1Chapter 2
the time of the gods had come and gone, but evidence of their passing remained for all to see... if they took the time to look. The Euridyce temple, hand-crafted by Hephaestus himself, stood atop of one of Rome's highest peaks. Steps that only the gods could climb spiraled to the temple gates at the top. A smaller path, man-made, ran parallel to the steps of the gods, for anyone, pilgrim or farmer to ascend to the temple to worship or simply to see for themselves proof that gods do exist. Some time had passed since the last of man had come to see it. Only Sophitia, the last remaining servant of the old gods was left. Left to sweep and stave off the ravaging hands of time from this holy place. But despite the loneliness of the mountain being her only companion, she was content to stay and protect the temple and the artifacts contained within. Love for her children allowed her to find the strength to stay, lest malevolent hands find the power she alone kept safe. A chill, like an ethereal hands of the gods, ran up her back at the thought of such hands holding their power. Countless families would be lost, and she could not let that happen.
Thus, she stayed, trained, cleaned and waited for the day when she would have to stand up for what she knew to be right. She wouldn't have to wait much longer.
Down in the village propper.
Rothian, the town blacksmith and husband of Sophitia, couldn't take it. The years of staying home to look after the house and take care of the children, while his wife went of great adventures, had finally gotten to him. It wasn't even that he had to stay home, it was what came to the minds of all and the mouths of most that had finally gotten under his skin. In the beginning, he'd take on half the village if one of them was stupid enough to call his wife an adulterer, a woman who had children all across Europe, and went on 'adventures' to keep her husbands from getting suspicious. A lunatic who believed in gods dead as dust under a rug. Rothian had dozens of scars attributing his love and dedication to the perception of his wife. But that was some time ago, and time is love's greatest oppressor. It had taken but two words from his daughter to send him into a rage, to words that used any other way wouldn't have meant a thing to him, "where's mommy?"
That was all it took for Rothian to find the motivation to buy a horse and take of the mountain where his wife said she'd be until the gods told her otherwise.
But he wasn't the only one headed there.
Midway up the mountain.
A figure dressed darkly slowly made his way up the spiraling, man-made stair to the temple's gate, and to the object of his intent.
Atop a pillar in the Euridyce Temple.
A girl in green spied her prey, a malicious smile shaping her features. She stayed low to avoid being spotted. When the moment was right... she'd strike.