"What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

The gentle voice that could render me helpless at any time, speaks out in concern.

I could feel hear voice getting louder, indicating that she must be close.

Oh, how I am blessed to have someone such as her nurse me back to health.

But, I can't keep playing the victim. I need to impress her somehow.

Intentionally deviating from my task, I focus my mind on how I could improve my image with Svanvhit, thinking that this is a once in a lifetime chance to have someone like her to like me.

A childish idea, but one that I've never experienced in my entire life.

Of course, the thought of the feast still remains in my mind, constantly harassing me that my life is in danger.

I slowly open my eyes, the view of Svanvhit shows up, quite captivating as she casts herself over me, as to her concern.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. I just had to think about something, nothing to be concerned about."

With my response, she backs down, exhaling what seems to be a sigh of relief.

"That was very surprising. But, you do not seem to be disturbed about your wound. Does it not pain you?"

Now that you think of it, I still remember that time, excluding the one when I was rescued by her. I can still clearly imagine and remember the pain I felt when I received my wound from the bear.

That was no normal bear for sure. I know that they are fearful, for sure. That is a given in our world. But in this one, this is a threat to be reckoned with, especially if you are a mortal living in this world filled with gods.

If I weren't a god, then I would have died as its claws impacted me, yet I lived and saw how it was defeated.

Checking my bare body for scars and signs of pain, I feel a bruise on my back, near the center of my spinal cord, making me arch outward in slight pain.

What's even more surprising is the fact that no wound is present, but only that of a faded scar imprinted on my chest, the same place from where I was struck.

After having examined myself, I breathe a sigh of content, looking at Svanvhit as sternly as possible, trying my best at a serious expression.

"Thank you, for saving my life. I never thought that I'd get through that."

With a slight giggle and a smile, she replies, "You're welcome, but there is no need for that. What I am curious about is how you managed to bear such pain and live through long enough to heal instantly?"

I tilt my head to the side, and my mind comes up blank. Now that you say it, how did I heal instantly? I know how it felt, the pain, I even felt my flesh stinging with pain as I touched it lightly with my bloodied hands, smelling like iron and copper, as fresh as it was created.

Maybe it has something to do with me being immortal. Hopefully that's the case.

But, what should I tell her? If she is a mortal of this world, then she must know or not know that gods exist, and that they use this world as a battle grounds.

I think I'll just keep it anonymous until I can piece things together. I wouldn't want to make things even more awkward than it already is when I tell her about gods and all, then know nothing about it. She'll see me as a lunatic, casting me away like a lost cause. It's quite convenient as well that we share the same language. I always thought that I’d be different.

"I think I may just be lucky. Or, it might be thanks to your expertise in nursing me back to health. I may owe this all to you."

Yes, I think that's the right response, plus it's kind of chivalric in a sense. I'm quite the poet when I get the chance.

"Oh, you flatter me. I have nothing to do with that. I merely cleaned your wounds, but you seem to have already healed even before I brought you here, which is quite odd."

Shot down and ignored, the fate of a cursed man. Well, I guess there's no escaping this loop. Might as well keep going any way. I've got nothing to lose.

"I don't feel any pain, so moving around shouldn’t pose a problem. I'd like to look around the place if you'll guide me around. I'm quite new."

"I have nothing more to do, so I will oblige, Kaellum. If you won't mind."

"Of course not! I'd be more than happy to have you with me."

I push the leather blanket, folding it neatly, similar to how I do mine at home, placing it on the center of the bed afterwards.

"What an odd way of arranging things."

"Why is that so?"

"Usually, the people would align it with the bed's frame, setting it down that way."

"Is that so?"

Remembering that my habits have come with me despite being in a new world. Weirdly, I'm too accustomed to the place. I haven't seen most of it, yet why do I feel no fear nor any concern about how things will be, other than if I’ll live through this or not.

I can't forget that I'm forced into this battle, and that I can't leave until I die, or I win. What a heavy circumstance.

Taking a brief moment to look around, her quarters seem to be made of all wood, no metal other than nails hammered on the sections of the house.

I guess this world and ours, isn't too different. Maybe that's the reason as to why I feel comfortable. Seems too farfetched to say, but I can't find any other answer for now.

Noticing the chills of the morning weather, I look around for something resembling a purple shirt, one that I assume is shredded because of my previous encounter with the wild.

Svanvhit seems to notice, voicing my words exactly.

"If you are looking for your clothes, then I'm afraid that it is not fit to be worn anymore. I have brought out some clothes that might fit you. My brother's garments."

Looking at the neatly sown together vest, paired with a white shirt, with three buttons near the center collar, that should be worm underneath, I presume.

I take it reluctantly as she presents them to me, finding that it fits too perfectly on me.

"Well, shall we go then?"

She leads, walking towards the door, opening it to introduce a quaint atmosphere, the radiance of the sun, the sound of people conversing, quite the lively settlement. It's too good to be true that someone from modern day society can see something like this... Or just parts of it.

I follow her, anxious to see what a settlement from another world looks like.

I've played a lot of games where you need to make things from scratch, just like building a new settlement, growing in civilization, then getting to modern day time to conquer everything around you.

I find myself walking out to an adequately bustling settlement with children running around, adults wearing the unique peasantry garb from the medieval age, walking to and fro.

Of course, there are some curious glances pointed my way, curious gazes.

Svanvhit looks at me from my left, "You caused quite the commotion when you arrived here. After I carried you, the townspeople helped, but cautiously."

"How about you? Are you not cautious, being around me and all?”

"I don't feel anything in particular that I should be worried about from you rather, I feel safe and calm somewhat."

My heart skips a beat, thumping fast as I am overcome with emotions unlike anything I've ever felt before in my life. Just like when I first entered puberty yet, that too is quite different from this.

I avoid looking at her, but she simply chuckles softly, continuing to walk towards somewhere, motioning to follow her once she distances herself from me, in which I follow along, running.

We walk to a makeshift market formed by caravans merged together, filled with bundles of rations and foreign looking objects.

People come in droves, crowding around it as they yell their price, the clerk gives out the items of desire.

The horses are tied to a sturdy looking tree, near the outskirts of the settlement, full of lush foliage surrounding the area, much like a secret dwelling away from civilization.

"I'd like you to meet my grandmother, the elder of the village, and my little sister."

She says as she walks, looking at a rather large hut propped up on a hilltop.

But what I take into account right away is the fact that she is introducing me to her family. Frankly, I'm quite excited. This is becoming better and better.

We engage in small-talk, and Svanvhit begins questioning me.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Where are you from? The name Kaellum is quite uncommon in these lands. You must come from a faraway land, beyond the vast waters I assume"

"You could say that. I do come from somewhere far away, but maybe much more than that. I can't quite tell how far, but it would be impossible to get back the way things are right now."

"You seem troubled, is something wrong?"

"Well, you see, I can't quite go home. I can't return, not unless I achieve success."

"Is that so? I envy you... You know where your home lies."

Her eyes are downcast, having spilled her emotions this very moment, it looks like she has some sort of trauma to her past. I mean, I'd like to ask, but it's not like I'm oblivious to these kinds of things.

Sometimes you just need to let your curiosity rest. And this would be a great time to do so.

But before I could come up with words of comfort, she speaks, "Please forgive me, I must have said something very nonsensical. Don't mind me. We are close, come, they eagerly await your arrival!"

It seems like she's forcing herself. I wonder what is that burden she carries. It looks pretty heavy from how she acts. I don't want to pry, but I hope I'll be able to find out somewhere in the future.

A speed along, sprinting as to keep up with her pace.

Knocking on the door, a perky child greets us, running up to Svanvhit, hugging her leg as she giggles, yelling, "Grandma! Big sis Svan is here!"

Svan? A nickname huh? It sounds foreign, but nothing I know of for sure.

A rather old woman steps out of the door with a smile, walking the rest of the way with her cane, coming in to embrace Svanvhit despite her arched-back posture.

"Grandmother, I've returned with our guest. His name is Kaellum," she presents me, receiving the embrace of her grandmother beforehand," she faces me, introducing me, "Kaellum, meet my grandmother, Parsha, and my little sister, Elisha."

With a trembling hand, her grandmother reaches out, in which I kneel in front of her in response.

She touches my face, her rough fingers trace the outline of my face, then smiling as she retracts her arm saying, "You are a man who can change fate. You are special."

I seem to open my eyes in surprise, thinking that she knows what I am, just like reading a book.

The words 'man of fate' and 'special' sticks to me.

At least someone thinks I'm useful. Back home, no one would even notice me. Quite like a ghost in some cases.

But, I don't let it bother me. Otherwise I'd be drowning in depression all the time.

Svanvhit's grandmother enters the door, gesturing for us to come inside, in which we do, Svanvhit looking at me with a smile, and her sister looking at me with curiosity.

We sit on a wooden made chair while the elder sits on a rickety rocking chair, swinging back and forth for a small white, then settling down.

Beside me, Svanvhit sits with her little sister on her lap. They both look at me with anticipation as Parsha speaks.

"I am glad that you are safe, child. When I first saw you, I thought that it would be your time to go, but it seems that the spirits in the sky favors you. I see two paths in your future."

I look to Svanvhit in confusion, not knowing the reason the elder has in saying all of this.

"Grandmother is a sage, or a seer. She can see the fortunes of people, and read people's fate. I have never seen her foresee anything wrong with the future. Many people seek her out, wanting to know their future, whether good or bad."

I look back at her in amazement, thinking that someone who can read my future is here.

That might explain her words earlier.

But, she is not finished. She takes a deep breath and continues.

"You are faced with a conflict that will greatly balance your life on the tip of a scale, and it will be up to you on where the scales move to. Be careful, the spirits are restless around you, including I, who sees you being one who might alter the fate of this world, and your own."

My own world!? What is this? She knows a lot more than I anticipated.

But, it all does makes sense. I can't escape this fate rather; I am bound to it. Maybe I can ask what I should do.

"Uhm, excuse me, elder? Please tell me which path I should take. I don't know what to do at this point. I'm lost..."

My heart sinks as I speak, giving me quick flashbacks of the world that I once knew. One that still exists, yet so far away from me.

Who knew a god still had worries?

With a hoarse voice, the elder struggles to speak, but still manages to do so, "Pardon me, child, but only you can decide how your fate will take you. This is quite a rare occurrence. You are one that has rejected fate, using it as you please. You can change the outcome of anything you desire, but not in your current state."

Svanvhit interrupts once Parsha ceases, asking her own questions.

"Grandmother, what are you speaking of? I'm afraid that I do not know what you two are conversing about."

Parsha laughs, giving me the image that she is quite a teasing grandmother.

"I am afraid that I too do not understand. I can only convey what I see in him, but not understand it."

As she finishes, she looks to me from the corner of her eye, winking suspiciously, in which I return with an awkward nod and a stiff face.

But form inside my head, I hear a faint yawning noise, as if someone just woke up.

-Kaellum? You're awake, finally! Oh how I was so worried! You never awoke despite me trying my hardest at giving you life.

Vixalis, a god that I had forgotten was with me all along. That's why it was so quiet.

I look at the people present here, thinking that If I start talking to myself, they might think I've become a fully-fledged lunatic.

I think in my head a message to convey to Vixalis, one that might make him understand the situation.

-Hmm, very well. I understand your predicament. I will wait until after you are finished. But do not forget, we have an hour to get to the temple of Aether.

He also reminds me of something that I had forgotten myself.

A short panic runs through me, thinking of the consequences of being tardy, or unable to show up at all. Maybe they'll tie me to a rock and have a giant hawk tear at my liver, only to have it grow back the next day, repeating the cycle for all of eternity.

That is quite frightening, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Do you have anywhere to stay?" Parsha asks, surprising me once more.

"I don't. But I think I will make do with what I can in the wilderness."

I can't let them know that I have a house floating in the sky. That'd be downright delusional.

"Then I ask that you stay here until you like. We'd be more than happy to oblige, right?" she looks at Svanvhit, who gives me a bright and lively smile saying, "Of course, we'd be more than happy to."

Her smile always seems to make me feel a certain emotion. Maybe happiness, or something more than that. But, I need to get going. I can't be late, but I don't know where that place is either. Maybe I'll just ask Vixalis.

"Excuse me, Parsha. I have to leave right now. I need to go somewhere."

"Ahh, so the fates finally call, eh? Very well. Please escort Kaellum to the entrance, Svanvhit," she gestures for her granddaughter, who in return stands up, carrying her sister with her arms, setting her down on the wooden chair.

"You're leaving?" Elisha says with a downcast expression.

"No, I'll just be seeing our friend off. I'll be back to play with you later," she gives him her famous smile, affecting her greatly as she is instantly filled with vitality.

Svanvhit heads to the door, opening it eagerly.

But before I could leave, Parsha tugs on my shirt, signaling that she wants to say something.

I bring me ear closer as I kneel.

"Come back here if you'd like. I think you would be able to have my stubborn granddaughter experience what it feels like to be young."

Almost instantly, feeling my face go red in embarrassment.

Parsha laughs internally, continuing, "She's too uptight with her duties. See seems to have fun being around you despite doing nothing but walking. Maybe there's something about you that I have yet to know about."

"Oh, so it's about that..."

"Why do you sound ashamed and disgruntled, boy? Don't worry about that. It seems that you fancy her. Take it slow. Youth is something to be experienced together, but don't rush it. Now go, don't let the fates wait."

She sees us off along with Elisha, looking through the open doorway as we leave from the foothills and back onto the settlement grounds.

Svanvhit looks at me as our shoulders touch, making me quite conscious of her presence.

"What were you and grandmother talking about?"

I fumble for answers, thinking of which one she was asking about. The one pertaining to me and the fates, or that one about befriending her to make her experience 'the joys of youth'

"Uh, uhmm, it's nothing really. Just some small talk between us, nothing too important."

She pouts childishly, showing me a side of her that I never thought she would have naturally. But I wonder why she speaks so formally.

"Where are you heading off to now? It seems quite important from your tone."

Svanvhit glances from her side as we walk casually under the shade of the clouds and the morning sun, a faint breeze passes us by.

Something in me wants to see that pout from her. A teasing nature to be exact. Even I didn't know that I was this sadistic on the inside.

"I'll be going to a place where gods roam freely, indulging themselves in wine and food."

Except, it wasn't the response that I expected. Instead, I am met with a silent tone, and one absent minded Svanvhit, looking off into the distance, as if in a trance.

I wave my hand in front of her, receiving nothing but a blank stare.

I call out her name, making her blink, then shaking her head in utter confusion.

"Oh, did I freeze for a moment? Forgive me, I was thinking of something. It's not that important to speak of. Come, let us hurry. You would not want to miss that, right?"

He hurries forth, leaving me in the dust as I stare quizzically at what had just happened.

-It seems that something is bothering her with what you said.

"Vixalis... Hmm, I have that same feeling, yet what did I say. I wouldn't want to pry into her personal life as she might shove me aside because of that, but what can I do?"

-The best thing to do for now is to let things take is course. There will always be a time and place for everything, I assure you.

"Well, you are a god, and that makes sense. I'll follow what you say then. Thank you."

-Don't worry about it too much. You're still young as well, so it's quite natural to go through these kinds of things gradually.

From a distance, I hear Svanvhit call out, waving from far away.

I raise my hand to alert her that I can see her, then running as fast as I can, putting this behind me until I can figure things out clearly.

"Are you sure that you can be on your own already? I know your wound has healed, but I worry of what might come next."

"Oh, me? Don't worry about it too much. I'll be back soon to show you how well I'm doing," i flash her a bright smile, one that might rival hers, but a genuine one nonetheless.

After reaching the exit of the village, I head out on my own, promising to return when I can.

We are once again out and about inside the forest. The very same one that I was attacked in.

-It seems taht you have grown cautious of your surroundings. Quite the change from yuor nonchalant self.

"Well, I shouldn't be this concerened if I only knew how to use your powers. I'm not blaming you, but I'd be nice to know some.

-... I agree. I will teach you along the way, but for now let us discuss what will be happening when we reach the halls of Aether.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, but you remember the way, correct?"

-Not exactly, but one of the deities are telling me to go this direction, so it would be wise to follow.

The forest begins to get thicker every step of the way. The overgrowth has taken hold of the soil, ravaging it with lush greenery.

"I'm not doubting the deity, but are you sure that we should be going this direction? I don't think there should be anything through all this forest and trees."

-Well, you will have to believe and see for yourself. So returning to what we were talking about earlier. upon reaching the temple of Aether, you will be greeted by many gods of many different faiths. Any one of those may be your opponents, so be wary of who you antagonize.

"Will Thor still be able to fight you? He defeated you after all, right?"

-No need to remind me of my failures. The stone slab should still have my name there since I am still alive, so we are still eligible.

"How will this battle go anyway? What's with that stone slab containing the names of the participant gods?"

-The stone slab is the one the records the competitors and those who are still participating. in your world, you would call it a 'bracket', but to us, it is a piece of Gaia, the earth mother, who records the names of the gods. The record stone matches a god to another god if no duel is issued, so be careful of that. This is a holy feast that should never be taken lightly since it will decide the great god of existence.

"When you say it like that, my chances look pretty close to slim to none. Are you sure that we have a chance at this? I mean, we're going to the temple despite me knowing nothing that I can defend myself with. I don't like taking things lying down, so I want to have a fighting chance-."

-And trust me, you will have a chance. I also do not want to take this lying down on the ground. I do not want to remain forgotten forever. I need to attain victory no matter what... I just need to.

Vixalis' tone become pained, slowly shrinking.

There's no need to know what he wants. His tone, and the emotion that I feel inside me coming from him, it's sad, but I don't know the cause. It's a gut feeling that I will choose to act upon.

Besides, I need to win in order to keep living.

"I'll do my best to win this for both of us, Vixalis. We'll see where it goes from there."

-Thank you.

"Don't worry about it. We're one and the same now, so there's no reason to be divided."

Now, enough self deprication. Time to worry about actually winning, or getting through this day alive.