A week later, I went into surgery to get a new arm.
The medical doctors were much cleaner on Ignitus than Avernia. It was a much more comfortable ordeal. Isabella was worried about me the entire time, but I was fine.
They connected my nerve endings to the machinery so that it would move naturally.
But this was not my arm.
It had none of the scars Cassandra left me.
This arm didn't move the same. It wasn't natural at all.
I wanted to tear it off and beat Kazuma to death with it, but that would have to wait.
Worst of all, I couldn't feel Isabella when I touched her face or stroked her hair with this arm. It just served to make me angrier.
At times, I felt like screaming in rage or crying. But I couldn't bring myself to do any of those things. Instead, I was forced to once again bottle things up inside.
Although, Isabella was aware of me doing it. She didn't try to stop me, but instead, tried her best to comfort me.
Isabella also finally turned eighteen. She was now legally an adult in this world.
However, I was still sixteen.
No one said anything, but Isabella being married to a 'minor' was something abnormal in their society. Neither of us cared about what these people thought, of course. They couldn't understand that where we came from, this was normal.
In fact, in Avernia, it wasn't uncommon for nobility to be wed even before reaching adulthood for political reasons.
If Arvild had gotten his way, he would have married Isabella while she was only twelve even being in his mid twenties, himself. And that wouldn't have been seen as completely abnormal on Avernia.
But we elected not to tell anyone this.
Eventually, we came back to school and things continued rather normally.
By the way, I was correct about the new scar on my right side.
My arm wasn't the only thing damaged.
In fact, I was lucky to not be eviscerated by Kazuma's claws that day. Isabella's healing abilities repaired most of the internal damage and kept me alive. In short, she saved my life once again.
I still had a massive claw-shaped scar on my right side...on top of the scars I already had from Cassandra.
I missed the days where my body looked normal...
Leiso decided not to force us to continue the rough training regiment she had.
I was exempt from doing workouts that exercised my right arm... Working a machine would be pointless, and could only cause it unneeded stress.
After each day that passed, I counted the remaining time until we awakened. If I currently had Vengeance, I knew for a fact that it would be loving every ounce of my anger.
And a couple of months later, Iris returned.
She first invited us to speak with her privately in the awakening room.
"Good to see that you're okay, Iris!" Isabella said with a smile.
"Yes...I consider myself fortunate on this day. Allow me to explain what happened..."
* * *
On the day of her trial, Iris stood within a large circular room surrounded by other gods. She was anxious to get this over with after spending time in a cell for two weeks.
It was decided that her crimes were so severe that the Creator himself would decide what to do with her.
Many feared for what would happen, but not Iris.
She knew very well already that working with the supposed 'Chosen Hero' would bring her favor.
"Are we ready to begin?" The Oracle said.
The other gods within the room all nodded.
"Then you may be seated. I will start by reading the crimes of the accused to the Creator..." The Oracle said.
Iris could not currently see the Creator, but she felt a presence of infinite power watching the entire ordeal from a massive, empty throne that sat behind the Oracle.
"Iris, goddess of balance within the divine realm of Excelsis, and goddess residing over the world of Ignitus. Currently waging a war against the divine realm of Avalon, specifically the god of domination, Novak. You are hereby charged with the tampering of the threads of fate. Assuming your divine form within Excelsis and attacking two elite guards, interrupting a communication ceremony performed by the Oracle, as well as using your supreme power to break the laws of time and space. Reaching across the firmament, manipulating the trajectory of the divine transit, and teleporting four of your 'Enforcers' to the aid of an individual that shall not be named. How do you plead?" The Oracle said.
"Guilty of all charges. With the reasoning of trying to protect the greater good despite previously established rules and regulations," Iris said.
"Your actions have broken the non-interference laws of the Creator. They have also altered the threads of fate and changed the course of history. As is our duty, we hereby present your case to the Creator for judgment."
The Oracle turned to the empty throne behind her.
She bowed to her knees and spoke.
"Your Grace...the accused is ready for judgment."
A moment later the Oracle stood up and her eyes erupted into divine white light as they opened.
This continued for a minute until her eyes dimmed and she turned back to Iris. She closed her eyes again and frowned.
"This is...unexpected..."
Iris tilted her head slightly.
"The accused...has been completely forgiven of all charges. Since no actual harm was done and the crimes were performed under the context of achieving the greater good...Iris, goddess of balance is hereby allowed to return to Ignitus and given free roam of Excelsis just as she had before. Iris, you are free to go, but know this... I will be watching you from now on. If you break the law again, I will make sure you are cast into the outer realms or worse...into the pits of hell. Do not forget to thank the mercy of the Creator!" The Oracle said.
Iris bowed and smiled at the supposedly empty throne.
"You are as merciful and gracious as the old stories say, Lord. I hope to continue serving the greater good as much as I am able. Thank you for your endless, benevolent mercy, O Creator," Iris said.
After that, the trial was dismissed and Iris made her way quickly back to Ignitus.
* * *
"So the Oracle as it out for us, it seems... This Creator might be nicer than some people give him credit for, as well," I said.
Iris nodded.
"Indeed. I am beginning to worry that she might be hiding something about the Black Ooze..." She said.
"What could she possibly be hiding?" I asked.
If the Black Ooze was a threat to multiple worlds, I couldn't see a reason why it needed to be hidden. Other than conspiracy, of course...
But shouldn't the Creator have been able to detect that?
What is going on here!?
"I have a theory that she wants this crisis to be over just as much as we do. I can't imagine why she would be so intent on resetting your life, otherwise," Iris said.
"Whatever the case, I cannot forgive her for trying to cause my Mizik so much pain and suffering. It's unacceptable!" Isabella said defiantly.
"And to think I believed she was just a sweet old woman the first time we met her...she knew all along what was supposed to happen. Geez...this really means I've died before, doesn't it? It would certainly explain all the deja vu..." I said.
Isabella gently took my hand in hers. The one that still had feeling.
"No matter what, I'll protect you, Mizik. And I'll stay alive for you as well. We will slay the Source. But first..."
"Yes. We have the Overlords to deal with. They're standing in the way of peace for our world and without unity, we cannot hope to fight the Ooze. Didn't you two say your world was in the midst of conflict when this happened?" Iris said.
"Not as far as we knew. Although the Empire of Kalsa and its domains had refused to aid us in the united front against it, thanks to Mizik's bastard of a cousin, of course..." Isabella said
"Yes...Tyranus, was it? This man was the reason the united front was so delayed. Didn't he wield one of these legendary swords?" Iris asked.
I had completely forgotten about Justice.
"Yes, he did. Why do you ask?" I said curiously.
"I am curious about these weapons. Did you, by chance, pick it up and put it in this inventory of yours?"
I pulled out the now-sheathed Justice and handed it to Iris.
She examined it carefully.
"This sword is spectacular, Mizik. Just as much as the other two you had. Actually, it looks like it has the craftsmanship of a divine artifact. How many of these things are there?"
"Thirteen. Although I can't remember their names, currently," I said.
I used to love the old stories of these swords, but with everything that had been going on, I couldn't remember them all at the moment.
Then Isabella smiled widely at me.
"They are as followed: Bravery, Compassion, Justice, Willpower, Intelligence, Charity, Mercy, Faith, Honor, Strength, Hope, Redemption, and Vengeance."
Showoff! But damn, I love you...
"Why is Vengeance the only negative aspect? The others seem to be positive in some way, yet..."
"No one is quite sure, but Mizik has mentioned that Vengeance is something of an Overseer to the swords and the spirits dwelling within them. Perhaps it is because the spirit of Vengeance exists to take revenge on those who forsake their duties? Just a guess," Isabella said.
"Considering that Mizik killed two of these failed wielders, it makes sense. Although the man, Walter... What was he like?"
"Walter was a good and honorable man. He sacrificed himself and told me to take his life so that we could live on," I said.
"Mizik also has his sword, Honor."
Iris looked at me expectantly and I pulled out Honor then offered it to her.
As soon as I did, Isabella looked at it strangely.
At the same time...Justice began to react as Iris handed it back to me.
[WIELDER OF VENGEANCE!]
Iris suddenly looked up and around the room curiously.
[I must thank you for relieving me of that insufferable and evil man. Unfortunately, you seem to have lost the Overseer. Care to explain?]
It was taken from me. Bravery was also taken from Isabella. I think the sword is sealed away somehow.
[Excellent. Would you say that the person responsible has committed a grave sin?]
I began to notice at the same time that Iris had dropped Honor.
"What is going on!? This thing is talking! But not to me... That other sword is talking too..." Iris said.
Isabella immediately picked up Honor and examined it.
"Honor is...talking to me...?" Isabella said.
I could see tears in her eyes as she held the sword close...
To her, it was a precious memory of Walter...
[It seems as though she can hear us. Understandable for a goddess! Now then, wielder of Vengeance, our great Overseer and Master...I believe I asked you a question!]
Overlord Kazuma has committed an unpardonable sin. He cut off my arm, nearly killed us both, and stole our swords.
[Then I will temporarily grant you my power so that you may retrieve our wonderful Overseer. Honor would like to do the same for the girl.]
Wonderful...Overseer...?
[Vengeance is our wonderful Overseer! He protects us from braindead wielders that reject our philosophies. Defective wielders like Tyranus, for example. As you are the wielder of Vengeance, you are subject to the same treatment. You are our Overseer. Our Master.]
This was all too sudden...
I loved hearing Justice refer to Tyranus as braindead and defective, but...
These swords were offering to help us!?
And furthermore, what was this about me being the Overseer...? I had heard Walter mention it before, but...
Did that really extend to me as well?
"Mizik, just what are these things!? They're so...chatty..." Iris said.
"The spirits in the swords. You never heard Vengeance or Bravery speak?" I asked.
"I heard the occasional voice from you two, but I just assumed I was hearing things. Those voices were your swords!?"
I nodded.
"Well if you don't mind me saying, Bravery sounds like a nice and valiant woman. While Vengeance seems to be a bloodthirsty psychopath," Iris said.
"That seems to be the general consensus," I said.
[This is all very sudden, but I require an answer. Will you use my power to save Vengeance?]
Yes. I will.