Champion Of The Weak Ch 00 03

Prologue

To Catch the Divine

Scrubbing, eating, reading, and sleeping. Anne's schedule had been unchanged for as long as she could remember, and the only thing that saved her from going insane was the reading. She had torn through the entire orphanage library in just her first few years here, and now was reliant on what books Lady Melina could acquire for her. At first, reading was just a hobby for Anne, but over the years it had grown into a necessity.

Tonight Anne read the crown jewel of her collection. Well, "read" wasn't the right word. More like "recited", as she had memorized most of it years ago.

A Treatise on the Divine Altars, by Edward Hardigan, Emperor of the 3 Realms

It was easily the most expensive book Melina had ever given her, and also represented when Melina's role in Anne's life shifted from caretaker to mentor. Anne couldn't even imagine how Melina had gotten it, but her insistence on secrecy gave Anne the uneasy feeling that she had stolen it. Even so, it was her most prized possession, gifted by the only person that still cared about her.

The house fire that put her here happened when she was 12 years old, so she'd already been older than most of the other kids here. By 14, it was clear that adoption was not in her future. Lady Melina knew that too, and gave her this book along with a lecture that had defined Anne for all of the nearly 6 years since.

"

Some people are destined for an easy life, and others for constant trials and obstacles. Each will find meaning and satisfaction. You, however, are destined for nothing. You will have to fight just for the chance to have something to fight for. You will have to fight to be noticed. You will have to fight for your own destiny."

Melina wasn't some psychic that

knew

Anne's destiny, but the meaning was clear. The Gods play favorites, and right now, she wasn't one of them. This book gave her the knowledge that could one day change that, and that day was nearly here. Tomorrow Anne will wake up a year older, but not just any year. Her 19th. She would finally be an adult, and would be able to pursue an Altar.

She had long thought Altars were only for the rich and the divinely selected. It was common knowledge that commoners who attempted even the Trial Altars ended up dead far more often than not, but that was the problem. "Common" knowledge was "commoner" knowledge. This royal book revealed a different reality.

While still dangerous, Altars don't favor anyone in particular, and the minor and Trial Altars were fairly accessible even to those without defined skills, especially for Iaos. Anne suspected the stories were to prevent lowly peasants from upsetting the status quo by gaining divine power. While certainly valuable, this information was dwarfed in importance by the bulk of the Treatise, which detailed the specifics about what Altars were. This had been the first section Anne had committed to word-for-word memory, just in case something ever happened to the book.

Five Altars of the Grand Divines

Although each Altar presents unique challenges and rewards tailored to the Domain of the Grand Divine which it spawns from, there are similarities between all Five Grand Divines to be gleaned from our study.

All Altars are created by Divine Mana, which is the energy created through Human actions related to a Grand Divine's Domain. The more extreme the action, the more Divine Mana is created. The difficulty, power, and rewards within an Altar are directly proportional to the power of the Altar.

Powerful Altars are more permanent than minor ones. For instance, a minor Altar to Cindona may appear briefly after an inconsequential battle, but Grand Altars have been confirmed to still be active in historic, war-defining battlegrounds, no matter their age.

Many misconceptions persist on the function of Trial Altars. Most believe the first Trial Altar entered commits one to that Grand Divine, however they are simply guidelines for prospective Ascendents. Additionally, although a Temple of the Five Grand Divines is the easiest method of accessing a Trial Altar, it has been proven that dedicated prayer is a powerful enough source of Divine Mana to spawn a temporary entrance.

An Altar exists in both this plane and that of the Divines simultaneously. They are the only known instance of this happening.

Young readers should take special notice of point 3. Attempting a Trial Altar from each of the Five is in fact the best method of finding a path. Below are the most common types of obstacles for each.

This was the method Anne was determined to attempt. She had worked with Lady Melina to obtain the necessary materials for prayers to each of the Five. She wouldn't be allowed into any major city to gain access to a Grand Temple, so prayer was her only option to enter a Trial Altar.

She had already planned out the order she was going to attempt them, but she read through each one again just to pass the time before her last night in the orphanage.

IKDES, GOD OF CHAOS - The most difficult Altar to prepare for, even at the Trial level. His tests are those that affect the Ascendent's own mind. You must be in complete control of your emotions and mental faculties to brave his trials. His rewards can seem nonsensical to those minds restricted to conventional logic, and his Altars are similarly cryptic, appearing in seemingly random locations.

CINDONA, GOD OF THE MARTIAL - Cindona respects combat prowess and bravery. His are the most popular and plentiful Altars, but also the most dangerous. His Altars may be found on battlefields, elite training grounds, or even after a particularly skilled duel.

VEPHINE, GODDESS OF JUSTICE - Her Domain is broader than the title suggests. Her respect is gained in equal measure through those intelligent enough to write laws, and those cunning enough to successfully break them. Those with a shrewd mind will find success regardless of upbringing. Her Altars may be spawned in an area where a detective makes a breakthrough discovery, or in a bandit hideout after a successful and intricate heist.

IAOS, THEY OF MANY FACES - The cliche, yet correct, term used is "jack of all trades, master of none." Those with determination can succeed through the trials of Iaos without any defining skills, though it is common knowledge that the rewards granted are significantly less valuable than the other Altars. His Altars appear after events of great societal benefit, such as a plentiful harvest or a grand public-works project.

VONELIA, GODDESS OF POWER - The antithesis of Iaos, Vonelia expects her Ascendents to be proficient in any Domain of the Five, and even in many minor Domains. Only those completely confident in their abilities will find success in her Altar Pathway, and they will receive the most grand rewards. Many think her Grand Altars only spawn to the most powerful thrones, but more accurately, they spawn from any highly-effective leader.

As an orphaned street urchin, Anne knew she had no business pursuing the Altar Pathways of Vonelia or CIndona, but they provided the best rewards. She'd attempt their Trial Altars first just in case. Her ideal Altar path was Vephine, but she wasn't naive enough to doubt that Iaos would be her most likely Patron. They would be third and fourth. As for Ikdes, Anne secretly hoped she wouldn't have to do his at all. Still, she wouldn't hesitate if he was the only option that fit her.

Anne's mind was racing at the prospects tomorrow held, but a hooting owl reminded her of the nearly set Sun. She'd been worried that she was in for another sleepless night, but all the stress and nerves had finally taken their toll on her body and mind. The second her head hit the pillow, she fell fast asleep.

Chapter 1

The Sixth

Anne felt at peace. She could feel the gentle waves of wind playfully fighting with the Sun's warming glow on her skin. Leaves softly rustled around her, and distant birdsong colored the air.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, and her peace instantly became panic. She actually was in the middle of a forest clearing, still in her bed. She was also completely naked, without even her sheets to cover herself.

Her head was on a swivel and her eyes darted to anything that moved. Reflexively, her hands went to her chest and groin. She tried not to think about any of the dark implications of her situation, but couldn't help it. Had Lady Melina been coerced into selling her to some kind of cult? Had bandits somehow grabbed her without her waking up? As her mind raced, her darting eyes finally settled on the sky, and her jaw dropped.

The normal blue sky and shining sun were present, but so were countless circles of varying sizes and colors that Anne could only assume were planets based on what she'd read. Normally only the planets of the Five were visible, and even then only barely. Here though, It was mesmerizing how many there were, and the longer she looked she noticed smaller and smaller dots farther out. There had to be at least thousands. Where in the heavens was she?

"Impressive, isn't it?"

The silky, soft voice was answered with a piercing yelp of surprise as Anna jumped and spun around to face an equally stunning sight. One that made her blush furiously and look away. Another young, naked woman was casually gazing into the sky next to her, not reacting to her discomfort. Anne felt the woman's eyes turn to her, and curled up to better cover herself.

"Wh- Who are you?" Anne barely managed, her heart pounding.

"A friend."

Anne couldn't explain it, but those two words calmed her far more than they should have. She knew nothing about her situation, but she felt absolutely certain that she could trust this woman.

"Now please," The singsong-like voice continued, "I'd prefer not to confer with the back of your head. I know you're confused and nervous, but you may look upon me. I picked this form just for you, Anne."

A small part of Anne's mind wanted to ask a million questions from that sentence alone, but the profound calmness and safety assured her that wasn't necessary. She turned to face the mystery woman, but even her newfound zen didn't stop her from blushing even more deeply.

The woman had a figure chiseled by the Gods themselves, and Anne figured that was more than just a turn of phrase in this case. Her flowing platinum hair gently swayed in the wind while the sun itself seemed to exist only to accentuate her curves and features. Anne couldn't help but feel a twinge of arousal, but somehow that didn't seem so embarrassing here.

It wasn't just her looks that were stunning. It was also the...

aura

she gave off. She seemed in equal parts like the most caring mother, the most loyal daughter, the most trustworthy friend, and the most loving partner.

Distant feelings of inadequacy of her own unremarkable body and self echoed through her thoughts, but like her questions they were drowned out by the calm. Her eyes couldn't help but linger on every part of her body before finally falling on her perfect jawline, semi-full lips, and radiant green eyes. Anne stared in awe, ears eagerly awaiting the next lovely notes of her voice.

"I dislike controlling in this manner, so I will be lifting this trance in a moment. You will have questions, and I will answer what I am able. To start, I am Ihune, Goddess of love and sensuality, and you, Anne, are to be my champion."

Anne still only stared, the edges of her thoughts processing the information frantically while her conscious self swam in peace, until it didn't. At the wave of a hand, Anne's anxiety and fear rushed back into her mind along with her still-processing thoughts on the lunacy of this. She steadied herself, and surely would have collapsed if she had been standing.

After the initial rush, Anne was able to appreciate that she wasn't as terrified as she was before the trance, and did her best to think clearly. There were countless questions to start with, but the two most ridiculous had to do with Ihune's last word, "champion". For one, champions were exceedingly rare, like once-in-a-generation rare. For another, only the Five were powerful enough to give the powers of a champion. Admittedly, Anne hadn't been very interested in minor Goddesses through her reading, but Ihune obviously wasn't one of the Five, right?

"Champion?" It was barely a question. Despite her mind racing, Anne's mouth seemed to be made of sludge, and that was the best it could do.

Ihune smiled at her, "Yes, yes, I know. 'Minor' Goddess and all that. I think you'll find my powers are something considerably more, just not in the traditional sense."

Anne stared blankly at her. She had no concept of what any Divine was truly capable of, Grand or otherwise.

Still smiling, Ihune let out a small sigh, "Anne, you are aware how Divines gain energy, are you not?"

"By Divine mana, which is energy created through Human actions related to a Grand Divine's Domain." Anne effortlessly recited from the Treatise. Her own words sounded distant to her addled brain.

"Correct. Now what kind of actions do you think would generate Divine Mana for a Goddess like myself?" Ihune continued.

Anne had to think on that one. She'd never been in a relationship, so she didn't exactly have direct experience with Ihune. She guessed the first relationship-thing thing she thought of as a 19 year old, "sex?"

She couldn't help but feel embarrassed her mind went there first, even though this was the goddess of love. Maybe it was because of her own growing arousal at the sight of such a perfect woman, but she blushed again.

That got a beautiful, ringing laugh out of the Goddess, "Surely that's not all you think of me? Yes, that is partially correct. It certainly is my most important aspect, as all life stems from sex, but I am so much more. I am that darkest secret you entrust to your closest friend. I am the moment where a couple decides to create life. I am the joy of seeing a child for the first time, and the despair seeing a parent go. Everywhere love is to be found, I am there."

Anne thought the beauty of the words were only outdone by the beauty of the voice speaking them. Still, her mind raced, and now that she found her voice the question dam finally broke, "But then why aren't your Altars everywhere? Wouldn't you be in the Five? Or Six? Why isn't everyone praying to you? Why-"

Ihune held up a hand, and Anne immediately felt the calm again, though not nearly as strong. It was more of a suggestion than the overwhelming wave from earlier.

"The answer to most of your questions is two-fold. I do not share the Five's vain personalities, nor do I share in their desire to meddle, at least not usually. There's always another war for Cindona to occupy himself, and Vephine feels the constant need to balance law and anarchy. I care little for any of it. Love exists in prosperity and destitution, war and peace, order and chaos. I care little which is true, therefore I care little for meddling. Mostly, I use my Divine Mana to gain favor with the other Divines, especially the Five."

Again, Anne did her best to absorb her words. It was, after all, what she had become best at over the years in books. Still, it was a wall of information that hit her all at once. She latched to the first thing that caught her ear.

"At least not usually?" Anne asked.

"Indeed," Ihune said, her expression becoming more serious, "you are not ready for the details yet, but a great imbalance is threatening the Three Realms. One that uniquely concerns me. That is where you come in."

Anne's heart fell at that declaration. Her feelings of inadequacy were back in force. She expected that Ihune would want someone attractive, charming, and seductive. Anne was at best not unattractive. She was smart, but her social skills were nothing special, and she didn't know the first thing about seduction. The love aspect didn't fit her either, as she had no family left to love, and no close relationships. Even Lady Melina had been more like a teacher than anything else. She tried to voice her insecurities, but was quickly cut off.

"Wrong. You are the perfect choice to be my champion." Ihune said, resting the softest hand imaginable on Anne's shoulder, "Picture this: A king walks into a lowly tavern, and his eyes fall on a young barmaid. He is immediately smitten, and orders her to be his concubine. Now, Anne, tell me who you think has the power in this situation?"

Anne was now just confused, but she gave the obvious answer, "Well, the King does. The barmaid doesn't even have the power to choose."

"That would be the correct assumption to everyone present in the tavern,

except

the barmaid. I omitted one detail, which is that she is a trained assassin. From her perspective, the King was easily manipulated into doing most of her job for her. She didn't have to do anything except catch his eye.

That

is the key to my power. I am the only one who knows that I possess it."

Anne felt a little stung at being compared to a barmaid, but it's not like she could argue that point. Still, she let her emotion seep into her response, "So, you picked me because I'm a nobody?"

"A half truth. I picked you because you are a nobody that desperately wants to become somebody, and are willing to put in the work. I also happen to know that you won't have many inhibitions about what being my Champion might entail."

That took Anne by surprise. Not just the words but the obvious innuendo the otherwise stoic Goddess had so clearly implied. This time she really did mean sex.

Anne had never even had sex, and had rarely masturbated. She was by far the oldest at the orphanage, so there wasn't anyone she was ever attracted to. All she really knew about her own sexuality was that she was a lesbian, but it was a bit of a leap from just knowing that fact to becoming the first (she assumed) champion of sex.

"S-so I have to get noticed by someone powerful, and then let them have sex with me?" She asked, suddenly much less excited about leaving the orphanage.

Another laugh, "Not so. That story was merely an illustration. Assassination is more Vephine's Domain anyways. You will receive something far better from me. The ability to bestow power onto others."

Anne was getting more confused by the minute, but Ihune patiently awaited her next question, "But how can I give powers if I don't have them?"

"Now we're getting to the heart of things," Ihune said with a squeeze on Anne's shoulder, "Haven't you heard of the feats of impossible strength mothers have been known to do when their child is in danger? Or the acts of extreme bravery to protect a loved one? These temporary powers are all in my Domain through my relationships with the other Divines. Now they will be yours too, so let's begin."

Anne's competing tidal waves of emotion swung her back to excitement. From what little she knew about Champions, they usually took a form similar to their Divine. Not only would she become taller, stronger, and faster. She'd also look like a sex goddess. Her heart was pumping in anticipation.

Instead, only one of those things happened. The rest seemed to be going the opposite direction. She could feel her breasts and butt expand past the near-flat versions she used to have like she expected, but her attention was stuck on the rest of the changes. She felt herself getting weaker as her already-unimpressive muscles softened, and the world rose slightly around her as she shrunk a couple inches, down below 5 feet. She felt tiny and helpless, and looked up at the now-towering Ihune, waiting for the rest of her changes.