Down in the streets the people of Vemdelen had been scattering into the buildings and alleyways as the massive feet of their goddess thundered through the streets. They weren't doing it out of fear however but because they wanted to make an easy path out of the city. The morning sun reflected off the golden hair of the goddess and made the glow not even noticeable.

It was nice to not be feared by a group of people as big as the population of this town. This feeling assuredly won't be the same everywhere I go. The outcry of panic would have been immense if I had actually gone to the main city of this province. It was my better judgment after all to have them come see me in this smaller settlement. Thankfully it only took a matter of seconds to walk out of the small town. Now I set off walking deep into the forest to find a place for out discussion to take place.

Quarely huh? He had looked normal enough for a noble. The rest of his council was something else entirely. What a wild group of personalities! I hadn't gotten all of their names yet but that one mage concerned me for some reason. He was a bit eccentric but there's something more there.

With a deep sigh I stopped walking and looked around. This area looked good enough. It was far enough away from the town that I couldn't even see it anymore and my voice certainly wouldn't carry far enough for the people to hear it either. Now all I needed to do was sit and wait for the lord and his council to show up. Because they had mages with them it should be no problem for them to fly out here. That flying mage was with them after all.

Before sitting down I double checked the ground to make sure there wasn't any animals or something silly enough to still be in my immediate area. Seeing nothing I swished my dress under my butt and sat down with a grunt and put my legs out in front of me. There weren't any trees tall enough to lean on or any cliffs nearby, these lowland forest trees barely came up to my shins.

Well now it was just a waiting game until those folks got here. While waiting I decided to play around with my prayer answering ability, patent pending, and see if I could do anything more than generic blessings. Since I didn't actually know what these blessings did it would be great to give actual answers to prayers.

Closing my eyes I was able to quickly find someone in Yuvoghen who had cut themselves with a knife of some kind and were praying for healing. After forming the light orb above them I sort of just was like "heal their cut" when thinking about the orb as it fell upon them, just imagining their wound being healed. Once the magic had dispersed over and onto them to my great pleasure their wound did end up healing itself quite quickly.

I opened my eyes with a sigh. This confirms what I needed to know. Yes these magical blessings can indeed be altered to my desires when they're bestowed on my worshipers.

My radar picked up several human signatures coming towards me at high speed high in the air. It seemed my peaceful time of reflection was over. Inside my heart I asked my father wherever he was to give me his guidance in this meeting.

Looking up to the sky I saw a rather large carpet flying through the air towards me. It was a classical magic carpet: one that was woven from thick and colorful fabrics that looked like it came right out of a sultan's palace. Pretty cool to be honest, though it was something only the super rich would ever get to use no doubt. The six humans were sitting on it and though I couldn't tell exactly where they were looking I knew it was at me.

In only a few more moments the carpet swooped down from the sky and onto the ground in front of my outstretched feet, not too obviously putting everyone as far out of my arms reach as possible. The six of them stood up and walked off the carpet with some timidity.

I pulled my legs back in and switched to a kneeling position while sitting on my legs.

"Hello again everyone. Just a reminder I'm not going to hurt you."

The one I knew to be Quarely cleared his throat as he looked up and down my body, clearly still taking in exactly how large I was.

"Yes erm, Goddess Jenna. Thank you for meeting us here today."

The icebreaker part of meetings was always the worst. I hate meetings. The fact they were so low to the ground was going to hurt my neck too if I had to keep craning it down to see them.

"Man its too bad there isn't a cliff for you guys to stand on so I can talk to you better. How about I just..."

Letting out a little grunt of exertion I slid my legs out from behind me and lowered my torso to the ground. The rumbling and tremors visibly shook them all around as my massive body boomed around. There wasn't much I could do about that though and thankfully they didn't look too frightened. Seeing something as big as me moving around so quickly must be terrifying. Much to their relief though it didn't last very long and soon I was lying down in front of them with my head resting on my hands, my body and legs stretching far off into the woods behind it where they couldn't even see.

All they saw now was my huge face and head looming over them like the side of a barn with my shoulders coming out from either side. My eyes looked down at them and I noticed at least a couple of them jump in surprise.

"That's much better. Sorry for the shaking around, hard to help it really."

I gave them a little apologetic smile.

Ferherlyn was the one to step forward and speak up to me next. He was the one to first talk to me out of this group after all and there was some confidence in his mannerisms. He bowed as he addressed me.

"Thank you great goddess. There is no need to apologize to us."

"You're welcome." I replied. "Speaking of which you guys need somewhere to sit down right?"

"Oh yes. We've brought seating seeds. Let me put them down now."

Ferherlyn took a small pouch out of his robes and sprinkled several plant seeds out of it into his hand. The others then gave him space as he walked around and placed them in the ground one by one. After a few seconds each seed burst forth into a stump of some description, its wood twisting into a regal looking chair. Each one did this until there were six arranged in a semi circle around where my head was resting.

"Thank you Ferherlyn." Quarely said as he walked to the seat in the middle.

"Of course my lord." Ferherlyn replied.

All six of them then walked to their various seats. Quarely in the center right, the two normal humans to the right of him, and the three mages to the left with Ferherlyn closest to him. This was all from my perspective of course. They all remained standing for now.

"I suppose proper introductions are in order." Quarely said. "I am Quarely Mettleton, the lord that rules over the province of Voorhaul. It is a pleasure to meet you oh goddess." He bowed to me.

Ferherlyn was next. "I am the mage Ferherlyn. You had meet me before of course. I am chief advisor to Quarely and high ranking member of the mage tower of the city of Vinedenne."

Next was the chunky woman. She bowed and stuttered out her introduction, clearly quite nervous. "I-I am Helena Iren. Noblewoman of the Iren family and our barely business. P-Pleased to meet you goddess."

The human man spoke next. He bowed with the rigidness of someone who did it often. "Judge Olifact your magnificence. I was once a knight of great renown. Today I serve my lord in military matters as an advisor. I am honored to meet a living goddess."

The next was the average looking mage man dressed in blue. He bowed respectfully. "Kelnesale Curac your greatness. I am a mage serving in the mage tower of Vinedenne. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Last to speak was the sickly looking mage dressed in all black. He just gave off a weird vibe for some reason. I don't like this guy.

He gave an exaggerated bow and twirled his robe around as if in a mocking manner. His voice was somehow wheezy and filled with spite as if the entire world was something he disdained. "I am but a humble jester in this waning world young one. Those that know me call me Yoko. Those that know of me also call me Yoko."

My eyes darted to the others and back to him. They were all waiting for my reaction to this guy with baited breath. Clearly he wasn't a popular favorite with them. There was just something oddly sinister about him that I couldn't place.

"Yoko is it?" I asked. "You wouldn't be able to tell me why your aura is a bit, off putting?"

He simply smiled back at me and stood back up. "I specialize in void magic little one. It fills me as I lose myself into it. Most would fear me as the chaos spawn I am."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I once again glanced over at the others and saw them nervously sweating a little bit. I looked back at him and nodded with my head still resting in my hands. Void magic: bad. Understood. This guy didn't seem overtly evil but if he looked into the void and it looked back into him he certainly was the most dangerous human I'd met so far. Possibly the only legitimately so one.

"Don't stare long into the abyss lest it stare back into you I suppose Yoko?" I said to him.

A wild and creepy smile came across his face and he clapped his hands before bowing again. "She understands! A goddess who claims to oversee knowledge doesn't disappoint."

The others gave me amazed looks, clearly being on this guy's good side was some sort of accomplishment.

I lifted my chin off my hands and raised them so my chin could be supported with my head higher off the ground. This angle elevated my face above them even more and it just felt more dignified than resting on the ground the whole time. As I did this adjustment they all sat down in their chairs and settled themselves. An air of nervousness was still hanging about.

"Well now that introductions are out of the way lets actually get this discussion underway. I'm sure you have lots of questions for me. I have questions for you too starting with why you called me to meet with me in the first place."

Quarely had his hands in his lap and he looked up at me tilting his head back and trying not to appear too nervous.

"Yes. It was to speak to you of course Goddess Jenna. I know I'm not the king of this land but I felt it my duty to properly introduce myself as I am a leader of your new subjects. We have brought offerings of gold for you as well. They remain at the castle in the town at the moment and we can have them delivered to you here after the discussion."

Offerings. Yeah that makes sense. He also seems to be acting as if I'm going to be taking over or something. Probably another things goddesses in the olden days did. At the moment I'm not sure how to approach this whole kingdom thing as I don't really want to be a ruler.

I simply nodded my head. "The offerings can be brought to the outside of the town after the meeting and I'll collect them. As long as there are no dead animals or people involved. I never want to see living sacrifices understand?"

All of them seemed to gulp and nodded up to me as they saw my eyes narrow and heard my done become more dangerous at that last part. Something else they didn't expect to hear from me likely.

"Of course great goddess" Quarely replied. "It is true what my advisor Ferherlyn said to me. You truly are quite different then what I had expected."

I lowered my head down a bit and looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"I hope you don't think that just because I'm not ruthless like the goddesses of the past that I'm somehow weak."

"Of course not Goddess Jenna! Its quite a relief to see how reasonable you truly are. Thank you for your mercy and kindness."

"Mhm. Now why don't you start by asking me one of your questions."

Helena was the next to speak. "The most pressing question we are have goddess Jenna: is what exactly you want with us?"

The mage Kelnesale spoke immediately after her. "We also wish to know from whence you came and what your purpose is here in our kingdom? You are the first goddess in thousands of years to appear."

"Hmm." I nodded with my chin still in my hands. "Well of course I don't have to tell you where I came from! As if humans deserved to know that haha! All I will tell you is I awoke in the mountains of Henjuk."

Honestly I don't know for sure where my goddess self came from myself, and I'm certainly not telling them I was a human in a past life from another world.

"As for what I want with you. Nothing really. I'm not planning on stomping into any cities and taking over as queen goddess or anything."

I shrugged and then glared down at Quarely who gulped.

"I certainly never want to see another group of soldiers come to my villages and threaten my worshipers."

"Of course not!" Quarely stammered. "It will never happen again."

Judge spoke up next and cleared his throat. "If I may ask Goddess Jenna. It seems you wish to remain isolated in the mountains with your worshipers?"

I lowered my hands and head back to the ground and gave him a look as I puffed a small sigh out between my lips. The warm wind ruffled his hair.

"Yeah pretty much. Playing kings and castles and knights, its all bullshit. Its annoying. Don't really wanna deal with it right now. You can play without me."

I waited for the shock to wear off their faces before continuing as I wanted them to actually hear what I was saying.

"What I wanna know is what the economy of his kingdom is like. Mmm having some documents detailing all that would make me very happy you know. What's the technology like in the capital of this kingdom too. Or the surrounding kingdoms. A map of the world... Books..."

My eyes were closing as I trailed off in thought. Though I didn't notice they were all looking around at each other in confusion. Except Yoko of course who was just staring at me intently.

Quarely cleared his throat which caused my eyes to snap open and refocus on him. He took a deep breath as my gaze bared down on him.

"Please forgive me for asking a question such as this if its not my place goddess. Why would you want such things?"

Ferherlyn looked over to him and then up to my eyes, his voice causing them to switch to him.

"Because you are a goddess of knowledge? You wish to learn about us humans Goddess Jenna?"

Kelnesale had his hands together under his chin and spoke up next.

"We've heard much about how you're a goddess of light and knowledge. If I may ask you to answer why it is rain falls?"

Now that's arrogant of him. Test me will he? I lifted my head up once again and rested my chin on my tented hands, my gaze glaring down at him as my eyes glowed with golden light.

"You dare quiz me about something as basic as the water cycle? Are you testing me? Bitch?"

"The water cycle?" Judge asked.

"Bitches don't know about the water cycle?" I exclaimed. "The process in which water collects in the sky and falls to the ground as rain, flows in the rivers and lakes into the ocean, evaporates into the sky, and then gathered as clouds to fall as rain once again? Its a lot more detailed than that of course but its the simplest way to explain it."

Ferherlyn spoke up after sending a glare Kelnesale's way. "We didn't doubt your knowledge oh goddess. It it clear you understand things that even we mages do not fully."

Quarely was next. "It is clear there are things specific to our kingdom you wish to learn Goddess Jenna. Would it please you to be given offerings of knowledge?"

My eyes lit up and I nodded happily. "Mmm hmm!"

"There is one request I wish to make of you great goddess." He continued. "All of my people would make it alongside me if they were gathered here."

"And what is that Quarely?"

He stood up and bowed. "We are coming close to times of war with the neighboring kingdom of Pheoa. Could we count on your assistance in defending our lands and people from the armies of our enemy? We beg of you. I beg of you to protect us Goddess Jenna."

I let out a sigh. "I'll think about how involved I want to be with that. Be rest assured that if my worshipers are threatened I'll arrive in force to defend them. Don't expect me to walk out onto a battlefield and stomp on the enemy army ok?"

Lowering my head again I look towards the mages.

"Speaking of worshipers I wanted to know about what goddess or goddesses this kingdom used to have ruling over it and what they were like."

The mages in attendance all looked at each other nervously and the normal humans were a bit concerned.

"Well ancient history such as that isn't something we have intricate knowledge of my goddess." Ferherlyn said apologizing. "I can do more detailed research into it and bring it to you as an offering of course."

He's lying to me I can tell. I'm sure he knows plenty about it, though it was thousands of years ago. I suppose I'll have to wait for his information and continue looking into it myself. They likely don't want me copying whatever these previous goddesses did, don't want to give your new overlord ideas and whatnot. Its smart but annoying for me.

"Very well." I replied. "I'll hold you to that."

------------

The conversation continued after that for a short while, perhaps an hour or so more. Mostly them asking me questions about my nature as a goddess and me giving them non answers to questions I didn't think they deserved to know anything about or answering if I felt they did.

My own questions were about the nature of the mages and the kingdom of Pheoa. I didn't learn much more about the mage tower then I would have reading a fantasy book in my previous life. That was fine of course, its all pretty generic fantasy stuff. A bunch of magic users form their own little club with their club secrets and plot to gain more power and whatnot. The other kingdom though was particularly interesting to me as they seemed pretty similar to Celuduun but with a more militaristic outlook on life.

I could tell there were some things being held back which was to be expected. One thing I wasn't able to get too much of a grasp on was what kind of leader Quarely was. Judging his character is important to how I interact with this whole province. Once we were at a logical end point of the conversation I sat up and towered above them.

"Well this meeting has gone on long enough. Don't you agree?"

They all seemed to be in agreement with me and most of them seemed tired from our long talk.

"It was nice to meet you all and I'm sure we'll talk again in the future."

Ferherlyn bowed to me as he stood up. "Thank you once again for meeting and answering our questions great goddess."

Each of them stood and bowed, thanking me for coming to this meeting and easing their minds for the most part. The general mood was one of relief that I wasn't some kind of monstrous demon goddess here to stomp on them like bugs and crush their cities underfoot to rule the survivors with an iron fist. As metal as that would be no one should have to suffer under such an evil ruler.

As they all began walking back to the magic carpet I cleared my throat.

"Actually Quarely. If I may I wanted to have a more, private conversation with you."

Quarely stopped and turned around to look up at me with a bit of concern on his face.

"Speak to me privately?"

I lowered my left hand to the ground with a low thud and lay my fingers out flat in an inviting platform like I did for all the villagers.

"Mhm. I promise no harm shall come to you in my care. Would you mind climbing up onto my hand?"

The others mostly shrugged and wern't sure how to react. Ferherlyn simply nodded to his lord.

"I feel its safe my lord. This will be a positive thing. If the goddess wishes to speak to you privately I suggest you take her up on her request."

Quarely looked up to me in confusion. "You're giving me the choice?"

"If it wasn't a choice I wouldn't have asked." I smirked. "I'd just pick you up." I looked over to the others by the magic carpet. "I'll return him to the castle once we're done speaking Ferherlyn."

It didn't seem like there was any reason to deny me and so Quarely walked over to where my hand was resting on the ground, gathering his courage as he climbed up onto the huge palm. He feet squished into my soft skin as he walked into the center and he looked up at my face high above him and gulped nervously. He knew that if I wanted to hurt him there was nothing he could do about it. He also probably figured that since I hadn't done anything yet I was unlikely to. Who knows what I was going to do with him once I had him alone though?

I laughed out seeing the look on his face, my laughter ringing through the air like the sound of bells except very loud. It caused everyone to stop and listen in awe.

"Little lord. Do you think I'll do something horrible to you once I have you alone? Do you not think I could have stolen you away at any point in the last day and done with you as I pleased? If I hadn't then why would I now? You are safe with me I promise you."

My hand then rose up as I stood, carefully holding him as I nodded down to those gathered at my feet.

"I shall take my walk now. Expect me back at the castle before this evening."

After saying that I turned and left the mages and nobles to travel back to the town themselves, my true quarry safely nestled in my left hand. Now I'll learn what kind of man rules this land.