We Are Taking Down the Goddess

New Dawn

Aiko curled her fingers around Ren’s paws. Every muscle in her body was shaking, and tears streamed down her cheeks from her half-closed eyes. She held her breath behind the pursed lips as she struggled to stay still. The moment her fingers touched him, happiness flowed through her, warming her skin like the rays of the warm sun.

-        “I can’t believe you are alive.” – her face lit up as she continued to cry.

-        “What happened, Aiko? I thought I was dead.” – uttered Ren, while checking his body for any open wounds. But, there was nothing he could find. His body was as good as new.

-        “Welcome to the world of adventurers, Aiko. You are now a full-fledged caster – a cleric.”

Kana approached the girl and greeted her with respect. She bowed with grace without the unnecessary flattery. In her eyes, Aiko was someone worthy, a warrior even.

-        “Cleric? What does that mean?”

-        “Someone with the rarest gift in Elidy, the power to heal and revive the dead.”

-        “No.” – Aiko refused. “You have me mixed up with someone else. Isn’t that right, general Vesryn?”

She took a good look at the elf of noble heritage that stood there beside her. But, to her surprise, even he was staring at her in disbelief, failing to grasp what just happened.

That’s when Aiko started doubting herself, everything she saw and felt. Before that moment, she didn’t fully understand she brought Ren back to life. After all, who could believe such a thing? Just a few hours ago, she was a mere slave, working in the mines and trying to make ends meet. Now, she is what? A cleric?

-        “I don’t understand, my lady.” – Aiko mumbled.

-        “You’ve been blessed by the gods with healing magic.” – Kana explained.

-        “Blasphemy!” – Vesryn quickly regained his composure. Anger burned inside of him, ready to explode at any second.

-        “It doesn’t make any sense.” – Aiko shrugged.

-        “Healing magic is a highly valued skill, only meant for the esteemed elves of the kingdom. A handful of elves born in Elidy are blessed with these powerful abilities. A mere human can’t even fathom such power. It can’t wield it or use it. No human has managed to become a cleric, not in the hundreds of years I’ve lived.” – Vesryn furiously declared.

-        “True. But, she is a miracle.” – added Kana.

-        “Well, I don’t care how this slave got the power, she is coming with me.”

The elf quickly pulled Aiko by the hand and moved towards the rundown village. Ren immediately felt threatened. He tried to get up but to no avail. His body was too weak from having been reborn so quickly. That’s when Kana reached out and grabbed the elf by the shoulder, securing him in place.

-        “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.” – the sorceress declared without a single doubt in her mind.

-        “What do you mean, witch? Unhand me now or you will pay dearly for your treachery!”

-        “So, be it.”

-        “Are you insane?! Will you turn against everyone and everything you’ve worked for, just for this human? Who is she to you? What do you plan to achieve?" – with each passing moment, Vesryn’s anger grew bigger and bigger.

-        “I have no intention of sharing my goals with you.” – Kana remained as serious as the moment she arrived on the battlefield. She was as cold as steel.

-        “What is going on? Why are you fighting for me?” – Aiko stood there clueless. The overwhelming atmosphere made it too uncomfortable for her to bear.

Vesryn’s knuckles turned white from clenching his fists too hard. He gritted his teeth to avoid confronting the most powerful sorceress in the kingdom. But, his hunch was telling him to fight, right there and then. His face flushed red from all the rage he suppressed. He and the woman stared in each other’s eyes like acid – burning. Aiko felt it. She felt the anger that brewed in them, so she decided to act.

-        “Tell me! Someone tell me!”

-        “Clerics are supposed to fight for his majesty. They are supposed to remain by his side for all eternity and make sure that the noble linage is kept long and healthy. If they don’t kill you first, of course. After all, you are not supposed to exist.” – Vesryn explained.

-        “What do you mean?” – Aiko wondered once more.

-        “Humans are mortal, girl. But, with healing magic, you’ve gained immortality. You’ve beaten the laws of nature, and for that they want you to serve the king or die by their hand.” – Kana added.

-        “What? Die…or stay… immortal? Wait, how can they kill me if I am immortal?”

-        “You can still be killed, girl. You just won’t die a natural death, as a normal human should.” – Kana mumbled.

Aiko’s brain stuttered. For a moment there, her eyes shined with more light than she ever imagined. She turned to face Ren only to find him staring right back at her white as chalk. His eyes and mouth were frozen wide open. He was just as stunned as she was.

-        “But, I believe your destiny awaits elsewhere, girl. You are not supposed to end up in the castle. You were born for greater things.” – Kana confessed. She immediately took up a defensive position ready to confront the elf.

-        “What is the meaning of this, witch? The moment you take her from me, the entire kingdom will turn against you! Do you understand that? There is no turning back! By taking her, you are risking his majesty’s life. His legacy. This is treason! Complete and utter treason!” – the elf tried to knock some sense into her.

Aiko just stared at both these warriors. She understood why they were arguing, but hadn’t quite grasped the impact of her abilities.

-        “Please! Stop fighting. I don’t want anyone to get hurt anymore. I’ve made up my mind. There is no need to take me, lady Kana Nakamura. I will go with the elf general. I’m happy that Ren is alive and I want him to stay that way.” – the girl smiled.

-        “At least someone knows her place.” – a small, but arrogant smirk crept up on the elf’s face.

Then, a huge watery wall emerged out of thin air and pushed the elf aside, forming a great barrier that forbade him from getting near Aiko.

-        “Do not make me repeat myself. Girl, you are coming with me.” – Kana declared.

Aiko tilted her head to face the sorceress, only to find herself staring at the woman’s eyes. The cold look in her eyes made Aiko shiver. It was that sheer unwavering determination no one could beat that made the young girl tremble.

-        “But, why?” – Aiko barely managed to find the courage and ask.

-        “You are destined for much greater things.”

Kana answered with a warm smile. It was the first time that Aiko felt emotion from the sorceress. It was at that moment that the girl realized Kana was human. That she too had feelings. Then, the wall of water disappeared without a trace.

-        “What is more important than the royal family, Kana Nakamura?”

Vesryn pushed himself off the ground and brushed the blood off his cheek. It was merely a bruise but was still bleeding pretty badly. It was obvious the sorceress didn’t want him dead. If she did, he would be.

-        “Are you all right?” – Aiko rushed to his aid.

-        “As it’s expected of the strongest adventurer in the elven kingdom.” – the elf smiled, pushed Aiko away, and continued. “You know, Kana. You can defeat me. But, do you believe you can stand against every single adventurer in the land? Against all the strongest guilds, elven fleet, and even the unbeatable elven champions? Do you think you can beat all of them alone?

-        “Yes.” – the sorceress nodded.

-        “You are crazy! You’ve lost your mind!” – The elf yelled as his voice wavered.

-        “But, not alone. And she will fight by my side.”

Aiko just stared at the two warriors bickering with one another. She still couldn’t believe her eyes. Before she could utter a single word, Kana grabbed her tightly. She wrapped her arms around the unexpecting Aiko and Ren and waved her hands in a fluid-like motion – just as she did when she created that watery shield. A gazer emerged from underneath, spewing forth a column of crystal-clear water, cleaner than any spring Aiko has ever seen. But, instead of the water protecting them, it engulfed them completely. Just like that, they disappeared right before Vesryn’s eyes. The elf stood there in shock before yelling from the top of his lungs.

-        “Teleportation?! That pathetic witch! Those simple parlor tricks will get you nowhere! You hear me?! Nowhere! I will tell the royal family what you’ve done here! I will tell everyone!” – his voice echoed across the barren wasteland.