Civilization

"What is an apostle? I don't know anything about it so if it is okay, can you tell me about it?" - Ian

I sit down next to Sylvia and look into the distance as I wait for her answer.

"I am connected to the god of war, Ares, spiritually. Part of my strength depends on how much Ares wants to share with me. Apostles, like me, are sent by our respective gods or chosen by our gods to complete a mission. Each god or goddess has a different mission to complete in order to progress the world. My mission was connected with Luke, although he doesn't know it.

Aur, the golden Fenrir, was originally one of Ares's apostles whose mission was to protect the forest from monsters that want to claim this land as theirs. I was going to join Aur on his mission, but he passed away. When that happened, Ares, bestowed upon me a new mission which was to protect and help grow Aur's successor, Luke. However, that was only part of the mission.

Ares told me that there was something evil about to happen. He couldn't see into the future, but he felt something was going to happen. Knowing this, he told me to find a force that could potentially fight against the coming enemies.

I… I already failed my mission… Luke has been kidnapped by Casper and Rautt, and while I'm not certain, I feel like they are the evil that will happen soon." - Sylvia

Sylvia grabs her head with her hands, ruffling her hair in frustration.

"I'm sorry for not helping Luke." - Sylvia

"Sylvia, while I am saddened with the fact that Luke is no longer here with us, it doesn't mean he is dead. You know Luke, you know that he will try his best to survive. You also know that if you were to commit to anything when Luke was getting taken away, you might have died. Do you think Luke would have wanted that?" - Ian

"No…" - Sylvia

"Exactly. Luke cares for you, I'm not sure exactly what was going through Luke's mind at that moment, but I'm sure he tried to pick a path that would at least make sure you were safe." - Ian

"But… But…" - Sylvia

"No buts. Instead, think about ways to get stronger. You say something is coming and we need to prepare for that. Luke will be doing his best, from what you told me, he didn't get kidnapped as a hostage. Instead, they most likely have plans for Luke." - Ian

"Right… Casper was talking about making Luke stronger. Something to do with Luke's power." - Sylvia

"Hmm, then they wouldn't kill Luke any time soon. We have time to get stronger. No, we have to get stronger no matter what." - Ian

"Yeah… YEAH! We can do it. THANK YOU, IAN." - Sylvia

Sylvia leans over and hugs me tightly, releasing all the pent-up stress and anxiety she had inside her with that hug.

"It will be fine, okay. Don't worry too much. Now, I want to know more about the apostles and how you became one. I never knew a god or a goddess could bestow power like this." - Ian

Releasing me from her hug, Sylvia leans back and looks up into the sky.

"For a year or so, I was enslaved by orcs and goblins, unable to resist. In fact, no one could resist. I am an orphan, and I was struggling in an encampment. I had pale skin that was tightly wrapped around my bones. My lips were always chapped, and my hair was always messy with dirt and mud stuck in between. My wrists and ankles were red and constantly bleeding from the ropes that bind me. I don't even remember the feeling of pain at that point.

We didn't have food. We didn't have water. We didn't have any strength. We were just tools to move things however we were asked. One day, 6 months ago, it changed. There was a burst of light in the sky as the sun rose over our heads. It pulsed and resonated over and over before a single ray of light shone down on me.

I was confused, but so were the goblins. The ray of light burned away the ropes that bind me, healed my wounds, and cleaned my clothes. I didn't understand what was happening, but then I heard a voice.

Little one, I have looked into your soul. I have determined that you are suitable to go on my mission. However, you are weak and small. I need you to become stronger. I require you to go beyond your limits. Cast shade upon your weakness and rise higher. Little one, I ask you. Will you accept?

I was confused. I didn't know what was happening. My mind was blank. I thought that the booming voice was something everyone could hear, but as I glance around, I could only see their dumbfounded expressions as they look at me surrounded by a ray of light. I told the voice I would accept, not knowing what it truly meant. Then the voice introduced itself.

Good, little one. I will help you grow. Heed me and worship me. I am Ares, God of War. Little one, I bestow upon you the strength and power to kill those that stand in the way of your mission. Accept my power and make it your own.

I could feel a burning sensation inside me once Ares had finished talking. I try to harness it, accept it, and once I did. A burst of power surged through me. My hair turned auburn red and my eyes became two shining rubies, and the mark of Ares appeared on my forehead.

Feeling the power surging through me and seeing the goblins and orcs scared with my transformation. I felt something change within me, I walked to the nearest goblin. It tried to stab me with its knife, but it looked like it was moving so slowly. That was when I knew I gained power.

Previously, whether it was a knife or a whip, I would get stabbed and hit over and over again without being able to even react to the attack coming toward me. However, the moment I accepted Ares's power, the attacks slowed down, and I could dodge them. I retaliated for the first time. I punched the goblin, sending it flying into its friends.

I couldn't even believe my power, and neither could the other slaves. I must have looked like a god in their eyes as I went around punching goblins and orcs until they died. The rest of the fight was a blur, I didn't even realize it was finished until I had killed the last monster. That's when Ares spoke to me again.

Well done, little one. From now on you are my apostle. You will heed my orders and worship me. Grow stronger and stronger. Become the sword that slices through my enemies. I shall inform you of your mission at a later date. For now, grow. Become stronger.

Once he finished talking to me, the ray of light disappeared and my transformation ceased. The other slaves that were with me, were happy that they were free and following what Ares had said, I went off in search of monsters and encampments, taking the equipment that the goblins had stored as mine." - Sylvia

Sylvia had a sad yet proud expression as she talked about her past. However, from what I deduced, this happened before players started the game. Similar to how Lucina and Howard were saved by 'me' before I even started the game. Is this just backstory?

"What about the apostles? Your power and if you know of others?" - Ian

"As I said before, I channel the power of Ares that is inside me. I haven't been able to do much else other than my Mystic Palms. I'm not even sure if there is any way to improve from where I am. Likewise, I also do not know of other apostles since Ares has told us to not use his power unless it is necessary as he wants us to grow with our own strength." - Sylvia

"Hmm, interesting. I would have let you keep using your power because that is one of the ways you get better at it, by constantly using it. Nothing more to it than practice." - Ian

"I will be using it more now, though. It seems like the monsters are getting stronger and stronger the further away from HavenFall, and I don't think we can survive if we just take it easy." - Sylvia

"Right. We need to get stronger." - Ian

"Yeah… Are you going to sleep now?" - Sylvia

"Yeah, I was about to say it after I talked to you. Is something wrong?" - Ian

"No, nothing. Thank you for talking to me, Ian." - Sylvia

"It's fine. Don't worry too much about it. Rest up okay, there is a lot to do tomorrow onward." - Ian

"I will." - Sylvia

I leave Sylvia with a smile as I head back to the main group. The moon is high up in the sky and the stars twinkle in the darkness. People were sleeping against rocks, huddled up close to each other, as the goblins were busy watching any movement in the night. I lean against a rock and close my eyes, reviewing what I had just learned from Sylvia.

I didn't know gods could give power to people, and I wonder if that has happened already to other players. They would become stronger than your average player instantly, and their growth would depend on their god or goddess. However, the biggest concern on my mind was the evil that was coming.

In all honesty, I don't think the 4 Kings are the evil that Ares was talking about. I think there is something deeper lurking in the shadows, but at the same time, I feel like an event might be taking place. The last event was during the 1-month anniversary and since then, there haven't been any server-wide events.

There is also the prophecy that I heard from the elves and from Sam's bison demi-humans. It may also be related to the prophecy. I feel like there wasn't enough information, no matter how hard I try to remember things that were happening. The kings have their own agenda, and they are constantly attacking each other and taking from one another. Players are too weak to affect anything they are doing.

There must be an event that is about to happen. Something that impacts everyone and requires people to band together and fight it off. I hope I have enough time to prepare for it…