All four members froze. Even Arthur, who already knew, couldn't help but stare. A Goddess, or at least a fragment of one, was standing right before them.
"Please, take a seat," Leo said calmly.
Ilandra walked with effortless grace to the far end of the table and sat in the chair directly across from him. Every gaze followed her. Questions pressed heavily on their tongues, but none dared to ask. More than the shock of seeing a Goddess, it was the fact that she had appeared here, as a member of the Creator's gathering, that unsettled them most.
Sweat slid down Liam's temple. Unlike the others, he dared not keep his eyes on her. She was a Goddess, no mortal should look directly upon one. Even if the Creator's protection cloaked them here, it felt blasphemous. Still, he couldn't help but steal a glance now and then.
Marco was torn between awe and disbelief. How could someone who looked so ordinary, just faintly glowing, truly be a Goddess? The thought refused to settle.
Arthur, meanwhile, wasn't watching her anymore. His gaze had turned inward, eyes unfocused as his mind slipped into deep, silent thought. If even a Goddess could sit here as one of them, then what did that say about the Creator's designs? What role were they truly meant to play?
Alina's reaction was the opposite. Her chest swelled with joy, and tears pricked her eyes. To her, this was proof beyond doubt that she had chosen the right path. The Creator wasn't just another god, He was the God of gods. And here was the proof, sitting before her. She offered a quiet prayer of praise in her heart.
Leo noticed the three of them still stealing glances at Ilandra. He let out a faint sigh, then spent the next half hour recounting what he could, about the Shadowland, the war of the gods, and the forces moving behind the chaos. Some of what he said was entirely new to them; other parts only filled in gaps they had half-understood before. But the picture, as a whole, was clearer now. He was careful, though, to keep the darkest truths buried, the kind of knowledge that could corrupt a person just by hearing it.
When he finished, silence hung in the air. Alina sat with her head bowed, her voice soft and heavy. "So… all of the Shadowland was suppose to be like that city?"
She looked up at Ilandra.
The Goddess gave a solemn nod. "Yes."
Her voice was unlike any mortal's—soft yet commanding, resonant yet delicate, as though layered with distant echoes of countless whispers. Each word seemed to sink into their bones, leaving a lingering vibration in the air.
"It was. But we failed. And now…" Her silver eyes gleamed faintly as she looked around the table. "Now, with the help of the Creator, we shall win."
Her words struck them all like a thunderclap. A Goddess was speaking of the Creator not as an equal, but as someone above even the gods themselves.
"Ahem." Leo cleared his throat, pulling their attention back. "We've recently reached the Shadowland and met Ms. Alina. Those of you still outside must gather as much information as you can, we're completely blind about what's happening out there."
His gaze shifted to Marco. "How is your training, Marco? Did you convince the blacksmith to take you on?"
Marco, still sneaking glances at Ilandra, rubbed the back of his neck. "Mr. Edgar is… a very stubborn man. He keeps saying he doesn't want a student. But I'm finding ways to keep him talking. He loves explaining about blacksmithing."
Marco raised an eyebrow, as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, and my warrior coach, Mr. Ridolf, told me I'm already at E-rank. He wants me to take the test in three days. He also said that if I push harder, and maybe learn a bit more about enchanting, I could even test for E+ within a month."
"When you can control your new powers, reaching D-rank will come easily," Leo said with quiet confidence. Then his gaze shifted to Liam. "Did you find out who's behind the curse?"
Liam shook his head, frustration flickering in his eyes. "No. I've narrowed it down to a few noble families, but I still can't tell which one is responsible."
The rest of the gathering passed with no one daring to ask anything from the Ilandra except Alina. She talked with her about her village and the fact that they still worshiped her. That they called to her with no answer.
But now it was different, now they have a new god with the goddess at his side.
…
The next day, Arlasan's people finally reached the city. They bore the marks of hardship, their clothes torn and their faces weary, monsters had harried them on the road. But Edgarth had stood at the front, his power cutting through every threat.
When they crossed the gates, the sight that met them left many stunned. Surprise turned to joy, and joy into tears. Some fell to their knees, hands clasped, offering prayers of gratitude to the Goddess. Others simply wept, overcome with emotions.
Alina had already spoken with Leo. The time had come to tell them the truth, they needed to know.
Once the first rush of emotions had quieted, Alina gathered Arlasan and several elders into one of the chambers, while Leo and the rest of his companions withdrew to another to plan their next move.
Soft light spilled through the window, falling across the wooden floor. When the last elder entered, Arlasan closed the door. Devera, his wife, crossed the room quickly, seizing Alina's hands in both of hers.
"See, Alina?" she said, her voice trembling with relief. "The Goddess is still with us. You only needed to keep faith a little longer."
But Alina's face remained unreadable. She gently gestured toward the chairs.
"That is why I brought you all here. Please, sit."
Arlasan and Devera obeyed, settling with three other elders, two of whom were known as devout followers of the Goddess.
Alina gathered her thoughts, steadying herself with a deep breath.
"The barrier protecting this city, the plants you see thriving here, they are the Goddess of Nature's doing."
Devera's eyes brightened, a radiant smile breaking across her face, echoed by the elders. But the warmth of it faltered almost as quickly as it appeared.
"It happened when Mr. Leo, the vessel of the Creator, released the power sealed within the Goddess's orb. For this, the Goddess herself pledged her loyalty to the Creator."
Devera covered her mouth, stunned, but before she could speak one of the elders shot to his feet, his voice sharp with outrage.
"What blasphemy is this? The Goddess, pledge her loyalty?"
"The Goddess is going to leave us again!" cried another elder in despair.
"This is the truth," Alina said firmly.
"Stop this, Alina," Devera snapped, her voice trembling.
Alina tried to continue, but her words drowned beneath the rising cries of the elders.
"Silence!" Arlasan roared, his voice shaking the chamber. At once the noise died. "She speaks the truth. I myself saw the vessel of the Creator awaken the Goddess's power."
"Arlasan… even you?" Devera whispered, her disbelief turning to fear.
"Your head should be severed for such words!" the first elder spat.
Arlasan's hand shot out, seizing the man by the collar and lifting him effortlessly from the ground. His eyes burned with fury. "Watch your tongue, old man."
The room teetered on the edge of chaos. And then,
Light.
A blinding radiance blossomed in the center of the chamber, pure and soft yet overwhelming, like the first dawn breaking after endless night. From it emerged a woman in flowing white, her form not walking but hovering, as if the very air bent to bear her. Her silver eyes glimmered with eternity, and her presence pressed against every heart like both a weight and a comfort.
The room fell into absolute stillness. No one breathed.
Even Alina, who had seen her before, felt her knees weaken. She had not known the Goddess could manifest here. Trembling, she bowed deeply. "Goddess…"
Ilandra's lips curved into a gentle smile. Her voice, when it came, was ethereal, echoing like countless tones carried on a single word.
"Raise your head, Alina. You and I are equals now. You shall not bow to me."
Her gaze swept over the frozen elders, sharp and merciful all at once.
"From this moment, Alina will be my voice among you. Whoever refuses her, refuses me. And you shall give the Creator the same reverence you once gave me."
The brilliance began to fade. Without another word, her form dissolved back into light, leaving only silence and trembling hearts in her wake.
It was Arlasan who moved first. He turned, strode to Alina, and dropped to one knee before her. His head bowed in reverence.
Devera hesitated, lips quivering, then followed. One by one, the other elders, still pale, still shaken, lowered themselves to the ground until Alina stood surrounded, not by doubters, but by kneeling believers.
…
Leo leaned casually against the wall, listening as Arthur explained the situation to Edgarth. Half his mind drifted elsewhere, checking the bracelets on his hands. Though he had crafted them himself and they weighed 120 pounds each, they still stirred memories. After a moment, he let out a faint smile and moved to a chair near Elna.
Ryan noticed. "What are you smiling at?" His question drew the others' attention.
"Nothing," Leo said lightly. "Just gave a little help in the other room."
The truth was more complicated. Ilandra still couldn't fully manifest in the real world, but Leo could conjure her as an illusion, a reflection that mirrored her will. The elders were all low-ranked; none of them had noticed the difference.
When Arthur finished, Edgarth sat in silence for a long moment, weighing everything. Then his gaze sharpened and landed on Leo. "What is your plan?"
The room shifted. Every eye turned to him.
Leo felt the weight settle on his shoulders. He wasn't the strongest here, that role belonged to Arthur in battle, but in strategy, the others looked to him.
He took a measured breath before speaking. "The vampires have three S-ranks, and from what Luciana has told us, at least five more A-ranks. If we confront them now, we'll be wiped out."
"So what do you suggest?" Ryan pressed.
Leo's voice grew steadier as he laid it out. "We first go to the city with the third orb of the Goddess. If we can release more of her power, she may be able to aid us directly. And we might uncover knowledge or artifacts that tip the balance."
Elna leaned forward. "And if nothing else, there may be resources we can use."
"Or corpses to join," Luciana cut in coldly. "That place could kill us all."
No one argued; it was true.
Leo met her eyes, unflinching. "We could die anywhere. But if we march straight to your family now, it's certain death. At least with the orb, there's a chance. And if we cleanse more of this land, we may be able to get help."
Arthur frowned. "Help from who?"
Leo lifted his head, his tone hardening into resolve. "From the Moon Goddess."
Edgarth adjusted his glasses. "I agree with Leo. There's no way we can take on three S-ranks right now."
Arthur's gaze swept the room. "If anyone has objections to Leo's plan, speak now."
When no one spoke, he simply nodded in acknowledgment.
…
In Flessa City, Liamond stood in the yard, facing a girl barely 160 centimeters tall. She was none other than sixteen-year-old Rosie.
He was teaching her the fundamentals of combat, the basics every paladin should know. But unlike other students, her training didn't stop there. Mornings were spent with Samuel learning the essentials of mysticism, while the rest of the day she remained with Liamond. They focused on physical training, basic light magic, since Rosie aspired to be both a priest and an Elementalist, and he even brought her along on less dangerous missions to teach her how to act and think in real situations.
Rosie lunged at him with her wooden sword, but Liamond effortlessly sent it flying from her hand with a single move.
"That's enough for today," he said.
Rosie dropped to the ground. "How did Leo learn this so fast?"
"Leo never stopped training," Liamond explained. "He used weight bracelets in his everyday activities. I'm not saying you should do the same, but find your own way to become stronger."
Rosie looked up at him with wide green eyes and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Liamond."