by G. Akella
My legs tremble as the words slam into my ear like a tidal wave. Did she mention fate at our last meeting, too? She, more than anyone, is in charge of fate...
"Two?" I choke out, looking at Lita. "But..."
The demoness chuckles, taking another bite. "He doesn’t understand."
I turn and stare in surprise at the little girl sitting with her legs crossed in a chair under a weapon hanging on the wall, squeezing a glowing purple cube in her hands. She looks no older than seven or eight. Her black hair is braided in two funny pigtails topped with white bows, and she wears a light blue dress that sparkles with decorative stars. Her nose is tiny, her green eyes huge. In fact, she would fit right into any anime cartoon. I read the legend over her head. Nika. Young Goddess of Victory. Hart! How is it that I failed to sense the presence of a goddess behind me? Not that I had sensed Sata, either. In a state as dazed as mine, I doubted that I would see Vill and Syrat playing jump rope right in front of my nose.
When our eyes meet, the girl smiles, then leaps down from the chair and curtsies.
"Hi! I’m Nika!" she announces politely.
I nod and mouth hello, trying to figure out how she could have gotten here. Then it hits me.
No. Effing. Way. It can’t be! I spin around to look at the laughing fox, then back to the girl. I can’t speak.
"He’s kind of strange," Nika remarks. "Very strange. But funny. And cute."
She looks at Sata and pleads for the new focus of her childish attention.
"Mom, there’s a black dragon out in the yard! Can I go see it? After all, I’ve already met him before, right?"
Without waiting for an answer, the girl evaporates, leaving a cloud of sparkles behind. For another ten seconds I stand motionless, staring at the weapon hanging on the wall. Realizing the madhouse that would be my future if I fail to snap out of this, I shake my head and turn to look at both women. Though with my dumbfounded features, this might do little to aid my chances of remaining asylum-free.
"Look, you love improvisation, don’t you?" Lita smiles with a simple-minded shrug as she takes another bite of her apple. "We decided to surprise you, is all. And then surprise you again. Don’t worry, there are no more surprises."
"How else do you think gods are made?" Sata adds. "Remember when I told you about one particular possibility? Well, you were victorious, and so Nika was born. After all, the goddess of victory can only be born after a great victory is achieved. Fitting, don’t you think? And when you won your other great victory, she grew up."
With a grin on her face, Sata approaches and kisses me.
"Thank you, for my life and the life of my daughter."
"I... uh... yes, of course." My brain is divided between figuring out what’s going on and praying to Providence and all the Creators that this is not a dream. The Creator’s choice was not one between power and love. I have received both in full. At last I realize why Lita had shielded the castle from me.
"Are you all right?" the goddess asks, concern blossoming in her eyes.
"More than all right!" I pull my flask from my bag and take a long pull.
The cognac warms my stomach, then washes my body with calm. My consciousness clears, and anxiety disappears. Now to smoke a pipe, and this happy day will be complete.
"That’s the end of the good news," Lita continues once I have finished my drink. "Velial, Abaddon, Tiamat and Acheron have declared war on their mother. Their combined forces reached the border of the Veld of Illusion yesterday. A great war is beginning in the Netherworld, and we-"
"We will help out ally dominion," I interrupt. "How much time do we have?"
"Three days."
"Perfect." I pull my pipe from my bag and nod at the balcony. "I’ll smoke, then we’ll discuss our plans."
The palm trees and lounge chairs I conceived of and feared when I discovered my new situation evaporate. Another war? Bring it on! Vacation could wait. Funny... How many times have I thought vacation was just around the corner?
Lita smiles sweetly as she turns back to Sata. "Of course, dear, go smoke. See that, Sata? One mention of war, and he’s back. Just as I told you..."
February 2018 Moscow
Dear friends! Thank you for being on this journey with me! Our story may have ended, but the Realm of Arkon lives on! Look out for my new series, The Dark Covenant, about the the exploits of a professional gamer playing a drow rogue.
G. Akella
Friends! We now have a Facebook group dedicated to the Realm of Arkon series! We'll be happy to have you join, and answer any question about the series!
Don't miss the a new series of my good friend Arthur Stone, which takes place in a world that's connected to the S.T.Y.X. universe!
I also want to recommend you a new LitRPG series by a friend of mine: The Artar Chronicles by Vladimir Vasilenko.
This is a story of a free-spirited and reckless student, a master of parkour, who got a special invitation into the virtual world of Artar when the most private in-game clan called The Steel Hounds became interested in his talents.
Vladimir has built a huge world that feels like it's living and breathing and filled it with everything that we love in RPGs. Btw, the main character is a battle monk!
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
