A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Crying Over Spilled Blood

Photo Credit: u/iLyonJG on Reddit

Atis backed away slowly as their sword flew from their grasp and skittered across the ground away from them.

They put their fists up panting and laughed desperately. "You wouldn't fight someone who was unarmed, would you? What happened to honour?"

Vaara shook their head sadly, "You forfeited your right to honour the moment you turned your back on your allies." They lowered their sword cautiously and took a slow step towards Atis.

The tip of their sword dragged against the ground sending wisps of cloud floating through the air as they were cut away from their material tethers. "Relinquish your delusions now and you may still be shown mercy."

Atis clenched their fists in front of their face and cocked their head to the side. "You don't mean that," they spat.

"I take no pleasure in doing this," Vaara shot back. WIth a flash of metal, they swung their sword but Atis ducked away from the swing and took yet another step backwards.

"You're pathetic," said Atis as they adjusted their footing. "Look to the titans before us and you'll see that it is in our nature to conquer and destroy-"

"No!" Vaara cut them off. Their voice cracked as they swung again.

This time, the tip of the blade caught Atis' shoulder blade as they attempted to dodge forward instead. With a hiss of pain, they were forced to fall back again as Vaara continued to press in.

"Do not claim to have instinct on your side," Vaara cried. "Are we no better than mortals? Ruled by instinct and nothing more? A pathetic excuse for vile actions. And for what? Selfish power?"

Atis laughed, "What else is there?" They dropped their arms and gave a mocking bow. "I know when I am beat but know that I will be back. Again and again I'll be back and one of these days you will fall."

They began to fade from view when golden chains shot forth from Vaara's palms and wrapped around their shimmering form. In a flash, they re-solidified and fell to their knees.

The chains tightened around them and they grunted in discomfort.

"Okay then," they managed, "New tricks I see. How fun. Go ahead and imprison me then. How many times have I broken free? You know I never fall for good."

"Evil always does," Vaara said softly. Their fist clenched tightly around the chains until their knuckles turned white with effort. "And there is evil in your heart indeed."

When Atis did not answer, Vaara raised their head and frowned. "How do you see this ending?" they asked, their voice thick with emotion.

Atis raised an eyebrow. "Honestly? With me on the throne and all of you beneath my feet. Because I know that when that happens you will be too weak to rebel against me the way that I have fought against you."

Vaara sighed, "I thought as much." With a look of heavy sorrow, they raised their sword.

Atis' eyes widened, "Woah woah woah, what do you think you're doing?"

"Putting an end to this," said Vaara. "Like I should have long ago. I have granted you far too many chances as it is, despite what everyone else always told me."

Atis scowled, "What happened to mercy?"

Vaara laughed, a loud and joyless laugh that echoed against the sky. "I told you I would give you mercy in exchange for seeing the error of your ways. Clearly you aren't about to give me that much and so now you don't even deserve your continued existence."

"You can't kill a god, you know that," Atis said slowly.

Vaara stared down at them evenly. Only the wobble of their blade betrayed their emotion, "Are you willing to bet your existence on that?"

Atis narrowed their eyes, "You don't have the guts."

"It's not about guts," Vaara said, shaking their head. "It's about desperation."

"And you really think you're desperate enough for it to hold?" Atis asked. "You're ready to live with that much guilt on your consciousness?"

"A small price to pay for the thousands you have already ended," Vaara replied without hesitation.

Atis looked away. The bitter taste of defeat filled their mouth and it was the only moment of regret they would ever live to show. "A god does not do well with guilt. It is not an emotion we were built to house."

Vaara nodded knowingly. "Ophin."

"Ophin," Atis repeated, first like a curse, then like a prayer. "Ophin."

Vaara let their sword drop to their side, "They're still asleep you know, they will remember nothing when they wake."

"So this is really it then? You're going to kill me?"

Vaara did not speak. Instead they simply nodded their head as tears fell from their face.

Down on Earth below them, the heavens wept.

In an instant, all the fight seemed to go out of Atis who dropped their head forward. "Thank you for telling me about Ophin."

"I'm sorry."

Atis clenched their jaw, "I don't want your pity."

Vaara shook their head as they reddied their sword once more, "And I do not want your thanks."

There was a palpable tension in the air for a long moment of silence. Then, Vaara's sword was plummeting, plunging into Atis' body.

Atis cried out, a primal sound full of rage and pain that rang out across the heavens. There was not a soul above Earth who did not know what had happened. And there were very few indeed who did not breathe a sigh of relief.

But Vaara felt no relief.

Only a cold numbness crept into their empty heart as they crumpled to the ground along with Atis' body. Now still and lifeless as the sword that ended them.

Blood seeped from the wound and soon the clouds were painted a brilliant red.

Far below and far removed from the strife of gods, humans looked to the skies with wonder and delight. For it was night and a storm had just passed.