Divine Assistance

by L. G. Estrella

  In all honesty, that hadn’t been the reply he’d been hoping for. There were gods who excelled at wooing mortal women, but he wasn’t one of them. In his previous dalliances, he’d simply announced himself and his intentions, and things had progressed naturally from there. He was easy enough to get along with, and he was a considerate lover and spouse. Most mortal women were also practical enough to realise that being a god’s lover and the mother of his children came with certain benefits.

  He was – or so he’d been told – ruggedly handsome. True, he wasn’t the most handsome of the gods, but no mortal could compare to him in looks. Likewise, his children were much fairer than ordinary mortals, and they were usually much stronger, faster, and more durable than ordinary mortals too. As a god he was also capable of smiting almost anyone who tried to harm his lover or their children, which was generally an ironclad guarantee of safety unless the woman in question somehow managed to enrage a more powerful god. Taking into consideration the gods who could overpower him without any difficulty whatsoever, his lover would have to be a complete idiot to manage that. After all, what sort of mortal picked a fight with one of the Greater Gods?

  “Let us have a look at this mortal of yours.” Love made a gesture and the water from her bath rose up to form an image of the mortal Ruin desired. The god frowned. “No, Ruin, this isn’t a reflecting pool. I am one of the Greater Gods, albeit not the mightiest amongst them. Finding one mortal and observing her takes so little of my power as to be beneath mentioning. Besides, where do you think those two got the idea? Wisdom can be a real stick in the mud sometimes, but she can appreciate good style.” Love gave a tinkling laugh before she frowned. Naturally, the frown only enhanced her appeal. “How odd…”

  “What is?” Ruin asked. Had something happened to the mortal? He hadn’t noticed anything yet, but her eyes were keener than his.

  “How closely did you look at the mortal with Wisdom and Knowledge’s reflecting pool?” Love asked.

  “Not too closely. I merely wanted to observe her to see if it was a good time to speak with her.”

  “You should have taken a closer look.” Love bit her lip. “Here. I’ll make it easier for you to see.”

  The goddess gestured again, and a faint mist appeared around the mortal. Ruin grimaced. This wasn’t good. That mist meant that the mortal was currently under the influence of another god. In general, the gods tried to steer clear of each other’s Chosen unless it was completely unavoidable. Squabbles typically ended poorly and often resulted in the death of the mortal in question, along with the obliteration of large chunks of the mortal world. The Supreme Mother and Supreme Father had not created the mortal world just so their divine children could break it. That didn’t mean Ruin couldn’t court the mortal woman, but he would have to speak to the god who had Chosen her. He peered more closely at the mist to see which god had Chosen her.

  He winced. “Muse?”

  Muse was another one of the Greater Gods although much like Love, her powers were not particularly geared toward combat like Death or Annihilation. Nevertheless, she was still a Greater God, and the least of them was far more than the mightiest of the other gods, save for the Supreme Mother and Supreme Father. She and Life were also on very good terms, and Life’s combat power was incalculable.

  Ruin had once made the mistake – he’d only made it once – of asking Life to fight him without holding back. Setting aside the fact that her mere presence was enough to drive him to his knees long before she’d unleashed her full power, he’d met his defeat at the hands of a divinely empowered honey badger the size of a dragon. Life also had a mean left hook. She’d cracked his jaw with it and knocked him through two mountains before he’d managed to regain control of himself – and she hadn’t even been trying. It was not a coincidence that whenever she got mad, Death was usually the one who got sent to calm her down. Very few other gods would survive being anywhere near her when she was angry.

  “Yes,” Love replied. Her expression softened. “It does seem that my sister has already chosen this particular mortal although I doubt it’s in a romantic sense. She would have told me if she’d decided to take another lover. Most likely, she plans to help her become a poet or an artist of some kind.” Love tapped her chin with one finger. “You should speak with her. Muse can be very reasonable, but be careful. She doesn’t get mad easily, but you won’t like it if she loses her temper.”

  “Is that all the advice you can give me?” Ruin grumbled.

  “Not exactly.” Love smiled and reached over to pat him on the knee. “I know my sister well, Ruin, so I can guess what sort of mortal this woman must be. My sister has the ability to peer into the hearts and souls of others and inspire them. I have a similar gift although its purpose is more emotional than creative or intellectual. Give me a moment.”

  Like all gods, Ruin could delve into the minds of mortals. However, certain gods – Love and Muse amongst them – were especially skilled in that area. Their mental touch could penetrate far more deeply, unravelling the innermost secrets of a mortal’s mind and soul, but their touch was also far lighter. When Ruin reached into a mortal’s mind, he had to be exceedingly careful, lest he leave behind a broken wreck. His powers were geared toward destruction, and it was far easier for him to simply tear a mortal’s mind apart than to take a quick peek inside. Thus he waited patiently for Love to finish. She could do what he could not.

  “My sister has chosen well once again. This mortal is not going to be awed by displays of divine majesty and might. You’re going to have to try a different approach. On the upside, my sister is definitely not interested in her romantically. She Chose her based on talent.”

  Any relief Ruin felt was short lived. “What do you mean a different approach?”

  “You’re going to have to woo her using the things she is most interested in.”

  Ruin’s heart sank. Knowing Muse that meant the mortal was interested in the arts. Ruin was awful at all of the arts unless annihilating things was a form of art. “And what is she interested in?”

  Love’s smile was positively wicked. “Poetry, Ruin. She’s interested in poetry.” She chuckled at the horror on Ruin’s face and patted his knee again. “Oh, don’t be like that. Pay my sister a visit and explain yourself. If you’re lucky, she might even deign to help you. At the very least, you need to inform her of your intentions, so the two of you don’t butt heads in the future.”

  * * *

  Muse’s realm was the glorious ideal that all poets, writers, artists, and dreamers sought in order to give their lives meaning and inspiration. As such, it was an unbelievably confusing place for even other gods since it was constantly changing. Only Muse could truly navigate the countless layers and areas of her realm without aid, and intruders could easily find themselves lost for all eternity. Thankfully, Muse was not a vengeful goddess. If there were unwanted intruders, she generally had the decency to put them out of their misery quickly.

  Ruin took a few moments to get his bearings. He was floating upside down over a turbulent sea beneath a sky full of gem-like stars. The sea seemed less like water and more like liquid crystal, and the stars themselves changed colour and arrangement periodically. He righted himself – it wouldn’t surprise him at all if the sea were actually the sky since that was exactly the sort of thing Muse would create for fun – and reached out with his senses. Muse was nearby. In fact, she was sitting atop a massive winged whale that had breached the surface of the sea nearby. She was writing another ballad. This one appeared to be about the most recent battle between the gods and the Void Born. It would have been much quicker to teleport to her side, but he wasn’t sure how accurately he could do that here. If her realm changed while he was teleporting, he could end up somewhere else entirely. It was also more polite to fly over and allow Muse to acknowledge his presence. She already knew he was here – he could feel the whisper of her attendants, eidolons of wonder and mystery, brushing past him – but she had yet to turn her attentio
n away from her ballad.

  He stopped near her, but he was taken aback by what he saw behind her.

  “Is something the matter, Ruin?” Muse asked without looking up from her ballad.

  “Is that real?” Ruin pointed behind her.

  Behind Muse and her winged whale, Young Death was riding a Nightmare across the surface of the sea. As a spirit of considerable power, the Nightmare was not impeded by something as paltry as water, and the shadowy flames that made up its body had the water bubbling and steaming. Both Young Death and her mount seemed to be enjoying themselves as they moved through a makeshift course under the watchful eye of several mermaid-like creatures made of gemstones, pearls, and coral.

  “Oh, that?” Muse smiled faintly. “She’s enjoying the new pony her father got her.”

  “That is not a pony.”

  “I suppose you’re right. Technically, he’s not a pony. He’s a Nightmare. However, she’s quite adamant that he still counts.” Muse chuckled warmly. “Death has me watching her for the day. Apparently, she’s been a little… overenthusiastic in riding Shadow Blaze through his realm, and he wants her to get more practice in peering into the minds and dreams of others. Yes, I know, Death is quite good at those things, but they just happen to be two of my specialties.”

  Ruin continued to stare. Had Young Death just fed the Nightmare a carrot? Could Nightmares even eat carrots? “Shadow Blaze?”

  “That’s what she has decided to call him although he also goes by Twinkles because of the merry twinkle in his eyes.” Muse laughed again as Ruin’s expression contorted even further. It wasn’t often that Ruin visited her, so she intended to have a little fun with him. Perhaps this was why she, Love, and Mischief got along so well. Still, she did have to make something clear to him. “I felt Love’s gaze upon one of my Chosen not long ago. Can I assume that you’re visiting about the mortal in question?” She loosened her hold on her power just enough to make the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Not far away, Young Death drew Shadow Blaze to a halt, and the pair paused to watch the older gods. “I hope you’re not planning to smite the city she’s in, Ruin. That would be… most displeasing.”

  Ruin cringed, and Muse congratulated herself. It was good to know that she could be intimidating when she needed to be. Then again, if it came to a fight, she could simply overpower him. The difference in their strengths was too great, and although she didn’t particularly enjoy fighting, she had made sure to learn how to fight.

  “That wasn’t my intention,” Ruin replied quickly.

  “Good. As I understand it, her city has been quite pious and faithful to the gods.” Muse paused. “So why were you and Love looking at one of my Chosen?” She could guess, but she wanted to make him say the words. It was hilarious watching him squirm.

  “I…” Ruin gathered his courage. “I wish to court her.”

  Despite having guessed why he’d come to her realm, she was still a little surprised to hear him admit it. She was aware of Ruin’s history, but all of the mortal women he’d pursued in the past had been of a certain type. They had all been women from nations that had prized martial skill and valour, and some of them had even been warriors themselves. The mortal she’d chosen – the one he was interested in – was from a nation renowned for its scholars and poets. That wasn’t to say they couldn’t fight – knowing how to fight was a necessity in the mortal world – but they were hardly as martially inclined or belligerent as the nations Ruin’s previous lovers had come from.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I came here to ask for your permission since she is one of your Chosen.”

  Muse took a moment to consider the question. It was a delicate issue. The mortal was one of her chosen. Alyssa – that was her name – had caught Muse’s eye due to her latent potential as a poet. A dream here and a dream there, and it wouldn’t be long before she began to write poems that would resonate with her fellow mortals for centuries, perhaps even longer. However, Alyssa was at a critical time in her development. She was not yet confident in her own abilities, and if something went wrong now, she could very easily retreat back into her metaphorical shell as a librarian. Yet Ruin seemed sincere about his intentions, and he was a god of good standing. Denying him even the chance to court Alyssa would be quite harsh, and he had treated all of his previous lovers well, caring for their children and dallying with no one else while they still lived.

  “I see.” She glanced over at Young Death. The younger goddess waved enthusiastically as she and Shadow Blaze resumed going through the course. “And by courting her you mean…?”

  “I wish to win her affections. I have spoken to Love about it.” Ruin shuddered, and Muse hid a laugh behind a smile. Her sister was not an easy goddess to handle, even at the best of times. For someone like Ruin, it would almost certainly have been a harrowing experience. “She has provided me with some guidance. She believes that I should try to woo her using what she enjoys. Love suggested I try… poetry. That is the second reason I am here. I am terrible at poetry, so I am also asking for your help.”

  “At poetry?” It took every bit of Muse’s control to keep from laughing. She would never have thought that Ruin, of all gods, would approach her for help writing poetry. At least she knew he was serious because there was no way he would subject himself to this otherwise. “Did I hear you correctly?”

  “Yes.” Ruin nodded solemnly. “Unfortunately, my skills in poetry are somewhat lacking.”

  “You mean you’re terrible.”

  He winced. “That is one way to put it.”

  “That’s the only way to put it.”

  “I suppose so,” he ground out.

  “Hmm…” Muse nodded slowly. “Very well. You may court the mortal, and I will offer you assistance with regards to poetry. However, she alone will decide whether to accept or reject you. I will not allow the use of any divine power or influence to sway her. Am I understood?”

  “Of course,” Ruin growled. “I am not some pathetic god who would resort to such measures.”

  “I didn’t say you were. I simply made my expectations clear.” Muse waved one hand, and a small mountain of books appeared. Beneath them, the winged whale grumbled. “For starters, you can begin by reading those.”

  “What?” Ruin stared. “Those? What are those?”

  “Those are a collection of mortal treatises on poetry and poetic form. They aren’t perfect, but they should be useful for you. You’ll need to be able to understand all of them before you can truly appreciate the help I can give you.”

  “…” Ruin eyed the pile of books dubiously.

  “If you really want to court her, you’re going to have to work for it.”

  Ruin sighed and picked up the nearest book.

  “I’ve also noticed that you haven’t referred to her by name yet. I’m assuming you don’t know her name. Her name is Alyssa. Start using it.”

  * * *

  Alyssa blinked. She’d returned home to find someone waiting for her. No, that was putting it far too casually. She’d returned home to find a god waiting for her. She might not have been entirely surely which god he was, but she could tell he was a god. All of them had this aura about them, this sense of inhuman majesty and splendour. For some of them, like Death, it was said to be an austere, remote, and terrible majesty. For others, like Love, it was an overwhelming sense of desire and affection. The aura around this god was one that reminded her of a volcano about to erupt, of cities left broken and aflame, of an empire sunk beneath the waves. In the same way that even an untrained boy could appreciate the deadliness of a legendary blade, so too could even the most ignorant of mortals realise when they stood in the undisguised presence of the divine.

  The god before her was the one she’d seen before, but she’d been panicking too much to get a good look at him then. Now, however, she could see him clearly. He was tall, at least seven feet tall, with broad shoulders and a powerful frame. He wore black armour that looked as though it ha
d somehow been forged out of obsidian. Yet from within the armour came a dim glow, as though a fire were burning inside it. What finally gave away his identity were his charcoal skin and his fiery red hair. Few mortals had features like that, but they were most common amongst the various nations that held the three brothers – Ruin, Wrath, and Torment – in especially high esteem. He must be one of those three since those features had come from the gods themselves via their demigod children.

  But which one was he?

  The scent of fire and smoke clung to him. Combined with the aura around him, it suggested he was Ruin. Torment was said to have a slighter build than his two older brothers, and Wrath was said to be the loudest and most boisterous of the three. The god’s eyes, twin pools akin to magma in their brightness and colour, seemed to peer right into her very soul.

  It was that gaze – no mortal could ever have eyes like that, not even a demigod – which reminded her of the difference in status between them. Well aware of her previous actions – she’d thrown not one, but two rocks at a god – she fell to her knees. She had no idea why he kept appearing to her, but she was well versed in all of the ancient lore. Perhaps he had a task or quest for her to complete, or perhaps she’d done something to merit punishment. Whatever it was, offending him would be lunacy, and she was no lunatic.

  “How may I serve you?” she asked. “And might I know to whom I speak, great god, so I may better serve you.”

  “You need not serve me, Alyssa.” She almost cried out in amazement. How had he known her name? But of course – such knowledge would not be difficult for a god to obtain with his nigh-limitless powers. He cleared his throat. It was almost as though he were nervous about something although that couldn’t possibly be right. “I have come to ask your opinion on a most important matter. As for my name… I am Ruin.”