The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]
Chapter 339 – Given A Child

Divines are manifestations of mass human consciousness. So far, I am the only one to claim that there is nothing in biology that is natural about us. We do not need to eat. We do not need to drink. We are not born, no Divine knows how they were incarnated into existence and no one has ever witnessed a Divine appear either.

I am not here to categorize Divinity, I do not particularly care about such trite as descriptors. Others can try to sequester us into various meaningless categories. I care not for such things. I am Arascus, God of Pride, I will forever be Arascus, God of Pride no matter whether I am classified as an emotion, an abstract, a sin or a need made manifest. I care for how Divinity can be used and how Divinity is made. To put it in a simpler manner, a man can know how to use a sword, without caring for the subtle differences of a longsword, a two-handed sword, an arming sword, a straight sword or a one-handed sword.

In the same way that Tartarus created the portal magics that we find incomprehensible, in the same way that Paradeisius is able to sidestep the physical laws, Arda is able to manifest ideals onto reality. On one hand, we are mere golems that are thought up, used, and then discarded when the time comes, on the other hand, we are the very pinnacle of what humanity can hope to achieve. We are their ideals. It is up to us to guide them, because it is through us that Arda can stand against other worlds.

They will come eventually.

It is up to Divines to make sure that we are ready for them.

- Excerpt from Arascus’ Private Writings, Untitled, Dated to before the Great War.

Fer looked to the sky as she left the command tent with her father, Malam, Helenna, Elassa and Iliyal. The elf stayed close to her as the three other Divines were in the back. All in professional dark suits that stood out against the backdrop of Iliyal’s military base. The dirt here had been devastated by heavy tracked vehicles and soldiers were looking around. Most of them pretended not to look at Fer. A few were brave enough to. A few more were even brave enough to meet her gaze and not back down. Frankly, Fer didn’t even care about that. Maybe some other sister of hers would find insult in that, but she knew how people acted, and she knew it was comedic that there was what looked to be a little beastgirl hanging around the Divines. Fer listened in on them talk about her. She wasn’t even offended or insulted, she knew her current problem had to be discussed, and she knew that her opinion on it was largely irrelevant. She needed a caretaker, it was obvious who it would be: Anassa. Everyone else was busy or not in the area, and Arascus couldn’t just take Fer on a random outing out to nowhere. “You are adorable.” Malam said happily for maybe the hundredth time today. Fer’s sister bent at the waist to bring her face closer to Fer as she stared at the Goddess of Beasthood. “I never want you to take turn back.”

“When I turn back Malam, you’re not going to be happy.” Malam leaned over and pinched Fer’s cheek.

“Then I should make the most of tiny Fer while I have her, shouldn’t I?” The woman’s hand was larger than Fer’s head, but Malam was terribly gentle as she annoyed Fer. The Goddess of Beasthood growled and bared her fangs and Malam chuckled again. “Just so-weeehhHh!” Malam shouted as Arascus pulled her back to standing straight by the collar of her shirt.

“Don’t be overbearing Malam.” Arascus said flatly as Fer quickly took the chance to back away. “It has to be Anassa though, it can’t be anyone else. You’re busy and the Nationals are too weak.” And they were back to discussing Fer’s protector for the immediate time. A certain part of Fer wished that it didn’t have to be Anassa, and that instead she could just tag along with Arascus instead, but she knew that she was too weak and fragile now to be brought on any missions. Her mere presence was an effective kneecapping of whoever it was that had to look after her.

“Are you going to ring her now?” Malam asked and Arascus nodded.

“I was planning to.”

“I have an idea.” Malam said and Fer smiled in satisfaction at Arascus’ unamused look.

“What is it?” Malam was another daughter though, so at least the God humoured her. Fer knew that when Arascus gave that look to anyone out of the family, the swords would be the next thing to come out.

“Can I do the talking?” Arascus answered Malam with a dry look, thoroughly unimpressed at how lightly she was taking the situation. “Please?” Malam cooed. “It’ll be funny.”

“Will it?” Arascus asked.

“Please dad?” Malam cooed. Arascus set the phone to ring, turned the loudspeaker on and passed it to the Goddess of Hatred. Malam snickered and blew her snow-white hair out of hair face as she excitedly looked into the tiny box in her hands, her black eyes shooting from it, to the Goddess of Beasthood and back again. Anassa answered almost immediately. Fer didn’t know if she expected it or if she was annoyed. She supposed a bit of both. She knew that all of them answered immediately when their father called, but it was annoying that Anassa would pretend to play stupid when she had to answer from a sister.

“Hello hello dad?” Anassa answered, her tone light and breezy as if she was a teenage girl, wind suddenly came through the phone and the Goddess of Sorcery quickly followed up. “Wait a moment, I’ll get out of the sky.” There was no moment, the wind cut out immediately and Anassa spoke up after finishing that statement. “There we go. What did you call for?”

Malam looked to Arascus, her excited eyes asking for permission and the God nodded. By his side, Elassa pretended not to be interested even though she was leaning close to listen in. Helenna had no such reservation. The Goddess of Love was watching Malam, her hair becoming a light red. Fer noticed Iliyal turn around and cross his arms. “It’s me.” Malam said.

Immediately, Anassa’s tone dropped. It became the sort of voice that Fer always associated with her sister, a low rumble that couldn’t decide whether it was trying to be seductive or disgusted. “What do you want?”

“Aren’t you just a sweetheart Ana?” Malam asked as Arascus crossed his arms.

“Why do you have dad’s phone?”

“He let me call you.” Malam said. “But anyway, do you want to become a mother?” Fer blinked. Elassa looked away as she covered her mouth with her hand to hide the laugh, Arascus’ lips quirked upwards as he chuckled and Helenna opened her mouth to release a low exhale that sounded as if it was teetering on laughter. Anassa took a moment to reply.

“Excuse me? What?” Anassa asked.

“Do you want to be given child?” Malam asked.

“Who by?” Fer’s mouth dropped open at Anassa’s answer. What sort of question was that? Who by? Did Anassa want kids? What? Elassa had to take a few steps away in order to chuckle. Helenna’s hair turned into the bone-white of shock and Arascus chuckled. Iliyal just blinked and shook his head at the immature display. Malam laughed and shook her head.

“What do you mean who do you want it by?” She asked and Anassa chuckled.

“You can play around with Kass or someone but not me Mal.” Anassa answered. “Did you find a boyfriend or what? Are you going to ask me for an opinion on who would make a good father?”

“I knew she wouldn’t fall for it.” Arascus said and Malam sighed as the man pulled the phone out from her hand. “It’s me Ana, I want you to come to Iliyal’s base in Lubska near Kaczaw. Something’s happened to Fer, you have to keep watch over her.”

Fer wished that the man didn’t say that. She trusted that Anassa would look after her, but then… Well, it was the same thing as not leaving money in a friend’s house. She trusted Anassa, but she simply didn’t want to put Anassa in a situation where the woman could disappoint her. Fer was not disappointed in Anassa though, Fer was suddenly disappointed in herself for doubting a sister when she heard the genuine worry in Ana’s voice. “Is she fine?”

“She’s alive.” Arascus said. “And she’s awake, she can hear you now. You’ll see when you get here.”

“I’ll be there in an hour then, forty minutes. I’ll leave immediately. That all?” Fer felt her heart skip a beat. She had never been disappointed in Anassa, but… Well, you didn’t know how people talked about you until you heard them talk about you.

“That’s all. See you later.” Arascus turned the call off and put the phone back into a pocket on the inside of his coat. “That’s Anassa sorted.” Arascus proclaimed, then turned his attention towards Malam, with her hair as white as snow and Helenna, with a white that was a creamier ivory. “You two have your jobs, don’t you?” He said loudly.

“Aye aye boss.” Malam said in a cheerful, unserious tone that sounded as if it was laughing at a joke no one else knew about. “I do.”

“Take a private charter flight Malam. Don’t drop in on a Raptor.”

“I travel in style dad. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’m going to go to Doschia then.” Malam said. “To go to Doschia Today at the start.” Arascus waved them off and then turned to the elf by Fer’s side.

“Have you got a plan for Anarchian containment?” The elf straightened his back and smoothed his black uniform. The sword on his hip bounced with the movement and the settled down as the elf smoothed his coat out.

“I’ll take the weapon Divines to the border. Dig in with general troops and only use them when its safe. If Anarchia is rumoured to be in the area then I’m not letting them off the leash.”

“It’s your theatre.” Arascus said. “If you need to request help from Saksma or Olonia, then don’t be afraid to, just don’t make them feel like we’re ungrateful.” The elf saluted, Arascus dismissed the man with his own salute. That was one thing Fer always liked about the elf, he was beyond competent. He could be told to do something, and everyone knew that he wouldn’t overstep his boundaries whilst also not trying to bite off more than he could chew. The elf stepped away and Arascus turned to Elassa.

“And what should I do? Or can I just go back to Arcadia?”

Arascus brought out a piece of paper and handed it to Elassa. “Can you read coordinates?” For a moment, Elassa looked at him as if she was offended.

“Are you joking?” Elassa asked. “Who do you think I am?”

“I’m just checking.” Arascus said

“What is this?” Elassa asked.

“It’s how we force Alanktyda and Uriamel to sign a peace treaty.” Arascus replied as he leaned over and pointed to something on the paper. “That one first. Then this one. Go in a circle from there. Make sure that before you start the drones are overhead. You’re going to be filmed.”

Elassa stopped and looked at Arascus. “And it’s just me? Alone?” Fer stared at the Goddess of Magic. If there was one thing that annoyed the tiny Goddess of Beasthood, it was when powerful Divines undershot themselves. Even when Fer had all her power, she still lacked magic or anything crazy abilities. She had simply been a strong physical fighter, and through that strength, she had not backed down from any challenge that the world threw at her. And now Elassa was asking why she was being sent. Because she was the damn Goddess of Magic, that’s why!

“You’re not going alone.” Arascus said. Fer stared up at the Divines in front of her. The God towered over the Goddess, and both of them towered over Fer.

“Who are you sending with me then?”

“Olephia.”