Chapter 83: The Secret of the Sky-Winged, and the Magic to Create Life
Olivia looked up, a faint, relieved smile on her pale face. "So it is true. A chosen one really does exist in this world."
Why? Why did our race have to be his enemy? At that moment, Olivia was filled with a deep regret.
"What do you mean?" Serie asked. What is this 'chosen one' nonsense?
"I'm sorry, I cannot tell you," Olivia said, shaking her head. She clearly had no intention of explaining to Serie.
Her refusal angered Serie. A magic circle began to form in her hand, but she then let it dissipate. The woman before her was on the verge of death; a threat would be useless.
"Go, and draw the Holy Right Sword, Athos. Honored Lord Rhodes, only then can you face the god," Olivia said. She then prostrated herself, her forehead touching the ground. The Sky-Winged never knelt to anyone. Only the Goddess they worshipped was worthy of such a gesture. In Olivia's eyes, Rhodes now held that same worth.
Serie narrowed her eyes. She was very curious about what kind of oracle this woman had received to be so respectful, so trusting of Rhodes. Just a short while ago, they had been trying to kill each other. And now they had reconciled? Not just her, but Norne and the others were also completely bewildered.
"You know, I hate it when people speak in riddles," Rhodes said, closing the scripture. He needed to sort things out. First, by entering the dwarven ruins and drawing the Divine Right Sword, Org, he had drawn the Goddess's enmity. And then, he had happened to learn the truth that she was a false god, which had sent her into a rage and forced her to descend. She had even shattered his own holy sword, the 'Light of Ersten'. But fortunately, the soul of the true Goddess still resided within her, and their struggle for control had allowed him and his party to escape. And now, he had woken up to find one of the Sky-Winged who had just fought him, at his bedside. Not only had she healed him, but she had also brought him the original text of all holy magic, and had told him to go to the Great Elven Forest to draw the Holy Right Sword, Athos, and that the true Goddess was waiting for him in the Godfall Land.
It was all too strange.
"You have to tell me everything, or I have no desire to face a god again," he said. At least not for a while. He was not yet strong enough. Even with the power of Org, he was no match for a god.
Olivia was silent for a moment, then chose her words carefully. "I'm sorry, Lord Rhodes. This is a secret of the Sky-Winged..."
"Your Sky-Winged race is all but gone. What's the point of secrets now?" he said irritably. He had no love for these thoughtless creatures. After two Divine Strikes, who would?
His words made Olivia's face grow even paler. Because he was right. Without the majority of their forces, the Sky-Winged had to rely on the aerial advantage of their Heavenly Kingdom. If they were to encounter any flying magical beasts, or demons, they would be defenseless.
Her one remaining wing drooped limply at her side. She took a deep breath and finally made her decision. "You're right... The Sky-Winged are no more," she said, her voice filled with a deep weariness. "Then I will tell you everything. But only you."
Rhodes looked at Serie, who nodded and left the room. The others followed. As she left, she mouthed to him, if anything happens, just call. He gave her a slight nod in return.
After everyone had gone, Olivia did something shocking. She took off her blood-stained white robe, revealing a perfect, divinely-crafted body.
Rhodes's brow furrowed. What is she doing? He had to admit that the Sky-Winged were a perfect race, but now was not the time.
She turned around, and on her smooth back, he saw an intricate magic circle.
"This is..." He stared at the complex circle, his pupils constricting. He could feel the same aura from it as he had from the Goddess. And the circle was so complex that he couldn't understand it at a glance.
"We, the Sky-Winged... were never a naturally born race." The Sky-Winged had been personally created by the Goddess herself. Rhodes knew this much. It seemed Olivia was about to tell him the whole story. "Every member of the Sky-Winged was personally created by the Goddess with her authority over life. The magic circle on our backs is a mark of our identity."
She spread her one remaining wing. It was glowing faintly, and as he looked closer, he saw that every feather was inscribed with barely perceptible text. Her whole body was like a massive, constantly-running magic circle, one that both allowed her to move and contained her soul within her created body.
At this realization, his breathing quickened. The magic to create life... it was so close.
Olivia turned back to him, a strange light in her eyes. "And you, you are the chosen one, the one who can bear the Goddess's authority over life."
No wonder she hadn't wanted to tell him. The implications were enormous. To hold the authority of a god... it was something that no one on this continent dared to even touch, let alone possess.
"So the Goddess's true meaning is..." he said, a chill running down his spine.
"To accept her authority over life," Olivia nodded. "The God has been corrupted. To prevent this authority from falling into the hands of the false god, she wishes to entrust it to the chosen one. And you, Lord Rhodes, are that chosen one."
"She doesn't expect me to become a god, does she?" Rhodes was stunned.
"No," Olivia shook her head. "One cannot become a god with just a single authority. Even if you possess it, at most you will only be able to create a soulless body." The souls of the Sky-Winged were special; they had not been created by the Goddess. Her authority over life could only create a breathing body, not an intelligent soul. So this power was not as great as he had imagined. But it was enough.
"But now, without the Goddess's power, the Sky-Winged are..." Olivia said, putting her robe back on. Her face was filled with sorrow. It was because the Goddess who had created them had been corrupted that she had said they were finished.
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