Chapter 4: Furina
Today, just like usual, after finishing his extreme physical training, Aiden sat on a rock to rest.
And just at this moment, the interface in his mind that had been silent for a full fourteen years finally changed.
[System Charging Progress: 99.9%... 100%]
[Charging Complete.]
["Intertwined Fate" System, rebooting.]
[Connecting to initial summon target... Connection successful.]
[Summoning...]
Almost simultaneously, in the distant sky above, a brilliant blue meteor tore through the firmament, as if ripping an opening in the heavens.
Aiden had seen this sight a few times in past years.
The old people in the village said it was a phenomenon that only appeared when gods from Heaven descended to the mortal realm.
But this time, he felt something different.
That meteor seemed... to be coming for him.
A connection in the unseen world, like an invisible thread, tightly pulled him and that light in the sky together.
Aiden jerked his head to look at the System panel before him, where lines of new text were emerging:
[Contact with summoned character successful.]
[Her name is—Queen of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples, and Laws, the God of Water and Justice, Focalors.]
BOOM—!
Before he could digest this shocking information, that blue meteor had already dragged a long tail of flame and smashed precisely onto the clearing not far in front of him.
Light shot up to the sky, forming a massive pillar that dyed everything around it in a layer of dreamlike azure.
The powerful energy shockwave made him squint subconsciously, raising his arm to shield himself.
The light dispersed.
A figure stood quietly in the center of the pillar of light.
She had long white hair, the strands dotted with faint light blue, as if clear lake water had been blended into moonlight.
At the top of her head, a playful ahoge stood high, swaying gently with the breeze.
Beneath eyelashes like azure water droplets was a pair of unforgettable heterochromatic eyes.
The left eye was a deep navy blue, as if hiding an endless deep sea; the right eye was a translucent light blue, like the sky after rain.
Those peculiar teardrop-shaped pupils made her look both divine and possessed of a fragility that provoked pity.
She wore a small, exquisite crown-like hat printed with an iris pattern. Her body was clad in a uniquely tailored blue formal suit, paired with white shorts and black garters—elegant, yet with a hint of dashing spirit.
The familiar appearance, and the faint yet intimate connection deep in his soul, made Aiden understand instantly.
This was the result of the System error fourteen years ago, the one transported to "Heaven"... his initial summon.
The girl seemed a bit dazed. She raised her hand, slender fingers wrapping somewhat embarrassedly around a lock of her hair. Those beautiful heterochromatic eyes looked at Aiden, carrying a trace of apology.
"Ah... um, sorry."
Her voice was crisp and melodious, like a trickling spring.
"I seem to have... overslept."
Aiden stared blankly at her, at this god who was late by a full fourteen years.
The long wait, the solitary persistence, all the unwillingness and pain—in this moment, they all seemed to find an outlet for release.
The lines of his mouth slowly curved upward, finally turning into a heartfelt, incredibly relieved smile.
"It doesn't matter."
He spoke softly, his voice carrying a tremor he didn't even notice.
"It's not your fault."
"My... Lady Goddess."
The System had rebooted. His god had returned.
Everything was still in time.
"Mhm, mhm, that's right! I am your Lady Goddess!"
Hearing Aiden's trembling address, Furina seemed to be instantly injected with endless vitality.
The daze and apology from a moment ago were swept away. She straightened her small frame, put her hands on her hips, and assumed a pose she imagined to be the most majestic. She announced in a high voice:
"From now on, you can rely on me! Under my brilliant leadership, our Familia will surely become the most shining, justice-upholding Familia on the continent! And I, Focalors, will eventually become the Queen reigning at the peak of Orario, admired by all!"
She let out a string of laughter she thought was very imposing, the ahoge on her head bobbing along, looking triumphant.
Watching her like this, the agitation and complex emotions in Aiden's heart were gradually replaced by a warm amusement.
The smile in his eyes could no longer be hidden. He bowed slightly, cooperating with a dramatic, solemn tone:
"Yes, I understand, My Queen."
"Eh? E-ehhh?! D-don't actually call me that!"
Aiden's serious response had an unexpectedly strong effect.
Furina's "Queen Aura" collapsed instantly. Her exquisite little face turned beet red with a whoosh. Her hands waved frantically as she spoke incoherently:
"Th-this... was just a metaphor! A declaration of momentum! If you really call me that... it's, it's too embarrassing!"
She felt her toes were awkward enough to carve out a deluxe three-bedroom palace in the hard earth.
Seeing her flustered state, Aiden finally couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
This laughter was relaxed and sincere, dispelling the haze accumulated over fourteen years of waiting and melting the last shred of estrangement from their first meeting.
It was as if an invisible bond had long since connected their fates tightly.
Without needing too many words, that intimacy originating from the depths of the soul arose spontaneously.
After some relaxed banter, the two sat side by side on the rock. Aiden finally asked the biggest question in his heart:
"You... what exactly happened when you were summoned to Heaven back then? What time point was it? What... did you do there?"
Mentioning this, the excitement on Furina's face turned into awkwardness and guilt.
She twirled her hair tip with her finger, her eyes darting around.
"Well... it's a long story. Actually, I don't know that much either."
She muttered softly.
"I only remember that when I gained consciousness, I was already in Heaven. Then, inexplicably, I became the god in charge of the authority of 'Water' and 'Justice' in this world, possessing an eternal, undying life."
She paused, seeming to try hard to recall.
"But... for most of the time, I seemed to be sleeping in a very beautiful, quiet place. The one truly socializing and handling affairs in Heaven was another me... the real 'God Focalors'."
"Another you?"
Aiden keenly grasped the keyword.
"Mhm."
Furina nodded, her expression somewhat subtle.
"We are two sides of the same coin. She is the rational, divine side, and I... am her humanity. She maintains the majesty of a god outside, and I'm responsible for... responsible for sleeping and dreaming?"
She felt this explanation was a bit ridiculous herself and couldn't help sticking out her tongue.