Chapter 140: A Suitable Offering (2/2)

”How?”

”Before the gods ascended to Celestia, Vyxas lived in this land. The ritual is happening in the place he was raised and born, and it was a small village in the suburbs,” Taly walked forward and waited in the line for the well.

”And how is this well related to him?”

”I told you that the gods are known for their heroism, not their villainy,” she said with an apathetic expression. ”However, most of the time, those two things are the same.”

”Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,” Nikolai pocketed his hands. ”One man's fortune is another's misfortune.”

”Are you sure that you are only eighteen? Most kids your age only care about alcohol and girls,” Taly glanced at him. ”Your words are correct. This place is where Vyxas slain the widely detested monster called Aquana, Lord of Floods.”

”The people weren't fond of floods, it seems.”

”You'd think they are not, but very few know the whole tale. Aquana was not the Lord of Floods. It was a wise creature who tried to drown Vyxas and his minions,” Taly continued as their turn arrived. ”However, Vyxas slew it to end the floods, and it became another one of his feats. This well became Vyxas gift to the people, and they thank him to this day.”

”Where is the villainy in this story?”

”It comes after because Aquana was what kept this land alive,” Taly scooped some of the water from the well and handed it to Nikolai. ”That's why even now, it tries to give life to everything through this never-ending well.”

”What happened after it died?” Nikolai stared at his reflection in the water, distorted by the ripples.

”A famine struck the land, but it served as another one of Vyxas's feats. However, that is a tale for another time. Let us leave.”

Nikolai followed after her as the people stared at them with suspicion. Taly didn't care and simply kept walking forward. She took him to a withered tree which was worshiped because it saved Vyxas in exchange for its life, but no one knew that Vyxas simply devoured it.

Vyxas's feats were everywhere. It was a god that was considered to be the protector of this land. Everything it did was for Fera, and that's why it was one of the gods remembered to this day.

Nikolai knew that the fabricated tales would serve as an excellent report for Saint Maria. She might even buy these stories and end up as an admirer of Vyxas's virtues.

”You have the right to disregard my words as lies, but I am nothing but a historian. I know both sides of the story, and I pick the one I find most reasonable.”

”I believe you,” Nikolai said, and he could feel her genuine surprise. However, he couldn't tell her that he knew this because Vyxas descended in his first lifetime, and it wasn't a protector or a saint. Instead, it was the God of Gluttony.

”Kids aren't so bad these days. Maybe I should adopt you,” she said teasingly, but Nikolai's brow twitched.

”Tell me about the ritual,” Nikolai said, and the archeologist picked the cue. They were now at the edge of the city, sitting on the dyke of a stream.

”Every year, Vyxas gets hungry.”

”Tell me both versions of the story,” Nikolai reminded her.

”Every year, our protector's powers are weakened,” she said in a high-pitch, praising voice. ”We have no choice but to replenish its powers through a sacrifice! The core of a legendary monster, a divine herb, or... a pure soul.”

'The God of Gluttony is always hungry,' Nikolai knew, so it made no sense that it was only fed once a year. However, what drew his attention was the matter of a pure soul.

”What happens when the ritual is over?”

”For three days, the land is protected by the divine powers of Vyxas. A pool of holy water appeared in the ritual grounds, and it blesses every follower of Vyxas with extraordinary strength.”

”I never heard of such a thing in the previous years,” Nikolai pointed out, and Taly jumped to stand on the dyke.

”Because until now, no one gave a suitable offering. None of the things I said worked, so Vyxas's blessing was never received. That is why they say that when Vyxas is pleased, the world will know the terror known as Fera's warriors.”