Unknown Date, Unknown Location.
The magic that flowed within me during the battle within the Sanctum drained me considerably. As I passed through the portal I fell unconscious. Since one can't fathom the passage of time while in such a state, it only felt as though maybe minutes or even hours passed by when I next awoke. When I did the first thing I'd see was a stark white roof. As I sat up I realized I'd been in a room to myself. My robe and sword had been left on a desk on the far left of the room. I began to examine myself patting every inch of my body until I found the only abnormality was the bandages covering my chest.
I'd been left in just my trousers for the time being so I thought it best to at least find something to wear. In the room's closet, there was a plethora of clothes to choose from and as I tried on each shirt they seemed to fit rather strangely. So out of all of them, I decided a collared white shirt would be the best. On the nightstand next to the bed, I found the pendant Rory had given me along with my spectacles.
Picking up the little trinket I began to feel an ache in my chest. It reminded me so painfully of the detestable events that took place before I'd been rendered unconscious. I had no way of knowing if Rory even believed me. There was also the fact that whatever hope I had in convincing Rory could be dashed by Auberon. Then there was the man himself. I wondered how long he'd known about my origins. He knew long enough to poison Father which also opens up more questions. Though I felt the only way I'd have any of my answers is if I confronted the man again.
Interrupting my thought puzzle was a knock at my door. I hadn't even gotten to respond before it opened. It was Ophelia, carrying with her a tray of food. Her eyes widened as she saw me. "Ragi? You're awake!"
"Well yes... I guess the magic I was using drained me."
"You've been out for three days Ragi. We weren't sure when you'd wake again."
"Three Days?"
"Yes... Lady Mana was convinced you'd wake much later. But I guess you really are a special case."
Ophelia closed the door behind her as she stepped in, then sat on my bed. She traded her usual black cowl for a more casual blue dress with golden flowery patterns. She'd also worn an unusual red scarf that didn't match her clothing at all.
"You look rather lovely today," I said. "It's different from your usual attire."
"Lady Mana insisted I changed clothes. If she weren't a Goddess I'd have refused outright. A Sister is never to be seen in anything else. Now... Sit down and eat something."
The food she'd brought for me was Dragonewt stew. It seemed much like what my Mother would cook. I say down and took the bowl and before I could take my first bite my stomach growled loudly.
"Pardon me..."
As I began eating I noticed Ophelia scanning my features. I paused momentarily giving her a puzzled look.
"My apologies... I just... Still can't believe you are the Demon God," Ophelia admitted. "I'd have thought you would be at least a Dragonkin."
"Honestly I can't believe it myself. I'd almost thought of something blasphemous when Lady Mana told me."
"So why didn't you tell me?"
I'd stopped eating as I heard the anger in Ophelia's voice. Placing the bowl down I wiped my mouth and looked into her eyes. "That's a bit complicated Ophy."
"I'm no fool Ragi, I understand that telling anyone could put everyone who knew in danger. Geru can't keep his mouth shut if you cast a silence spell on him. Zuka would've likely cracked under any pressure. Then there's Rory who is, unfortunately, a Hero, if you told her you might as well have said 'kill me now."
"Heh," I chuckled. "Anyone told you how scary you can be?"
"You're about to find out if you don't give me my answer."
Given it'd been three days since our arrival at this place, it did give Ophelia time to think about this. Confronting me now meant that this would be her only chance to do so. Given how I told her about going to the Sanctum in the first place, the fact I'd omitted being a Demon God probably didn't sit right with her.
"Honestly... I have no idea. You've kept my secret about Lady Mana all these years. Then there's the fact that it's your sworn duty to aid the Gods. Considering that Ragnakhet was labeled the Demon God. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about me."
Ophelia's ears drooped a bit while her tail curved around her waist. She looked away for a moment as she crossed her arms clutching them tightly near her stomach. She then looked at me her beady eyes nearly filled with tears. "I can't say that you're wrong. But... We sisters believe that all creation has a purpose. A God such as yourself deserves the same respect as others. Besides, you are not the same being from a thousand years ago. So why on Polaris would you think I'd think less of you."
I couldn't meet her eyes for a moment. Even if I had every right to think Ophy would turn against me, I hadn't believed in her enough, or rather I'd been thinking I could protect anyone. Sister Olivia was dead and Rory was now stuck with Auberon guiding her. As I tried to say something, Ophelia scooted forward moving the tray out of her way. She then waved her tail over my mouth to silence me.
"I'll only forgive you that you'll talk with me about these things from now on. Out of everyone on Polaris, I should be the one you trust the most."
"Why so adamant about this? Don't tell me you've developed some sort of feelings for me?"
"Come now you can't possibly take me for a lovesick pup," Ophy snorted. "It's just... As Sister of Faith during our pilgrimage, we must choose a God to devote our entire being to. Considering our situation... It seems as though now I have only one option."
Ophelia had taken off her scarf revealing her neckline. She had black markings that seemed to make their way up from her collarbone to her cheeks.
"Lady Mira has mercy," I gasped, "What is that!?"
"Lady Mana said she'd explain when you woke. That's where we should head off to now. But first..."
Standing from the bed, Ophelia knelt before me placing her hand over her chest. With a firm conviction in her eyes, she looked at me.
"By the Order of the Sisterhood of Faith, I will serve you Ragi as my deity," spoke Ophelia. "Your choices will become my choices. Your morals will become my morals. Your wishes are the only true doctrine I will follow. Whatever service you desire I will provide for you."
The Oath of Sororitas, is one many do not get the luxury of hearing. I've heard that the Sisters of Faith swear this to only one deity and until they draw their last breath they cannot break this oath. To do this meant death. This was a serious oath one that I didn't want Ophelia to make to me of all people. She shouldn't have to, not for a God like me. I hadn't even known what I was truly capable of or what I was even the God of.
But I had to return her conviction. To refuse this oath would be the greatest insult she would ever suffer. I also realized one thing. Everything was truly going to change from here on out. So I stood and took in a deep breath.
"I only desire that you be my friend. I only desire that I can trust you with anything no matter how bad it gets. More than anything... I want you to live."
Ophelia rose to her feet and then smiled. "See... That wasn't so bad. Now... We're probably keeping Lady Mana waiting. There's much we need to learn from her."
Picking up the tray from the bed, Ophelia beckoned me to follow her into the hall. As I did I noticed the area was quite strange. It was a small hall full of doors that probably led to other rooms. On the other side seemed to be an entryway to a much larger room ahead. That's the way Ophelia seemed to be headed. As I followed her I noticed there was another large room with strange white tiles on the floor. It resembled a kitchen but had a large white box of some sort near some silver cube with a large door on it. We went through the larger room that seemed a bit more normal than the kitchen though it did have another large box that was considerably thinner. I wondered how anyone would even be able to open it. Especially with the front of the box having this strange black material on it. There was another room on the other side of the living room and as we entered it my confusion only began to worsen.
A Queen sized bed sat in the middle of the room with a nightstand beside it. On one wall there was a bookcase filled to the brim with various books. One particular one was labeled "The Theory of Astrophysics."
"That was certainly a word I'd never heard of in my entire life. When I noticed the desk on the opposite wall from the bed I saw the Goddess seated in a strange chair that had wheels on the bottom of it with a large blanket wrapped around her. She'd been slumped over the desk and something much like the black box in the living room. But this one had been lit, showing strange moving images. There was another rectangular thing under the desk and one more near the Goddess's head. It had letters and numbers all over smaller squares lining the mechanism.
Ophelia placed the tray on the bed and then went to the Goddess's side. She then shook the Goddess a bit and the latter groggily rose from her desk. As Lady Mana looked at me she didn't seem all the way awake yet. But as she recognized it was me her eyes widened.
"Ragi!? You're awake!"
"I take it you didn't expect it?"
"Honestly no... Even I needed some time to rest after using so much Malefic Magic before."
Even though she was the Goddess of Magic, I didn't expect her to have used such dark power. She waved her hand and two more of those weird chairs suddenly popped into existence. As Ophelia and I sat, The Goddess stood. "I'll be back. I'll go get the Twins up."
Lady Mana sprang from the blanket, scurrying out of the room as fast as she could. She'd been wearing attire similar to the one she'd been in when we first arrived at the sanctum.
I'd begun examining the glowing box on the desk when Ophelia grabbed my hand before I could reach for it. "The Goddess said not to touch. It's supposed to be a Magical Lexicon of her Knowledge. The kind of Knowledge that Mortals aren't meant to deal with."
"Well... As I remember it I'm immortal aren't I?"
"Sure but, I'm sure whatever she's got on there will go right over your head."
On that, I couldn't argue. When Lady Mana returned she had Geru and Zuka in tow. They'd been wearing clothing similar to ours although Geru's arm was bandaged up. Conjuring more of these rolling chairs the Twins and the Goddess took their respective seats.
"Ragi! You're alright now," said Geru.
"Yes, old friend. I have recovered."
Zuka clinging onto my arm burying her face in my sleeve. "Thank goodness," she sobbed. "I was worried something might've happened to you."
"There there Zuka, it's alright."
As I patted her head I noticed the same black markings now covering her left arm. Looking at Geru I could see he'd been wearing some bandages on his right arm as well.
"You both as well huh?"
"Unfortunately my friend. But it's not too bad."
"This is actually what I wanted to begin speaking with you all about," Lady Mana said. "it's about your current condition and situation."
She turned to her Lexicon for a moment. Back to us. In her hands a book appeared, it was the book I'd admired my entire life.
"Alright... I'm going to ease you all into this information as best as I can. How much do you all know of Polaris's shared history before the Grand Crusade."
A question that wasn't hard to answer. But this time I'd be slow to raise my hand. Geru raised his and Lady Mana nodded to him to speak.
"From what I learned from my days in school, Polaris was ruled by the Nobility. The law of the land is survival of the fittest above all. The Nobility possessed bloodline magic that was powerful enough to control the mortal world."
"Precisely," said the Goddess, "but there are some inconsistencies here and there. Firstly everyone possessed bloodline magic. I granted this to give everyone an equal chance at life. It was also mortals could defend themselves. However, a select group of powerful bloodline magic users called 'The Nobility' took control of Polaris through force. It was there the shared history began."
The Goddess opened the book to chapter one. I knew the first lines of the page like the back of my hand and what I'd been reading now was not it.
"The Nobility's reign over the Tribes of Man was not just. Many commoners who held magic seen as useless by the Nobility were forced to work the fields until they died. Others had many different applications. If you had competent magic you could get by. But if not you were very poor."
She flipped through the page and it began to become move much like the images on Lady Mana's Lexicon. The Nobility seemingly had an iron grip on the common people and the work they had to do was harsh and unsafe.
"The commoners eventually grew tired of the Nobility's rule and sought to overthrow them. But the Nobility learned of their plans and crushed their rebellion without so much as drawing a sword or casting a spell. The Nobility decided to split the Tribes of Man by country and drew lines creating the very kingdoms and empires you know today."
She flipped the page again and this time the boom depicted arrows pointing toward Agnia. More specifically the country of Nox. As the book's image enlarged it focused on one particular part. The Thuban Desert, only it was not a desert at all. It looked like an opulent city in the middle of the largest Oasis I'd ever seen. Much larger than in the Queendom of Alabasta.
"Wait... Is that Thuban?" I asked.
Lady Mana nodded. "Thuban used to be the capital city of the Draconic Tribe. It was also the Nobility's main base of operations. It was there they learned of Malefic Magic."
Flipping the page in the book once more, it now depicted a Dragon. One that looked similar to Ragnakhet almost. Though there were some key features now missing. In the past, Ragnakhet was ordinarily depicted with three sets of eyes and two pairs of horns. Its wings were colored black and almost acted as another pair of arms. Then there was the metal halo that floated just behind its neck.
In stark contrast this dragon was white. No extra eyes nor horns and it even carried a mighty sword.
"This is Ragna, the Eastern Dragon. The most powerful of the four greats. He served as protector of the mortal realm against Tiamat, the Fell Dragon of Tenebris. It is who you used to be Ragi. Who Ragnakhet used to be."
She turned the page again and this time the book now showed two groups of people in a heated argument. I could recognize one side being the Gods themselves.
"Celestus couldn't stand for the Nobility to treat the mortal realm as they did. We demanded that they cease their tyranny before they give rise to something horrible. But there was only so much we Gods could do in the mortal plane. The Nobility did want the Gods to interfere so they began to concoct a vile plan to get rid of us."
She turned the page again. The Nobility seemed to be conversing with Ragna but there were a few behind the dragon with chains in their hands.
"The Nobility tricked Ragna into a meeting with him, they then killed Ragna taking him by surprise. But The Four Greats are Immortal when they perish they reincarnate into new forms, and their memories of their past life are wiped clean. It was during this process they would take advantage of the people's suffering."
Turning the page for what seemed to be the final time. The book showed us now the Nobility surrounding Ragna's corpse with a mass of corpses nearby. They were seeming to perform a ritual with the body.
"The Nobility lured many commoners with promises of financial stability and food. Anything they could do to get people they did. Then one by one they slaughtered them all."
"No..." Ophelia gasped.
"With all of those people dying like that... It created a mass of Malefic magic," I surmised. "A smaller version of what happened with Sister Olivia."
"Correct," said the Goddess. "When one dies with regrets or has lingering attachments in this world. Their souls will remain in the mortal plane. Therefore one could use their lingering power to create Malefic magic."
"So with that magic, they created Ragnakhet," I said."
Lady Mana nodded, then closed the book. "With that, most of the leaders of the Nobility were slaughtered. The remnants became what is known today as the Cult of Ragnara. From then onwards the rest is history."
Polaris having such a dark history was completely vexing. This flew in the face of everything we knew about Ragnakhet in the first place. If Ragna could've been saved there wouldn't have been any reason to fear. Then there was the fact that Malefic magic was powerful enough to turn one into a God.
"But why hide all of this?" I asked. "If everyone knew then we'd be able to fight against this darkness better. We could've probably saved Ragnakhet."
Lady Mana shook her head. "I originally thought that a thousand years ago. But if the Mortal realm knew of this they would turn against the gods. Ragna and the many that died that day onward were sacrificed to finally gain peace."
I hated it but she was right. Humans treated me differently because I looked like an imp... But to excuse Ragnakhet even though the poor creature has been subjected to so much torture? That'd probably crossed the line."
"So the ugly truth is revealed," said Geru. "What would you have us do Lady Mana."
Lady Mana smiled, "The moment you return to Polaris you will be considered wanted criminals by Divine Ark. Meaning your only safe refuge will be with the Cult."
Lady Mana held up her hand, magical energy began to swell in a ball until it morphed again into a small-scale version of a woman. She'd worn a rather large hat and strangely revealing clothing. Her hair hung freely over her left shoulder and she seemed rather full of herself.
"This is Ursula Lunemaria. Most would know her as the Daemon Witch. I want you all to seek her out and gain a revelation from her."
"A Revelation my Lady?" Ophelia said.
"Yes... Ursula is my Demigod. I bestowed upon her the gift of Prophecy. She told me that Ragnakhet will one day take up a new form. Should I find this new God, I was told to send them her way "
"For what purpose?" I asked.
"That she did not say... But I'm sure you will find out in due time. Meanwhile, it's probably best that you lot take some time to soak all of this in. You'll need it for the training you'll need for the next few days."
"Training?" Said Zuka.
"Yes... You all will need to get accustomed to your transition... As Demi-fiends you'll need all the knowledge and power you can gain to defend yourselves against Divine Ark."
"Demi-fiends? Like Demigods?" I asked.
"That's correct, the Goddess said. "Like when a God infuses their essence with a Mortal. Much like Saint Augustine and the first Demigods. But since you're a Demon God it seemed appropriate."