Last Rites

Ch. 4 - Anointing of the Sick (Part I)

I really didn't know how to handle whatever Helios was dealing with at the time. Wish I had paid more attention. From that day on I spent hours over hours, handcrafting practically all the weapons for Paradiso. There was no mass production, now it's just lame imitations. I know you've never seen it but they break easily. Helios and I even got together and started working on little pet projects. I admit it was pretty fun. Please believe I was, and still am, the best they've ever seen. After a while, maybe I let my ego get the best of me. Maybe, things would've ended differently. No matter. The past is just that, and there ain't shit all you can do about it.

Once again, Rodin stands before Jubileus whose attitude is aloof with a hint of contempt. However, this time all four Auditio stand in front of it, acting as safeguards. Rodin isn't bothered by their presence.

"Rodin, you single handedly made Paradiso bear witness to what true power is... yet again"

"Everything I do is for you, Greatest Jubileus. Through your divine will I was able to—"

"—Father Rodin," Jubileus coos with an idea in mind. "Would you do me the honor in showing me your skills? Or more like your talents as you are naturally gifted."

Rodin's confused.

"I want you to show me what you're made of."

"...Okay, Greatest Jubileus. How should I—"

Jubileus snaps its fingers and summons Courage behind him. Rodin turns around to the Fortitudo clone.

"Fortitudo?" Rodin gasps.

"Not quite," hisses Jubileus. "Your friend is just as talented as you. Meet Courage, your opponent."

"Opponent?!"

Jubileus cackles.

Courage immediately takes the offensive and charges for Rodin. Rodin dodges out of the way, still confused by what's happening.

"Don't hold back!" roars Jubileus. "Show me your power! Entertain your Creator!"

Courage opens his mouth and hurls a fireball at him. Rodin dodges again, still not fighting. Jubileus is very displeased. It summons two more Courages to join in the fray.

"If you refuse to fight fine," it snorts. "Kill him."

All three Courages do as they're told and get into a triangle formation.

"Please don't, O Greatest Jubileus..." Rodin whispers under his breath.

Jubileus remain emotionless as it watches. Rodin takes a deep breath and closes his eyes as his glorious halo forms above his head. His robe glows white as his enormous, goldenrod peacock feathered wings and tail fan out from behind him. He slowly opens his eyes and sees the first Courage with its mouth wide open to devour him whole. Rodin, with one hand, backhands the angel easily, sending it several feet away from him and the others. It dies on impact.

Jubileus sneers.

He levitates from the ground while summoning an orb of energy to trap the second Courage. The Courage gets trapped inside. Rodin extends his arm toward the orb; his hand makes a clutching motion. The orb slowly shrinks, crushing the Courage inside. The third Courage seized this opportunity to catch him off guard. It attacks by swinging his tail. It's a direct hit, yet Rodin's unmoved. He continues to strangle the life out of the Courage in the orb. Once dead, Rodin lets the Courage fall to the ground.

Jubileus clenches its fist, barely able to maintain its rage.

Rodin grabs the remaining Courage by the dragon head and with one punch to its angelic face, it's killed instantaneously. He throws the body to the ground right in front of Fortitudo. Fortitudo seems a little nervous as it looks around to the others to see their reaction to what they've witness.

Jubileus slams its fist into the arm of its throne!

The Auditio are speechless.

Rodin lands on the ground and transforms back to his normal self. Jubileus grinds its teeth together as it manages to spit out a compliment.

"Well done, Father Rodin."

Rodin takes Jubileus' compliment with a grain of salt, "Thank you, Greatest Jubileus."

"You wield such power. I've noticed you didn't use any of your weapons. Why?"

"I didn't need too."

"'I didn't need too'," Jubileus whisper begrudgingly under its breath. "You only provide for those who you deemed weak?"

"I provide only to strengthen my allies. Nothing more. Nothing less. I only provide because it is what you ask of me, O Greatest Jubileus."

"So, if I didn't ask... then you wouldn't provide?" Jubileus asks with its voice deepening with suspicion. "You would keep it all to yourself."

Rodin drops to his knees immediately and bows so far down that his head touches the ground, "I wouldn't dare, O Greatest Jubileus!"

Jubileus scoffs and teleports the Auditio elsewhere, leaving itself and Rodin alone. Jubileus descends from its throne without its feet touching the floor. Jubileus gracefully floats over to Rodin, towering over him. Jubileus uses telekinesis and lifts Rodin high up so they can look at each other eye to eye. Rodin's slightly nervous but remains calm.

"Be my knight."

"Greatest Jubileus?"

"I am surrounded by impossible peons," it laughs. "You would be fitting as my right hand; my shield even! What do you say?"

"Am I really given an option?" he asks.

"Of course not."

"Then you have your knight."

"...I still want an answer," Jubileus groans.

"I fear being your knight. It would be unwise of me to accept such a title. You have your Auditio, they are your eyes, shield, might, and glory. I am unnecessary."

Jubileus is displeased by his remark, in fact, its highly offended and makes sure he knows this.

"How dare you?!" it screams like a teenager throwing a tantrum. "How dare you deny me and my offering. I ought to send you into oblivion."

"Maybe you should. I can tell I worry you."

Jubileus cocks an eyebrow as its slightly taken aback. Then Jubileus suddenly laughs for no reason.

"You think I fear you?!"

"Not fear, Greatest Jubileus—"

"—You are nothing to me! I can crush you within an instant. I'm more concerned with your ally."

"...Helios?"

"He likes to play god, and that is a grave offense punishable by death. His fascination with humans is... slightly disturbing."

"Helios would never—"

"—That doesn't mean he shouldn't be addressed."

"...So, what would you have me do?"

"Tell me everything about him. Report to me. Everyday. I don't care how little the details you provide."

Rodin's a little confused. Jubileus is an almighty being. It has the Auditio at its fingertips. It's almost asinine and backwards to have Rodin waste his time playing as a spy. But his need to get away from Jubileus outweighed trying to reason with the unreasonable, so he agrees.

"As you wish, Great Jubileus."

"Right! Now, off with you," says Jubileus as it teleports Rodin away.

Rodin appears in the sky and plummets to the ground. He teleports out of harm's way, and lands gracefully on the ground. He straightens his clothes, he's clearly pissed off by his current situation. He storms off wanting this day to be over with.