The Book of Archon

In years gone by, Aluric had devised a plan. An audacious and dangerous plan.

“If my Father can create life, what's to stop me…?” His words slurred drunk from his binge on Aether that started so many years ago. Aluric had retreated to the bottom of a bottle, finding solace and peace only when he was four or five drinks in.

“That's it…” thought Aluric, “I'll create my own life, a whole new race, powerful enough to rival even the Gods! And with them… I'll destroy that child!” an evil grin spread across Aluric's face as he thought of all the creatures he could create, his mind swimming with possibilities.

He retreated to his home and began his work, toiling away at his new mission - to create an army for himself and go to war against Archon. Aluric knew it would take years… but he didn't care, he had never felt so driven.

Some time later, Aluric had sneaked under cover of darkness into the home of one of his siblings. A desperate attempt to finally recruit another to his cause after so many years of lonesome failure.

He had grown enraged at the lack of support from his siblings, left to rise up against Archon alone.

It was true that even Aluric struggled to understand his rage at times, it seemed to surpass reason. Something within Aluric had reacted immediately and violently to Archon and brought with it a mission to destroy him.

“Brother…” Aluric's voice echoed across the darkened living room of his brother Norlan’s home, startling the shorter blonde man.

Norlan stood around six feet, still at least two feet shorter than Aluric, with short cut wavy blonde hair, he was well built but lean and surprisingly strong.

“Aluric…? Is that you?” Norlan said groggily as he sat up in bed. “Even in my sleep I thought I smelled Aether…” he chuckled dryly for a moment before abruptly stopping upon seeing the stern look on Aluric's face.

“What's wrong…?” Norlan asked tentatively, looking concerned as he strained his eyes to see in the dark. “We need to do something about the boy.” Aluric stated bluntly.

“What boy? Archon…? Are you still worrying about him?” Norlan seemed baffled that after all these years Aluric still hadn't moved on.

Norlan himself was in the minority having never truly been against the idea of Archon living in Talatus, but he was aware that many of his siblings had not been so indifferent. Especially Aluric.

“He's not one of us Norlan, we still don't even know what he is! And you've seen how our father seems to have cosied up to him…” Aluric's face was devoid of all but rage and hate.

“Do I sense jealousy brother…?” Norlan knew what he had said was a mistake the minute the words left his mouth.

Aluric lunged from his chair and shoved Norlan against the wall behind the bed by his throat, “Do not mock me brother! It is not a mistake you'll survive making twice.”

“Aluric…” Norlan spoke in a strained voice, his breath constricted by the hand around his throat. “I'm sorry… you can put me down now… please…”

Aluric paused for a moment before he abruptly dropped Norlan to the ground.

“I'm not here to play games, Norlan. Are you going to listen or not…?” Norlan nodded a hurried agreement before gathering himself and climbing out of bed to take a seat next to Aluric.

Aluric explained his plan, to raise new life and build it into a glorious army. The more Norlan heard the more the idea terrified him.

More terrifying still was the idea of refusing whatever Aluric had come to request in his current state, even so he couldn't help but state his feelings.

“You're insane…” Norlan said in a low, worried tone. “Father would… destroy us if he found out! You can't do this!”

“And he can?! Who gave him the right to create life but not me? What puts him above all of us? Nothing!” Aluric's words flowed viscously and full of spite.

“I can't do this alone… but I’ll follow through on my plan with or without you. So which is it?”Aluric placed a hand on Norlan's shoulder squeezing it with both a sense of reassurance and intimidation.

“What do you need me for…?” Norlan asked, “You'll be my right hand man, Norlan…” Aluric began with a smile, “My most trusted advisor. You'll gather the Gods to my cause… and we'll lead them together.

Norlan thought for a moment, he knew that there would be more to it than that. Aluric wouldn't share his leadership so easily.

“Do I really have a choice?” Norlan thought to himself.

He let a reserved and reluctant “With.” escape his mouth after a long moment of silent thought. “I'll help you, but know now I do not approve of what you plan to do… you're going to get us both killed.”

Aluric smiled that same wicked grin, "I thank you for your… undying loyalty.” He said before Aluric rose from his seat and left the room. Norlan was left alone dwelling on the decision he'd just made.

“What's gotten into him?” He muttered, “That's right Norlan… go work for the madman. That'll be just fine…” Norlan said mockingly to himself as he tucked himself back into bed.

Years later, Archon and The Maker sat together in one of Hyperion's great valleys. They overlooked a deep ravine that ripped through the landscape like the wound of some enormous axe that had cleaved through the earth.

“Archon…” The Maker began, “It is time.” “I'm sorry I don't know what you mean father.” Archon replied quizzically. “It is time… you began to live in Talatus with your brothers and sisters.”

Archon went quiet, for a long time, not saying a word as though the news hadn't reached him yet.

After a heavy pause, he spoke. “Must I? I don't want to join them… they…hate me.” Archon’s words carried obvious pain and sadness in them.

The boy recalled every time he'd crossed paths with the other Gods, few had regarded him with any less than disgust, fewer still had been kind to him.

And every time The Maker had provided excuse after excuse for his children's behaviour.

“They don't hate you my son… they just don't understand you, you… scare them.” The Maker began in a poor attempt to reassure.

“But you have Inala and Eris, they will watch over you.” It was true Inala had always been kinder than the majority of the gods.

Eris was a pale woman of average height who dressed herself in a gilded black and gold dress decorated with images of swirling golden apples. A small crown sat upon her lank black hair.

She, The goddess of chaos, had always taken a shine to Archon, many of the Gods even mocked her for having a crush on the “Freak” as they called him.

"What do they have to be afraid of… I'm not a God. I'm not as strong as them, not as fast as them, not as powerful. I’'m nothing to them!” an aire of anger and hurt present in his voice.

“You’ve always been fiercely intelligent, Archon… far more intelligent than I. You can see things others do not. You have power, you just don't see it.” The Maker said, "Your siblings fear you because you are something new… something special, something greater than even the Gods.” He stopped himself mid sentence, a look of fear barely appearing on his face just for a second. “We just don't know what…”

Archon noted that The Maker had included himself with the Gods not understanding him, was his own father afraid of him? He thought, Was he always destined to be the black sheep of his family?

It saddened Archon to think even his father hadn't fully accepted him yet but he let it go for now, to focus on the current matter.

"You're sure it's time?" Archon asked, somewhat hoping his father would say no.

"I am. You've grown into a fine young man… but now it's time to become something more.” The Maker began, “it's time you had a home of your own… a life of your own.”

Archon once more fell silent for a moment, but if The Maker had decided that now was the time for Archon to venture to Talatus and live amongst the Gods… what right did he have to refuse.

“I'll go… I'll go to Talatus” Archon felt almost abandoned by his father, feeling as though he'd raised him long enough and now he was to be cast aside.

Archon would simply be lumped in with the rest of the children. He was no longer… special.

Since Aluric created the first blade there had been a rush to manufacture weapons, an “if he has one I want one” mindset had spread throughout Talatus.

The Maker disapproved of the rush to own and manufacture weapons. But not wishing to risk the already damaged relationship with his children, he agreed to allow the creation of weapons but that proper training be mandated for all Gods.

“You'll start with combat training, you will be taught to wield a sword, an axe, a hammer whatever you excel at most.” The Maker began, “And when you are proficient, and only then, you will continue the rest of your training.” The Maker informed Archon, there was a hint of concern in his voice.

“Don’t worry father… I'm not afraid of them, I can hold my own against the Gods… I've been doing it all my life.” Archon said in an attempt to comfort the ancient being.

“I know,” He replied, “I'm not worried.” He forced a weak smile, it wasn't true. He was worried, just not for Archon.

“And no drinking… or fighting… and make sure you eat enough and go to bed early.” The Maker said sternly, pointing at Archon.

Archon let out a chuckle at his father's worried words, “Father… I don't think that's necessary. I'm not a child, you know?” He said.

“Yes. Of course… I'm sorry.” The Maker said, “just take care of yourself, Archon. Okay?” "Of course.” Archon said with a smile, placing his hand on The Maker's shoulder. “Always.”