"It's a hassle if a lot of people discover who I really am. But it's always better to risk this knowledge than to let a Divine War occur without heroes to help defend Ysvil." ~Shallies Mythernal

"Take a seat," Shallies began, gesturing over a huge marble from the debris of the inner ruins. "Don't worry, this won't take long."

"You already said you're not going to erase my memories," Grace said defensively, but she still followed her instruction. "And I thought we were about to rescue my companions?"

"We are. They're stranded behind that huge rock at the end of the hallway," Shallies pointed out. "They're currently unconscious, and will probably remain that way for a few more hours. I want to know your plan before we get them."

"My plan?"

The semi-retired Godkiller scratched her head.

"How are you going to explain all this?" she asked. "They're veteran adventurers, Grace. They're not just going to simply accept that you somehow rescued them. So I want to know how you're going to tell the story."

"Oh…"

It was the young adventurer's turn to scratch her head, but she didn't take too long to come up with something.

"I can just tell them the dragon left on his own, right?"

"Its own," Shallies corrected. "If you give them any defining characteristic, it might make you suspicious. You can probably still talk your way out of it, but it's better to just avoid the risk completely."

The semi-retired Godkiller crossed her arms and legs, deep in thought while observing the ruins around them. It was a familiar design of stone and marble and pavement, lost through time and somehow ending up in a dungeon. There were many of these scattered all throughout different manifestations of dungeons and towers. Runes and depictions and patterns had formed in such ways that they had become a part of today's civilization and culture. Despite nobody questioning how they had come to be or where they had come from.

And those few that did… Well, they knew the dangers of keeping such secrets of the Gone Old.

Shallies sighed. "Alright, I think that's good enough of an alibi."

"Eh?" Grace frowned. "I was just throwing the first thing that came to mind. Are you sure it's good enough?"

"Keeping things simple is an important factor when it comes to subtlety. Sure, there are some holes in it, but the more you try to explain everything, or try to cover everything, the more obvious it gets and the easier it is for others to poke even more holes in it.

"If you just make it appear like a coincidence, nobody will ask. Just take me and these ruins for example. We just ended up here because of coincidence."

"Is that really it, though?" Grace asked again. "You're not just saying that because people who know who you really are don't question you, no?"

"Hmm?"

"I saw how that other seraph backed away when you insisted that this was all a coincidence."

"Oh, I thought you were struggling back then." Shallies smiled, appreciating the half-orc's ability to remain aware despite the strain on her body and mind. "That's good to know. And as for Valor'el, you're absolutely correct. But I should remind you that you absolutely had no idea who I actually was until a few minutes ago."

Grace pondered for a moment before nodding along. "I did have some thoughts back in the market, but I just assumed you were good enough of an adventurer to suddenly show up like that."

"Which is a result of me not trying to cover up that I'm actually a good adventurer."

This time, the half-orc's jaw slackened while processing the idea. "Huh… I guess you have a point. So this basically means you're not altering their memories?"

"It's a last resort," Shallies replied. "Depends on how you handle the situation. Altering memories isn't exactly my thing, you see. At the very core of it, the only way we can magically manipulate someone's memories is through a Curse. Putting divine aspects into consideration, a Curse is undoubtedly a malevolent act.

"And I don't dabble in such practices unless it really calls for it. Let's just say, 'it's too much paperwork'. Alright, let's go get your friends."

With that, she stood and headed for the cave-in at the end of the hallway. Grace followed closely, admiring the walls that, though suffering from their age, had miraculously remained after all this time.

They saw large paintings that barely had any colors left on their canvases. Granted that these were magically preserved oil paintings, the length of time that had to have passed for them to be this diminished had to be from even farther back than when Shallies had first taken the role of a Godkiller.

"Or, it could be just a throwaway canvas from whoever was learning to paint from back then," Shallies commented, beckoning Grace over and away from the painting. "Help me out here."

The half-orc had that funny look. She had the question in mind but had enough awareness and respect not to give it voice. The Godkiller wasn't that oblivious, however.

"I don't want to solve everything by myself," she started, "and I don't have to use my mana and Skills for everything. You're here, they're your party-members, so you help."

"I wasn't saying anything," Grace said, giggling.

Shallies narrowed her eyes. "Sure. Whatever you say."

During the entire trip home, Shallies only deliberated once whether to return to the dungeon or not. While she trusted Grace would return safely, the nagging feeling of protectiveness refused to leave her side.

She had even surveyed the entire dungeon secretly before leaving, to ensure that there would be no more unpleasant surprises. Still, the fact that she couldn't track Grace and her companions while they remained inside of the dungeon felt like she had lost an eye.

"If you're that worried, why not just finish the quest with her?" Valor'el asked, passing a glass of fine wine.

They travelled using his Cloud Castle. A mechanism that utilized mana-engines, like Schooner's hovering vehicle, but overblown in a more contrived way. This allowed for the structure to fly. With the renovations of magical engineering, this flying house also took advantage of conjuring its own set of mana-infused clouds. Not only did these gaseous formations create a nigh inconceivable camouflage, they also provided the mechanism additional lift for more efficiency.

Right now, Shallies was lounging in one of the luxurious sofas, while Valor'el sat across. Arun'dul was on the side, asleep. She took a sip of wine before addressing the seraph, who had exchanged his Mana-Armor for a set of shirt and trousers.

"You know exactly why," she said, finally removing her eyes from the System Console. Stachie made a promise to keep her posted.

"You're way too trusting. I get that. But how sure exactly are you that she won't tell a soul about who you are?"

"I don't know." Shallies took another sip. The smooth taste of bitterness transitioning into something sweet and strong, finished by the straight heat of alcohol, encouraging a feeling of craving. She considered including this drink in her menu. "Where'd you get this?"

"The wine?" Valor'el reached out to pass the bottle. "It's one of our specialties, sourced straight from our vineyards."

"That reminds me," Shallies began, flying off to another tangent. "How's the seclusion?"

"We're calling it Avel Paradise now. After a while, we noticed that some of the barriers hiding us from the mortal realm have weakened, allowing for foreigners to find us. Some were happy to trade, some wanted to tour. A few exceptional individuals fell in love and decided to marry, even though they knew that having children was an impossibility.

"A few years later, it didn't seem right to keep referring to our home as in seclusion. And since you didn't seem to care much however we called our lands, we, the elders, decided to change the name."

Shallies nodded. She refrained from checking her Divine Mandate to review the conditions for weakening her barriers. Such a thing would be too much even for someone like Valor'el. Not that he wouldn't be capable of withstanding such a sight, but it would be revealing something he wouldn't be able to take back anymore.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The gods called it, Divine Innocence. Shallies called it gatekeeping. Not in a negative sense, of course. People who even merely gazed upon such a power could be easily corrupted, even if they had no hope of attaining even a figment of it.

In any case, based on the rest of Valor'el's reports, the redemption of Avel Paradise was on its way. Maybe a few decades up to a century, and the curse would be fully lifted. She secretly anticipated their triumphant return.

"Are you sure you're not just trying to change the subject, Lady Shallies?" the seraph asked after detailing the highlights of events in the seclusion during her absence.

"I was trying to distract myself," Shallies replied, narrowing her eyes. "Thank you for bringing me back to square one."

Valor'el covered his mouth with one hand, faking a gasp. "That was terribly improper of me! I apologize."

"I was kidding… Mostly."

A digital map appeared in front of them via their System Consoles, indicating their approach towards their destination. Shallies' new home. At the same time, an indicator for the Cloud Castle's remaining mana-fuel appeared. It was at thirty percent remaining.

"You need a refuel?" Shallies asked.

"Oh, there's no need." Valor'el held up a hand. "The Premonition's equipped with mana-miners. It shouldn't take more than half a day to completely refuel from environmental mana."

Shallies raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you activate the miners on the go?"

"Haven't used The Premonition in about a decade," he reasoned. "You'll have to forgive me for not tracking the remaining fuel."

This time, the semi-retired Godkiller shrugged. Small oversights like these were detrimental during times of Divine Wars, but the fact that the seraph could afford to be this lax was a good sign overall. Not good, big picture considering, but not exactly bad either.

"Wanna stay the night, then?" she asked the seraph. "I have a couple of spare rooms for you and Arun'dul. Breakfast's on me."

Valor'el smiled. "Thank you, Lady Shallies. I haven't had a taste of your cuisine for so long."

"Alright." Shallies stood and proceeded to the lounge's exit. "I'll head down and pull you with Realm Gate. Make sure you get a hold of him. Just give me a few minutes."

The seraph nodded. With that, she pulled the hood of her Manaweave Coat, turning herself invisible. While the Cloud Castle, The Premonition, had the ability to hide with the clouds, there wasn't any way for Valor'el to do the same. Sure, it was in the middle of the night, and there weren't many houses or people around, but it was better not to risk being seen.

On her way down, Shallies tugged at her connection with Apple. Her Soul Confidant had fallen asleep on the counter while waiting for her. She landed in front of her door and opened it gently, trying not to shock the teacup fairy awake. She did still wake her up, however.

"We're having guests," Shallies whispered as Apple rubbed her eyes. "Can you prepare the spare rooms upstairs? I'll make you some tea."

Apple, eyes still closed and mouth slightly agape, nodded like a zombie as she drag-floated herself up to the second floor. Shallies turned to the kitchen to prepare some drinks, but a little tap caught her attention.

She turned to see the fairy slumped on the floor in front of the stair's handrail. Apple clutched her forehead, tears coming out of her eyes. A soft cry vibrated like dropped bells.

Shallies abandoned what she was about to do and picked up the teacup fairy. The poor creature clutched at her bosom like a child.

Godkillers they both might be, but stone was still stone. And they hurt. Anyone running their forehead into it right as they were waking up would take them by surprise no matter how strong they were.

"Still sleepy, huh?" she whispered towards the fairy.

Apple shook her head, climbing up until she could hold Shallies' cheek. She tapped her hand on it a few times, making frustrated chimes the entire time.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to make you worry," Shallies replied on her Soul Confidant's silent question. "Grace and the rest are fine. It was Arun'dul who made a mess. We have him and Valor'el as guests tonight."

At this, Apple lifted her head, her eyes gradually growing wider in surprise.

"I'll tell you the whole story later, if you don't want to pull through our Confidant." Shallies headed up the stairs, intending to clean up the guest rooms. Apple quickly flew in front signaling that she was fine now and would take care of the task instead.

Relieved that the fairy wasn't actually hurt, Shallies returned to the kitchen and got the tea brewing. At the same time, she spoke to her System Assistant.

"Stachie, let them know I'm about to get them soon."

[Right away.]

Shallies spent some time fixing up the dining area with mana-control. She removed some tables from the window, positioned some chairs adjacent to each other, and generally moved things to make sure Valor'el wouldn't accidentally step on them. Satisfied with her work, she unveiled a single layer of her Stellar Mana.

Already, the wooden components of her home creaked from the pressure of her existence. She controlled it right away, not taking any chances for the structure of the house to crumble.

[They're ready,] Stachie informed her.

"Realm Gate: Valor'el."

The same as before, Shallies reached out in front of her as if to pull someone by their shoulders. Valor'el appeared a second later. He wasn't as difficult to reach, now that he wasn't wearing his Mana-Armor. As expected, he carried Arun'dul in both arms.

"Put him there for now," Shallies said, pointing at the chairs by the window. "Your rooms are getting cleaned."

"This…" The seraph struggled for words. He looked towards her with wonder and curiosity. "This is such a humble abode."

Shallies shrugged. "This was originally Catelyn's. She said I could have it if I could afford it."

"So the Great Biomekeeper spent the rest of her days here." Valor'el observed the old features of the house while Shallies veiled her Stellar Mana completely. "For someone so powerful, not only did she refuse to pursue immortality, she also lived a modest life."

"Most of them are like that, yeah." Shallies went into the kitchen, taking care of the boiling tea. "After a number of Divine Wars, they started to realize what my responsibilities were and how impossible it was to carry the burden for as long as I have."

"Is that why you're the only person to ever take the mantle of Godkiller?"

Shallies smiled as she emerged from the kitchen with a tea set. "There's two of us now, actually."

Valor'el had the decency to stay calm despite this information, though he was visibly struggling. Large eyes widened, absorbing all the shock he would've otherwise blurted out in surprise.

"What?" he worded out silently. "That pipsqueak's become a Godkiller?"

Something flew past Shallies' head. A small piece of leftover wood. It zipped through from behind her white hair, flipping it like a curtain before smacking Valor'el's forehead.

The seraph, surprised by the sudden attack, bent backwards and fell off his chair with a yelp.

Apple stood on Shallies' shoulder with both arms crossed. A puff on her cheeks hid none of her hostility towards the seraph. A friendly hostility, the Chef noted, but it had been acted upon nonetheless.

"Ow! Is this how you treat your guests?" Valor'el stood, rubbing his forehead.

"Just you, probably," Shallies replied. "You did call her a squeak."

The seraph wasn't actually harmed. Like with Apple's case, bumping into objects like these wasn't exactly a problem. It was more of their dignity getting hurt than anything else.

"I guess she really takes after her Soul Confidant, huh…"

"Yes, we're small," Shallies admitted, perching her head on the table with one hand. Eyes narrowing. "But that doesn't make it alright to call us weird names like that."

Valor'el swallowed, trying to force down the nervousness that unknowingly surfaced. He scratched his head. Then bowed formally.

"I apologize. It's uncharacteristic of an Acting Deity."

Shallies shrugged. "That's besides the point, Acting Deity or not. I know you're close friends with Apple, but she's my Soul Confidant now. What you say to her you say to me, and vice versa."

Valor'el sat while Shallies took that as a signal to prepare tea. Apple, as always, set one for herself to bathe in. Clear bells of satisfaction echoed from her and her flower dress.

"Forgive my rudeness, Apple, for earlier, and for my question right now." Valor'el waited for the teacup fairy's permission. She gave it nonchalantly, too relaxed in her tea.

"I was wondering what your Great Sacrifice was?" he continued. "To become a Godkiller like Shallies, I mean."

Shallies waited, keeping her silence while they all warmed themselves up with tea. The seraph carefully took a sip, still aware of his bad manners from earlier.

Apple didn't reply. She simply stared back and smiled lazily. It took Valor'el a long while to realize what it meant. From nervousness of getting the silent-treatment, to begging for forgiveness, to finally realizing what was going on.

He looked towards Shallies, then back to Apple, before turning back to Shallies once more.

"Give it your best guess," she urged.

"You sacrificed your voice," he said to Apple. The fairy simply nodded once. Valor'el couldn't help but tear up. "No…"

"Complete mute," Shallies confirmed while keeping her emotions in check. "Not even telepathy will connect to her. Not even through our Confidant, as far as words are concerned. In emergency cases, she will write her words through mana, but even that, even writing on paper, toes upon the line of her Great Sacrifice. So we avoid it as much as possible. Gestures, implications, and emotional transfers are all we need between the two of us."

"Apple…" Valor'el wore his heartache without reservations. He and the teacup fairy had known each other well before she became a Godkiller, and he an Acting Deity. "Your songs. I won't hear them anymore?"

Apple bit her lip, then dejectedly shook her head.

Valor'el's face fell, clenching his jaws as he started to cry. He did his best to hold back his sobs. But since the tears wouldn't stop, he covered his face with one hand.

"Such a shame…"

Apple emerged from her teacup and floated before Valor'el, giving him a hug. The seraph reciprocated slowly.

Shallies smiled, appreciating how much Valor'el cared for her Soul Confidant. He spoke the truth. Apple losing her voice was indeed, a great loss. The most the teacup fairy could do was hum in soft tunes and bells, nothing compared to when she could have actually sung her favorite songs.

She gave the two some time, concentrating on her tea and checking on Stachie for any updates with Grace and the others.

[It should take them some more time, Shallies. I'll update you whenever anyone appears from the dungeon portal.]

Shallies sighed. The conversation took only a few seconds, not enough time for the two in front of her to finish consoling each other. To her surprise however, Apple flew to her side before giving her an affectionate hug.

"She seems to think her Great Sacrifice was worth it," Valor'el said, trying his best to interpret her friend's gestures.

"It wasn't easy for her to give it up," Shallies added, rubbing Apple's face with a finger. "Even now, there are times when the desire to sing overwhelms her, and she starts to tear up. Of course, I feel sad too. But that's part of what it takes to become a Godkiller."

"You still won't tell us what your Great Sacrifice was?" asked the seraphim.

"Apple knows," Shallies replied. "Being my Soul Confidant and all that. But we won't tell you."

Valor'el nodded. "I suppose that was to be expected."

"Anyway, your rooms upstairs are in the first two doors on either side of the hallway. Ours is at the end, so don't even pretend to be confused."

"I wouldn't dare to try."

The seraph began to move, but the sudden clarity in his face said he realized something. Shallies raised an eyebrow.

"I realized I haven't had lunch yet," he said.

"Oh…" The Chef scratched her head. "That's right. I pulled you halfway across Ysvil."

Valor'el bashfully smiled. "I suppose I can hunt some game somewhere or check if I have some preserved food back in The Premonition."

"Oh, no need, Valor'el." Shallies hopped off her chair and went to prepare in the kitchen while Apple went back into her teacup. "Food's on me while you stay here. I'm a Chef now, remember? I could use some experience. What do you want?"

"Some fish would be nice."

"Coming right up."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.