"Skanda and the Sun"

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—From "Tales of the God Latocles"

The history of the God Latocles is closely intertwined with that of the Sun God Tidan, and it is believed that he attained godhood during the ancient Durandal Era. However, Latocles is still considered to be a Minor Deity by theologians, due to being raised to godhood while still maintaining a close relationship with humanity. Below are some myths that support this theory.

"How long has it been?"

"Just over ten years."

"It has been a long time, hasn't it? This place is so far away, might explain it."

"Oh, don't worry about it."

Two people are walking side by side, a large man and a modest young woman. The man is the Sun God, Tidan, while the woman is simply a resident of the area. There aren't many outsiders that come around to this particular land, and so the area is known for its unique dialect.

"Is that him?" Tidan asks, as he points to a boy.

"Yes, that is Latocles."

"He's quite large for a boy of only ten years." Certainly, the boy called Latocles was indeed quite a large child, nearly the size of the rest of the adult men in the village.

"He grew up twice as fast as the other children. In fact, rumors arose that he might have the blood of the Sun God in his veins, if not his actual child."

"That's not surprising," Tidan says, laughing. Interested in the boy, Tidan watched as Latocles ran around. "It's like watching a monkey!"

Latocles was quite energetic as he played, running across fields, climbing trees, jumping over rivers, and back again. He was a lively child, and as he approached the two, Tidan stood in front. Latocles looked up at the god, curiosity on his face as he looked at the outsider.

"You're quite fast, my boy. Keep that up, those legs are what make you who you are. Keep training them, and take care." With a large hand, Tidan pats Latocles on the head, as he shyly replies, "Yeah, yeah, I will."

"It may be another ten years before I can make it back. Until then, please keep an eye on him, and let him grow up as any other boy would." Tidan tells the woman standing next to him, as she hadn't left his side the entire time. With those words, Tidan took his leave.

The next time Tidan came to the small village where Latocles lived, it wasn't ten years later, but only seven. Upon his arrival, Tidan found the woman he had talked to the last time, and told her, "I'm going to borrow Latocles for a while."

With a sharp yell, she called for the boy, and Latocles came running. While he had not grown much taller in the seven years, the boy's legs grew much faster than before, and Tidan nodded in satisfaction.

"You have grown up quite well, my boy. Now, though, I have a role for you to play." Just as he had done back then, Tidan laid his hand on Latocles' head, patting the boy with his large hands. Blushing a bright red, Latocles nodded. The woman, noticing that Latocles is too nervous to speak, asks, "What would you have him do?"

"Recently, there have been a lot of troubles" Tidan said to the two of them. "I need someone to bring gifts and words to my friends, who are scattered all over Raxia by this point."

"Oh, that sounds like it would be a perfect job for Latocles. As you saw, he's become incredibly quick on his feet." When Latocles realized that he was to be entrusted with a major task, he nodded his head in agreement.

"Please, sir, call me 'Skanda'." he said.

Tidan wondered what the term 'skanda' meant, when the woman spoke up. "'Skanda' is a local word, a title that has been handed down among those from this land. Only the very fastest are called 'Skanda', and it is a great honor to be given the name."

"I understand," Tidan says, cheerfully, and soon him and Latocles leave the village behind.

From that point on, 'Skanda' Latocles began to work for Lord Tidan as a messenger. His job was to carry packages, letters and messages not only to the gods, but their followers and the public as well, all throughout Raxia. He was quite fast, and serious about his duties. He never lost a parcel or letter, and when asked to give a message, he memorized it word for word and delivered it to the intended recipient. Because of his work, he became beloved by the gods, and was often asked to perform errands for them. Lyphos, the Divine Ancestor, the Flame Emperor Grendal, and the God of Wisdom Kilhia all had Latocles run errands and carry packages for them.

Yet, Latocles was loyal to Tidan, and always returned to the Sun God. Tidan had very fond of Latocles, and always had an eye on the young man, and were seen together quite often. So much so, that when Tidan's Reflective Mirror was stolen, Latocles was the first to notice. The mirror was a precious gift from Kilhia to Tidan, and it was Latocles that had brought it to Tidan, traveling quite a long distance to do so.

The thief had taken off like the wind, and Ltocles used his vaunted speed to follow suit. No one had ever outrun him before, and he was determined that no one ever would. Upon discovering that Latocles was following him, the thief was surprised. Yet, for as much as Latocles ran after the thief, the gap between the two never seemed to diminish.

At least, until the thief began to lose his breath. Latocles never gave up, though, and steadily began to close the distance. However, the thief looked around and did not stop trying to escape, and quickly climbed a nearby tree. They had run into a forest, and so the thief was able to jump from tree to tree in hopes that he would escape the young man. Latocles quickly climbed up the tree in pursuit, though, and chased the thief from branch to branch. Without knowing better, an onlooker would think that there were two monkeys chasing each other in the trees.

Soon, the two came to a large river, deep and swirling. The sound of a waterfall downstream rumbled , and yet the chase continued. The thief leapt over the river in a single jump, followed by Latocles. Though he was afraid that if he fell in he would be wept down to the waterfall and dashed to pieces on the rocks below, he leapt across the mighty river as well.

The chase continued for three days and three nights, eventually entering a deep, dark forest. The trees were so close together they were tangled almost like the walls of a maze, and neither one could remember which way to turn. The thief finally stopped and laughed as Latocles caught up.

"This mirror is amazing, you know. It remembers everything that it saw, including how I got here, so I can go home from here. You, on the other hand, are stuck here forever, you idiot." Laughing again, the thief turned around and disappeared into the dark forest. Latocles lost sight of the thief, and the thief was happy he was no longer being chased.

Following the Reflective Mirror, the thief found his way out of the dark woods, jumped back over the river, and followed the path of trees in the forest. Once he was out of the forest, he could go his own way and escape on his own. To his surprise, though, he found both Tidan and Latocles waiting for him outside of the woods. Latocles, who the thief had last seen in the dark, mazelike woods.

"H-how? How did you get ahead of me?" The thief was stunned that he had managed to not only find his way out, but also beat him back out of the woods.

"I was asked by Tidan and the other gods to deliver their packages and letters over and over again. I traveled many roads, passed through many different places, and I remembered every single path." Latocles explained to the thief. "The mirror, powerful as it is, can only remember the one way it took, and no others. I remembered all of the paths between there and here, and some just happened to be much faster than others."

Defeated, the thief surrendered. Tidan stepped forward, caught the thief, and took the mirror back. Impressed by his performance, Tidan then praised Latocles for his determination in catching the thief, and used the mirror to elevate Latocles to godhood.

The mirror could remember what it saw, and reflect it back. Unfortunately, what the mirror remembered of Latocles was his blinding speed, how well he could climb trees, and how he could leap across great rivers. In the end, Latocles was never anything more than what he already was. He didn't care, though, and the other gods thought it was important for him to remain as humble as he is, and that was enough.