"The gods are those who protected this land long ago," The Scholar sat down after Arthur ordered him to. He began telling Arthur about the Gods that he knew. "Their number is not confirmed, as a long time has passed since then."
"And how do you know about them?" Arthur asked.
"There are records of people praising them, poems, and worships." The Scholar answered. "One day, all of them disappeared, bringing forth the Forsaken Era."
"Let me guess. It's called that because the gods forsook humans." Arthur smiled.
"Indeed, Seika." The Scholar nodded. "But it is believed that the reason for their disappearance is the appearance of The Calamities. A battle shook the heavens and earth, and the gods were no longer."
"Humans always think it's about them." Gala shook her head. "Maybe the gods were just fed up with you lot.
"We were all humans at one point, and from there, all races emerged." The Scholar answered with a smile, and Gala scowled.
"What about the guardians?" Arthur pondered.
"That's how the gods identified themselves," The Scholar answered. "For us mortals, their realm was nothing short of godhood."
"Tell me about the gods you know." Arthur leaned back and closed his eyes. The Scholar began reciting whatever knowledge he gleaned off books.
God of Life, Healer Guardian.
God of Elements, Transmutation Guardian.
God of Space, Wanderer Guardian.
God of Lesser Lives, Ruler Guardian.
God of Sight, Seer Guardian.
God of Destruction, Protector Guardian.
God of Artifacts, The Scholar Guardian.
God of Force, Supreme Guardian.
God of Nether, Summoner Guardian.
"These are all of them?" Arthur said with a frown. He knew two of them but hearing the Seer Guardian gave him some thoughts.
'Is Sier's legacy given to him by the Seer Guardian?' He wondered; it didn't sound unprobeable.
"These are the ones known through several texts, all kept by their followers."
"The Gods' followers?"
"Yes, different lands worship different guardians, as to which guardian resided in that land and protected it." The Scholar explained. "These are all I know about them. The other details are vague and far-fetched."
"Thank you, Scholar." Arthur nodded and gestured for him to leave. The tall man bowed and left the room, leaving Arthur silent, brooding.
"What are you thinking?" Dia asked.
"You want to get into his head now? What's next? His pants?" Gala asked with raised brows.
"You're a pervert!" Dia's face flushed. "I won't answer such insolence anymore." She turned away from Gala, ignoring her.
"Are you thinking about which god it was?" Gala asked. "The one you're acting as his vessel."
"I'm no one's vessel." Arthur clenched his fist, his spiritual hand growing unstable. "At least, I don't think I am."
Jizo never mentioned anything about being a vessel, and he had an equal relationship with his Legacy. Arthur needed to follow Jizo's wishes of fighting against the Enders in return for power.
"They said that Solomon was the Scholar Guardian's Inheritor. Does that mean Solomon is his vessel?"
"Yes, that's how he creates artifacts." Dia nodded. "I met him once before. He had a godly aura. The projection that appeared back in Freya was nothing but a shell."
"How does that make sense?" Arthur frowned, standing up to look through the window. He could see the city from here.
"What's wrong?" Gala asked with confusion.
"It's nothing." Arthur shook his head. How could he say Solomon couldn't be the vessel since Arthur himself had the Legacy?
As he was about to walk away from the window, his eyes spotted someone in front of the gates. His high perception stat allowed him to see who it was, even hundreds of meters apart.
'What is he doing here?' Arthur wondered with curiosity. It was the young man who threw a rock at him earlier. He stood in front of the mansion's gate, but the guards didn't allow him to come near.
"Whichever god it is, being a vessel means..." Dia began consoling Arthur, but he suddenly disappeared. She blinked twice and looked around. "Where did he go?"
"Mm," Gala stood up and looked through the window. "I think he saw something." She smiled as she looked through the window.
***
His name was Daniel, a woodworker who sold chairs and tables to the people. This craft was taught to him by his father, who learned it from his father.
Things haven't been going well lately, as if the gods turned their eyes away from him. His work was going well until the war arrived, making the prices of goods go up. People would rather eat on the ground than eat nothing at all.
His daughter was young and grew weaker when he couldn't provide any food. She caught an illness that he couldn't afford to treat. At this rate, she would be dead.
Daniel went on the streets, looking for a way to cure. It was then that he met the priest. A thin man with a gentle face, but his words threw Daniel into a spiral of despair.
"Your daughter will die, for she is cursed. I've seen it before," The priest shook his head. "This land is cursed because a Lorius arrived."
That's when Daniel went to the parade that celebrated the arrival of Lorius. Rage got the best of him when the people celebrated the murder of his daughter, and he did something foolish.
However, Lorius was merciful.
Daniel looked at the man in front of him. Lorius, or Seika, was sitting in Daniel's house and playing with his daughter. His daughter's eyes sparkled as her wooden toys flew around her.
"You've made these?" The man gently smiled as he controlled the toys. Daniel nodded. Suddenly, his stomach grumbled. "Are you hungry?" Lorius asked and took out a plate, just like the one he gave to Daniel's daughter.
"Thank you, thank you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Tears pooled in Daniel's eyes, but the man shook his head.
"I don't care about what you did. However," The man pointed at Daniel's daughter. "This is no sword."
"I..." Daniel smiled in embarrassment. "I knew you would be merciful. The guards didn't let me in, but your appearance changed everything."
"Yeah, that's what they're supposed to do." The Seika smiled. "I have a favor to ask in return."
"Anything, Seika." Daniel hurried to answer.
"First of all, eat up." The man smiled. "We have some cleaning to do afterward."
***
Arthur looked at Daniel eating in front of him, reminded of his past self. He then turned to look at his daughter. She was three years old, thin, and malnourished.
'This is what wars do.' Arthur thought to himself as the girl grabbed his empty sleeve. She looked through it, looking for his arm.
"Arm?" She seemed confused by Arthur's missing limb. Her father, Daniel, almost choked on his food. However, Arthur raised his hand.
"Well, I lost it," Arthur said as he wiped away the leftover soup on her chin. "Don't worry. I'm doing just fine without it."
"Fine?" The girl looked at her hands and looked at Arthur.
Arthur used his spiritual arm and made the girl start flying. Her eyes widened in shock as she panicked. However, as soon as his spiritual power enveloped her, the girl was at ease.
"Wee!" She began acting like a bird as she flew above Daniel and Arthur.
"Sorry, I know you must be worried about her." Arthur apologized to the woodworker and placed his daughter down. "Have you finished eating?"
"This was the most delicious meal I've eaten in my life," Daniel answered with a lot of emotions. "Yes, yes! Please ask away, Seika."
"You said there was a priest," Arthur followed up with Daniel's story. "He told you to attack me?"
"No, no." Daniel shook his head. "He said that we were cursed when we invited Lorius to our midst. A lot of people are saying this lately because of the problem with Mother Rega."
"Mother Rega?" Arthur tilted his head with confusion. Daniel nodded and hurried to explain.
"It's the giant tree near the city. That's what we call it. Mother Rega is the reason our harvest is so bountiful, and our citizens are always healthy, allowing our city to thrive despite being on the border."
"So, Mother Rega promotes harvest and health. What's the problem with it now?"
"It's getting weaker." Daniel sighed. "The harvest is less, and many people are getting sick. That's why everyone is so worried."
"And they think it's because of me." Arthur nodded in understanding. "How come you were the only one who did anything?"
"I think that..." Daniel thought to himself. "I was simply the first to jump in. The duke's actions made people fearful of his reaction if they do anything. If not for you, I would have been..." Daniel didn't say anything and glanced at his daughter.
"I see," Arthur stood up, and the little girl grabbed to his leg. "We need to do anything about Mother Rega then. Let's go and find out."
Arthur was sure that the city didn't need him, and he sure as hell didn't care about his reputation. The matter interested him because it would shed some light on the identity of the traitor.