A/N - Thank you, Black Rose and Grok_The_Golem, for becoming God of Velmoryn's Patreons!
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"You're not Velmoryn," Aria said, smirking.
I froze. Her smile didn't help. If she decided to kill me, I wouldn't be able to stop her, my vessel wasn't strong enough.
Should I strike first? Use the element of surprise?
I considered taking the initiative, but quickly brushed the idea off. If it came down to a confrontation, I could kill her easily using Destruction. I wasn't going to let my vessel be destroyed. Not for anyone.
Even if it meant killing my highest-ranked believer.
My expression hardened.
"You're mistaken," I said firmly. There was not even a sliver of hesitation in my voice. Partly because I was speaking the truth - I was half Velmoryn after all.
"No, I am not," she replied, her smile widening. "I know what you are - half-elf."
She stepped back, as if trying to take a better look.
Is she preparing to attack?
I tensed and placed a hand on the hilt of my sword. Luckily, the Velmoryns still had not taken it away after the duel.
"I will not harm you," Aria said, letting out a soft chuckle. She raised her hands slightly, showing she wasn't forming any runes.
"I did not mean to alarm you. In truth, I need your help," she continued, lowering her voice. "There is a dungeon near our lands I have long wished to clear. But until now, it has not been possible…"
She trailed off, clearly weighing what to reveal.
"Fortunately, you appeared. You have the… strength to stand as my shield, Avenor."
She paused after that, waiting for my answer.
I hesitated. Blindly agreeing wasn't something I was eager to do. But she had me cornered. I couldn't afford to antagonize her, and besides, a dungeon was exactly the kind of place I wanted to explore.
"What do you mean by my strength? Why can others not 'stand as your shield' in my place?" I had a hunch about what she meant, but there was no harm in pressing the point.
"There are few among our tribe strong enough to hold the frontlines," she replied after a brief pause, probably weighing how much to reveal. "And fewer still who are willing to step into the dungeon."
Her hesitation said enough. Just because I'd been accepted into the tribe after the duel didn't mean they trusted me. If anything, Aria bringing me into this campaign so quickly was confusing, to say the least. It most likely meant that she was in a hurry.
I never once considered the idea that she was setting a trap. She wouldn't need one. I knew her skills well enough. So long as she believed I was nothing more than a skilled outsider and not a vessel bound to a god, she would be confident in her ability to kill me the moment she chose to.
"I still don't understand how you're so certain I'm half-elf," I said. "But I'll help."
"That is more than I could have hoped for," she said, her eyes lighting up as she blinked quickly, trying to contain her excitement. "Come, we should return. You must be hungry. We shall speak again tomorrow."
And with that, Aria turned and walked off, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
"Speak tomorrow," huh? So if I hadn't agreed, I'd be in trouble? Why else would she bring the dungeon up now instead of waiting?
The thought pissed me off. I hated that she'd cornered me and worse, reduced me to a mere shield.
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to relax, unclenching my fists one finger at a time.
With my head clearer, I tried to figure out how she had realized I was half-elf. But no matter how I turned it over, I couldn't find an answer. I already knew all of Aria's abilities, and none of them should have let her see through me.
Wait… could it be the spells she mentioned?
I needed to learn how magic worked in this world. Because right now, I knew absolutely nothing.
But before those long-term goals, now that I had some time to myself, away from the bonfire and everyone else, I decided to finally test if I could use equipment created with divine power.
Let's try creating something useless. If it doesn't work, I won't care, and I'll only burn a tiny bit of divinity points.
I liked that idea. I imagined a basic wooden ring through my divine consciousness. It would be made from the Oak Guardian's root, and zap its user with mild lightning shocks, just annoying enough to test if I could hold divine items and if they had any effect on me.
A familiar window appeared instantly:
[Warning: Creation consumed 0.1 Divinity Points!]
Just like before, when I created a bow for Roy, a dark crimson root emerged from the ground and curled into a ring. Once the shape closed, it detached and floated toward me.
I reached out and grabbed it. The surface was smooth, so smooth, I wouldn't have believed it was made from a tree root if I hadn't created it myself. Bright crimson runes shimmered faintly across its surface.
I slipped it onto my finger and waited for the zap.
Nothing.
I stood there for a while, hoping I'd feel something. Anything. A tiny shock, even a tingle. But it just sat there like an ordinary ring.
So even that doesn't work, I thought, sighing. Divine power really had no effect on me.
Frustrated, I pulled it off and threw it as far as I could.
Fine. At least I can equip those items… maybe I should make a sturdy shield.
I leaned into that thought, trying to ignore the irritation clawing at me.
Since the minimum cost seemed to be 0.1 no matter how useless the object was, I figured I might as well make something decent. Well worth the cost. This time, I imagined a shield. One as sturdy and light as I could make it. I even added a crest, a sigil I wanted the Velmoryns to recognize as my symbol. I also gave it an effect: self-repair.
Even if I can't use the effects myself, it might still do its job on its own once I set it down. And if that fails too, who cares? It's still worth testing.
The system responded immediately:
[Warning: Creation consumed 5 Divinity Points!]
What? The cost increased fifty times? But why?
Confusion and frustration hit me all at once. Five divinity points gone.
This shield better be worth it. I thought, clenching my teeth from boiling irritation.
I hadn't even asked for anything complicated. Just something sturdy with a self-repair effect. Nothing fancy. But now I was practically mourning my hard-earned points when dozens of crimson roots burst from the earth in front of me, twisting and snapping into form.
It took shape quickly, towering in height like a tall heater shield. I could tell just from how much wood was being compressed that it'd be incredibly sturdy and hopefully not so heavy that I'd end up dragging it around.
Within seconds, the inner side rippled and warped, forming a handle molded perfectly for my grip. Then, the whole thing detached from the roots and floated toward me.
It turned, showing its front side.
The shield's body was a deep, almost-black red, as if it had been soaked in blood and polished with ash. And the symbol was exactly how I imagined it - a faintly glowing crimson oak tree.
I reached out, slipped my hand through the handle, and gripped it.
It was heavier than I imagined. I had visualized something light, easy to carry, but this felt dense, solid. Not unmanageable, just… heavier than I wanted.
Whatever. My stats will grow.
Still, I couldn't help thinking: Was this really worth five divinity points?
I could've strapped a flat stone to my arm and gotten the same effect in a fight. The excitement and eagerness to create something just for myself got the better of me, and I wasted hard-earned divinity points.
I let out a long breath, shaking my head, and turned around toward the bonfire.
I'm starving.
…
While the Velmoryns, including my vessel, slept, I spent the entire night searching for the source of that scream. I had a hunch it hadn't been a cry for help, but something far worse - a voice that craved blood.
But no matter how far I looked, I found nothing. Which only confirmed my earlier suspicion.
Whatever I heard wasn't above ground. It was buried beneath the surface, somewhere I couldn't reach. Not with the system restricting my sight.
…
The tent I slept in was barely more than a few sticks leaned together to give the illusion of shelter. It wouldn't protect me from rain, hell, even the wind could've blown it apart.
I crawled out, wincing as the smell hit me. Smoke, sweat, mutant spider guts, and probably a dozen other things I couldn't name. I reeked.
"Good morning!"
A familiar voice drew my attention. Vivien stood just a few steps away, holding a bowl filled with a grayish powder that looked like ash.
"Good morning to you too," I mumbled, blinking the sleep out of my eyes.
"Come. I'll show you where we bathe," she said, smiling softly. Her tone was just as gentle as yesterday, though her face was still puffy with sleep.
I nodded and followed.
The Velmoryns all bathed in the river that ran alongside the tribe. The water was crystal clear, I could count every stone, every darting fish. The spot Vivien led me to had no current. It was pooled, likely shaped that way by the tribe, and already full of Velmoryns.
Male and female alike, all naked, cleansing themselves together without shame or awkwardness. No one was staring. No one was flustered. It was so casual that it made me feel like the weird one for even noticing.
"The stones will strengthen your step and harden the soles," Vivien said as she took off her shoes.
I copied her… until she started undressing completely. My body tensed, and I instinctively turned around.
They didn't view nudity like humans did. Even after becoming a god, some habits and assumptions were hard to kill.
"Here, take this," she said behind me, offering the bowl of powder. Her voice was calm, but carried a hint of curiosity, likely caused by my reaction. She was already completely naked and covered in gray powder, except for her swollen belly.
I glanced toward the water, looking for familiar faces and maybe even more to avoid looking at pregnant naked Vivien. Roy and Aria were nowhere to be seen. My main self was still scanning the forest, looking for the dungeon Aria had mentioned, so I couldn't pinpoint their locations.
I took a breath, stripped, and shivered as the morning chill hit like an Ice Dragon's breath. It was much colder than yesterday. Probably the combination of sunrise, shadow, and the river's proximity. Still, I covered myself in the ashy powder as instructed and jumped in.
The instant I touched the water, my breath caught and pain shot through my chest like I'd been stabbed.
If this pooled section is this cold… I don't even want to imagine what the high-current part feels like.
I didn't linger. I scrubbed myself as fast as I could, my hands darting faster than even when I fought the spider mutant. I needed to be clean, but perhaps I needed to get out of this freezing hell even more.
Finally done, I staggered out, teeth chattering. I looked around, hoping Vivien would offer a towel, but she was still in the water, calm, slow, and somehow not freezing to death. None of the Velmoryns looked cold.
How the hell do they enjoy this? I grumbled, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth.
I couldn't get my only set of clothes wet, so I climbed onto a sun-warmed boulder and curled up, shivering as I waited for the wind and sun to dry me.
Then, I felt warmth.
A thick, furry coat wrapped around my shoulders from behind.
"Your body was not made to handle the cold like Velmoryns can," came Aria's voice.
She was already sitting beside me, legs casually swinging off the edge of the rock like she'd been there the whole time.
"You're still…" I was about to snap back, but she cut me off.
"Yes, yes… You are Velmoryn indeed," she said with a wink, "but you clearly loathe the cold." Then her gaze shifted forward, her tone sharpening.
"I do not need your secrets. Say only what you wish to share, but do not lie to me." Her voice turned firm, and her eyes narrowed as she watched the Velmoryns bathing peacefully below. "I'll do the same. No lies."
I had no choice but to give her my full attention, focusing on divine connection included.
She wasn't lying.
But she wasn't telling the whole truth either.
"Fine. But stop asking what I'd rather leave unanswered," I responded, basically admitting that I wasn't a Velmoryn, but it didn't matter. She already knew. She was sure of it. And if Aria ever turned against me, the entire tribe would follow her lead without hesitation, no matter what the truth was.
"Why are you set on entering that dungeon?" I asked, pulling the cloak tighter around my body. The warmth was finally reaching my bones.
"There's something within I must have." Her brows pulled together, eyes sparkling briefly. The playful edge in her voice vanished, replaced by something colder, more focused. "Only five may enter. I've chosen the others, but I need one who can face danger head-on. That is you."
"I said I'd help…" I replied, shifting my weight on the stone, "but what do I gain in return?"
"Anything you ask." She answered instantly, without any hesitation. But the second my brow lifted with a smirk, she froze. "Don't get any ideas!"
"Please, do not flatter yourself," I laughed, genuinely happy that teasing her actually worked. "As I told you yesterday, I remember nothing. In exchange for my help, teach me. This world, magic… all I should know."
She hesitated. Her gaze cut into me again, searching. But whatever doubt she had, it passed, her expression softening.
"I'll teach you what you want to know," she said, sighing like she was the one paying the bigger price. "During the raid. It may take a week, perhaps longer."
Then she stood.
"Meet me by His statue before noon. I'll introduce you to the rest."
I nodded, watching her leave.
I found five dungeons near the tribe, but I still don't know which one Aria intends to enter. Roy mentioned that there were only three dungeons. So, either the Velmoryns don't know about two of them… or Roy didn't tell me everything.
I took off the fur-lined coat and started getting dressed. Now that I was fully awake and the last traces of sleep had faded, the cold didn't bother me as much.
These dungeons might be god-made. I felt divine energy from every single one of them.But what unsettles me more is that I can't see inside. If something goes wrong in there, I might not be able to use my divine power.
I slipped my legs into the pants, one at a time. Then, straightened, squinting as sunlight struck my eyes.
Two of the dungeons had the same energy I felt from the ruins and the Goddess's statue. Even if it's dangerous… I must see what's inside.
If Aria truly intended to enter a dungeon marked by the Goddess' aura, then there was a chance, however slim, that something of equal worth to a vessel awaited within. And there was no chance I would let that opportunity slip past me.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of my mouth, reflexively.
What else have you left behind for me, Goddess?
**
A/N -
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