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“Come on, Khepria. There has to be more here. Think of how many hours are left in the day,” I reminded myself. The clock was ticking in my mind. Would Isolarel fall in the same spot again or another area entirely? How would I be able to find him?
As I continued my research, I discovered tales of other mortals who had faced the wrath of the gods. Their stories were cautionary tales, warning against the dangers of arrogance and the desire for power. It became clear to me that what I witnessed was a deliberate display of divine justice.
Armed with this newfound understanding, I felt a sense of purpose. I would uncover the truth, expose the depths of his transgressions, and perhaps find a way to alleviate Isolarel’s suffering. My heart tinged at the mention of his name in my mind. A bond was forged the moment we touched. I couldn’t explain it, but even now, I felt tethered to his being.
I was willing to do whatever it took to set him free.
“Khepria?” came a familiar male voice. “Why aren't you in class today? Are you studying for my next exam?” He made his way from another aisle in the distance and appeared around the corner.
Startled, I instinctively shut the book in my hands and hugged it, turning to see Mr. Redding, my employer and Master Librarian walking toward me drinking his signature coffee in his green mug. He stopped abruptly with a wrinkled brow.
“What happened to you?”
I must have looked awfully disheveled after climbing out of a giant hole. But thoughts of my appearance were far from my mind. I let out a sigh of relief. Who other than Mr. Redding would be able to tell me something or lead me in the right direction in regards to something as insane as ancient gods, punishments and curse breaking?
Isolarel
The sun'sfirestorm beat upon my exoskeleton as it scorched through the very core of my existence. I begged for the mercy of death but it wouldn't come—not for me. My mind endeavored to fight the insanity of this endless loop I was to replay day after day with the face of the beautiful mortal who tried to show me kindness. The hooks dug deeper into my shoulders as the weight of the sun became heavier. I walked it across the sky, fighting with all of my might not to fall back to the earth.
As the seconds slowly turned into minutes, the weight of the sun became unbearable. Each step I took felt like an eon. I could feel my strength waning, my body growing weaker with each passing second.
But even in the midst of my torment, a flicker of hope remained. The face of the mortal woman haunted my thoughts, providing a glimmer of consolation amidst the agony. Her words of compassion echoed in my mind, reminding me that there was still goodness in the world, even amidst the face of such divine punishment.
I clung to that hope, drawing strength from her actions. It became my lifeline, my anchor in the storm of suffering. With each step, I whispered her name.
Khepria.
I was willing to endure the unendurable.
But as the minutes turned into hours, the weight of the sun began to take its toll. My body grew emaciated, my exoskeleton cracked and brittle. The colors of my shell faded, replaced by a dull, lifeless gray. The pain clung like a constant companion—my eternal torment.
Yet, amidst the despair that rooted itself, a spark of defiance ignited within me. I refused to let the gods break my spirit. With each step, I defied their expectations, refusing to succumb to the agony that once threatened to consume me for centuries.
Maybe I could find the strength within me to smile, and maybe become a symbol of resilience, a testament to the indomitable nature of the mortal spirit.
Seth, my jailer, appeared before me with a sinister grin.
“So, the mortal has given you more strength? Interesting how you will never learn. How dare you spit in your master's face? Heliox! Ten times hotter for this fool,” he laughed.
Upon his command, the sun’s heat radiated ten fold, driving me to my knees.
As I unintentionally knelt before him, his nefarious smile sent shivers down my spine. His words echoed in my ears, a cruel reminder of the power he held over me. I had dared to challenge the gods, to defy their authority, and now I would pay the price.
The sun's heat intensified, Heliox determined to make this death worse than the last. The flames seared through every fiber of my being, melting me. I gritted my teeth, trying to summon the strength to withstand the torment, but it felt as if my very essence was being consumed by the inferno.
Seth laughed, his voice filled with sadistic pleasure. "Do you feel it, Isolarel? The wrath of the gods, the consequences of your arrogance? Demi gods need to understand their place. This is but a taste of the final punishment that awaits you—today."
I struggled to find my voice amidst my anguish, my words coming out as a hoarse whisper. "Please... I beg you... have mercy."
His laughter only grew louder, mocking my plea. "Mercy? You think the gods would show mercy to a lowly demi god like you? Your father should have never messed with a mortal, least of all one who could bear a child. You have defied their authority, challenged their power. There is no mercy for the likes of you."
My skin began to become one with Heliox’s surface. I could feel my consciousness slipping away, my vision blurring as the world around me faded into darkness.
Khepria
My heart constricted as I continuously searched the sands. It was close to the same time, I needed to find him. I desperately needed to know if he was alright. I mean, I knew he would still be under the curse, and would live to die another day but still…
Just as my mind cycled through a thousand different ways I would miss finding him, Mr. Redding grabbed my shoulder from the passenger side and my eyes snapped toward the sky.
