Chapter Text
Kratos and Aurora blinked repeatedly, the bright magical light that had transported them had nearly blinded them. After a few seconds, the scene before them became clear. Destruction, and desolation. Aurora gasped slightly as she saw the evidence of a war ravaged land. Ash and smoke lingered in the air creating a thick fog above the night sky. Ruins remained of what had been magical elegant towers and grand castles. The smell of death, and scorched flesh lingered in the air as the corpses of people, and creatures littered the ground. Aurora’s hand fell over her mouth, her eyes opened wide with horror. She had never seen anything like this, but for Kratos this was all too familiar, he had seen the result of many battles.
Kratos’ eyes narrowed as he saw the scorched figures of what looked like centaurs, hundreds of them. He recognized seeing these creatures in the past, they were intense and fierce foes. They were all petrified as though a volcano had erupted upon them.
“We need to leave this area,” Kratos muttered as he glared at the nightmarish scenery before them.
“What are these creatures?” Aurora whispered as they carefully made their way towards the woods in the distance and away from the decaying warzone. Aurora remembered seeing tapestries through out Roma with these creatures, but she didn’t know much about them.
“They are half man, half animal, like Centaurs. Let us hope we don’t run into any living ones.” Kratos grumbled as he followed behind her.
They traversed towards the nearby forest that miraculously wasn’t entirely burned like the rest of the ground around them. Along the way they observed the corpses of various creatures. Onocentaur, faun, even minotaur, all manner of half man, half beast creatures. Kratos' intense gaze darted around as he gripped his axe tightly, expecting that at any moment one of these creatures would try to lunge at them from the fog or from behind the thick tall trees of the forest.
The forest was oddly silent. There were no chirping insects or hooting owls. Not even the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard. It was far too quiet. Aurora felt a presence in the forest, it felt as though it was everywhere, all around them. Anxiety and tension gripped at Aurora’s chest. She feared that the presence spying on them might be Faunus. Faunus was connected to nature and naturally would be the one to dwell in the forest. Aurora slowed down, giving Kratos a glance. “We’re not alone.” Aurora whispered.
Before Kratos could think to respond, the wail of a black falcon echoed through the forest. They both looked up to see the strange falcon swooping down, gliding above their heads and landing right in front of them. A chilling feeling crept up Aurora’s spine. “No…” She whispered just as thick magical vines captured their legs and arms, forcing them to remain entirely still. The black falcon magically shapeshifted right in front of their eyes, turning into none other than Faunus.
“Ah, it is good to see you both. Especially you, Aurora.” His eyes trailed over her body as she writhed and struggled against the vines.
Faunus slowly approached them with a wicked smirk spread on his lips. “There is no use struggling, I’m more powerful now.” Faunus boasted.
“Did you kill all of those creatures back there?” Aurora spat, glaring at him with disgust. The question made Faunus’s cocky grin twist into a scowl.
“No.” He said with clenched teeth. “That was the handwork of your lovely mother. She destroyed my army. But that was just a single battle, I will win the war.” His cold, calculating gaze flickered to Kratos.
“I have learned to enjoy the power of a foreign god, what was your friend's name? Her power was delicious.” Aurora’s teeth clenched as she realized Faunus had been the one who absorbed Freya’s power. She recalled the way Freya would shapeshift into a falcon, that was one of the new abilities Faunus now possessed. Kratos’ eyes widened with realization. His face contorted with rage as he struggled harder against the vines, but they only tightened around him. Along the vines there were little spores of poison that burst the more Kratos moved. It made it hurt to breathe.
“I will have my way with you Aurora, before I give you to Pax and Discordia to absorb, and this time you will not escape me, not even as your little savior watches.” Faunus smirks.
“You will not touch her!” Kratos roars his eyes glowing with rage.
“Afterwards, I think I will take your powers next, Ghost of Sparta. I will rule Caelus, Roma, and beyond that, other realms. No one will be able to stop me. Pax, Discordia, Bacchus, and I will be as powerful as Chaos, Uranus, Gaia and Eros once were. We will be like the Primordials, and more.” Faunus approached Aurora, his cold pale green eyes drinking in the expression of hate on her face.
“You touch him, and I will make you wish you were dead.” Aurora seethed, her nose flaring, and her eyes narrowing with dangerous promise. Faunus paused for a moment, seeming to be taken aback by the woman before him.
“My, my, Aurora. You have changed, you still have that feisty attitude, but you seem a lot less pathetic now. You’re still weak though. And your threats mean absolutely nothing to me. Is he your lover?" Faunus nodded towards Kratos, and then trained his eyes back onto Aurora face. "I will take you here, Aurora, right in front of him.” With a wicked glint in his eyes, he licked his lips as he inched closer to Aurora. His hand gripped her throat with one hand, and gripped her face with the other as he forced her to look at him, dipping his face closer to hers. All the while Kratos raged and fought against the hold of the vines.
Before Faunus could force a kiss upon her, he felt a revolting jolt rush through his body. Faunus nearly gagged as he felt a wave of nausea, his stomach twisted with emotions that were not his own. Aurora was pushing her feelings of revulsion and hate onto him. Faunus snatched his hands away from her, seeking to escape the nauseating feeling and snarled.
“You little bitch.” Faunus seethed. Faunus realized that he would not be able to touch her. Aurora would make it impossible for him to enjoy it. With any touch, he’d be met with feelings that would ruin any pleasure.
“Fine. I can’t have you. But I can have his power. Watch as I drain him of his godhood, and then kill him as the useless mortal he will be.” Faunus snarled as he pulled out a magical dagger similar to the one that had drained Freya of her power.
“No, NO!” Aurora screamed as she watched Faunus walk over to Kratos. In an instant Faunus plunged the dagger into Kratos’ chest. Kratos grunted as a strange magical buzzing pain vibrated through his chest where the dagger was plunged. Aurora felt a wave of terror rip through her like never before. She couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t, not again, not to Kratos.
Faunus stared into Kratos’s eyes as he twisted and buried the dagger deeper, slowly piercing his heart. Kratos could not free himself from the vines to stop Faunus, the vines could match the same strength and force it was met with, and would squeeze tighter. But once the dagger pierced his heart, he froze, and all his fighting ceased. Kratos’ eyes rolled back, just as Freya’s did when Pax stabbed her in the heart. Faunus could now begin to murmur the spell that would draw out Kratos’ power into the dagger. Faunus grinned, triumphantly.
The grin on Faunus’ face fell, his brows knitting in confusion as he could hear the hum of fire behind him. Then his expression cracked into one of excruciating pain. A wave of heat seared Faunus from behind, it was Aurora. She stood behind him like a blinding beacon of red and orange fire. Her eyes were glowing bright with swirls of red, orange, white, and purple. The moment Faunus had stabbed Kratos’ heart, she had combusted into flame. A flame that easily scorched the vines around her, turning them to ash.
Faunus’ panicked screams echoed through the forest as Aurora entangled herself around him. Grappling and pulling Faunus away from Kratos. She wrapped her arms and legs around him tightly, cooking him alive in her grasp. His flesh was burning and blistering as he struggled on the ground. He rolled and kicked frantically, trying to get her off of him. Aurora’s rage and adrenaline numbed her of any pain as Faunus slammed himself and her against the ground. She remained latched around him even as he clawed at her arms and legs, the more he struggled, the hotter she burned.
Aurora’s fire burned blindingly brighter with each second, white fire. Eventually, Faunus stopped struggling and laid on the ground, with level 4 degree burns all over his body and head. Now that Faunus was unconscious, the vines that held Kratos loosed, and Kratos fell onto his back, still rigid. Aurora let go of Faunus as her fire cooled and dissipated. Promptly, she ran to Kratos. Pulling the dagger out of his chest, and cupping his face with one hand.
Kratos gasped and groaned after a few seconds, clutching his chest. He blinked repeatedly and sat up as he regained movement. “Aurora, what happened!? Where is Faunus?” He panted, looking around for Faunus.
“Nevermind him, are you alright my love?” She whispered, searching his eyes.
“I am fine. I can feel myself healing.” Kratos still had his power. Faunus had not gotten the chance to drain it into the dagger. Kratos' eyes landed on Faunus' burned body lying on the ground behind Aurora.
"You saved me." Kratos murmured. Aurora didn't speak, she just pressed her forehead to his, taking in a shaking breath of relief.
Faunus groaned, smoke coming out of his mouth as he coughed. He was slowly healing. Aurora turned to see him stumbling to his feet. Immediately Aurora and Kratos stood up. They watched Faunus cringe with every movement as his body still felt the damage of burned bones, tissue and muscles. Kratos glanced at Aurora as it dawned on him that she had defeated Faunus with her fire. He felt a wave of pride, she was getting better at using her power.
A hole on the ground began to open in the dirt behind Faunus, he was going to try to escape again. Kratos would not allow it. Kratos lunged and immediately tackled Faunus. Preventing him from escaping into the hole. Aurora glanced at the dagger in her hand and ran up to Faunus as Kratos held him. Faunus let out a howl of pain as she plunged the blade into his heart, forcing his eyes to roll back, and his body to fall stiffly to the ground. The hole in the ground instantly closed. Faunus was defeated.
“If we can drain his power into the blade, perhaps we can find a way to return it to Freya.” Kratos grumbled.
Aurora shook her head slightly. “Discordia said it would kill Freya. She said a human body could not process so much power. Her words were true, I could feel it.” Aurora clenched her teeth, as she stared down at Faunus’ rigid body. “But we will find a way. Perhaps some form of magic can help. But, I don’t know the spell to extract his power into the dagger.” Aurora said, her brows knitted with frustration. They were running out of time, they needed to get out of this forest before someone could discover them. And they needed to extract Faunus’ power.
Kratos’ eyes flickered up catching the sight of movement behind the trees. It was a woman. He reached for the Leviathan axe, readying for a fight. Aurora turned, and followed suit. She unsheathed her Flerovium Frost dagger, readying herself for another foe. The tall woman stepped forward slowly. She had on a helmet that obscured her face, and wielded a spear in her right hand. The moment stood still as they stared at each other in tense silence. Her eyes darted between Aurora, Kratos and Faunus’ body on the ground.
“I do not recognize either of you.” The woman said. “What quarrel did you have with Faunus?” She asked.
“That is not your business.” Kratos muttered, glaring at the woman.
“It is my business.” She retorted. “The enemy of my enemy may be an even worse adversary. Now I ask again, what was your quarrel?” Her words were sharp and direct.
“Faunus was trying to assault me, and when he could not, he sought to steal our power.” Aurora explained. “If he was your enemy, then we are not yours.”
The woman was silent as she observed Aurora’s face, realization dawned on her as she took in Aurora’s facial features and her unique eyes. “So it’s true… Luna’s daughter survived. Where did Pax keep you hidden all of these years?” The woman asked, stepping forward.
Aurora furrowed her brows. “I was in Roma, living as a normal human girl. I did not know about Luna, or the gods, or any of this, until recently.”
“Ah. Pax kept you close, hidden in plain sight, right under everyone’s noses.” The woman shook her head in disbelief. “No one truly believed that Luna’s baby survived. Many thought Luna herself had killed you after she killed your father…”
Aurora’s eyes widened, and she stepped towards the woman. “Tell me what really happened. Why is this all truly happening? Pax has fed me half truths and lies. I just want the truth.”
“We do not have much time. You will need to hide Faunus’ body until you get the spell to extract his power. If I knew it, I would give it to you. But only a select few know the spell. Come, I will tell you the truth, and I will help you hide his body. My name is Minerva, goddess of wisdom and justice, and I am your ally. As I was the ally of your father, Sol Invictus.” The woman held out her hand for Aurora. Aurora grasped her hand, and felt the woman’s intentions and emotions. Minerva was being honest, and her intentions were honorable.
Kratos carried Faunus’ body, and followed behind Aurora as Minerva led them towards a cave hidden within the woods. The dark cave was deep and had many twists and turns, it was a maze that only Minerva had memorized.
“I’ll try to make a long story short. Discordia used her own power to twist and corrupt a spell created by Trivia. This twisted spell, combined with an enchanted dagger made of primal energy allows the wielder to steal the power of a god. Discordia created the first dagger, and used it to steal Trivia’s power. But she did not kill Trivia. Discordia kept Trivia for her knowledge in magic and spells. Discordia then created three other daggers. One for Pax, her sister, one for her friend, Faunus, and one for her lover, Oceanus.” Minerva’s voice echoed through the cave as they walked.
“Oceanus? Didn’t Luna kill him?” Aurora asked.
“Yes, she did. Oceanus was… my father. But Discordia is not my mother. Discordia corrupted his mind, as she does, causing discord where there is none. Oceanus was the second to steal the power of another god. He stole the power and life of my mother, Tethys. Discordia’s influence completely changed my father, he was blinded, thirsty for blood and more power. He sought to drown the world and claim all power for himself.
Luna stopped and killed him. After Oceanus’ death, Discordia’s hatred for Luna was sparked. That was the beginning of a long bloody war. Luna collected Oceanus’ dagger. Then she hounded his allies for information and learned the value of the dagger. Luna could not use it without the spell though. Naturally, Discordia would not share the spell with her, and at the time Trivia was still being held captive.”
“What happened after that?” Aurora asked as they approached a stone door. Minerva rolled the stone door and ushered them into her hideout. They stepped inside and Kratos put Faunus’ body on the ground. Minerva rolled the heavy stone door closed and removed her helmet. She ran her hand through her thick brown hair, and crouched beside Faunus’ body to examine the dagger before she continued.
“Pontus, my grandfather, was Discordia’s next pawn. She first tried to convince me to fight against Luna, to gain revenge for my father. But my wisdom was too strong in the face of her instigation. I knew Discordia was the one to blame for my father's downfall, not Luna. Aside from that, I wanted to honor my friendship with Sol Invictus, I did not want to make an enemy of his wife. But Pontus was swayed by Discordia. Discordia fed Pontus power through the spelled dagger, feeling fueled with new strength and power he went after Luna. Pontus was defeated by both Luna and Sol Invictus. Their unified power was too much for anyone to conquer. And that only upset Discordia more.
Discordia, and Faunus hunted down the other gods to grow their power, hoping to get strong enough to defeat Luna and Sol. Somehow, Trivia managed to escape from wherever it was that Discordia was keeping her hostage. Seeking help and protection, Trivia ran to Luna. But Luna did not help her, she captured Trivia and tortured her until she revealed the spell that Discordia used to steal power.
Sol Invictus did not know of this, his mind and heart were consumed with the only thing that mattered to him, you, Aurora. He was trying to end the war, and keep you safe. He believed Luna was of the same mind. But the moment Luna knew the spell, she buried Oceanus’ dagger into his heart and stole Sol’s power for herself. Pax had been spying on Luna, keeping a close eye on her enemy. After witnessing what Luna had done, Pax kidnapped you and hid you away. It was not with a heart of kindness that Pax did this, as I’m sure you know. Pax was keeping you hidden as a secret so she could one day consume your power to defeat Luna. She did not even reveal your location to her sister Discordia.
Pax wanted to wait until you matured, so that the power she could reap from you would be stronger. As gods our powers grow as we age and mature. But your power did not manifest as Pax thought it would. So, she forced Antevorta and Postverta to reveal the future and past, seeking to learn a way to trigger your power. Antevorta looked into the future and revealed to Pax that the only time your power would unlock would be after meeting a foreign god.. Postverta looked into the past, and found that mysterious god to be called The Ghost of Sparta.” Minerva glanced at Kratos, giving him a knowing look.
“Kratos.” Aurora murmured, glancing up at him. Kratos stepped closer to Aurora, his jaw clenched slightly from hearing his old title. He did not see himself as the Ghost of Sparta, or the God of War any longer, but he understood that Postverta could only see the past.
“Discordia did not like the fact that Pax hid you from her. Seeking to find your hidden location she sent Faunus to find you. Faunus did find you, but he had plans of his own. So when Faunus attacked you, Kratos saved you. It was fate.”
Aurora was quiet as the truth settled into her mind. Everything Minerva said played out in her head as though she were there to see it. A plethora of emotions ran through her as she came to terms with it all, then she felt an invisible weight lifting off of her shoulders. Now it all made sense, and that understanding brought her a sense of wholeness that she needed.
“How do you know all of this?” Kratos asked Minerva pointedly.
“My wisdom is a power many underestimate. It reveals truth to me in ways others cannot understand. I’ve been in the middle of all of this since the beginning, I have observed, seen, and heard a lot. Pax, in her foolishness, boasted to me about a lot of things as well. I pieced together the truth over time." Minerva explained.
“There was a goddess that fought me before I encountered Pax, her name was Bellona. Called herself the goddess of war. What is her place in all this?” Kratos asked.
Minerva sighed deeply at the mention of Bellona. “Bellona and her brother Mars, are gods of war. They are always in the middle of any and every war. And after Sol died, they chose to side with Luna. I left. I would not aid her after what she did to your father. Bellona and Mars command the titans now. I tried fighting them, and in the process I lost all of my allies, my family, and friends. I wish to end this war, and to save the few good gods that remain. If Caelum falls- if evil is victorious, it will fracture the balance of good and evil. It won’t only affect Roma, other realms will feel the consequence of it's fall. This magic, this spell needs to be destroyed. It should have never been created. And Aurora, when I look at you, I see your father. You are the last hope. Only you have the power to face Luna.” A tear streamed down Minerva’s cheek, yet her face remained hard and stoic.
Aurora’s breath caught in her throat, as she looked into Minerva’s eyes. Aurora grasped her hand, and immediately she could feel the depth of Minerva’s pain and loss. Aurora’s eyes became misty as they glowed in the dimness of the cave. Minerva blinked and looked down at their connected hands. Feeling emotions blossoming in her chest that were not her own. Minerva could feel Aurora’s hope, determination, power, and goodness. A small smile spread on Minerva’s lips as a sense of peace and courage spread through her.
“You will stop Luna. You will end this war.” Minerva said with certainty.
“Yes. We will.” Aurora confirmed, looking over at Kratos, giving him a small nod.
“Together.” Kratos agreed.