Night progressed as normal as far as those around me were concerned. Besides having to put the deer out to roast a bonfire was a regular thing for them. The people of the mining camp ate their evening meals and then went into their tents to sleep for the night. There were one or two of them that stayed up to watch me and see what I would do of course, though they eventually gave up after a couple hours and fell asleep where they were. The snake, nestled deep in the earth, for its part had made no movements as of yet.

Heubert was sleeping peacefully nearby my face and seemed none too bothered to be so far away from home and surrounded by total strangers. This was of course because he was right next to his goddess who he trusted completely to keep him safe. The other one that came with me here Surgio however had made a different choice. Sure he believed in my power but he wasn't a worshiper yet. He would rather sleep with his disgruntled workers than close to such a massive and unknown variable like a goddess. So he had grabbed a sleeping bag and set up for the night in one of the small wooden buildings.

As the night went on and the moon rose in the sky I kept one of my minds eyes focused on the creature deep in the mines. All I could tell about it was the general shape and relative size. It was pretty big, bigger than a person for sure, though I couldn't really see how big. It would hopefully take the bait of the succulent smelling roast deer because otherwise I'd have to do some kind of digging to get at it. I'd rather not do that. While waiting for it to move I just went about my normal listening and answering of my worshiper's prayers with whatever remote means I could.

While waiting one of the miners came walking over to me, their posture showing they were nervous. Nevertheless their bravery was evident as they came as close as a stone's throw away. It was the miner Aeneas. He wasn't young of course being in his thirties, but he wasn't exactly old either. I was curious what he would do so made no moves and allowed him to do as he pleased.

Aeneas stopped and looked me over and after one last nervous swallow spoke.

"Excuse me goddess Jenna."

I smiled smugly internally. To be honest this whole goddess thing was actually getting to be fun. It was really entertaining to see people's reactions. Not that I was enjoying scaring people of course! My goal was still to show everyone that power didn't have to equal abuse.

My right eye opened which was closet to the ground and right in front of him. This made him jump in surprise as such a huge eye was suddenly looking right at him.

"Yes human?" I asked quietly.

"Well erm" he started. "I just wanted to ask you a question if its allowed."

I let out a long breath through my nose before replying. "Yes you can... Just make it short."

Aeneas adjusted his posture and tried to look less nervous as he gathered his thoughts, perhaps thinking how to rephrase whatever question he was going to ask. He took a deep breath and couldn't avoid looking at my other eye as it opened, now both of them leering down over him.

He decided to bite the bullet and ask. "I was wondering why you cared about the work conditions of us laborers so much." He paused. "I mean you're a goddess right? Why does the fate of an iron mine mean anything to you? Wouldn't you rather be off ruling the kingdom and having men bow at your feet?"

These sorts of questions were reasonable. I suppose I should be expecting this kind of reaction more by now. Interacting with the wider world was really a wake up call compared to the villages that were already so used to me and loved me. Meeting real resistance is also an inevitable occurrence.

I sighed as quietly as I could. "You really think I'm some kind of monster?"

He shook his head in fear. "No no! Not at all goddess!"

"I'm just teasing you Aeneas" I replied with a smile. "The truth is I will have this kingdom bowing at my feet eventually. I'm not saying I'm in a rush to make that happen but I've accepted its inevitability. I won't lie and say I won't enjoy it either." I then paused to allow my words to sink in. "As far as the iron mine is concerned: Helping people is kinda my thing. I'd rather you workers had a place to work that isn't awful. Besides I want the iron. Its going to be very useful to me for various projects. Don't ask though its a secret."

All of this had left Aeneas in a state of confusion as he tried to process everything he had heard. To him of course all he knew about me was the stories of these evil goddesses everyone around here had heard growing up, those and my actions he's witnessed so far. Even if what I said was some kind of trick it was true that from his perspective I had helped him and his fellow workers and never demanded anything. I was also leaving him to process in peace as he awkwardly stood there thinking. He seemed to realize this suddenly and bowed to me.

"Oh I'm so sorry goddess Jenna!" he said. "I didn't mean to stand there like a fool."

"Don't worry about it" I replied. "Now back up."

The snake was moving. Slowly at first it began its accent out of the pits and towards the mine entrance. Roasting full body deer was indeed suitably delicious smelling, maybe because it smelled like a creature rotting in the summer heat. The snake started going faster and would be here in less than thirty seconds by my estimation.

With great care to be as quiet as possible I stood up, leaving Aeneas to back away in fear as I resumed my full height over him. It was impossible to be quiet at my size as even though my feet were planted down with the utmost gentleness and care it was still a resounding tremor. My next move was to take at least three steps to position myself behind and over the cave entrance. I then crouched down and prepared to grab this snake when it showed itself outside.

Dispite my best efforts my movements had woken up the entire camp as well as Heubert. The boy immediately called out to me and I silenced him by putting my finger over my lips. This shushing also kept the adults quiet as they peeked out from their tents and some walked a little bit closer to see what would unfold. I could only imagine the shock on their faces as I suddenly vanished into thin air, my invisibility rendering my presence undetectable. Well almost, they did still see the earth moving as my foot twisted, the small tremor felt through the ground. After that had happened though they weren't really sure if I was still there or not.

All of this had also been felt by the snake of course and it had stopped its upward accent. For a moment I was worried it would go back down into hiding. Earthquakes weren't an impossible thing of course and I'm sure its felt the earth move once or twice. Thankfully that seemed to be the case as it began its ascent again, now right at the entrance of the mine. It was time.

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"There it is!" one of the miners gasped.

Heubert cried out in fear. "Goddess!"

Out from the yawning opening of the mineshaft slithered a truly monstrous serpent. Its copper head loomed in the air as its forked tongue flicked in and out of its closed mouth. Its beady eyes were unblinking as they surveyed the scene. Luckily the low light of the moon meant it was practically blind as snakes don't have good eyesight. The roaring heat signature of the bonfire also meant its heat detection would keep all the humans safe from detection. Its sense of smell is what guided it now, and that juicy deer carcass was only a short distance in front of it.

As it began exiting the mine it was shockingly long, its brown and spotted body flexing and twisting as it pushed itself forward. It was as big as a cobra at least which made the prospect of grabbing it kind of nerve wracking. The realization took a moment to sink in that if its this size to me, for the humans this thing was actually humongous. To them this serpent could easily swallow a horse without even stretching its jaws. What in the frick does this thing eat?

Just as the screams of fear began I made my move. Dropping the invisibility in an instant my lunge sent rushing wind from my sudden movements. My hair and eyes sparkled with warm light as my concentration peaked. With one swift movement I had landed with a thundering boom, one knee on the ground, my right hand supporting me as my left snatched the body of this beast right behind its head. A terrible hiss escaped it as the mouth opened to reveal sharp fangs. Its whole body began twisting and contorting as it attempted to free itself.

These situations were decided in moments and thankfully my accelerated thought process allowed me longer than most people would have. What was I supposed to do now? Its not like this thing can be released back into the wild somewhere else. Its a objective threat to not only all human life but the ecosystem as a whole. Did magic create this monstrosity? I have to kill it! I don't want to kill it but what choice do I have?

Resting on my knee I brought both hands to bare on the serpent and clutched my other hand lower on its body to stop its struggling. Then I closed my eyes and tensed up, bracing myself for what I was about to do. With a violent jerking motion the hand I had behind its head twisted its skull around and utterly shattered its spine. The echoing crack of bone pierced the cold Autumn air and cause the breaths of all gathered to choke back in their throats.

I took a deep sigh and opened my eyes, looking down in sorrow at the creature in my hands. The was little blood as its body settled down, its last breath having escaped its mouth in one last pitiful hiss. A tear came to my eye which I blinked back immediately to hide it. My hands were shaking too and I mustered my concentration to stop them. Now was not the time to show this sort of weakness. In all my life both here and before I can't remember ever taking a life like I had just done. This was a bad feeling. In the back of my mind I knew that this would be something I'd have to do again, even human lives would end by my hand. Would I ever get used to it? I didn't want to get used to it.

The workers and Heubert started coming closer, some running up quite close to where I was kneeling. Their cheers of celebration and clapping of their hands rose into the night air.

"You got the bastard!" one man cried.

"Good riddance the monster!" another said.

Heubert was the only one that accurately identified my own state of mind. He knew what I was like, he saw that something was wrong with me. There was no hiding my emotions from one of my loyal worshipers I suppose. He even was saying a prayer that I would be alright. This was so sweet that my emotions began swelling back up and I was desperately trying to hold back tears now.

"Is something wrong goddess?" he asked.

I needed to get out of this situation immediately else all face would be lost. Quickly I stood up and turned away from the miners. The lifeless serpent hanging limply in my hands.

"I'm fine everyone." I said with a hint of wavering in my voice. "I'm going to go bury this things so it doesn't cause issues. I'll be back later so celebrate to your hearts content."

After that I quickly starting walking off into the mountain forest, my brisk steps booming out across the landscape. Behind me the sounds of cheering and revelry began, something these people well deserved. My glowing hair fading into the distance as I planned to get as far away as possible before hitting the worshiper boundary.

The foreman Idoin walked up to Heubert and looked down at the boy before back up at me.

"Is something wrong boy?" he asked.

Heubert was holding his hands to his chest. "Um... I think so sir. I-I've never seen her kill something to be honest sir. I'm worried she might be taking it badly."

Idoin gave the young boy a slap on the back to reassure him. "I'm sure that goddess is fine boy! Creatures like her aren't strangers to killing. She's right too! Getting that monster buried is important, and the further away from here it is the better! A carcass as big as that thing would bring all sorts of scavengers and other nasty critters around, not to mention the smell and sickness the rotting would bring."

This seemed to ease Heubert's worries enough. "I suppose so. She's so amazing."

As for me there was no comforting hand to rub my back, no person to ease my concerns. I was the one everyone was looking up to as their pillar of strength and hope. No sooner had I left the immediate work camp area did the tears begin to fall as I briskly walked. Big salty tears that fell down and splashed into the ground like bathtubs spilling over. The thought crossed my mind through my sadness that at least I could still cry.

I kept walking for probably five minutes before I slammed face first into the invisible wall that marked the worshiper barrier. The impact stunned me for a moment and knocked me backwards where I landed on my behind with a terrible boom. After my senses recovered my shattered thought process came back without the grip on my emotions. Thus my sorrow burst back like water through a collapsing dam, flooding out in the form of flowing tears and sobbing. I kept it as quiet as I could and hoped it couldn't be heard by anyone.

The snake was still clutched in my left hand as I kneeled down and hunched over. Its lifeless eyes staring unblinking up into the night sky. It was just an animal! A monstrous snake that had killed people! Why did my heart ache so badly? I am a weak goddess is this breaks me. Oh father I don't want to have to kill more! But I know I'll have to...

Was there really a god in this universe? I remember myself worshiping the god who was my father in heaven. This Elohim being who loved everyone equally. Was that who sent me to this world and made me a goddess? Someone had to right? If people look up to goddess who are goddesses supposed to look up to? A god praying to another god doesn't even make any sense!

Right now I wasn't sure what to think, my emotions overwhelming my mind and making it hard to think. Praying to someone above me was worth a shot and was better than doing nothing.

"Oh father..." I choked out. "If you really are real, you Elohim. Please help me become strong enough for what lies ahead. I know I might just be talking to myself, but there has to be someone out there right? I really do believe its you. If you brought me here, if you made me a goddess, then please help me be strong. If I have to lead these people. If I have to rule a kingdom. Then I need to be able to kill, to punish, those who do evil. To have the strength to kill wild animals that threaten them. I can't cry like this over everything..."

Whether or not my prayer was heard I didn't know. It did make me feel better though, and it seemed like a calm came over my heart. Deep within myself I felt the raging flames of my emotions erupting from my light within like a star. But there was another heat I felt inside me, a gentle warmth that seemed to absorb the flames and temper them. If this was my prayer answered by my father or my own doing I was in no state to judge.

The result was my sobbing tethering off until it stopped entirely. I regained control of my breathing and sat up straight. My tears stopped flowing and I used the sleeve of my free arm to wipe my eyes. Then after a few deep breaths I looked down at the dead snake in my other hand and sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry little guy... You didn't do anything wrong and I'm sorry I had to kill you."

I let out a weak little chuckle as I started talking to this dead animal.

"I'm sorry too for my shameful display. You're going to get a proper burial don't worry alright?"

With that I stood back up and took another deep breath. It would only take a few minutes to bury this thing and here was as good a place as any. Using a combination of my hands and magic I went about digging a grave and putting the snake in its resting place. After I'm done here I'd go back and collect Heubert and teleport back to Doovlin. With my iron ore secured the plans I had began to swirl around my mind again helping elevate my mood back to my usual cheery self.