Purpose

The gods often walk through the streets of Olympus, the Olympians always greeting them with joyful faces and singing their praises.

Today, a young Calista is fortunate enough to be in the area and see the visiting god. Aphrodite, believed the most beautiful god, her presence entrances even the youth. It’s difficult to believe she too is an Olympian; such beauty is otherworldly.

“I want to be as pretty as her.” Calista said, but her admiration soon became confusion.

Aphrodite smacks one of her assistants. The assistant kneels, not even touching her bleeding lip and only apologizing for the mistake she made.

Calista is unsure of what the maid did, but her mind focuses on the maid’s tears. The youth of Olympus are told of gods as benevolent, kind beings. They are the pinnacle of their people and what everyone should strive to follow, but should such actions also be worshipped?

“She is a god! The servant should be grateful that is all that happened!” Helen yells at Calista.

Other children of their class agree with Helen’s sentiment, none stopping to question the scene they saw as they made their way to class. Despite making another cry and harming them, they still see Aphrodite as what they have been told, kind and benevolent.

“G-gods should be nice to their people.” Atalanta said as she cowers behind Calista.

“Then learn to be careful.” Helen said.

“There are other ways to teach. I can never agree with harming someone.”

“Then you can never be like them.”

Time passes, the students graduate and many are offered roles under the gods. Calista is offered a role under Aphrodite because of her beauty. Chosen by Aphrodite herself, Calista prides herself for such a selection.

Despite the memories of that day, Calista believes the gods can still bring happiness. Their roles in Olympus and the mortal realm is important. And if she must, then she will use her influence as a direct servant of Aphrodite to bring that happiness herself. It is what she has strived for, doing all she can to become worthy of a role under a god. At times, influence must come from that other than a god.

Before Calista can take her role, however, war breaks out. The gods changed over time; once beacons of hope, leaders of culture and development, now arrogant and cruel.

It was the mortals that stood against them, soon gaining allies from Olympus in the war. A group of warriors, far more powerful than any mortal, rose during the war. Turning the tide and defeating the overconfident gods.

Calista never joined either side. She stayed behind in Olympus aiding as much she could in Olympus as it crumbled under war. A single battle in the city was enough to level much of it, she and many of her generation helped with saving lives and recovery efforts after the end of the war.

After the fall of the gods, special classes were held for the cultivation of candidates to take the seats of the fallen gods. Alexios the first and only chosen from his generations, Calista’s followed only a year later.

·

“I never realized how much the mortal world suffered after the war. I apologize. As great as Olympians make each other to be, we have many faults. And, we too are subjects of fate.” Calista said.

“Was it Aphrodite’s seat that was taken?” Calista nods. “I see, then you must simply take another.”

“I could become the god of harvest.”

“You are excellent at snapping your fingers.”

Calista laughs as she hits Nikolas’s shoulder. “It is an option… but even then, I wonder if it is even within my fate. It leaves me lost. Say, have you ever wondered about your purpose?”

“Can you elaborate?”

“I believed I knew my reason for being alive, but now I am unsure. I am afraid that I may have been wrong as I don’t know what comes after if I am wrong.”

“I can understand how you feel. I once believed to understand my role, but now I wonder if I made a mistake. I wonder if I misinterpreted my reason for being, but now I must live with the choices I have made.”

“How do you do it?”

“It’s difficult, I was lost and heartbroken for many years. But the sun will always rise, and its warmth will always find a way to embrace you. Perhaps not here, or now, but I am sure somewhere, someday, my body will accept that warmth once more. That is the wonderful world we live in. Much can change, but we must always keep hope. To the very last breath, we must hope.”

“Has that hope brought you happiness?”

Nikolas smiles. “It has, it even graced me with your beauty.”

“Excellent answer.” Calista snaps her fingers, beckoning Nikolas to help her up.

“Did you hurt your ankle?”

“Forgive my clumsiness, it’s not often I must move around at such speed.”

“Then I will carry you back.”

“It’s not an issue, I assure you.”

Nikolas kneels, even moving forward as Calista attempts to walk by him. Any more attempts will lead to the same result and Calista gives in, mounting Nikolas’s back and resting her head on his shoulder as he begins the journey back to the village.

“Your strength is impressive.”

“A tradesman must be.”

“I see. Nikolas, I will choose to follow your advice for now. After all, I too enjoy the wonders of this world. But I also hope for you to embrace the warmth once more.”

“If you order it then I shall.” Calista snaps her fingers. “Your wish is my command, my lord.”

“Lord? It is Calista the great to you. I shall grant you a name as well, Nikolas the strong.”

“How about Nikolas the handsome?”

“Oh please, someone who hides his visage cannot carry such a name. The hooded hooligan perhaps.”

“Then I will keep the strong, thank you oh Calista the great.”

“Oh! How about Nikolas the lady grabber.”

“I’ve already apologized for that mam; I’d prefer to only be hated for my actions before today.”

Calista lets out an amused sigh. “Nikolas the kind. That is final.”

“I like it, though I believe that epithet would suit you much better.”