CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 115: AS HEAVEN WILLS.

Calithar stepped forward without hesitation. He kept his shoulders squared, his head held high, and his expression calm. Even though Zeres was every inch the intimidating, glorious sun god, he refused to look small next to him. He had spent days drowning in regret and misery, but that had passed. He had come here to rest and get his mind off things. Whatever awaited him, he was ready for it. After all, he could use some fun in his life.

Calithar had actually remembered to go to the gods for mercy but had decided not to.

He knew going there would only be an avenue for them to mock him and poke his already covered wounds.

Asides that, his issue with bringing Elena back had completely left him ignoring other immortal matters that needed to be handled.

Even if he had not climbed the steps of heaven to ask for mercy and even if the gods believed he had defied them, Calithar wasn’t going to give them the chance to see him break and shatter under their scrutinizing gazes.

He met Zeres’s eyes without blinking, standing upright behind Seraphine.

The sun god smirked at the boldness. This pauper really has no shame. He thought to himself.

Zeres approached him with slow, confident steps. His tall, almighty frame made him look even more intimidating as he got closer to him. There was absolutely nothing this man couldn’t and wouldn’t do to get his way.

As he walked, little sparks of golden light flared under his feet. His presence alone pressed heavily on the air, like the beginning of a hot, suffocating summer.

Calithar could feel the familiar heat sinking into his skin. Zeres had always been like this, even before Calithar’s fall. He was a god who loved order and punishment. A god who carried out laws without bending them. A god who had never liked him in the first place all for a flimsy or rather emotional matter.

"You finally showed yourself," Zeres said. "I was beginning to think you ran away again."

Calithar did not respond. He simply stood there, watching the god who now supposedly held power over his fate.

Zeres stretched out his arm lazily and a long chain appeared between his fingers. The links were made of blazing yellow light, glowing like a piece of the sun itself as heat pulsed off it in waves. Why was everything about this man so hot?!

Calithar held still when Zeres slapped the chain around his wrists. The impact rang through the air like metal striking metal, even though no metal was involved. The chain tightened instantly, burning lightly against his skin. Although it did not hurt him physically, the impact from the chain made him feel woozy already. This chain was used only for the disobedient gods.

"You can walk on your own or I can drag you. Choose one." Zeres pushed him forward with a quick shove, chuckling at how pathetic he looked.

Calithar stumbled once, steadying himself. Behind him, Seraphine flinched. Her lips trembled slightly. She wanted to protest but did not know how or even what to say. Calithar had defied the rules of the gods by not seeking mercy after his pardon so this bumbling giant was right in every respect.

He could feel her worry clawing at the air. She was trying to hide it, but it was there.

Zeres did not give her time to speak. He spread out his wings with a force that shook the garden. The wings burst open like a storm of light and pure gold stretched across the length of each wing, bright and overpowering. Veins of blazing fire ran through the feathers, flickering like molten lines of sunlight.

Another wave of heat washed over the garden, painting the serene, peaceful environment in shades of orange and red.

Even the fairies and other creatures hiding in the trees shielded their eyes from its brightness.

Calithar inhaled softly, refusing to show any emotins.

He had always been the soft one, having compassion but knowing when to hold it. He had seen those wings for many centuries and knew just how overwhelming Zeres’ power was. Calithar was not entirely helpless. He closed his eyes and let his energy gather deep inside him.

When he opened his eyes, his own wings unfurled behind him. They opened slowly at first, almost shyly. Then they spread fully, revealing pure white feathers so bright they almost matched Zeres’. They were not as large as Zeres’s, nor as forceful, but the power he once possessed as a god was still there.

Two can play at this game.

Zeres shot him a glare, as if the sight annoyed him then gave a loud scoff.

"Let us go," the sun god said, wrapping his hand around the back of his shirt and shaking him.

The two men got into position with one knee arched against the ground.

Right before he launched into the sky, Zeres turned abruptly back to Seraphine. She barely had time to react before he stepped close, leaned down, and stole a quick kiss from her lips.

Her eyes widened and her mouth parted in shock.

Calithar’s head snapped toward them but Zeres shoved him again to the front. He saw what that bastard had done and wanted to just pummel his sharp face till it was just like the water.

Seraphine moved back instantly, her hand flying to her lips, but before she could shout or react, a violent gust burst out from Zeres’s wings. The wind hit her like a blast. Her long white hair lashed back, her dress fluttered sharply, and her feet dug into the ground so she would not fall.

She remained standing but breathless. No one, not even the gods could match the aura and power Zeres possessed. He was never lacking in any way and was always the reason for jealousy in the heavens.

Zeres smirked at her reaction and shot into the sky.

Calithar looked at her one last time before following. The warm rush of air from his wings swept across her gently, in contrast to Zeres’s harsh wind.

Seraphine watched them disappear into the sky. Her chest tightened painfully.

"You will be fine, Calithar," she whispered to herself. "You have to be."

~~~~~~

Far above, the sky shifted, the clouds swirled, giving way to the two men approaching the judgement throne.

It swirled faster around Zeres and Calithar as they flew higher and higher. The heavenly gates appeared as a wide arc of gold. It was guarded by two massive beings made of pure white flame each carrying a flaming sword of fire. They opened the gates as soon as Zeres approached.

Calithar did not miss the way their eyes lingered on his chained hands. This is going to be a long day.

As they crossed the heavenly barrier, the air changed. It grew lighter, purified, sacred even. Every breath felt like stepping into a warm, calm dream. Lights floated everywhere accompanied by tiny dusty sparkles.

The heavenly palace stood at the center, shining with a brilliance so intense no mortal could look at it without turning blind. Dozens of gods stood on either side of the stairs leading to the throne of the true god. Their wings glowed in white so pure, nothing could ever stain it. Even with their personalities, their eyes were sharp and cold.

Every one of them stared at Calithar the moment he landed.

Zeres dropped him to his knees in the center of the hall. The impact shocked his bones, but he stayed upright.

The true god sat on the highest throne. He glowed with a light brighter than sunlight or moonlight. It was something deeper, older, and heavier. Something that made every being tremble just by being in his presence.

His face shone brilliantly with gold, making it impossible for anyone who wasn’t pure of heart to behold his purity.

"Bring him closer," the true god said, his voice echoing calmly yet with a heavy magnitude.

Zeres pulled Calithar, who was on his knees, forward a few steps. Every god in the hall followed the movement with cold eyes.

The true god asked softly, "Is that Calithar? The earth god?"

"Yes," Zeres replied. "He regained his power after his thousand years banishment yet refused to return to heaven to ask for mercy. His arrogance continues even after being forgiven."

Murmurs rose from the gathered gods and a few nodded sharply while a few whispered among themselves. Some merely stared with no expression as though they were bored or just uninterested.

Calithar lifted his chin and spoke clearly.

"I wished to return," he said. "Truly. But I was uncertain if my divinity had been fully restored. I thought coming here unprepared would be disrespectful."

"How dare you speak without permission! Insolence!" Diax, goddess of fertility, condemned.

Zeres chuckled softly to himself. Of course they’d support him. Nothing he ever does was wrong in their eyes.

Zeres laughed, a low mocking sound but hid it.

He turned to the gods. "You have heard him. He believes he can decide what is disrespectful. He believes he can choose the time and place to bow after being granted a second chance for his demeaning behavior! How amusing."

No one replied. It was like a court scene only that the ones involved were their own solicitors.

Calithar kept his gaze steady and Zeres noticed this.

"Bow you insolent fraud!" he commanded and pushed him head first to the ground. Calithar’s face slapped the ground with force.

"I do not mean disrespect. I only ask the almighty to give a punishment befitting this aggravating action." Zeres said respectfully.

Zeres’s grin widened. He summoned his rod in a flash of golden fire. "He speaks as if he has the right to choose whose forgiveness matters."

"He should be struck," one said.

"Yes. He must be purified again," another supported.

"His punishment should be heavier," a third added.

The true god finally raised his hand and silence fell.

"Calithar," the true god’s voice echoed. "The heavens showed you mercy once. Yet you did not return to acknowledge it. For this, your arrogance must be corrected."

Calithar closed his eyes. He knew this was coming.

"Strike him with the Heavenly Strike of Judgement,"

Zeres’s entire expression lit up in twisted satisfaction. "A thousand times. As it should be."

Before Calithar could react, Zeres grabbed him by his hair. Calithar clenched his jaw at the stinging force sharply coursing through him. Zeres dragged him up and flung him high into the air like a rag doll.

Two winged creatures shot out from the walls. They were giant statues brought to life, with large round eyes and pure, porcelain skin. Their wings spread open with booming force as they caught Calithar by the arms.

They carried him to a floating structure made of stone. It resembled an ancient frame for punishment. The creatures tied him against it, suspending him high above the gods’ heads.

Calithar could barely move. The chains that bound his wrists had been draining him bit by bit.

He hung there, completely helpless yet no one was in his favor. No one could speak for him.

Divinity wasn’t for the weak.

Zeres flew up to the same height, holding his rod.

He flipped the rod once in his hand and light burst from it and the weapon unraveled into a long whip. Lines of lightning twisted and sizzled along its length. It’s raw, untarnished power from his mighty grip whipped around him furiously as his eyes turned golden-red.

Even the gods looked up with interest. The sun god was the disciplinarian of the heavens. No one could survive the punishments he inflicts and would always end up with years of internal injuries.

Zeres lifted the whip slowly, savoring the moment as he smiled like a corrupted devil turned god.

Calithar watched him through the side of his eyes. He knew Zeres had waited for this day and because of that, he wouldn’t be shown even a flicker of mercy.

The sun god raised his arm higher, preparing to bring the first strike down.

Lightning gathered at the tip of the whip, bright and violent.

Just as the whip was about to swing down, a sharp, shrill voice pierced the silence.

"Stop!"

Every head turned toward the entrance except the true god’s. Even Zeres stopped his action and turned towards the sound of the voice.

Not this meddling kid again...