Chapter 9 – Museum of Time
The God Seats were special places where each god lived.
There, the god’s own reason for being and the qualities they favor were strongly reflected.
If their origins were in the mountains or forests, then their God Seat would be at the foot of a mountain or a wood, and if it was a god of trade, who dealt with people, then their home might resemble a market.
Some, like the Seer, created great libraries to show off their knowledge, while others built caves and gathered junk from around the world, like the dragon god.
For believers, it was holy ground. Another world that was the source of that god.
And Yesta was no exception.
When she returned to her own God Seat, there was a single man waiting at the entrance.
“Welcome back, director.”
He wore a tuxedo, white shirt, black tie and white gloves. A perfect gentleman.
However, he had no face with which to smile, and no wrist could be seen from the gaps.
He was invisible. Or perhaps he did not exist at all.
Behind him, there was a stone building built by an unknown architect. Yesta smiled from a few steps below.
“Thank you. Is everything organized now?”
“As you ordered.”
“Good.”
She said as she passed a small monument.
There was a small plaque attached to it that read:
‘The Museum of Time.’
—
With the faceless attendant by her side, Yesta walked down the long corridor.
Paintings of various sizes decorated the walls, and the ceiling was a beautiful arch. Every single pillar decoration and painting had been chosen with the utmost care.
Though, if one looked closely, they would notice the strange nature of the architectural style. It was too flamboyant to be Gothic, and lacked the softness of Rococo. There was something detached and cold about it all.
“When was the last time the games of the gods were this successful?”
“Indeed.”
The goddess said indifferently. She did not have her usual, friendly tone that she used when flying around the other gods.
However, she was still smiling.
“Time flows, life flows, and the spirit of chaos, long absent from the celestial realm, is stirring.”
She said as she gazed at one of the paintings.
It was almost too visceral to be thought of as a painting of a scene. In it, humans desperately tried to fend off enemies attacking from all sides with long spears, while their foes cornered them, cut them down, ran them through, and trampled their lives underfoot.
“Stagnation rots the soul, and fatigue kills the heart.”
To the side, there was another painting. This one depicted a square, armored vehicle mowing down humans.
“Being blessed with power, worshipped by the faithful, and idleness. They are now a thing of the past.”
Beyond the window of the frame, countless lives and deaths danced in a chaotic swarm.
Struck by stone, cut by iron, burned by canons. The giant weapons trampled all.
The smell of steel and blood. The smoke and dying cries.
Everything here represented the history of chaos.
As she continued to walk, this corridor of war and death opened up into a great hall.
The ceiling was a dome, so high that it looked like it would reach the sky. The floor was polished stone that reflected the two as they entered.
And here, the focus changed from paintings to sculptures.
Some were placed on pedestals, while others were close within reach.
Still, they were just as vivid as the paintings.
“We just finished putting them on display earlier. After all, there are so many.”
The faceless man sounded proud. He then bowed.
“Enjoy.”
And then he vanished into nothing. Alone now, she walked slowly in the hall.
The statue close to the entrance had a plaque that read:
“‘The First Loser…The Fool’s End’… What a boring title that is.”
She observed the statue of Zephalis in detail. Frozen in place, his face was steeped in terror and shame, and he was screaming.
“You have always had the most interesting expressions upon defeat. But this time…well, you have outdone yourself.”
It had been the carelessness of this fool which made the game so much more entertaining.
So in a way, she was grateful to him.
And so she gently stroked the cheek of the screaming god of war, and then continued on her way towards the back.