A long time ago, he stopped believing in the power of the gods and started believing in the power of himself. Kaidyn knew they existed. Whenever Selene cast her spells, she always invoked the power of her deity, and Kaidyn saw Duskfather in his powerful, mystical form. And maybe Kaidyn would be inclined to call upon him then, when he believe that the gods’ power was all. That the gods’ were the only ones who could wield the faith of the universe. A long time ago, he stopped thinking they were the only ones in control of such things.

Today, Kaidyn takes a step forward, then another, then another. The path before him leads to the ruins of a society whose history is hard to know, and even harder to get to. A dark passage greets him with the barest tendrils of light peaking out from cracks in the roof. Further into the blackness of the tunnel, Kaidyn hears a roar. Then another.

Behind him, Selene grasps through a face of tears and sobs. The head cardinal holds her back, blue eyes cutting daggers in him. “Are you sure of this?” The cardinal asks in a voice that sounds doubtful. Kaidyn stands on the doorstep of the sanctuary, holding the strap of his backpack with one hand and his suitcase with the other.

“Yes, I’m sure. More than sure,” Kaidyn responds, “the gods aren’t the only ones who have power. The fact that we give all of ours to them is a weakness of ours, not theirs.”

“Just go already.” Selene’s words drip with venom, despite her tears. Kaidyn’s only acknowledgement of them is a nod and one last glance. Selene could be so much more- could do so much more- if only she didn’t put her entire faith in them.

The car drives off, leaving them both in the dust.

Kaidyn’s arms glow with a power that is entirely his. He stands before the monsters with a calm expression. Beyond their hideous, fluid forms is the answers he seeks. But first-

“Stay your forms, beasts.”

The command is spoken in a language Kaidyn is beginning to learn. His pronunciations are shaky, the accent of his home breaking through. But they get the words across. The beasts halt. Their forms evaporate into smoke. He walks by where they once stood without a second glance.  

Featured Photo by Marek Piwnicki on UnSplash