The Adventures of the 14th Olympian: Luna Goddess of Galaxies

2. The City Saga Pt. 2: Birth of the Crescent City Pt. 1: Pelpenie

Enjoy!

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Black smoke churned in the once bright blue sky. The once visible and blindingly brightness of Helios was now obscured by the bleak ominous clouds of sorrow.

Luna stood amongst the people of Pelpenie. Sapphire eyes focused on the burning pyre in front of her. As the smoke continued to rise higher into the heavens, so was the feeling of grief.

She watched as the flames danced in her vision. Bright orange and yellow fire flickering in an alluring waltz. Swaying back and forth, wisping higher into the sky. Picking up their tempo as the fire kept growing ever higher. As their dance of destruction continued, the flames consumed all that there was.

The same dance.

The same tune.

The same dark ending.

As the flames continued to consume the large pyre. Luna recalled quickly the moments before the pyre was even lit.

~ * ~

Shortly after, the people of Pelpenie acknowledged her as their savior. Luna ordered the people to gather drachmas to place into the mouths of the deceased. She would have asked the noblemen and women to spare a couple of gold coins since they could afford it. However, she didn't want money that was from the wicked, placed into the mouths of those who are innocent, (More on that later).

During the gathering, Luna was informed by Stephanos and some others that there were more dead, in other parts of the polis. Taking that into account, the goddess tasked two trusted groups to lead the search and bring back the bodies. The first group was led by Stephanos, and they ventured off to the eastern side of the polis and would soon check the north. While Stephanos's two sons (Who Luna was introduced to earlier on), and Simon, lead another group to the west and would then check the south. She also ordered her wolves Aster and Nebula to help in the search, making the process faster. Aster went east with Stephanos, while Nebula went west.

As the two groups searched for more dead. The people left in the square were tasked to do other things.

The guards that came with the nobility were ordered by Luna to guard the area. None argued and the goddess sensed an air of gratitude and awe surrounding them when she made them go and do their given task. 

Some of the younger adults, mainly young maidens such as Diantha's older sister Adara, were tasked to help some of the women to watch over the younger children. Or even help with the injured or the elderly.

The able-bodied older women that were led by Stephanos's wife, Lysandra, spent the time properly preparing the bodies that were already on the pyres. For the upcoming funeral.

Meanwhile, some of the men that remained behind, both young and old, searched through the rubble for anything salvageable.

Tallan, Luna's trusted feathered friend, soared through the skies once more to help with the search. For as he stated, "If I don't fly soon, I'll form a wing cramp out of sheer boredom." This caused the goddess to chuckle lightly, as she watched her friend in the sky.

While everyone in the polis had something to occupy themselves, mostly doing jobs. There was one select group that wasn't doing anything, and that was the nobles. Majority of them were just lounging around and sometimes glancing at the commonfolk with disgust. There were a few though that did end up helping around the area. An action that brought a smile to the goddess's lips.

There have been several times the nobles, (The entitled ones), have come up to her and try to gain her favor. Either through over exaggerated compliments, promise of the most extravagant gifts, or the worst ones yet. Their continuous praises towards her beauty and bravery. Luna listened to them calmly and respectfully, but her irritation was slowly growing. These nobles were no different than the ones back in her empire. Always boastful and proud. They sought to seek favor, where in her eyes she already saw through them. Saw their dishonorable nature, as if she were reading a bad book. Always thinking that just because they were wealthy, they were worth her time. Or how because they supported her in her reign as the empress, they were more important than the rest.