from under the table. Her eyes red and bloodshot as she placed her shaking hands over Bell's shoulders.
"Stay awaay from him. He's eviiiiillllllll." She said, trying to pry him off from the dragon.
"But he's so big and scruffy. He's like a giant therapy lizard."
Astrea didn't know what therapy is and continued to try to pull Bell away. Instead she stumbled and fell butt-first into the floor with a thump.
"Oh pleaseee," Olly said, rolling his eye at her words. "As if you gods are any different. You kill and lie and steal and cheat and kill and lie as easily as any monster."
Astrea gave the hardest glare she could muster from where she lie, sprawling on the floor. She looked like a kicked puppy instead.
"At least we don't go out of our way to burn down a kitty- a sitt- Places where people lives like you did."
"No," Olly said. "You smite them with your 'divine' wrath. For gods- For my- for someone's sake you even had a group named Evillus of all things. How is that for evil?"
Astrea wanted to protest, but she couldn't think of any response to that so she simply settle on glaring at the dragon as Bell continue to hug him.
xXx
Edit: Done some grammatical correction and added in the Evillus joke. I realized that it was too much of an opportunity not to do it.