Two days had already passed since the carriage began its journey through the frozen mountains.
Everything seemed to be proceeding calmly. The few wild beasts that tried to attack them were easily driven off by the four guards.
Inside the carriage, little Beyram watched the landscape through the window. It was evidently the boy's first time traveling far from home, so his eyes shone with wonder at the new scenery.
Lorcan and Mira smiled, amused by their son's expressions. They, too, showed a certain excitement, as they had rarely left their homeland, so all of this was also new to them.
Kairen, however, was the only one who didn't seem in good spirits, though the two nobles weren't alarmed, as it was normal for some people not to enjoy traveling.
To lighten the mood, Lorcan decided to tell a well-known story from the North.
"Son, did you know this place is actually very famous?"
"Really, Father?"
"Yes. It's said that one of the first temples ever built for a famous ancient god lies hidden here."
The boy stopped looking out the window and fixed his attention on his father, growing more interested by the moment. Unnoticed by anyone, Kairen began to tense.
"Legend says that thousands of years ago, about twenty gods existed, who ruled the earth for hundreds of thousands of years. It's said that one of the first temples dedicated to the God of Misfortunes is located right here."
"The God of Misfortunes?" repeated the boy, confused, as he had never heard of such a god.
The father, noticing his confusion, gave a soft laugh and continued.
"As I said, he's an ancient god."
"Oh, I remember now. I heard about them in school, but the teacher told me they never really existed, and that the only true gods were the God of Light and the God of Darkness."
Hearing that, the father sighed while stroking his beard.
"Yes, that's what most people say nowadays. But there are records that, thousands of years ago, people believed in multiple gods, though it's thought they were just other representations of the God of Light and the God of Darkness. So, that temple is most likely just an ancient temple of the God of Darkness."
The man explained calmly, while his wife and the guards nodded in agreement. But the boy still had a doubt.
"Father, why would it be for the God of Darkness and not the God of Light?"
"Ho, good question! That's because this God of Misfortunes was known in his time as an evil god."
"An evil god?"
"Exactly, young master," interjected one of the guards, the youngest, with long blond hair that gave him a somewhat feminine air. "Legend says that, back then, the gods were divided into two sides: benevolent and malevolent. The first protected the human race, the second brought death and suffering."
"It's exactly as Corian says," Lorcan continued. "And since these ancient gods would be nothing more than other representations of the God of Darkness who is the evil counterpart to the almighty God of Light , the God of Misfortunes would be the equivalent of him."
Kairen subtly clenched his fist.
He knew, with more certainty than anyone, that the God of Darkness and the God of Misfortunes were two completely different entities. And that temple did belong to the God of Misfortunes.
"I still can't believe there are crazy people who worship the God of Darkness," exclaimed another guard.
"Well, as you know, the God of Darkness is known for granting great power to his faithful. It's not strange for evil people, craving power, to sell their soul to someone like him…" explained Corian with a look of disgust.
After a few seconds of silence, the boy began to bounce, or at least tried to, limited by his clothing.
"Father, father! Can we go see the temple?" he asked, his eyes brighter than ever.
However, Lorcan simply shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Beyram, but this truly is just a legend. No one is sure that temple exists, much less knows where it's located."
Hearing this, the boy lowered his head, lamenting, while puffing out his cheeks like a balloon. His mother found his pout adorable.
"How about, when we get to Beridia, we visit the temple to the God of Light? I'm sure it will be much better than visiting an old temple of an evil god."
The idea seemed to excite the boy again.
"Yes, great! Let's go," he exclaimed, moving closer to where Kairen was. "Kai, come with us. I promise it'll be fun."
Kairen was surprised at first, but then patted the boy's head with a gentle smile.
"Good idea. I know you have to meet your friend, but I doubt it would hurt if you stayed with us one more day to visit the temple," added the woman, before Kairen could say anything.
They didn't realize that each comment, each smile, each show of kindness toward him, drove another stake into his heart.
'Why? Why did it have to be them? Why, of all possible people?'
Kairen forced a smile, hiding everything he was thinking.
"Really, you are all too kind. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
Inside the carriage, everyone was all smiles. Faced with that beautiful scene, Kairen closed his eyes.
It was said that malevolent gods saw humans as tools to achieve their goals. None of them truly cared what happened to them, not even their own faithful.
But this wasn't entirely true.
Gods, just like humans, were different from one another, with their own desires, motivations, and ways of being.
So, why did that classification of malevolent and benevolent exist?
It came down to the nature of their abilities.
Humans, from birth, have a small organ in their heart called a core, which produces an energy called mana.
If trained properly, it allows them to do things beyond imagination.
The mana generated by each person's core varied, allowing them to perform specific abilities.
There were cores that produced mana enabling healing, others that granted dominion over elements like fire or water, and others much rarer, whose abilities were very particular and highly destructive.
It worked the same for the gods.
Benevolent gods were those whose mana allowed them to perform abilities mostly beneficial to humans.
Malevolent gods were those whose abilities were designed for destruction.
Today, these facts no longer mattered, as the terms "malevolent" and "benevolent" were deeply ingrained in society.
Furthermore, only two gods were recognized now.
Why had this happened? Why only two today, if thousands of years ago there were about twenty?
Because the others had died.
Thousands of years ago, an event occurred that caused the death of almost all the gods, except for the God of Light and the God of Darkness. An event unknown to all humans of that time.
At least for now.
Gods could indeed die…
But they could not stay dead.
They were beings whose power surpassed death itself. Once a god died, they would always return to life, though that process could take thousands of years.
Fifteen years ago, that moment had finally arrived.
The moment when the dead gods would return. Among them, the God of Misfortunes.
Kairen.
The young man opened his eyes again, his gaze melancholic.
"Truly, I am sorry," he said softly.
Unfortunately, his words were drowned out by the deafening roar that thundered just a few meters ahead.