The second coming Of Giselle

by ceroxon

Giselle, former Apostle of Hardy, fallen by her goddess and rejected by her people, wanders miserably awaiting death. Nevertheless, a hand is extended to her…. But will Giselle dare to take the hand of "The One Who Is"? Dawn is breaking on the day of the second coming.

1. The day of the Banishment

THE SECOND COMING

Hello,

First, I am French, my English skills are imperfect, I have to use Google trad and make the corrections that I can.

Then, I am not a believer and therefore I do not have a religious mind, but the fact is that some sentences biblical, or other, are, from a literary point of view, excellent, whether one is a believer or not. Especially when they are well highlighted by talented authors and screenwriters.

Without having this claim, I will still try my luck.

For those who don't know, what is "The Second Coming"?

The biblical scriptures tell of the Second Coming of Christ among men:

"When the Savior returns, He will return in power and glory to make the earth His kingdom. His second coming will mark the beginning of the Millennium (1000 years of peace and happiness before Judgment Day).

The Second Coming will be a time of fear and mourning for the wicked, but it will be a time of peace and victory for the righteous."

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What if the Second Coming takes place, not on Earth, but on Falmart? Not with Jesus-Christ, but with a "local" Apostle?

THE DAY OF THE BAN

Currently, two things were upsetting Hardy, goddess of death and the underworld.

The first was her boredom. Nothing amused her at the moment. She needed something to happen to brighten up her eternity a little.

The second was the Empire. This one had extended further by defeating the Warrior Bunny and Hardy was angry. Women warriors were to her liking and their constant internal struggles a great source of entertainment. As a bonus, these people had few males by nature.

What a pity they were not her devotees, but the rule was clear. The warrior peoples were under Emroy's jurisdiction, not her.

What a pity really. She would have helped the Bunnies if they had prayed to her instead of praying to Emroy or Palapon. They had done nothing but her, she would have helped. Already because she found the Bunny to her liking, but also because the idea of giving a memorable lesson to all this arrogants males was a pleasure that really tempted her.

A pleasure that she hadn't been able to satisfy, because the Bunnies hadn't asked for her. All these beautiful women killed one after the other despite their warrior ardor. All those gorgeous beauties, raped and tortured by pigs of the worst kind.

The gods are not supposed to experience emotions, but some events still find their way. Hardy was angry now. If the Bunnys had called her name then she could have intervened. She would have awakened the Flame Dragon and unleashed it on Sadera's army…. But the Bunnys hadn't prayed Hardy. They had prayed to Emroy to grant them victory in war and to Palapon to avenge them for their defeats.

None of them had done anything.

Yes. The Bunnys had not prayed, but the arrogance of the Saderans had become a real cause of displeasure that day. They needed a lesson in humility. A good lesson and the sooner the better.

Yes but how ? Sure, Hardy could awaken the Flame Dragon and unleash it on Sadera's lands, but the Saderans would simply consider it bad luck and continue to believe in their natural superiority.

No. They had to be defeated by another people.

Yes but which one? The Empire was indeed the most powerful people in Falmart. The glory days of the Elves were long past and the other peoples were too divided or too weak.

But in fact…. The Saderans were not from Falmart. Since the time when Duncan had opened the Gate and they had come to this world at a time when they were already waging war on their own, what had become of their enemies in the other world?

"Let's see," thought Hardy.

And the goddess looked through the veil of night and time, beyond the stars and beyond the void between the worlds….

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She looked…. And she didn't understand what she was seeing.

She saw cities with towers as high as the sky. In its towers, there were more people than in the largest palace of Sadera. She saw cities lit up at night as in broad daylight. She saw chariots rolling without horses. She saw metal dragons slicing through the skies faster than any other dragon.

She was seeing all kinds of things she didn't understand... But she understood one thing. This people was incomparably greater than Sadera's people.

It was exactly what she needed.

She would open the Gate to this world and warn the Emperor by extolling the riches of the lands beyond the Gate. If she knew the men well, and especially the men of power, then the reaction of the current Emperor would surely be to set out to conquer these new lands.

He would fail miserably, and if the humans on the other side were like those in Falmart, their counterattack would be ruthless. She would close the Gate when the time came and the Empire would have learned the lesson she wanted to teach.

Yes, the plan was in place. She could already send her messenger to the Emperor.

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However, in honor of this great project, a small modification was in order. It wasn't absolutely necessary, but she had been thinking about it for decades. It was high time to make this small modification.

-O-

A few days later.

There was no need to hurry. The fallen had nowhere to go anyway and no one was waiting for her.

Giselle, walked slowly in the middle of the chain of volcano where she had once made her first pilgrimage when she was still an Acolyte at the temple of Hardy, before being chosen among all to become Apostle.

It had been the best day of her life. The goddess she worshiped had deemed her worthy of the highest favor that could be bestowed. Giselle had become the messenger and representative of her goddess.

She had received power, immortality and above all…. A grand destiny.

Giselle remembered that day a few months ago like it was yesterday. She kept rehashing the chain of events that had led to her downfall.

In fact, there was not much to tell. Giselle had made no particular mistake. She didn't really have anything to be ashamed of. In fact…. There was no real reason for what had happened to her.

The day had started well. Giselle didn't have to search long before catching her lunch. A kind of doe. The shortest hunt are the best. She was now enjoying her meal in front of a roaring fire close to a river when Hardy began speaking to her spirit while appearing before her.

"Giselle? Your attention is required. I have a mission for you."

The Apostle immediately dropped her piece of meat and knelt with her head bowed.

"Yes, oh your divinity. Your loyal servant awaits your orders".

"You are going to go to your native village on the edge of the fiery mountains. I have a message for your people. »

"Of course mistress, but why send me there? I am sure that the high priestess Ophia and the acolytes of the holy temple will be able to convey the message very well".

"They could, certainly, nevertheless your presence is still necessary. It will therefore be through you that the message will be transmitted. Now go. »

"I'm flying right now, my goddess. What is the message I need to convey to my people? »

"You have misunderstood. You don't convey them anything. I will speak myself and you will be my voice. As for the message itself…. »

"Yes ? »

"For the moment it's a secret" replied her mistress with a big smile.

This answer worried Giselle. When Hardy smiled like that, it hinted that she was going to have a lot of fun which usually meant all sorts of disasters. Like the time she had unleashed the plague on a peaceful land to see how the inhabitants struggled to survive. Hardy did not take pleasure in the suffering of others, but she liked change. A war here, a natural disaster there, generally gave beautiful spectacles from her point of view. It was like redecorating the garden. The world being considered by the gods as their garden.

It had only taken two days to fly to her village. Two days to reach the semi-active volcano chain where the dragon people lived. Two days of anguish and concern for her people.

Had her people, whom she loved, drawn upon them the wrath, or at least the displeasure, of her mistress? This thought was one of the few things that could worry her. She hoped that was not the case and if not, she hoped she could plead with the deity.

After all, she had succeeded on a few occasions, even if they were very rare because Giselle had, in normal times, no reason, nor inclination, to challenge the decisions of the goddess of death.

Her village was in sight now. A few wingbeats later and she landed in front of the entrance. As usual the guards knelt in front of her.

"Glory to Giselle, Hardy's Apostle ! How can we serve? » the two guards had asked in unison.

"Gather everyone in the village square. Our Goddess will grace us with her personal presence to make an announcement."

"We hear you and obey you oh Gisellen Hardy's Apostle ! »

From there, everything went very quickly. It only took an hour for everyone to gather. No one was missing. Even newborns were present because the presence of the goddess was considered a blessing.

Giselle was then mounted on the stage, to the cheers of the villagers. It was always a proud and satisfying moment for her, ever since the day she became Hardy's Apostle. But today she didn't have the heart for it. Today was different. Her worry about what her mistress wanted made her stomach knot. She hoped the message would be good for her people and not a disaster.

That's when Hardy showed up.

Everyone could see her, above Giselle, smiling at everyone. The smile of an ogre in front of a good meal. Everyone except Giselle bowed down again. Hardy placed her hands on either side of Giselle and thus took control of her loyal Apostle's body.

"OH DRAGON PEOPLE, HEAR THE VOICE OF HARDY GODDESS OF DEATH, THE BEYOND AND ALL THAT LIES UNDER THE EARTH! »

So far nothing much different. Hardy really liked this kind of staging, a little childish certainly, but which always had an effect on her servants.

Responding in unison, the people knew what to say, with one voice. This was clearly taught to them in Hardy's holy book.

"WE HEAR YOU, OH GODDESS. HOW CAN YOUR HUMBLE SUBJECTS BE USEFUL FOR YOU? »

"TODAY IS A BLESSED DAY BECAUSE ONE OF YOURS HAS BEEN CHOSEN! » replied the goddess.

"Phew, so it's for a blessing, I'm reassured" thought Giselle in her mind while her mistress spoke through her mouth.

"I WILL NOW STEP AHEAD AMONG YOU AND CHOOSE ONE WHO WILL BECOME MY CHOSEN! »

"Her…. Chosen?» thought Giselle. No doubt Hardy wanted to choose someone to rule these lands on her behalf. "Chosen" usually means the Apostle but she was already Hardy's Apostle, so elected for what? What holy task (or what whim) inhabited the spirit of the one she considered her second mother?

And what did that mean to her? No doubt she would receive the mission of instructing Hardy's chosen one in the ways of the goddess.

Giselle, or rather Hardy in Giselle's body, now walked among the dragon people. Stopping occasionally in front of one or the other young girl who held her attention, but never more than a short time.

Due to her personal preferences, Hardy completely ignored all the men in the crowd. Only women had ever won her favor.

After a while, Hardy/Giselle stopped in front of a young girl.

"Stand up. Hardy commands you. » said "Giselle".

The girl, barely out of her childhood, stood up, but kept her head bowed in deference.

"Show me your face. »

Apprehensively, the dragon girl lifted her head.

She was very intimidated. It was the first time she had seen Hardy's Apostle in person and she thought she was beautiful. Giselle exuded strength and power, as well as great beauty (It was for this last reason that Hardy had chosen her 400 years ago). Anything a member of the dragon people could want to own or find in a spouse.

Giselle, for her part, was amazed. The girl looked exactly like…. Rory Mercury, Emroy's Apostle. (Emroy, god of murder, madness and dead warriors, rival of Hardy). The same body, the same facial structure, the same haircut (except that these were white). The girl was what Rory would have been, had she been born among the dragon people.

Hardy's smile, whose ethereal form overlapped Giselle's humanoid form, was comforting and intimidating at the same time.

"What is your name young lady? »

"Lo… Lorel. My name is Lorel, oh my goddess. »

"Lorel? I really like this name, it sounds good to my ears".

Hardy took a few moments to think and said.

"Very well. It's decided. I choose you. You are the chosen one! You will become the closest person to me from now on. »

"A replacement for Rory then? It is true that a devotee of the dragon people will be more receptive to the attentions of my mistress than the Emroy's Apostle. Well, that's pretty good news for me. Capturing Rory is a task that really takes too much effort. » thought Giselle.

"The…. The person closest to you? » Lorel asked, not sure she understood.

"Yes. You will become my new Apostle"

"WHAT ?!» Giselle cried inwardly, not sure she understood either.

"Your…. Your new…. Your new…. Apostle? Me ? But…. I…. Your divinity…. I do not…. I don't understand. »

« Oh, how cute. She is too moved to dare to understand. It is however simple. As I said, you will become my new Apostle in place of Giselle. »

"WHAT ?! » Giselle shouted again to herself unable to believe her ears.

" I…. I don't know what to say," said the young girl, completely overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation.

"Then don't say anything. You just have to say "yes" or "no". We'll have plenty of time to talk afterwards. »

« I…. I... Yes. »

"Perfect, I proceed to the ceremony immediately. »

Hardy was in a hurry to use the services of the new Apostle she had just chosen

"But…. My Goddess…. What does mean ? Did I disappoint you? I…. I don't understand why you want... »

"Silence. I need to concentrate. » Hardy replied, dismissing the questions of the one she was repudiate.

And Giselle fell silent, unable to believe what was happening.

Hardy extended her ghostly right hand across Giselle's head and left into Lorel's head. She then began to absorb the energies that she had given to Giselle so long ago while remaking the structure of these cells which now could no longer live without this energy. At the same time she was making changes in Lorel's body while transferring these energies.

It took less than a minute for Lorel to be elevated to the rank of Apostle and the same time for Giselle to fall to the level of mere mortal.

"So. The ritual is accomplished.»

For Lorel it was euphoria. She never thought she would be deemed worthy of…. And this strength, this vigor in her body…. It was indescribable in mere words. She felt capable of doing anything.

"Alright now let's go to the temple. We will discuss your new functions in more detail », said the goddess to the mind of her new Apostle who could now hear her directly.

If for Lorel it was euphoria, for Giselle it was absolute horror. Physically she felt... So weak. As for her state of mind...

"Nope…. NOPE ! IT IS NOT POSSIBLE ! Mistress…. Why ? »

That was all she managed to say, her face flooded with tears before the effect of the physical and psychological shock she had just experienced triumphed over her consciousness as Laurel and Hardy walked away from her.

Either way, even if the goddess had consented to answer her, Giselle wouldn't have been able to hear her voice now that she was mortal again. It would have been necessary to use an intermediary like the new Apostle. That wouldn't happen though. Hardy only cared about her new toy and had no more concerne about Giselle.

-O-

A few hours later, Giselle woke up. She immediately recognized where she was.

It was her house.

The former Apostle was still physically in bad shape following her ordeal. As for her mental state…. She had just been Apostle for 400 years. She hadn't been for a few hours. Her mind hadn't accepted yet.

It was when she wanted to pick up her scythe and she couldn't find it that everything suddenly came back to her.

"Mistress ? MISTRESS ?! WHERE ARE YOU ? I…. I DO NOT FEEL YOUR PRESENCE! » cried Giselle.

"Ah, you're awake. I was beginning to believe that Hardy had decided to welcome you into her kingdom. Obviously I was wrong. » said a voice in the dark.

It was nightfall.

"Who is here ? Show yourself ! »

"Do not get angry. I'm not hiding but I preferred to let you sleep. Give me a moment to shed some light. »

Moments later, the torches were on and Giselle could now see the one, she was talking to.

"You are the girl I saw this afternoon."

"Yes. My name is Lorel, daughter of Nats and Revilo and new Apostle of Hardy, goddess of the underworld. »

"NEW APOSTLE?! This…. It is not possible. It's all…. That does not make any sense. My mistress would not abandon me like this. »

Giselle didn't believe it but she saw... Her scythe. Her beloved scythe in Lorel's hands. It was the symbol of her rank of Apostle. That and the sacred outfit (an assemblage of laces particularly revealing of the body they were supposed to cover).

Lorel had a moment of pity hearing Giselle, the one who had been her idol a few hours ago and who now was just a traumatized girl unable to accept reality.

"Yet it is the truth. Hardy chose me as her new Apostle. I too still have a hard time believing it. After she explained to me what my duties would be and what she expected of me from now on, I found the courage to ask her why me. »

"And what did she answer? » Giselle asked, looking for a loophole, evidence of a lie, anything that would lead her to believe it was all wrong, in Lorel's words.

"She just replied "because I like you". I didn't dare ask any more questions. »

Giselle was livid. Over 400 years with Hardy told her that Lorel was surely telling the truth.

"And…. What did she say... about me ? »

Lorel looked away for a moment, visibly embarrassed, then looked directly into Giselle's eyes.

"She didn't talk about you at all. She gave me two days to get my things in order, and then I have to go to Sadera to…. Sorry, it's not a big secret, but I just became an Apostle. I do not wish to anger the goddess by revealing her wishes lightly. »

Something Giselle could understand very well.

Tears were streaming down her face. However, she found the strength to ask another question.

"And now ? What will happen to me? »

"You will be banished from this village and probably to all the dragon people wherever they live. As for this house, it will be demolished".

Giselle's tears redoubled. She, who hadn't cried for over two centuries, was now making up for lost time in one fell swoop. What she had just heard was almost as mortifying as being rejected by Hardy.

"I…. I…. I AM BANISHED?! BUT…. BUT WHY ?! HAVE I NOT LOST ENOUGH TODAY?! »

Again, Giselle couldn't believe her ears. Would her misfortune and her downfall never end?

"It is because you have been fallen that you are banished. Try to understand. How could you stay with the people of Hardy when our goddess has repudiate you? No one wants to deal with you anymore. Some even talk about killing you for having disappointed the mistress, but then they realized that by killing you it would be as if he were sending you to her when she no longer wants you. »

Giselle was now so desperate that she couldn't even find the strength to answer.

"As the decision was mine, I felt that exile would be the best thing to do. Maybe in time our goddess will remember you and forgive you for what you did to her. Whatever it may be. Who knows ? Until then, go and find another place in the world. »

"I have to go…. Now ? »

"Not yet. You can stay another two days, until I leave. After that, yes you must go. Take advantage of this time to settle your affairs here if you have any, but in two days you will leave this village forever or until the mistress decides otherwise. »

There was no cruelty or arrogance or contempt for Giselle whom Lorel still admired and revered this morning. The new Apostle was just doing what she thought was best, not for Hardy, who obviously didn't care what happened to Giselle, but for Giselle herself. She had heard unpleasant whispers about her, "Maybe we should get rid of her. She must have done something terrible if our goddess rejects her. » or "I don't want her here. She is cursed" etc…. If Giselle stayed, the worst was to be feared for her.

Of course, Lorel could have used her authority to protect her. No one would go against an order from Hardy's new Apostle. However, Lorel herself didn't know what to do with Giselle and even if she could protect her with her authority, it wouldn't change people's attitude towards her.

But all of this Giselle refused to believe, for the moment. She already could not admit that Hardy had rejected her, without explanation, without any reason, her, her faithful Apostle, her almost daughter for more than 400 years. To believe that her people would also reject her, when again this morning they revered her almost as much as Hardy herself. No, her mind couldn't accept such a terrible reality.

Lorel left the room. The room that had been Giselle's…. Since she was born. After all this place was the house of her birth. A place that had been sacred. This is where she was born over 400 years ago and when she was chosen to become the Apostle of Hardy this house became a place of pilgrimage.

Giselle had however been able to keep her private room, where she had grown up, where her mother had cradled her, and where she prayed to Hardy when she was still only an acolyte of her temple.

The former Apostle was moved for a moment at this thought. She remembered how hard she had worked to learn to read first and then to remember all the sacred texts in the holy book of death. Hardy's holy book. She remembered the immense pride of her parents at that time.

They had been dead for a long time now. First her father, then her mother. How did they feel now, in Hardy's kingdom? Were they ashamed about her ? Did they also reject her from beyond death? She didn't want to dig deeper into this question.

Lorel had given Giselle 2 days to finish her business and leave the village forever. Giselle didn't need two days. She had no business to attend to, since everything that revolved around her life was exclusively about Hardy. Now that she was no longer her Apostle, it was a matter between Laurel and Hardy. She also had no friends to say goodbye to.

However, she still had two days. Two days where she would enjoy her home's memories. Two days to visit the village where she was born, for the last time.

Giselle had been crying and meditating until noon. Now her face was dry. The heat of the village, built at the entrance to the chain of eternal volcanoes, was such that the tears dried on her face. After all, it was constantly over 50°C all year in this place.

Now she was walking the streets, not really going anywhere. She just wanted to visit her village. It had changed so little in 4 centuries. Only the people had really changed…. And they had a lot of changed since yesterday.

The former Apostle felt extremely uncomfortable. People avoided her as much as they could, looking away, turning around when he saw her. The few times she saw someone's face, it was filled with contempt for her.

"Why…..WHY ARE YOU TURNING AWAY FROM ME?!" EVEN IF I AM NO LONGER HARDY'S APOSTLE, I AM STILL GISELLE! YESTERDAY I WAS YOUR PROTECTOR AND YOU LOVED ME…. YOU WOULD EVEN COME TO ME, SO WHY ARE YOU LEAVING ME NOW?! »

No one dared to answer her, everyone walked away from them without looking back.

Giselle then went to the market. Shopkeepers had always appreciated her stopping by one of their stalls, even if she didn't pay. They felt honored and blessed that Hardy's Apostle took sustenance from them.

This time was very different. Seeing her arrive, they covered their displays and put away their products. All…. With one exception.

Ivoric had been a favorite of Giselle since childhood. She used to come to her father's shop which offered the best Poruro's whine in the whole country. At each of her visits, Ivoric's father gave her a bottle and Giselle blessed him. His son had taken over and the Apostle liked the boy.

Today, Ivoric…. His gaze had changed.

"Are you going to reject me too? Are you going to go away and pretend I'm not there? » Giselle asked, in the most desperate voice he had ever heard.

Ivoric looked down.

"I…. I am sorry. Listen, take what you want. Hold on tight. Take all my bottle if you wish but then leave. Go…. and does not come back…. Please. »

Giselle could see that the merchant was sad about this situation but she understood his feelings. She contented herself with taking two bottles of Poruro's whine.

"Thanks. Farewell and... Good luck," she said as she walked away.

As her figure disappeared around a street corner, Ivoric whispered a few words in a low voice.

"Farewell and…. Good luck Giselle. »

The former Apostle returned to her "home" and slowly savored her first bottle. She then fell asleep and did not wake up until the next day.

The next day, she thinks about what she was going to do with the rest of her life. After 400 years without aging, the few decades she had left to live would pass quickly. Too fast. She would barely have time to find a new way of life when already old age would knock on her door, and death would follow soon after.

After being Apostle for more than 400 years, mortality was becoming too much of a burden to bear.

Besides, what would she have done? Where could she have gone? Everywhere the dragon people would reject her. Going to live in one of the great cities of the Empire? It would be an even worse idea to go to the Empire with the humans. Not to mention their racism, as Hardy's Apostle, she was already unloved. Feared yes. Loved and respected no. She would surely be enslaved by some human who would be delighted to possess an ancient Apostle for his harem…. Or to resell her to a brothel. The only ones who could have welcomed her were the Dark Elves who worshiped Hardy. Alas, just as they revered Hardy, she would surely be rejected by them, for that same reason.

So what ? Live hide the rest of her life in the depths of the woods or in a cave and that whatever the duration?

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No.

Giselle no longer had anything or any way to recover anything she had lost. There was only one thing she could do.

The next day, she left her house near noon. Turning around for the last time, she gazed at her house. Several people were busy around with torches and started setting fires. It was the custom for the banished. Their earthly possessions were destroyed or divided. The place where they had lived was purged by fire and then rebuilt for another to come and live there. Their names removed from the registers and everyone tried to forget them.

The streets were deserted as she neared the edge of the village. Lorel was waiting for her.

"I prepared this bag for you. You have food and drink for a week and enough money to live on for a while. That's all I can do for you. »

"Thank you for your generosity. I sincerely think so," replied Gisele sadly.

"Do you have any idea what you're going to do now?"

The ex Apostle did not answer and simply pointed to the highest peak in the chain of volcanoes. A trip that would not take her more than 4 or 5 days.

"I…. Understand. I would probably do the same if I were you. I respect your decision. I don't know if I should wish you good luck though. »

"I'll be on my way now. No need to stay any longer."

"Goodbye Giselle. May the time come, our mistress welcome you with kindness. »

Giselle sincerely hoped so, but she no longer believed in it. She then began to walk her last pilgrimage.

To be continued.

Good. First part is finished. The chapters of this story will be no more than 6,000 words I think. I anticipate that the whole story will be maybe 50,000 words in all. It's not a long saga but it's not a one shot either.

As for the characters, I would simply mention the choice of the name of the new Apostle, "Lorel". I'm still not the only person in the world who thinks of the comic duo "Laurel and Hardy" every time I hear about the goddess Hardy, am I? So this is it. Now Hardy's closest person is her Apostle "Lorel". (^_^)