Caius sat up, was that… his Little Snack? Caius felt his fur bristle, not in fear, or because he felt a threat, but in sheer awe. No wonder no one dared try capture his likeness… no painting could do such beauty justice.
Nix was using ring of bloodred fire like a hoop, leaning against the ring as his feet dangled in the empire, but his back was still in Ru's palace. Slowly spinning, descending to the ground. The only light was from his ring of fire, the only sound his slow, methodical voice.
Caius's ears perked at the slightly deeper voice, the tone was so… chilling. Like the first frost of winter.
I'm not a god, nor a leader
I don't pick fights, I prefer reason
Sure I've crushed mountains. Yes, I've drained seas
But not once have I started, they hoped my heart weak
Nix stepped onto the ground, the rift closed but the bloodred ring remained. The light reflecting off him highlighted each shift. One had to focus to notice the sound of instruments. Long, drawn out notes only punctuated by slow claps of the drum.
Caius wanted to liken the dance to any he'd seen before, not seductive like desert palace dancers, not intimidating like tribal warriors, not flamboyant like imperial ballet… it was… a slower… more calculated mix.
Not once have I started, so why do they fear?
Why do they fear, why do they fear, why do they fear… Me?
Nix arched back as he slowly lifted one leg, toes pointed toward the pitch black sky. Just as his fingers would have touched the ground, he rose his upper body while he remained in a standing split. He reached up as if he'd grab his foot, only for the ring of fire to fall around him. Setting the ground on fire.
They don't fear the god, I've long protected
Don't fear weapons I've left neglected
Don't fear fire that burns even the soul
Don't fear the strength that makes dust out of bone
More than the fear of revealing hearts song
More than the fear that is the unknown
Oh how they fear, oh how they fear
My steadfast, ruthless control
Caius held his breath as his Little Snack slowly lowered his foot while tilting his head. The movement was… almost playful but his tone was enough to make him shiver.
Seems so silly, there are real threats
Why choose a bird, their hearts so set
Past compassion they learned to regret
Because it's not battle they'll see
When restraint is lost, only death they will greet
Caius released his breath as fire rose up along his Little Snack's body, snaking around him. Caius had to swallow as his Little Snack trailed his hands down his neck, down his chest… lower… on anyone else it would have been pure seduction. Only for the flames to solidify into gauzy cloth, hiding his Little Snack away.
Nix gripped the flames like a cloth, spinning, using the cloth to execute his movements as he put a bounce in his step. Spinning in place, arching back, allowing his accessories to create a subtle rhythm. From where he stood a spiral of bloodred fire snaked out, creating a spiral. The entire would soon be engulfed in the dark flames.
Caius forced himself to check the fire… it was hot… but it wove between all the living beings, casting ominous shadows as the fire spread.
I don't enjoy conflict,
Rather spend pleasant days in the sun
But they see weakness in compassion
Claim guilt when I don't stay, claim I run
They build me up to be a monster
Spread stories from here to kingdom come
A Phoenix can't be trusted,
Only devastation awaits, unless its gone
Caius felt the shift from nonchalance to disgust in his Little Snack's voice. Lost were the playful, teasing twirls half hidden by the cloth of fire… Now each movement of his Little Snack had dismissal, distaste. Invoking a reverence he'd never felt from his Little Snack… not even when facing the snake god.
So they gathered armies, trained their troops
Thought they knew, what I would do
When faced with innocents, who believed lies to be true
Thought I'd show compassion more
Thought with my restraint, I would endure
But little did they suspect
A broken heart, results so different
I showed them why they should fear
What did happen when restraint was sheared
Like the calm before the strongest of storms, his Little Snack's voice became light, almost whimsical as the flames scattered, bringing more light… Caius… was dreading the growing light…
They didn't fear my fire's light
Didn't fear the strength of one
Thought without the assistance of a God
With ten thousand they could defeat a mere monarch
Nix came to a halt, taking a deep breath as he slowly lifted his knee, slightly arching his chest forward. The cores catching the light, casting reflections of scenes long past. Then, he stomped on the ground with just a fraction of his power. Fire flowed out of the ground like water from a spring. Flowing through the spirals until even the snake god was buried beneath his flames.
Everyone stared as the flames trapped them, no… flowed around them… barely an inch from their flesh.
I SHOWED THEM WHY!!!
I killed ten thousand with a thought!
From the seas they knew drought!
What was mountain now was ploughed!
Dared to kill, one I claimed
A thousand years, they dare not speak my name!
Caius shivered seeing a broken, tattered human body surrounded by corpses. If the tattered man hadn't been human, he wouldn't have been able to distinguish it from the masses of beast bodies. Blood flowing like rivers. One creature was still alive in the devastation, if only for his Little Snack to reach into the mermaid's chest, then ripping down until her intestines fell.
Nix's figure was ripping out the mermaid's core, then crushed it into dust. Turning his head, he approached the tattered human body as each step left bloodred flames. Spreading, consuming everything around him as he picked up the mutilated corpse. Bowing his head as he tucked the body to his chest, picking up the severed limbs, fingers, broken bones…
I SHOWED THEM WHY!!!
Why they should in fear, awe, or respect!
Dare never harm what I protect!
I showed them fire, I showed them strength!
In one day, I made the earth quake
I took control, over millions of fates
Nix looked up as a Tsunami rose up, clearly in an attempt to wash him away. Nix grew into bird of fire, tucking the pieces of the body into his silver chest plate. The bird looked up as the water came to a stop, freezing, then fell like shattered glass.
I froze the waters, of the deepest seas
I stilled the air, left not even a breeze
I fed the fires, of their justice
They burned first to ash, then nothing
Caius had hunched in on himself as a goddess pointed her trident at the bird of bloodred flames with silver armor. Before he could see what happened, the images fell away. No longer was his Little Snack establishing his dominance, his movements were almost… tired… dismissive.
I don't enjoy conflict
Rather spend pleasant days in the sun
Now they know compassion isn't weakness
Now they only whisper in the dark
They still claim I'm a monster
Spreading stories from here to kingdom come
But now they know a phoenix shouldn't be tested
Only devastation awaits, survivors… one
Caius shivered, was that one… his Little Snack… or the goddess?
The frost had returned to Nix's voice as the fires were pulled back into himself. Soon, he was the only source of light. Using his hands to slick his hair back into place, he stared up into the darkness.
Now morals fear the darkness,
Now gods fear the unknown,
They understand why, caution is the better of tones.
They don't fear my power, they don't fear my rage
They don't fear my fire, that burned so nothing could raise
Now they fear, oh how they fear my dedication
Learned a fraction of the fathomless depths of if I let go
Now they fear, how strong mere monarch's control