Chapter 122: Second to the god

"I won't return it." Ari shakes her head and scowls at them."The gods of Iravan are something. It's not like this child is doomed. I still have the power of Renasir. I can draw a true name for this child in the future. Are you saying that you won't even take a chance at me and this kid who is clearly innocent?"

There are whispers among the mortals. If there's a chance that the Renasir can give a name to that child, then why are gods insisting on killing that child?

Noras takes a breath. Drawing a true name isn't easy. It's even difficult for a god. How could they take this chance? 

"Tsk! Tsk! So cruel." Ari crosses her arms. "You were talking so much about how Kresi did this and that. What about you? I am telling you. I am taking responsibility for this child. I will give him a true name. He's a family to me. If you can't take the risk, then kill both of us in front of everyone."

Adira gives a dark look to the gods. If anyone even thinks about...

"Wait, Mortal." Eshyal raises his hand. "We need to discuss this among us."

"Aish!" She clicks her tongue. "Discuss it then. I also have something to discuss with Kresi."

She goes to Kresi's side and sits down. Adira watches the two girls with a complicated gaze. Is she fine with talking to Kresi like this? When he heard that Kresi was Amara's reincarnation, all the pain came back to him. He hated that woman and then, he also understood her. That cruel woman gave him a scar. Because of that scar and the imprisonment, he came back to the world as Kyo. Ari saved him, loved him, and then, she taught him to love again. Without a doubt, only Ari matters to him. But why does she want to leave him alone now? 

"A permanent citizen?" Cina protests in a low voice, "You want to allow her to live in this world even if she owes a debt to a nameless creature? She should be killed along with that creature."

"You are forgetting that we also owe this girl." Ea says to Cina with a languid voice, "She's the saviour of Iravan. Because of her, we were able to wake up. Also, her soul has the power of the renasir. We can't ever take back the power of the name. It's best if she stays in Iravan."

"It's a nameless creature." Cina knits his brows. "It might become something dangerous in the future. We should do whatever it takes to transfer that sin to Kresi."

"It is up to Ari." Noras closes his eyes, exhausted. "She won't return it back to Kresi."

"Then, we should destroy her along with the nameless creature." Sion frowns at Noras. "Whether we owe her or not, she and that nameless creature are a danger to this world."

Noras doesn't reply. The girl is clever. She put up with this show and got the mortals to start doubting the gods. The mortals even empathize with Kresi now. If he even thinks about killing this girl, the entire Iravan might start questioning the gods. There might even be a revolt. 

"If she's harmed in any way, it won't be good for any of us." Adira cautions them with a dark voice, "There would be another war. This time, I will do it willingly." 

The gods become silent. Noras regards the dark god silently. The Dark God won't leave any of the gods alone if they harm this girl. The dragon god would side with the dark god. The former prince of the higher realm, the cursed children, and many other people are supporting this girl. In addition to that, the Seer and the dragon god's son are close to Ari. 

No god wants another war. Not even the Dark God. One war has taken a lot from all of them. That's why Adira wanted to bring Kresi back. However, there's no choice left if Ari refuses to return the sin back to Kresi. 

"Adira, will you take responsibility if she fails to draw a true name for that creature?" Noras questions the dark god. "If we give her a chance and she fails, would you do what is necessary when the time comes?" 

***

"Kresi, I heard a lot about you." Ari smiles at her. "I was truly surprised when I found out that you were Amara."

Kresi raises her head and looks at Ari, saying nothing to her. Even though the gods have said that she's freed of any debt in this world, she feels burdened by everything that had happened. "Don't you hate me?"

"Yes, I do," Ari answers her frankly. "When I found out what happened between you and Adira, I really wanted to find you and break all of your bones. I was thinking how could this woman do this to a man like that. Though I understand your reasons, I can't stop myself from hating you. You are still the woman who hurt my Adira."

"Your Adira…" The corners of Kresi's lips curl up into a smile. "Weren't you saying that you want to break up with him?"

"Oh, I have already broken up with him." Ari leans closer and whispers to her. "It doesn't mean that I stopped loving him though. I heard that he used to love Amara a lot. Who knows? Maybe his feelings for Amara might come back. Instead of getting involved in a tragic love triangle, I want to step aside with pride."

"You are an idiot." Kresi snorts at her. "Would you be okay if I take him then? Won't you feel jealous if he starts loving me again?"

"I don't want to fight another woman for someone's affection." Ari takes a glance at Adira. "If he likes you, then it's okay."

"You aren't asking him what he wants," Kresi observes. "I have no interest in him."

Kresi isn't an idiot. The Dark God clearly loves this Renasir. 

"It's between me and him then." Ari puffs up her cheeks. "By the way, do you want to stay in this world or move on to another one?"

Why is she showing interest in her affairs? Kresi raises her brow. "I am free of all the debts. Isn't it a good opportunity to leave this world and start anew somewhere else? I have nothing here. This world doesn't want me either."

"Will you be fine though?" Ari cocks her head and stares hard at her. "You might be free of the debts. I don't think that you feel free. You still have people here. Besides, I am sure that I would need some help. I heard that drawing a true name is a difficult task. You were personally trained by Mayaeira Mirin. I am sure that you are quite knowledgeable."

This girl is giving her a chance to do something for people. Kresi feels something on her hand. Though she can't see it, she's sure that it's Ai's hand. This child lost his true name because of her. 

"He wants to know why did you give him the name Love," She hears Ari say.

Why that name? Kresi thinks about the time in that house in the forest. "Everyone was looking forward to your arrival. They loved you before you even came to the world. The even prepared a cradle for you. Everyone decided the name together. They thought that Gabriel's child should receive everyone's love in the world. So, I gave you that rune."

And what did she do? If she hadn't been driven by hatred and anger that day, Ai wouldn't be suffering like this. She had never told Shayera about Ai. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath. "I am sorry, Ai. I hurt you because I was angry with your father and mother. I didn't know that you would lose your true name like that. I wanted to make Belan receive death in the hands of someone she loved… but I forgot that forced love isn't love. After Belan's death, you were supposed to live a free life. I thought that someone would find you… I made you suffer for something that wasn't your fault. I promise you that I will help the renasir draw your true name again."

After a moment, Ari opens her mouth to relay Ai's words to Kresi. Just then, Noras' voice pierces the hall. "Renasir of Iravan."

What did they decide? Ari knits her brows and stands up with Ai. "Yes."

"Because of your deeds, you are accepted as a permanent citizen of this world. You are free from the reincarnation cycles and you will be formally reinstated as the last and only Renasir of Iravan," God Noras declares. "I grant you permission to channel the ehr of Iravan. As a Renasir, your opinions will hold equal importance as the opinion of any other main god of Iravan. Your status will be second to the gods."