Location: School of Magic
Karios never cared for godly affairs.
They were always messy, too many egos and there was always alternate motives. Somehow the gods always get what they want.
Karios had traveled to Arramoor in search of new and complex magick, Though what he found was vastly different. In truth he did manage to find different kinds of magick but it came at the cost of your soul. Gods would offer power and magick to humans in exchange for their eternal servitude.
This wasn't right in the eyes of Karios, he was a human who had spent decades learning magick and ways to use it just to watch the humans of this land bind their soul to a god for the same thing. So upon seeing this, Karios decided to found and build The School of Magick.
It rose from stone and spellwork in the heart of Stonehaven, towering above the lively markets and noisy taverns. A beacon of hope and arcane knowledge. It stood as a monument to human will. A place where anyone, regardless of their birth or blood, could walk through its doors and learn the mysteries of the arcane without selling their soul.
Karios stood in front of a class of 20. Kids as young as 9 to adults as old as 50. Here it was never to late to learn the arcane arts.
"The Gods always offer power and magick but at what cost? They bind your soul and force you to serve them eternally. What they offer for a price i offer freely, all i ask if that you put your all into it. Only then will you truly understand the magick arts and what they can do. "
As he handed out textbooks that contained starter incantations and novice spells. A group of guards came bursting through the double doors.
"What is the meaning of this interruption, cant you see im teaching." Karios said sternly.
"Sorry sir, but its important we speak to you at once." A guard said urgency laced in his voice.
"Very well, lets speak in my office. Class go ahead and start practicing those spells, i will return in a moment." Karios said as he and the guards walked out and headed up the stairs.
"What seems to be the issue?" Karios asked as they walked towards his office.
"Well sir Madras and Gabriel were spotted fighting at the Society. The 3 Kings are missing and we were told to come talk to you about the situation. The King is worried something terrible has happened." The guard explained.
Karios stopped at his office door "And what exactly do you expect me to do about it?"
"We thought-"
"No," Kairos cut in. "The gods are not my concern. I'm not their babysitter. If their chaos spills into my life or my school, then it becomes my problem. But until then" He pushed open the door to his office. "Goodbye."
After shutting the door, he sat down and looked down at the courtyard, his face full of concern as he thought about his missing friend.
Where was Eros? As the school's principal, he practically lived there, helping Karios run it and teaching humans elemental magicks. He was one of the only gods Karios truly trusted.
But the other night he left with his father Stolas and he hasn't been seen since. Its not like him to just leave without notice. he thought.
He starred out his window. Tomorrow ill head to Stolas's keep, if anyone knows where he is. Its him.
Meanwhile, on the docks of Riverdale
The air hung heavy over the weathered docks, the lapping of dark water against splintered wood drowned out by the oppressive shadow of Mavon. His presence blotted out the sky's light, casting the three gods before him. Noah, Zaros, and Sekro
"Well gentlemen, your options are on the table. What will you do." Mavon asked expressionless.
The three of them exchanged wary glances. Noah, Zaros, and Sekro weren't fools, they could see the glint of manipulation in Mavon's eyes. Did he really think them so easily swayed?
"Yeah ill join you." Noah said as he stepped forward. Zaros and Sekro stood there shocked at his answer.
"You fucking traitor! I should of killed you when i had the chance." Zaros spat at Noah. Sekro just looked at Noah with remorse.
"Even after everything, you still choose to side with evil. Im disappointed Noah." Sekro said as he turned his gaze away back to Asriel.
"You two of all people should know. I'm a Titan of War, destined to only bring death. Its about time I embraced it instead of living this dream you all created." Noah said as he turned and faced them. Mavon scoffed and smiled.
"Very will Noah, kill these lesser beings and prove your loyalty. If you do, ill make you my top general in the coming war."
Zaros and Sekro's hands lit up with magick, Serkos blazed with searing unsettling heat of the sun, and Zaros's crackled and snapped with lightning.
Noah unsheathed his blood katana. Its blade lined with the blood of past enemies brave enough to stand to him. In his other hand materialized a shorter sword but nonetheless sharp.
In a blur Noah attacked aiming for Zaros.
Zaros lunged forward and ducked under a swing and connected a punch that struck like lightning. Noah was flung backwards blood coming from his mouth.
"Gotten stronger have we?" Noah smirked as he blurred out of view. Before Zaros knew it Noah was slashing him from all angles, blood spewing as Zaros held his wounds.
Noah came back into view, his sword dripping with Zaros's blood. He ran his hand across his blade collecting Zaros's blood. It pooled in his hand as he made a fist compressing it.
Zaros's eyes widened realizing his mistake. as he felt his blood in his body compress. crushing him from the inside till blood exploded from his body killing him.
Zaros had fallen in a matter on minutes. Sekro looked down at Zaros's dead body with horror.
"Your turn." Noah said as he pointed his blade at Sekro.
Sekro held out his hand, In a burst of light a sword appeared. White hot and brimming with the power of the sun.
"This will not be like last time Noah." As he disappeared in a flash of light appearing in front of Noah swing his word down. Noah casually moved right and kicked Sekro in mid air sending him flying through ships and the docks. As he went to finish him Mavon spoke.
"Leave him, he's already defeated and not worth your time."
Mavon held out his hand summoning a portal.
"Lets go." as he walked through.
Noah turned away from Sekro and looked at Asriel.
"Stay down Asriel, its not worth dying." as he walked through the portal. When they were gone he got up and ran over to Sekro. He was badly wounded.
"Come on, we need to gather people." as he picked up Sekro and disappeared leaving Zaros.
Meanwhile Karios had finally made it to Stolas's Keep.
Karios paused at the edge of Stolas's keep, his breath catching as he muttered,
"I've never set foot here before—hope I've got the right place."
The air thickened as he approached, heavy with the hum of soul magic that pulsed from the jagged stone walls. A chill ran down his spine, and he shivered.
"This wasn't built for mortals," he whispered, half to himself, feeling the weight of unseen eyes. Raising his voice, he called out, "Stolas? Are you here?"
A sudden icy grip grabbed a hold of Karios spirit. He turned around to be face to face with Stolas. His black curly hair stained with blood. His eyes a deep well of madness that had no end. Karios screamed as Stolas ripped at his soul.
"You came to the wrong house boy!" as he ripped his soul free of Karios, his body falling with a dull thud his eyes blank and white with death.
"What have you become Stolas." a voice rung out sharp and familiar. Stolas turned and seen Astros-The Primordial of Time, His presence slowing every action.
"What do you want Astros?" stolas asked as Karios's soul melted into his body.
"I'm just checking in, this timeline and its events are shielded from my sight but i haven't figured out why. I fear something big is underway. Be wary my old friend. " As he vanished. Stolas turned away scoffing at the interaction. he looked down at Karios's dead body and stomped his face to oblivion.
"Dust to Dust, mortal scum."