Formerly Divine

1

Augustus watched the carnage outside his home previously rich with people, magic, and laughter, now rife with blood and corpses. He knew magic was a great tool, and a greater weapon, though he never expected it to be wielded against him like this. It wasn't simply cultists or bandits wielding magic, but their friends, family, and neighbors.
"It's as if they aren't acting of their own will..." Augustus blurted out, lost in awe.
"I know, but that doesn't matter now. They aren't our friends. They aren't those we hold dear. They're something else entirely. The way they wield magic, the way they fight, it's--"
"Unnatural," Augustus said, continuing to watch the war waged mere meters from his home, careful not to attract any attention.
"What can we do? The streets are overrun. There is no way out." Augustus observed meekly.
"Augustus. Listen to me. It seems someone would have us die this day, but if I have anything to say about it, we'll definitely get out of here alive." Aberic said sternly, grabbing his previously hung armor and weapon, thrust back in his hands by divine misfortune.
"Aberic, we don't have to do this, we can just wait it out, I'm sure the cellar would--" Augustus was cut off by a quiet, but grimly serious voice filling his ears.
"We have to do this. No one is going to die. We are getting out of this." Aberic stated, thinking clearly, I wish you would call me 'father' at least once.

No further words were spoken after Aberic's assertion, and the pair left the house together, Aberic clad in the armor of a man with naught to lose, and Augustus in cloth. A tear rolled down Aberic's face as he looked beside him, only to see his son gripping a sword with the strength to take a life.
"Are you ready to use that?" Aberic asked candidly.
"I don't know," Augustus responded, heart beating through his chest. "I don't think so."
"Good. Only use it if there isn't any other way. No man should have to take a life." Especially not a child of mine.

The pair continued traveling the streets, avoiding people at all costs, before finally reaching a gate, though it was swarmed with crazed citizens slaughtering each other and sane people alike, yelling at the top of their lungs, "UXALOTL WEEPS, FOR OUR DEEDS DEMAND A GREAT ATTONEMENT!" as the crazed citizens slew and ate their compatriots and previous friends alike. Augustus watched as one citizen ate a significantly younger person, yet living. He has to only be a teenager, Augustus thought. He watched in silent horror, almost desensitized, as the woman tore the teenager's limbs from his body with her teeth. His heart sank when he heard the word 'mother' leave the younger citizen's tongue. Glancing at his father, he thought, I wouldn't have the will to fight him off.

"Madness. All of this is mad. What use does a crazed uprising as this have for a God? The Gods do weep, but merely for their name was used in this manner. We need to steer clear. Stay close." Aberic whispered to Augustus as they took cover. Augustus nodded.

Aberic waved Augustus forward before moving so himself, thinking only, Please do not let my boy die. He's all I have. They moved tightly together, in a short line, hugging various debris scattered along the street, before reaching a toppled carriage that blocked their view from the maddened citizens, now behind. Just as Aberic breathed a sigh of relief, he looked down to see a harrowing sight. The driver of the carriage, alive, but crushed by the weight of his load. He must've fallen off. Aberic thought rightly. The crushed driver opened his mouth, and a great frown revealed itself on Aberic's face. He swiftly cut the poor man's throat, before looking up to his son. Please understand.

"That wasn't necessary." Augustus whispered as they got farther from the gate, free from the chaos of the city.
"Yes it was. He was going to give us away." Aberic shed a tear as he thought of the deed once more. I didn't want to do it. He left me no choice. Aberic looked up from wiping his tear before starting again on their way, as Augustus looked forward as always, lost in thought. "This doesn't look right." Augustus said as he stopped in his tracks.
"What do you mean?" Aberic looked back on him after passing him briefly.
"Are you joking? Look up. The clouds are shaking. It's like the earth is shivering."
"This looks like it's out of our control, we ought to find shelter. I know someone outside the walls, follow." Aberic smiled as he remembered his fond memories of the place he would soon take his son.
"Can you tell me what - or where it is?"
"It's in the woods just outside the city. And it's where you were born."

Augustus felt excited at the idea of seeing his birthplace, though the weight of his situation still held firmly on his mind. He had tried not to think about it, but seeing his neighbors, though he was not very close with, fight like that, it was harrowing. It almost made him want to throw up. His heart felt cold, dead. There was no time for emotion, only action. Action is required to make certain they may have a home to go back to. Though, it is scary to think, This may only be the beginning. An ambush preceding the main attack. But from who? Augustus tried to rid his mind of the thought.