Veiled Godhood: Chapter 2 – Rigging the Plot

Chapter 2 – Rigging the Plot

When the crowds settle, Freja meets her spies and leaders who have brought the people to her that she wants to meet. These people are affected by her golden flames and wish to serve her in any way that they want. Freja sends her allies outside of the room as she gives these important leaders their roles to play. One is a king known for his virtue. He has been critical of Ecclesia’s teachings and the way it conducted itself political. A traditionalist at heart, the man is devoted to God, but not so much to the Church.

As a punishment, Freja tells him to, “Show your true face that I know lies beneath your fake virtue. Cheat on your wife first in private then publicly in the worst way possible like you want to. After, you will repent before you are killed.”

The next person is an influencer in politics. This priest is known for his pacifism and his ability to calm down almost any situation. At the same time, he’s a good fighter that can quell a fight should one come up. He’s been unfavorable to the Church in terms of favor as he’s been giving more to the other Pillars of Cognizance, Genus and Gloria.

“Because of your faithlessness to mother church, you will slaughter your supporters until you fall. Let your blood be the cost of your penance,” Freja commands the man to do.

Another influencer that Freja uses her flame to cast a veil over their soul is a woman. A common woman as a matter of fact who has nothing special about her other than the fact that she’s a shining example of a mother and member of her community for all the work that she does for it. It’s even said that she’s more influential than the king and queen of her home. This mother is instrumental in Freja’s plan because of her connections and there isn’t really anything that Freja doesn’t like about her other than the mother’s seemingly perfect soul.

“Conduct your shadowy business of buying and selling your own in the shadows where they belong before I bring your actions to the light. When that time comes is when you’re allowed to repent,” Freja says.

Freja then gives tasks to the people surrounding the three major figures before sending them out.

“You have given them very dark tasks,” the black dragon says to Freja.

“I know the darkest parts of their souls and what tempts them. I use this to give them what they want while also giving them a chance to serve me while also saving their souls in the end.”

“Humans are very weak to sin. It’s good that you’re taking that into account for your plans while also allowing them to redeem themselves. You are a very merciful queen.”

Since Freja is tired and needs to wait for the seeds that she’s planted to bear fruit, she goes to take a well deserved sleep. As she sleeps, she dreams of her past. She remembers being in the Anathema regions of the world where the Divine Flame of Cognizance is hardly felt as well as the presence of God and goodness. While she was young, she wondered why she was here and not in the many kingdoms allied to the Pillars of Cognizance, but her parents died before she could ask. All she could tell from their actions was that they were trying to change the Pillars from the outside by creating their own society. In a dying note, they told Freja to do what she thought was right and continue their work. Even though she wasn’t too close to her parents, she did as she was told in her own way.

Freja reflects on her past while she waits for the right moment to act. In the meantime, she imposes her will on the people that come to her and the ones that her spies bring to her so that she can have more spies and failsafes just in case something goes wrong with her original plans.

The black dragon notices her thinking and asks, “Is something the matter, my queen?”

“No, I’m just thinking.”

“Your schemes are going as planned. What is there to think about? You’ve been sending out spies, diplomats, and soldiers to do your will and cover any blind spots that you may be missing. Be careful not to set up a trap for yourself.”

“I’m done setting up the pieces and the backup pieces. All that’s left to do is play the game.”

“Then bask in the praise of the people, enjoy your riches, and take your due rest.”

Taking the advice of the dragon, Freja rests and during this sleep, she dreams again of her past. She remembers how the cultists she knew drew her black flame’s power out of her along with the perverted and violent things she did that she told herself that she had to do to get by. It wasn’t until she entered the kingdoms of the Pillars of Cognizancec did she have a goal that she called her own. Freja witnessed injustice as the poor and people of the Pillars were taken advantage of and ignored by their leaders and their own.  There seemed to be very few who were devoted to God and goodness as the Divine Flame of Cognizance was waning as well as man’s sense of good and evil. The families of Genus cared only for their own and allies while distancing themselves from whoever disagreed with them. Meanwhile, Gloria dealt in politics like always with their capital buildings becoming places of worship for their political figures that they treated like gods. Even those in Ecclesia were neglecting the dogma that they are responsible for teachings as they embraced their own self-serving truths.

Among these, the archbishop had a harem of women despite taking a vow of celibacy. In this, Freja saw a way to fix the world as she abandoned her cult with the excuse that she was going to infiltrate the Church from within. This is where her dream ends as Freja is reminded why she does the things she does and just in time too as word of one of her plots bearing fruit comes to her. The king that she told to cheat on his told has done as she said.

Her spy reports that, “Once the king’s adultery was found out, he hid and cheated with more women in private just as you predicted, however, when one woman refused his advances, he raped her in public. The strangest thing about it was his face. He appeared to be horrified at what he was doing as he cried while also appearing to enjoy himself. After that, he slit his own throat. The new king that has taken his place is now exposing his other sins along with the sins of his family and friends, but he needs help finding the traitors and bringing them to justice.”

“Assemble all who are available to fight. This treason will not go unpunished,” Freja says.

The spy goes out to do as Freja says.

“Your plan did not go exactly as you wanted,” the dragon says.

“I still got the result I wanted. Everything is going according to plan,” Freja responds.

“Of course it did. I am only pointing out that you may want to enhance your flame after you find the ‘traitors’.”

Before going out, Freja considers the dragon’s words. When she arrives at her destination to take care of the king’s allies, she uses her power that she has over them to come out and pretend to be villains before starting a fight that ends in their deaths. The act appears to be convincing, but Freja sees firsthand them resisting her influence with the subtle details in their faces.

“It’s just as you predicted, my queen. Those that oppose the Church are nothing more than traitorous snakes,” the new king says to her.

“Make sure this never happens again,” Freja says before turning to the crowds around her. She amplifies her voice as she says, “Take heed to the events of today, all you witnesses and sinners. I, Queen Freja, am the blade of justice sent by God Himself. All who defy the Church will be punished with persecution and penance. If you defy me, you defy the Will of God itself. There are only two options for you. Submit or perish. This is your final warning!”

The crowd cheers for her as they chant, "All Hail the Saint Queen Freja!"

“You’ve made a fine example of the ‘traitors’, my queen,” the black dragon says on the way back home as Freja rides on his back.

“Yes, the first of many examples. My plans are not yet fulfilled.”

“What of strengthening your golden black flame? The people who disagree with your will have shown that they can resist it to a degree.”

“They can do very little against it. My golden black flame is perfect and my intentions pure. It is why I obtained the victory I sought today.”

“Of course, my queen. Forgive my questioning.”

Despite most of her plan going the way she wanted, Freja still feels uneasy about her power and begins thinking if it is truly as invincible as she once thought.