Charm's POV
Fortunately, I was able to go back to Deity Morrel's temple safe and sound. I only let Lance accompany me 'till the entrance of Misty Forest, because you know... I don't want him to find out that I'm actually a witch. He reminded me again about his upcoming event before we parted ways.
As I arrived at the temple, Trash was the one who greeted me first at the temple doors. I saw him jumped up and down as if asking me to carry him so I did while giving it a gentle pat on his head.
"I miss you too Trash." I said. Its ears went downwards as I gently caress his head.
"It's good to see you here again, safe and sound." I was kinda surprised to hear Baal's voice echoed through the corridors as he now approaches me.
"Baal! I miss you too!" I said, trying to smile at this feisty creature, but he just somehow glared at me.
O...kay. I bet he's super duper upset right now.
"Follow me Charm. My master's spring started to emit some light, after several years of waiting..." he said in his usual serious tone.
Wait, I'm kinda confused. I thought all these years, Deity Morrel's spring was already 'dead'... along with other supreme leaders' springs namely Deity Roku, Deity Ishmael and Deity Apollo's or what I prefer to call their group as the Big four.
I saw Baal jerking his head forward, as if to give me a signal to follow him, and so I did leaving Trash behind.
He then brought me to the "sacred room", as what he calls it which is located at the basement of this temple.
As we arrived outside the door of the 'sacred room', I saw Baal raise his right paw and made sure it is just inline with the carved face of the Goddess of Wisdom on this enormous door.
After that, I heard a loud thud that merely came from the door, as it now slowly opens in front of us.
When it completely opened, I started to take a few steps forward towards the door but immediately stopped when I didn't see Baal moved even an inch from where he is currently standing.
"Are you not coming with me?" I curiously asked, my brows are furrowed together.
"It is best for you to come alone and have a one-on-one talk with my master." Baal answered. Hmm, I wonder why.
"Okay then." I chose not to ask any more questions and proceeded to enter the room.
Series of mist soon greeted me as I now entered this mysterious room. Those mist gets even heavier and thicker as I drew in closer to the center, making it hard for me to see. But I just followed my instincts and carried on.
That's what I did until I finally reached the spring after a few minutes of walking.
In the center of this mist lies the spring of Deity Morrel, the worshipped Goddess of Wisdom in the past.
As what Baal said, I noticed now that the whole spring is covered in an orange-yellow light, and I'm quite surprised to see that it is now overflowing with water.
Back then, when Baal first brought me here, it's all dried up. So I am now asking myself... How did this happen in the first place?
"Charm..."
I paused immediately the moment I heard that lady-voice calling my name right now, that I think came from the direction of the spring.
She called out my name again three times, before I realized it really came from the spring itself. I noticed the dancing movement of the lights surrounding the spring synchronizes with the voice.
"Deity Morrel?" I asked nervously. I can't be mistaken, right? I'm sure that's the voice of the Goddess of Wisdom herself!
"Yes Charm, it is I, Deity Morrel, who is calling out for you now. How are you doing here?"
Deity answered me in her gentle voice. I walk closer to the spring.
"I'm fine. However, Deity Morrel... where have you and the rest of the supreme deities been? Mortals are slowly eradicating every one of us, and I heard that maybe deities are near to extinction! "
"Please-" A tear dropped from the corner of my eye. "-we need your help."
I can't help but to cry upon remembering those awful events I experienced in the past caused by those soldiers who wished to capture me.
"I'm sorry for what had happened to you, child. But then this is not yet the time for us to come back..." she gently said, which only caused a heavy feeling in my chest but I chose to remain silent.
"For us to come back to life, we need your help, Charm." she added.
I wiped these tears away first using the back of my palm before looking again in the spring.
"W-what do you mean?" I anxiously asked.
It took a few seconds before Deity Morrel responded to my question.
"Every temple has its own springs that symbolizes each of a supreme deity's power. However, because of the war, the mortals in the past hunted and killed us one by one, making our springs lose their life as well. "
"You are hereby to fulfill a prophecy, Charm." I was surprised upon hearing this part. "You are the one destined to kill the tyrant king and put an end to this Witch Hunt. However, in order for you to do so, you must first revive the other three springs, as what you did to mine. You are our 'vessel' ." Deity Morrel explained to me in full details.
I was still kinda shocked by this and it's too much for me to absorb all of it right now.
"W-why me? And what does being a vessel even mean?" I asked.
I felt as if, every time Deity Morrel answers my question, there will be more questions that keep on popping out of my head.
"You will eventually know as soon as you finish reviving the other springs. " she answered.
O...kay?
I became silent for a moment. I still don't get it, and until now I'm trying to absorb this new information that is being given to me. I felt as if I'm not even ready for this. My magic skills are not that oh-so-great to start with.
"Me and the other supreme deities think that you are already capable enough of this great responsibility. You're not even aware of this, but as your magic power increases, you're slowly reviving my spring as well. So I know you can do it with the other three." Deity Morrel answered as if she can read my mind right now. Well, I'm not surprised if she can though.
"As my token of gratitude, I want you to have my blessing."
After she gave her last statement, I immediately felt that incredible surge of power seeping all throughout my body that's trying to come out.
So I quickly released my wand and threw a huge fireball towards the fire-proof wall.
I was a bit surprised to see that it got even bigger and more powerful than before. That's when I realized Deity Morrel is also a fire magic wielder like me, and all of this happened because of the blessing she gave to me a while ago,
"Thank you, Deity Morrel." I formally thanked the supreme deity while slightly bowing my head as a sign of my respect to the Goddess of Wisdom.
"As your journey starts, always know that we are here to guide you. You also have to take care of yourself, especially from the hands of the mortals who wish to harm you." Deity Morrel reminded.
"I will." These were my last words to her before the light covering the whole spring suddenly disappeared, a sign that Deity Morrel left the room already.
***
After that remarkable discussion, I immediately left the 'sacred room' and met with Baal who is waiting for me outside. The enormous door of the room automatically closed the moment I went outside.
"Did my master already tell you about a prophecy?" he greeted me with his question. I just nodded in response.
"Baal... What if I can't do this? What if I fail?" I anxiously asked. I still think I am not capable of this type of mission.
"You know what, they will not give you this difficult task in the first place if the supreme deities don't have faith in you. So in order for you to succeed, you've got to have faith in yourself as well, alright?" Baal gave his first ever piece of advice to me and I can't help but to look at him again and smile at that.
"Thank you Baal. You're the best." I said and suddenly grabbed the talking tiger for a quick hug.
"Besides, I am also ordered to go with you on your journey to guide you to other temples." he announced. My eyes slightly widened and my face seemed to lit up upon hearing that.
"Really? How about the temple? Who's going to look after it while you're gone?" I asked.
"My master has already put a barrier to prevent the mortals from entering this temple. So it will be fine as it is." he then answered.
I just responded with an "Aaahhh" to that.
Hooray! Baal is going with me on this adventure!
In the middle of mentally celebrating to myself, I suddenly recalled something which made me pause for a bit.
I wasn't able to mention this to the talking tiger since he first grabbed my attention earlier.
"Baal... before I forget, I have something important to say." I said, not looking at him directly.
He didn't even make a sound so I guess I'll just have to continue what I'm about to say.
"I was invited by this mortal, who I have helped back there in Citadel, to their upcoming royal ball tomorrow evening. And I... I actually said I'll come." I anxiously added.
My eyes are moving to and fro to have a glimpse of the tiger's reaction but to my surprise it remained calm. That's good... I guess.
"So, can I... go to this ball? For the last time?" I once again asked while fidgeting in front of him.
However, as those words escaped my lips, I suddenly felt a wave of sadness within me whenever I thought that this will be the last time that I will see the lad with the golden hair and hazel brown eyes.
"I already expected this to happen. Well, it's up to you to decide, Charm. As long as you don't forget what Deity Morrel said to you a while ago, and I hope this is really the last time that you'll be seeing that mortal." he firmly said, especially in his last statement. But wait, he is letting me go to the ball! Hooray!
"Thank you."
Before I even started this adventure, I just wanted to see him... even for the very last time.