Antibody

"Why'd you choose Alexander out of all the names out there?" Lucia asked.

"Well, I wanted to name him after one of the greatest generals in all of history back on earth," Alfie answered. 

Lucia leaned her head on Alfie's shoulder before saying, "He must've been a pretty great one since you want to name our son after him, huh?" 

"Oh don't get me started. He turned his kingdom into the largest empire the world had seen at the time, he was undefeated in war, and when he died he gained the moniker of 'Great'." Alfie divulged. 

"No wonder you wanna name our son after him," Lucia commented. 

"Do you think he'll live up to that name?" Lucia asked.

Alfie shook his head, "He'll surpass him. That Alex was only 'Great', our son will be even greater." 

"Like father, like son." Lucia mused. 

"If only." Alfie chuckled.

"If we had a daughter what'd you name her?" Lucia asked.

"A daughter? Ugh lemme think." Alfie pondered. 

"Maybe Cleopatra? Alfie answered.

"Let me guess, she's another historical figure from earth?" Lucia teased. 

"What a surprise, am I right?" Alfie says grinning as he rolls his eyes. 

"Tell me about her though," Lucia asked. 

"Well, she was said to be one of the greatest beauties of all time. But more than her looks she captured the hearts of her people and even other kings through her intelligence." Alfie explained. 

"Sounds a lot like someone I know." Lucia nudged. 

"Yeah, and who'd that be?" Alfie asked sarcastically. 

Lucia rolled her eyes, "Why don't you think long and hard about it." 

"Wanna know what else is long and hard..?" Alfie teased. 

Lucia chuckled, "You really want another kid, huh." 

"Maybe." Alfie smiled. 

In a swift motion, Alfie brought Lucia onto his lap. A slight blush appeared on both of their faces as they began to showcase their love for the last time. 

***

A few days passed since that groundbreaking revelation in Lucia's office. Currently, the thunderstorm clouds hang right above Pronoe, simply waiting. 

Around the borders of the empty city, several groups stood ready with days of rations and navigators to their new homes. 

Alfie stood in the middle of the city ready near a large pile of logs, contemplating his next few actions. 

Looking to the temple he sees the Chief watching from a window.

He took a deep breath before grabbing a nearby torch and igniting the dry bundle of logs. 

As the smoke reached the sky, the groups, having received their signal, started their march for new land. 

Alfie looked towards the general direction of the group led by Lucia. He silently prayed for the protection of his wife and unborn child. 

He glanced towards the temple, pondering whether or not to say farewell to the old man before he would take his own life. 

Alfie knocked on the Chief's door, no response. A bit strange but Alfie decided to wait before knocking again. 

A few minutes went by and now it was starting to drizzle outside. The sound of distant thunder and lightning was getting closer. 

Alfie decided to knock again, no response. Feeling something amiss Alfie warned the Chief of his intrusion before opening the door. 

The smell of something rotting immediately hit Alfie's nose. The room was clean and tidy but a pungent smell wafted through the air. 

Alfie stepped out of the room, taking deep breaths to keep himself from gagging. The old man had beaten Alfie to it. 

Alfie went to the kitchen, grabbing a jug of water before chugging it down. The smell of the room still lingered in his mind. 

Although Alfie had supposedly already felt death, he wasn't accustomed to any of its lingering effects it seemed. 

He had seen the Chief just this morning as well, saying his farewells and giving his blessings to the groups. 

Knowing that he was now dead in his room rotting, felt unreal. 

It was now pouring outside, and a heavy mist had rolled onto the whole city. 

Alfie felt the Chief deserved a proper burial, and although the smell was terrible he felt that as the only one left it was up to him. 

He gathered his composure and went back into the room. Looking closer a small pool of unknown liquid was leaking from the closet.

Steading his nerves he opened its doors. With a thump, the rotting corpse of the Chief's body rolled onto the ground. 

Unable to control himself, Alfie quickly exited the room and began to throw up. 

The smell had gotten ten times worse and the sight of the Chief's body made it all the worse. 

Alfie despite it all steeled his mind to drag the body outside and dig a pitiful grave. 

He placed a metal coin underneath the Chief's tongue before burying the old man. 

Alfie's hands ached in pain, although the soil was soft digging a man-sized hole wasn't easy. 

Feeling tired, Alfie walked back into the temple. Wet, cold, and exhausted he felt even worse about the death of his friend. 

Trying not to gag with a rotting corpse nearby was nearly impossible. The level of decay was horrific. 

No, in fact, that decay was impossible… Alfie had seen the Chief alive this morning. But then… 

Alfie grabbed the dagger hoisted on his waist and took aim at his neck, fully prepared to end himself right there. 

Just as the dagger's edge-nicked his skin, chains of lightning binded his limbs.

Walking out of the Chief's room, a young pale-toned man with bright blond hair stepped into view. His blue eyes and handsome face mocked the trapped Alfie. 

"Calm yourself. I can't have you die so soon." He said. 

"Congrats on the kid by the way. Too bad you won't see him grow up, but we all can't win can we." He taunted. 

Alfie tugged on the chains, struggling in a futile attempt to do anything while He approached. 

"Funny little bug aren't you. Times up though, sadly." He replied. 

Reaching close enough, He places his hand on Alfie's head and begins to connect to his soul. 

In a void of pure darkness, a single star shines. 

Zeus connects his own soul to Alfie's in the hope of converting the mortal into his avatar. 

Reaching Alfie's soul space, instead of seeing the normal speak of light which he used to dwarf, he sees a monstrous star. 

His soul, which already stood at the impressive size of a planet, is dwarfed by a star a million times larger. (A good size comparison is between the earth and our sun).

Zeus stood in shock for a moment before coming to his senses. He had to leave, something of this caliber shouldn't have been here. 

The star however detected the intruder, and in its discovery of something new lunged towards its escaping prey. 

Biting down, it manages to consume nearly half of its being before it can escape. 

***

A wail erupts from the once smug Zeus, and he falls to the ground clutching his heart. 

"WHAT IN THE FUCK ARE YOU." 

With Zeus's concentration gone, the chain that once stopped Alfie disappeared from existence. The dagger pierces his neck ensuring a slow but assured death. 

While the life fades out of Alife's limbs, he can still hear the wailings of that god. 

"YOU BITCH. YOU'RE WIFE AND CHILD WILL PAY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. THEN WE'LL SEE WHO HAS THE LAST LAUGH." 

With a flash of lightning, Zeus disappears from his sight leaving in the direction of Lucia's group.

The dagger still lodged in his neck, Alfie begins to crawl desperate to do anything before he succumbs to the void.