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Ryeham is a small border town in the Lightbearer Empire. Once upon a time it was plagued by unusual cold weathers, if not the cold, then it would be the scorching heat. Monsters sometimes storm in and wreck havok. Yielding crops were almost a challenge.
Until THEY appeared.
Merlin, the god of magic, came across the town on one autumn day where wheat was abundant and gold. They loved the sight so much, they blessed the land. Soon, weathers became pleasant, the soil fertile, and crops are bountiful year round.
As such Merlin became Ryeham's patron god. (Aside from Dura, of course).
Of all the gods out there, Merlin was perhaps one of the few who intertacts with mortals the most, thus it gave the townsfolk a glimpse of their personality.
Merlin was benevolent and— despite their celestial status—is humble. As the god of magic, Merlin likes to show off their power, and teach the ways of magic, mostly to curious children. But they also had a mischievous side to them, they amuse themselves with petty tricks, or disguise themselves into anything or anyone.
So imagine the people's surprise, when they learned Merlin, sunshine endearing Merlin, is married to one of the most feared gods in Esperia.
Cyran, the god of the Abyss, who emerged from the ground one day like a harbinger of doom. Ignoring the scream and panic of the crowd, his gaze only locked onto Merlin's figure, said nothing and escorted them back into the portal. Even to this day, his form still etched into some people's mind like a nightmare.
Merlin and Cyran. Like light and darkness.
Like beautiful spring and unforgiving winter.
Everything and nothing.
Merlin was loved, whilst Cyran was feared.
Complete opposites. But there's no doubt that they love each other deeply.
Besides, who are mortals to judge the love life of celestials. Merlin was still merciful and kind.
Except they forgot one thing.
Despite their merits, despite their goodness. Merlin was still a god. And when a god gets mad,
The mortals get caught in the crossfire.
And right now, Merlin is pissed.
---
Storms rarely come to Ryeham, but when they do, it becomes the talk of the town.
Gala watches the heavy rain pouring down from the window sill of the Mystical House, one of the Merlin's abode whenever they visit the mortal realm. Fire gently flickers in the hearth, providing warmth for the cold weather.
“it's raining so heavily...” the little mauler muttered. Through her life, never once had she see Ryeham rain until today. She felt a little sad, since today she was supposed to be playing with Cassadee.
“Don't worry, Gala. Storms like this will be gone soon. You can play always with Cassadee tomorrow.” Dolly reassured her with a smile and a soft touch on her back. Dolly is a young woman with beautiful red hair tied up clean and gentle emerald eyes. The caretaker of the Mystical House.
"Maybe the god of the abyss did something to pissed them off.” Laughter rang in the house. It came from the young knight who's a regular of the house.
“Valen, watch your tongue! There's a child here!” Dolly exclaimed.
“Oops. sorry. ” Valen chuckled sheepishly, before taking another swing of his drink. Dolly continues to glare at him.
Despite the slip of the tongue, Gala looks to Valen with curiosity. “Huh? What do you mean by that, Mr. Valen?” She asked.
The young man takes another sip, then leans a bit down to match the little Mauler's height.“There's a saying here in Ryeham— when it rains, it's because the god of Magic is crying, and only the god of the Abyss can stop it. But when it becomes a storm, then it's the god of the Abyss' fault.”
Gala gasped, as if she heard a shocking revelation. Gala may have not been here long, but she knows enough, like the relationship between the light god and the dark god.
"What could the god of the Abyss have done to anger Master Merlin?!” Gala pout, feeling angry at their behalf.
Valen laughed, and ruffled the girls hair.“ Relax, kid. It's just an inside joke in Ryeham. The people here adore Merlin, that if something happened to them, they jokingly blame the spouse. Merlin's coughing? Blame Cyran for not giving cough drops. Hungry for a snack? Blame Cyran for not feeding them properly.”
Dolly sighed and shook her head. “Still...You shouldn't say that out loud, Valen. The god of the abyss may be married to Master Merlin, but he is still dangerous.”
But while Dolly was reprimanding the knight, Gala had already ignored the two adults and has turned her focus on the window. More specially the forest that leads to the altar of Merlin.
The rain... looks like it won't be leaving soon.
_-------_
It was getting late, and the Mystical House was coming to a close. Valen had already left despite the rain, and Dolly was busy in a different room.
‘Now's my chance!’ Dressed in a coat, an umbrella in hand, and basket in the other. Gala carefully opened the front door and snuck outside into the forest.
The rain wasn't heavy as it was before, yet it continues to patter and thunder rumbled in the sky. Gala flinches whenever she caught glimpsed of a flash of lightning. But she swallows her fear and pressed onward. Finally, she reaches the shrine. She steps inside and spots an altar. Old, but not withered. Trinkets and flowers scattered, probably from those who come before to worship the god.
Gala takes a step. And another. And another.
Then turns to the side.
....Wait, what?
Gala, young devotee of the god of magic, ignored their altar and turns her attention to another.
There was another reason why Ryeham believed the gods truly loved each other. One of which was Merlin personally requested for an altar of Cyran to be placed by their side. As a god not moved by mortal praises, it was unnecessary, but Cyran let's it be because it made Merlin happy.
The shrine was considerably darker than Merlin's. Barren of gifts besides worn down candles. Like a ward to stay away rather than to be praised.
... If Merlin were to see this, would they be sad? She thinks they will.
Gala steps closer towards the abyss god's altar and it was if the air had gone completely cold. Not weather cold... just... something is wrong cold. Gala didn't deter however, and carefully lit each candle.
She heard that to summon the God of the abyss it requires a sacrifice of something you love. Gala pulls out the objects from her basket: the bunny doll Merlin personally made and gave to her on her 1 year birthday, and a crown made of leaves and wildborn berries (a memento of her hometown).
Placing these things on the altar, Gala clasps her hands together and shut her eyes tight in prayer. “O god of the abyss, I offer these things to you so that you may answer my prayer. ”
Silence. Still, she continues. “It's has been raining for some time now. The fields are starting to flood, and the roads are getting muddy,” nothing, yet for some reason, it feels as if the world has gone... too quiet. “Please! I really want to play with my friends! So can you please...
....Apologize to Master Merlin?”
She stared at the altar. Waiting. Still...there was nothing.
Gala's mood drop at the lack of answer and a sad frown etched on her face. “Maybe I didn't bring enough, or was it my prayers...?” Perhaps she should have listened carefully on how to pray properly.
Feeling defeated, she was about to get back up. That is... until the candles were blown out all at once. A blink, and she was no longer in the shrine, but her surrounding is dark, suffocatingly quiet. She could even hear the rain anymore.
Gala felt a chill run down her spine, as figure slowly emerged from the shadow. Towering before her was the infamous feared god, Cyran. A figure only mentioned in hush whispers. Whose presence spell doom and destruction.
Glowing eyes stare down, making her flinch.
“Who are you to summon me?” He finally spoke. Low...dangerous. Like a serpent waiting for it's victim's final words.
Fear was creeping up on Gala. But she didn't run. She dare not to run. Swallow her fear, she bow down to the god.
“god of the abyss, I am Gala from Ryeham. I come before you...in regards to Master Merlin. ”
Cyran's face remain blank. Yet it was as if the room suddenly became a little colder, making Gala let out a yelp involuntarily escape her lips.
“You summon me, and yet you speak of a different god? Has mortal children these days become this bold?”
“I-I mean no offense, your greatness! I have a perfectly reasonable explanation...!” Gala burst, but immediately clasps her mouth when she realized her mistake. Cyran said nothing, just quirking one brown up. “I-it's because... Master Merlin is upset right now, and only you can help them.”
She heard the god hum.“Oh...? ”He muttered, “And what makes you think they are upset?”
“It's because of the rain, ”She answered. “They said it's raining because the god of magic is crying. They're crying...because of you.”
Cyran grows quiet. Gala couldn't help but took a quick peek at the god's face. His expression remain unchanged. But if you look closer, you can see a hint of somber... and guilt.
“Tell me, child. ” Cyran spke one more. “Do you come here for Merlin's sake... or for your own desire?”
Gala grows quiet. Denying would be easier to say. But her mind drifted to the hours prior.
The flooding fields
The muddy roads
How she wished the rain to stop just so she could play with Cassadee.
It was as if the rain is merely something bothersome, and not the tears of someone special to her. Is that not selfish thinking?
“I will not lie to you, abyss god...At first, I didn't like the rain, because I couldn't see my friends.” She admitted, lowering her head in shame. “But then I heard the truth, and it made me realize how selfish I was. To know Master Merlin is crying right now... is much worse.”
Throughout her confession, she dare not look at the god's face. Too ashamed, too afraid, that the abyss god will curse her for thinking Merlin's sadness was a burden. The silence was deafening.
It felt like an eternity had passed, before Cyran finally decided to move, specifically the action of crossing his arms.
“Let me ask you something... Gala,” For the first time, he finally said her name, making the young girl shly lift her head. “Let's say I can make the rain stop. Would you accept it?”
“Are you going to Master Merlin?” Cyran shook his head. “I am already here, so why burden myself going back just to calm them down, when I could just use my own powers to stop this storm?”
Gala's mouth widened, her eyes bulge open in shock at what she's hearing.“H.. How could you say something like that?! Master Merlin and you are together, are you not?! You shouldn't speak to someone you love that way! ”
Cyran simply shrugs.“that god of magic is just being sensitive. Always crying at the most inconvenient things. Really, it a wonder how can anyone idolize them so much when they act that way.”
"..... ”
“You're quite lucky mortal, I'm feeling quite generous today. I can easily fix this and you won't be troubled anymore—”
“NO!” Gala cut him off. Fear has been replaced with anger as she glares at the god.
They say the god of magic and the god of abyss love each other. But what is she hearing? The dark god dismissing their feelings because it was... bothersome?!
“Y...you're so cruel! Master Merlin is someone who is kind and brave. But that doesn't mean we should invalidate their feelings!
You say Master Merlin is sensitive, but that's because they care! They care about this town, and they care about you!”
When her home was destroyed by war, who took her in but Merlin?
When she felt like a stranger to this unfamiliar town, who guided her but Merlin?
And when she felt sad, who wiped her tears...but Merlin?
That's why, whether it's another man or god, she will not let anyone talk bad about Merlin!
“I... I HATE YOU, ABYSS GOD!” Her scream echoes in the darkness like a declaration. She storm forward and shoved Cyran.
... It didn't even move Cyran. But the very act, even the audacity of touching him, made his eyes widened. Gala already knows this would definitely punish her, maybe even worse. But she doesn't care. The one who claimed to love Merlin, who Gala cares so deeply, was actually heartless!
“Apologize to Merlin! Apologize to them!” She shouts, trying, and failing, to move the god.
"Enough.”
all of a sudden, Gala felt the ground disappears. No, she was being lifted up by crooked dark hands, limbs made from Cyran's powers. And now she's face to face with the god she cursed. Gala goes quiet, He was glaring at her, she tries to muster a meaner glare to counter it.
“To fight another god because he slanders yours. I don't know if you're bold or foolish...”
“... ”
“I see now you really worship Merlin. Devotion can be dangerous, you know.”
“...Master Merlin said the same thing.” Gala muttered. Some people love gods because they need to look up to a higher being, to guide them. They devote themselves to that being. But some take that too far, and that's dangerous.
“God or not, I look up to Merlin...because they're kind.”
Gala didn't adore Merlin for their status, but for their character. Because Merlin, to her... is Merlin. At some point, the girl was sniffling the tears she didn't realize had been threatening to fall from her eyes. Her brows still furrowed and still refusing to look away.
Cyran silently watches her, and finally sighs. “ You're stubborn. You definitely take after Them. ” The hands gently lower her back on the ground, to Gala's surprise.
"W, what...?”
“I was merely testing you, Gala.” Cyran admitted cooly. The darkness soon lifted, and Gala finds herself back in the shrine. She looks back to Cyran, who continues. “You are correct that Merlin cares... Too much in fact. I'm only making sure there's no... Ulterior motive.”
Gala didn't move for a few second, likely trying to process the sudden shift of tone. She manages to nod.
She... kinda gets it. The sense of hostility died just like that, nows Gala is feeling embarrassed of her actions earlier. (Then again, it's what got her to be accepted by the god of the abyss)
“U, um... Abyss god—”She paused when Cyran hold up his palm at her. “Normally, I don't let anyone speak my name so causally.” He huffed.
“...But you are someone precious to Merlin. Therefore I will allow you to address me with my name. ”
“Ah, yes...! Master Cyran.”After the realization that everything was a ploy, her meek and mild manner returned. Though, her heart definitely flutter at the mention of being precious to Merlin.“ If you don't mind me asking, and I apologize if I step out of line, but do you know why Master Merlin is...upset?”
She gazes out at the world, rain continues to pour with no sign it will stop anytime soon. But she helps when Cyran just looks at her plainly. “Ah, N-nevermind! Nevermind...!”
She scurry to pick up her basket and umbrella. But not before taking our a small pouch, and present it to the god. “I have some Sweetbean Candies from the Mystical House. It's not much...but I hope it would make master Merlin feel better...even just a little.”
“... ”
Gala was feeling nervous with every second spent in awkward silence. If Dolly were here, she definitely say something like: ‘Snapping at him wasn't bad enough, now you're making him do deliveries?!’
“N-nevermind. I'm sorry to bother—”Just when she was about to pull back, hands gently took ahold of the candy. Not the tendril ones, but the very hands of the god of the Abyss.
Big, now that Gala noticed. They were almost the size of her head. Dark, and sharp. With veins visibly pulsing in purple. Cyran silently took the candies from Gala with no fight. “Um...I...thank you. ” She could only muster.
Cyran hums and nod. “Run along now, Gala. Lest you worry your caretaker more with your absence.”
“Ah, right!” With a final bow of gratitude, Gala rushed out the shrine and back into the rainy forest.
‘the god of the abyss... doesn't seem so bad.’ She thought. She slows down in her tracks. She couldn't help but look back one last time.
But when she turned around, there was no one there. And she can see only one altar, only Merlin's altar. The same chill returned. Gala picks up her pace, and fled the forest.
_-------_
The fogs of Avalon are mysterious, as they are dangerous. Thick, dark and suffocating. It serves as a trap for uninvited guests and the wall to keep paradise.
A tall figure emerges from the fog, stepping into a land of lush green fields, glistening streams, and ruined pillars of what once was.
Standing here, he looks completely out of place. Yet, he continues onward, leaving a trail of withering plants that immediately bloom back to life. Finally, he reaches an ivory temple. A small smile escape his face when caught sight of another figure. Surrounded with the finest of sheets and pillows.
“My beloved, I have return.” Cyran greeted as warm as he muster. Carefully strolling closer to the mountain of pillows and sheets. A sounds comes out, a disgruntled groan.
Merlin the Great.
The symbol of all things mystic and magical. The proclaim god of the people and a presence of majesty that rivals that of Dura's. But here, they are stripped of their celestial robes and jewels. Now their hair is a mess akin to a bird's nest, and only dressed in a plain white chiton dress.
Cyran didn't mind the sight, it delighted him in fact. Knowing that the Merlin will not show anyone this side of them.
Not the mortals.
Not the other gods.
Not even their closes companions.
Only him.
Cyran pulls off the sheets to reveal an annoyed face aiming at him. Despite that, it didn't bother the dark god and he simply flash them a smile.
“Hello, Merlin.” Said god only reply with a huff. Still didn't bother Cyran. Though to his amusement, Merlin starts crawling closer in their blanket. Like a disgruntled cat seeking warmth.
Cyran lets them be, even going as far as to make his wings wrap around both their bodies, bringing them closer together.
“How are you feeling?” He asked.
And for the first time in a while, Merlin speaks with a groan. “Horrible...” They uttered. “I hate card games. I hate Contess. I'm never going to play with her again! The cross their arms and huffed. Like the words were final. But who are they kidding? Those words are just false.
Cyran internally sighs. For a god proclaim as powerful, they can truly be petty sometimes. (A quirk he secretly loves).
“We both know you don't.”
“I can act like I am!”
“You'll only call her again tomorrow.”
Merlin snaps a glare at him. It's super unaffective.“You're supposed to be on my side!”
Cyran chuckles. Really, how can the powerful magic god be this childish? That's why in return, he pecks their cheek. “Yes, yes. I'm sorry. This god is at fault.”
Merlin only pouts and tries to look away, it almost tempts Cyran to take a bite on those puffy cheeks, but that would probably upset them further and that would mean upsetting ...another peculiar child.
Speaking of which...
“I visited the mortal realm today...” Cyran starts off. At the corner of his eye, he can see this immediately peak Merlin's attention, and concern. (With good reason. The presence of the god of the abyss is nothing to gloss over. Merlin can already assume the Celestial Realm is being notified of this, and freaking out right now).
“...and I met this peculiar child—A mauler girl. Hair white as snow, and the most innocent eyes I see that twinkle like rubies...”
“Gala?!” The reaction was almost instant, and Cyran could sense the atmosphere shift to alert. “Relax. Nothing dangerous happened.” Though I did ‘tease’ her by talking bad about you, were left unsaid lest he wants to get skewered by his spouse.
“ Though she did attempt to do a summoning with some toys. Not that it would work, fortunately.”
He can hear Merlin sigh heavily, it sound between relief and stress. “Next time, I'm going to teach her the cautions of summonings and dark arts. But why was she trying to summon you in the first place?”
“Hmm... I believe it is because she noticed you have been feeling down lately.” With a flick of his wrist, Cyran summons a familiar small pouch in front of Merlin. Their nose slightly twitch as it picks up a faint sweet scent. “She had personally ask me to bring this to you. She hope it would make you feel better.”
“...That girl, making all that trouble...”Merlin sighs, but there's no real bite in it, just an exasperated smile. They pop one candy in their mouth, and offers one to Cyran. Without hesitation or words, he slightly leans down and accepts the piece of candy.
“Hmm...too sweet.”
Merlin huffs. “hmph. You just lack taste, o high and mighty abyss god.”
Cyran didn't retort. Instead, giant wings and long limbs curl themselves tighter around the magic god's body. Merlin didn't fight, but instead wrap their own arms around his neck. Whatever had made them mad in the first place has probably passed now, since they became so accepting of such close contact.
The god of magic... the god of the abyss...two opposing forces, in their own little world, basking in each other's embrace.
Gradually, at some point hands begin to explore- caressing, squeezing- anything that feels soft. Kisses, once an act of reassurance, are starting to become deep and intimate.
Shakey breaths escape Merlin's mouth as Cyran travel lower to their neck, and pressing deep against their jugular.
So delicate, so expose.
“Feeling better now?” he muttered, not even leaving his spot.
Merlin merely hums, “Maybe a little~... though now I'm craving for something sweet.” They laugh, which immediately cuts to almost a shakey hitch of breath when Cyran chuckled, and they feel the vibration against their skin.
If sweetbean candies were not enough to ease the god, then there are always other ways to ease the tension.
_-------_
The next day, the town of Ryeham were awaken to find clear skies. Fields no longer flooded and roads are fixed, as if there hadn't been a storm in the first place.
Somewhere in the Mystical House, a little mauler girl is preparing more sweets, and making a mental note to thank a certain abyss god.