[#System Quest: Completed
Details
♠Grow the Vastyi Village;
·Aid the villagers in awakening life and mythic talents to help the development of the village#
Rewards:
•20,000FP
•Skill upgrade potion (B-rank)
•New Skill Unlocked: Sanctified Ground#]
[# Sanctified Ground (S-rank)(Domain ability): Description: The land without your divine authority becomes blessed territory within a kilometre radius upon activation of this skill; every kilometre after that consumes 1000 faith points. Allies and neutral bodies within this domain receive the complete protection of your shelter authority and minor recovery, while hostile entities experience suppression; the severity of the suppression varies with the level of ill-intent.
Effects:
• Followers and Neutral parties recover stamina slightly faster.
• Minor wounds heal gradually.
• Fear and corruption effects are dispelled.
• Hostile entities feel divine suppression while trapped in the domain.#]
"Neat!!" I said, satisfied, a low whistle escaping my mouth, as I turned around, intending to return to my throne and resume my watch over Vasyti, but what I saw stopped me dead in my tracks; it was... a human?
’System, what is a human doing in my domain?’ I asked internally, confused at the scene; according to system logic, this shouldn’t be possible
[# That is not a human, host #]
’Really, then what is it? Because it looks like a human, ’ my eyes rolling in weary resignation at the system’s seemingly asinine response
[# That’s because it is a human, host #]
’MAKE UP YOUR MIND, IS IT HUMAN OR NOT??!’ I screamed at the system internally
But before I could listen to the system’s response, the sound of someone clearing their throat softly snapped me out of my internal tirade.
"Pardon me, Divine Lord Astrael, the Goddess Valea wishes to have an audience with you", the human said, and in the next moment her head flung back at eyes snapping wide open with a white glow.
"Hello, Astrael", the human greeted again. Its head moved back into position, the white glow occupying where its eyes were meant to be, but this time the voice wasn’t hers; it sounded softer, like the gentle beating of a butterfly’s wings, but still carried an undeniable weight beneath it. "I assume it’s a pleasure. I am the Goddess Valea, ruler of Nature and its forces, and Divine Lord over Eryndor"
It took me a moment to reconcile the voice and the words it spoke with the body it came from before I finally responded.
"Hello, Valea. It indeed is a pleasure. Seeing how you know my name, I assume an introduction on my part isn’t necessary, but I really need to ask: how did you come to find out about me?"
"Not quite; an introduction would be much needed, as I could only, though vaguely, find out your name through the divine connection. The same connection that let me confirm your existence. As the Goddess of Nature, even though my authority is restricted to my land, my influence expands beyond my territory; I’ve always been able to sense the deadness the #2%$^! caused on this land"
"Hold on, what was the last thing you said?" I cut in to ask her since I couldn’t make out what she said, as all I heard was a buzzing static
"Are you refering to the #2%$^!* that caused the #$#&@(# of the lands of #$&@*#." Listening to what I wanted to believe was an explanation, I couldn’t help but scratch my head in confusion. "Ah, I see. Your existence level is not high enough to know the details of #$@*^&!; even I don’t know everything about it. You’ll come to learn about it in due time; don’t worry, now back to what I was saying." Valea said, seeing I clearly wasn’t catching whatever information she was throwing, hence deciding against trying to disclose any further information, and continued with how she got to know about me
"As the Goddess of Nature, I’ve always been able to sense the aura of death about.."
"Vasyti"
"Vasyti, thank you. But suddenly, an aura of vitality, pure and untainted, permeated through what the humans call the plague, giving a chance to life in a place I deemed incapable of harbouring nature. Naturally, I would notice. It was then I tapped into the divine connection, and there you were"
"Oh, that makes sense... I assume, and who’s this?" I said, referring to the human body "And how did she get in here, and also are you the only one who can sense me?"
"My time is running out, Astrael, but to be brief. She is my proxy; she got in because your domain is on what I could call a default, with no security or restrictions in place, and I won’t assume that I’m the only one who can sense you; neither will I outright say I’m not. If the other gods wanted to, they could. Goodbye for now, Lord Astrael" With those last words, the glow left the ’proxy’s’ eyes, and after a moment the proxy also vanished without a sound; if I didn’t know better, I would say she was never actually there.
Shifting my focus to look down at the village, I noticed Elder August at the altar about to offer his daily prayer. "August, I have an important task for those 3", my voice calm, yet resonating with divine authority, spread across the altar, taking August by surprise.
[100DE successfully deducted]
’You sure don’t miss a beat, do you?’ I sighed internally
"Which 3, my Lord?" He replied, his head bowed as he awaited my response
"The S-rank children, Freya, Aspen and Kazel"
Upon hearing the specification, he offered a slight nod, then turned unhurriedly away from the altar, 10 minutes passed without any sign of Elder August, but by the 11th I noticed Elder August returning, with 3 figures keeping pace behind him.
"Good," I started, giving my voice a bit more weight ", now that you all are here, I have an assignment for you 3, one that involves you leaving the barriers of my authority." In a burst of surprise and slight fear, Elder August spoke up, "But they can’t leave the barrier, beyonds it’s edges lay the rest of the cursed lands that span for miles and miles-"
"And you assume I’m unaware, or that I am a fool; that would send them in blindly?!" I said, my voice reverberating through the air. A line of cold sweat prickled at Elder August’s forehead as he suddenly realised his misstep; in a blur of movement, he was already on his knees pleading mercy.
Satified with his reaction, I carried on, "You three will venture out the borders, but worry not, my followers my authority will covers you, shielding you from the cursed energy that plagues the external lands, as well as preventing you from life threatening harm, but don’t be mistaken to believe I will allow my authroity protect you from all harm, a broken arm isn’t life threatening, a skinned face may not be life threatening, consider this assignment an expedition to improve your skills" After pausing to ensure they were following, I continued.
"Now, as you know, the population of this village is far too small, lacking manpower and helping hands in some sectors. Going beyond the border, have it in the back of your mind to find and bring back with you any humans you find; that’s your assignment. There are human settlements scattered around the cursed lands, similar to his one; you are to rope them in and bring them back. You shall depart in 2 nights from now, and return within 4 moons from then. You may take your leave now." As they began to depart, "Not you, August", I said. After the children left, a small pouch appeared on the altar. "That’s a spatial bag; its storage is limitless, yet useless to me. From what I know, to mortals, that’s a treasure that surpasses imaginable value. The children may use it to pack whatever they need, as well as store the beasts they will hunt, if they find it relevant."
And with that, I withdrew my presence from the mortal plane. Elder August stood with his mouth agape for a couple of moments before rushing to inform the children.
Before I forget. System, what is a proxy? And what did she mean by, my domain has no security?
After the last words left my lips, the soft chime that preceded an answer rang out in my mind.