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A New Beggining
It was during the festival of Quinquatria, on the fifth day after the Ides of March, that she was summoned by a mass ritual of worship by the locals. Minerva flew down in the form of an owl to watch the contests of gladiators bloody each other in the coliseum. Perched on the granite archway of one of the enormous entrances, she scowled as the gladiators impaled frightened wild beasts with their javelins for the event Venatio. Thousands of wild animals; such as lions, elephants, bears, deer, wild goats, dogs, and rabbits, would be slaughtered in this one day celebration prior to the gladiator battles later on. Her large oval eyes started unblinking at the wasteful carnage being slaughtered below her perch. She did not approve of this ritual, but yet it was being held in her honor. Minerva sulked in her owl form, crying the unseen tears of woe from within.
Every year around this time of season was the same for this Roman culture, and every year she wept for the extravagant loss of life as a tribute to her. The next following day held the execution of convicted Roman citizens of lower status, the humiliores. This was a favorite crowd pleaser. The customary methods of execution included burning at the stake, crucifixion, or ad bestias. The prisoner are left alone in the ring with one or more starved and abused wild animals in tempt their fate. This Life or Death trial that usually resulted in a Death Sentence. Those lucky , skilled, or smart enough to avoid death, were ushered back into their cells to stand trial again on another day. The ever watchful owl remained impassive to the human loss of life.
The Romans preformed elaborate literary plays, using convicts as the main character of the production, forced to play his role. But instead of a happy ending, the main character— the convict — would be mauled by a bear, whom he fought without weapons or armor. This gory style of theater did not please Minerva . No, not in the least little bit. The owl spread her wings and flew off the archway to settle upon a branch in observation of gentler contests of orators and poets, who recited their life's work to a quiet crowd. Nearby, women fortunetellers were busy divining the wheels of astrology for a glimpse of their clientele's future. Minerva blinked once her large yellow eyes, touched emotionally by the performances. She was the goddess of music, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, and magic.
This were her people, yet as ashamed, and equally as proud of them as she was, Minerva would abandon them. She had grown discontent with the all too familiar tradition of Quinquatria. It was time for her to broaden her horizons and seek a more personal adventure elsewhere. So, spread her wings once more, she did, as Minerva took flight to an unknown destination.
For nearly a century of her immortal life she journeyed to realms far away from the mindless brutality of the Roman Empire, searching for a place that more suited her more intimate passions. Minerva would eventually find herself in the Island chain of Atlantis. The Owl that was she, landed outside a small town at the outskirts of the Realm. She stayed a few weeks, hunting the mice for food. She would study the human denizens in judgment of their hearts, assessing if they were worthy of her divine presence.
Traveling by the moonlit night, she venture deeper into the legendary realm of ancient gods, and circled the magnificent ancient castle of Atlantis. There was a dark foreboding magnetism to this place, but yet one so familiar that it gave a déjà vu sensation within her. Like a moth attracted to a bright flame, unbeknownst that it will get its wings burnt off, she could not resist the creepy thrill that this evil place stirred in her. She flew down to the massive front door and transformed in an ethereal flash of radiance, into her human form. Minerva reached out to pull at the heavy brass knocker. Bang! Bang! Bang! She waited for someone to respond.
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