Galbarar looked like a Mediterranean guy, with an aquiline nose and a masculine jawline. His tanned skin did nothing to hide the perfectly ripped muscles underneath. He wouldn't be out of place in the Greek pantheon. Wearing tasteful and manly golden jewelry, he was clad in a white silk toga with golden embroidery at the rim and seams, the symbol of the sunburst with the scales of justice glowed brightly in his clothes. Golden leather sandals with the straps wrapped around his ankles and shins completed his look.
With a wave of his hand, He healed everyone in the arena. Except for the King.
"My friend," the deity spoke and I knew everyone in the city was hearing him. He came packing divinity and I even put some distance between Him and me. "I am happy that you finally called me to settle this injustice."
I smiled and nodded, giving him a bow as I bent my front legs. "I am glad to have you here too, Galbarar. You might be able to help me with my true dilemma."
He smiled back. "Indeed, I will."
His gaze wandered around the people kneeling and praying to the deity on the grandstands. Not to the throne and boxes where the nobles and the King were losing his shit. Ernest was groveling and murmuring some prayer too. I could tell that the [Paladin] prince was out of himself in some state of transfiguration.
I looked at the throne and felt deep sorrow. As if resonating with my feelings, Pandora flew in the throne's direction. The [Wizard King] and the mages next to him discharged every single spell they could think of on the [Wisp of Creation]. The pain at the loss of Rosalinda stung my two hearts as if the spear in my hand was stabbing at me. I watched the scene feeling impotence. I shouldn't. Everything went according to plan, I should be doing a Gendo Ikari pose. Or killing the shit out of everyone there. But I didn't. I too was transfixed on what was happening.
Pandora went around the throne and entered it. Then the blasted thing blew to smithereens, sending wooden shrapnel everywhere and launching the King all the way to the middle of the arena next to the three of us.
Rosalinda, my petrified mother, had vanished.
Pandora was there on the balcony, shining as much as Galbarar but her texture was like stone. I shifted my gaze to the deity.
My voice broke and fluctuated high and low, "What have you done? Where's my mother?"
"I've just arrived. I did nothing but speak so far," he answered with a warm smile. "Rosalinda is in the safest place possible. Look!"
I had a notification.
> Your Wisp of Creation gained a new aspect.
>
> * Aspect of the Sheltered Hearth: You can send souls purified by your Soul Shepherd power to the Wisp where they will remain until such a time when you decide to reincarnate them or they are recalled naturally to the world. The souls do not retain memories of their previous lives. As more souls go through the wisp, so her powers grow. This aspect is always active.
I blinked the notification away as well as some tears. "She's... inside Pandora?"
Galbarar nodded. "Not inside but with your Wisp. All the children's souls you rescued are within it, completely purified."
I shook my head. It wasn't the ending I expected. I was confused. What did I expect? Pandora floated back to me, now a matted gold in her Gifted Divinity aspect. I touched her and felt. Hundreds of happy souls in there.
"Is this... I mean, inside Pandora... is it an afterlife?" I asked Him.
He nodded. "You are growing most unexpectedly, Snowdrop. You surprise us all, including the one who sent you here."
I nodded and didn't miss that he skirted around Loki's name. I couldn't tell who among the souls inside Pandora was Rosalinda, only that she was there and she was happy that we were together again. As if reading my thoughts, Galbarar answered my question.
"Rosalinda isn't within your [Wisp of Creation]. She merged with the Wisp's divine spark and gave it consciousness. However, her memories and wishes are gone. She chose that new existence so she could stay next to you. But do not fear. The bond between you two is unbreakable."
I could feel that the effects of Pandora's [Gifted Divinity] were slightly stronger than before. I spent a minute or two in silence. Galbarar waited for me to come around and accept my newfound feelings. Lily's grudges would end today. She was plagued by a feeling of powerlessness her entire life. That was why she gave up on fighting King Rudolph III and let him kill her.
The spear agreed. Free of the sorrow and anguish I felt toward Pekothas, the System finally granted me my wish.
> CONGRATULATIONS. You ranked up. Your available Exp was divided by 10,000
>
> The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
>
> Your species ranked up into Unicorn Heritor (rank 2).
>
> 1 Attribute point for each level.
>
> 1 Strength every even level.
>
> 1 Endurance and Willpower every odd level.
>
> Nothing, then Magic, Dexterity, and Mind alternating every level.
>
> 1 Ego, Charisma, Soul, and Luck, alternating every level.
>
> 14 Base HP and 8 Base Energy per level.
>
> 1 Perk every even level, plus on each level divisible by 10 (from Human Royalty).
>
> You gained the occupational title: Unicorn Princess
>
> You gained the Perk: Unicorn Horn (ultra-rare): You have an alicorn. Any water it touches will be purified to a range of 1 meter. You can touch a creature with your horn and pay Energy to heal any and all diseases afflicting the creature. Your horn can be used as a weapon. and share properties with your heirloom spear. They deal quadruple damage against demons and undead.
>
>
>
> Your Path ranked up into Centaur Myrmidon (rank 2).
>
> +1 Strength every level.
>
> +1 Endurance every even level.
>
> +1 Dexterity every fourth level.
>
> +1 Mind every fourth level.
>
> +1 Willpower every third level.
>
> 13 Base HP and 5 Base Energy per level.
>
> 1 Perk every even level.
My forehead burst with a sharp pain as if something was drilling into my skull. I screamed and walked backward, flailing. Once the pain was gone, I touched it. True to the Perk description, a freaking horn stuck up and forward from it. If I looked straight up without tilting my head, I could see it.
Neat. Weird, but neat.
Galbarar said, "Regarding the punishment for those that committed heinous crimes here, I'll leave it to your discretion. I ask you to spare the people. You would consign their souls to me anyway, I'd prefer if you let them live."
I sighed and shook my head. The horn was more than one foot in length and was dangerously sharp. I had to police my movements or I would impale someone someday. Then I pointed at the young man still groveling on the arena floor. "I made my offer to your [Paladin]. It is up to him to accept it or not."
"Arise, my [Paladin]," Galbarar commanded. "What the [Unicorn Princess] said to you is all true. I advise you to accept her terms and rule this country in my name."
Ernest stood up but no words came out of his mouth. I understood the prince's predicament and did my utmost to help him.
> Flash Blink Step
>
> Death Contract
>
> Champion's Challenge
>
> Berserker Rage IV
>
> A Capella (+300 to Strength -900,000MP/second)
>
> Ethereal Rend
>
> Avenger Strike
>
> Blood Sacrifice
>
> Arcane Smite
>
> Mana Strike
>
> Champion's Strike
>
> Assassinate
>
> Backstab
>
> Cruel Strike
>
> Vicious Blow
>
> Weapon Witchcraft
>
> Death Blow
>
> Favored Enemy Strike
>
>
>
> For killing level 144 [Wizard King] you gained 69.4 B Exp (Base 207,360 x3.05 Exp boost x625 Fast Learner x7.59 Death Contract x7.59 Favored Enemy x3.05 Challenge)
>
>
>
> You reached Unicorn Heritor level 14.
>
> You reached Centaur Myrmidon level 14.
Weird. He wasn't in the fourth tier. This King dude was decked in phat magic stuff. I'll check it out later. Now, before the nobles scatter...
----------------------------------------
Arena Floor
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"Speak your mind, young [Prince]."
"Who is she?" Ernest asked. He was before Galbarar himself. The centaur woman called a deity "friend" and He actually answered. He re-ran the conversation they had. Was she able to...
"THE KING IS DEAD!" Someone screamed from the balcony.
Ernest pivoted and prepared to run. Galbarar held him. "She will deliver justice. Worry not for the innocent. They shall not suffer in her hand."
The [Paladin] understood even less. "Does she deliver justice in your name?"
"No. Her justice is her own but I do not hold a monopoly on it. Your father was guilty of many crimes but again it is not my place to judge him. Today, she is death for the wicked. She is justice. I won't ask you to accept her deal even though it pains me to lose a promising [Paladin]. I'll just let you know that she is fair in her dealings."
The glare of magic spells thrown in the nobles' boxes illuminated them one by one. Screams of terror suddenly silenced. Some jumped down from the balconies and he saw a flash of a white centauress before the fleeing noble vanished.
Then silence. On the balcony, only the baffled centaur bodyguard, a chieftain that struck a deal with his father.
The people in the grandstands kept praying to the living deity before them.
Galbarar spoke, "People of Pekothas! I come today to correct a heinous crime. The figure you know as 'Witch of Tambrillia' was not the wicked woman your storytellers told you. She was a loving mother like many others. She bore an exceptional daughter and drew the ire of an envious deity. That deity turned the woman into stone and cast the baby daughter to the wolves. I vowed one day to correct this wrong. Let it be known. Anyone who calls the Rosalinda, a mother, as 'Witch of Tambrilia' is speaking falsehood and shall be marked as such. No aid will come from me or my clergy for such people. I hereby declare Rosalinda to be the patron [Saintess] of hearth and motherhood. Go forth now and spread my holy word."
The people started to slowly vacate the arena. They sang hymns and shouted praises for Galbarar.
Several minutes later, the centaur woman, a meek and well-behaved prisoner scheduled for execution not an hour ago reappeared in front of him. He now noticed she had a horn just like the one on her spear.
"So, young [King], may you long rule, yadda, yadda, yadda. Do we have a deal or should I move the dynasty forward?" She asked.
"What?"
"Check your notifications," Galbarar whispered.
> CONGRATULATIONS. According to the dynasty rules of your nation, you are now [King].
>
> You gained the occupational title: King.
>
> Your Class rarity has improved...
Ernest looked at her with wide eyes, "My brothers?"
She answered as if commenting on the weather, "All dead. Mothers and sisters too, along with most of the servants in the palace. You are first and last of your name."
----------------------------------------
I waited for [King] Ernest's answer. I really didn't want to kill the guy, not in front of his God.
I extended a hand to him. "I'm Snowdrop. Apparently, I'm the [Unicorn Princess] now too."
He reached out. "Ernest. Apparently, I'm the [King] now too."
We shook hands. I stared into his eyes, "I hope your rule is a long one. Well, it will be longer than your brothers already. But I mean, longer than today."
"You would kill me?" He asked as if he was daring me to.
I pointed up and materialized the ghosts of his family. "Do not test me, young [King]. I'm a [Berserker] at heart. Heed the advice of the God you dedicated your sword to."
Without taking his gaze away from my eyes, he nodded slowly."Leave the children of the nobility alive. They are not guilty of their parent's sins."
"Changing the laws of the Kingdom already?" I challenged him. "Fine then. Those below ten years of age will not suffer my wrath."
When we broke eye contact, Galbarar was already gone.