The Goddess Ilis
The Omnipotent Mother
The Light That Always Shines
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According to the Codex of the Holy Kingdom of Istris, one of the three largest countries on the continent of Illustria and the center of the Church of Istris, it is said that before the world and the continent of Illustria were created, there was only chaos and void.
These two forces clashed endlessly, locked in an eternal struggle for dominance and destroying everything in their path. Chaos only knew how to destroy, while Void only knew how to corrupt. They were both embodiments of evil, and yet, despite their shared nature, they could not coexist.
Realizing that their battle would last forever, they chose to create a new being, hoping it would end their eternal conflict. Thus, the first light was born.
The light was pure, untainted by the forces of either Chaos or Void. It was like a newborn child, seeing the world for the first time. But there was nothing, only the absence of existence.
So, the light decided to create its own world, shaping it like clay. Many attempts were made, and centuries passed before the light finally succeeded in crafting its masterpiece: Illustria.
The light was joyful, no longer alone in the void. But something was still missing. Illustria, though beautiful, was devoid of life.
Once again, the light began its work, creating beings that suited its design and placing them in Illustria. Life bloomed, filling the once empty world.
The light was pleased with its creation.
However, soon after, things took a dark turn.
Chaos and Void discovered what the light had made and became intrigued. They saw the world of Illustria as an opportunity to continue their contest for dominance.
Knowing they couldn’t settle the matter through force, they created a game. The winner would claim control over all of existence.
Illustria would be their game board.
They couldn’t directly control the world, as it was light’s creation, but they could influence its inhabitants. So, they used their powers to sway the beings of Illustria to their cause. The goal was simple: whichever force gained control of Illustria through their influence would win the competition.
Under the influence of Chaos and Void, beings began to wreak havoc on the world. The once-beautiful realm was breaking apart, torn between these two destructive forces.
The light, seeing its creation in ruin, was saddened. But it didn’t give up. Instead, it chose a path that neither Chaos nor Void had anticipated.
The light decided to sacrifice most of its power to create the brightest illumination in all existence. This immense radiance pushed both Chaos and Void away, banishing them to the farthest reaches of existence, beyond time and space.
Illustria was safe once more.
However, the toll on the light was immense. To conserve its remaining power, the light took on a mortal form, the form of a goddess.
She became known as Goddess Ilis.
In this form, she guided the beings of Illustria, continuing to push back the lingering influence of Chaos and Void.
For five thousand years, she protected her world, using all her power to keep it safe.
Yet, the toll from her battle with Chaos and Void was greater than she had anticipated. Realizing her strength was fading, Goddess Ilis made one final decision.
With the last of her power, she created five sacred beings, each tasked with protecting Illustria in her place.
Then she went into a deep slumber, resting for a time unknown.
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"Of course, this knowledge was sealed within the church’s vault, unknown to almost everyone in this world except for a select few in the Holy Kingdom," Ren thought, recalling the game's lore.
The Church had crafted their own version of the world's creation for the public, and that version was accepted as truth. If people knew their goddess was either asleep or, worse, dead, chaos would erupt. That was the last thing the church wanted. The forces of Chaos and Void still existed, lingering in the shadows, waiting for any opportunity to resurface.
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"That’s why such a large portion of the continent believes in the goddess without question," Ren murmured. "It’s what they’ve been taught since childhood."
This made the current situation all the more bizarre.
"Do you believe in the goddess?"
The words echoed through the chamber, carrying an almost divine weight. The group exchanged relieved glances. The question seemed simple—perhaps too simple.
"This is it?" Rolan asked, breaking the silence. "That’s the question?"
"It seems so," Liana replied, her brow furrowed. "But… why ask something so obvious?"
Shiro remained silent, his hand still resting on the pedestal, eyes fixed on the pulsing blue light, which seemed to await his answer. The others began murmuring among themselves, the initial relief giving way to doubt.
"Nearly everyone on this continent believes in the goddess Ilis," Liana said thoughtfully. "She’s been the foundation of our faith for as long as we can remember."
"Even though there are other beliefs," Lucius added, "the Church doesn’t condemn them, but they also don’t recognize them. The goddess has always been our world’s guiding light."
"What if it’s a trick?" Celes suggested, her eyes narrowing. "What if the obvious answer isn’t the correct one?"
"That’s what bothers me," Shiro finally said, his calm voice tinged with unease. "It’s too easy. But if we overthink it, we might overlook something important."
The group dove into a deeper discussion, dissecting the question's potential meanings. They tossed around theories, ranging from the question being a test of faith, to it hiding a deeper, more cunning trap.
"What if it really is just a simple question?" Rolan asked, exasperated. "Maybe it’s just a yes-or-no thing."
Celes crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. "But if it’s that obvious, why ask it at all? What’s the point?"
Ren watched the conversation unfold, his thoughts swirling. He knew the group needed to reach a decision. The question wasn’t just about belief, it was about understanding the world they were in. Ren’s knowledge of the game’s lore reminded him that sometimes the most straightforward answer was the correct one. But that didn’t make it any easier for the group.
Once again, the voice repeated the question.
"Do you believe in the goddess?"
Shiro clenched his fist, eyes locked on the light. "We’re wasting time. We need to answer."
"But what’s the right answer?" Liana asked, frustration creeping into her voice.
Shiro took a deep breath, his mind racing through their discussion. The group turned to him, trusting his leadership as they had throughout their journey. Ren saw the doubt flicker in Shiro’s eyes. The question was simple, but the wrong answer could be catastrophic. Yet, despite the uncertainty, Ren knew Shiro had the resolve to choose.
Finally, Shiro spoke, his voice steady and resolute. "We answer with the truth. The goddess may be distant, but we’ve all held onto our belief in her. We answer yes."
The group nodded, placing their trust in Shiro as they stepped closer, bracing themselves for what was to come. Shiro turned back to the pedestal, his heart pounding as he prepared to speak.
"Yes," he said clearly. "We believe in the goddess."
The blue light flared brightly, filling the room with its ethereal glow. The group shielded their eyes, bracing themselves for what was to come.
As the blinding light finally faded, they cautiously lowered their arms, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger. But the chamber remained still, serene even, with nothing threatening in sight.
Then, they saw it: a blue amulet lying on the pedestal where Shiro had placed his hand. It shimmered with an otherworldly glow, its shape vaguely resembling a raven, though its form was more abstract, like a symbol of something far older and more mysterious.
The group gathered around the pedestal, their gazes fixed on the artifact. Though the amulet looked brand new, its surface was smooth and polished. Lucius could feel the deep, ancient energy radiating from it. It was far older than the academy, perhaps older than anything they had ever encountered.
“This is it,” Shiro murmured, his voice tinged with awe. “This is what we came for.”
He hesitated, unsure if he should be the one to take it. The weight of their mission pressed heavily on his shoulders, and the amulet seemed to hum with a life of its own, as if waiting to be claimed. Finally, Shiro reached out and carefully picked it up, feeling a subtle warmth emanating from the blue aura surrounding it.
Rolan, hoping for something more practical, sighed in mild disappointment. “I was hoping for a weapon or something, not a necklace.”
His comment drew a few chuckles, but the group's attention quickly returned to the amulet. Despite his light-hearted remark, Rolan knew the importance of what they had found, and the others ignored his disappointment as they focused on the artifact.
Shiro turned to Lucius and Liana, hoping they might sense something more. “Can any of you feel anything else from it? Anything that could give us a clue about what it’s meant to do?”
Lucius furrowed his brow as he studied the amulet, his hand hovering just above it. “I can feel its power, but it’s like nothing I’ve encountered before. It’s ancient, much older than anything in this academy. Beyond that, though... I’m not sure.”
Liana shook her head. “I sense the aura, but it’s faint, almost like it’s dormant.”
Celes nodded in agreement. “It’s definitely powerful, but whatever it is, it’s not fully active. We’ll need to study it back at the academy to learn more.”
Satisfied, Shiro nodded. “Then we’ll take it back with us and see if anyone else can figure out what it does. This could be the hope we’ve been searching for.”
With the amulet secured, the group began discussing their next move, planning their return to the academy. Despite their exhaustion from the dungeon’s trials, there was a sense of cautious optimism. They had found something, and even if they didn’t fully understand it yet, it was a start.
But amidst the conversation, Ren stood apart from the group, his eyes fixed on the pedestal where the amulet had appeared. Something about it nagged at his thoughts. He had a theory he wanted to test, a hunch that there were more secrets hidden within the room. But he knew he’d have to wait until the others left.
As the group made their final preparations to leave, Ren’s mind raced with possibilities. The amulet was important, of that he was certain, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this room. He’d investigate further once he was alone.
When the heavy door creaked shut behind the departing group, the chamber returned to its eerie stillness. Ren watched from the shadows, waiting until the last echo of their footsteps faded. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, possibilities, and that gnawing feeling that something more lay hidden.
In the game, Shiro’s answer had been a scripted event. The group always answered "yes" to the question. But this was no longer a game. Here, there were no scripted events.
So, what would happen if someone gave a different answer?
As a veteran gamer, curiosity gnawed at Ren. He deliberated for a while before making his decision.
With a deep breath, Ren activated his timer, allowing himself to reappear in the room. The cold, mystical blue light pulsed in response to his presence.
He approached the pedestal, now empty after Shiro had taken the amulet, and placed his hand upon its smooth surface. As soon as his skin made contact, the same ethereal voice from earlier filled the room, echoing like a distant memory.
“Do you believe in the goddess?”
“It’s still asking the question,” Ren thought. “That means something else is still here.”
Now was the moment of truth.
Without hesitation, Ren chose a different route. “No,” he said firmly. “I do not believe in the goddess.”
The room fell into an oppressive silence. A shiver ran down Ren’s spine as he wondered what would happen next. The silence stretched on, feeling like an eternity, before the voice finally responded, this time with a different question.
“Then what do you believe in?”
Ren blinked in surprise. This was new. Something that was not shown in the game. But he had no doubt about his answer. He had seen too much in this world, both in the game and now in reality, to hesitate. It wasn’t the goddess or the sacred beings that had saved this world time and time again.
So, the answer was clear.
“I believe in humanity,” he said, his voice steady and resolute.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the pedestal beneath his hand began to tremble. Cracks spider-webbed across its surface, glowing with an intense blue light as the stone split apart. With a loud crack, the pedestal broke in half, revealing something hidden at its core.
Ren stepped back as the two halves of the pedestal fell away, uncovering a small black orb resting at the center. It pulsed with dark, mysterious energy, almost as if it were alive.
Cautiously, Ren reached out to touch it. As his fingers brushed the surface of the orb, a status notification suddenly appeared in his mind’s eye, glowing with a faint blue light.
image [https://i.imgur.com/hsme9yl.jpeg]