Two days had passed since I completed the application test at the Adventurer's Guild. I'd taken some time to rest and gather my thoughts, but now I was ready to start taking on quests. Today marked the beginning of my first official adventure.
---
Adventurer's Guild
The guild hall buzzed with activity—adventurers chatting over drinks, recruiters calling out missions, and the clatter of noticeboards echoing through the air. I stepped up to the reception desk, where a familiar face greeted me with a bright smile.
"Diana! It's my first time taking a quest. Can you recommend something that lets me explore the country?" I asked.
"Oh, Angel, back so soon?" she replied cheerfully, rifling through the stack of posted requests. "Let me see... ah, here's one. It's an exploration quest from a researcher. Sounds like it might be up your alley."
She handed over a parchment stamped with the guild's seal. I scanned the contents.
"Request: Investigate and document the ruins of an ancient temple in the northern territories. Danger potential: Moderate. Purpose: Archaeological research."
An abandoned temple tied to research? Sounded interesting enough.
"I'll take this one," I said, nodding.
"Good choice. Stamp the paper here to make it official," Diana instructed. I pressed the ink stamp down and signed. "Now go meet the requester for details. The address is written at the bottom."
---
Following the directions, I arrived at a modest house tucked between rows of brick buildings. I knocked a few times. No answer.
"Hello? I'm here for the exploration quest!" I called.
After a short delay, the door creaked open, revealing a man in a cluttered robe, ink-stained hands, and wide, apologetic eyes.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry—I was in my study and didn't hear the knocking," he said, pushing up his glasses. "Thank you for accepting my request. I'm Cyrus, an independent researcher."
"I'll call you Cyrus, then," I said. "I've got a question. Why are you so interested in what's inside this old temple?"
He smiled, an eager gleam in his eye. "Would you like to hear about my current research?"
"Please."
"Well," he began, ushering me inside. "It's believed by most that there is only one god—Luminos. That's what the Luminos Church teaches. Every temple in the kingdom is dedicated to him. But I found something strange... ruins of a temple that predates the church's founding. Etched into the walls were symbols older than recorded history."
"You're saying another god existed here before Luminos?" I asked, intrigued.
"Exactly. There's even a rumor—likely suppressed—that a forgotten god once resided in a remote village. The Church denies it, of course. When I found the temple, I couldn't go inside. Traps. Dangerous remnants of the past. But even from outside, I could tell this place was built before Luminos' name was ever spoken."
"So you want me to go in because you couldn't," I said, smirking. "I accepted this quest thinking I'd get to learn something. Seems like I hit the jackpot."
"I'm also investigating the legend of a god that lived in Augustus Village," he added. "There's more truth buried in myth than people think."
"Do you have a map?" I asked.
"I do," Cyrus said, fetching a rolled scroll. "Also... I'll be accompanying you. I need to see the interior for myself. And we must make sure no one from the Church learns of this."
"Understood. Shall we leave now?"
"Just give me a moment to pack. Who knows what lies inside?"
---
We rented a carriage and took turns driving until we reached the northern edge of the kingdom. Towering trees gave way to stone steps buried in moss. The temple loomed before us, weathered by time but still imposing.
"This is it," I said, looking up. "It's bigger than I expected."
"Yes. Let's not waste time," Cyrus urged.
Inside, the air was thick with silence. A faint scent of old incense lingered in the air, and at the center stood a faded painting of a serene woman surrounded by soft light.
"It's a goddess," Cyrus whispered.
"Cyrus, over here!" I called. "I found a book."
He rushed over. Together, we flipped through the fragile pages.
The name of the goddess was Maria. According to the text, she had two children—Luminos, the god of light, and Chandra, the god of the moon. Their followers fought for dominance, plunging the land into chaos. Maria, heartbroken, relinquished her power to her children in hopes of ending the bloodshed. Her sacrifice weakened her to the point of death.
In the end, Chandra, consumed by guilt, departed to another continent, separating her people to prevent further strife.
"How tragic," Cyrus said. "If the Church learns of this, it could reignite old conflicts."
Before he could say more, I felt something—a flicker of foreign magic.
"We're not alone," I said, eyes narrowing. "Something's surrounding us."
"What?" Cyrus asked. "Angel, what's happening—?"
And then... everything changed.
---
The world around me dissolved, and I suddenly stood in a vibrant, restored version of the temple—alive, glowing with divine energy. A woman stood at its heart, and as she turned to face me, I recognized her from the painting.
"Who are you?" I demanded. "Where did you take me?"
"Don't I look familiar?" she asked with a smile. "I'm the goddess Maria."
"Impossible. The book said you died."
"When you read those pages, a portion of your own power restored mine. That text was a vessel of divinity. It answered my call."
I glanced around, disoriented. "Where are we? I don't sense Cyrus."
"This realm was once my sanctuary. A divine space where gods held counsel. A place between time and space."
"Then why bring me here? What do you want?"
Maria stepped closer, her golden eyes meeting mine.
"You're a god too, aren't you, Angel?"
"What are you talking about? I'm human. Look at me—"
Then I paused. My reflection shimmered in a nearby pool—eyes like stars, aura shimmering with boundless energy.
"You see it now," she said gently. "Your presence, your magic—it's beyond human limits. You can't hide it from another deity."
I gritted my teeth. "Just get to the point. I hate being strung along."
She bowed her head solemnly.
"Then listen closely. Angel... help me regain my divinity. Not for worship or power. But to restore balance before the truth is buried again."