novelzi Chapter 63 – Umbra
Chapter 63 – Umbra
Long, long ago, there existed supreme beings who shaped the world and guided its inhabitants. Among them were The Dragon God, The Archdevil, and The Goddess Varolia. [Her name from now on is Varolia]
The Dragon God, fierce and mighty, protected the dragons, granting them strength and glamour. His presence was felt in the thunder's roar and the earth's fiery core, symbolizing his dominion over power and fire.
The Archdevil, ruler of demons, was honest yet relentless, demanding bloodthirst and truth from his followers. He whispered secrets and bestowed overwhelming magic and force upon those who adhered to his doctrine. Under his guidance, the demons thrived in war and conquest, their loyalty unwavering.
The Goddess Varolia watched over humanity with a compassionate, forgiving hand, embracing all who were human. She embodied life and light, nurturing her followers with grace. Under her divine guidance, human civilizations flourished, blooming like the flowers in her sacred gardens.
The three gods ascended to the realm of Arataxia, a place beyond mortal comprehension, where they continued to oversee the world below. Their influence persisted, each god's presence woven into the very fabric of the world, shaping the destinies of their respective races.
Today, though cast from the grace of these gods, Van decided to pray as he stood atop a grave beside an abandoned wooden house in the heart of a dense forest.
"All right, so you do it like this, right...? Luckily, it's not too complex..." he murmured, bending his knees in the forest's eye where the graveyard stood. He clasped his hands together and bowed his head, following the teachings of Amoria, regarding respect for the dead and the Goddess.
"That Goddess doesn't hear me. I know that much. So it wouldn't matter if I asked her to give you peace or something like that," he muttered. "...Either way, this one's for you..."
"...Millina," he spoke, his voice calm.
"I don't know much about ghosts and spirits. I don't know if the brainwashing you endured carried over to heaven or wherever you are, or if you're seething with vengeance toward Magus, and me for staying silent," he firmly stated.
"But I came to you because I remembered. You knew how to calm us in times of peril. So, selfishly, I address you with this," he breathed deeply.
"...You see, I've reunited with the one I love. I found her, finally. I won't tell you who it is, because if you're seething, you'd be even more so if you knew who that was," he chuckled.
"I thought I'd find some peace or strength within myself after feeling her love. Like the calmness I felt with Amoria back at the party. It makes sense, doesn't it?" Van tightened his clasped hands, his breath becoming more drawn out.
"But I'm more scared than ever," he murmured to the marked grave of his former companion, as a gentle breeze brushed through.
"Is this... how it's supposed to work?" Van tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes. "When you finally get something you've
He hadn't considered that, over 14 years, his unceremonious proposals to every woman of cardinal importance across all races, while unintentionally or intentionally desecrating their sacred doctrines, might have angered every known God and Goddess residing in Arataxia.
He hadn't considered that a human pursuing a demon's heart—especially after years spent in a crusade against her—then claiming that heart and wielding the Demon Tongue as a human, might have incensed the Archdevil, even under a strict peace treaty.
He hadn't considered that he did all of this while being discarded by the Goddess of his own species, no longer under her protection.
Oh, Van.
Dear, dear Van.
He hadn't considered that all those very Gods he had just spoken to...
Might have heard him...
...and taken even greater offense.
It might have been fine if it were anyone else—any other person is under the providence of one god or another.
But Van is not a man who thinks things through, despite his earnest efforts.
As he turned away and walked into the distance, the gods began to stir. A series of holographic message prompts, ones Van had just missed, flickered into existence:
[The Goddess Varolia scowls at your audacious plea, seeking the Archdevil's cooperation in your punishment.]
[The Archdevil scoffs at the request of The Goddess.]
[With a sly smile, The Goddess Varolia proposes an enticing offer, causing the Archdevil's eyes to narrow thoughtfully before he gives a reluctant nod.]
[The other gods murmur their approval, while the Dragon God remains indifferent, his focus elsewhere.]
[...Meanwhile, a being veiled in shadows chuckles loudly, amused by your rather idiotic disrespect towards the Gods...]
[...and nods at you.]