Chapter 65 Chase Happiness.
Thankfully nothing seemed to come of Isaac and Lenna’s spectacle at Sera’s birthday ball. At least not in the short term. The duo went back to killing spiders while they waited for Jilian Silverstrand to finish getting the drider silk into working amounts. A few days in, the duo got another unexpected visit. This time, however, the visitor in question at least had the tact to visit them in their room. Unfortunately this visitor didn’t understand what privacy meant. At least she didn’t drop by when they were… busy.
A soft white light descended and a feeling of cool warmth swept through the room. Like the pleasant chill of winter and the warmth of being under a heavy blanket or the opposite of a cool breeze on a summer’s day. Isaac sat up abruptly as the shadows that brought him so much comfort were pushed aside by the soft glow that seemed to come down in rays, streaks, and glimmers. His eyes were having trouble focusing on it. Lenna got out of bed but didn’t grab her sword like Isaac would have thought. She seemed to know what was going on and also seemed to not mind her current lack of clothes. Isaac was just glad he was wearing pants.
A soft voice that was motherly and kind yet seemed to resonate with the soft white light and carry with it a power beyond anything Isaac had felt in over three months spoke: “I see you have done as I asked, child.” A form seemed to start trying to appear inside the light. “I am glad.” Her voice continued. Her motherly pride and joy seemed to almost force itself on those listening simply by nature of the voice’s source.
Lenna knelt down like a knight before her queen facing the shimmering light as a vague purple outline of a woman began to appear. “As am I, my goddess.” Lenna replied. Isaac got out of bed and stood facing the visitor.
The form seemed to nod and a sense that she was pleased seemed to sweep over the room. The form turned to face Isaac. Enough of her form was now visible to tell that her skin was a royal purple and her hair and eyes were like polished silver. Also, she was entirely clothesless, not that she seemed to mind. Isaac had to struggle for a moment to decide where to look. On one hand, looking a god in the eyes was probably a good way to get smited for disrespect and just generally came off as arrogant beyond all reason. On the other hand, his only other option was her feet which were hidden behind the footboard of the bed. Based on everything Lenna had told Isaac about the benevolent goddess of the full moon, Isaac figured he could probably get away with testing his luck and causally locked eyes with the goddess.
She smiled warmly but it felt like a cool breeze. “You, immigrant from another world,” She addressed him. “Traveler’s accident, thank you.” She told him.
Isaac was taken aback. Not only had a goddess just descended, at least a projection of her, and told him which god was responsible for his death but then she immediately thanked him. He tilted his head slightly in question with slightly furrowed brows. “Your welcome?” He replied though he had no idea what he had done to deserve her thanks.
She chuckled in much the same way Lenna did; only hers was not a mortal sound. It was like windchimes and twinkling stars met a painting of the ocean at midnight. “I sent this child to you and you have taken great care of her.” The goddess explained to relieve his confusion. “And for that I will give you a gift. In exchange for the three cycles of companionship and care you have given, I will tell you three things.” She spoke naturally like talking to a friend but her words carried a power that was truly a divine decree. “Four days walk, deeper into the planet, two of your friends require aid.”
Isaac nodded slowly once it was clear that she had said all that she planned to. “Alright, thank you.” Isaac replied with sincerity. He really had no idea how to act around deities. Rei and Zei had seemed fine with casual and apparently so was Lua so he was just going to hope all of them were okay with it.
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The goddess, Lua, smiled even brighter and the moonlight that was cascading down seemed to intensify. Her skin seemed to glow with the same soft white light and glistened in it as well. She looked back at Lenna. “Continue to find your own way, my child, continue to chase happiness.” Her words carried with them strength and hope that seemed to settle in Lenna’s bones and quiet the heat that seemed ever present in her chest from her broken oath.
Lenna’s smile was pure and genuine. “I will, my goddess.” Lenna replied. “And thank you, for sending me out into the middle of nowhere.” A feeling of amusement and love washed over the room and then the goddess faded away without another word. It only took three seconds for the room to return to total darkness.
The pair remained silent for a long moment, both wondering if it was a dream, until they looked at each other and locked eyes. “Well, aren’t we popular this month.” Isaac commented to which Lenna could only laugh. Only Isaac could act nonchalant at not one but two visits from deities in the span of two weeks.
“I’m proud of you.” Lenna said abruptly.
“Thanks?” Isaac replied, just as confused as he was when Lua had thanked him. “For what?”
“You didn’t hit on my goddess.” Lenna replied casually. “I was sure you were going to say something and embarrass yourself.”
Isaac put his hand on his chest in mock hurt but then dropped the act and decided to respond honestly. “I was too shocked by everything that was happening to really realize how similar you two are. Maybe if I hadn’t been half asleep when she showed up it would have been different.” He gave her an easy smirk. “Though, the only reason I would have hit on her is because you two are so similar.”
Lenna had no idea how to respond to the conversation she had just started. After a moment of staring at him she just shook her head. “You’re… difficult.”
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“That is how you talk to mortals you old codger” A certain purple skinned goddess said to the skeleton she had just dropped in on.
The skeleton turned towards her and the vague feeling of eyes being rolled radiated out from him. “A statement needed to be made.” He replied airily.
“It is much more impactful when they feel your power.” The goddess insisted. “Even more so when there isn’t an audience. A visit should be personal.” She stated.
“All of my visits are personal.” The skeleton assured her.
“Except that one.” She countered.
“Even that one.” He insisted along with the vague feeling of narrowed eyes in insistence and irritation.
“Whatever you say ‘Reaper’.” She replied almost mockingly.
“They call you the name they gave the moon.” He shot back. At least he got his own name in addition to his job. No mortal even remembered their real names after so many eons and so much bloodshed.
The goddess waved him off. “You are as boring as ever. I’m going to go find someone pleasant to talk to.” She told him and finally left him in peace.
He shook his head. “Why did she even come here?” He asked himself then shook his head again. “Some goddesses need a hobby.” He said and went back to trimming the leaves on one of his baneberry bushes. “Maybe more than one.”
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Isaac and Lenna got ready to head out a few minutes after Lua had left. There was no telling how long Isaac’s friends in need had so they decided to get ready immediately. It was pretty obvious that the path they needed to take would be towards Ben’s End but the problem was which path they needed to take. In all likelihood it would be the main path that was used by wagons and not the footpath through the mushroom kingdom that Isaac and Lenna had taken. That was only speculation however so Isaac was wary to bet on it, especially if Aria and Claus’s lives were on the line. Those were the only two people Isaac could think of that would be out there and he would call friends. The fact that it was a team of two removed quite a few other teams from the list.
Isaac wouldn’t call Elliot’s team or the group of ex-Crimson Coins friends either but that didn’t mean Lua wouldn’t refer to them as such. Lenna had mentioned trying to get some sleep but they both knew neither of them were going to get any rest after a visit from a goddess. They walked into the Guild Hall to let whoever covered the night shift know that they were leaving but instead of near silence meeting them upon entry like they expected they were met with a mild amount of chaos. Isaac had a feeling that, by the end of the day, he was going to be very glad that he had just finished converting the last of his mana pathways as neither he nor Lenna were going to have time to be tired.