“…my name is Pamyel and I have come to bargain.”
While Ivy no longer needed sleep, she felt mentally and emotionally exhausted. Rushing to finish the trials then trying to work out her feelings about what had happened with the beastkin, then this golden woman appearing, it all just felt like too much all at once. Part of her wanted to just ask the woman if she could come back at a better time, when she’d had time to process things and could think more clearly, but somehow Ivy doubted she’d go for that.
“Specifically, I would like you to dedicate your third floor to me.” Holding up a hand to forestall the objections about to bubble forth from Ivy, “I know you want to adjust a few things but the design itself is complete is it not? I am content for you to make the necessary minor adjustments after the dedication.”
“So, what are you offering in exchange and what are your domains?” Ivy almost surprised herself with her boldness before this figure whose very words thrummed with power, but Ivy was just fed up, it probably wasn’t fair or wise to take out her frustrations on this woman/goddess but she’d caught her at a bad time. The [guide] part of her mind was also screaming at her that dedications were important; like she hadn’t worked that out on her own.
“Ivy you can’t talk like that to her!” Evelyn spluttered from beside her, “Lady Pamyel I’m so sorry if we offended…”
A chuckle from the golden woman cut her off, “Oh don’t worry about it, she’s just treating me like she would anyone else, pure and simple. I don’t mind it. To answer your questions though, my domain is Purity so I can't offer much to increase the danger of this floor, but you're hardly lacking that. What I can offer is to help make sure that those who complete a trial for an affinity they possess get the rewards from the system they deserve, strong incentives to keep that affinity pure. Assuming they make an appropriate offering of course.” Ivy shuddered slightly as she felt a predator beneath that sweet smile, they were being given the hard sell with her appearing here in person. This was definitely a good deal for her but what about for them? “Once you place your fourth-floor boundary, which you should really do when you can by the way, it would make chatting to you much easier, I'm also offering a significant benefit to what comes with that level, but I can’t say too much about that for now.”
Wary of the deal’s vagueness Ivy decided to try to hammer out a few specifics, though she suspected the real challenge would be convincing Evelyn that she didn’t have to agree to whatever deal this goddess put forward, they had options.
“Better rewards you say? By how much? Also, it seems odd to me that you’re the only one interested in dedicating this floor when we had multiple offers for the others, can you explain that?” Ignoring Evelyn’s scandalised look from beside her she continued, knowing it was about to get much worse, “Surely a powerful goddess like yourself can tell us what we unlock once Evelyn begins the next level? It’s very hard to weigh your offer without more information. Are you limited in what you can offer by only having one domain?”
To Ivy’s surprise she looked amused rather than upset, at least until a familiar, light-hearted masculine voice answered, though even then her expression was that of a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
“I think I can handle most of those questions,” Div interjected smoothly, “Pamyel what a pleasant surprise it was to find you here,” his tone suggesting that definitely wasn't accurate, though Ivy was struggling to place quite what it implied the correct term would be. “Firstly, there are rules in place about what can be revealed, hence why you as a [guide] unlock new knowledge as Evelyn levels. Yes, a sufficiently powerful deity could bypass this but frankly it’s not worth it, you can only use the abilities once you gain them anyway. Secondly, you seem to be labouring under a misconception regarding dear Pamyel here. While it is generally true that the number of domains a deity has will be reflective of their power, Pamyel is an exception. An aberration one might even say,” a grin came to his face as she flushed a deeper shade of gold in annoyance. “The nature of her purity domain is that it is strongest while unmingled, in fact she is the third most powerful of the minor gods only Exousia and the unknown god rank higher. Hence her presence here, she doesn’t want to be left out.”
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“I’m not sure I follow…” Evelyn seemed to have regained her voice somewhat as she looked between Div and Pamyel, the latter of which Ivy thought flickered for a second though when she rubbed her eye everything was normal. Or at least as normal as it got when a goddess popped in for a visit.
“You didn’t think the gods got nothing from your little arrangements surely?” Div asked incredulous, “They grow more powerful as offerings are made and of course the better known they become the more chance they have of gaining followers.”
“It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement, so please consider my offer. You should be able to see more details once you place the level arch, I think you’ll be more than satisfied.” Her words while confident had lost much of the impact they had when she initially spoke, being more naturally heard and less full-body experiences.
“And with that we shall take our leave unless you have anything else to add Pamyel?”
Ivy cut in immediately, heartbeat pounding in her ears, “While you’re in a sharing mood, care to tell me where you get off deciding to just gut me of a bunch of memories and emotions?”
“The two of you haven’t had much respite since you arrived. If you’d come with your memories and emotions intact rather than helping Evelyn you would have been a distraction and likely both would have died to delvers.” He responded infuriatingly mildly, “I assumed that would not be your wish, but in truth and much more importantly, it would not align with my own objectives.”
He had the audacity to look her right in the eyes as he said it, his grey orbs swirling with a hint of aquamarine and brimming with self-assurance.
“Now, now, Div. What did I tell you about making yourself out to be the bad guy?” Pamyel looked at him with hands on hips before lowering her voice conspiratorially, “He’s in it for the right reasons really. Now we really must go I’m afraid, but might I suggest the ‘raids’ in your memories seemed interesting. Maybe you could do something with them?”
In a flash of golden flame so hot that it felt like it scoured Ivy’s skin even from several paces away she disappeared.
“Always so dramatic.” Div commented, “But then what’s life without a little drama. That oversized rodent is likely to bring back trouble so be prepared and do put down the level gate and consider the dedication offers for this floor when you can.” He winked, “Not that I would bias your choice for one over another of course.”
“It would be a true travesty, after all you would never consider your own interests above common decency.” Ivy commented dryly.
The chuckle she got in response wasn’t quite what she had in mind, but then Evelyn surprised her.
“What do The Three think of all this?” Ivy could see Evelyn’s fists clenched so tight she half expected them to draw blood and her complexion had turned pale, but nevertheless she had a determined expression on her face and was speaking up. Ivy felt a rush of warmth in her chest for her companion. “I can’t imagine either The Lover or The Seeker would approve of your…”
Evelyn choked as Ivy felt herself unable to breathe once more. For a brief moment Div towered over them as waves crashed all around in the height of a storm. There were so many details she couldn’t take it all in. The hint of aquamarine in his eyes became a crushing tide. The scent of salt was in the air and on her tongue as an unknowable but enchanting melody was carried on the breeze. His features became more handsome but furious. Where once were legs now gleaming scales caught the light. Her gut and head protested like she was tumbling through the air, all sense of balance well and truly lost. Memories and knowledge flowed through her mind, half whispered secrets of those long forgotten, she knew it all and forgot it all in that instant. Then he spoke furious and tragic.
“The Three abandoned this world.”
Suddenly it was all gone and she collapsed to the floor of the dungeon, unsure of what happened but with utter certainty she would never forget those words, and more importantly; that they were true.
Sobs from beside her wrenched her from her stupor and she dragged her weary body to throw her arms round Evelyn.