Faith. [private]

[Gentlemanne]

''Hopefully he'll turn up soon."

I thought with a heaving sigh as I glanced towards the rising sun, the instruction I gave my associate clearly telling him to meet me at the break of dawn. But, alas, I knew that if I were to put my faith in anyone but myself, it'd be him. He was my right hand man, after all, and as I hunkered down in place and crossed my legs, I began concentrating on my breathing and collecting my thoughts, the uprising of one of my more dominant personality traits being something I cared to avoid.

''Mm, a meeting amongst the sights and sounds of Tsuchi no Kuni.. how nostalgic."

I professed to myself as I locked my eyes on the single trail leading up to the peaceful vista. It was dotted with rocks, trees and miscellaneous shrubbery, but I paid no mind to that. Instead, I focused on the warm breeze and the strong, morning light. Nature was coming out in full force for our discussions and, as such, I was extremely grateful. Dear Mother would not go without her own reward.

''Mother.. mother, please. Not now, we will discuss this later."

I swooned giddily against the gust of wind that trailed against my cheek, the impromptu reward from nature bringing about a childish feeling.The sun is out, the flowers are blooming and dear mother is watching me, so I knew there was nothing that could go wrong with our meeting. Nothing.

[/justify]

[Jae]

"My eyes show that you've done well to secure this location. This makes for a perfect sanctum, my lord." These sentiment rang clear from my kneeling position, my weight propped upon a single fist that rested against the ground. It may have surprised him, my sudden appearance, but I doubted it. The Lord's connection to the natural world was surreal in that he often found undisclosed clearings for our society to handle our affairs uninterrupted.

I rose to my feet before speaking again. "Settling in Iwagakure has been a success for the most part, my only discrepancy being it's... less than adequate stock of citizens." It was true, I'd been displeased with the lack of talent I'd seen brimming from one of the continent's largest nations. For some time I'd heard stories of the fearsome waves of dirt-kin, charging relentlessly with no ebb to slow down their onslaught. That may have been a strategy to make up for the selection of common nobodies lining their barracks.

My larger frame allowed me to peer past My Lord's equally stately mass to take note of the barren canyons of Tsuchi no Kuni. Under the proper auspices these god forsaken back lands could be transformed, resurrected and converted into a lush oasis for those seeking life in it's purist form. A wellspring for those seeking a higher purpose outside of propositions of war and rumors of war.

But to usher in such a change, a clean palette to work with was necessary. From the darkness light would emerge and from death wouldst life emanate.

[Gentlemanne]

''Of course, I'm not one to have us meet in a noodle stand or an alley way. Those places aren't fit for beings of our stature."

I spoke with a humming tone as my associate finally blessed me with his presence, the surprising entrance not unusual for him. But as I sat there, still deep in thought, I began to raise my hands into the air, the warm breeze that trickled through the air seemingly gone. It seemed Mother didn't like the presence of another here, even if it was my right hand man.

''You've been well, I expect."

Speaking sharply and to the point, I quickly stood and brushed the dirt from the back of my cloth wrap, the sight of my associate in front of me bringing a great deal of weight off of my shoulders. It had been far too long since I had somebody that was aware of my full potential around, and the closest I had come to appreciation in these past few days was from that blasted he-she that ruled our village with a marshmallow fist. And on that subject, it appeared as if I wasn't the only one that noticed the lack of able spirits in the village. But to expect less from the Eyes and Fist of God was foolish.

''I've spoken to the Tsuchikage about that matter and she has gifted me the Temple of Earth to display my brilliance. I will expect you'll want lodging someplace warm and comfortable?"

I shot a look towards my partner and then gave him a playful look, the ear to ear grin that stretched across my face showing that not all matters were to be taken seriously during this exchange. He had already proven himself to me in the past; hazing him with a harsh persona wasn't necessary.

''Onto the first matter, Ares. We have a severe lack of power in Tsuchigakure, but the emergence of a God will soon change that. When our meeting is dispersed, I would ask you to accompany me as I go and.. drum up some faith."

I punctuated the last word with a chuckle, my golden hues tracing along the golden skyline. ''And for those that would oppose salvation? Well, I'll have them talk to you."

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[Jae]

''Of course, I'm not one to have us meet in a noodle stand or an alley way. Those places aren't fit for beings of our stature."

His snide sentiment forced a chuckle from my diaphragm, one that seemed to carry well across the open air. My Lord's poise, statuesque and introspective, echoed of times past. Often had I assumed that exact same pose, alongside him, to find communion with the primordial essence that men today proudly brandished as self serving tools of the ego. Had I not met him, surely I would have gone astray to mingle with the rabble that littered His land.

''You've been well, I expect."

"I have," my voice, deep yet modest, reached out cordially toward My Lord. "And during our time apart I've learned only one thing of this wretched world— it needs You now more than it ever has." My words were sincere. There was nothing my eyes could not see, including the hearts of men, and they were putrid during this era of petty conflict. The primordial essence I'd become so intimate with, through the blessings of Apollo, was but an unwieldly flail in the hands of most who held it. They did not deserve such power, such grace.

''I've spoken to the Tsuchikage about that matter and she has gifted me the Temple of Earth to display my brilliance. I will expect you'll want lodging someplace warm and comfortable?"

At this point my interest were piqued, and the look I received brought a barely noticeable tinge of red to my face. His smile was beautiful, lustrous, and had it been anyone else, I would have condemned them as unfit to receive it.

''Onto the first matter, Ares. We have a severe lack of power in Tsuchigakure, but the emergence of a God will soon change that. When our meeting is dispersed, I would ask you to accompany me as I go and.. drum up some faith."

"This is perfect, Lord Apollo, as my excursion across the countryside has brought me in contact with a few good men," I stressed the word. "..who are worthy of receiving your blessing."

''And for those that would oppose salvation? Well, I'll have them talk to you."

His final remark brought a grin to my face that I could not suppress, one so intense that it required I divert my zeal into a bodily movement; my hands came together, one fist that buried itself within my other palm while I caressed it's knuckles. An audible cracking could be distinguished through my next statement had he been listening.

"Aye, I would accompany thee to the darkest corner of Tartarus and sacrifice myself to the jaws of Cerberus should thou delegate me to such a task. It is to you, Lord Apollo, ÆTERNIT IMPERI, that I owe my life and it is to you my life belongs."

[Gentlemanne]

''Eager to serve as always."

Truly, he was a loyal partner, even more so than mother nature herself. But as he continued on with his compliments, heavily dosed with prose, I began to wonder; would others truly serve me with such loyalty? The few Iwagakure ninja I had met had been foolhardy and merely concerned with fighting, not purifying. Maybe my softer touch and silver tongue wouldn't be enough to convince them to join my side, maybe I needed to take my purity one step further. Maybe I need to show these heathens the strength that accompanies the title of God.

''Ares."

I commanded coldly as I brushed my chest off yet again, the few specks of dust that landed upon me sullying the beginning of my speech. ''Your loyalty has brought me some insight, and for that you have my gratitude." I murmured in a hushed tone; the erratic look in my eyes signalling the uprising of Astraea, and with it, my temper.

''My faith and sanctity have been in question for too long. I would ask you to gather the few with a level mind, a strong sense of faith or even those with the strength to flip the world and bring them to my temple."

Grunting my words out, I began to pace back and forth, my hands resting snug on my lower back as I began to mull over my strategies. It had been far too long since I had planned a militant attack, and because of such, my will had gotten weak, my ferocity had been dulled and even my silver tongue had began to rust. If I were to take this world and elevate it to a standard that fit my being, I would need to give a display of my power, but how? Simple trickery would not do, no, I needed to prove something.

''Once we have gathered sufficient force, we will mobilize and begin to spread our message. But, for now, do you have anything you wish to offer to me? Information or contacts?"

I spoke with a clearly disgruntled tone as I looked back over my shoulder at him, the devilish sneer that crinkled my face betraying my feelings. ''Because if not, I require your expertise to be focused on finding recruits and nothing more. The time for righteous fire will come, believe me."

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[Jae]

The change in My Lord's tone was nothing I hadn't become accustomed to. I'd spent more time with him, and every other facet he held within, than I had with my own blood kin. Still, his bearing never lost a glint of it's beauty. Whether virtuous or virulent, My Lord encapsulated all that was radiant about this world. Personally, I found these sporadic fits of truculence to be where My Lord shined the brightest.

"M'lady," I spoke with a sense of disappointment burdening my tone. Her request went against all that I truly stood for. I had been disenchanted by the sight of so many lowly beings and now, more than anything, I held an almost carnal desire to eviscerate all who were not simple and clean. But with all blessings due to the Living God, I would not allow my pride to override what was demanded of me.

Her request for specific contacts forced a stammer past my lips. I hung my head in shame before I professed the truth of the matter. "Forgive me, Lady Astraea, but I forced any potential candidates for our cause to commit to a trial; a contest of physicality." My mind wandered momentarily, retrieving images of my past deeds.

"None of them passed."

[Gentlemanne]

''Your methods are just and concise, Ares. I like that."

Flashing a wicked smile towards my accomplice, I continued my frustrated pacing, the rattling in my head bringing a familiar sense of pain to my mind. It was as if three worlds were collapsing on themselves, but I knew better than that, my brilliance was simply being suppressed. That had to be it.

''But on that same note, your methods are none of my concern. We practice purity, teach conviction and cleanse weakness. As long as you follow those principles, I do not care what you do to them. Just.. don't let it become a public affair, not yet."

Clenching my dominant hand into a fist, I looked onwards, the glossy vision of my utopia there before me. It was marvelous, a vista of nature and purity, where all who spoke against the true God were destroyed immediately. The voices of the meek would be heard by I, that much was certain, but those who allowed themselves to fall behind for such trivial reasons as depression or mental trauma would have to be made an example of. Emotional weakness was a cancer I would not permit in my society.

''Meeting adjourned, young one. I require a sacrifice, I expect you'll be able to meet my standards and deliver them to my temple personally, hm?"

Without waiting for an answer, I nodded towards the man and began to pace away, my hands tucked firmly into each other behind my back. I knew he wouldn't disappoint me, for that wasn't the man I put beside my throne. If he didn't deliver me a worthy trophy, he would have to face my own trials. And the darkness in a God's heart will always far exceed that of a lowly servant.

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exit

[Jae]

''Your methods are just and concise, Ares. I like that."

The sinister smile I'd receive from My Lady caused me to raise my head from it's sullen droop. In truth, Lady Astraea's ideology more closely resembled my own and thus I found her presence to be more comforting. From their previous position, my palms came together in a salutatory mudra afront my visage. I bowed to show my respect. As she continued on, commending me for my efforts, I heeded her decree. These affairs were to remain clandestine as to avoid any possibility of outside interference.

''Meeting adjourned, young one. I require a sacrifice, I expect you'll be able to meet my standards and deliver them to my temple personally, hm?"

At the mere sound her request my eyes swelled and my posture straightened, a characteristic twitch I'm sure would have gone recognized had she been paying attention. The posited thought of conflict was enough to turn even I, an angel amongst men, toward the savagery I so strongly abhorred. My Lord set off into the distance before I could even consider providing an answer, and thankfully so as I had been unwittingly stifled by my urge to slaughter.

"Thy will be done."

/exit

[vegapunk]

+40 EXP @ Jae & Gana