Gods and Mortals

Prologue: The God of War

After hours of traversing, as the woman followed the directions provided by the divine figure, holding her unconscious daughter in her arms, a glimmer of hope sparked within her. She held onto the belief that the man's words could hold the key to resolving all her troubles. Upon reaching the designated location, a heartwarming sight greeted her – a gathering of her fellow humans, united in this secluded refuge.

Over a year had passed since the harrowing encounter with the monsters, and more than six months had elapsed since she had last encountered another human besides her daughter. The emotions welling up within her were overwhelming as she observed the faces of her companions, their eyes reflecting both fear and sorrow. Despite the somber circumstances, tears of elation streamed down her cheeks, mingling with tears of relief and contentment. The heavy burden of a lifetime spent fleeing had finally been lifted. Embracing her daughter, she was led forward with kind smiles and false cheer, finding solace in a place of respite for both herself and her child.

As minutes stretched into hours, and the sun began its descent towards the horizon, a sense of tranquility settled upon her. However, amidst the peace, the man's cryptic words echoed persistently in her mind.

"Could it have been a mirage? The heat truly was intense, after all," The woman's voice wavered as she grappled with disbelief, attempting to rationalize the extraordinary events.

She toyed with the notion that the divine man might have been nothing more than a figment of her imagination, conjured by her desperate mind.

As the sun cast its final rays, casting a warm golden hue over the gathered humans, an unexpected disturbance shattered the calm. A roaring wind swept through the entrance of the cave, heralding the arrival of an enigmatic object from the heavens. Though uncertainty held the crowd captive, the woman's intuition guided her actions. Without hesitation, she ventured out to investigate, her heart pounding with anticipation. And there he stood – the man who had intervened in their darkest hour. His armor remained unblemished, his pure white eyes emanating an aura of both intimidation and reverence, his wings gracefully retracting.

Awestruck and bewildered, the assembled humans emerged from the cave to behold this otherworldly being. The air was thick with silence, collective disbelief rendering them motionless.

And then, the man spoke.

"Mortals, humans, rejoice, for I have purged your realm of the scourge known as the monster kind. The imperfections of their souls were intolerable to us. Today, I declare that this world is now yours. All creatures shall bow beneath you, and you shall rise above all living entities in this realm. The Main World now belongs exclusively to humankind, in contrast to the monsters who once shared this domain. But be assured that we, your creators, will watch over you closely."

His proclamation left the crowd momentarily speechless, their minds grappling with the incredulity of his words. The concept of ridding the world of the monster kind sounded like a fantastical tale, challenging the boundaries of reality. However, in the presence of this divine figure, doubt seemed to dissipate. His words held an inexplicable weight, an undeniable authority that resonated with each listening ear.

As realization settled in, a cacophony of cheers and cries erupted, filling the air with jubilation. The weight of constant vigilance lifted, and humanity basked in the prospect of a life free from the monsters' terror. This unparalleled relief transformed into a fervent celebration, an expression of gratitude towards the man who had emerged as their savior.

And then, the man unveiled his identity as Siege, the God of War, one among the thirteen creators of their world. He delved into their history, revealing that the monsters had preceded humankind, born of the creators' initial attempts. Yet, imperfections marred the monsters, prompting the subsequent creation of humankind. Both species coexisted, intended to learn from one another, leading to the monsters' evolution along a path of imperfect imperfection.

However, the monsters' progression took a sinister turn, their flawed nature growing more pronounced with each passing century. The gods, who had pledged non-interference regardless of any outcome, broke their vow after being unable to bear the outcome any longer, choosing to intervene for the first time. Their intervention proved decisive, culminating in the eradication of the monster kind. Siege then assured humanity that such darkness would never again plague their existence.

The humans pleaded for the presence of the god who accompanied them through seven days of celebration. During this period, Siege regaled them with tales of their creation and the divine pantheon known as Higher World that safeguarded their world. He praised humanity as the gods' perfect creation, explaining the resemblance the humans had to their makers. Their newfound understanding forged a profound connection between mortals and gods.

As the final day approached, the woman's child approached Siege with a humble gift – a shard of stone that had once been her beacon of hope in moments of fear. She entrusted it to him, a symbol of her unwavering faith in his protection.

Accepting the stone, Siege crafted a necklace, a tangible reminder of their shared journey. And then, as the sun cast its last glow over the horizon, Siege readied himself for departure, wings outspread. He offered humanity a future unburdened by monsters and pledged their eternal guardianship.

With the radiant being's departure, a new chapter unfolded for humankind, a world free from the shadows of the monster kind, and illuminated by the divine presence of their creators.