Tyranny of Steel

At the moment, Berengar was seated in his office, drawing out a series of blueprints designed to create a significant improvement in his country's technology. There were a lot of devices that he could create that were powered strictly by electricity. Many of these devices were simply for convenience, but others were necessary for the growth of his Empire.

It was because of this that the young German Emperor planned to make use of the natural energy resources that were abundant across Austria and Germany. One of these energy sources was the bountiful rivers that flowed through the realm. It was his intention to start his energy production via hydroelectric dams. After all, such power plants only needed resources such as earth, concrete, and steel, all of which Germany had an abundance of.

The basic function of a Hydroelectric dam was actually quite simple. In summary, the River would flow through the dam until it hit a turbine. The pressure of this water would turn the turbine, and the turbine would start the generator above, which would then send a current through long distance power lines and into the city. As for the excess water, it would escape safely out the other side of the dam and back into the river.

Berengar intended to set up his first Hydroelectric Dam in the inn river outside the city of Kufstein. The reason for this was he had always favored introducing new inventions to the capital first, and then slowly spread them across the Empire, thus making the Capital the most desirable place to live among the citizens. It was a matter of convenience that a large tributary of the Danube flowed through the city of Kufstein.

Now, with the future of electricity on the horizon, Berengar could begin introducing a better public transportation system across the growing metropolis. Chiefly in the form of trolleys and subways. This would solve one of his biggest recurring headaches. After finishing the design of the simple yet effective Hydro-electric dam, Berengar laid back in his chair and pulled out a glass chalice which he filled with fortified wine. He believed he had earned the right to enjoy himself on this day.

As he was taking a sip from the alcohol, a knock resounded on his door. Berengar didn't even have time to answer as the doorway was opened, revealing the pregnant figure of his wife, Linde. The woman quickly walked over to Berengar and laid a report down on his desk. The folder was stamped Top Secret and contained critical information that had shocked Linde when she read it. There was a look of fury on her face as she asked the question on her mind.

"Did you know?"

Berengar quickly grabbed hold of the folder and skimmed through its contents, however before doing so, he has for clarification on the matter.

"Did I know what?"

Linde only responded with a harrumph before letting her husband read through the documents. After taking a look at the document, it was from his recently established department of archeology. They had been digging diligently through the German Empire in search of anything of historical value.

They found a lot of interesting items in the time since they were established, but recently the archeologists uncovered an old runestone in the black forest of ancient Germania. The runestone appeared to be written in the blood of humans and contained a prophecy.

The historians had some difficulty translating the elder futhark ruins into the current variation of the German language, but after a year's worth of progress, and a massive budget, they finally cracked the code. If the stone was to be believed, then the prophecy appeared to have been written by the norns, which one might consider the Germanic version of the Greek sisters of fate.

This prophecy contained a story eerily reminiscent of Berengar's journey so far in this life. In summary, it stated that in an era where a foreign religion had replaced the ancient faith, a godless man would arrive from another world and would unify the Germanic people in an act of rebellion against the Semitic god.

Whether this was literal or figurative, Berengar did not know. Rebellion against god? well it was true he had started his own branch of Christianity that could be considered a heresy, but he had no intentions of actually waging war against the Abrahamic deity. How would that even be possible?

Linde could tell by the confusion on Berengar's face that he was as stunned as she was. However, she was convinced that he knew something she didn't and began to interrogate him for answers.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Berengar wore an awkward smile as he tried to explain his circumstances to her.

"Look, I already told you I have no idea how I came into this world, or who brought me here. However, I may have left out the fact that I have stumbled on some clues during my journies. Granted, I still don't know if these were reality, or delusions..."

Linde was not amused. She wanted to know everything about Berengar so much so that it was bordering on the obsessive. Since Berengar had revealed the truth to her; she had been coordinating with the Department of Archeology in order to find some clues about Berengar's unique existence. She did not know that the runestone they discovered during the early days of their search was such a critical component. Thus, she was frowning as she inquired further into the details.

"What clues?"

Berengar poured himself another drink before answering the woman's question.

"So, you remember when I went to the border in Frisia quite some time ago?"

The woman nodded her head in silence, causing Berengar to continue his story.

"On my way back, we stopped next to this mysterious patch of woodlands which was covered in fog. When I fell asleep that night I awoke inside the woodlands, where a small girl claiming to be the ancient goddess Baduhenna approached me. She told me some very vague notions about my fate and gave me a boon of courage."

Linde bit her lip in displeasure. Why was she not surprised there was another woman in Berengar's life that he managed to keep a secret from her? She could only calm her wrath and continue investigating this matter.

"Is there anything else about?"

Initially, Berengar didn't want to inform Linde of this next part as he thought it would make her worry, but he decided to anyway now that she was asking him directly.

"Remember when I went missing in the colonies? Well, during that time I came across these ancient ruins, which supposedly housed an ancient goddess whose name is forgotten in history. She told me that there are gods who have plans for me, and she said she removed the claim that the Abrahamic god had over my soul due to my baptism at birth..."

Linde was shocked when she heard this, and instantly became anxious. She spared no second to ask the question on her mind.

"What do you mean by that? What claim? Do I have a claim on my soul?"

Berengar nodded his head silently before revealing his thoughts on the matter.

"The gods I've come across have been deliberately vague, but I think so. After all, you were baptised as a baby just like me. Basically, think of it this way: there are multiple gods, multiple afterlives, etc. Most of these gods have their own realms, which they bring the souls of their followers to after death. But the Abrahamic god is an asshole. He had me destined to go to hell. Can you believe that?

Anyway, from my limited understanding, it takes another deity to remove the claim of another god. I don't know how they do it, and it hurts like hell. However, once it's removed, I pretty much have the freedom to choose whatever afterlife I want to go to. Or so I think, like I said, the gods are deliberately vague..."

Linde was completely stunned when she heard all this. It sounded like the ramblings of a madman, or perhaps some shitty fiction made by a terrible writer. Either way, she had a hard time believing it, but if it was true, there was one serious matter on her mind that worried her more than anything.

"So we're not going to be together for eternity?"

The crazy look in Linde's eyes shocked Berengar. She was serious about being with him for eternity, the idea that they would be apart after death weighed heavily on her conscience. Berengar had to think of a way to calm the woman, or she might do something foolish.

"Unless we can find another god to remove the claim on your soul... Even then, I don't know if it costs the deity anything to do it. It seemed the great goddess of Teotihuacán removed mine on a whim, so I really don't know if there are any rules behind this."

Linde sat down in her chair in disbelief. She had firmly believed she and Berengar would be together for eternity, even after death. It was the only thing that made her somewhat believe in the christian faith. However, this news like a like a bombshell, dropped on her heart. It took her a few moments to cope with it. In the end, she gritted her teeth and walked out the door. When Berengar saw this, he called out to her with a hint of worry in his tone.

"Linde, dear, where are you going?"

A single response resounded on the other side of the door, one which shocked Berengar to the core of his being.

"To hunt down a god!"