Acedic Autocrats

Chapter 3

Sextilis 18th, 2153.

"Rest now, Amicus Meus." I said, as I gently caressed Fidelis Grypthem. "We'll meet again later." It'd been two years since I'd seen Parentes Meus' spirit and within that time, I'd been attempting research as to how he managed to return. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I couldn't help but feel that it was a bad omen.

Don't misunderstand me if the reappearance was under normal, peaceful circumstances I would've been elated to meet Mihi Biologicum Parentes if not for anything but to get some answers regarding Mater Mea Nativitatis. While I did vaguely remember questioning her regarding the matter she'd never answer.

Again, I don't know how to explain it but whenever I did press the matter her face would distort from her usual warm, loving look to one of sadness, disgust, and betrayal as if she'd uncovered a secret that our Parentes'd done something terrible.

Surprisingly, The Peccata Patris Volume 1 actually gets this part wrong for it states that the protagonist's Avunculus had spent two days searching for an answer when I had actually spent two years. That's correct for two years. I spent countless hours in the palace's massive library, sifting through countless myths to find any sort of clue.

What made the situation even stranger was how it related to Mea Magna Nepotem. The first time I'd seen Parentes Meus was when he was making a deal with Imperator Salim, and it was only then that his Accessio amplified. Though I already knew what their agreement was, the mystery still remained as to who or what was under that hood.

Even when they revealed their identity however it only left more questions. Whenever I saw a painting of Mihi Biologicum Parentes, they always had the appearance of a normal witch but upon removing their hood I saw something unexpected. I'm sure one already heard the stories. Born a witch, he was highly Acetic, and often spent their time pleasuring themself rather than working. Nowitch knew how they managed to find a mate with their lazy, callous, and uncaring personality.

But they did and in eight years' time they had a daughter, and were expecting a son. Soror Meus was born at a difficult time, our Parentis was struggling with a gambling addiction and often fought with our Mater Biologicum, Adalyn Clawthorn about finances. One day something clicked, and our Parentis announced that they were leaving for a job interview that would earn them a large salary.

Luz was unsurprisingly very excited by the news. Finally, after eight years, they were going to have disposable income. Unfortunately, their situation never improved. Though my Parentis' job did grant them a large salary they always spent it on themselves not just to pay back debts and loans but also to buy drinks and luxury items that they never shared with my family.

Of course, my godparents weren't pleased with this behavior but didn't know what to do about it. While yes, they'd encountered witches stepping out of line before most of that was usually due to Luxuria Et Ira. After pondering the situation for some time, they decided to bring the matter to their Pater.

Avunculus Hyperion was also disgusted. At that point he'd just gotten use to his creations being Iratis Et Luxurinosis, as those were common emotions for witches, but never in all his immortal life had he witnessed such insolence and born out of Accessio no less.

While yes Accessio and tiredness were also emotions but there's a big difference between them. Tiredness was what one felt after actually working while Accessio and leisure were only acceptable during one's free time and not to the point where a witch'd neglect their responsibilities.

Naturally, Avunculus immediately knew they had to be punished, but how? As I mentioned a moment ago, no witch had ever acted in this manner before and though Accessio was a normal emotion, it was usually just that, an emotion.

This part is rather anecdotal but whenever Amicis Meis were feeling tired, they still accomplished their tasks even if they didn't wish to. However, whenever Parentis Meus was asked to perform a task, they would never accomplish them even if they were well rested, and based on my titanfather's reactions at the time, it was the first time anything like that'd ever happened.

Anyway, after some time, they came up with the perfect punishment. For their crimes, Parentis Meus, Rashid Clawthorn was thrown into depths of Tartarus, and their body was transformed into a hideous monster which resembled both a witch and an ursa, sentenced to punish anyone who'd follow in their footsteps. And so, the first deadly sin came to be.

Messy family history aside when my research resulted in nothing, I decided to ask assistance from Fratres Meus, Imperator Gromeo I given that he's technically a titan. So, early that morning I left the palace before the imperator awoke so as to not raise any suspicion.

I boarded Mea Pet Gryphem, Herrin and headed out to Domus Mea Est Templum. Just to be clear, Fratres Meus never wished for his subjects to worship him as a titan, but they still decided to anyway, and built him a massive Templum for himself as well as Posterisque Eius. Nowadays, witches would gather there during the Libertali to pray for either blessings, guidance, or protection.

I forgot to explain it in the second tale, but the Libertali is similar to all the other four holidays I mentioned, a celebration in Fratres Meus' honor. Said celebration lasts about a day beginning on Martius 6, the day of his rebirth.

The Templum they built was more grandiose than expected. For starters, it's very large, not bigger than the palace, but it was still the largest Templum in the empire. On the outside there's nothing too special, simple stone walls with a golden roof.

However, the inside was far more spectacular. The Templum's walls were hung with tapestries, each depicting a mural of Mei Fratres, Nepos, and Nepotem's greatest accomplishments with more emphasis, of course, being placed on the Battle of Actium where, Imperator Chenghiz was finally struck down. In the center of this mighty building was the uncreatively named prayer room where Fratres Meus' former subjects often gathered to pray to the minor titans.

I took a deep breath to summon my courage and walked inside but I was completely unprepared for what happened next. Walking up to the massive statues, I knelt before the stone depiction of my brother and began to pray. "Fratres, I'm not sure if you can hear me, but our empire is in danger."

A bolt of lightning came down from the heavens and the statue's eyes open. "Ahh Kurin, it's been a while." I stood up tall and looked Fratres Meus right in the face. "It's nice to see you again Fratres, I wish my visit was under better circumstances but." "I know," he said. "Gromeo and I were just discussing the matter with Azur now."

"You were?" I asked. "Yes, actually we began as soon as he arrived on Olympos. First, well first we scolded him for his naivety, but once we finished, we began discussing alternative courses of action in case the situation worsened." "Oh, thank titan!" I exclaimed, wiping my forehead in relief then turned my attention back to the previous Imperator. "My apologies, please continue."

"Every time we did however, it felt as though we were missing something, as if there's something we couldn't see. Azur mentioned that while Salim was always Acetic, it was never to this degree." "Actually," I said, interrupting Fratres Meus. "I might know what's going on but I'm not entirely certain." Apparently, that was all I had to say as Imperator Gromeo Primus immediately requested an audience with me atop Mount Olympos.