Veritas University, nestled deep within the Oregon wilderness, is no ordinary school. Here, the study of ancient deities isn't just academic—it's a visceral, almost devotional practice. Within its hallowed halls, two brilliant scholars stand poised for a clash that will shatter the boundaries between mortal and divine: Lysandra Vale, the ice queen of Minerva, goddess of wisdom, and Corrin Morholt, the charismatic devotee of Mars, the god of war.
Their rivalry, a volatile cocktail of intellect and ambition, ignites when the coveted title of Archkeeper comes into play. Their competition escalates from scholarly debates to a dangerous game of one-upmanship, a reckless pursuit of power that threatens to awaken forces beyond their comprehension. Caught in the crossfire are Elara Quinn, a gifted student with a secret psychic ability, and Silas Finch, a skeptical historian whose rational world is about to be turned upside down.
Veritas isn't just about dusty textbooks; students perform ancient rituals, the air thick with whispered reverence and palpable energy. This potent environment becomes the crucible for Lysandra and Corrin’s escalating ambitions. Driven by whispers in forgotten texts, they independently stumble upon forbidden rituals promising to summon their respective deities. Blinded by their thirst for recognition, they ignore the ancient warnings, unleashing a cataclysm upon Veritas.
The gods arrive, not as benevolent guides, but as flawed, power-hungry entities, mirroring the very flaws of their mortal champions. Minerva, consumed by a chilling need for control, and Mars, fueled by a bloodlust that reflects Corrin’s own ambition, transform Veritas from sanctuary to battleground. Statues weep blood, texts combust, and reality itself begins to unravel.
As chaos reigns, Elara’s psychic visions intensify, revealing the gods’ true intentions, while Silas’s skepticism crumbles beneath the weight of undeniable evidence. Lysandra and Corrin, faced with the horrifying consequences of their actions, must forge an uneasy alliance. The rituals that summoned the gods now hold the key to sealing them away — a perilous undertaking demanding not only their combined intellect but a brutal reckoning with their own shortcomings.
With the fate of Veritas, and perhaps the world, hanging in the balance, they must navigate their volatile partnership, guided by Elara’s visions and Silas’s research. The final confrontation takes place within Veritas’s grand library, a heart-pounding clash of divine might. The sealing ritual reveals a profound truth: the gods are not omnipotent beings, but reflections of human hopes, fears, and ambitions, sustained by the very belief of their followers.
In the aftermath, Veritas is forever changed. The students, once naive disciples, emerge with a newfound understanding of the complexities of belief and the responsibility that comes with power. Lysandra and Corrin, humbled by the experience, find a grudging respect for each other, their rivalry tempered by shared trauma. But the battle is far from over. The Shattered Symposium becomes a chilling reminder of the delicate dance between belief and skepticism, ambition and responsibility, and the ongoing struggle between the mortal and divine.

Hannah Greer

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