Chapter 420 - ALI MINI THEATER: Side Story 21

The story of the origin of the greatest conspiracy of the millennia…

When Rod started to create the worlds, he first gave birth to three major existences: the good, the evil, and the one that served as the messenger, the go-between. These three beings were his precious children who bore identical faces similar to his. 

Perun, Czernobog, and Stribog. 

After the triplets, he created two more existences that would aid and observe them; one that symbolized brute strength, the other of fate and fortune. 

Kresnik and Dolya.

After them, the rest were fashioned in varied purposes but with deliberate toning down of abilities and strength. This was in order to craft a more vivid and interesting world that kept the balance and the cycle of life and death. 

In a world where both heavens and earth were flawed, there was only one existence that was as pure as the whitest snow. Unsullied by all the material things and power he sat at the top ruling everything and everyone. All creatures looked up to this mighty being as the king who governed them all, the perfect existence envied and worshipped even by the gods. 

Perun, the King of Heaven. 

However, even if he was revered by all, the king was an unsmiling being that was more like a sculpture than man. He existed in a mundane cycle, upholding the laws, overseeing his subjects, and keeping the balance with power that was miles apart from the others. The only ones who were at least able to get close to the ruler were his brothers and friend. 

Stribog, the God of Wind, Czernobog, the God of Darkness & Destruction, and Kresnik, Heaven's Flame Emperor. 

"Why are you giving me this?"Stribog asked in confusion as he stared at the silver mask that his second older brother handed him. 

"Because I'm sick and tired of seeing someone who bore my face doing stupid things," Czernobog deadpanned and a cough resounded while the deity with golden locks gaped. 

"Ya! What are you talking about you lavender bastard? Are you asking for a fight?" the God of Wind pointed at the Black God with indignation, and the one who coughed to cover his laughter earlier waved his hand in his direction. 

"Sit down Stribog. You're being too noisy," Kresnik reprimanded the other and he sat back down. 

Stribog still had his unhappy look in his face as he placed his arms across his ċhėst. "You're just picking on me because your harpies found me cuter and asked to follow me instead," he grumbled as he looked haughtily at Czernobog. 

The Black God sighed as he propped an elbow on the table. "I can give you the rest of them if you want. But Ozomine and the others dislike peacocks," he said as airily ruffling Stribog's feathers again. 

"You!" Stribog released his wind, but the Black God was quick to mirror his power and released the same. 

Wind clashed against wind causing a remarkable collision that injured the surface of the ground beneath it. 

"Enough," a cold voice echoed and all three of them looked up to see Perun walking towards them and they all straightened up. 

"Brother…"

Their eldest brother wasn't one to take sides and they would both be punished if they didn't take heed. But it wasn't really fear that made them obey. The two of them just loved and respected their eldest— most especially Czernobog. 

"You have gotten stronger again," Perun commented on the Black God, his face softening as he spoke. He sat on the remaining seat around the table. 

"Sinners increase every day," Czernobog answered nonchalantly with a shrug. "I gain strength just from people's vanity alone," he added enigmatically as his scarlet eyes glanced at Stribog. 

"Ya! Are you saying I'm vain?" heaven's peacock looked and felt offended. 

"I wasn't the one who announced his cuteness just earlier," the Black God countered, but before another round of argument ensued, Perun signaled for Kresnok to stop them. 

The Flame Emperor immediately and wordlessly placed his hand in between the two deities who couldn't get along well which made them stop and behaved again. 

"Your Majesty, why did you summon us today?" Kresnik asked and all turned to the king. 

Perun was silent for a while before speaking. "I will take in a wife in a week."

Silence hung as each and everyone around the table looked taken aback by his announcement. 

"Well… congratulations then brother,"Stribog greeted him happily, but he was the only one who was happy.

Kresnik and Czernobog had different reactions, the former expressionless, while the latter frowned. 

"Brother, forgive me if I'll be rude, but why? You're never interested in marriage before," the Black God said, which made even Stribog stop to think. 

"That's right. Who is the lady you will be married to?" 

Perun was never interested in anything else. If he was strict on others, he was even more so to himself. He rarely mixed with other people. 

"Father told me to marry Fanya,"Perun answered with an indifferent tone as if he was talking about the weather. 

"That's it? Father asked and so you will do it?" the Black God countered in bewilderment. 

"It's my duty," Perun answered and none of them spoke against it again. 

However, deep inside one of the deities' heart, a grievance against his brother's monotonous existence festered. To others, Perun was the beloved child of heaven, but to him, he was nothing but a caged bird. 

A week after, the Celestial Plane celebrated the wedding of the king. While everyone else cheered, a pair of scarlet eyes were ever vigilant of his brother's reactions. It was clear to him that Perun didn't care for the occasion. He merely took in a wife since it was dictated. 

Months passed, and the red eyes which remained observing grew more and more clouded; the grievances in his heart continued to grow. 

"The fool," Czernobog muttered. 

Fanya, that foolish woman had thrown a tantrum again and again in her selfish need to take all of her husband's affection and time. But Perun would not love her, and due to this, life for his perfect brother only turned from mundane to miserable. The fact that the king never protested only made the pain he felt for him worse until he couldn't take it anymore. 

"Brother, why are you letting yourself suffer like this?" he asked, but Perun, as expected answered that it was his duty as the untainted one. Then and there, his broken heart and his genuine wish for this brother to find happiness, a vow formed in his heart. "Duty? Untainted?" he snorted. 

He reached out his hand and placed his palm on Perun's ċhėst over his heart. Feelings of frustration rushed towards him upon the fact that since his power and Perun's power were polar opposites, they couldn't harm each other directly. "Then brother, one day, I will change that. Just wait for me…"

He turned around and rushed outside, but bumped against Stribog on the way. 

"Ya! You lavender bastard, why are you rushing in the dark and hitting people?" 

Normally, Czernobog would have retaliated with more acerbic words, but he surprisingly remained quiet this time which made Stribog worry. Even if they squabble a lot, they were still brothers after all and didn't hate each other for real. 

"What's wrong?" the God of Wind asked, but the Black God only looked at him and smiled.

"Stribog, you should stop being so wild and free. In the future, you will have a big responsibility in your hand," he said enigmatically before leaving. 

This was the last time both Perun and Stribog met with this brother on amicable terms. The Black God went to Rod's temple the very same evening where Dolya served as the oracle. The next time they ever heard of him again was when Rod declared Czernobog a traitor and banished him to the mortal world.