Page 38 - SMITE Official Magazine Issue 20
P. 38
FICTION
on his own bed no less, a giant spectre of a man, a “You’ve seen how your words can affect
ghost so tremendous he wobbled and shook across uurp affect others,” the ghost said, “but now
his body, even after death. He wielded the specter you’ll see how your behavior does, how it
of a jug filled with festive holiday booze. Apollo changes the lives of those you meet.”
couldn’t help but notice the way the ghost’ huge “Oh? And who have I met that resides
coat barely stretched to cover most of his belly. here,” Apollo said, taking in the low-quality
“What manner of theft is this,” Apollo housing around him. “None I associate
demanded, gesturing to his room. with would live in such squalor.”
“It’s not theft,” the ghost said, accenting “On the contrary,” the ghost said, smiling at
the word with a huge burp. “I’m sharing!” him. Apollo suddenly felt very small under that
“Sharing your meaningless festivities, then?” knowing gaze, very small indeed. With one finger
“And my meaningless sentiment!” the pointed, the rotund spirit indicated the doorway
spirit cried out. “I’m the Ghost of Christmas to the next room, which Apollo took quickly.
Presents... uhhh, I mean, Present, I think. Yes.” Inside the next room, a compact and
“And what are you here to show me?” threadbare kitchen, he saw Ymir, his clerk, and
“I’ll show you,” the spirit replied most trusted employee. All around him were his
in kind. “Drink this!” family, in rags and worse, but none the worse for
And without further ado, the giant man leapt wear; in fact, Apollo noted with some unease,
forward like a snake and pressed the hefty jar they were smiling and seemed quite happy.
tightly against Apollo’s lips, forcing him to drink. As Apollo watched, a tiny mountain in
As his vision swam, the world around them came human form, a child almost as fat as his ghost
back into clear focus elsewhere entirely. host, was using a huge rod to flatten some
It was a small, cozy house, if stripped a bit bare, dough. The round kid started cutting out cookie
but it was unfamiliar to Apollo. The ghost, however, shapes with glee, to the delight of his parents;
made himself at home and hammered down another his mother, Nu Wa, floated over and nodded
quaff of his strange ectoplasmic concoction. appreciatively as she helped him open the other.
38 The Official SMITE Magazine Issue #20 The GameOn Magazine