Deep underground, in a certain modest dirt house adorned with basic furnishings - a table and chairs barely holding anything - two men sit respectfully. They relish a piece of meat slightly charred like coal, their focus undistracted.
"Thank you for this food today," one of them expresses his gratitude.
As the man finishes his meal, he joins his palms and silently prays, although his friend overhears.
"You know, that old tale from grandma, it's all just a myth, right? There's no god anymore," his friend contends.
"Who knows... we may not have been around when it all happened... perhaps God grew weary because we stopped praying?" the other man speculates.
As the younger man replies and falls silent for a moment, his sincerity evident in his prayer, the other man remains unconvinced. He simply sits there, continuing his meal, unaware that prying eyes are observing them.
...
Near the underground river, Eida is currently peering at the humans as they wash away the blood and dirt accumulated during their surface hunting. She observes their bodies, each marred by a multitude of deformities, some missing organs both outside and within.
Hovering above them, Eida is suddenly drawn to a particular voice that causes her to pause and turn her attention. She extends her awareness and perceives a human in prayer. She doesn't fully comprehend why she's captivated, but she is astute enough to realize that it's the act of prayer itself that attracts her, not the individual.
The prayer consists of only one line, and before she can absorb any new knowledge, it vanishes. As she contemplates this, she attempts to make sense of it all.
"Only God can respond," Eida recalls this belief from her past when she, too, was a believer. However, she's forgotten which god she once worshipped. She has survived until now, and she knows that the only gods who possess eternal life are those who cannot die. Does this imply that she is now a god? How is such a transformation possible? Eida's thoughts race with these questions, but she can't arrive at a definitive answer.
There's a saying that humans can attain unimaginable power if they believe in a god, in return, gods grant them power. But if human power is derived from a god, then where does the power of the gods originate?
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Shaking her head, Eida sets aside her contemplation of god for the time being. She's more intrigued by the young man's prayer on the other side. Assuming that she might indeed be a god, albeit an incomplete one, as her current powers pale in comparison to those of the gods in the past.
Her initial priority is to make the underground humans aware of her existence. Following that, she plans to pose as their deity, bestowing power upon them. Ultimately, she seeks to explore and encounter other beings.
Over several days spent underground, Eida observes that none of the humans possess any remarkable abilities. At most, they have well-conditioned bodies. Though her powers aren't extensive, they far surpass the abilities of those around her, even compared to her past.
...
At the underground river, where the humans cleanse themselves with water that flows from a crevice, several men are present, including Sun'i and Anakh.
"I have a feeling the creatures have ventured deeper recently. We don't have as much stock as before," Sun'i remarks.
"I know... Today, we only managed to kill three. Do you think they've been frightened away by something more powerful?" Anakh inquires.
"Impossible. We've been hunting them for a long time, and nothing like that has ever occurred," Sun'i replies.
"You might be correct, old man, but who can say what transpired within the cursed forest? We don't even know why it was named 'cursed' in the first place," he counters.
As they cleanse their bodies, the argument about recent events continues. It's clear that no one is at fault, but their current situation cannot persist. Sun'i steps forward with a proposal.
"How about we venture a little deeper into the forest? I understand it's riskier, but I'd rather take that risk than continue to reduce our food supplies," he suggests. As one of the elders, his voice carries experience and weight.
"That's true, but we can't afford to lose people. We're already lacking young men. Look at us; there are no male youngsters among us," one of the other elders voices his concerns. Each person voices their thoughts, each believing their ideas are in the best interest of the group.
"How about this then? Tomorrow, Anakh and I will go deeper into the forest to assess the situation. Of course, I'll need two more people to make it safer. I'll investigate what's happening in there," Sun'i finally puts forward his plan.
Some among them appear relieved, while others wear expressions of worry. However, they understand that the task must be undertaken. They collaborate on plans and routes leading to the center of the forest, and once everything is settled, they return to their respective homes to rest, anticipating the arrival of tomorrow.
Eida is also aware of their plans, and she decides to follow Sun'i on the following day. Perhaps she will have an opportunity to interact with him in a moment of need, so she can offer assistance to Sun'i or anyone else who requires aid. She vanishes from the underground river and reappears at Sun'i's house, waiting patiently for the day to arrive, as she doesn't require sleep.