Posted by Mavis ran back to his armory as he watched the boy getting closer to the giant double doors leading out of The Pit.
Just as Mavis got back the child was walking in as the door was closing behind him. The chant of Aker could still be heard. The chant so loud that a slight vibration could be felt under foot as Mavis stood there.
The boy walked up to the armory and set down his knifes.
“Thank you for wrapping me up earlier. It really helped me, I’m not sure I would have walked away without serious injuries without it”.
Mavis was slightly stunned as the boy said to him. The boy was holding his right arm as he spoke showing off Mavis’s handy work.
“I’m just glad I could help Aker if even just a little.”
Mavis meant it from the bottom of his heart. Just the thought of this child being ripped apart was enough to distort his face at the thought.
The boy stared back at him with a confused face.
“Why are you calling me Aker? I heard them calling out for Aker….why? I assumed it had something to do with me but I couldn’t figure it out.”
“Hahahahaha…..of course you wouldn’t know!” Mavis answered with a somewhat smug look on his face.
After seeing the fight of this child Mavis found himself surprisingly excited to explain to the boy the meaning behind the chant. Very few times in the History of The Pit did one of the fighters earn a nickname much less one as significant as Aker. All of them went on to become Legends of The Pit. Being a legend of The Pit didn’t mean much as still most of them ended up dead and for those that earned their way out of The Pit what awaited them outside was not luxurious as they would spend the rest of their lives scraping by at the bottom.
“After hearing everyone calling out the name I just called out to you with it naturally. Add in that I hadn’t heard yer name and it makes perfect sense.”
Mavis began with the explanation of why he had called the boy Aker.
“Aker is a name specific to our brothers and sisters. Outside of our family there isn’t anyone who would know or understand its significance.”
Mavis began his explanation as the boy quietly listened in.
“Aker is the guardian God Of Death and is the child of the God’s Osiris and Morrigan who protects and guards the gates of life and death. He would often visit his prey in different forms but is often thought of and depicted as a child. This God Of Death would slay mercilessly as he enforced the will of the heavens.”
Mavis watched as a smile slowly spread on the face of the boy standing in front of him. Because the boy was covered from head to toe in the blood of the Kulga his smile stood out like a candle on a night where the moon is in hiding. So even though his smile was not large it was blindingly bright.
“The God Aker represents protection, justice, strength and above all else certain death. Aker would protect the gates from those that weren’t worthy to enter. He used his two swords to cut, kill and dismember those that tried to sneak into the heavens, those that he deemed unworthy and those that the heavens wanted gone.”
Mavis was trying hard to stay neutral as he talked about Aker but it was hard not to show his reverence as he spoke. Like all of his brothers and sisters Mavis believed in the Gods and specifically believed the Gods are where they got their strength from.
“None of us are good people. We lie, cheat, steal and kill. We are robbers and bandits. We make our living by being stronger than the others and taking what we want. The God Aker is the one who protects heaven when we die and judges us worthy to enter. That’s part of the reason The Pit is here. Despite our role in the universe we have a code that all brothers and sisters must follow”.
Mavis explained to here as he watched the expression on the boys face. He was surprised as the boy’s expression never changed even as he spoke about how crooked they were as well as the code they lived by. Perhaps he didn’t understand? Mavis decided it would be best to continue the explanation and answer any questions the boy had afterwards.
“Our code lives up to the Gods expectations and keeps us from becoming monsters. Our code is simple but absolute.”
Mavis said as he held up his pointer finger. “First, never kill or harm children.”
He stated it mater of factually and without hesitation. It was obvious to anyone listening this was a core belief. Mavis continue on with the code that governed them.
“Second, never rape or take women and children. Third, never take everything from the poor and weak, in essence leave enough for them to survive. Fourth, never steal from the brothers and sisters. It is perfectly ok to plot and scheme against each other but we are absolutely forbidden from taking from each others mouth through theft. Fifth and finally, never do anything that would jeopardize all of the brothers and sisters such as fighting an army from some planet in our name.”
With each number called out by Mavis a finger was raised until all five of his fingers on his right hand were extended out.
“There are lots of reasons for our code but I think for the most part the code was written the way it is to make sure that on our judgment we can face the Gods with a clear conscience. Death is a common occurrence in our line of work. Everyone who takes a client, robs, or does anything else knows that every time they go out they might not come back. Because of that we all follow the code pretty seriously.”
Mavis watched as the boy nodded his head up and down as if though he understood. Mavis found himself nodding his head up and down in appreciation of the boy standing in front of him. The more he saw this child the more he liked him.
“So while Aker may be a God Of Death, a protector and a bringer of judgement most of our brothers and sisters revere and appreciate him. It may sound ridiculous that our group of the Underground would appreciate a God of justice and judgement but the Gods give us our strength and will guide us in our death.”
Mavis watched as the boy put his head down as he stared at the ground. Because Mavis could not see his face he couldn’t see what he was thinking. He watched as the boy stood there without moving for 30 seconds. Finally the boy looked up and stared into Mavis’s eyes.
Mavis couldn’t help but marvel at the shine in the boy’s eyes. They were shining as brightly as a full moon on a calm lake.
The boy set the knifes down on the table and then did something that Mavis wasn’t expecting at all.
He extended his hand out and held it in front of Mavis.
Huh, this little child was putting his hand out as if though he was some grown man to this giant man. Anyone watching from the side would be left without words at such a site. It would be closer for an ant to try and shake hands with an elephant.
Mavis couldn’t help but laugh under his breadth at this site laughing as he extended his hand.
“Good…This old man is named Mavis. You probably already understood this but it’s worth sayin again but I handle all of the weapons, armor and such here.”
The boy’s small grin from earlier extended from ear to ear as Mavis held this tiny hand in his. With the slightest pressure not just his hand but his entire arm would be crushed.
Suddenly with no hesitation, no fear and with enough confidence to stop Mavis the boy responded.
“Glad to meet you, my name is Aker….Let’s get along in the future”.
Mavis’s jaw dropped as he listened to the boy…no as he listened to Aker formally give his name. Everyone was chanting it. Even he slipped and called him by it. But to truly take on the name of the God Of Death as a small child what kind of crazy was that. There was only one thing that Mavis could do. He looked him right in the eye and told him.
“Hahahahahahah…..Yes, Yes…let’s get along in the future Aker.”