God of War, Ares: Guardian

by Brandon Chen

  “You’re the hero who saved my life!” Aleysha shouted, freezing Ares right in his tracks. “I haven’t forgotten that you’re the one who saved me from the Persians, Ares. I know that a lot of people fear you. There’re a lot of rumors that are going around saying that you’re merciless and brutal. Even your own worshippers believe the rumors. The king of Luxas confirmed it.”

  Ares narrowed his eyes. You’re seriously not helping your argument.

  “But I don’t care what other people think because I know the real you, Ares. I know that you’re compassionate, kind, selfless, and you’re so determined to help others that you’ll put your own life on the line. People misunderstand you. You showed me today that you’d sacrifice yourself for the sake of all the survivors in this city. And I’ll show you that I’m willing to make the same sacrifice to help protect the people of eastern Dastia.”

  Ares breathed out a gust of hot air and cracked a tiny smile. He sighed and continued walking forward. “Go home. Man, you’re annoying.” he muttered through clenched teeth as tears found their way to his eyes. He couldn’t bring her on this journey with him. As much as he wanted her to come, he knew that he would only be jeopardizing her life by letting her accompany him on this quest. But … she understands me.

  ***

  A roaring storm of sand whipped through the Lost Sands, swallowing Amon and Ares in the windstorm. But they continued trudging forward, not allowing the fierce whirlwinds stop them. The powerful wind sliced at Ares’ cheeks and nipped at his nose. The sand felt hard, almost like little pebbles were smacking against his red face. Nevertheless, this was nothing in the Lost Sands. In fact, out of all of the obstacles that the desert could’ve thrown at them this storm could be considered good fortune. Ares stopped and turned around to see that Aleysha was still following them into the Lost Sands. The mercenary had her scarf wrapped around her mouth and forehead, covering most of her face from the biting sand. Her eyes were squinted tightly as the roaring storm shoved her back with its mighty gusts but Aleysha held her hand out, forcing herself forward against the strong winds.

  Ares raised his eyebrows as he watched Aleysha force herself forward through the storm. His hands were jammed into his pockets and he glanced up at Amon, who looked back at him in confusion. “What does she think she’s doing?” the god murmured, looking back at the struggling adventurer. “Soon she’ll be too far from Yuusus and it’ll be impossible for her to return home. She’ll die.”

  Amon released a low, yet loud, groan. Maybe it would be good to have her as a companion.

  “Like hell it would be! I can’t have a pretty girl like that around me; she’d shatter my concentration! She’s just going to get in the way.”

  That’s not really your reason, is it? Amon snorted. You were harsh to her back there, Ares.

  Ares lowered his gaze and said nothing. This perilous venture was far too dangerous for someone like Aleysha. Sure, she was definitely tough, but that didn’t mean that she was ready for the horrors that the Lost Sands had. Besides, what if Ares lost control and hurt her too? It was already his fault that Tetsu got injured and Aleysha’s mother had perished. If another person that Ares cared for was hurt because of him he knew he would never forgive himself.

  Amon grunted. She doesn’t look like she’s going to turn back. Are you just going to let her die?

  “Of course I won’t let her die.” Ares pouted, folding his arms. “I’m a gallant warrior of justice! I would never let a friend of mine….” He turned and saw that Aleysha’s face was planted in the sand and she was completely unconscious. Ares reached up and slapped his forehead in frustration. “And this is what happens when you don’t think things through!”

  With Amon carrying Aleysha’s unconscious body, the three traveled to a stone cave that led underground. Meanwhile, the storm continued to churn, growing stronger by the minute. Ares was relieved that they had found refuge and had Amon stay outside of the cave, since he obviously couldn’t fit in the grotto. He brought Aleysha inside and placed her on the cold cave floor.

  Ares felt for her pulse and sighed with relief. She was just sleeping. He ran a hand through his blonde, tangled hair and undid Aleysha’s scarf so that she could breathe easier. Ares took the pack off her back, rummaging through her things. The god wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t really brought any supplies. A full canteen of water that would only last a couple days and food that would probably last only two meals for one person. Traveling across the Lost Sands for an average person on foot would take months, if they could survive all of the dangers that the desert contained. Clearly, Aleysha hadn’t thought very far ahead. Ares smiled. Then again, she didn’t really seem like the planning type. Aleysha seemed to just do things that she thought was right without really stopping to consider the possible consequences.

  “Why are you so desperate to help?” Ares murmured to no one in particular as he continued to fumble through Aleysha’s stuff.

  Ares took out a small silver necklace of a cross, letting the jewelry dangle from his hands. He stared at the cross for a moment and reached to his neck, touching a golden medallion that his mother had given him on his fifteenth birthday. Biting his lower lip, Ares tossed Aleysha’s necklace back into her bag.

  The boy leaned back against the hard wall of the small cave, the shadows sweeping across most of the area. He watched as Aleysha slept soundlessly, and he knitted his eyebrows together. Gah! Why are you here? You’re making things so much more complicated! He reached up and began to mess up his hair, letting off some of his aggravation. Why would you leave the safety of your home to embark on this hazardous journey with me? Revenge? Redemption? Justice?

  You’re the hero who saved my life! Ares remembered that she had called out those words proudly as she marched after him and Amon earlier that day. The boy’s cheeks turned a rosy red as Aleysha’s words echoed through his mind. Ares quickly slapped his face with his hands, knowing that he was getting the wrong idea. “Gods,” he murmured, tapping the back of his head back against the stone cave. “What do I do? This journey is just too dangerous for you. There’s no way that you’ll survive.” He glanced out towards the dark night and noticed that morning was already approaching. Amon stayed outside with his gigantic rock legs crossed, guarding the cave.

  Amon turned his head as Ares walked out of the cave onto the desert sand. A chilling breeze ran through the boy, causing him to shiver slightly. What are you doing? You should be sleeping.

  “I can’t decide what to do with Aleysha.”

  She seems to see a side of you that most don’t recognize.

  “I know.”

  Most people just see you as this bloodthirsty, barbaric, brutish….

  “Make your point,” Ares grumbled, wondering how many aggressive adjectives Amon could describe him with.

  But she accepts you as you are and is willing to put her life on the line to stand beside you and protect you.

  Ares folded his arms and pouted, his eyes narrowing. It was for that reason that he didn’t want Aleysha getting hurt. He sighed, knowing how stubborn the mercenary was. No words would reach her, but at least she was strong-willed. “We’re going to need to do our best to protect her then, Amon,” he said. “It’ll be difficult protecting her from the dangers of the Lost Sands and the Persian Magi. If I lose control as well, you’ll have to stop me from hurting anyone. You better be prepared. This was your stupid idea.”

  Actually, it was Aleysha’s. Amon clapped his hands together exuberantly, clearly gleeful that Ares had accepted Aleysha’s company.

  Ares squinted at Amon. “You seem overjoyed.”

  I’ve always wanted to see how the human emotion, love, develops between two individuals.

  The boy’s face turned bright red and he walked forward, kicking Amon’s foot. Nothing happened. “S-Shut up! It’s not like that!” he barked, folding his arms as he glanced away from the golem. “Stop being so stupid, Amon!”

  Amon raised a giant hand to his rocky he
ad and saluted Ares with a grumble. If you say so. You ought to go and get some sleep. Otherwise you’re going to make me carry your heavy body again through the desert. We can’t have that.

  “Oh, quiet. I’m only one hundred and thirty pounds.”

  When was the last time you checked your weight? I could’ve sworn it was one hundred and thirty tons.

  Aleysha lay awake inside of the cave, listening to the two arguing friends and smiled to herself as she gazed up at the dark cavern ceiling. She was relieved that Ares had accepted her but she couldn’t help but be concerned by a particular thing that Ares had mentioned about losing control. She recalled that he had done so during his fight against Zahir. It was as if he had completely changed personalities. Should she ask about it? No, that probably wasn’t wise. She should wait until Ares was ready to come out and tell her the truth himself. Right now, it seemed like even he was confused with everything that was going on.

  The mercenary pulled her fluffy scarf tighter around her neck and closed her eyes. At least she could make her contribution to Dastia here and now. Ares was fighting to defend a faraway land that didn’t even respect him. Everyone feared him, but despite that, he was still willing to fight to protect them. She recalled the memory of Ares saving her from being enslaved. The other mercenaries who had also been saved regarded Ares with terror and fled away as quickly as possible, thinking that the boy would slay them. Aleysha bit her lower lip gently. She refused to let Ares endure the burden of protecting eastern Dastia alone. Someone as selfless and kind as him deserved respect, not fear. He deserved companionship, not isolation. And Aleysha would do her best to make sure to let Ares know that, besides Amon, he was never alone.

  ***

  Tetsu’s eyes snapped open and he shot forward, his heart pounding rapidly against his chest. A sharp pain pierced his chest, as if a dagger had just been driven into him. He glanced down and saw a stretching wound that looked like raw meat had just been splattered across his chest. It was pink and fresh, a burn that surely would stay with him forever. He saw dozens of bloody cloths at his side and a water basin that was filled with red water. Sleeping soundlessly on the wooden floor beside him was Kira, who looked absolutely exhausted. Tetsu smiled wearily at the Magus. It had been a while since he had last seen her. After all, Kira lived across Dastia in the faraway country of Luxas.

  “She’s taken a liking to you over these past couple years, you know. She hasn’t left your side once while you were unconscious. The reason you’re alive is because of her medicines, magic, and persistence,” the king of Luxas said, still sitting in his leather chair. He had a glass of dark wine in his hand. He swished the liquid around a bit before taking a small sip, letting the alcohol tickle his throat. The king smacked his lips, letting the sweetness of the wine settle on his tongue. “You should be grateful that you have someone like her in your life. Kira cares deeply for you.”

  Tetsu looked to the king. “Lord Alkaios, where has my sister gone?”

  “She chased after Ares into the Lost Sands.”

  Tetsu closed his eyes in disbelief. That idiot. She had no idea of the dangers in that desert! “I need to go after—”

  “You will not leave this mansion until you have healed,” Lord Alkaios commanded, his back still to Tetsu. “My Magus has worked herself far too hard to have you get up and get injured again. There is no point in waltzing straight to your demise, Tetsu.”

  Tetsu’s hands balled up into tight fists. “But….”

  “Why is it that you think your sister went after Ares into that forsaken wasteland?” the king asked.

  Tetsu said nothing, unsure himself.

  “It’s because she felt powerless just as you do now. Humans have a natural thirst for power. That drive only grows stronger when you realize that you are helpless in a situation. Aleysha was frustrated that she has done nothing but sit and watch everyone fight her battles for her. She scrambled after Ares, ready to make a stand for herself.” The king took another gulp of his wine. “Because she lost her mother, she knows that she doesn’t want anyone else to suffer like she is right now. In order to prevent the innocents of the east from enduring such agony, she must defeat the Persians.”

  “Then we must help her!” Tetsu exclaimed. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing!”

  “Yes, and we will.” The king gazed into the burning fire that still blazed in the hearth before him. “I have already called for the lords of the United Eastern Nations to send whatever troops they are willing to spare to Yuusus to combat the Persians. You and I will lead the army to Persepolis and we will bring the fight to the enemy. We refuse to submit before the slave-drivers of Persia.”

  Tetsu grinned and exhaled, lying back on the ground. “That’s more like it, old man!”

  “Watch it, Tetsu. We aren’t that friendly.” The king chuckled. “I understand what it’s like to feel powerless, like you’re an ant in a world full of giants. But do not worry. We of eastern Dastia refuse to be pushed around by these Persian invaders. It’s all thanks to you, Tetsu, for helping facilitate the alliances of all the eastern kingdoms over the previous years.”

  Tetsu gazed up at the ceiling, memories of Persia flashing through his mind. “I used to be one of them, you know. But they betrayed me and tried to have me killed. When I found myself waking up in Aleysha’s home five years ago I had already made up my mind.” The irises of the man’s eyes morphed from their dark black into a glowing red. “I would do whatever it takes to bring about the collapse of the Persian Empire!”

  ***

  Yuu galloped on his steed through the streets of Persepolis and halted at the front gates, which were giant solidified walls of metal that towered high into the air. His ebony horse whined and he reached forward, stroking the animal’s snout gently, calming it. His eyes flickered up and he spotted Zahir on his hazel-colored mount, trotting about with several Persian horsemen accompanying him.

  Crowds of people, who hailed the Magi as heroes, stood cheering for the departing party of Persians. They wore ragged, simple clothing in comparison to the nobles, but they seemed quite content despite their impoverished lifestyles.

  Yuu remembered that at one time he had been among those crowds of people worshipping and applauding the Magi whenever they had left the city. No one really knew who the Magi were or what they actually did, which was all the king’s dirty work. But the citizens simply adopted the idea that the Magi were role models and heroes who were respected throughout the empire, and didn’t seek reasoning behind the belief.

  The noble pulled on the reins of his horse as Zahir and the other Persians began to file out of the gargantuan, open gates of Persepolis out towards the direction of the Lost Sands in the near distance. Yuu dug his heels into the sides of his horse and his steed bolted forward, galloping after its comrades. The chilly, yet calm, winds of the night blew into Yuu’s face as he shot forward across the dirt in the direction of the desert. The earth was so flat that Yuu felt like he was riding off towards the giant moon that glowed in the distance and the glinting stars in the night sky.

  Out there somewhere, Yuu believed that Darien was still alive after all of these years. It had taken him a whole year to move on from Darien and Tetsu’s deaths. But upon hearing that there was a chance that one of his old friends was still alive, a slumbering spark of hope flared up in his chest and emotion cracked across his face for the first time in years. If this god was taking the form of Darien and if he was fighting to protect the defenseless citizens of Yuusus, could that mean that he possibly saved Darien when he was in the Lost Sands? The two surely had crossed paths in the desert. But what would Yuu do if he came to find Darien? The prince was a traitor to the empire and was to be punished, but Yuu knew that he didn’t have it in his heart to go against Darien.

  Yuu hardened his expression as he galloped forward. His mind was wandering; he had to focus. He was about to journey into the world’s most dangerous desert; he should be worrying about his own wellbeing. Yuu ha
d to make sure that he came out of this alive, no matter what happened. His eyes flitted to Zahir’s back, the man’s black cape flapping rapidly in the gentle night breeze. As long as he was with Zahir, things would be okay. The Magus had given him countless opportunities to better his life. The power that he now wielded was all because of Zahir. Without him, Yuu would still be that weak, shy, powerless child that he had been five years ago. Always letting others fight his battles was how Yuu had lived his life. But not anymore. No matter what fears I battle in this desert, I’ll conquer them and return home. I’ll bring honor and pride to my family with my success on this quest. And Darien, I hope that I do get to see you again. Though, what will I do when I see you? Embrace you? Kill you? After all, Prince Darien, you are a traitor to Persia.

  The Deadliest Desert

  “Just because I’m letting you tag along doesn’t mean you can slack off!” Ares called over his shoulder at Aleysha as the girl jogged to keep up. He looked up at the beating sun that now gleamed in the morning day. It was a lot hotter than usual, even for the Lost Sands. This heat was so intense that it made the dry air feel heavy. It was almost like weights were attached to their bodies. He watched as Aleysha stumbled to his side, gasping for breath. Sweat poured down her face, creating a waterfall of perspiration streaming from her chin.

  “Sorry, it’s a lot hotter than I expected,” Aleysha gasped, wiping her brow. She reached into her pack and pulled out a canteen of water and lifted it to her lips, letting some water trickle into her mouth to cure her thirst. Unfortunately, she didn’t feel satisfied and continued to squeeze water into her mouth until Ares forcefully pulled the canteen away. “Hey!” Aleysha complained.

  “The desert is playing games with you, Aleysha.” Ares rolled his eyes, holding the canteen at his side. He nodded to Aleysha’s feet.

  Aleysha blinked and looked down, realizing that she had been pouring water onto the ground. That was why she didn’t feel like her thirst was being quenched. She also realized that she wasn’t sweating as profusely as she believed she was. Was that all an illusion? She closed her eyes and groaned. “I didn’t know the desert could create illusions like that unless I was actually dehydrated, starving, or going insane.”