"Who is she?" An elderly woman hobbles towards the village chief and me as we near a hut that is larger than the others. Although she is hunched over as she walked, there was an air of gracefulness in the way the mortal steps on stone paths. Once she reaches the chief she engulfs the old man in a tight embrace. "You are late because of her?"
The old man nodded, gently taking her arms off his shoulders. He smiled until hundreds of wrinkles appear on his withered face. Despite his old age, he looked young when he touches the old woman. They must be a couple who found strong love on their own. "My red rose, did I make you wait long? I found her contemplating suicide outside the village."
The woman does not look pleased when she pulled her love off of her. She then drags him by the collar to stand beneath a red lantern. Their old mortal bodies are illuminated by a ring of light as they stood, waving their arms about. The woman must be speaking ill of me.
Her counterpart spoke slowly, pausing whenever she interrupts him. I thought the conversation had died when suddenly, the human female scooped a bowl of water. Before her mate could register the argument she stumbled towards me to splash the bowl's contents into my face. "Go away from us!"
I let out a gasp, reaching up to part my hair that had been drenched with water. I sputtered, not knowing whether I should react to the mortal's attack. Even when the woman spends spittle into the air as she shouts angrily, I did not move. Did she call me a tramp?
I do not recall doing anything to make her think I'm an immoral woman.
"My husband has a kind soul whose innocence puts him in dangerous situations. Although I wish to help you, we do not know your origins so we should not welcome you. There is a village on the other side of the river you were planning to visit." The old woman glares at the village chief when he attempts to tug her hand. "We are a small community, we cannot risk another calamity!"
"My red rose," the man coughs into his ragged sleeves. His pet name for his wife stabbed my torn heart. Village Chief held his paper lantern to my face with glistening eyes. "I regret giving you false hope, young miss. I cannot disobey my wife any more than I already do. Do you think you will be safe rowing a boat to the next village?"
"She has to be safe! Unless she feels she wants to die, she will be safe." Forcefully, she grabbed her husband's wrist to pull him away from me and into the house. She shut the doors, then blew out every candle.
I wrapped my arms around my chest, suddenly feeling a wave of melancholy sweep my emotions. I was unwanted, a threat to this village. I understood the mortal woman for she should be skeptical of a young person appearing in the village. A cool breeze chilled me to my bones and I looked up at the dark blanket above my head.
Thousands of eyes winked down on me. I imagined the gods in the Heavens are looking down at me with mockery in their eyes. Tilting my head up, I inhaled deeply. The crisp air filled my airways which felt quite refreshing. As my hair dried I almost thought I had landed on Earth's icy lands.
I grunt as I exit the village chief's courtyard and once I am back where I was found, I felt lost. I stared at the river flowing off in the distance. "If I had been placed on Earth's winter lands, I would be grateful. It was where he and I first met on Earth. During my trials to become High Goddess of Love."
A twig snapped behind me, telling me I was not alone. Fearfully, I whipped around to see a doe had walked up to brush her nose against my leg. I sighed, relieved to see that my identity had not been revealed to mortals. If a mortal broke the twig my story on Earth will end. As my life in the Heavens also ended, I will be sent to Hell.
Besides being deathly afraid of living in Hell, I know all the problems that would arise if an immortal reveals their true identity to mortals. Bugs are to mortals as mortals are to deities -beings we must watch and live among although gods believe their lives hold a tiny amount of value.
As for my opinion, I do not generalize races and I do not hate them for no reason because they give us our strength. Without humans and Demons, those arrogant gods do not have subjects to worship them. No one will witness their 'miraculous' works and yet, none realize this fact.
I find their minds have been twisted after enjoying billions of years full of praise from the races they loathe. When I was a Goddess of Love, I loved everyone as I did not wish to fail as a goddess. Despite this, I find the gods are peskier than the races they hate.
Chief of Dragon Valley had shown me a great example of a kind-hearted human. He did not know who I was yet he risked putting his village in danger to accommodate me. He said he could have helped an immortal, but I know his motives were not what he says.
As his wife had said, I do believe he was naive. It seems that the most naive mortals are kind to everyone, they wear their hearts on their sleeves. The old man risked his health to feed stray cats late at night. I also wondered about his rags when most village chiefs choose to wear better clothing. He was humble.
His wife was also kind at heart and I do understand her fears which urged her to push me away. Unlike the gods who would send me rolling down their steps, she redirected me to another option. I saw the warmth in her eyes showing me that she pitied me. If I had arrived during the day, she may have been less restless around me.
I stretch my arms wide, attempting to embrace the mortal world, my new home. I am finally ready to move from Dragon Valley to cross the river, but I am held back by a furry face staring up at me. I waved at the doe because I do not know how to react to her. I do not think deer are nocturnal creatures, so what led her to me?
"Welcome to the Mortal Realm," the deer spoke suddenly and I jumped out of shock. A burst of chiming laughter tore through the air. The deer nodded twice. "I am your guide on Earth, I apologize for being tardy on the first day. I see you have tried to enter Dragon Valley's largest village. Their matriarch is a very cautious woman."
"I have experienced her first-hand. She was kind enough to splash water into my face and suggest I cross the river." I chuckle, touching my damp hair to check it has been drying. It was uncomfortable having my long hair stick to my neck. "I did not know I would have a guide down here."
"Did you receive your tasks and demotion scrolls? It's full of Heaven's rules for deities on Earth, but you have been here before. I do not see why they would need to waste fabric and paper to send such gaudy items." My companion led me to the edge of the waters.
"I did not," I said. I shuffled across spiky grass to stand beside the deer and stare at the river on which moonlight danced. The sight before me was his favourite scene. I forget my original plan to find a boat to reach the next village and I take off my shoes. Using one hand, I lift the skirt of my dress to my knees. I then dipped a toe to test the water.
He had invited me on many occasions to watch the Crystal Seas during the night when we were still together in the Heavens. As High Goddess of four dominions, I always rejected him for my duties. He always left me with a large smile and sorrow in his eyes.
Despite its frigid waters, I waded straight to the centre of the river. On the banks, I see the doe staring at me as if I am the wonton mortal parents tell their children to avoid. I cut through the water with my hands, imagining myself being surrounded by his cold soul.
I believe the task will be simple enough: help a handful of mortals find their Fated Ones. My experience as a former High Goddess of Love would aide me through this journey. As a goddess, I weave paths and tie knots. As a messenger, I will lead people by the string. If I can complete my tasks on Earth, I have a chance to meet him again.
At the place where we first met on Earth. With his pendant as a key. On the day the incense sticks die.