From what I learned about him, he could crush me under his toe with little struggle.
The man’s pupils danced, clearly taking pleasure from seeing me this alarmed, but I’d be stupid not to. I had every reason to be afraid of him, starting with his identity.
My eyes darted, searching for an escape route even though I knew there was none. It was just a way to prove to my brain the facts: I was trapped. I had nowhere to run. And even if I sprinted between the pillars, he had more advantages than I could count.
I drew a deep breath as my shoulders slumped. His fingers lifted in the air, approaching my face dangerously. Even as I tilted back, his index finger remained, a soft pressure as it moved a stray strand of hair from my forehead.
One.
Two.
Three.
His breath inched closer to my ear before his mouth did. The nearness of him made me shiver, my skin buzzing with a repulsive sensation that brought bile to my mouth.
My knees were quaking so hard that the rattling of bone against bone was the only sound I could focus on.Clack. Clack. Clack.
“Assuming I possess no wizardly skills, what then defies me?” He laid the question, before he stepped back, his eyes growing in the wait of my reply. “Whatam I?” His voice carried a rasp, dangerous edge that cut through the air, a mirror of his imposing presence.
I didn’t speak until I was convinced my voice would not break. “A god.”
Gasps and whispers filled the arena, but the man smiled evilly, and quieted everyone with a short move of his hand. Justlike that, the room fell silent. “You fascinating mortal.” Hetsked.“Tell me, what god am I?”
“Zeus.”
God of the Sky, Thunder, Lightning, and the King of them all.
The reality hit harder than ever, my chest constricting. I somehow landed in the hands of the gods that haunted my mother’s mind.
How could this be real? I was sure my mother’s stories were only myths, fantastical tales she’d read to me before bed.
Her voice, a memory I cherished, was like a soft lullaby even as she shared the legends of the gods and their battles, speaking of their cruelty as if she had witnessed it all. It gradually became our routine; every night, she’d tell me a different story. Sometimes I’d ask her to repeat the same tale over and over again, and with a soft smile that seemed to illuminate the entire world, she’d begin again, her excitement undimmed.
Until she lost the battle with schizophrenia. The illness replaced the vibrant woman I knew with a stranger lost in a realm she was passionate about but feared more than anything.
My chest felt like it was caving in, a crushing sensation that stole my breath away.
Zeus lifted his arms in the air and clapped slowly, each strike deliberate, the sounds sharp and taunting. He returned to his spot, making sure everyone could have a clear view of him.
“I must admit, I am profoundly disappointed by your delayed realization of who I am. However, I will overlook this as a gesture of welcome,” Zeus said, so confident that his action represented true generosity. “I am aware that you all harbor some questions,” he continued, then his speech style changed, clearly mocking us. “What is this place? Why am I here? Is this glorious man real?Etcetera, Etcetera.” Zeus flicked his hands in the air, as if he’d heard it all a thousand times and more.
The corner of his mouth turned upwards before his expression shifted. Cold stone serious.
“Perhaps today, I’m in a favorable disposition to share crucial information with you. The grounds upon which you stand today belong to Elythra, World of Gods, and the purpose of your presence in our home represents something far greater than your mortal, limited minds could comprehend. "
My lips pressed into a tight line. He just called us stupid, considering that his five-minute speech, which ultimately said nothing, only showcased his superiority.
“Nevertheless, I shall disclose some minor points that you might be capable of grasping. The fairies had already conveyed the rules of Gods’ Gambit—a thrilling game that rises decennially for mortals and that I will now summarize for you. The gambit is structured into six trials, each of them governed by two gods who crafted the challenges with bits of their powers. Fascinating, isn’t it?”
Six trials. Two gods per trial. Twelve gods. Twelve contestants. All even numbers. What is the connection between them?
“Fascinating!? You’ve got to be kidding me,” the blue-haired woman spat out.
“The very fact of your human existence is a jest in itself,” Zeus declared, then with a flick of his eyes, he silenced the woman, leaving her with only inarticulate sounds. When she lifted her hands to her mouth, her fingertips discovered nothing but smooth skin. Zeus watched detached as her eyes rounded, head shaking as she tried to speak. The attempt was futile. “Donotdare to interrupt me again, or the outcome will be considerably more dire.”
My teeth gritted as I became a witness to his white-flashing eyes. A color so pure turned into a horrifying sight.
When he shifted his gaze from the woman, the intensity of his eyes did not change. “As I am already irritated, I will refrain from prolonging this discussion. The victor of the Gods’ Gambit shall earn a year’s residency in Elythra and, of course, their unremarkable mundane life.”
