Even though we'd just learned the truth of the world. I was perplexed about my first thought. It wasn't that I believed everything we knew was a lie or that I believed that the world appeared to be much more grey than I realized. My first thought was where Auberon had come into play through all of this.
It was likely that the Goddess believed that Auberon was likely a remnant of the Nobility. Given his actions thus far, he likely had a hand in my coming to be in this world. He'd known who I was before I was ever aware. He could've had ample time to prepare whatever foul plans he had for me. But there was one thing that didn't make sense in all of that. The fact that he allowed Rory to know who I truly was.
If Auberon intended on using me much like the Nobility were originally going to do, he'd have taken me at birth or even when he realized who I was six years ago. No, there was something else at play, a personal motive.
"Ragi? Is something the matter?" Ophelia asked.
"N-No... it's nothing... I'm just a bit overwhelmed, is all."
"It's quite alright Ragi," the Lady Mana said. "Most do not know of the olden history, and that is the fault of us as Gods."
"It's not just that," Geru interjected," But why must we seek out these near-do-wells in the first place? Aren't they the ones who threw the world into chaos? Wouldn't they just want to use Ragi again?"
It was a fair assumption. They wished to rebel against the Gods by using a Dragon as a weapon.
"There are two factors that are different from that time," Lady Mana stated. "The first being that unlike Ragna, who was not prepared for their deception. Ragi will be. The second is that the current Cult of Ragnara worships Ragnakhet. With Ursula's assistance, it will be easy to prove that Ragi is their God made flesh. The rest of you are practically his angels given form."
"Meaning I'm to become their leader," I said.
"What you do with this information is up to you. Beyond sending you lot back to Polaris, there is nothing more I can do."
This means we'd have to leave soon. As I rose to my feet I began to head for the door, but before I opened it I looked back for a moment. "I'm gonna need some time to think... Deciding our next move from here is extremely vital."
I quickly headed out the door before anyone had the chance to either protest or say anything. I went back into my room, locking the door as I did.
"So child... What are you going to do?"
"Honestly... Things don't look too good for us... The corruption of the Malefic Magic could take root in the others when given the chance, and it's not like we could go before the world and expose Auberon for his crimes."
"Yes... I'm sure it would be the most pathetic thing anyone would see."
The voice was right. I could even hear Rory laughing at me for even having the thought.
"Well... Considering my Existence depends on yours... I shall help you... Grab a few books..."
"What would books do to aid us in this crisis?"
"One must reflect on knowledge of the past to overcome the present and future."\
A lesson from my Father. I wouldn't have expected the voice to recite it at me. As per its advice, I grabbed all of the books within the case and sat them on the desk. I spent the long hours of the day buried in books of Polaris's history. From the first leaders of the Nobility who united Polaris under one banner to the founding of the Council of Six. Obtaining my revenge against Auberon was normally an impossible task. One in which my current knowledge was something I was entirely sure I couldn't pull off. Even if remained in this realm for some time there was no beating the millennia of experience Auberon had. Then there was the fact of his position in the world. As the Grand Commander of Divine Ark, he was virtually untouchable. Should his crimes be exposed he would possibly receive imprisonment at the most, but this would only be after I was sealed away again.
I was surprised at the amount of stamina I possessed. I'd been reading and taking notes well into the night and eventually, I'd see the morning sun once more. During my hours of study, I would hear knocks at my door which I'd open only to find food waiting for me. It was the Dragonewt Stew that was my Mother's specialty. I'd have to thank Ophelia when I saw her again. Even though it was the same dish I'd had before, it served as a silent reminder for me. A reminder that I may have a home to return to.
The more the hours passed by the more my patience for this research wore thin. Most of what I found proved to not have any value beyond the knowledge of Polaris. I thought I'd have a lead with the League of Guilds and their laws but Auberon had no obligation to obey them given he hadn't been an adventurer since the time of the Grand Crusade. Then there was Betelgeuse, the City of Freedom to the South, but it just had several laws and regulations on slavery. So on the second day, I thought it best to get out and stretch for a minute. Checking on the others was another objective of mine given that they were currently infected with Malefic Magic. As long as their hearts remained resolute they should be able to ward off corruption for some time.
After cleaning myself off with a cleansing spell, I changed clothes and left my room. The house was relatively empty at the moment, but I could hear the sounds of shouting and the clattering of steel coming from outside and some rather belligerent yelling. Probably Zuka in her "battle mode."
Stepping outside the house, I thought I'd find some mystical realm with ancient architecture and prominent buildings standing all over the place. Or even a starry void to completely overtake the atmosphere. A quiet isolated plain with a singular house (albeit a very strange-looking house) was not something I was expecting.
Ophelia and Lady Mana were both seated on the front lawn wearing swimsuits. Ophelia wore a black one-piece with frills while Lady Mana wore a two-piece that was a bit revealing. While she had a towel over her waist, I had to admit I couldn't help but catch a few glances. She'd been reading a book, one titled "The Ancient Laws" which was a pity. To be reading in such a state instead of sunbathing.
"I would have a saying for what you're doing, but it'd go right over your head," She said.
"Any reason why you've seemingly forced Ophelia to join you in sunbathing?"
"I am a sworn sister," Ophelia answered. "Since my God is before me it matters not if you see my fur. Besides, I'm not human, so modesty isn't something I hold so closely."
Lady Mana shrugged her shoulders, and I couldn't argue with my feline friend. As I looked out into the field, I could see Geru and Zuka sparing.
Geru appeared to be holding a curved dagger. It had a golden hilt with a green jewel embedded in it. Meanwhile, his frenzied sister was swinging around a cumbersome-looking sword with a blood-red blade.
"Come on Brother! Get serious! You always make this too easy for me!"Even with the knowledge being so new, I still couldn't believe Zuka could send a chill down God's spine. Rather than deal with the memories of a woman with an unusual lust for battle I examined the book Lady Mana was reading.
"Gaining knowledge of the past?" I asked.
"When one's twin brother is the God of Knowledge, reading tends to become a hobby no matter if you like it or not," Lady Mana said.
"Lord Arcanus comes here?"
"Whenever he wants... Otherwise, he's locked in his tower, spouting nonsense about the universe and the knowledge he will acquire one day. This a shame..."
"May I see?" I asked, almost reaching out for the book.
Lady Mana looked at me, almost pouting for a moment. She then closed the book and handed it to me. As I flipped through its pages I found many laws on Polaris. Some of them were arbitrary in this current age, and others were just simply dated. Living as a Mortal, I still couldn't figure out why some of these even existed. Then I came upon a law with its chapter. "The Rite of Lex Talionis," I read aloud. "What is a rite doing in a book of law?"
Lady Mana sat up in her chair, curling up in a loose fetal position. "A very barbaric ordeal. Something the Nobility came up with. It's a rite and a right for all who live in Polaris..." Clever wordplay aside, a law having an entire chapter dedicated to it couldn't possibly be a good thing. "Technically speaking," Lady Mana continued, "It was the only law that the Gods sanctioned. A law of ritual combat where one could seek vengeance on an accused party. If the Accuser could find enough evidence of a crime committed by the Accused, they could invoke the rite of Lex Talionis. The only ones that were safe from this rite were the Gods since we couldn't die. If the Accused won, they'd attain a boon from the Gods along with being pardoned for the death of the Accused. Vice versa for the accused."
"That does sound rather brutish," Ophelia noted," How did they keep the entire continent from killing each other all the time?"
"Simple," Lady Mana said, "The Rite has the same weight as a Sister of Faith's vow of servitude. Once invoked, then one must die. Even if both parties no longer wish to do battle."
"I could see why no one would want to continue with this battle every day... And the Gods approved?" Lady Mana nodded. She then leaned back in her chair, summoning the book back to her hand "Why the sudden interest?"
"Could a God exercise the right?" I asked. I thought I could see a few wrinkles form upon the Goddess's face as well as a few veins ready to burst. But she calmed herself before looking me in the eyes before she answered.
"Not unless one sends in a champion... or the current state of the world, a Demigod. We Gods agreed to never interfere in the affairs of mortals so the case of that happening is extremely rare."
"But if a God wasn't there to consent to that accord. One could invoke Lex Talionis upon another?"
"I don't think you understand that this entire situation could be bigger than your revenge. I understand Auberon has wronged you but I'd rather you have a better excuse." A better excuse? If I were more powerful I'd have lost my composure at that moment. To me, the fact that Auberon murdered my father was a part of this entire situation. My mother and friends were in danger too. But I held my tongue for a moment. Maybe there was a bit of logic I could use to sway her into the idea.
"Yes..." I said through gritted teeth, "But we do not know if Auberon even consigns to the machinations of someone higher than him. Plus he's virtually untouchable as the Grand Commander. Ophelia and the others would be executed if we attempted anything else."
"While you're correct about that, it would be better to prove your innocence through a less violent method. Auberon cannot answer his crimes as a dead man." A part of myself felt some relief that Lady Mana thought I'd be able to vest Auberon in single combat. But I placed my hand over my chest feeling the uneven surface. The scar tissue that lined my body as if it were branded.
"I'm sorry Lady Mana... but you underestimate the weapon you Gods have made... The best I can do is attempt to regain my power in some way. Harming Rory is out of the question. So I must find a different method to defeating Auberon... "
Lady Mana opened her mouth to speak again, yet something stopped her. Ophelia quickly came to my side taking my free hand. I hadn't even noticed it. I was trembling at the thought of facing Auberon again... More importantly, facing Rory. "It's alright Ragi," Ophelia whispered to me, "Whatever you wish it will be done... I'm saying this not only as your advisor but as your friend." I was happy that Ophelia agreed at least even despite my hesitation to face Auberon again. Lady Mana turned toward me in her seat and we locked eyes once more. Though I thought she'd be giving me the evil eye over her opinion being somewhat disregarded. But I didn't sense any scorn but rather a strange empty sadness.
"Trust me when I say this boy," she started to say, "As a God who has lived for some millennia I know all too well the devotion of mortals. Their unwillingness to see us as flawed as them is as dangerous as any God-sealing sword. If you go through with this, be warned. This path will not be an easy one."
"My apologies my Goddess," said Geru who'd been coming toward us with his Sister towing him about. It seemed as though he'd lost their bout as he'd been limping with Zuka using him as a crutch. "That's the beautiful thing about mortality. We place more value on what we do with our lives rather than what happens to them."
"Yeah! That's right ya old bag," sneered Zuka, "Ragi is our little God now. What we do for him has got nothin' to do with ya."
"Remember Zuka that's still a Goddess you're talking to," Ophelia hissed. "Cursed armament or no I won't tolerate such blasphemy..."
"Oh yeah... Your pelt will look great as mittens little kitten," Zuka said, giving Ophelia a sly smile. Amid the girls getting ready to fight somehow some way, laughter broke out. Lady Mana began to allow an uncontrollable fit of laughter to overtake her as she observed us. Wiping tears from her eyes she stood. Casting a spell her clothing changed to her normal Goddess dress and she began to hold two magic sigils in her hands. She then let out a short sigh as she combined the sigils.
"Alright... I assent," Lady Mana sighed, "If you wish to invoke the rite then I cannot stop you. But I'll at least give you the last bit of help I can." She then waved her hands and the magic began to swirl around her before she stretched her hands outward. As the magic fired at us, we all braced ourselves. But there was no pain at all, but rather a strange warm light. As the light faded, I found my clothes were changed. Replacing my more ordinary clothes was now a dark suit made of a strange material I hadn't recognized that covered me from neck to toe. While there was metal to protect my vital areas. Then a large red cloak wrapped itself around my neck. As I turned to the others, they too had been blessed with new clothing.
The twins were adorned in the clothing of their homeland. Shigeru's was more befitting of a Lord, with fine white silk and golden armor. Meanwhile, Zuka became clad in armor more befitting a warrior. As we all admired our new clothes, I barely noticed Lady Mana heading toward the front door. She then placed her hand on the wood and it began to change into a gate. The house seemed to fold in on itself as the gate began to open. Beyond it was Baskerville or at least one of its many alleyways.
The Goddess turned to us again and waved her hand. Then three new packs appeared at our feet along with our weapons. "That's everything you'll need for your journey," Lady Mana said, "I pray you all to succeed in time." Even though the Goddess meant to wish us good luck, the figurative shadow seemed to hang over her head. She was saying goodbye for now.
While I was saddened to leave the Goddess's side, I had no choice. Auberon needed to be brought to justice and Rory was in danger so long as Auberon was free. I had to do this.