another portal and returning
floats right beside his throne.
the diorama. Janus quickly twists
to his own abode of doors,
He firmly takes hold of the bow
the key again, freezing the image
passages and in-betweens.
and lowers the bit to the ever
and zooming in even further
changing liquid. The moment the
towards Chronos’ face until that
dais that is the center of his home.
two connect the liquid shudders a
is the only thing left in the image.
The warm, pinkish light of the star
moment before rising up, slowly
Janus slowly leans forward, his
cloud that shelters the floating
forming a three-dimensional
head turning around to the young
dais, and its many connected
representation of the crime scene
face right before it comes to a rest
stairways and doors, lends a soft
he left minutes before. Once the
in his palm as he looks intently at
and comfortable glow to the throne
shapes have formed and every
the face of his fellow primordial.
and table placed in the middle
participant is clearly defined the
What triggered this ripple of
of the circle. On top of the table,
starry sky pattern gives way to
change? What shocked the master
which consists of a horizontal door
the original colors, including the
of time so? These questions and
supported by one of four massive
lightning of the invisible sun and
more spun around in his head as
keys in each corner, stands a
the shadows it casts. The diorama
he slowly turns the key, the image
silver bowl filled with a liquid
begins moving when this process
moving around the scene, stopping
version of the galactic sky above,
is complete, starting with Chronos
to inspect every face, every
constantly moving, changing. He
appearing on the scene. Twisting
expression, every possible detail.
floats over to the throne made out
the key that is now fully engulfed
When the image comes to
of door panels and keys and sits
in the liquid, the diorama zooms
the bloody arrow protruding from
down, immediately comfortable
in on the Lord of Time, following
the corpse of the boy, a smile
when he leans back and touches
his every move. The moment that
appears on Janus’ lips and his
the familiar worn wood.
the little boy comes into view, and
eyes glow a little brighter. ■
Janus steps onto the circular
With a flick of his wrist he
summons a key shaped staff which
Chronos comes to a halt in wide
eyed shock, a ripple flows through
The SMITE Community Magazine Issue #8
By Jorg van der Velden
The GameOn Magazine 47