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Side Story 39: The Warbringer’s Stroll. [Second Draft]
🕑 Added 2022-08-08 20:23:58 +0000 UTCEdit: Pretty big update to the ending of this chapter. Kinda forgot to add it. Please, read!
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The day had ended for both Hestia and Fargryneill as they slumbered through the affairs of the night. An invasion might be ravaging the outskirts of the Yeos, and the rulers of the other countries of the Divide might be panicking during this night. Still, peace was audible for everybody to hear in Elyonda. After all, it was quiet, and this was bliss.
… But, let us turn back time for a moment.
To those in the know, there was a threat looming in the underbelly of this city. A threat that had been plotting not the destruction of Elyonda, but the slaying of the sealed SS rank Kahalantheel. While not part of the plan, the resulting battle would destroy the city without a doubt.
Only, this threat hadn't expected another plan was ongoing in this city, one that was far more nefarious than she would have been able to think of. And even if she complained, she wouldn’t have been unable to dissuade them, instead, they were sucked into it. The autonomy she had wished for? Gone.
And now, she was skulking the city’s alleyways, avoiding any eyes to reach her goal.
The third Warbringer of the demonkin prince of Wrath, Vifi’Yok. And instead of acting as one of the commanders of the demonkin army, she was moving through the city with the deftness of a former street urchin. With the addition of all her levels and her professional training, her movements were far too fast for anybody to catch on, even if they wanted to.
This level 150 demonkin was dressed in one of Bole’Taria’s — the demonkin’s kingdom — newest creation, invented by the demonkin’s lead artificer and innovator, the prince of Sloth. A black hooded trench coat, inconspicuous in the shadows, hiding the demonic aura of its owner from appraisal skills and even the eyes of a subordinate god.
A power that can even bypass a god’s eyes, although not strong enough to elude an Origin God’s. A creation that went beyond what the world would perceive as possible, another feat for the prince of Sloth in his continuous pursuit to break open the unknown. And a necessity the demonkins needed to continue their plans in the shadow, away from the eyes of those they plot against.
For the Origin Gods were forced by their own rules to not interfere too much in mortal affairs. On the other hand, the demonkins knew the subordinate gods could interfere by skirting Goddess Plesia’s rules without breaking them, which would earn them the Head Goddess’s ire. Evidently, as the Night Sisters, Bleidla, and Yeostar, amongst others, have been active concerning mortal problems. Not to mention, how the Night Sisters would periodically descend for entertainment.
As such, the prince of Sloth had made an item to counter this weakness. The demonkins had to move unnoticed, even from subordinate gods, hoping the Origin Gods wouldn’t interfere, and as such this [Shrouded Vigilance Jacket] was created. Although very few existed, due to the difficult process to make them, they were all given to operatives for high-scale operations.
For example, to eliminate the Champion of Yeostar forever.
Okay, almost there. Coast is clear. Vifi’Yok darted her head around from the shadows, making sure nobody was on the streets before her eyes were directed at a lone food stall. The aroma of frying fat, honey, and fragassa was wafting in the air, covering up the puke and alcohol smell from the streets.
Even with her jacket on, Vifi’Yok still had to be careful to not get found out. The clothing suppressed her demonic aura, but that also meant her abilities as well. It was similar to Ellaine and Klea’Hatma when they wanted to be incognito from demonkins. Not to mention, the clothing couldn’t hide their demon features.
<Effects: [Excited: 4%] [Anger: 0%] [Fear: 0%]>
Vifi’Yok wasn’t in L.E.P — low emotional potency — as she was giddy for something. Although Wrath demonkins were dissuaded from fully expressing their emotions outside of battle, demonkin society encouraged everybody to embrace their inner demon and desires. An antithetical ideology, and one many Wrath demonkins must live with.
Although this race was prone to violence and was known to produce powerful warriors, with low emotions, these demonkins could pass as humans as long as they hid their faces and skin. After all, their demonic features would only appear if they were emotional.
And what got this demonkin, one of the Warbringers of the demonkin army, so excited?
There she is!
The person this demonkin was staring at was Amelia, youngest daughter of Duke Greenveil of Artorias and also Aurora’s most important business partner. Owner of Olive’s Garden, Artorias’s largest pastry and sweets company, and also the future heir of the Sarlenzia company, the Greenveil Duchy’s largest merchant organization.
And Vifi’Yok had her eyes on her. Even if her visit to Elyonda was a surprise, the eyes of the demonkins and their supporters currently in the city wouldn’t miss the sudden success of a new food stall.
Two? Where are the other two? Hmm, that tall man looks more like a guard or soldier than some food stall merchant. The girl… posture, walking habits, skin… looks highborn. Why is she working like some lowborn?
The street was empty. Amelia and her grandfather were currently cleaning up their stall, ready to call it a day. While her grandfather and one of their knights had to deal with the local merchant guild, his granddaughter and their second knight were making sure to secure everything before they departed.
This was happening just moments after Hestia, Neill, and Rajah met them after their meeting with the bards. They weren’t out of the city just yet, but they also weren’t close. However, with a simple scream during this quiet night, Hestia would be able to make it over here in a matter of seconds.
Honestly, why only one guard? In the middle of the night? In a less populated street? Are they dumb? Any thief would strike now.
Vifi’Yok’s background as an urchin was speaking. She had stolen and killed for her survival in the demonkin kingdom, believing this was the only way for her to live. Although most of her targets were scum and trash — which she also considered herself before conscripting into the army — she had innocent blood on her hands. Although she hadn’t killed many soldiers, not even citizens, after becoming a soldier, she had no hesitation to do so for her country.
And Amelia right now was the perfect target for any lowlife.
‘Kay, gotta do this quick and quiet. No commotions and then out. This is my only chance, the best opportunity!
Vifi’Yok’s eyes locked onto Amelia as she moved out of an alleyway. Activating [Silence] and [Odorless], she moved through the street undetected by anybody. Without a Yeosian around, Yeostar could not warn Hestia of this encounter.
Without any hesitation, Vifi’Yok closed into the stall. Amelia’s knight did not detect her footsteps, and as such placed the prizes for the ring game into crates, leaving Amelia to clean the donut preparation area alone. And this was exactly what the demonkin wanted.
There was now nobody to stop her.
Now!
Vifi’Yok took a large step forward, her black eyes glistening out of her hood with her [Excited] reaching 18%.
“Eh!” Amelia’s body flinched as the small demonkin suddenly appeared in front of her. Although her voice eked out, Vifi’Yok was now close enough to kill her before she could scream.
It would only take a second for the Warbringer to rip the head off a normal noble girl. It was over…
…
“M-May I help you?”
“Yes, do you still have any donuts?” Vifi’Yok rattled her pouch of coins, showing she had money to spend.
… Yes, it was certainly over. Over with the whole sneaking.
“Excuse me!” Before Amelia could answer, her knight darted back the moment he heard her yelp, holding his hand in front of Amelia to protect her. “We are closed, unfortunately.”
Fast. Definitely a soldier, or maybe a knight? This girl is a highborn… Wait, what the devil?
“C-Closed?!” Vifi’Yok was shocked to hear that, only to quickly recompose herself before she let out her accent. “So you don’t have any donuts left? Can’t you sell any? I have money.”
“I apologize, but we ca—” The knight wanted to push the — to him — young girl away, not wanting to risk anything, but was interrupted before he could say it.
“Shouldn’t it be fine?” Amelia interjected, only for the knight to pull her away. Although they whispered, Vifi’Yok’s ears were strengthened by [Enhanced Auditory Sense].
“My lady, I know you wish to understand commoners better, but not now. We do not know when a thief will come. You must understand your position and how it’s nighttime. Not to mention, Lady Hestia is waiting for us.”
Hestia?
Vifi’Yok did not know the names of any of the members of Aurora. Although she knew the “Aurena dragon” was in the city, she was unaware what her name was. She had heard Saori, Tasianna, and Ellaine call out their names, but when they fought, she had not made any attempts to learn them.
Who was invested enough to learn the names of ants?
“… I apologize. Doing business now would be foolish.” Amelia nodded, coming to her senses how precarious her current situation was. As a merchant, she had only ever had to do business within her own walls or in the noble and merchant district, places far less frequented by cutthroats and random demonkins.
“I apologize, but we cannot serve you. However, if you wish, you can come back tomorrow, we—”
“I want one now.” Vifi’Yok put her foot down, angering the knight.
… because I don’t know if you’ll be alive tomorrow! Or here, in the city. Your lord will just call you to escape to the Empire and I can’t get any more donuts!
Vifi’Yok did not know Amelia’s association with Hestia, nor that she was the main distributor for the donuts. The last glazed donut Vifi’Yok ate came from a wandering merchant, who bought plenty of donuts from the time the Sarlenzia company was in Gleisvale to sell in other cities and towns for a higher price.
As such, she mistook her for a noble lady from Elyonda. Believing the warning and war declaration had arrived from the grimgarians, she believe Yeos’s prince would warn his aristocrats by morning. If that happened, Vifi’Yok’s chance to get her claws on another donut would probably be zero. As the moment the nobles departed to the Empire through the sea, the demonkins and their mercenaries would strike.
She believed Amelia was the original donut merchant, as she had not seen another person sell it. But, she didn’t know Amelia wasn’t Yeosian, but Artorian and could travel from one place to the next with Hestia’s nexus.
She only followed the tip of her apprentice and adjutant, Hee’Rlak, once news of the donut stand arrived. She observed them, learned it was called donuts, and all she could think up until now was that she needed to eat it. Although her jacket hid her presence from even Yeostar, she still didn’t want to risk being found out in broad daylight. As such, to her, this was her last chance.
Troubled by her response, Amelia didn’t know what to say, forcing the knight to grab his sword as he felt this girl was as suspicious as he thought. Vifi’Yok, on the other hand, didn’t react. She didn’t think of him as a threat, which only further aggravated the knight.
Ya wanna fight, punk? Come on, draw that stick. I’mma get my donuts one way or ‘nother! I can smell them!
“Please! That’s enough!” But before it could escalate, Amelia grabbed the knight’s hand, stopping him from following his instincts, and instead, placed a wooden plate with two donuts in front of Vifi’Yok.
Ooooooh! Her eyes widened.
“They already got cold, but they should still taste delicious. I can assure you that. One honey-glazed, and the other with fragassa.” Amelia smiled like a merchant, noticing how the demonkin’s head tilted downwards and didn’t move an inch afterwards.
<Effects: [Excited: 24%] [Anger: 0%] [Fear: 0%]>
“…” Vifi’Yok gulped silently, trying her best to control herself before her horns manifested. She couldn’t reveal herself and endanger the plan.
Although she knew her jacket would prevent such an accident by dulling her demonic abilities, it was just a reflex she had developed over the years. Wrath demonkins were told and taught, especially in the army, to never let their emotions rampage.
“How much?”
“Free. You may take them.”
“What?!” Vifi’Yok’s head snapped up, almost revealing her face before she pulled her hood down in a split second, barely even leaving an after-image for Amelia to see. She did not expect such an answer. “… Where’s the catch?”
“None. Free of charge.”
“…” Vifi’Yok glared at her Amelia, and although she couldn’t see it, the latter could feel the pressure.
To the demonkin, she’d never known a merchant who would give away things for free. After all, most merchants or entrepreneurs were Greed demonkins, and although they kept the economy running well in Bole’Taria, without any trading partners, there was no influx of outside wealth. Their merchant guild had a policy against giving out free products.
“I swear to the Goddess, I am not tricking you.” Amelia immediately answered before her knight could react to the hostility. “This is my ‘pay’ for the night. I cannot sell you anything right now since we actually don’t have any products to sell right now. However, considering you want these so much, you may have mine. I am a merchant, not a scammer.”
“…?” Vifi’Yok’s face softened, now genuinely surprised and unable to reply. She looked at the pink and orange donuts, taking in their smell as she tried to think how to respond. “… Are you tricking me?”
“No, no! Take them already! Jeez!” This time, Amelia became annoyed at her customer’s weird response. She pushed the two donuts into Vifi’Yok’s hands. “My word, it is as if you were not listening to me.”
Goddess, just like Ellaine. Amelia wanted to facepalm herself as the girl’s indecisiveness reminded her of Ellaine’s previous personality, before she met Hestia.
Vifi’Yok herself couldn’t believe what just happened, reducing her [Excited] meter by 10% from how this was resolved. Looking up, she saw Amelia having a complicated face — due to reliving some memories of her childhood with Ellaine — and the knight’s aghast expression. When she noticed her hood move, Amelia gestured for Vifi’Yok to try them.
Without answering, the demonkin girl did just that, trying out the less interesting honey-glazed donut. The moment she took the blissful bite, her eyes shot wide open, freezing her on the spot.
I-It’s even better than the last one!
The few seconds the piece of pastry lingered in her mouth, the more her saliva filled it. The sugary delight spread inside it, engulfing her tongue in the delectable spectacle. Instantly, her [Excited] shot right back up to 24%. She was barely able to stop her emotions from reaching 25%. Even if her horns wouldn’t manifest, she had to remain composed.
“Good?” Amelia smiled, happy to see her customer enriched by this experience.
Vifi’Yok didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. She was too focused on controlling her emotions. To stifle this, she took another bite into the donut. And then another. More and more, the little bit of pastry disappeared from her hand, now resting in her belly.
She stared at her empty palm. She could smell the lingering aroma of the donut on her glove. She wanted to lick them clean, but held back, not wanting to look like a hungry beggar. She took a deep breath, before raising her head.
“It was good. Thanks.”
“Hiehie, that is nice to hear.”
“Hrrrm…” She shied away from Amelia’s warm and carefree smile, feeling awkward at what happened. “Why did you share this? If it’s a debt you wanted, I’m not the kinda you can reap it from.”
Because you look like a vagrant. Amelia thought to herself, seeing how the girl was hiding her figure with the hooded jacket she was wearing. Regardless of what she was, the fact the girl was hiding herself was clear Amelia wouldn’t be able to hold her accountable for any debt, as she didn’t know who she was talking to.
“My lad—” Her knight wanted to stop her, but she spoke before he could.
“Well, you wanted it, no? Quite urgently even, with how you wouldn’t let us pack up for the night.” Vifi’Yok shrugged at her answer, but kept silent to the truth. “So, there you go. Besides, my benefactor has a soft spot for sharing her recipe to people, especially to those who like it as much as you did!”
“Benefactor?”
“Yes, donuts aren’t the only pastries we sell. All the recipes she gave me are—”
“W-Wait, you don’t?!” Vifi’Yok yelled out, surprised to hear there were even more unique snacks like this donut she just enjoyed.
Amelia flinched back a bit, shocked to hear the girl express herself so much. “U-Uh, that is correct… Well, I can’t say too much. So, please, don’t mind it too much. There is no debt you need to repay.”
Easy for you to say. Let it gnaw on my conscience. Vifi’Yok sulked, finding that answer unsatisfactory. Hearing her not have to pay her back for the donut made her believe she just stole from Amelia, a fact the demonkin found absolutely revolting.
Thievery? She wasn’t a street rat who had to live off crumbs anymore, she was a proud soldier of the demonkin army, and was even adopted into the Yok family for her military career. She was a Warbringer, a reaper of the battlefield, not some goblin who had to scavenge to survive. Her adopted father taught her how to act like a proud wrath demonkin, how to take pride in herself as a person, and how there was honor in accepting her past and using it as a catalyst to grow.
She would steal lives as a soldier now, but she couldn’t allow herself to stoop back to petty thievery. She didn’t care if her subordinates hated the humans or beastmen, or whatever the northerners thought of them, she wouldn’t allow anybody to steal or pillage under her. They would provide recompense, or they would be treated like criminals in her eyes.
Then again, it wasn’t like she could escape her own past. Hypocrite or not, she understood the value of becoming better than where you started. After all, might was right. The army was a place for meritocracy, where your power and feats mattered more than your birthplace.
“In any case, I hope you enjoy the other one. If you want any more, come back once morning comes, alright? Of course, you would have to pay~” Amelia clapped her hands, joyfully thinking of the number of profits she would make tomorrow. “We’ll be selling more than donuts tomorrow!”
“… Maybe.” She gave a half-hearted reply. “Oh, this benefactor of yours. Who is she?”
Vifi’Yok’s curiosity for the northern realms — anything outside of Bole’Taria, really — resurfaced. How could someone turn wheat, honey, and then fry it to make such a delicious piece of pastry? Sure, it was obvious now that it existed. People experimented with food all the time, but most of the time it would only make things worse or just slightly better.
To Vifi’Yok, this donut was the best piece of bread she had ever tasted. To her, it was a symbol of the north’s bountiful lands and how they would continuously improve their culture despite there being a war. To her, it was progression, and something she was envious of.
As such, who was this person who created such a thing? Who could invent and think of something that breaks the mold?
“Oh, you should have heard about her. Lady Hestia, that is her name.”
I should have? Hestia? There is that name again.
As mentioned before, Vifi’Yok did not know about Hestia nor could she remember the names of the members of Aurora. She only knew them as “Aurora’s pawns.” As she was also mostly hiding, she hadn’t heard much about the tournament, outside of her “enemy doing well in it.”
Hmm, a noble thought of this, huh? Just like Lord Sloth. An innovator, a changer of ways. Hmm, maybe we could get her on our side. Would be a shame to lose somebody… probably a human. Yeah, might be hard if you don’t worship the Edjurl gods already.
Vifi’Yok wanted to press Amelia for more information. Like many demonkins, she wanted to see her kingdom thrive. A certain amount of patriotic pride was instilled in her in the army, to the point she understood the outside world hated her and her kin, especially the Origin Gods.
However, unlike her Warbringer compatriots, she didn’t see how war could bring out a world the demonkins could dream off. Even if the Edjurl gods were to take over Peolynca, would it actually change? To Vifi’Yok, she didn’t know what to make of her “true gods,” as she felt more inclined towards Marsven. The Church of Marsven, after all, was the second largest religion in Bole’Taria, almost rivaling the Church of Edjurl as the denizens considered the God of Darkness a “true god.”
Still, she was only a soldier, not a thinker. As clever or witty as she thought she was, she knew all the political and heavy changes were for the bureaucrats to make.
“Anyway, thanks.” Understanding she had been here for too long now, she excused herself. “Oh, and, be careful, yeah? You should escape east by morning, through the mountains into Aleistunum.”
“Hmm?”
And without elaborating any further on that, Vifi’Yok ran away with the pink donut in her end, only stopping after she made it back into an alleyway.
That’s the debt settled. Hope she listens.
Vifi’Yok let out a short sigh, letting out some of her excitement from eating a donut. She stared at the one she received and took a big bite from it, almost wanting to squirm from the sugary delight on her tongue.
Sooo, good! … Hestia, or whatever your name is, hope you listen to that girl. Flee and get out of the city through the mountains. Any other way, and you’ll die under Lord Envy’s plan.
The Prince of Envy, the current false pope of the Church of Aurena, was the conductor of the invasion plans in Elyonda. The goal was clear: the permanent erasure of the Champion of Yeostar. This included not only the destruction of the blood but also the extinction of the Yeosian royal bloodline.
They had every possible escape route covered, ready to pounce on any group they saw. Through the sea? The pirates and grimgarian ships would catch them. Through land and into the other Divide countries? They were being invaded right now.
Even if they tried to call for aid from the other countries, Artorias, Atadoro and Rakatheen were all being invaded by grimgarians right now. Astraford, Estralia, and Aureolis were all preoccupied with internal matters right now. The Empire couldn’t spare an army, and they wouldn’t be able to react in time before the plans hatched.
In other words, the demonkins had successfully isolated Yeos from any possible ally… outside of one.
Aleistunum, the Magical Capital.
Not only did they not manage to consolidate any powers there with their operatives, but an army of grimgarians also wouldn’t have been able to stay there for long. After all, the magical capital wasn’t just the home of the world’s leading mages but also the home of the Blood Fortress Drascul, the Floating Kingdom of the Vampire Queen Vivachel. Invaders wouldn’t be tolerated.
But, as long as Aleistunum wouldn’t help Yeos, everything would be alright for the demonkins. Even if Yeos and Istari had a pleasant relationship over 2000 years ago, it couldn't be said about Aleistunum and Yeos. And the demonkins were leading this mission under this assumption.
As such, the only to escape was through Aleistunum… or Hestia’s nexus, but to the demonkins, they weren’t absolutely sure of her full space-time capabilities at this point. So, either the royal family fled with their nobles to the Empire and got ambushed by the many pirates, or they would trap themselves in the Arena of Yeostar.
Just like in history, the royal family could make themselves and their soldier's undying as long as they had their armlets on. The perfect defense against an invasion force… unless a being of unimaginable destructive capabilities were to be unleashed on it. A being with a hatchet to bury into Yeostar.
… My prize. It has to be weakened. Lord Envy entrusted me to kill it. I will.
Karhalantheel. Release him, let him loose on Elyonda, and have him end another threat to the demonkins: Melloxtressa. And once either were dead, allow Vifi’Yok to unleash her full power onto the weakened fighter.
The Prince of Envy had given Vifi’Yok two devices for this mission: One aimed at “Aurena’s Hound” and the other at the “ancient silver dragon” or Karhalantheel. Expecting “Aurena’s Hound” to rush out towards the grimgarians according to the intel on her personality, she had given one tool to the grimgarians to eliminate her.
Vifi’Yok was aiming for this mission to succeed — her second major operation. She would not fail like in Estralia, she would succeed like the recent operations in Artorias and in the Empire. She would rise up with this success, to prove to herself and her superior, the Prince of Wrath, that she was suitable for her role as Warbringer.
Even if it would end a whole city and bring down innocent people with it.
“Mhpmf!” She took her last bite of her donuts. She chewed and enjoyed every bit of it, for it would most likely be her last.
Vifi’Yok’s original plan was to release Karhalantheel and then kill it for the glory of her kingdom, not knowing back then it would also bring ruin to the city. That was her plan, before she was made aware by the Prince of Envy of how he had his own scheme prepared there.
It had turned into a full-on invasion, and he had made Vifi’Yok the leading commander for it. However, it was merely in name, as Vifi’Yok only job to kill Karhalantheel, while the invasion was being planned and managed by the prince and his associates. Although she wasn’t at fault for this plan’s creation, she was still following through with it, believing it was what she had to do as a soldier.
Another tragedy… like when Plesia destroyed our home.
For a Warbringer’s role was to win the war for the demonkins. Even if they had to drown a whole city with the might of a leviathan.
War crimes? Against their eternal enemies? An enemy who wish for nothing more than the genocide of their race? To the demonkins, it was only appropriate to respond in kind for the horrors they had faced against the Empire. Was it justified or not? Was this drastic measure worth the many innocent lives lost, even if they were the enemy?
The present leaves that for the future and the historians to consider.
Vifi’Yok licked her fingers before staring up to the dull orange moon, before sinking back into the darkness and her hole, awaiting the time to attack. She hoped Amelia would listen to her and escape the city before it was too late, wishing her well for the little kindness she gave her. Even if the humans were her enemy, she couldn’t really say if she hated them personally for killing her adopted father or if it was just how Bole’Taria’s culture.
… Nah, they won’t listen. Who listens to some random. Crap, if she dies, the debt will stick around, right? Mhmm, maybe I should…?
A small sliver of kindness, just like her adopted father gave her. What would be the best course of action for Vifi’Yok now?
… Can’t risk it now. If she stays around, I can probably get her out before the leviathan gets released. Dammit, if I fuck up this operation, my rank will get stripped! Fuck!
And with this indecisiveness, she wandered back into the night. None aware of her presence but a simple noble girl and her guard. Not wanting to possibly endanger her, Vifi’Yok also did not tell anybody of tonight’s event.
Darkness still looms… awaiting hope’s descent.
******************************************
“… That was close,” Aurena stated at her desk, having finished watching Amelia’s vision. She let out a deep sigh, slumping on her seat, happy nothing happened. “Urgh, Hestia would have been livid if anything had happened. Good thing I can’t lose hair or get stomachaches from stress like mortals…”
Aurena took a sip from her tea, finally having calmed down after Amelia met Vifi’Yok. She hadn’t watched it in real-time, having been preoccupied with something else, until one of her angels informed her. She had watched what happened and was about to send Hestia over, only to stop once the video ended without any violence.
In fact, the Goddess was surprised to see a Warbringer not cause any trouble at all, even being reasonable and friendly by warning Amelia of the attack, although vaguely. It could have been a massive incident. If anything had happened to Amelia, she was sure it would have had the same result when Eshe died.
Hestia would go berserk.
Her strong desire to not lose loved ones is strong. To not be alone, to always find human interactions. Her gluttony.
“… Was it a mistake?” Aurena considered her decision to not intervene.
At the same time, she didn’t know if Hestia could actually defeat Vifi’Yok at her current strength. Of course, with Tasianna, Fargryneill, and Larent around, not to mention Tehmrayn if needed, it was very possible to take down a level 150 behemoth like a Warbringer. Larent himself was incredibly powerful as a former Hands of Heaven, people meant to be on the same level as the elites of the demonkin army.
Aurena wasn’t a clairvoyant. God or not, she didn’t have the gift to look into the future. She had to consider everything here and now, even if she could slow down time for herself, the world down on Peolynca would continue turning. And at this moment, she had decided not to call Hestia.
But, I should probably warn her about it. It wouldn’t—
<Plesia: Stop.>
Erk?!
A chat message suddenly appeared on her admin window. Aurena instantly tensed up when she saw the name of the poster.
<Plesia: I won’t bother warning all our subordinates, but we six should be role models. I won’t warn you again, Aurena, dear.>
“…” Aurena froze on the spot, remembering the number of lectures and scolding she had received from Plesia. She was allowed to guide Hestia and grant her wisdom for her Quests, but a god should not meddle in mortal affairs.
Otherwise, what were gods but puppet masters? What made them different from their Edjurl relatives? If they were to control their followers around like chess pieces, they would only fall back into the same life as in their previous world. Seeing mortals as nothing but ants and well of energy.
<Aurena: Gods are> Aurena stopped herself from typing.
No… Elder Plesia is right. Father has his ways, I have my own. I can’t break the rules we set up.
<Aurena: Gods are guiders. I apologize. I won’t say anything to Hestia.>
I’m sorry…
<Plesia: Thank you. Have more trust in her, dear. Do not forget, we are not their parents. Don’t stoop to those excuses. It is only arrogance.>
<Aurena: Yes, I understand, you do not need to repeat the same lectures, Elder Plesia… ~.~>
<Plesia: … When have you learned to use emotes ?_?>
Hiehie… Still, I’m sorry, Hestia. I can’t help you too much anymore. Yeostar, make sure you support her properly.
Aurena opened up a new chat. As an Origin God, she couldn’t go against the rules she set up with her compatriots. Plesia was correct, Origin Gods were supposed to be role models. However, there were ways to skirt around the rules like her subordinate gods. Plesia took the rules seriously… but she couldn’t punish anybody if they didn’t break them.
<MagicIsEverything: My muse! I am here!>
<BloodQueen-MistressVivachel!!!: Sister~ How are you, my Shining Light~>
Yeostar, I’m sorry I cannot inform you of this. In fact, I’m sure you’ll get yourself in trouble with how straightforward you are… I need some less ideal helpers.
The Origin Gods must not meddle in mortal affairs… but who said she couldn’t talk about her problems over some tea?
<Plesia: (ㆆ_ㆆ) … Prepare yourself for another scolding.>
… And I’ll vent that stress out on you, Hestia. I really wish you wouldn’t need me so much… but, good luck! Shine bright, my Idol!
Comments
You can feel Plesia's stare through that last emote.
brunoid
Lol, the emotes killed me. Thanks for the chapter.
