亚洲综合中美

“Pardon?” Staxius replied, not knowing the consequences of what lay ahead.

“Syhton was the perfect choice as your partner in the mortal realm. However, when it comes to the treacherous world of the divine, without assistance from other deities, and I can guarantee there will be none who’d wish to ally with destruction, you have nothing but to choose me.”

“Might I sleep on it?”

“On it, you may,” she replied eloquently, “-where are you headed?”

“To Ragno. The portal to Draebala should be ready. Let’s postpone the discussion for then, is that acceptable, goddess?”

Tharis, the strong and lawful, took her time in scanning Staxius from top to bottom. After all, none had come to know each other – ideas of the other’s image were brought from hearsay and rumors.

‘Staxius, as my followers have researched, is a man of honor when it counts. He purposefully chose anarchy as his way of delivering his justice and his ideals.’ She took a step, “-well, Staxius, the offer will stand until next week. If by then I don’t hear from you, I will be forced to follow my plans. Justice has to be brought to the world, and in you, Staxius, I choose to believe. It is hard to find allies, you know much better yourself.”

And thus, without the slimmest bit of hassle – Tharis called forth a dragon, a majestic beast of which each flap of the wings shook the very ground. She easily climbed its back and rode upward into the gemlike clouds. Tharis’ realm was expansive, “-the nearest town is to the south,” she said and rode in the opposite direction.

.....

‘Tharis’ realm,’ Staxius conjured his wings and hovered, ‘-to the north is the capital, that’s where she’s headed,’ he observed, ‘-and to the south, a city. The construction looks pretty archaic, a wood and stone-bricked building. A scenery beloved by any avid fantasy enjoyer,’ he flew south and soon entered the city.

‘My core’s unresponsive to the people,’ he ambled, checking over crowds at merchant stalls and admiring the large walls separating the various districts, ‘-my word, these people are rich and they know it. There’s abundance… no sign of oppression nor is there any sign of trouble. They live with smiles… so I’d think, most of ’em wear a neutral expression, going through the world with careless abandon,’ he continued to the plaza, where taverns, inns, and restaurants could be plucked from the lines of buildings, ‘-Tharis’ has achieved a realm of non-violence. Her people are not fighters, they barely register on my detection spell.’

Just then, an incident begot the cries of confused onlookers. He rushed and looked over his shoulder, ‘-no one’s following me?’ he slowed the pace and walked. A child was hit in the face by his father, the former bled tearlessly. The onlookers, from what it seemed were one of the child’s friends who cried on behalf of the assault.

“What is the matter?” city guards dressed in uniforms approached.

“I have the right to discipline my child however I wish,” the father exclaimed.

“In accordance with our goddess’ creed, you and your child must come to the city hall for evaluation. Any witnesses who wish to join may accompany us,” the strong officer scanned the crowd, even the girl who’d screamed out on another’s behalf hid her face. Staxius rose hand. The crowd silently judged.

‘Should be interesting,’ he followed and soon was before a court of law. ‘Seems coming to court is standard,’ arrangement was rather perplexing as it looked to be more than a few courts were lined one after the other. A priestess of Tharis presided over the current incident. The father and child were separated using a walkway going down the middle of the seats. The officer stood in the middle, with no lawyers, as he’d come to expect. Only a scale presided over judgment – a golden statue of Tharis dressed in a simple robe held a scale of differing color, unlike the statue, at a glance was fixed, the scale was flexible and tipped on either side. Staxius sat to the side and made to face the judge and seats.

“My lady priestess, we found this man slapping his child in the middle of the street.”

“And he said he was in his right to slap the boy?” she followed, “-I have a grasp on the situation,” she placed both hands at the statue’s feet and tipped her head, “-by the decree of my goddess, please find blame in the wrong and justice for the wronged.” A timid glow pulsed at the table, a pen freely wrote, the scale tipped against the father, and blame fell onto the boy, “-to the father who assaulted his child, you’re guilty of bringing nuisance to the public. As such, you are to be sentenced to a stay-at-home for a month. The boy who stole from the stands will be brought to a higher court to justify his actions. As such, by the order of her divine empress of justice, the sentences will be carried out in good faith.”

“Please no!” said the father, “-I wish to apologize for my son’s action. He’s but a child, he’s foolish and doesn’t know the world as I do. I have failed in my duty. As such, my lady priestess, allow me to carry my child’ burden.”

The priestess widened her arms, guards entered the room, “-justice if finale, judgment is true. What’s said can’t be taken back, thus, you will be forced to pay the price of your crimes. Lest, the witness invokes the right of trial by combat, therein, either setting your crimes free or bringing down the hammer of justice.”

He looked at the crowd with an annoyed expression, “-I came to watch, not participate,” he stood, “-no matter,” he looked at the father and child, “-instead of freedom, why not have them serve the same sentence. A homestay of father and son, some bond building, what say you, priestess?”

She paused, ‘-no one’s ever tried to alter a priestess’ judgment. Even the witness knows not to go against the law of our guardian. I have no idea how to solve this childish matter,’ she tapped her fingers and stared upward, ‘-how am I supposed to ‘

“Seem the issue’ grown out of hand,” a stronger presence entered the court, another priestess from her robe and solemn aura, “-tell me, are you having trouble?”

“Arch-priestess,” the fellow lowered her head, “-here’s a log,” a scroll hovered before the arch-priestess, she cautiously glanced over the paper and narrowed Staxius’ nonchalant stance.

“I must say, the matter isn’t so hard to resolve. Follow the judgment for it is true and worthwhile. Sadly, I can see merit in the witness’ suggestion. As so,” she looked at the witness, “-are you perchance the man known as Staxius Haggard?”

“Maybe?”

The arch-priestess exhaled, “-I will accept the witness’ suggestion. He is the one our empress chose to stand at her side. Herein I present, Staxius Haggard, our goddess’ partner.” A surprised coldness froze the room, Staxius looked around cluelessly to no avail. Judgment was passed and they were outside in the main hall watching as fellow cases were brought to the ear of beautiful priestesses.

“If you would follow me,” said the arch-priestess, “-exiting our goddess’ realm can be tedious. We have a portal readied at the cathedral,” her blond locks flowed, the main hallway was large and stretched many floors above, and the middle split to house trees and decorations, an oval roof made of glass shone light upon the floor, ‘-this place is majestic.’

“Pardon me for earlier.”

“Why so?”

“You see, I was told you’re not from here. Our realm is very different from what others might expect. It’s very common for travelers to be lost and bewildered at how justice is done. We’re used to housing strangers of other worlds, it’s very common. After all, like the Hall of Rebirth known as the final judgment for the demented, we exist to guide the souls of neutral parties to their revival or eternal rest, depending on their will. What you saw earlier is an example of said truth. They appear to be father and son, and real… alas, it’s far from the truth. They’re fragmented souls who departed their realm suddenly. The truth is often found in the crime itself. The father slapping his son was a sign of abuse, ordering a stay-at-home is nothing more than a stop-gap measure. In truth, the man’s a predator who abused his kind for much of their time. The boy, on the other hand, isn’t as innocent as he looks, for he was the one who eventually killed his father, the predator. They’re both, through the jaded lens of judgment, guilty of their crimes. A big part of our goddess’ realm is to give the opportunity for reformation. We judge daily and have done so for thousands of years. Witnesses are called, well, witnesses. Not everything is cut and dry, there are minute variables to be accounted for,” she shook her head gently, “-forgive me, I have a habit of going on and on.”

“And I have a habit of listening,” a humble silence settled, they walked further from the court and nearer to a massive construction, a hefty dome-shaped cathedral with gigantic pillars and walls. The arches were so steep, and presiding the edges were various figures from the long-forgotten history.

A single step inside overwhelmed the mind. The space, the dim lighting, and the shades of hues from the windows were majestic, and a sense of peace and comfort wrapped around the heart. Tharis’s life-scale status presided over the alter, ‘-she’s popular.’

“Lord Staxius, may I speak freely?”

“Go ahead.”

“You see, my lord, my lady can be pushy at times. She’s the representation of justice and law… her title was bestowed for the neutrality she has in front of others – it’s a doubled-edge curse for she’s never allowed to be biased. And that, the thought of forced abdication wounds my heart. I wish nothing more than for her to seek happiness. You’re the famed Adjudicator, the one who presides over the faith of existence, the number one enemy of the heavenly realm. Think of it as a warning from a concerned party. There will be harsh trials ahead. My lord, are you certain you’ve rejected thy humanity?”

“…”

“I mean no offense. You’re powerful, very much so. Power without purpose is nothing more than a sword without a wielder. Your strength, as presumptuous as it sounds, can only be used to the fullest by someone else. Please allow lady Tharis to be your wielder, my lord. She has ideals but not to means to enact her will. Legend speaks of our goddess as a beacon of light, a guide who shall lead the world into a new age. I dare say your fates are intertwined. Such is a simple truth – as harbingers of judgment, you must work as one.”

“Sugarcoating the deeper hassle is a great move and all, I’ll have to reserve my judgment. I asked Tharis for a week to deliberate her offer. As for her to come to Draebala in a week’s time, I will answer then. For now, I’d like to take my leave.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Ragno.”

“Understood,” she clapped, reality split – waves of energy attached to the portal’s edge and swayed, “-until next time, arch-priestess.”

The portal closed. Distant footsteps echoed. “-What did he say?”

“He will think about it,” she responded, “-are you sure you want him as your sword, lady Tharis? I thought you were allied to your little brother, Artanos.”

“Don’t utter that fool’s name in my presence,” a burst of energy shook the air, “-he was supposed to be my sword and I, his light. The boy had to go and get lost in the arcane knowledge of the Abyss. The world’s no longer a safe place, reality must be cleansed. Such the duty of the Goddess of Judgement.”