{ Chapter 4 } ← || → { ... }

Despite the throbbing in his head, Eclipse forced his feet forward, pushing on with grit teeth and spite.

Below him laid the star-filled clouds that began to blind him as though pleading for devotion, for his attention. His steps grew more uneven, his—although he wont admit it—desperate attempts to keep his line of sight proving futile as he knocked onto pillars and walls. He'd even nearly lose grip of his spear, so unfamiliar with the non-ax hilt.

Irritated, he jammed his spear onto the nearest, bright star, shaking—with anger. "This isnt where your followers lay," He'd snapped, pulling his weapon back with a struggle. "Leave me alone. I wont allow you to feast on my faith." He huffed, marching on with heavier steps.

His left hand sought his collarbone before pulling away, scowling in frustration that he took out on the nearest pillar. Yet the house remained intact, furthering his anger.

When the stars didnt lessen their glow, he ran.

How pathetic.

Its disgusting an immortal like him does such a move.

Hes a hunter, not the predator people paint him as, yet hes running like a prey. And prey run until they have nowhere to go.

He'd scrape his soles against the ground as he reached a storm, the sun setting behind him.

Swirling a few feet from him, darkening the sky as it grew closer to its center, laid the worsening tempest. Despite its new state, the thunder and its lightning was unmistakable, the thunderbolts zapping around blindly to search for a victim. Rumor has it that the bolts above the clouds could paralyze you had you get too close.

Which is what Eclipse dared to attempt with an unstable breath.

The only good thing about being the Face was the blessings he'd received—at least, he assume he's already received them, so he might as well test Lunar's out first.

As he drew near, his feet began to sink into the clouds, feeling the damp surface. The middle emitted strong wind, ruffling his clothes and pulling him in little by little. The lightning continued to move about, but it merely brushed against his feet before striking someplace else.

He didnt bother to appreciate the benefit for long, rightfully assuming Lunar had added a drawback of sorts. Taking a step back, he dove into the tornado where the wind began to whistle loudly the closer he got to the storm's eye.

He didnt brace himself, yet he didn't get swept by it either.

...

Its quiet when he lands.

Not a croak or moan—not even a whisper of the wind. It was as though Molten strangled every last sound with his wires. Or maybe he'd lost his hearing temporarily. He takes a muted step, his foot tingling at the sensation before he forces his other forward, a shiver running up his spine as his leg felt like it froze over. Dammit.

Having been swept by the wind, he was placed in the center of a pillaged town. At least, he assumed he was in the center. Towns under the Celessia rule often had churches as their town center, and he could only guess the rubble in front of him was once a chapel. And if he wasnt mistaken, he was the reason why these homes were in ruin, bloodier than his own eyes as the streets proved.

Around him, the remains of the people and their houses were scattered about. Those that held onto life in hopes of grace turned cold at the sight of him—the Man Who Reigns whose four eyes fixed on them, watching as they forget to breathe under his gaze.

But he paid no further attention to them. And they hadnt taken another breath.

He planted his feet unsteadily, his chest continuing to heave as he tried to keep a stable pace. His surroundings didnt make it clear where he was headed—his surroundings werent clear at all—but he continued onwards in spite.

The wind teased his healed wound, brushing against his back like a curious hand. He snarled behind his teeth, frustrated at the comforting effort of the breeze. 'This is Lunar', he convinced himself, 'fucking with me.'

"Ofhp!" Exclaimed a small voice, pulling their face away from Eclipse's leg before staring up at him with big yet empty, blue eyes. When had this idiot child ran into him?

Eclipse placed a finger to the kid's forehead and pushed him away. "Scram, brat," he pulled his hand back, placing it on his hip. He moved his spear under the kid's chin and tapped his neck in a nearly scolding pattern. "You arent important—"

Before he knew it, his face made contact with the dirt before small, dirty feet ran across his back, sending a painful shock as his scar was recklessly stepped on. Stablizing himself with his elbows, his eye twitched at the sight of an older child—the damn child who kicked him at the back of his knees.

The older one stuck his tongue out, shielding the younger with his cloak. They glared at Eclipse while the other hid. "Dont you touch my brother—"

"Why you little.."

"–you piece of shit!"

Eclipse's eyebrows shot up, surprised at the choice of words. "Now you listen here," Curse the gods, he sounded like Solar. Dusting himself off as he stood, he returned the child's glare. "Kick me again, and I'll throw you across this ruin."

The child didnt seem to care, that look on their face told they were daring to kick Eclipse with more strength. Eclipse had to hand it to them, they seemed foolishly determined.

And skinny.

Both kids were.

Eclipse knew not much of his own species not even their name, but he did know the extent of their endoskeleton—as his own was exposed—and he could tell the sheets of metal were dangerously close to pressing onto the structure. Had it not been for their natural weight, perhaps the two wouldve been swept by the approaching storm's wind by now.

But these kids werent his problem, werent his responsibility in the slightest. And they seemed to know that, too, as they began to walk away in assumption that Eclipse wasnt much of a threat.

Unless...

"Come with me." Eclipse called out, nearly a command.

The older child scoffed, ushering the younger child forward. "Im not doing that."

"Both of you."

The younger child pauses and peeks from the older's cloak, but they were quickly hidden again just as the light rain poured in. The older one pulled the other close, frozen in their path. "Why?" They cautiously drew out, eyebrows furrowed.

Eclipse didnt bother explain. After all, who was he to be sure these were the children destined of the world's destruction? They were mere incapable, runts who likely didnt even know how to read their own name.

With a roll of his eyes, he turned sharply on his heel and headed out of town—if this still even qualifies as one—and to someplace within the setting sun's direction. And to his surprise, he heard hurried footsteps behind him, a pair wary not to stand beside him just yet.

"Youre here." Eclipse states, turning his head to the side yet his eyes never met with theirs.

The older one grumbled, while the younger remained silent.

"You have nowhere to go, dont you?" Eclipse continues, facing the fading light. "So coming with a guy that can kill you had you so even be an inconvenience is your best option." A clear, almost usual, sneering came from him. "I can still toss you far from where you stand, kid."

"You can try, Eclipse."

Eclipse kept himself going, but he rose an eyebrow as his head turned slightly, eyes to the ground before back to the sun.

He didnt dwell on it since who wasnt aware of his name? Hes fortunate enough to never need to introduce himself with his reign.

The rain began to grow heavy, forcing the two kids to walk by Eclipse's side for warmth as, for some odd reason, the rain was kinder to him. The storm hailed behind while a drizzle laid ahead.

That didnt stop the younger one from sneezing, clinging onto the older more tightly. Through pink cheeks and runny nose, he spoke in a small voice. "Sun..."

"Sunny!" The older one gasped, their tone almost scolding—and panicked. "Y-you dont—"

"So what," Eclipse scoffed, looking over his shoulder. "Youre Moon?" They didnt respond, making Eclipse choke on his laughter for an unbearable minute. "So you are..." He snickered. "Fuck, arent you a creative lot..."

Moon, the rabid older child, retaliated by pushing Eclipse's leg with all their strength to cause him to stumble forward. Regaining his composure, Eclipse shoves Moon to the side, nearly sending them crashing down on Sun had they not caught themselves.

Sat atop the chapel's rubble, a figure holding hourglasses placed one down on his lap to bang his fist against his chest twice—a gesture the god of luck himself hasnt been caught doing in centuries. Ruinus Eira could only sigh as the argument between Moon and Eclipse were clear with their gesturing alone.

(I havent exactly written the scene, but it would go like this):

..." Time maker, holder, make past of one true in a flash of cold tinted blue." Lunar casts a spell suddenly, the god on his limit of patience.

"Lunar." Solar warns, but it was far too late by now—the spell was finished.

Looking down at the large pillar-like stadium Eclipse stood on, there formed four cloud figures; one of a female and the rest small children. The figures are paused for a moment as they take on subtle human features before they come to life, their eyes immediately on Eclipse.

Eclipse tenses in his place, straightening as he focuses on maintaining an unbothered attitude as the figures approach him. His fingers dig into his pants, holding back tears as he lets out a shaky exhale.

"Mi." Eclipse couldnt help but whisper, a tone so longing for the love he lost.

He fought the urge to crouch down to meet the hands of the cloud version of his wife, Miku. This made her hands hang just by his neck where his face should have been.

Gods, please let this memory end.

After all, Eclipse knows every single memory with them by heart.

Miku leans in, her lips meeting his neck just barely rather than his own before she leans back, a smile on her face. He hasnt seen her face in centuries—not even his own kids', so he audibly choked back a sob as tears slowly formed in his eyes, shocking the crowd that surrounded him high up in their seats.

"Welcome home." Miku's cloud version says, her voice exactly like it was before.

Andrew's version stood beside him, his head turned away as he sticks out his tongue. "Ew!!"

Andy's version follows suit of his older brother. "Mom, dad! Gross!!"

Their middle child's version, Jake, was on the side, looking up at his parents in a bit of confusion. He was the only one of their adopted kids that didnt really understand romance as much as the other two did.

The cloud figures of his family continue to speak and move, reenacting the scene as Eclipse recites all their movements in a soft mutter, even remembering what he said and when he did so.

"Man of war..." Earth's voice is slow and sympathetic as she stands from her seat, walking forward to the end of her higher pillar. "..you have a family?"

"Had." Eclipse corrected, his voice shaky as a tear drips down.

Solar's eyes stay on the scene below him, his fingers intertwined on his lap. His halo glows bright as it circles his head in its divine light.

"No man's family is truely gone," Solar starts, his voice having sincerity and... empathy. "until they have disowned him themselves."

Eclipse's eyes narrow, his mouth pressing into a thin line, and his eyes are unable to leave the scene in front of him—how they used to be complete and loving before the incident.

Solar lets out a sigh. "Eclipse, you are still a father and husband."

{ Chapter 1 } ← || → { Chapter 3 }

Eclipse is tossed into the trial room, left alone on his personal pillar and hes forced to endure the thousand of hateful glares being thrown at him from all directions.

He shakes his head and blinks his eyes rapidly, trying to adjust to the bright light shining down on him as he takes in the sight of the trial room—could it even be called a trial room when it was just an old arena being reused?

Its pillars and seats towered so high that it felt like it reached the sky, though the sky itself was what made up the floor below him. The flooring was a bright blue and white clearing, the clouds causing a fog that made everything blur, and Eclipse sighed as he did quite adore the uniqueness of the structure but hated that it was the work of the very god he despises.

A low disdainful growl came from one of the three higher pillars in front of him to the far left, the very voice of Lunar, the god of Punishment and Karma himself. They were on a mutual hatred with each other. That wasnt any surprise.

Eclipse would love to make some cocky comment of sorts towards Lunar, but the blinding light to the far right kept his mouth shut.

He sucks his teeth as he forces his left pair to adjust to the glow, slowly recognizing that it was not the sun but a halo of one of the other gods; Solar, the god of Rage and Judgement, whose face was covered in shadows though his harsh red eyes remained visible.

The halo's gleam subsided as the god of Justice and Balance, Earth, raises her hand and closes it into a fist, making the glow bearable.

She stood from her seat and walks to the edge of her pillar, her arms spread widely as though to welcome him, but her expression remained serious and cold.

"Total Eclipse 'Totality' Celestial." Her voice echoes from where she stands, the subtle white rings that were her eyes visible under the soft shadow over them. "Your arrival has been expected eons ago. We are glad to have you finally where you belong."

"How welcoming." Eclipse rolls his eyes, rubbing his chained wrists together to try ease the pain though it did nothing but enchance it.

Lunar slams his fist down on his seat's arm, cracking the delicate gold as it slowly patches itself up. "Have some respect, would you?"

Earth eyes Lunar as she clasps her hands together. "Lunar, ease."

"Why should I?" Lunar snarls at his fellow god, his nails digging into the golden chair once more. "If he wishes for a gentle trial, he shall be respectful to us."

Earth's eyebrows furrow but she sighs as she raises her head high, her gaze turning back to Eclipse. "Are you ready for your trial to begin, immortal one?"

Eclipse opens his mouth but clenches his jaw tightly immediately as he swallows down a sarcastic comment. Lunar was right—partially, though. Eclipse is willing to show some respect, just not to Lunar because of many reasons that he can arrange in alphabetical order.

His eyes lock with Earth's, going narrow as he glances at Solar before looking away.

He sighs and nods. "Yeah, Im ready."

"Splendid." Earth claps her hand and a closed scroll appears in front of her.

The scroll unfolds when Lunar causes a rough wind, sending the other end of the scroll near Eclipse and resting a few inches behind him. The crowd gasps before murmuring amongst themselves upon seeing how long the scroll was—the distance between the judges and the judged is about a few feet with the addition of the huge height difference of their pillars, so knowing Eclipse had that much of a long scroll was horrifying just as it was intriguing.

Earth hums. "Quite the asexual, arent you?" She smiles, halfly genuine at the fact. She clears her throat. "Now, immortal one, what must you say for yourself before we criticize of you?"

Eclipse scoffs. "Apologies..." he tries to act serious but he snorts before he has a full-blown laughter, his sharp rays spinning in amusment. "..I did not prepare a speech of pleading beforehand—not that I planned to plead anyway. Though, uh, what I plan to say?"

He clicks his tongue as he hums in thought. "I dont regret shit." He grins, showing off his canine teeth as he looks through his eyebrows and at the gods—to Lunar specifically who snarled at him.

The audiences burst into 'boo's and cursing—if they had anything with them, they definitely would've thrown it towards Eclipse, aiming to maim him. Eclipse may have hated the screaming as it begun to overwhelm, but he gritted his teeth as he kept smiling, not daring to look weak.

The crowd suddenly silences in a flash as a red hue is taken from their heads and they plop down onto their seats in a calmer state. Eclipse's eyes follow the direction of the hues, and he sees them magnet towards Solar; the god's hand was raised high, and he held what seemed to be an orb forming out of the anger he took out of the people's head. Solar didnt seem bothered as, despite his domain of rage, he is the calmest one out of the three judges before Eclipse.

Solar lowers his fist and molds the gathered anger into a spear that is bright red in color all over with a faint glow. He tosses it towards Eclipse and it clangs in front of him, and the god gestures for the immortal to take it. Though Eclipse is hesitant to do so, he nods his head in slight courtesy before he slides his foot under the spear and made it fly up, his knee bracing to keep it bouncing until he caught it in one swift motion.

This spear was far unique from any other weapon Eclipse has ever gotten his hands on. May it be the otherworldly glow or the godly aura the spear gave out, but it was just different—so light in his grasp but it held such strength Eclipse was willing to test out, but he had to wait until this trial was over... if he was ever even spared, that was, and Lunar's disgusted gaze made it clear that his chances of getting away with his crimes were lower than the pits of the River of Quietus itself.

"Solar—!" Lunar hisses at his fellow god, but he, too, had the same treatment as the audience as he leans into his seat in a quieter state of mind.

Solar makes Lunar's rage swirl around the spear before connecting it within the sharp tip, a blueish color infecting it before disappearing in the bloody shade. "We must not let our personal feelings interfere with the trial." Solar states as he looks over at Earth and gestures for her to continue.

"Why thank you, our Solar." Earth smiles at him before looking back at Eclipse. "Let us speak now that everything is settled, immortal one."

Eclipse rose an eyebrow. "Wait, 'speak'? Isnt this just a 'read, judge and sentence'?"

Earth laughs, her tone so sweet yet taunting as Eclipse is reminded of someone he once knew—someone he swore he felt hugging him at this very moment, but he brushed it off as nothing but the cold air.

"It should have been, yes." Earth nods. "But I am afraid we hadn't read through every offense in detail. I will merely summarize for my brothers, and then we will decide."

→ { Chapter 2 }

Eclipse was slumped on the bench of his cold cell, four rose-colored eyes looking downward into the cracked ground. After hours of trying to remove the golden chains that circled his wrists, he gave up and sat in defeated silence—his heavy breathing being the only thing that tore the deafening sound.

He moved his gaze towards his hand then to his arm, seeing the display of several cuts etched into his dark skin. He hasn't even processed the explosion that landed on his other arm, making every wind blow a wave of pain all over his body, and that scar affected his right eyes, too, making it hard to keep them open under the blinding light of the cell.

He may have been a legend, but still just some immortal nontheless.

A legendary immortal with centuries worth of bloodshed he alone unleashed on the skies and the seas, not caring who died because of his actions... But that was a routine he grew weary of.

So when the gods demanded for his arrest, he surrended himself quietly as he's roughly escorted into the godly realm. No useless cursing escaped his mouth just as no defiant attacks were launced at the warriors. The only 'scene' he had caused was a desperate attempt to ease the pressure that burned his wrists like hot coals.

His head fell backwards, hitting the wall with a muted thud. Though the chill of the cell collided with the blazing heat affecting his wrists, he found a way to relax by steading his sluggish breathing—no wonder he felt as though someone was choking him.

...

Silence.

It was silent, but only for a moment. The next moment, the sounds of heavy footsteps echoed off the stone walls, making Eclipse groan in irritation. Just as he found peace, some pathetic low-life had to ruin it all.

Why couldn't peaceful moments just last longer? And why can't those longer be forever?

Eclipse hisses as a sharp and cold metal slides between the chain and his neck, hooking onto it before hes pulled to his feet in an instant. His fingers scratched at the golden chains around his wrists, ignoring the sorching heat it brought to his claws.

"Got a nicer way to greet me?" Eclipse snarls as he rises to his full height, towering over the guard in an instant.

The guard's eyes narrow behind his helmet. "You've brought destruction everywhere you went." He nudges his spear closer to him, forcing Eclipse to do the same thing in a stumble. "Now, dont you keep the gods waiting any longer."

Eclipse rolls his eyes, making him wince slightly due to the new scar on his right pair. "Why should I care about how long theyve waited? Oh, how irritated they must be with their patience running out." He mocks. "Mind you, they made mine run out long ago—with all those pathetic excuses of theirs."

"Silence." The guard barks out the order though it brought nothing but another eyeroll from the prisoner. "Move along."

With another tug, Eclipse stumbles out the cell, spear still pressed harshly on his skin and hes forced to walk like this until he reaches the trial room.

{ Chapter 2 } ← || → { Chapter 4 }

Eclipse watched anxiously from his pillar as he paced around, his feet shifting in an uneven rhythm on the smooth surface as the godly trio discuss his inevitable fate on Earth's pillar in hushed tones.

Both brothers listen to their older sister's words with great interest, occasionally interrupting to give their thoughts on the matter or inquire some information... Well, Lunar did. Solar, however, stuck out like a sore thumb in the discussion; he didnt huddle close to them but remained near, and his mouth was pressed into a thin line as he seldom nods at the opinions given. His expression was unreadable though softer when his gaze went to Eclipse.

Confused and frustrated thoughts filled Eclipse's head, flooding his already clouded mind as it silenced out the outside noises. What was Solar's problem? Eclipse already had a mutual disdain with Lunar, he didnt need another god to add onto his headache.

He wanted to interject—to give into his urge to lash out at them and to let out a tirade of his built-up stress, but he bit his tongue and swallowed his words, instead choosing to continue to relentlessly pace around his pillar. The spear given to him twisted and turned between his fingers in a fast motion, determined to distract himself from the minutes that felt like hours.

Just what was so important?

He's killed a few thousand people; destroyed cities to kingdoms, so shouldn't that be enough to immediately send him far into the pits of—

Eclipse freezes in place when he feels the weight of the gods's eyes on him. Turning to look, hes met with the oddly calm stares from them, and thats all he needed to know—the clock had finally striked, and muted sigh of relief escaped him knowing he'd finally be free; he'd grown his wings and he'd use them to dive down straight into whatever punishment they gave him.

He hadnt even registered what Earth said to Lunar until Lunar's wings emerged from beneath his cloak to soar himself center stage—oh, the dramatic flair. Eclipse could not care less as he rolls his eyes at the display, an odd excitement rushing through him as Lunar begins to give his verdict.

Lunar raises his hands high and above his hand, clasping them before he parts them in a flash, three visions materialized floating above his limbs, all ranked in their intensity of cruelty with the highest just above Lunar's head.

As he raised his left arm, the vision there descended into his hand and his fingers curled around it gently. "The Ocean of Regret." He announces as the vision shows off the thousands of people trapped within it, all submerged in the ocean of their very tears. "Youll be given a newfound perspective as youre forced to relive every second of your chaos, showing you all that youve done wrong."

The second vision followed suit as he lifted his other arm. "The Sea of Despair." The vision is foggy though many can make out the people in seperate boats, all lost and slowly sinking. "Like the first, but you will be in the places of those who youve killed—watching through their eyes and feeling with their very skin; you will relive their final moments. Every last one of them."

Though Lunar tried to, a hint of amusement gleamed behind his eyes and a ghost smile twitched on his lips as he lets go of both visions to cradle the one above his head. Eclipse lets out a slow exhale at this—relieved.

"The River of Quietus." Lunar's booming voice brought a cold air, sending shivers down the audience's spine, even Eclipse's. "We all know what will happen."

Earth hummed in acknowledgement at Lunar's assessment, though Solar remained silent as though waiting for something. Snapping her fingers, both Lunar and Solar retreat back to their own pillars, and Earth analyzes Eclipse's reaction to his possibly fates.

Eclipse's expression is highly guarded, though Earth catches his lips parting to exhale—the most comforted they've ever seen anyone been upon hearing their inevitable punishment.

"Oh, sweet Rose Eyes..." Earth comments with a soft smile. She clears her throat, focusing on returning to her professional behavior as she begins. "One of those three fates will be yours to face for the rest of eternity..." she would trail off as Solar raises his hand, asking for permission to intervene.

Earth gestures for Solar to speak, and he does so, his gaze focused on Eclipse who looked at him warily, almost disappointed. "This is our hundredth trial," Solar announces, his gaze never wavering. "And the prophecy states of what may occur if we were to ignore it."

The room goes silent, a shiver running down everyone's spines. Eclipse, however, looked around in confusion much to Earth's amusement.

"Oh, yes." Earth's eyes lock onto Eclipse's form on the pillar, her smile widening nearly uncanny. "I knew I had forgotten something."

"And we apply it to him of all judged?" Lunar's wings spread wide as he launched himself to his Solar's pillar, his wings beating fiercely to tower over his older brother. "Has the twins driven you to insanity?"

Before the confrontation got any worse, Earth raised her hand and her brothers settle in an instant, although Lunar did need to be glared at in order for him to return to his pillar, reluctant. She nods as everything eases—mostly everything as the tension had only intensified.

"Im.. not in the loop..." Eclipse admits, his hold on the spear tightening. "What prophecy?"

"Rose Eyes, you really dont know?" Earth would chuckle at Eclipse's confusion, a line between mocking and a friendly gesture. "Ah, but I do suppose you've been too busy with your reign for eons that you must not have known. Our Lunar, if you may?"

Lunar's head snaps towards Earth in disbelief but he obeys nontheless. Sighing, he summarizes the prophecy as best as he could. "Two children are said to be the very cause of the gods destruction and humanity as a whole."

He spreads his wings, showing off the godly letters engraved on it—possibly the prophecy itself. "Killcode's clock has striked long ago about our fate, and, as Solar has mentioned, on the hundreth trial is where we will find..." He eyes Eclipse in disgusted confusion, sighing heavy. "..the face of the prophecy."

"What?" Eclipse took a step forward, his tone demanding for an answer. "Tell me, what is it that youre trying to say?"

"You are the face." Solar's closer voice jolts Eclipse who had not noticed the god had teleported to his pillar. Solar's gaze goes to his siblings who stood high on the pillars, his eyes narrowing. "To be as clear as our hourglasses, I will not tolerate Eclipse simply being punished. Our Lunar, my dearest younger, why have you glossed over the prophecy? It was you who was told to keep it, and you did no such thing."

"My eldest, please," Lunar rolled his eyes, scoffing. "It is not my fault its unbelievable Eclipse is the face of such a prophecy like this. Our lives are at the line, and we entrust it... to him? Full offense, mind you."

Eclipse raises his hands for a brief second, not minding the insult. "I hate to say it, but I agree with Lunar. Its unbelievable that Im chosen."

Lunar gestures towards Eclipse at Solar, quietly saying that hes correct the moment Eclipse agrees with him. Earth merely laughs at the display while Solar sighs in disappointment, frowning that Earth was leaving this all to him.

"Even then," Solar lowers his halo, replacing it with his formerly retracted rays similar to Eclipse's. His expression was stern yet just as soft as a father's were. "You should have mentioned it. Had I not been so anxious, maybe we would've let our only chance slip away."

Lunar grumbles in his spot, his wings enveloping himself defensively. "I just... I dont believe its him. Are you certain you did not miscount?"

Solar shakes his head. "No, I had not." He turns to Eclipse, his gaze softer. "The Face of the Prophecy, the Man who Reigns... Embodiment of Terror and Bloodshed, The Twins Favorite..."

As Solar drew close, all Eclipse saw was himself—altered, yes, but the god who stood before him was more similar to him in ways he'd never admit. This resemblance, this reflection was worth hating; to know there was someone like him who is living a better life.

Eclipse's jaw clenches tight at the thought, only snapping out of it when Solar breaks the chain that held the golden cuffs together. His wrists, now able to part from each other, are less sore and even more so when he takes the time to massage them, his gifted spear swapping from hand to hand as he refuses to let it go.

Too focused on his pain, Eclipse did not notice another short talk between Lunar and Earth until Earth's voice echoes thoughtout the area.

"It is settled then." She accepts a long feather from Lunar, its appearance changing to a short scroll. Quietly checking for confirmation, she returns it after she's satisfied and she holds her head high. "I, god of Justice and Balance; our Solar, god of Rage and Judgment; our Lunar, god of Punishment and Karma... We bestow you, Total Eclipse 'Totality' Celestial, the prophecy of our demise and Killcode's favor for your punishment."

Her smile softens, though the weight of it remains. "May the clock start again."

The crowd erupts in roars of cheers, a few 'boo's here and there, but that did not waver the responsibility given to Eclipse as his punishment.

{ Chapter 3 } ← || → { Chapter 5 }

Admittedly, Lunar owned a beautiful homestead where the meteorites were got caught in the atmosphere. Those who lived there were temporarily enclosed in their homes as a safety measure now that Eclipse has arrived. This then made clear how the scattered houses had their pillars etched with godly protection, walls illustrated with paintings older than Eclipse himself, and the ground was a clouded blur of cold hues with stars.

Eclipse's steps grew heavier, his feet purposely hitting the brighter stars below him until he was met with what laid center of it all: a palace. Its walls held themselves proud and high while its towers were decorated with patterns, and surrounding it was a lake filled to the brim with golden ichor. Gorgeous, really. Its unfortunate Eclipse has to be on par with a god who represents architecture itself. There were guards lined up in the front, and along were cloud servants who all held baskets in the middle of the small founded army, and Eclipse could tell how forced the smiles they displayed were. Nobody would be happy to see him; thats no surprise.

Lunar's cold hand suddenly rests on Eclipse's back, and the immortal could feel a thin ice spreading on his metal's surface, making him unnaturally shiver at the contact. He gasps, the ice thickening and growing colder, enough to make his knees shake as he grit his teeth.

Was Lunar gonna kill him?

So Eclipse was right—suspecting Lunar would be the one to end his reign, but did he have to die in front of people?

However, it proved to be wishful thinking. The ice rather melted when Lunar let go of him, carelessly shoving the immortal forward with a flap of his wing. Eclipse was quick to catch himself, and that was when he noticed the unfamiliar eased state of his back. Confused, he reaches for where his scar would've been—

Lunar was quick to slap Eclipse's hand. "Dont, Rose." He warned. "You'll mess up my healing."

Eclipse looks over at Lunar, initially shocked before a grin takes over his face. "What," he snickers. "Did Earth not let you down on what you did to me earlier?"

Lunar sighs. "To carry some unfortunate, she had not. The Eldest pestered me about it till I gave in." He narrows his eyes at Eclipse. "So do me a favor and dont touch it just yet."

Eclipse shrugs. "Fine, Lumere Qil."

"Do not call me that." Lunar knocks his shoulder with Eclipse's as he moves forward, wings tucking themselves under the cloak and disappearing. "I am defying my domain as of now, so I will refer to no such truth until then."

"Then I wont."

With that, Lunar "escorted" Eclipse into his palace, coldly welcoming the immortal inside. Although, even when they only made it to the main hall, the god quickly left Eclipse to his hesitating servants—was it some errand from Earth or natural duties, Lunar gave orders for them to care for Eclipse in his absence.

However, when they turned to assist Eclipse, he was nowhere to be seen. They scatter, running around like headless chickens as they searched for the immortal, yelling his name with a more accusing than concerned tone.

Eclipse would hold his laughter at the panicking personnel below him, purposely dangling one leg off the ceiling pillar to see how long till theyd notice him from this great height. It was fascinating... until his rage suddenly boils, tainting his vision red before he forced himself to keep calm. He was annoyed enough he didnt even regard Solar who stood on the pillar behind him.

"Bloodied Rose," The god would sigh. "You must allow them to assist you." Swiftly, he lands on Eclipse's left, his hands folded behind his back. His halo lowered to outline his head, showcasing his soft stare. "A gift from the gods will not be enough—"

Eclipse snorts, a laughter roaring out of him—a servant just below fled in horror. "You call this—" he summons the spear and drops it. Just as suddenly as his let go, it harshly returns to his palm which was enough for him to nearly fall off himself. "—a 'gift'?! This is a cursed object!"

"It following you does not make it cursed."

"As youd say! Youre the god here, not some..." Eclipse clenches his jaw tight before scoffing. He begins to drop the spear repeatedly, each time watching it float back to his open hand. "..immortal."

Solar carefully sits down beside Eclipse, his rays replacing his halo once more. Softer, he speaks. "A child who has lost their parent is an orphan, but a parent who has lost their child will hold that title until they die."

".."Author's Rage", Page 3.4 of Chapter 7." Eclipse mutters, bothered that it was engraved in his mind. "What of that?"

"The kids."

"And what of them?"

Solar places his hand on Eclipse's shoulder—Eclipse's jolt not being recognized. "What of them is their need of you, Bloodied Rose." He pauses, struggling to find his next words for a moment. "When... Jack disappeared, I was devastated for decades on end. Thats when I knew Jack felt the same; being gone from my embrace, no one to tell him it'll be fine... Imagine what they feel."

Silence envelopes them, squeezing every bit of their pride away in its suffocating nature. But Eclipse's proved to be bigger, or maybe it never even went away.

"Tsk!" Eclipse slaps the god's hand away, abruptly standing. One of his lower hands tighten around the spear. "And you defy your domain for that? Pathetic."

Solar's eyes narrow. "You act like you and I are different."

"BECAUSE WE ARE!" Eclipse snaps, the spear glowing brighter the tighter his hold got.

He shakes, recognizing as his own doing and not Solar's. He swallows down his insults. "..I am..." He huffs. "Leaving. Im sick of you gods and the pathetic speeches you give out."

In more of a hurry than earlier, he leaps from the pillar and drags his spear down the marble wall for a safer landing. Lunar'll be pissed, no doubt.

Solar raises his fist, banging his chest twice to ward off any misfortune while Eclipse pushes the doors wide open. Eclipse is, after all, the first face to be aggressive and ill-mannered; no doubt Ruin would hate him.