'Darkness
A mess it has left us.
Godless are we
Those who fear it.
But abandoned we aren't,
Light shines.'
-Juni Summer, a poem titled 'Light Shines'
...
Tuesday Night
Ode stepped carefully along the tall, thick grass, watching the moon climb across the night sky as he went further and further away from Ariao. Leaving the city behind and entering the wilderness of Werone, he quickly went on guard.
The wilderness was classified as any place fifteen kilometers away from civilization, be it city or town, and was rampant with Emergents. It would be a death wish for any non-magician to tread through it during night.
Like a bullet, he heard a branch crack and pointed to the direction, a blob of darkness jumping up.
"[Light Beam.]"
Instantly, a bolt illuminated the area around him and pierced the creature, killing it instantly. Despite being able to link it to his deity, he chose to make it as a godless spell, using more energy, but saving his uses.
"Let's see if what Thames found out is true!"
Stepping over to where it fell, he looked into the grass. Behold, what Thames learned from heiress is true in some regard! In the grass, Ode knelt down and picked up a small gem which couldn't have been bigger than his fingertip.
But despite its small size, he could sense that it contained magic. A magical resource! This was likely useful for creating jewelry.
"So, we have been missin' stuff!"
Stuffing the gem into his pocket, he continued in the wilderness.
Eerie was the silence which accompanied the lonely magician, but he remained bright like a star. He remained on guard, looking around for any Emergents then spotted one!
But it was different than the last.
It exuded a suffocating pressure that was entirely foreign to their world, like an illness in magic itself. This Emergent stood tall and had a pitch-black humanoid figure. The moon briefly illuminated it, giving it's four spider-like eyes an ethereal glow.
The Emergent had two, long bony arms with sharp claws, and thin legs. Noticing Ode, it quickly turned and pointed out, the shadows below him lurching and becoming pointed, attempting to stab at him.
Jumping back instinctively, Ode was narrowly missed, his suit jacket being torn in the process.
"You'll give me somethin' good!"
He smiled, pointing at the Emergent.
"[Star!]"
A bolt, much stronger than 'Light Beam', shot from his fingertip and shot out towards the Emergent, but it reacted fast. It pierced its shoulder, leaving a gaping hole.
Letting out a screech as if it was attempting to speak, the shadows moved again and gathered around its tall figure. Stretching momentarily, it grabbed onto a shadow, instantly transforming it to a spear.
"Woah!" Ode laughed, preparing. "Usin' weapons?? That's new!"
Instantly, the Emergent launched the shadowy spear at Ode, impaling his foot and trapping him in place. At the same time, the shadows covering the grass began to encroach on him.
"You must be near a Full Moon..."
The Emergent quickly approached him, but he was fast as well. Pointing up at its head, he uttered a single spell.
"[Comet.]"
Blinding the creature and forcing the shadows to reel back, a flaming projectile of violets and blues shot out, destroying the Emergents head completely.
After wrapping his foot up with the torn suit jacket, Ode walked to wear the creature died and vanished. The grass was wilted and trampled where the massive creature was, but where Ode assumed to be its center was an object brimming with magic.
"What's this, Goddess Rela?"
As he picked up the orb, a woman made of light appeared above Ode, falling gently and wrapping her arms around his neck as she floated behind him.
The orb flickered slightly, exuding a dark stench as he bent his head back, looking at her.
She had sharp features, like a longtime warrior. Although made of light, her long hair flowed down her back. She wore a long robe adorned in gemstones.
She was the manifestation of Rela, Ode's deity.
"It is not of this world, my lamb."
Her voice was soft and talked as if it was leading him on, guiding him further in.
"What is it then?"
"The backlash... Sir Syn may have been right in many regards."
He thought deeply on her words, looking back out to the empty wilderness. He saw the sun peak out from the horizon, casting the plains in a brilliant light.
Ode saw figures quickly vanish like ghosts.
"Do what you must, my herald."
With that, the goddess faded away, joining the cosmos once again and leaving Ode Yule to the Mortal Plane.
Deities did not commonly descend on the world. Their ascension usually marked their last time being in the plane of mortals, but lesser-known deities... Especially with ones who believers who were in the single digits, typically appeared before their most devout followers.
Ode Yule was the sole believer of Rela and her herald.