Chapter 85: My Chest Hurts
This 'administrator mode' should have only been accessible to the Goddess herself. For any other Sky-Winged, the life-creation spell would have only been able to heal. But he... who was he? He was the future Great Sage, the chosen wielder of the Divine Right Sword, Org, and the Holy Right Sword, Athos. He was the creator of the Sword of Human Rights, 'The Light of Ersten', a close companion of the great Grand Master Serie, the man who would steal the title of 'most ancient human mage' from a certain red-haired sorceress, a terrifying being on the verge of slaying a god, and the first hero who would one day save the world.
So for him to use this spell... it was as if he were the Goddess herself. And with the Goddess in her current state, he didn't have to worry about her coming after him.
Well, the truth was, when he had used the spell, he had added a few of his own modifications. He couldn't help it; it was just a force of habit. And by the time he had come to his senses, the magic circle on Olivia's back had already been rewritten.
Serie, realizing what he had done, snatched the scripture from his hands. The text was still gibberish to her, but she couldn't let him decipher any more of it. If just healing someone could rewrite their faith, she couldn't imagine what he would do to the scripture if he were to continue his research.
"This is too dangerous," she said, trying to justify her actions. "The original text must be in my keeping."
"But you can't read it, can you?" Rhodes said. Something was off about her attitude, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. In the end, he just assumed she was jealous that he could decipher the holy scripture. "Don't worry, I'll teach you all the spells on it once I've learned them."
He intended to teach them not only to her, but also to Norne and the other humans. The holy magic of the scripture should be known by all. As for what the Goddess and the Sky-Winged thought about it... he didn't care. If they had a problem, they could come and talk to him in person. If they could, that is.
"That's not the reason," she said with a sigh, showing no intention of returning the scripture. She didn't know why she was doing this. In theory, the best course of action would be to let him decipher it, learn the spells, and then teach them to her. But after seeing him rewrite Olivia's faith, a strange, indescribable feeling had welled up inside her, a feeling that had compelled her to act.
Olivia stood where she was, her silver wings trembling unconsciously. She looked down at her hands and felt the flow of mana within her. It was different from before. Her faith and her reason were at war.
"In that case... what... what should I do?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion. "For thousands of years, my life, my faith... it has all belonged to the Goddess... but now..." Now, it had all been usurped by this man.
Should I be angry? But he was the chosen one, the one the Goddess had been waiting for. And the Goddess she had worshipped had been replaced by a false god, and so her own faith had become a lie. She had no right to be angry.
Perhaps... she should be grateful? Grateful to Lord Rhodes, for saving her from the false god. In that moment, something clicked.
Serie held the scripture close and watched the former servant of the Goddess warily. "You must know that your connection of faith has been severed..."
"No, not severed..." Olivia interrupted her, looking up, her eyes filled with a new resolve. "It has been transferred."
She walked towards Rhodes, each step deliberate and solemn. She knelt before him, her hands clasped to her chest, her silver wings respectfully folded behind her.
"Lord Rhodes, my new master. Please allow me to assist you in your mission, to fulfill the oracle of the Goddess."
"Are... are you sure about this?"
"Yes. It is the inevitable choice." The magic circle on her back began to quietly hum, the power of her faith flowing through it. "My life has been rewritten. It is an irreversible fact. In that case, let my faith become your blade, and let me walk by your side."
To be honest, Rhodes was a little uncomfortable with this whole situation. It was a little exciting, to have a beautiful angel kneeling before him and pledging her loyalty. But the cold stare he was getting from Serie was making him uneasy. Did she think he had done this on purpose? He was innocent. It had just been an occupational hazard. He always wanted to improve a new spell when he learned it, and this time, it had just gone a little too far.
Seeing that he hadn't responded, Olivia looked at the others. She knew that to truly assist him, she would need their approval as well. She stood up and faced Serie, her gaze sincere and resolute. "Miss Serie, I understand your reservations. But please believe that my words are true."
Serie knew she was telling the truth. From everything that had happened, it was clear that she had learned the truth and now wanted to raise her sword against the false god. But why did it have to be him? That strange, inexplicable feeling made her say something she didn't mean. "But why should I trust a former enemy?" She didn't want this woman to join their party.
Olivia conjured a magic circle. "This is a life-binding contract. If I should ever have a single treacherous thought, you can use this contract to kill me. But I hope... that this contract will be in Lord Rhodes's keeping."
Seeing her go to such lengths, Serie had no choice but to back down and leave the decision to Rhodes. The others did the same.
"I accept your request," Rhodes said after a deep breath. "But remember, we are partners, not a god and his servant. I don't go in for that sort of thing."
A strange light flickered in Olivia's eyes. "You really are... different." To have the loyalty of a Sky-Winged, and a member of the Council of Thirteen at that... it was something that no one on the continent would have ever dared to dream of. And he had just casually turned it down.
"Partners..." she murmured, just as Serie had once done.
And for some reason, seeing this, the original partner felt a pang in her chest. She hadn't felt this way when Somme and Norne had joined. Why? Why did it feel as if something important was about to be taken from her?
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