Chapter 00
The wind god Oakuss adjusted his stance atop the mountain, his gaze fixed on the sprawling forests below. He could still hear the echoes of mortal struggles, the desperate cries as they fought off the shadowy creatures that haunted their nights.
“These monsters grow bolder,” Morath’s gruff voice interrupted Oakuss’ thoughts. The earth god, seated on his towering stone golem, sighed deeply. “The mortals cannot hold them off forever.”
Oakuss nodded, his eyes narrowing. “They need more than their strength—more than our indifference.”
Morath tilted his head, his orange-and-yellow eyes sharp. “That’s why the gods acted, for once in unity. It’s rare, but even we couldn’t ignore the mortals’ plight.”
Oakuss’ fingers traced a glowing orb in his hand, the beginnings of his spirit servant. “To give a part of ourselves, to forge these spirit guardians... It’s the least we can do.” He cast a glance at Morath. “When will yours join the battle?”
Morath gestured toward his golem with a smirk. “Already done. My Gaius assists the capital. And yours?”
The orb in Oakuss’ palm pulsed with a soft, green light. “Soon,” he said quietly, the wind around him picking up as if carrying his promise across the land.
Morath nodded,” Symbolic, just as how the seeds were first scattered across this world.”
The gods watched as the setting sun disappeared behind the horizon, filling the sky with darkness and bright twinkling stars. It was a sight to behold, a canvas of darkness adorned with the sparkling jewels of the night. It was time. A glowing orb of light appeared in Oakuss’ hands. He threw it across the sky, leaving a bright green streak of light behind it, a mesmerizing addition to the celestial masterpiece.
“Where will it land?” Morath asked as he kept his eyes glued on the orb of light in the sky. He hated to admit it, but it was a beautiful sight against the backlight of the twinkling stars in the night sky.
“Timelock Forest,” Oakuss replied.
“Isn’t that the forest that is considered the forbidden forest that mortals are afraid of? Why send the spirit there?” Morath asked.
Oakuss turned to face Morath and smiled, “I hope it will show everyone that the forest isn’t that bad.” For years, Oakuss had always sensed a strange presence coming from the forest, and whenever he entered to investigate, he could never find the source of the people’s fears. Some have claimed to have seen a mysterious portal in the forest’s center, but those who crossed through never returned.
Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the rocky ground, causing large rocks, dirt, and sparks to fly everywhere. The golem shielded Morath from the flying debris while Oakuss created a gust of wind to blow the debris away from them and clear the area from the dust. Once the wind had ceased, there stood a young girl with golden hair with streaks of dark blue. She wore a black cloak with swirly golden designs at the bottom. “Hello!” The girl greeted cheerfully.
“Sparkyra, I should have known,” Morath sighed with irritation as the golem lowered its stony arms and stared at the young goddess with its dangerous orange eyes.
“I thought I saw a shooting star when Glacian explained to me that you wanted to be flashy when you created your spirit servant,” Sparkyra said, stars in her eyes, as she slowly waved her hands in front of her, creating bright blue neon sparks.
“Flashy is a bit much,” Oakuss sighed.
“Well, shall we investigate the forest? With the three of us, I’m sure we should be able to find that portal the people talk about,” Morath suggested as he hopped down from the golem’s crystal shoulder. “Stay here, Ilios, and be prepared if I call you.”
………
The dense canopy of Timelock Forest swallowed what little light remained, plunging the gods into a twilight world of shadows and whispers. Ancient trees loomed like silent sentinels, their gnarled roots twisting across the ground. The air carried a strange stillness, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant animal calls.
Sparkyra was the first to reach the forest’s edge, her golden energy trailing behind her like a comet’s tail. She turned back to Oakuss and Morath, her bright eyes filled with excitement. “What’s the plan? Charge in and hope for the best?”
Oakuss shook his head, his expression serious. “This isn’t a game, Sparkyra. We tread carefully. The forest may be hiding more than what we can sense.”
Morath’s deep voice cut through the tension. “Agreed. There’s something off about this place. The earth beneath my feet feels… unsettled.”
Before they could discuss further, a low howl echoed through the forest, sending a chill up Sparkyra’s spine. She blinked and glanced at the others. “Did you hear that?”
Oakuss nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness. “We’re not alone.”
The three gods moved cautiously into the forest, their steps muffled by the thick carpet of moss. The trees seemed to close in around them, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers. A faint light flickered ahead, pale and spectral, drawing them deeper into the shadows.
As they approached the source, the scene unfolded like a nightmare. Three wounded men in dark green cloaks huddled behind a massive, glowing wolf. The creature stood tall, its translucent form shimmering with an otherworldly energy. Its golden eyes locked onto three shadowy figures wielding crude axes, their shapes distorted and unnatural.
The wolf let out a menacing growl, its fur bristling as the shadowy creatures advanced. One lunged, but the wolf swiped with claws that glowed like blades, tearing the figure apart in a burst of darkness. It stomped the ground, creating a powerful gust of wind that sent the remaining shadows tumbling back. The force was so strong it felled a nearby oak, its branches crashing down with a deafening crack.
Oakuss’s breath hitched as realization dawned. “That’s my spirit servant.”
Sparkyra crouched behind a bush, her face alight with wonder. “It’s magnificent! But… why a wolf?”
Before Oakuss could answer, one of the wounded men glanced back and froze. His wide eyes took in the gods standing nearby, and his voice trembled with awe. “Gods… three of them.”
His companions turned as well, their faces pale. The oldest man, his dark blue hair matted with blood, clutched his arm as though willing it to stay attached. The others bore their own wounds—a spiky-haired man with a gash above his eye, and a younger man with turquoise hair and bloodstained hands.
The wolf, unaware of the men’s reaction, turned its focus to the last shadow creature standing. It crouched, muscles tensed, ready to pounce. But Oakuss’s sharp gaze caught movement beneath the fallen oak. The crushed figure was still alive, its shadowy form writhing as its jagged mouth opened wide.
“Sparkyra!” Oakuss shouted.
Without hesitation, Sparkyra raised a hand, summoning a crackling spark of golden electricity. It shot forward, striking the standing shadow figure. Blue and gold energy surged through its body, and it let out a soundless scream before bursting into flames. The smell of burning tar filled the air as the creature crumpled to the ground.
Morath stepped forward, his hand outstretched. The earth responded to his call, sharp stones rising from the ground and launching toward the crushed figure. The stones pierced its body with sickening precision, silencing it for good.
The wolf let out a startled yelp as its massive paw landed on a jagged shard of the crushed creature’s remains. Blood oozed from the wound, and it staggered back, its glowing form flickering. Oakuss rushed forward, his heart pounding. “Easy,” he murmured, kneeling beside the wolf. “You’re safe now.”
The youngest of the men stepped forward hesitantly. “I can help,” he said, his voice soft but steady. Kneeling beside Oakuss, he placed his hands on the wolf’s injured paw. A gentle green light flowed from his palms, bathing the wound in warmth. The wolf stared at the man, its golden eyes filled with curiosity and trust.
When the light faded, the paw was whole again. The man tore a strip from his cloak and wiped the blood away. “There. Good as new.”
Oakuss stared at him, surprised. “Thank you. Are you… one of Sylvana’s chosen?”
The man nodded. “I am. She gave me the gift of healing.”
The wolf rose to its full height, testing its paw before letting out a low, contented growl. Sparkyra clapped her hands together. “It needs a name! Have you thought of one, Oakuss?”
Oakuss shook his head, still processing everything. “No, not yet.”
The young man hesitated before speaking. “The people in the city saw the star in the sky when it appeared. They’ve already started calling it Hoshiko.”
Oakuss considered the name, his expression softening. “Hoshiko… it fits.” He placed a hand on the wolf’s head, feeling the warmth of its energy. “Welcome to the world, Hoshiko.”
