I sat cross-legged on the ground and let out a deep sigh as they all walked up to me. Here goes nothing, time to figure out the future of this whole goddess thing. I straightened up by back and sat up, increasing how imposing I looked on purpose. Its important to show them I'm confident after all. Intimidation wasn't what I was going for here. It was more of a inspiring awe.
As the group of four walked up to me I could see their expressions even from the like one hundred feet up my head was at. The men looked like they were hiding how nervous they were with the unknown man especially trying to hide his fear. Miya was sheepishly avoiding looking at my face and looking down a lot. She was the only one who wasn't scared of me it seemed.
"Well" I said flatly. "Here we are."
While I said this I lifted my hands and opened them up, moving them apart to the sides in a opening gesture.
"I can see you did come after all Miya. I'm sure there's a good reason for that?"
The four of them stopped about thirty feet away from where I was sitting, certainly so that they could look up at my face without straining their necks too much. Miya became extremely shy and just a bit nervous after I had asked why she had come. The man who had spoken to her and her father before was the first to speak.
"She" he said and then paused for a moment. "She has the most experience speaking to you so I had her come along."
I put my right hand in my lap and lifted my left to my chin. "Ah. Overruling the commands of a goddess I see. What was your name again?"
It was coming on a bit strong but it seemed like this guy in particular would need to be shown who's the boss around here. People who thought themselves all high and mighty have always really pissed me off for some reason. Now that I'm a goddess it pisses me off really very much.
He immediately was put on the backfoot, almost cowering before me as he hung his head and took a step back. "I-Its Jenson Butterhorn goddess" he replied. "I run the sawmill."
"Hmm... hmm" I say tapping my chin. "And you?"
I pointed to the unfamiliar man who jumps with a start seeing my huge finger pointing right at him. He seems to recover himself and straightens up before performing a bow.
"My name is Jackson oh goddess Jenna. Jackson Juniper."
"And you're Miya's father" I say pointing at the last man. "D.... D..."
"Duncan Goddess Jenna" Miya said interrupting me.
I nod my head. "Ah yes. Duncan."
I've always been terrible with names and am trying my best to remember all this. Suddenly I realize I forgot the new man's name already and my mind goes blank. They all seem to pick up something is wrong. My sudden and frantic searching about would definitely reinforce that deduction.
"Paper!" I said aloud. "I need some paper! And a pen!"
"Paper?" Jenson asked in confusion.
Realizing where I was and the likelihood any of these tiny people would have such things for me I sat up straight again and cleared my throat. I need to write these names down so I'll have to improvise. As I think this thought I glance at the treeline and realize that was my salvation.
I lift one hand. "Just a moment."
I then lean over and brace myself against the ground with my right arm, leaving my left arm to reach out into the trees. As quickly as I could I grab onto one of the smaller trees and wrap my fingers around it. Then I twist my hand and snap the tree off near the base like it was a toothpick. It must have been at least thirty feet tall but to me it was barely the size of a pencil. With my new stick in hand I sit back up and with one hand around the tree I rub off most of the branches.
"That's better!"
All of this took only a few moments. Moments in which the four of them looked on on both awe and confusion. They only realized what I was doing when I leaned over forward and took the tree in my hand like a pen.
I started scribbling into the wet sand of the riverbank.
"Ok. Miya. We know that one. Duncan."
With a glance over my arm I look directly at Jenson who repeats his name after figuring out what I meant. I then looked back at the sand and wrote in his name. Jackson repeated his name as soon as he saw me finish writing the previous one down. I then wrote down his name and sat up again, a look of smug satisfaction on my face as I looked down at my handwriting.
"I didn't know you could write goddess!" Miya exclaimed.
"Well of course I can write" I reply. "I mean who doesn't know how to write?"
It was Jenson who spoke next, a sort of confused tone to his voice. "Well goddess. Most of the people living in this village can't read or write..."
His voice trailed off as if he was expecting disappointment. He did indeed get it as I frowned while looking at nothing in particular. Illiteracy. The staple of all feudal cultures. This was going to be more frustrating than I thought.
"Well" I said, turning back to face them and pointing the tree at them like a baton. "You all can read and write then I hope?"
I got a nod or yes in response from all of them except Miya, who looked at the ground.
"I can mostly read and write goddess." she said apologetically. "Please forgive me for my failure."
With a sigh I point the tree away and roll my eyes. "Its fine little one. I'm going to have to get used to illiteracy it seems. Not your fault." I then look down at them again. "I suppose then books aren't very common in this world?"
Jenson spoke up this time. "My company helps produce lumber and pulp for use in making paper, but even if the average layman could read they would have no use for books. That's besides how un-affordable they would be."
My eyes narrow as I look down at him which causes him to flinch. "Well just have to fix that now wont me?" He was about to speak again but I cut him off. "So what do you do anyway? As a profession. Go ahead and tell me the other two."
"My family has been in this village for generations" Jackson said. "I own and run the down pub, an inn of sorts."
Miya's dad just bowed his head. "I'm just a simple farmer goddess."
I take the time to scribble this information down onto the sand. It looks messy and I frown. "I'm gunna need something better than this."
What are things people write on? I began wracking my brain for things I could remember. Paper of course, metal, wood. Stone tablets. Clay tablets. Aha!
I slide onto my knees, putting the tree down to the side as I reach into the river and look around the bank. Clay is red. After a few moments of looking I actually spot some! Thanking my luck I reach over to it and scrape it all up along with some dirt, plopping it in a massive pile beside me. The four people just watched as I scooped water onto what must have been a pile of dirt and clay as big as keep. Then quickly as I could I molded it into the shape of a flat rectangle. A (mostly) clay tablet! With this new writing surface sitting on the ground I grabbed my tree again and started writing down all the info I had so far onto it as neatly as I could. It was silent as I went about my work and when I had finished I sat up and let out a grunt of satisfaction.
"You're amazing goddess!" Miya said when I sat up.
Duncan cleared his throat after his daughter had finished. "Mm yes. Goddess Jenna clearly knows more than we might expect. Which actually brings us to why we asked to speak with you goddess."
"We need to ask you some questions if it pleases you" Jackson said next.
Satisfied with my preservation of at least some knowledge on my tablet I turn to them and sit down cross-legged again. This time I lean forward and cup my head in my hands, holding it up with the tree pen between my fingers. To them my body language was radically different then what it had when they first arrived but I didn't even think of that.
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"Mhmm mhmm" I said nodding. "And I have some questions for you as well. You've all been good so far so why don't you ask a few first?"
Jackson was the one to ask the first questions. His nerves had been calmed after being around me for this long, and I could tell they are were expecting their interactions with a real goddess to be something else.
"Well great goddess" he started. "The most important questions we have are: where did you come from and how did you get to our village?"
Expected first questions so I reply. "Well I came from- another world actually. As for how I got here. I don't actually know the exact way."
"Who sent you then?" Jenson then asked, almost demanded.
I ignored the questionable tone and answered him too. "Well I-I don't really remember. My memories are incomplete." I used one hand to rub at my forehead. "You'll have to forgive me."
I closed my eyes and really tried to remember. I had memories of my other life but my memories were incomplete. It was so frustrating to know you know something but be unable to remember it. Who sent me? A he it was a he. I'm a goddess right so it had to be a god. I remember a father. My father who is in heaven. I kept thanking a god, the most powerful god if I remember right. Could it be my father? Name his name. What was his name?
My thoughts were interrupted by Jenson speaking. He was angry with the others it seemed.
"-and worship a goddess that can't even remember things?"
I snapped my eyes open and sat up to my full height again. "Woah woah there buddy!"
My sudden movements and towering size caused them all to shut up and take a step back. They were left with me as the center of their attention once again.
"My father sent me here thank you very much." I said with a sharpness to my voice. "I can't remember his name right now but it'll come to me. He's the god that created everything and he's the one who sent me."
This caused them all to question among themselves, turning to each other and speaking in hushed voices. I could still hear them faintly because of my goddess senses.
"A god more powerful than any others?" Duncan asked. "She's the daughter of a god like that?"
"Is that even possible?" Jenson said.
Jackson was trying to keep his voice down more than the others. "If that's true she's got to be an extremely powerful goddess. This is a chance we've always waited for!"
I just sat there with my arms crossed across my chest. After a few moments I started tapping my fingers on my arm as I was getting impatient. Miya saw this immediately and stepped away from the others.
"Um father."
This made all three men look over at Miya, and seeing her looking up at me they then turned to as well. Once they saw my impatient expression they quickly broke up their little huddle and turned to face me. They were completely unaware that I heard everything they said. Good.
"I deeply apologize for that great goddess" Jackson said bowing.
The others all bowed as well and I un-crossed my arms and let out a small huff.
"Its fine."
Jackson then stood up and spoke again. "If its alright to ask one more question. What do you plan to do now that you've been sent here by your father?"
"I'm gunna do the best I can" I replied immediately. "My father sent me here for a reason. First I answered the prayer of Miya by saving her brother. As a goddess its my duty to protect my worshipers and answer their prayers. So that is what I'm going to do."
I then turned back to my massive clay tablet and began writing down quick sentences on it in a list format. A list of things to start with as far as helping this village was concerned. I started dictating them to the four.
"First and foremost I won't be able to answer everyone's individual prayers yet. So people are going to have to brace for some immediate disappointment. As far as the village is concerned however there's a whole bunch we're gunna start with."
My captive audience was given no point in which to easily interject as I continued my rambling explanation. I kept writing down things filling up the tablet with great speed.
"The village defenses are pathetic. Its going to need a wall and more towers for a start. Getting some plumbing would be great too, not that electricity is really in the cards at the moment."
I put my right hand on my chin as I continued, my left hand being used to write giving me away as a left hander.
"This is going to require a lot of stone and timber which I'm going to help procure, but input from the villagers will also be needed. The farming I'll have to help improve as well to up the crop yield. Now I'm not talking full industrial right away, obviously we'll have to work our way up to that."
My checklist was finally interrupted by Jenson, who was actually getting quite angry. Out of the corner of my eye I could see his neck and face were already reddening as he waved his arms about. The others had been held so captivated by my rambling that it took them several moments to even register Jenson talking.
"Just who do you think you are? Coming out of nowhere to my village and stomping around like you own the place? What makes you think you can just give us all these tasks and demands to order us around like your slaves?"
I had clearly triggered something deep in Jenson for him to lose the script this outrageously. He seemed to have completely forgotten he was speaking to a literal goddess who was over a hundred times his size. The "my village" was very telling. All three of the others had realized the gravity of the situation and begun backing away from not only Jenson but me as well. I have to admit some real anger was welling up inside me because of this tiny man's arrogance. He had clearly taken my gentle and approachable demeanor as a sign he could manipulate me. That's a trigger for me. This damn man...
"Just who do you think you are?"
I shouted. I had raised my voice in my frustration. The booming sound sent birds flying from every tree in a mile radius. My finger was pointed down at Jenson and the expression on my face was one of anger. All four of the people in front of me covered their ears and in the back of my mind I prayed to my father that I hadn't given them hearing damage.
"I didn't come here to negotiate with you" I continued angrily. "Shouldn't you be cowering before me and begging for your lives?"
My question was rhetorical but nonetheless resulted in all four of them dropping to their knees and bowing their faces to the ground before me. Jenson in particular was in a state of shock, the face he had before falling in worship the kind of face one had when they realized the magnitude of their screw up. He was babbling, begging me for forgiveness. Begging me to please spare his life. To my surprise Miya begged me to spare him as well.
"Please goddess spare us!" Miya said. "Have mercy on Mr Butterhorn too I beg Goddess Jenna!" There was real desperation in her voice. "He spoke out of turn. He won't make that mistake again goddess!"
No one had seen me angry before and my reaction, while justified, hopefully wasn't too much for poor Miya to handle. Jenson continued begging for his life, repeating what Miya had said and begging for forgiveness. All of them were filled with real terror and the looks of their faces snapped me back to reality.
I felt a sudden pain in my chest. Seeing these four people so terrified hurt my heart. The fact they were terrified of me made it even worse. I closed my eyes and held my hands close to my chest. Then I started taking a few long breaths to help calm myself. I had to get my emotions under control. Getting angry was bad as it could lead me to doing things I would regret. After I felt my anger fade away I opened my eyes again and put my hands down in my lap again.
"That's enough of that you four." I said, calm returning to my voice. "Please. I didn't mean to get angry. I'm not angry at you and I'm not going to hurt you."
The four of them lifted their heads to look at me, some eyes full of tears and noses running. Miya and Jenson had been crying. I don't remember ever being a parent in my other life but it was clear I was going to have to act like one to these people. I was the big scary parent that had yelled at the kids and now I had to make it up to them.
"Listen. Dry your tears and sit up. Come on now."
I waited for them to get into sitting positions. Miya's father moved to her and held her, the instinct of a father no doubt. Jenson also wiped his face, getting snot all over his relatively nice shirt.
I then continued. "There you go. No one is getting punished ok? I don't need retribution or sacrifice." I waited a few moments for them to calm down further. "Jenson do you understand what you did wrong?"
"Y-Y-Yes great and powerful g-goddess" he stuttered, clasping his hands together. "P-Please forgive me."
"Then lesson learned" I said with a gentle smile. "I forgive you little Jenson. You require no punishment." I then look over the others. "Stand up now all of you. I didn't mean to scare you. I just got a bit frustrated and lost my cool."
"Y-Your cool goddess?" Miya asked.
I nodded. "Mhmm. It just means I let my temper get the better of me. I shouldn't have done that. A true goddess loves her followers."
Elohiem. The name came into my head. The name of my father, of the ultimate god. Now I remembered stories about him. Righteous wrath and overwhelming love combined.
"Elohiem" I said aloud. "That is the name of my father."
They all repeat the name to themselves aloud.
"What a mysterious name" Duncan said.
"Mhmm. He's a mysterious god" I replied nodding. "Needless to say if I'm going to be at all like my father I need to emulate him. I can't be getting angry at you guys for silly things." I then cross my arms across my chest again. "I'm not going to force you to worship me or obey my commands. I feel that if you do that it will benefit you, but its your choice in the end alright?"
Jackson was the first to stand back up to his feet. "I feel that we're lucky to have you with us Goddess Jenna."
Miya and her father then stood up as well. Her father supported her and spoke first.
"I agree. We welcome you into our village and I'm sure the others feel the same."
Jenson was the last to stand up and was still visibly shaken for his ordeal. "I-I'm not sure how I feel quite yet."
"Well that's not a problem for me" I replied. "I'm sure everyone in the village is going to have to make this decision for themselves individually. Now if you excuse me. I'm going to take a walk around the village and then maybe lay down to rest some ok? We can talk more later."
They all nodded in understanding as I gave them a big smile. After all the talking I was feeling tired, though not enough to fall asleep quite yet. I would leave my tablet here to dry and harden and come back for it later. Getting access to some way to store information was going to be critical. Having the lay of the land in and around the village was also important, so I was going to walk around a bit and study it some. This first talk with the village leadership seemed to have gone well at least.
As slowly as I could I slid my legs underneath my butt and pushed myself into standing. I looked down at the four tiny figures by my feet and gave them a smile and small wave. Being approachable is very important, but I need to balance that with being goddess-like as well. I'll have to think on that. With the turn of my heel I took my first few thundering steps off towards the village again and leaving my four visitors to ride their horses back.