Year 9 English Enrichment

The Maintainer remained eternally on this seat from the moment of inauguration, only withdrawing when the time came to fully fuse with the throne and all its predecessors, who had become one. This god lost all of its humanity, the result of chaos lending its power to the Maintainer, who upheld the fragile facade called perfection.

The current Maintainer sat upon its seat, watching over the world below. However, this only served as a distraction from its immediate surroundings, serving as the opportunity for a god to attempt to steal the coveted throne. However, a slashed throat does not kill instantly – leaving enough time for another’s neck to be torn and twisted. Thus, the life was drawn out of the two gods, leaving glistening liquid ruby to form rivers in jagged valleys of stone.

​The air, which had been warmed by the breaths of the two gods, cooled. Silence hung like a shroud over the hall, a stark contrast to the sudden action that had ended as soon as it came.

​A third deity approached the hall, the sight bringing her to her knees. Red stains spread across her hands and face, smudged by her tears. As she rose to her feet, preparing to alert the other gods to the tragedy, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed throughout the hall.

“You killed them.” A voice came, filled with disbelief.

The Goddess of Space whipped around, her blood-splattered face displayed for all to see. “Forest? Oh, thank goodness! I don’t know what happened but Divinity and the Maintainer-” Her eyes widened with realisation. “No – no, their endings were of each other, not I!”

“You killed them.” The Nature Goddess’ voice was now laced with venom, and she stared at the other goddess. “Cosmos.”

“Forest, please! I only came across them just now!” Cosmos pleaded. “I – believe me, I swear!”

Forest laughed bitterly, horror giving way to disgust. “And why should I believe you? You’ve always been willing to do anything for power. What happened to Horatio was bad enough – but now you kill two gods!”

​Cosmos recoiled, the harsh memories of her offence vivid. Before she had crippled him, Horatio was a separate entity who possessed the title of Timekeeper. Cosmos had fought him in order to gain the other half of her power, which had been divided between her and him – space and time. However, if she had not been the one to attack first, then Horatio would have. Ultimately, the conflict had led to Horatio’s paralysis, his mind irreparable.

“That is a separate matter, and you should have known the circumstances we were under better than anyone else! Please, just listen to-”

“What- what is this? Cosmos?” A weak voice interrupted her rebuke. Each word trembled, , straining to reach the goddesses.

Cosmos’s eyes shifted, finding the source. The God of Beasts, having been drawn by the commotion, stared back.

“Life?” Cosmos realised how the situation must have looked to her brother, her standing in a pool of the blood that flowed from the two corpses behind her. “Please, I can explain-”

​“You would do well not to listen to her lies,” Forest said. “Cosmos: If you do not yield, I must call the Abyss.”

​“Yield? So you hasten yourself to judge, and do not care to listen to what I have to say?” Cosmos’ mind stormed, her rage just barely contained. Sister, how I have misplaced trust and affection by giving it to you! All this fairness and justice that you speak of whenever the mortal world is brought up; oh, all these lies! Is it that gods do not deserve the same justice, or only me?

​It seemed Forest had made up her mind before Cosmos had provided an answer, for shadows had already begun to gather at her fingertips. The darkness snaked around them, twisting into wavering coils. They then began to drift downwards, pooling some distance from the blood that bore a similar shade.

“Well, this is an issue,” a voice resonated from the rising shadows, which soon hardened into a tangible body. “No need to explain, I know what you wish for me to do. I’ll ask about the matter with their souls, although I’m not entirely sure what state his soul will be in.” The Abyss gestured towards the mangled body of Divinity.

“Thank you, Dark Angel. I know you prefer to stay out of the matters involving the gods, so you going out of your way to aid us in judgement is deeply appreciated –”

“Stop. Are you afraid that my crows will come to claim you if you offend me?” Abyss scoffed. “I truly do not care. Although I have to say, I was quite shocked when the Wisps alerted me that the Maintainer had left this world and entered my domain.”

“Thank you, again,” Forest said. “Cosmos, are you satisfied? The Abyss will be the judge of this matter, so that the result is impartial.”

Cosmos did not reply, only becoming lost in her thoughts of ridicule once more. How could I be satisfied? It’s all very well that once Abyss questions the souls, my name will be cleared, but satisfied? If you do not care to hear me out, if I cannot be innocent without the ultimate judge taking action – then any form of joy is out of the question.

“Cosmos! Answer me, are you satisfied-”
A blur, the flash of a weapon being drawn, then the sound of flesh tearing.

Forest turned, her eyes landing upon a thin gash along her arm, blood trickling from her wound to join the blood already on the floor.

“Listen to me. That is something you can do.”

Forest looked behind her, drawn to the glimmer of a silver blade held by Cosmos, its edge coated with blood. Cosmos glared back, her eyes betraying traces of insanity.

“Listen to me!” The rage that had compounded within Cosmos now burst forth, like a dam giving way to a river. The words came fast, uncontrollable, each consonant piercing. “Imagine being in my position! Imagine yourself coming to speak with the Maintainer, only to find their cold body beside the mangled one of your brother! Divinity may not be your direct relation, but he is mine; try tasting the blood at our feet, I dare you! You will find not only blood, but my tears. Now imagine your sister coming in and immediately accusing you of murder, her judgement based only on a matter from a past long gone! Besides, how could I be even remotely capable of committing such a sin? I have barely half of the power Divinity had, let alone enough to slaughter both him and the Maintainer. Ignorance, idiocy, stupidity, you are as good as a mute preacher! I can only try in vain to get you to listen to me, for you to not be so quick to come to a conclusion!”

“I – what –”

Cosmos interrupted Forest’s attempt at a reply. “You know, sister, those ideals of justice and fairness that you speak so fondly of? Every time that the mortal world is brought to conversation, you somehow find a way to sneak these words in: We gods are so privileged, how can we leave those affected by time alone? Shouldn’t we aid them, provide them with the justice they deserve? But answer my question now; what justice do you speak of? It seems nonexistent when it comes to matters involving me. Never mind that, but shouldn’t the defendant at least be allowed a voice, a word, a chance to defend themself? Apparently not!”

​Now Forest was silent, unable to find her words.

​“Yes, you see! But you will never understand!” Cosmos leaned towards Forest, their faces separated by only a hair’s breadth. “Look into my eyes, try! But you cannot; you take a glance then cringe away! What is it, why do I affect you in such a way, so much!”

​Cosmos caught Forest again, this time their eyes locking. The effort showed in Forest’s face, the strain to keep her eyes focused and not to shy away from her sister’s murderous gaze.

​Life watched from the side, the tension like a net trapping him in place. The pressure of the two goddess’s conflict was intense, enough that he could only just withstand it. He wondered at how these beings could produce such a feeling. It was evident that although he held a similar title to them, he would never reach their level of power.

~~~

Abyss stood calmly, some distance away from the fighting.

​I can’t believe it – first the Maintainer and Divinity, and now Cosmos and Forest. How are so many gods falling to the void so quickly? It’s truly wonderful.

​“Stop being a bother,” She muttered, her words directed to the Wisps, her servants of darkness, who had come to watch the scene from the safety of her shadow. “The battle will conclude soon.”

~~~

​“So you finally look at me. You had better take a good look, because you’re not going to get another!” Cosmos spun, her leg flying out in a sudden roundhouse kick. Forest was thrown backwards, colliding with a marble pillar.

​Tch. Thankfully she isn’t going all out, or I would have crumbled along with that pillar. Forest thought as she stood back up, using the rubble to support her shaking legs.

​Cosmos leapt forward, aiming for her face, but Forest managed to dodge. She threw her own fist, imbued with as much force as possible, and now Cosmos was sent backwards.

​If I can just get a few more punches in, then I might be able to get out of this…!

​Her opponent was already back up, albeit affected by the blow. Forest took advantage of this, and managed to send Cosmos into another pillar. As she approached her wounded sister, she heard a light chuckle.

​“Do you really think this is enough?” Cosmos rose again, her face shrouded. “I’d suggest you withdraw.”

​“No, because you began this fight and I intend to finish it! So, if you cannot understand, I’d suggest you-”

​Then there was white.

​Behind Cosmos, six sapphire wings unfolded, each scattered with stars and dipped in moonlight. Her eyes now displayed not even the slightest hint of reason, only hostility and madness.

​She bared her teeth, each glistening like a dagger. Her blade was now unsheathed, the hand holding it white from her grip. Cosmos took a step, then another, her actions mirrored by Forest. As she approached, her sister backed away.

​As Forest was taking another step to match Cosmos, she saw a blur as her opponent lunged, the silver knife thrusting towards her. It connected, and the floor broke beneath her, dust swirling around them.

~~~

​The dust cleared, and Life stared in horror.

​The knife had connected, pierced, and gone straight through. Along with Cosmos’ arm.

​Cosmos had punched a hole through Forest.

~~~

​Abyss had returned to her world of void. It was a comfortable place, living in her teapot-shaped home. She sat on a cushioned stool, watching the scene unfold from her scrying mirror.

​She watched as Cosmos left Forest’s body to bleed out into the cracks left by her attack. She watched as the goddess turned, now insane, to the only other person in the hall. She watched as Life met the same fate as Forest, and as Cosmos fell from her own wounds inflicted by the two she had killed. Then, when all had become still, save for the slow drift of liquid ruby, she rose and headed to the void’s main court.

​“Escort all souls, other than those of the gods, from the main court to the residential areas.”

​As she entered the court, she was met by the sight of the now-dead gods, each appearing exactly how they did when they died. The Maintainer stood with a split throat, Divinity with his neck crushed, head twisted the wrong way, and limbs bent at unnatural angles. Forest with a hole right through her torso, Life with part of his head crushed in, and Cosmos, bearing several deep cuts around her waist and face.

​“Wow. I never would have thought that all the gods would die on the same day. I knew that you would die to each other, but I could never have expected this.” Abyss said. “Well, I suppose since you’re here now, I’ll leave it to you.”

​The court shifted, the shadows contorting and changing close off all entries or exits, leaving only Abyss and the Wisps able to move in and out of the area. Then, Abyss withdrew, leaving the souls to their own devices.

​I suppose there’s not much I can do; they’re doomed to fight for eternity regardless of my actions. I might as well give them an arena to fight in.

 

​Once, the throne was a seat. It served as a place for the Upholder, the Maintainer of existence. It watched over all and everything, to the finest details. Its shine was only comparable to that of the sun, its white marble a radiant light for its vast hall. It witnessed every event that occurred under the light of the stars and the darkness of the night.

​Now, the throne is not a place of power, or an overseer. The once-pristine floors that surround it are stained with crimson. Its shine is blurred by the same shade, and shadows gaze upon the mournful scene that inhabits the marble cavern.

​From afar, it seems like an artist had taken the hall for a canvas, painting their artwork in shades of vermillion, carmine and scarlet. The sickening paint drips from the pillars, splashes of colour taking the shape of tears running down the cracked and crumbling stone.

​This throne is no longer a seat, left neglected and unused for a century, or perhaps a millennium. However, it shall always be a place of rest.

​Because now, it is a grave.