ASHLEIGH.
"I wanted to be a normal civilian, and not a goddess. Can I possibly strip off that role from me?" I asked. I heard Atelier gasping, and she even covered her mouth to keep the noise in a minimum. Abraxas demeanor changed to a King again, and he's not happy with what I am reiterating. His eyebrows furrowed and asked me once again.
"Are you in a sound mind with what you're saying?" Abraxas lured on me. He has that dark glow that can eat me up in a single mistake that I've rolled in my tongue. But I remained fierce. I wanted to sand up on my own, and do whatever it takes to get out of the situation I shouldn't be in.
"I am serious with what I have wanted. I'm never wrong with my instincts. I don't want to be pushover. I wanted to live my life as it is." Abraxas opened his mouth in surprise. He must be wondering what happened in my mind? And what is going on?
"You can't do this, Devi. The Kingdom is in a chaos. We have to be mindful of our decisions. You pledged to protect the kingdom from the Devil Godkin, and that we arranged the matters for you to be accommodated..."
"How can you be so scared when you are the King of the Ashes and I'm a simple Goddess?" I answered back. His stony figure could prove how much I am a loss in their organization. As Ashleigh living in this soul, it should be my mission to save Devi from her death.
She's already on the brink of death on that final trial!
"Devi. Your personality has struck me newly. How can you say that when you have sworn your life to protect the Kingdom and us? Even you, with the Goddess of Order, have claimed the full responsibility of protection and safety. You don't know what you are saying."
I am aware of that. I stayed here to talk about my withdrawal, so I will do it. I didn't answer him and turned to Atelier, asking her, "Can we depart this place? Call the carriage and I wanted to go home."
Atelier was surprised by my defiance. I'm standing my ground and I'm not backing down from my decision. I went inside my room and leaving him hanging. I retrieved my things and my cape to cover my head from the frost outside. Abraxas can't do anything.
Atelier can't do anything but to follow me. She hang my things in her arms. Her downcast gaze was enough for me to finish the tack, and stated, "I am no longer interested with being the Goddess. Please do tell me when can I pass the role so I can attend to it formally."
I bowed down my head. Abraxas can't speak another word towards me. I went alone and searched for the exit. It's the Kingdom's premises. When the guards in armors opened the door for me, the winter night seeped through my nose. Atelier draped my cape over my head and I have to puff out the cold air in my mouth.
I don't have an armor of dark steal to protect me from the winter glow of the night. I held tight the fur-lined, deep crimson cloak, the hem trailed on the ground. Atelier had called the carriage by sending a shooting star with a swipe of her finger.
I was amazed by that. Atelier realized I was looking at her, and she asked, "You can call our carriage by pointing your finger there. It was a simple magic order. You can do it, too, My Goddess."
It was a new knowledge. Atelier had to explain, "The servants are entitled to do some spells that everyone can do. But our powers are limited, and we're just granted that power to protect and serve our Gods and Goddesses. For me, I was born to be beside you. And until the rest of my life, I have to serve you, My Goddess."
That kind of loyalty surprised me. She turned to the sky again but I was admiring her physique. Atelier was so beautiful, her defined features would make everyone swoon for her. She is the woman that every man would adore.
With the new spell I have garnered, I tried it, and copied her movements. A small, thin line of light sparked out of my finger, and I was beyond flabbergasted. I looked at my hand, and Atelier laughed out loud. She was chuckling, and it was my first time hearing that sound since I wake up in this world.
I was confused with what she's laughing about, and Atelier had to stop to speak, "Your existence is surprising me these days, My Goddess. You're completely unpredictable. You just woke up in the King's chambers and everything changed overnight. Why are your thoughts and movement sync this time and you are actually standing your ground?"
What is she saying? Did Devi underestimated herself and let someone dominate her?
"You were undermining yourself before King Abraxas had taken you in. You agreed to be his mistress. And that shocked me when you tried to get out of his castle. And that... you were so clueless with what's happening. Right now, I was beyond embarrassed and surprised by your actions."
Atelier was nodding. She was taking my side. Out of all the people, I thought my mother would have done it. But my servant has remained loyal, and she proved that by voicing it out loud.
"That's right, My Goddess. Stand for what your decisions are. No one should let your soul buy anything in this world and people."
It was cold, and her words trickled in my being. I found the corners of my lips crippling up into a smile.
"Do you think we're going to do fine?" I asked.
She smirked. Atelier went towards me and caressed my back. "You'll do well, My Goddess."
...
I was having my time in the library when someone banged at the door and shuffled their footsteps inside. The vast library, with the scent of old parchment, was bombarded by the sound of her shouting.
"Devi! Come over here!" I can hear her from the other side, coming towards me. Rows of book stretched endlessly, but in the center of the library, came the Goddess of Order, with an air of unshakable authority. She is full of control, her silver robes had a tranquil of passage, and I've known that the message was passed towards her.
The King and Queen of Ashes must have notified my mother to bring me back. But as Atelier stated, I should stand my ground.
I, the former Goddess of War, stood with burning fire of independence. I met my mother's eyes without a hint of fear. I am the embodiment of chaos and conflict, my posture was fierce and unyielding. But I cannot escape the power my mother holds. Her anger might also be the death of me.
Well, I am aware of her rash actions. With one swift motion, she raised her hand, and the air trembled with unnatural stillness. In one fluid movement, she delivered a slap right on my cheek. It sounded like a bell, a toll, echoing in the silence of the library.
The sting of discipline meant to break the spirit in me. To discourage what I had believed in.
"You also need to learn your place, Devi. You are putting a harm on our compound, and selfishly taking your responsibility out of this town. A Goddess is not alone, it is a sense of leadership, too. And you're telling me that you're backing down from that responsibility when you have taken it by your whole heart before?"
Her voice was cold as the frost the night before. There is a faint undercurrent of disappointment.
"What will happen to the supply in our town? I am sure that the King will cut it down. You're going to make us starve. You are not fearing the consequences, and that you take actions by your desires. You are holding a whole town, and you're backing down from these people!"
My face remained looking at the ground, cherishing the impact of the slap. I faltered for a moment. My mother has paced back and forth, not knowing what to do. The fire in my heart refused to be extinguished, and the weight of my mother's command bear down on me. I remained still, my body trembling with rage and helplessness.
"You may defy me," she commanded, stepping closer, and retrieving my chin, making me look at her.
I gritted my teeth and stared deep in her eyes. I wouldn't back down, because at the end of the day, I am also the Goddess who also have my own decisions in my life. Our presence is an inescapable force.
"But in the end, you will bow to the King, just as you always have."
The silence followed a thick of tension. I retrieved my face from her hands and didn't even dare to answer. There must be no room for defiance, after all, not anymore.