Chapter 84: Chapter 84

“This is it – Head God Heedra’s room. You may now enter.” Templar said.

Shia would have wanted to come with someone, or at least with Langrion, but Templar was instructed that he she should come alone. After staring at the door for a long time, she took a deep breath before pushing it open.

Like the rest of the temple, the head god’s room was deathly quiet. The high ceiling of the whole temple made sounds echo so loudly that it hurts one’s ears. It was supposed to be an office, but it looked like a bed chamber.

While still admiring the room’s beauty, she heard a couple of hushed voices inside the bed chamber. She walked on further to see who and what the matter was.

As she approached, she caught sight of an entity she didn’t think she would see that day.

“You can see it, but you won’t be able to do anything against it. That’s a shame...”

The owner of the voice was none other than Galahad. As soon as she realized this, Shia hid further beside one of the gigantic plants that decorated the room.

Once she was in a safe corner, she observed him further. He was looking down on a towering figure that was twice the size of an average human. Shia couldn’t see the man’s face clearly for he was lying down on bed, and he was facing away towards Galahad. However, Shia surmised that it was none other than Head God Heedra himself, but how come Galahad wore a displeased and cold look in his face, which is so unlike the proper face of a child who was in the presence of his father?

“Galahad... It’s not yet too late. You can still stop this...”

“There’s no turning back now, father... We will win this, at all cost.”

Without waiting for a response from the head god, Galahad’s figure was engulfed into a flame and he vanished from sight.

Shia stared, aghast. Didn’t Templar say that the Temple of The Gods was impenetrable to magic? How did Galahad vanish using magic then?

While she was still deliberating on this thought, Shia heard an old man’s small and gentle voice.

“Come, Freya. Don’t let what you have seen upset you...”

She almost jumped at his words. Does he know he had been standing there all this time?

He laughed softly, answering her questions as if he had read her mind. “Of course. It had been predetermined all along that you’ll know of this...”

Shia moved quietly towards him. Head God Heedra looked the same as the god in Freya’s memory. However, his face was pale and his eyes were sallow.

“Head God Heedra, may your presence shine on us eternally,” Shia said, greeting him first.

He raised his hand and smiled back at her weakly.

Shia couldn’t contain her worry any longer. “What had happened to you? Are you not well? Shall I call someone?”

“No, child, it’s fine... I just time for my sleep...”

Shia didn’t know how she had come to know about it, but she already started to ask him. “Are you going on your centennial sleep right now?”

“I will soon, child... Are you well?”

“I... I think so...” She really didn’t know how she should respond to that.

Physically, she’s not in any harm, but the circumstances surrounding her were bleak, especially when she thought of Langrion and Sirion in the other prince’s body...

He half-smiled back at her again. “The roads of your future remain dark, save for one. If you can find it, all would be well – that’s the answer to your question before...”

Shia hadn’t asked any questions yet, but she knew it must be Freya’s own question.

“We don’t have much time, child. Do you see that box over there?”

Shia nodded. She quickly fetched it and took it to the head god’s side.

“Open it, and take what’s inside.”

Shia did as she was told. Inside was a small pearl looped around a necklace.

“What is this, head god?”

“You will know in time,” he whispered.

That was the last thing he said before falling asleep completely.

******************

Meanwhile, in another part of the temple, Templar walked with Khailis and Gavil. Langrion volunteered to wait for Shia by the front door of the head god’s room. Although he did not say it, the mortal prince clearly had no strength left to walk any further.

‘They must rush with the wedding as soon as possible...’ Templar thought uneasily.

It was the first time in so many years that Teotrolians have wed humans. It had been a common practice a hundred or so years ago, when Teotroly had not yet risen from the ground. There was no protection magic around Teotroly at that time since Sirion had not revolted yet. As such, the gods and goddesses of Teotroly had already almost forgotten the existence of the protection curse, and had never had to bother with them for a long time.

Now, however, the prince of the Pauca clan had brought home a human wife, and his sister was about to wed a mortal.

Humans are very fragile creatures. Their lives are short, and they could easily perish. Templar didn’t know why some Teotrolians, who could live for centuries and even forever, would choose such a fleeting life companion. Seeing the happy and bubbly face of Rahul and his wife though made him feel that it was all for love – a weakness that even immortals and near-immortals are still prone to.

“Finally, this is Goddess Eily’s room. Let’s go in.”

Rahul, however, hesitated for a moment. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”

Templar smiled. “Of course. It had been a whole century ago since you last saw her. I think she’ll be thrilled to know you’ve married and will soon have heirs.”

Rahul’s face looked like he doubted it, but before Khailis could turn around to face him, he had already cleared away his doubtful face and flashed her an energetic smile.

Rahul’s human mate – Khailis – was quick-witted though. “Is there something I needed to know before meeting Goddess Eily?”

Before Rahul could even speak, however, someone else had answered her question.

“There’s a lot you’d need to know, human, so do come in. I don’t have all day.”

Rahul’s face went pale, and Templar frowned. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to see Sister Eily today, but what can they do? She has already planted her hands against her hips even before they could even enter, and at this rate, she would never let them leave until she had finished saying what she wanted to say.

******************

Khailis did have a bad feeling about meeting Goddess Eily. In mythological stories, she was a gentle and loving goddess whom married woman worshipped for the chance to bear children. However, hearing her irritated voice by the door felt like the all the stories about her fragile and patient personality were untrue.

She shot Gavil a suspicious look. Why was he apprehensive in meeting her? Did something happen between her and this goddess in the past?

The door opened before them, and sure enough, they came face to face with the scorned face of a fair and silver-haired maiden with soft, flowing hair tied in neat braids behind her head.

“Prince Rahul van Esneer, you’ve finally come! After coming back from your studies, you have finally paid me a visit,” she said. She descended upon the steps, leading closer to Gavil, her eyes burning with hate. It seemed that she was oblivious of Khailis’ and Templar’s presence for her gaze was only fixed upon Khailis’ husband.

Gavil had bowed down low towards her. “Greetings everlasting, Goddess Eily. I apologize for coming late like this...”

She caught his bowed face by the chin and forced him to look up into her face. However, Khailis’ hands were swift as well. She had caught the godess’ wrist without even realizing it.

Khailis’ face colored up. “Ah, goddess, my apologies. I had been trained to take action before I speak...” She didn’t mean to be so threatening, but her hands gripped her harder than she had expected.

Goddess Eily looked at Khailis’ golden stained hands. She realized what it had meant.

“You are of child already?!” Her words had a pang of disappointment in it.

“Yes, goddess... I hope you give us your blessings...” Gavil said, abruptly coming over to Khailis’ side while putting some distance between Khailis and the goddess.

“H-how could you, Rahul? After supporting you of your decision to study in the human realm, this is how you repay me?”

Khailis could no longer stand it. Exasperatedly, she voiced her concern towards the matter. “What is this talk about? What sort of relationship do you two possibly have?”

Goddess Eily shot her a fierce look. She looked disgusted, but when she spoke, she was gentler, perhaps in account of her being pregnant.

“Rahul was promised to me by his mother. He was supposed to be my betrothed!”

“That’s not really true. It was a unilateral agreement, goddess... You didn’t want to bless my mother, so she conceded while she was on the brink of death.” Gavil spoke right after the goddess said her words.

“It’s because I have loved you that much already! I can see the power flowing out from your mother’s womb, and if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have been born!”

“Goddess Eily, would, please permit me to speak in behalf of my husband?”

As she emphasized the word ‘husband,’ Khailis knew that she was stepping out of bounds here, but she couldn’t just watch the outrageous scene that was unfolding between Gavil and his lover, if you could even call her that. Who in their right minds would ask for the hand in marriage of an unborn child?

“If what Gavil said was true, then you mustn’t hold it against him... He had never conceded to the agreement. I hope you won’t treat us so unfairly because of it.”

“And what will you do, human, if I don’t concede to this marriage? Are you sure you want to incur my wrath like this?!”

In a million lifetimes, Khailis would never think that her love rival was a goddess as powerful as Eily was! She could just imagine the funny way her face must have looked in front of everybody.

Despite how politely Khailis had tried to present her words, the goddess’ wrath, however, was still fully alive.