Chapter 117: To judge the gods

People are excited about the first trial being held after ten thousand years. In the court, the main gods gather one by one. The atmosphere is heavy and solemn. Eshyal, the god of sun, takes a seat beside Noras. "So, what is this about?" 

"Did you come here without preparation?" Noras glares at him. 

"All I heard is that Adira did something again." Eshyal yawns. "Something to Belan?"

"Cina demanded the trial." Mahuna, the goddess of fire, explains to Eshyal. "Some creature killed Belan. It wasn't Adira. It's related to his harbinger. I don't know why we need a trial for something so small."

"Speaking of Adira, did you hear that he's getting married again?" Niela, the goddess of water, grins at Eshyal and Mahuna. 

"Again?" Mahuna makes a face. "Is he marrying you?"

"What?" Niela shudders at the thought of marrying the god of darkness. "Never!"

"Why not? Everyone knows that you used to have a crush on him." Mirinae raises her chin and puckers her lips playfully. 

Ea laughs. "I remember how she used to chase him around before he married Amara."

"You don't have to say it like that." Niela crosses her arms and scowls at Ea. Why does nobody forget about the things that she did ages ago? Even the world got destroyed once. 

"All of you used to think that he was quite good looking, and you, Ea, you even said that it was quite hot how he destroyed the world for his wife."

Noras narrows his eyes on his wife who avoids his gaze like a thief. Niela smiles at Mirinae mischievously. "Chasing him is nothing compared to entering his room naked. Am I right, Mirinae?"

All the eyes turn to Mirinae who wants to run away at that exact moment. 

"Mirinae." Sion leans toward his wife with a livid expression. "You did what?"

"Why did you mention that, Niela?" Mirinae wrinkles her nose. She's done now. Her husband, the god of war and destruction, is going to eat her head with questions. 

"So, you really entered his room naked." Sion's eyes turn dark. "I need to have a talk with Adira."

"It happened before I married you." Mirinae clicks her tongue. "I am sure that Adira doesn't even remember that incident."

"Is he going to forget about a naked woman coming on to him?" Mahuna taps her chin. "That's interesting."

Eshyal glances at Mahuna. He doesn't like that she's showing interest in Adira. Maybe he should remind her that he has another woman. "So, who is he marrying?"

Noras exhales. Why did he even bother calling these gods? Did they forget that there's going to be a trial here? Where are Adira and Cina? 

"Who else?" Mirinae looks at him smugly. "It's one of my children, the last renasir."

"What?" Niela opens her mouth wide. "But the Renasir is dead."

"I brought her back to life." Mirinae points at herself. "It was nearly impossible, but I was able to do it."

"I heard that her soul was dissipated into bits and pieces." Even Ea is amazed by the information. "So, he has a thing for another mortal. Niela, you would have had a chance if you weren't a goddess."

Niela frowns hard. "I don't understand his fetish for mortals. What does he like about them so much?"

"She's not any other mortal." Mirinae is fully on her gossip mode. "Her soul came from a world without magic. She wasn't born in this world. She replaced the harbinger soul in that body."

"She's that strong?" Niela sneers at her. "I already dislike her."

"This conversation is interesting." Ea sighs. "I need wine."

"I am wondering why I am even here." Eshyal glances at Noras. "I think that I have many important things to do other than hear the women gossip about someone's marriage."

"Maybe I should seduce that woman." Sion looks dagger at Mirinae. "Since my wife is going around and walking into other men's room naked."

Mahuna chuckles. "If you don't want another war with Adira, go ahead." 

"Oh, Adira is here." Mirinae hushes everyone to quiet down. Noras releases his breath when he sees Adira and Aeis walking inside the hall. A few mortals are walking behind Adira. They take the seat to the right rows where the witnesses and other people who are involved are supposed to be seated. The left rows are full of mortals who came to watch the trial.

Adira and Aeis sit down at their designated seats. Next, Cina enters the hall. Noras raises his brow when Cina marches toward him instead of going to his seat.

"The Dark God took away my true name," Cina tells him with a strained voice. 

"He did what?" Noras widens his eyes. The other gods glance at Adira with questions in their eyes. Taking another god's true name is breaking a law. 

"Why are you acting like this, Cina?" Aeis cocks his head and smirks at him, "Didn't Adira return your true name?"

"He returned it?" Noras asks Cina for confirmation. 

Cina gives him a stiff nod. "It doesn't change the fact that he stripped it from me first."

"My friend wouldn't do anything for no reason." Aeis leans toward his friend. Adira isn't in the mood to talk. "To drive out the nameless creature, he needed Cina's true name. Gods are supposed to help each other, aren't they?"

"He wanted to do it to find that mortal." Cina yells at them, "Did he kill that creature? No! He let them both go."

"Wait!" Noras massages his forehead. "Adira, did you strip another god's name because of a mortal or your responsibility as a god?"

Adira takes a breath. Not caring about the repercussions, he utters with a low voice, "I did it to find my Ari."

"See!" Cina points at him with his index finger. "He says that I should act like a god when he doesn't act like a god."

Who has been acting like a god here? Noras shakes his head. "Let's discuss this after the trial is over." 

Cina clenches his teeth and throws a glare at Adira who couldn't care less. Adira wonders if he should have just given Cina's true name to that nameless creature. Then, his Ari wouldn't have gone mad. Maybe he should do it after the trial is over. Where is his Ari? 

At the same time, a girl of around sixteen steps into the hall with a little boy beside her. The boy is invisible to everyone except her; however, the gods could sense the presence of the nameless creature. She stops in the centre of the hall. Dressed in a white long dress, the girl has a straight posture. Her dark eyes scrutinize the faces of the gods. When her gaze meets Adira's eyes, her eyes turn indifferent as if she doesn't know him at all. Adira folds his fingers when he realizes that she's truly treating him as if he's nothing to her. Why is she being like that? Does love end with mere words?

"My name is Ari." Her voice is loud, clear, and resounding. She holds the child's hand tightly. "Today, I came here to judge the gods of Iravan for their crimes."