Eric sat at the entrance of his cave, gazing out at the beautiful forest landscape.
A fox rested beside him, also admiring the scenery spread across the entire region.
He had told the young Oracle to leave and wait for him to come to her after receiving word from Hunter, but she had flat-out refused.
“You seem to prefer your fox form to your human form,” Eric said, trying to break the awkward silence.
“Not necessarily.
Let’s just say it’s an environmental thing,” she replied.
“Ooh.
What do you mean by that?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“I prefer my beast form when I’m in an environment filled with wildlife.
But I’d rather use my human form when I’m in a more civilized environment,” she replied casually.
“Well, I know we’re way past the time for introductions, but I’m Eric, by the way.” She stood up and stretched before climbing onto his lap and settling down to rest.
Then she said two words.
“I’m Daina.” Eric was startled by how comfortable Daina seemed around him.
They had only met a day ago, yet she already treated him with complete trust.
He was still wary of her ability to influence people and draw them toward her, but she seemed to possess a simple mindset: if her goddess had sent her to guide him, then he must be trustworthy.
Such trust and devotion.
Would I be like her if I had a deity of my own?
Eric wondered.
For some reason, the thought filled him with sorrow and longing.
He felt like a lion cub abandoned by its father, left at the mercy of a pack of bears.
While Eric reminisced about the loss of a god he had never even met, the shadows around him suddenly rippled.
A black wolf emerged from within them.
“I see you have met the Oracle of the Goddess,” Hunter said, startling Eric from his stupor.
“Hmph.” The fox scoffed.
“Of course he did.
Do you think you can hide him from my goddess?” Hunter’s eyes twitched.
He looked at the fox with undisguised disdain.
If his mistress had not ordered him to restrain himself, he would have eaten the creature long ago.
Eric noticed the tension building between them and decided to intervene before things escalated.
“What is the Mistress’s request?” Hunter’s expression became serious.
“You will find the ruins of the Storm Clan and receive the blessing of the Life God.
Then, after becoming an Ascended within a year or two, you will return to the forest and fulfill her second request.” After hearing that, Eric jumped down from where he had been sitting and looked back at Daina.
“Well then, priestess of the goddess.
It’s about time we leave.” Daina immediately jumped onto Eric’s right shoulder.
“Sure, Child of Life.
But first, let’s pass through my village.
If I suddenly disappear after meeting you, it might not be safe for you.” Eric had no reason to object, so he allowed Daina to guide him toward her settlement.
As Eric ran through the forest, following the direction Daina gave him, she explained what he should expect.
Her settlement was primarily inhabited by human beast kin of various kinds.
There were snake-type hybrids, bird kin, and countless other demi-humans with traits belonging to different creatures.
Her role as the Oracle wasn’t as important as the title might suggest.
Her kin simply respected her as someone favored by the goddess.
Her leaving for a while wouldn’t cause any serious problems for either her people or the village.
Eric kept his Soul Sense active as they traveled.
Eventually, he began sensing life forms similar to Daina.
He slowed down.
In the distance, he could make out primitive buildings and strange creatures going about their daily lives.
Eric abruptly stopped near the entrance.
Two Ascended-rank demi-humans stood guard at the settlement’s entrance.
Daina hopped down from his shoulder and landed gracefully on the ground.
The moment her feet touched the earth, her body began to ripple.
Her form visibly grew larger.
Her hind legs twisted and straightened, gradually becoming humanoid, while the fur covering her body receded into her skin.
At the same time, vines sprouted from her body, wrapping around her and covering her bare skin.
Within moments, the little fox had transformed into a young woman.
She straightened herself, shot an annoyed glance at Eric’s dumbfounded expression, and calmly walked toward the guards.
After Daina finished her discussion with the guards, she turned back and signaled for Eric to follow her.
Eric walked toward Daina, casting a few sideways glances at the guards before passing through the entrance.
Once he entered the village, he immediately noticed something.
The only beast kin whose souls he had examined before were Daina and the Ascended hybrid.
In both cases, he hadn’t had enough time to study them properly.
Now that he was inside the village, Eric kept his Soul Sight activated.
Their souls weren’t semi-liquid like his, nor did they possess any affinity for lightning.
Yet, there was still something familiar about them.
They were connected to the Life domain.
But their connection was different from his.
Their souls seemed to represent a branch of Life that focused primarily on growth and reproduction.
His own Life, on the other hand, leaned toward creation and destruction.
They were what came after creation—the continuation of life.
Eric frowned as he tried to make sense of what his Soul Sight was showing him.
“Damn, this is so complicated.
Why can’t my senses just give me clear information instead of these vague hints?” he thought, holding his head as if he had a headache.
“Snap out of it, Eric.
We’re here,” Daina called out, a tinge of annoyance in her voice.
Eric quickly withdrew his senses.
He had just sensed several powerful presences, and he really didn’t want to offend some demigod and get his head removed.
Daina quickly pulled him into a suspiciously luxurious building for such a primitive town.
The moment they entered, Eric felt seven pairs of eyes turn toward him.
The interior was structured like a typical throne room.
Three men sat on each side, while a single beastkin sat upon the throne at the far end of the room.
Eric quietly examined them.
“The beastkin on each side are all Transcended…” His gaze shifted toward the figure sitting on the throne.
Eric shivered.
“…while the one sitting on the throne…” He swallowed.
“…is a Monarch.”