Berionas: Sins of Creation

Chari and Ven

The circumstances surrounding Chari's pregnancy were far from ordinary, leaving lasting scars on her mental state. Ven had cast what was essentially a "Love Spell" on her—a curse that bound her to him, making her adore and love him no matter how cruel or heinous his actions were. Chari didn't even begin to notice the curse until Mantus was born. Despite its hold on her, Chari's vision started to clear when she witnessed the abuse her son endured at the hands of Ven.

While Omega cared for Mantus in another room, Chari stormed into the throne room, determined to confront the man who had tormented her for so long. "What did you do to me?" she spat, clutching her pearls as if they were her last link to sanity. Ven looked down from his throne, his voice as cold as the stone walls it bounced off of. "What are you on about, woman?"

"Why do I love you?" Chari demanded, her fingers trembling over her pearl necklace.

Ven's reply was brutal, but honest. "Because I kidnapped you and scrambled your mind. Now, stop bothering me and let me work, I'm busy." His large frame loomed menacingly over her as he waved her away like a servant.

"You... I won't let you hurt our son... my son. He won't become like you," Chari muttered shakily.

Ven's patience had reached a sudden end. His steps echoed loudly against the ground as he stood to approach her, his voice a mix of shock and rage. "Who do you think you are, Chari Asmon? A mother? What were you before that? Do you even know who you once were? The life you lived?"

"I-I—" Chari stammered, backing away.

"EXACTLY!" Ven bellowed, closing the distance between them. "You don't know because I hold the power here. You should be grateful I've let you live this long, really. You hold no position to threaten me, and you surely don't hold the position of my son's caretaker." Ven knelt down, meeting her starry eyes with zero emotion. "I've already hired your replacement, after all. You were nothing more than a vessel." Chari clasped her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face as she turned to flee the room.

Later that night, after Omega had tucked young Mantus into bed and returned to his small lab, Mantus heard distant, echoing shouts coming from his mother's bedroom. Curiosity gnawed at the child as he clutched his blanket, descending from his large bed and creeping toward the doorway. He heard a door swing open, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps walking away.

Moments later, Chari entered Mantus's room, her eyes red and puffy. She spotted her child standing in the center of the room, clutching his large red blanket. "Baby," she whispered, scooping him up and gently stroking his dark curly hair.

"What's wrong, Mama?" Mantus asked, his small voice filled with concern.

"Nothing," Chari whispered, choking back tears. "Nothing's wrong, baby. I've got you."

Mantus looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Is Dad mad again?" Chari struggled to keep her composure. "No, baby, no... He's just upset, that's all."

She set Mantus down on the bed and cleared her throat, trying to find the right words. "Mommy's going to have to go away for a while, okay, honeybee?"

Mantus's face fell. "Wh—why? Where do you have to go, Mama?"

Chari turned away, not wanting him to see her tears. After a moment, she faced him again, her expression filled with a sorrow that words couldn't express. "I'm just going on a trip, honeybee. But you'll be okay." She stroked his face gently, her voice quivering. "You're strong, Mantus. This world won't change you—he won't change you. I know that."

She hugged her son tightly, her tears soaking his small shoulder. "Mommy has to go now, honeybee. I love you so much." Blocking out the distant wails of her son, Chari ran out of the bedroom door. That was the last time Mantus saw his mother.

[20 years later]

"Again."

    Ven's voice echoed across the large chamber of his castle. His youngest son, Mantus, sat on the cold stone floor in front of him. He stared at a blade, concentrating heavily as it rested on the ground before him. He raised his small hand, and a low hum was heard as the sword slowly levitated from the floor. Electricity crackled and danced around the blade before it clattered to the ground once more.

    A low growl escaped Ven's lips. "Do you aim to disappoint me?" Mantus felt a pit in his stomach as his throat tightened. "N-no, Dad, I can get it, just let me try again—"

    "Don't call me that," Ven growled, his words cutting into Mantus like daggers. His eyes looked almost reptilian, cold and unfeeling. "I've had enough of your excuses. Come here." Mantus hesitated for just a moment, just long enough to make Ven's blood boil. Ven raised his hand, snapping his fingers as his eyebrows furrowed.

    As Mantus slowly approached his father, he felt an unfathomable fear weigh down on him. The terror clawing at his insides was too much to bear. His father stood, grabbed him by the wrist, and yanked him sharply. Ven's cold eyes hovered over the boy's face before placing his palm against his child's left eye. A bright light peeked out from under Ven's palm, followed by his hand bursting into purple flames.

    "AGGHN!" Mantus cried out, falling to the floor and clutching his burnt face as he curled into a fetal position. The smell of burning flesh filled the room as Ven sat back down on his throne. Omega rushed into the room at the sound of the commotion, the door violently slamming against the stone wall. He scanned the room before spotting Mantus curled on the floor, writhing in pain. His heart dropped at the sight of the poor kid. "The hell did you do?" he demanded, rushing to Mantus' side.

    "I'm teaching him. He will never be great if I coddle him like the previous ones," Ven replied with a twisted sneer. Omega looked up at the god in fear. "I'm taking him to the infirmary." Ven waved his hand dismissively. "Do what you want, just get that thing out of my sight."

    Omega then picked up Mantus and bolted out of the room. Mantus' unharmed eye just barely began to squint open, "-mega?" he muttered in betweens whails of anguish. "I'm gonna keep you safe, I promise." he muttered to the child.

[12 Years later]

Omega stood in his lab, surrounded by papers. Today was the day he would escape. He had stolen a small fragment of Ven's Anchor Jewel, just enough to get to one of the Overworlds. He had a one-way ticket, and he was going to make it work. He gathered his things and began creeping out of the castle when he was interrupted. "Where are you going?" a childish voice spoke from behind him.

    There stood Mantus, bandages wrapped around his freshly burnt face. "Hey, buddy, I'm just going on a real quick trip. I'll be right back, okay?" Omega smiled warmly at Mantus, whose face remained static. The child tilted his head in confusion. "Are you leaving me now too?"

    Silence filled the air as Omega looked at the doomed kid standing in front of him. "I have to, buddy, you know that. You know I can't stay here," he admitted. "Take me with you," Mantus pleaded, his expression softening as his one good eye sparkled.

    "I can't," Omega replied. "Your dad would never stop looking for us. I'd be dead in minutes." Mantus' face twisted into a deep frown. "So you're leaving me... with him..." His voice was laced with betrayal.

"I...yes, I have to," Omega explained. Mantus looked up at him with rage in his eye—an all too familiar look. Something Omega had never seen in Mantus before, but he was more than used to seeing in Ven. Suddenly, Mantus let out a eardrum-piercing shout.

"DAAAAD!" Mantus shrieked down the halls. Omega nervously shifted his body. "No, no, no—don't—" he waved his hands in disapproval. He began to frantically search through his bag, hearing the echoing steps of Ven approaching. He pulled out the small green gem fragment and held it into the air. "Please, work," he pleaded to no one, before looking back at Mantus. "I'm sorry, kid. I really am." Suddenly, a bright flash appeared, and Omega was gone.