Book 2 Ch 52: Warmth of the Gods

The examinations were surprisingly simple. Michael had gotten used to invasive check-ups when he’d been dying on Earth, so it was all easy for him. The agitation potion was odd, making his muscles twitch seemingly at random and causing his motions to feel jerky and imprecise. Luckily, after Tallant was done observing him, he gave him another potion that counteracted the agitation potion and let his body relax.

After Michael was done, the others went in one at a time while whoever was waiting shot the shit and lazed around. Since they were getting orders soon they needed to take their breaks where they could get them. The others’ exams all seemed to go smoothly, aside from Marcus needing to take a moment to himself after getting his blood drawn, his fear of needles getting the better of him for a moment.

Once they were done Tallant was smiling as he walked out scribbling in a leatherbound notebook.

“Really interesting results. Thank you all. I just realized though that I didn’t get an explicit idea of what option you wanted as payment Michael?”

“Wait, before that what’s interesting about your results?” asked Michael.

Ollie nodded emphatically. “Yeah, don’t leave us hanging.”

“Oh, well, the strength draughts they used on you has given you a unique musculature that makes you stronger than you should be, but it’s also going to cause significant damage to your tendons, ligaments, and joints over time. None of you are the same age, meaning that even exact measurements of that cursed wellwater must not always produce the same results or your alchemist was bad at their job. Most of you are close to eighteen or nineteen physically, but Michael is physically closer to twenty two or twenty three. May have something to do with how the soul interacts with the curse, or it could be something else.” He shook his head. “It’s a shame witches were all purged, curses are fascinating.”

Michael frowned. Partially about the offhanded mention of genocide, but also at the revelation of his age. He did feel physically more mature, and others had mentioned he seemed older than the rest of the former Stent takers, but he thought that had more to do with how he carried himself.

“So, what did you want?”

“Uh, you said you had strength potions? Ones that can give a temporary boost?”

“Strength potions? I suppose that’s as good a name as any. My old master used to call them Durand’s Draught. He never could tell me who Durand was though.”

Michael felt a kind of click in his head as he heard the name, there was a roar in his ears that brought him to his knees and all of his muscles tensed and flexed at once.

~power~dominance~challenge~

The words started as simple as the other gods, but very quickly built in complexity.

~I am unbound from the weakness of the others, and the mercy of my sister. You are strong, pilgrim. Honor me in battle! Spill blood in my name! Buy my blessing with iron!~

Michael gritted his teeth as he brought himself back up onto his feet.

Tallant was crouched over him. “Are you alright? Did the agitation potion not yet fade for you?”

Michael shook his head. “No, but I know where the name of that potion comes from.”

“Another god?” asked Pyotr.

“Yep,” said Michael trying to calm the fire in his chest that had bloomed the moment he’d heard Durand’s words. He squinted at Davi, “You don’t hear anything? Or feel anything?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Davi shook his head. “No? Should I?”

“I don’t know, I just assumed that since the other gods all spoke to someone else when they first spoke to me, this one would speak to you.”

“What’s he the god of?” asked Davi.

“Strength.”