Muqu and I were brainstorming ideas on how to return to Kaledon. Flying was the only reliable method but I hated the idea. Muqu could take a shortcut by going through the interdimensional space but she wouldn’t be able to take me with her.

I suggested that she use that but she wanted to exhaust other options first. So our only option was to rely on the gods.

A detestable plan but I decided to abandon my pride and ask one of the gigantic brats to heal my mosquito bite and send us to Kaledon. She is a goddess, I’m sure she would be able to do that.

We carefully approached a giant brat that was replanting trees.

I had chosen for the polite approach so I would have to do my best to be polite and respectful. Quite difficult as Bellia looks like a giant brat but maybe she will help out if I stroke her ego a bit.

Bellia had noticed us approaching but continued replanting the rainforest.

We flew up to eye height to draw her attention.

“Good afternoon, Sarian goddess Bellia. We have come here to listen to your wisdom and put in a humble request.”

Muqu gave me a thumbs up, indicating that i did a great job in being polite.

“My wisdom? So you’ve finally turned around! Hahaha! Very well I will take some time out of my busy schedule to listen to you two.”

I tried to keep a straight face as I couldn’t believe how easy Bellia is... I showed my mosquito bite and it drew her attention.

“What vile energy is coming from you?! It’s like these abominations! Give me a moment. I will listen to your request after I vanquish that foul energy.”

A green blast shot me out of the sky and i fell through the trees and landed on my butt. “Hey!”

“Haha! That’s for calling me a midget or brat! Now what do you want?”

I looked at my arm which was completely healed. I ignored the fact that she shot my out of the sky and dusted myself off.

The face of a large brat lowed itself and I was face to face with Bellia.

“So... I thought long about it and realised my wrong doing. A deity is to be revered but... I might need some easy-to-grasp miracles to be convinced. I wondered if you could enlighten me and lift my curse and send me to the Kaledonian continent. I’m sure that no other deity would be able to do that!”

The large brat scrunched her face and groaned. “Uhh how about I try to grant that first one.”

“What is wrong oh great Bellia? Surely some mere transportation is a trivial task!”

I was so glad that these gods are relatively stupid. No intelligent life form would fall for whatever I was doing currently.

“Uhhm. I will look into it now what curse do you need to have lifted? Depending on the type I will need to have Della jump in.”

I explained my [Acedia] curse to her but I could see on her face that she had no idea what I was talking about. It reminded me of the incompetent Misha I had taught millennia ago. She had the same expression.

“I see, I see. I get it.”

I didn’t believe her but maybe I was wrong. “Oh, so you can get rid of the intent?”

Bellia’s eyes fluttered. “Huh? Intent? Uhh I suppose I could do that yeah!”

This goddess...is she lying to me? And she’s terrible at it...

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“Could you also tell me how you’re going to lift the curse? I wish to learn from the great goddess Bellia!”

I tried to keep my malicious smile in check as I knew there was no way she could pull this off.

“Hahaha! No worries little witch! Here!”

I got hit by a green cloud that she exhaled.

I coughed and fanned it away. “Ugh, can you stop that?”

I checked on myself and [Acedia] was still present.

“Hmm, that’s strange. It should have worked. How about another one?”

Bellia inhaled and exhaled a bigger green cloud. I was prepared this time and created a bubble around my head.

[Acedia] was still present. My non-existent faith in deities dropped even more. Why are most of the races convinced that gods are omnipotent and omniscient? That’s the biggest lie in the history of everything!

“So is it gone?”

Surely a competent goddess should know when her powers worked.

“It’s still here...how about we leave that for another time... how about the teleport? Surely you can help us with that!”

“How about this?! I will make a ship made out of vines so you can sail back!”

That offer was so unattractive... I would have to first spend a year or so to reach the ocean to the north and sail for who knows how long. The Hurricane Path near the Kaledonian continent wouldn’t help either... Flying would still be better.

“Oh, what a wonderful idea but...I don’t like boats. Surely you have other alternatives, right?”

Bellia continued making excuses and evading the topics. Why can’t she just tell me that it’s not her specialty?

“Dear Bellia, just tell me that you can’t teleport me...”

Bellia’s face changed from an embarrassed and evasive expression to an angry one. “How rude! I can do anything I want!”

“Then why...”

“Teleporting you 2 would just cost too much divine energy, that’s all!”

“How about I help you get more? How do you get more of it?”

“There’s no use. You can’t help me as my religion is responsible for generating divine energy and 1 or 2 more followers won’t make a difference!”

Religion? How is her religion tied to this?

“Can I have more context, please?”

“The more I get worshipped the more divine energy I get!”

Bellia made a smug face and had more of the rainforest regrow.

That didn’t explain anything... wouldn’t she get more followers if she became a bit more helpful?

“Hey Bellia. Wouldn’t you get more followers if you become more helpful. I’m sure the rabbits would become your followers if you became more active.”

“They’re so annoying though and I’m busy!”

Somehow, I doubt that but I might be wrong. “But you have all those clones. Surely you could spare some...”

“Nope! I can’t! This stunt alone costs too much divine energy!”

“Yes but wouldn’t the increase of followers offset it on the long run?”

“Don’t care! It’s a pain and I don’t want to do it!”

Bellia’s head lifted and she crossed her arms and looked away like a grumpy brat.

‘It’s a pain?’ and ‘She doesn’t want to?’ I’m sure the rabbits think the same. Why does she have a choice and they don’t?

She is so stubborn and shortsighted. I didn’t want to waste any more energy on her as I realized I couldn’t convince her.

I didn’t expect anything from her but I was still disappointed. She at least did the bare minimum and helped heal my mosquito bite.

“Thank you for your time. Muqu let’s go.”

I flicked my hair as I turned around and hopped on my fan.

Bellia continued replanting the jungle as we flew away. Some rabbits rushed by and aided Bellia in repairing the jungle.

We flew low over the canopy and I sighed.

“You seem disappointed...” Muqu flew over and handed me an ice cup with chilled water.

“Thank you. I am...I didn’t expect anything and still got let down. I would have accepted a simple ‘no’, or ‘I can’t’ but I didn’t expect her to react to that. I will make plans to fly back to Kaledon.”

I might have been lazy in not wanting to fly back. In the end, I could only count on myself.

“How long would it take for you to fly over to Kaledon with your fairy ability?”

“Uhm since it’s on the same planet it should take a day, maybe 2.”

“How envious... I think it’s nice that you want to stick with me but I wouldn’t recommend flying with me. I'm sorry to say this but if the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t go for the months long flight when there was an option to get there in a day or 2...”

We returned to our lair and I started to make a list of everything in my possession and anything I needed to gather to make the trip back to the ocean. I would have to then prepare for the flight back.

Flying to Nesher was the worst idea I ever had. Maybe worse than provoking some gods.

I spent months gathering materials and convincing Muqu to take the short route and she decided to go but only after I had everything I needed to make the trip successfully.

Muqu had tried to persuade Bellia but to no avail. I had already given up on relying on divine aid.

“Well then, that’s everything. Thank you Muqu. I hope you find your sister.”

“Are you sure you want to do this alone? How about we part way at the ocean? You tend to get distracted often or take too much time traveling.”

I weighed my options. Muqu was right. It took me a decade to get to where I am and I didn’t have the feeling that I traveled a lot while I was on the continent.

“I will take you up on your offer. Thank you Muqu.”

There was another reason why I wanted Muqu to leave; I was afraid.

People close to me have a habit of dying. Maybe I'm weak willed or maybe they would have died even when i wasn’t near but I don’t want to see any more.