To Tame a Beast with a Light Touch
I never feared the fool of a god who hunted my shadow as if he could match my presence. He loved to roar as if I would answer his call—such a foolish beast.
This went on time and time again till one day he grew bored hunting what he could not catch and sat in silence on a mountain, waiting for my turn to act as if this was a game and we'd made a pact.
Yet… I did fear for my champion. Fool he may be now as a new god, making choices he knew not, choices that could bring other eyes upon him.
Or perhaps he did know and did it to mock me—maybe test my resolve, to see how far my love would go to preserve him. Such a silly test to show devotion, yet it must be he still has a mind for human courtship, and I still wish to dance with only him.
—Goddess of Light, confronting the Monster God
Leaving the palace was an easy affair. None would ever question her, and they begged to do her bidding. She assured them it was merely a stroll and not to bother her till she returned, but to make sure the throne was pristine for when she did—and a new messenger prepared to help her scout the unseen.
Flying high in the sky, nothing escaped her sight. Yet it seemed her champion was far from subtle.
Dark clouds loomed deep over the human kingdom. The walls and earth near it were painted black—a living shadow, an open mockery of the taint he now shared. Why was he so proud to wear that form? When she'd offered him the Light, he'd thrown it upon the land with indifference.
No matter. I can ask in time.
Yet seeing it so close did give her pause. The Rot God was no threat, hidden among the dirt, easy to push back. The Forest Goddess cowered in self-pity for what she presumed—as did I—was the loss of her sister. Yet if she looked, she would know the taint was from her own touch.
But I fear the one variable I cannot predict or control is the Monster God. He always seemed to long for a fight and fixated on me. Yet now that my love is shining a dark flame for all to see—a beacon only fools would ignore as not an open challenge—you poor dear, you do not yet know how to play the game. You were supposed to be more coy, let me lead. Unless… unless you're calling to me?
Her cheeks flushed. You desire me so much you lit a human city in dark fire?
She rushed forward, wishing to embrace him, unable to wait.
Yet her sight, even among the dark clouds, was clear. She could see things existed and moved within the walls. Odd. All should be dead, yet they live? This was not the world that should be, what gives?
Why do you test me, love?
Dispirited, not wishing to face that truth just yet, It seemed she must go with the original plan and deal with the Monster God first. I will understand you more later, my love. Don't grow impatient waiting for me.
She flew off toward the mountain where the Monster God dwelled.
Those in the city watched a shining star fly in odd patterns in the distance before stopping and falling toward the mountain. Was that the goddess's doing? Or magic? They did not know. Either way, it was a bad sign—a prelude of things to come. But the laughter of children playing put those thoughts aside as they were safe with their lord, unaware of what it could mean.
The whole mountain stank of old piss and dead meat. Large bones scattered all over the land, and a heavy musk would have made her ill if not for her ability to shift the light to burn all it touched before she was forced to endure any more of the smell.
It seemed the act alone drew the attention of the Monster God, as she felt a shift in presence. She followed it deep into a mouth—a large carving in the side of the mountain, a hole really—where he laid claim as his throne.
The brute was not much to look at. She knew they all could change their form to a point but tended to see themselves as certain things, so always reflected that. Why this brute saw itself as half humanoid top, half dragon bottom, with an odd mix of monster parts on the human half—scales around normal flesh hands but tipped with claws, a face more monster than man but still shaped as a human one—was beyond me. Why pick one form or the other, you stupid thing?
A deep growl as it tried to lift its awkward frame. "Finally chose to face me, Light? Tired of hiding from me, it seems."
He looked like he was about to do some war cry and charge, so I nipped it in the bud, already losing interest in this meeting.
"Stay away from my champion. He may be a new god, but he is not weak, and not for you. He's mine, and I will deal with him later."
The bellow the beast was about to shout died with a slight puff of breath, followed by a face that looked like I'd slapped him and he was trying to figure out why.
After a moment, he recovered and said the most absurd thing I'd ever heard.
"Who?"
I sneered, not liking the games. "Don't play coy. Just because he's a new god does not make him weak. Not that I will allow you to touch him. I never understood why you did not bother other gods and focused on me, but I won't wait till you attack him and mock me."
So with my best glare, I ended my speech. "Stay… away… from… him."
Yet he looked like he was still trying to process what I said, as if it was some complex thing. And the words he uttered next confused even me. Shamefully, my face probably mirrored his confusion.
"There're other gods?"
He scratched his chin as if it was some profound new thing, and I was torn between laughing at the absurdity and disbelief he could not know.
"You're not blind. You're nearly as old as me. Can you not sense his magic?" She was unsure. Maybe she was assuming too much, and this beast was proof no one would notice till she could get him back freely. Yet the words that followed dashed that hope.
"Aye, I felt it. A shift. I assumed you played games beyond my reach, nothing more." He looked at her with concern. "There are more gods?"
How could he live for so long and be so stupid?
Well, was she really surprised? They'd culled his kin among the rot for years, and he'd done nothing. She'd been worried for her champion back then, but waiting for him to need intervention—that was the point of the amulet before he came to me later saying he gave it away.
I swear I wanted to grasp him in frustration—misunderstanding my gift and giving it away as if some tool for petty lives.
But like all the games before, she'd seen it as her champion testing her love in courtship. She'd smiled and laughed and only said she would choose its validity. She would not jump for anything less than a true threat. He'd offered to go in my stead—a conceded point I did not like. I wished to make the amulet ash lest they assume it their gift, but left it be in case it was a test from him to me, to see how loyal I could be.
She came back to focus. It seemed she'd ignored the poor beast too long. He seemed quite harmless with the stupor—not that she'd ever seen him as a threat. She was not stupid and knew he was a god, and gods could be dangerous. But right now? He was not.
"It seems I gave you too much credit," I carefully said, watching for a brute attack to counter the meek seeming self he showed me now. He was still a beast. "I came thinking I faced a political opponent in a game of gods, yet you are still playing fetch, waiting for a stick."
She saw him frown, knowing he was insulted, and I shifted a hand back slightly to fling forward with light if needed. I wasn't sure how tough his flesh was, but the light would burn all the same.
Yet he just watched.
A soundless laugh escaped me. Not of humor, but of sheer, staggering disbelief. "You are even more of a fool than I imagined." Even now he just watches me. My, what an overgrown beast blessed with power he knows not how to wield.
The Monster God still wished to speak despite my berating of him.
"I will learn… thank you for this speech." He then looked lost in thought as he went on. "I have been blind," he rumbled, not to me, but to himself. "Single-minded. Stupid."
"Yes," I agreed, yet concern crept into me. This was too casual, too easy.
"A hunter must know when and what to hunt," he said, and it sounded like a vow. "Must know all the prey. All the rivals." He lifted his head, and a new light—not of mindless beast, but of focused intent—shone in his eyes. "I will not be blind again."
"So thank you for that."
He turned and, without another word, went deeper into his cave—a dark depth unknown. I could follow, but to what end? I was unsure. I came to tame a beast, not wake it up.
I stood alone, the silence suddenly deafening.
My warning had been delivered, but not in any way I had anticipated. I had not quelled a rival to keep him from my champion; I had inadvertently taught him he needed to hunt. I had sought to preserve the status quo and instead had shattered it for a god who now, humbled and focused, might become a far greater threat than he ever was as a simple beast.
A new variable. A wild card that no longer sat in defeat, unknown, unable to catch my shadow—yet now knows there's more to the land. And maybe they would meet.
Would he ally with other gods?
No… the Rot God's a fool. They would not last. And Nature would not accept such a beast. Yet her champion? Assuming they did not come to blows, it could be an ally for him to… stand against me?
Absurd. Why would he do that?
No… a day may come I may have to ally with the beast to rip the darkness from my champion. She shivered. Why entertain such thoughts?
She did what she intended, even if not how she meant to.
Yet she could not help but feel ill.
A profound regret settled in my core. It was far more dangerous to give a simple beast a purpose when before he was happy with none.
and then Add to home screen.