We Are Taking Down the Goddess

Blue Lust Guild House

The bright morning sun poured through the cracks in the blinds from a small window and went straight for Aiko’s sleepy eyes. Still tired and dreary, the young girl hesitantly rubbed her eyelids, while clinging onto the very last bit of fragments from her dream. That’s when Aiko noticed something strange.

There was a certain coolness in the air. A cold breeze she wasn’t used to. Then, she noticed her body didn’t stay still. Instead, she was inside a carriage that had been jolting joyfully down the road for who knows how long. A strange salty smell lingered in the air. She felt an odd humidity wash over her skin that whisked all the remaining heat away. There was also the sound of seagulls singing in the sky – creatures she only heard about in stories. The girl pushed herself off the crates she had been laying on and stuck her head out of the window to see what was going on.

Her jaw dropped in awe. The carriage was riding over a pure white road that stretched onward, leading to a few minor roads from time to time. The stones fit perfectly with the surface like a giant jigsaw puzzle that had no end. The road was wide enough to fit more than a dozen carriages riding on the same path. The cobblestone had welcomed many showers of rain and suns, but it was still well-kept, making each turn for the carriage an easy stride. Aiko couldn’t find a single imperfection, not even cracks or crevices that would naturally form a small puddle after a rain. There were no weeds that grew inside the stones either as if the entire road was made by a magnificent artistic hand.

But, when the girl raised her head, she was speechless. She was surrounded by tall elegant buildings made of the purest white stones. Everywhere she turned, there were elves dressed in the finest silk walking around the place. The crowd flowed down the wide avenue like a cool summer breeze. Their movements were soft and with inner peace as if with every step they took they could treasure the moment.

Each elf held themself with pride, without even an ounce of stiffness. Their long ears and stunning bright eyes almost hypnotized the young girl. She had never seen so many gorgeous figures with translucent skin in the same place. She only knew those elven guards that forced them to work in the mines. But, they were dirty and unrefined, unlike these stunning figures that walked the streets. The noise was put to a minimum, the voices were humble, but the city breamed with life. Compared to the dusty old Wolfmore and the merchant streets in Glanaram, this was a completely different story.

In seconds, the girl regained her composure and whipped the door open, only to find an unfamiliar man controlling the horses. Aiko panicked and fell. But, before she screamed, she felt a paw on her lips. It was Ren, still in his puppy form. He hurried to give her a sign to be quiet.

-        “Who is that?” – Aiko mumbled.

-        “Shh. Don’t freak out! It’s Kana.” – Ren explained with a quiet tone.

-        “Kana?!”

An old man with a fringe of gray hair and a forgettable face turned to face the young girl.

-        “Yes. It’s me. Do what Ren says, and stay quiet.”

-        “What’s going on? Where are we? Where is Xeneth?” – the girl couldn’t help but panic. Her emotions were overwhelming.

-        “Xeneth stayed behind to give the succubi a proper burial. We are now in Ennore, the capital of Azidora.”

Ren pulled away his paw from Aiko’s mouth. After hearing what happened to the succubi, Aiko’s eyes filled with tears. But, Ren kept explaining to put her mind at ease and divert her focus from the fallen warriors.

-        “Kana betrayed the kingdom and had to use a cloaking spell to hide her identity. That was the only way she could get past the elf guards and inside the city.”

The girl wiped her eyes and sniffed. Deep down she felt powerful guilt. If only she was stronger, if only she could use that hidden power, maybe those succubi would have lived. If she healed them on time, maybe they wouldn’t have to suffer such a horrible death. Her eyes kept shifting to the side, again and again, becoming glazed with a glossy layer of tears. Whenever she blinked, water would slide down her cheeks. Aiko’s heart kept sinking. But, she knew it was better not to ask anything more about the succubi, so she focused on Kana instead.

-        “Cloaking spell?”

-        “She changed her body to that of a regular man to suppress her mana. It is a spell that changes the way you look completely. But it also takes away your magic for the time being.”

-        “Oh…so I guess that’s why we are riding the carriage and not teleporting.”

-        “Yup.”

-        “Wait a minute!” – Aiko tensed. “Kana doesn’t have her powers right now?!” – finally realizing the gravity of their situation.

-        “It’s only for a little while.” – Ren smiled and stuck his tongue out.

-        “So…we are in the middle of the elven city, acting like some kind of merchants, while in the meantime, we are surrounded by enemies on each side. And Kana doesn’t have her magic?!”

-        “Ahm.” – Ren nodded.

-        “Oh…my.” – Aiko facepalmed so hard her face hurt.

Shortly after, the carriage came to a halt. They had arrived at a massive mansion in the middle of the city. One of the sentinels that guarded the place came forth.

-        “Welcome to the Blue Lust Guild house. State your business.”

-        “We are transporting food and supplies. There has been an order of over a dozen veggies and fruits.” – Kana declared with a deep voice.

-        “Please stand aside while we take a look around.”

Aiko was anxious. She knew the carriage was half-empty, and the only crates there, were the ones she slept on. There was certainly not enough supplies to fake merchandise. But, it seems that only she was worried. Ren and Kana just stood there, as if there was nothing left to hide. Just before the guards could reach for the door, the entrance behind them swung open. It was Valerie. The guards were stunned.

-        “Guild master, what are you doing here?!”

-        “They are with me, love.” – she tapped the guards on their shoulders and gave them a warm smile.

-        “Understood.”

-        “Well, hello there! Come inside, we’ve been waiting for those supplies for ages.”

-        “We apologize for the hold-up, mam. But, the ride wasn’t easy.” – Kana mumbled.

-        “Come, come, let’s get you changed.”

Valerie led Aiko, Kana, and Ren inside. Her welcoming embrace radiated strong positive energy. Having spent the past few days running from monsters and assassins, Aiko was drained. But somehow, when Valerie was around, she felt at ease.

The moment they set foot inside, the young girl couldn’t help but gasp at the huge estate and massive entrance hall. The place was brimming with cheerfulness. The lively music created the perfect relaxing atmosphere, while the luxury walls, elaborate windows, and colorful paintings took her breath away. For a moment, she had forgotten all her worries.

-        “Woah, this must have cost a fortune.” – Ren gasped.

-        “I can’t believe I’m walking on white quartz.” – she trampled the floor like she was testing its durability. “These handcrafted stones take months to make. And they are even harder to mine. You know, Ren, these crystals are used for protection and good fortune. I can see why these rich people would choose such a thing.”

-        “I see you know a lot about stones.” – an unfamiliar figure approached Aiko and Ren.

Aiko jumped a little. She didn’t expect anyone to whisper in her ear, at least not on enemy territory. That’s when she felt Ren’s soft paw on her shoulder, as a way of reassuring her that everything is all right.

Then, she turned around to find a tall man. He was dressed in leather from head to toe, with a couple of silver embellishments that really stood out. The girl regained her composure and tried to pretend like a regular merchant.

-        “Of course, we….sell…these on a regular basis. We got a bunch of them in the carriage.” – she smiled, but kept sweating profusely.

Aiko observed the young man. What took the girl’s attention was not his silky blonde hair, or the bow he had attached to his back, but his massive scratches all around his legs and hands. Some of them stretched all the way to his neck. Although the bleeding had long stopped, and the gash was almost completely healed, these wounds seemed familiar.

-        “Have you fought a monster recently?” – the girl’s curiosity got the better of her. She had to ask.

-        “Of course! We are adventurers. It is what we do. But, a couple of days ago, this massive thing happened. There was this breach, or whatever they call it, in a mining village. Monsters came swarming from the sky, like some kind of a bloody rain. The whole place was freaking GONE in an instant! But, we came out unscathed. Just a couple of scars to prove that we kicked some ass. Like 'em?” – the man bragged.

-        “You were in Wolfmore?!” – Aiko stared in disbelief.

-        “I think that was the name of the village, yes. But, now it is No-more. Get it?” – he laughed.

Ren growled while Aiko’s heart ached. This archer showed no remorse for all the people that died there and was laughing about it. Making jokes even. In his mind, this breach was a simple monster attack. Nothing more and nothing else. That’s when Valerie barged in and pushed Aiko and the archer to the side. They could feel the woman’s warm small hands pulling them closer to each other.

-        “You two kids, go grab a few drinks. The merchant and I have some business to attend to.”

-        “Kids? But, you look younger than we are.” – Aiko asked.

-        “Oh, that’s our guild master.” – the archer giggled. “She is a dwarf and much older than any of us here.”

-        “So, how old are you, madam?”

-        “A girl never spills the beans. Especially about her age.”

Valerie winked and went for her chamber to the end of the hall. Kana, in her male form, quickly followed suit, leaving Ren and Aiko behind.

-        “Dwarves and elves don’t age. Only humans are mortal.” – Ren whispered in her ear.

-        “So, she could be hundred years old?” – Aiko gasped.

-        “Yup. Or more.”

-        “Well that’s convenient.” – the girl chuckled.

-        “You two, come with me. I want you to meet my friends.”

The archer quickened his pace until he reached a nearby door to the left. He pushed it wide open and gestured excitedly for his guests to come inside.

After taking a final look at Kana’s figure in the distance, Aiko figured she would be safe here. But, the girl’s empty burning lungs and the heart beating in her chest told her otherwise. That heartbeat was so hard she thought it would break her ribs apart and come right out. There was a void. A black hole in her soul that made her swallow all that positivity and hope she had. There was something wrong, but Aiko couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Ren noticed the insecurity in her eyes and the doubt they carried. He too became worried and reached for the young girl.

-        “Aiko, what’s wrong?”

She turned again to see Kana, but she was gone. She already entered the chamber at the end of the hall. If Kana is not bothered by it, why should she? Caught between the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty that came with it, she bottled up all those feelings deep inside.

-        “Nothing.”

The girl realized that although she has known the sorceress for a couple of days, she now trusts her with her life. Without a moment too soon, the girl went inside, and Ren did too.