Chapter 104: Aurena, the Origin Goddess of Light.

Chapter 104: Aurena, the Origin Goddess of Light.

So, let me get this straight. Kargryxmor wanted an otherworlder to do something for him, and, as you are his origin god, he had to go through you for the okay. You then went to Goddess Plesia for her permission to reincarnate me to this world? I repeated what Aurena just explained to me.

That is correct. Kargryxmor is the God of Dragons, but he has lost control over them through the years. The true dragons are supposed to act as defenders for Peolynca, but they have succumbed to slothfulness, Aurena added to my words, shrugging as she responded. However, the fool only has himself to blame for his waning faith. Your role was to be his avatar, his representative to fix his problem. Your birth location, the Belzac forest, was unintended. You were supposed to be born in the land of the dragons with your Peolyncian parents. Technically, you shouldnt even be born yet; you should have hatched as a C rank.

So, that whole Belzac forest time wasnt some trial or tough love, huh? You do know I nearly died five times there, right? Say what you want about me now, but back then, I wasnt prepared. You told me in that missive that you saw my memories, so couldnt you have-! Argh! Verdammt. Im sorry, Im sorry

Kobolds nearly caught me on the first day of my second life, those garms nearly turned me into a meal, I nearly died during my match with the garm matriarch, I got shot by that troll cannon thing, and then I fought against an A rank monster when I was vastly underpowered and under-geared. Those were the times where I nearly died.

I was a young city girl without any survival training, who was forced into a situation where I shouldnt have survived. I shouldnt even have experienced all of that! I honestly thought I was gonna go insane in that fucking place, if I even survived long enough! If I hadnt remembered my dream from my past life, I dont think I would have had the determination to continue after dropping down into that cave.

I didnt know why I nearly blew up in her face. Sure, when I was in the Belzac forest all alone I was frustrated, I couldnt accept the reality of the situation. I didnt want to live in a dog-eat-dog world like that. I didnt want to become the person I currently was butif I hadnt, my dream wouldnt have finally come true.

I died. I was given a second chance. I have made good friends here. I am an Idol.

Unfazed by my emotional outburst, Aurena kept her smile up and spoke to me softly, I understand, Hestia. These words cannot excuse your tribulations, but Kargryxmor and I were surprised that you survived. You were unlucky and were born prematurely as a G rank dragon, but you prevailed through this; just a look at your status board is evidence enough. We gods cannot intervene in every single matter; we are observers and guiders.

I mean, considering how Shiterno changed my status board, you could have thrown me a bone, Goddess Aurena. Still, I am thankful you listened to my prayer back then, I admitted to her, thanking her for what she did for Rajah. But, I presume you werent too happy when he did that to your champion? I dont know much about gods and goddesses, but I do know I would get angry if someone were to harm something mine.

Aurena broke her smile, looking as if she was jokingly angry as she held up a finger to scold me, Now, now, Hestia. Regardless of your opinion on him, Elder Danterno is an Origin God. Your life will be intertwined with the gods now, and Elder Plesia is very strict with decorum. However, the moment she finished, she dropped her teasing persona and grew serious. Elder Plesia is currently dealing with Elder Danterno. I do not know what his punishment will be.

Yeah, I can hear her annoyance from the tone of her voice. Im angry at him but this is a matter between gods, in the first place. What could I do to him, anyway?

As she wasnt saying anything more, I nodded my head in acknowledgment and then tapped my temple. I think we derailed a bit there. Lets go back. You promised me in the missive you would explain why my memory is fragmented and why you even tried to erase it in the first place. You should know a bit from reading my mind that Im really, really, anxious to know. I want to know why I cant remember my dad, my mum, my grandparentsand how I died.

I had to force those last words out. I needed to know. Even if my death was painful, I wanted to know.

Aurena formed a wry smile as she looked at my frown. I have made it a habit to not read mortals minds after speaking with a few of my followers. Rest assured, I kept watch of you through all the humans youve met but not once was I even curious at your thoughts, she replied a bit condescendingly.

Oh, come on, my thoughts are super interesting, I swearWait, youre a goddess, why do I even try?

Without knowing about my complaint, Aurena continued her explanations. Elder Crustacia once reincarnated a person from your world into ours, to great success even. Kargryxmor wanted to mimic her action to restore his faith, and, as I agreed to it, I called upon the very same outsider who performed the first soul transfer. The third person who was participated in your reincarnation.

There is a god responsible for souls? I thought Ilsaphone was the goddess of death, so I presumed she was the third one because of death and souls. It made sense for me, I replied.

I thought that since Ilsaphone was the Goddess of Death, she was the third one, because of death and souls. Like Hades from Greek mythology, or Hel from the Norse myths Geez, I think Saori is influencing me with her myth trivia.

However, at my assumption, Aurena simply shook her head, Ilsaphone is still young for a goddess. She ensures that every soul is cleansed and is returned to Peolynca as a new life, but she has not awakened her ability to control souls yet. No, the one who brought your soul to us is somebody else, but I cannot tell you that persons name. It is for your own safety, so banish that wish, Hestia.

She paused for a moment to make sure I understood her, then continued, The reason why you were reborn without most of your memories is because that person advised it, stating the soul would not survive otherwise. Kargyxmor and I both agreed to it, as we believed if you came to be as a blank slate, you would serve our purpose better. The only memories I wanted you to still have was your desire to become an Idol. You should have noticed how [The Light] and [Idol] were specifically made for that cause.

So in the end, both gods still wanted me to lose myself, huh? The person I was now wouldnt have existed anymore, the Hestia who still remembered her papa and mama would have been completely dead. Thats fucked up...

However, those plans never came to be. You should have been reborn anew like every other mortal except with your desire to become an Idol intact; that way you would be eligible for the [Otherworldly Reincarnator] title and, as a result, have access to the SP system. Even the way you usurped the control over my blessing is still a mysterybut, truth be told, as unexpected as it was, I do prefer you like this. The tension in Aurenas face softened but her face contorted into a small frown, looking both wary and apologetic.

So, in the end, you still think of me as a tool in your plan, huh? A little gadget in your grand machinationwhich means it must have made you angry when it happened. My earlier calm started to give way to growing frustration. The fear from when her aura suppressed my soul, and the anger from her confession overwhelmed me, and I lashed out. I bet you hated it when you learned you couldnt control me. I bet you hated it when I usurped your blessing, even though I didnt even know how I did it myself. I dont even know how it happened with any of the blessingsI bet you hated it that you had to rely on your followers to keep watch over me instead of through your blessing like it was supposed to be!

I stood up, slamming my hands on the table as I drew my face closer to Aurenas, anger filling my eyes as I spat out word after word filled with the frustration I had to endure in the first months of my second life. You knew I was vulnerable and that I wasnt equipped to survive in that damn forest, but you still did nothing! If I had actually lost my memories, I wouldve been a fucking newborn and been quickly killed by those kobolds. The only reason why I even survived in the first place was dumb luck! Luck that my body knew how to use mana! You call me your champion but where was my support, huh? WHY DIDNT YOU HELP ME AT ALL!

I couldnt praise Kargryxmors attempt to help me, since it came far too late. When the first wyvern escorts showed up, I had already adapted to my new life, and the second escorts was led by an asshole. What kinda help is that supposed to be? Come rescue when I was still a bloody dragon whelp, you bastards!

Sure, Aurena helped me with Rajah and his family, but giving somebody a blessing should be childs play for a god. That piece of shit Danterno was able to change my status board like it was nothing! So why couldnt she help me then, huh? If she was the patron goddess of the humans, then couldnt she have sent somebody on a griffon to get me like Ellaines father?

And-And now you think it is better for me to keep my memories, right? Its just because of how much the follower counter for [The Light] has grown that youre okay now. If I was still stuck in that fucking forest all depressed from my situation, I bet you would have either given up on me or have told Kargryxmor to do your dirty work. My hands clenched on the table with all my might, which should have broken by now, but this was a gods table. Ill be straight with you! I want to punch you in the face right now! My strength and abilities are because of my own hard work, not because of those titles you gave me! I want to use all of those things to- I want to use all of them to-I-I-I want totch!

If what Aurena said was correct, then I should be only a soul now. I shouldnt have any physical limitations right now, but I felt exhausted anyway. It felt harder and harder to push myself any further; with every word I spat out, a bit of my anger at the goddess disappeared.

And during my whole rant, Aurenas expression stayed the same. The pity in her eyes was sickening

My body went limp, I slouched back into the chair and rested my head on the chairs back. Although I was sure there was no actual air here, I felt like Id just run a marathon, breathing in quickly and deeply.

Smiling like a caring mother, Aurena simply waited until my breathing calmed down to speak. I did mention you may release your anger in my missive, right? Are you satisfied?

I stared at Aurena, still looking unfazed, as if nothing could ever annoy her, and gave up on raging at her from her lack of a reaction. I guessIs it true? I uttered weakly. Is everything you just said true?

A saint or saintess was the mortal representative of a god, spreading the word of their gods to try to convert people to their religion. My whole follower mechanic was practically this, especially when everybody already considered me a priestess due to my white robe. I told her no, but she just jokingly uttered, the title will come soon enough, dear.

That was a joke, right? Right?

Anyway, aside from that, I still had to get a pendant or amulet made to show my allegiance to Aurena. The people of Peolynca usually wore an amulet dedicated to their favored god to show their devotion and, as I will now serve as a priestess, I had to look the part. Tasianna, for example, had an amulet dedicated to Zephira, but lost it when she was kidnapped by the trolls. I guess we had to get new ones together soon.

Another subject I brought up was about Danternos gifts: [White Flames], [Corrosive Fire], and his blessing [Divine Inferno]. Apparently, the God of Fire wanted me to become his champion to help him grow his religion; as a result, he gave me those power-ups to win me over. It will annoy him when he learns I have no intention of helping him, and I can always hide behind Aurena if he tries to mess with me.

Fuck you, Shiterno, he he he.

Nonetheless, despite being pleased with my defiance against Danterno, Aurena couldnt exactly remove the blessing of another origin god. There was also a problem with separating [White Flames] back into [Holy Magic] and [Fire Magic], and [Corrosive Fire] into [Toxin Secretion], [Poison Creation], and [Inferno Magic], as they both required their respective skills to exist. It seems Danterno made sure those skills couldnt exist if their prerequisite skills werent fused with them.

Well, I wasnt very interested in getting [Holy Magic] back in the first place as I could cover everything with [White Flames]s custom spells and [Sacred Magic]. [Inferno Magic] would be nice to have again, but the potential of [Corrosive Fire] was too great to ignore. Even if I hadnt wanted them initially, I shouldnt just throw them away to get something outdated. Ill make those skills mine.

Funnily enough, I also was curious if Aurena could take [Bearer of Kargryxmors Blood] away, as Kargryxmor was her subordinate, but she told me, if she did that, I would most likely die cause shed have to remove all my blood to do so. My dragon parents are descendants of Kargryxmor and the blessing came from the special blood inside me. It was only a joke but, urgh, that was not fun to think about.

Oh right, I wanted to ask you two more questions, I interrupted our discussion. Its about my friend, Saori. The other Earthling who got reincarnated on Peolynca and is now my best friend and travel companion. Ive been thinking about it for a while now, but were you the one who sent her to me?

Although Saori didnt say it aloud, I knew she was bothered by that. Why was she reincarnated to Peolynca? Why was she born as a garm and conveniently inside the Belzac forest at that specific location while I was passing through? There was also that whole leviathan thing she didnt want to deal with, telling me she wanted to live a relatively normal life.

I wanted to gain some information here to ease her worry. Compared to me, no god has spoken to her and given her answers to those questions yet.

Ah, Saori, the wolfkin youre traveling with. Tell her to come to visit me in the future, I love talking with mortals, Aurena said casually, slightly ticking me off by ignoring my question for a moment. Hmm, but I can say that I was not the person who called your friend over to this world. Concerning the one who did itlet me say that Saori wasnt the only one and that I didnt authorize their summon. Their fates are deeply tied with your own, Hestia, and it will be inevitable that you will meet.

Huh? Can you please stop speaking in riddles?

However, I didnt have time to say it as light started to surround me, which Aurena told me was a sign for our meeting to come to an end.

Oh wait, before I go! I stopped her as she was about to wave me goodbye. Why are you calling all the other origin gods Elder? Why is that?

Ah, the reason is because I am the youngest among all of them. Compared to the others, I am far, far, younger so I show them the respect they deserve. With that last smile, light enveloped my whole vision in white and Aurenas serene figure disappeared.

When I noticed the white turning black, I hastily opened my eyes to notice the figure of Aurena once again, but not in all her radiance and grace, but as a statue, the very same statue I remembered being on her altar. Instead of the white background of her world, my vision was filled with white walls covered in small engravings and stained-glass windows. It was the church and I was back in my body.

Hestia. Hearing a very familiar voice, I turned around and saw Saori and Tasianna approaching me, worry on their faces. Are you alright? It took you quite a long time.

Lady Hestia, if I may be presumptuous, white hair fits you also, Tasianna told me with a wide grin, completely baffling me as I had no idea what she meant.

White hair?

Apparently, while I was talking with Aurena, my hair suddenly turned white and a halo-like object appeared behind me. When Saori used [Identify] to see what happened to me, she noticed something new in my status board called [The Light Awakened] but couldnt read its description, as it said Information not available.

Apparently, my hair changed back to crimson red just now, which gave me the impression it had something to do with my meeting with Aurena. I wanted to read [The Light Awakened] but it wasnt there anymore.

When the grey-robed priest saw what was happening, he quickly ran out. Barathan told Saori and Tasianna that the priest was probably informing the white-robed priests of the event, as Barathan believed what just happened could be considered a meeting with the Goddess.

Lady Hestia, you have been adamant you werent a priestess of the Goddess but I find it very hard to believe after what happened, Barathan told me bluntly, holding a wry smile now instead of his usual polite one.

I chuckled shyly, understanding what he meant, so I decided to clear up a few things. I wasnt lying about not being a priestess, I promise, Barathan. Please believe mehowever, I guess you may call me a priestess from today onwards. I cant exactly deny it now, hehe.

The shock on those threes faces was pretty hilarious as they quickly understood the implications of my words. Tasianna congratulated me for speaking with Aurena and told me that she always knew I was worthy of becoming Aurenas champion, while Saori quickly tried to hush her loud mouth before everybody could hear it. However, I could see the curiosity in her eyes as she told me telepathically that we will talk about it once we get back to Ellaines mansion.

Before the priest could return, Saori woke Barathan up and told him to start getting out of the church before anybody could question me. Barathan, understanding what was going on, obliged and quickly followed us outside. I was a bit surprised that he kept up with us, although, the three of us werent giving it our all.

We left through the commoner entrance and entered the noble district through its gate. On the way, Barathan sent out one of those messenger bird gargoyles, and the moment the gate opened, a carriage was already waiting for us there, ready to bring the four of us back to House Helvass mansion.

Barathan excused himself to inform Ellaine of what had happened today, and told us dinner will have to be postponed, probably to give the three of us as well as him and Ellaine time to discuss what happened today. Once we were back in my room, I started retelling of my encounter, starting with how Aurenas divine realm looked, then my outburst, and finally how I officially became her champion.

Tasianna was naturally excited as she was a native Peolyncian, clapping like an overly excited fangirl, but Saori looked exhausted. She pointed out how crazy it sounded to reform a whole church, citing how much influence religion had during the middle ages.

However, what caught Saoris attention the most was when I told her about her reincarnation and how Aurena wasnt a part of it.

Wait, what?! Saori stood up, almost knocking her chair down as her eyes widened, struggling to continue as her mouth wavered. I wasnt the only one?! Could it be that I wasnt the only one on that day?!