Chapter 3: Enemies of Olympus

I broke through some kind of plain and landed hard on the ground. "What the hell?" I said out loud.

I looked around at the landscape before me. It was eerily dull and lacked natural color. There were hills of greenish texture that rose high above where I stood. I need to get atop one of those hills and look around. I walked at a reasonable pace, I realized that my steps were not affecting the ground beneath me, as though I wasn't really here. I climbed my way up the hillside. This place seemed daunting and the lack of sound around me cast some sort of void. I looked around from the hilltop. I saw very little, which was of no surprise. There was a river that ran a few miles away from this hilltop, and just beyond that, a structure of some sort. I knew where I needed to go. I slid down the hillside and began my march towards the river. As long as I made it there, I know I am on the right path, or so it seems. I started running now, unsure of how much time I really had in this vision. I noticed when I was running I didn't grow tired. There was no body here for me to tire, I believe I was here in spirit. I continued at a face pace and before I need it, I stumbled upon this river. It was a clear flowing river, with these white translucent creatures floating amongst its waves. I found out quickly that I could simply walk over the water. I saw the structure more clearly now. It was some sort of abandoned castle.

I arrived at its main gates and peered around the corner, yet nothing was there to see nor hide from. I walked across its open courtyard to the front doors and phased through them. "I could definitely get used to this," I said laughing in astonishment.

"Well, when you die and move on, maybe you will." a voice whispered to me.

"Who's there?!" I shouted into the empty room. It was pitch black and all I could see was a door on the second floor with light peering underneath. I felt my way across the room and to the stairs and began slowly floating up, mimicking steps on my way up. I reached the door and phased through once again. I am now in a hallway, I see a very large hooded person at the other end. They were whispering to themselves. "Who is this mad man? Who is the king of this barren wasteland?" I asked out loud.

"That's Hades. So I have gathered, myself." The mysterious voice called back

"Can you just tell me who or what you are?" I asked.

"That is not something I can do for you. Not yet at least. Let us continue?" The mysterious voice said in a gesturing tone.

I went along with it. I listened as this man named Hades continued whispering to himself and then jumped to his feet very quickly when the battered old door swung open. He stepped inside. I followed to the other side and was met with the wall. "Why can't I phase through this?!" I asked.

"It has some kind of enchantment on it, somewhat sophisticated, but nothing I can't handle myself."

"Umm, ok. Thanks?" I said unsure who was helping me.

"There, it should be good enough to get through." It said.

I nodded and phased through with no issues. This was a massive cathedral, with four thrones sitting in the center on the other side of the room. Three seats were taken and only two of them had hooded figures in them. The large hooded figure that entered the room kneeled before the thrones. They were speaking to each other, and I was just out of earshot. I hurried over to hear what was going on.

"Hades. Have you acquired the beast of Jotunheim?" The hooded figure seated to the far right questioned.

"Yes. Death decided to stay put, he said he had a very important task with the chamber." Hades replied.

"Death. Always so curious about what the strings attached really mean. He thinks we can escape our fates, unfortunately they are already sealed." The hooded figure spoke deeply, he sat in the chair that was seated most center. "Hades, speak now. Are you ready to take up the mantle?"

"More ready than I will ever know. Please grant me power." He spoke, I could tell he was trying to hide the eager smile.

The center seated hooded figure rose and walked behind the throne and pulled out some kind of metal stick with a big circular end on it.

"This is a very empowering moment for Hades. He's about to be granted the strength of a horseman. Which you will later find to have some side effects." The mysterious voice spoke to me again.

"A horseman? What is that exactly?" I asked, but was not granted a response.

The center hooded figure spoke, "I, Horseman of War, son of the slayer of Titans, in the presence of the Horseman of Pestilence, grant the Hades, the power of a horseman. Finalizing our true powers, the horsemen of four, the horsemen of the apocalypse." War's metal branding stick lit to a flame as he walked towards Hades. Hades removed his cloak and revealed a scarred bare back. He turned away from war and stared directly towards me, as though he was looking straight into my soul. War had pressed the burning hot metal into Hades back. Hades screamed out in agony, the pain could be felt throughout the room. Hades fell to his knees, eyes now staring down into the cobblestone floor. Pestilence rose from his throne and spoke.

"Join us brother, for we will be the bringers of damnation."

Hades rose, his eyes were glowing a grayish color. He donned his cloak once more and before he sat and took his throne on the far left, he was given one last honor.

"You are no longer Hades, guard and ruler of the Underworld. You have been granted, Horseman of Famine. You have been starved of souls, and true power. Take your seat and and await further orders." War spoke once again.

"Wait. Son of the slayer of Titans? That doesn't make any damn sense. He's lying about his title." I spoke to the mysterious voice, hoping for some kind of clarification, but there was none.

"Pestilence, Zeus has requested you in the Citadel. Tomorrow, Xander faces one of our trialed beasts in the arena. We will see if he truly is the prince of Nibiru. Hades, take the findings the mark of the beast sends back and augment our new pet. The time to rise past this galaxy and further our legacy begins soon." War spoke with authority. He was definitely the ring leader of this little group.

I didn't know how to process any of this. What was this War speaking of when he said son of the Titan slayer?

"There is much for you to learn in these visions. I think it's time I took you far from here and showed you some truth." The mysterious voice had returned.

War took to his throne yet again. Hades, or should I say, Famine, had made his way to the other end of the cathedral and exited the room. Pestilence walked with a hurried pace toward the same door and exited.

"It is a shame isn't it? That you would see this too late." War spoke to the open room. "You were given the power to spy on us. Yet, you will find no strength here to stop us." He looked directly at me. "Yes, I see you. The others haven't been fed enough power to see through the veil quite yet. I am impressed that you managed to get through those enchantments."

"To be honest, I just find it a little interesting you claim a falsehood." I spoke.

War let out a laugh that boomed over the high ceiling of the cathedral.

"I will be honest, Zeus, or should I say father, will be displeased with me revealing quite too much to you. Calling your true name, or letting you in on the family secret. But I tire of this cathedral and hiding in the shadows. It is time my horsemen and I rise into the open and claim what is ours." War spoke giving his words some honor.

"What do you mean, family secret?" I asked.

"I told him that letting you into the pool of visions was a mistake. It left us vulnerable and gives you the opportunity to see. When I had visited the pool, I had quite the adventure. It showed me our greatest foe. Nibiru. But hey, I already said too much. So I am gonna cut this short and get on with my fate." War spoke as he walked closer to me he drew his sword from his cloak. "It's quite disgusting though, having some vermin from another galaxy be fooled into stealing my name. You are no Hercules. You are just a pawn." He dove his sword into my chest. The pain rushed through me, as though my spirit was being sawed in half.

"Don't worry, I got you." The mysterious voice whispered in my ear.

I felt a tug at my body and then I was gone. I was no longer in the cathedral with War. I was now free falling through the stars. Weirdly enough, these stars glowed a little different. Something felt really different. I felt as though a piece of me had been restored. I was falling for a few moments when all of a sudden a tear in space, like fabric being cut, opened before me. I peered through and saw a beautiful planet with a light reddish glow. I fell through the opening and started falling even faster. As I neared the planets surface I noticed I was in the middle of a city. I landed on my feet, still not feeling the ground beneath me. I peered around. Beautiful building rose and lined the streets. People were laughing and playing in the streets. There was a similar market style of trading happening just beyond the street I was on. I peered to the sky and noticed rows upon rows of objects floating in different directions. They seemed to circle the planet. I looked toward the sun in the sky, but something felt a little off about it. It was no real sun, it was simply a ball of light that gave vision to these people.

"Go up the street, and make your way to the high temple. The sword affected your trajectory and I wasn't able to get you to me exactly." The voice said, much more clearly now.

I followed the busy streets. Apparently the people here couldn't see me in this vision form either. I phased through many people and buildings. I passed through a meat vendors shop with various unknown meats, animal shelter with very exotic animals I had never seen before, and even a bakery. Oh how I would love to smell the rich freshly baked bread in the market place of the Citadel once more. As I drew near the high temple, I noticed a more delicately designed training grounds. Presumably soldiers, training with wooden swords, slashing at target dummies, rolling side to side and performing maneuvers as a team. I reached the steps of what I presumed was the high temple. They rose high and the large temple had giant columns lining the entrance. I once again mimicked stepping up and gracefully floating until I made it to the top. I phased through the doors and there stood an alter. But something was pulling at me to follow the corridor behind the alter. I did so.

As I entered the corridor, it had no windows but torches lit the way. I found a giant stone door and phased through. The room was gorgeous. Many things stood on display around the room, a pool was in the center and a man stood on the opposite side, peering out a window. Some of the collected items I could see were fascinating. A claw, that was very similar to the beast that I had slain in the arena with a plaque underneath 'Agor'rathian'. A golden eyepatch with a plaque next to it claiming it was from the years 2243-2300 and titled 'Olympian Wars'. A Large tooth circled by drawings of some enchanted beasts and a large creature in the center. The plaque read 'The Mystic and her Frae's'. No date was revealed. The last thing I noticed that caught my eye was a large metallic gun and metallic suit. The plaque read 'Dwarves and Gnome Civil War' dated '2222-2229 Forge cycle'.

"Yes, you have much to remember of your galaxy." The man who was still peering out the window spoke. I looked at him and noticed someone was laying lifeless just beneath the pools surface.

"What is all of this?" I asked.

"Our history. Things were stolen from you Xander."

"I am Xander?" I asked.

"You are. You were given false memories. You were given a title, and fed lies." The man spoke again.

"What is your name, and what can you tell me about what everything I have seen here is?" I asked in a very frustrated manner.

"In time, you will remember everything. I am Titus, father of Xander. Husband of Ellen. King of Nibiru." Titus said.

I couldn't help but continue my dull stare at the man. Nothing seemed right, Titus was my real father? Who was Zeus and if he took my memories, why? Why fool me into thinking I was his son?

"I am very aware you are full of unanswered questions. But seeing as you have already been in this 'pool of visions' for weeks now, you need to get back. Just hear me out, go to Fjorn. Find your ship. Find Jotunheim. It is the last place you were sent before we lost all contact with you and him. And Xander... Don't let Zeus know what you know. He is dangerous. And without your power, you cannot defeat him." Titus's voice was serious, yet he still didn't make eye contact. He continued staring out of his window at Nibiru.

I felt my body immediately get pulled through the sky. I was being pulled limb from limb as I passed through the tear in the sky. I felt nothing but physical pain while my mind whirled in confusion at what everything meant. There was no way my father lied to me about everything. Was he even my father? Time to journey to Jotunheim and find out. First thing I need to do was find Fjorn.