193 Discussion with Gods (1/2)
Giving Jack a peculiar look, the hydra nodded. ”You know who I am? How is that possible?”
”What do you mean? This is your shrine, isn't it?”
”Yes, but how did you find it? My previous shrine was destroyed and I've never revealed this place to anyone since before the Holy War.” Lunara's tone was getting colder, suspicious of Jack's intentions.
”Well…” Realizing that Jack again stuck in a hard place from his lack of information, he pondered what would be best to say next. ”Lunara, by any chance is this also Sterfen's hidden temple?”
Suddenly, everyone felt a bestial pressure suppressing them.
With fury in her eyes, Lunara asked, ”Who sent you?! Was is Halmut?!”
”No, no! I'm pledged to Daruun!”
”Daruun?!”
The hydra's long tail was about to lash forward at Jack, but the rage quickly disappeared from Lunara's eyes.
”You… You're really pledged to Daruun?”
”Yes, he's the reason I found this place. We came so that a member of our party could pledge to Sterfen, but I only realized that it was your shrine after seeing the hydra heads carved along the path,” explained Jack, hoping that Lunara didn't have a grudge against Daruun.
”Can you prove it?” asked Lunara, still acting warily.
”Can't you just inspect my class and level?”
”I tried, but I was still unable because you're hiding it with a legend-tier item,” stated Lunara.
”Oh.” Storing his cloak that had turned coat, Jack asked, ”How about now?”
A moment passed before Lunara smiled. ”Why didn't you tell me you were Daruun's champion? This changes everything.”
The others in the party were too confused to do anything. From the moment that they discovered the hydra to be an ancient god to the moment Jack admitted to having a legend-tier item, they were shocked to process everything going on.
Then, the cave filled with bright blue light, emanating from Lunara's giant body. It easily overwhelmed the light from Bowzer as her body started shrinking. Gradually, it started to take on a humanoid shape and eventually became their size.
The blue light from her body faded, but the carvings of hydras on the walls stayed lit, letting them see the entire room.
”Jack, since you're with Daruun, we're on the same side,” stated Lunara as she appeared before the hero in her human form.
She was wearing a long, celestial-blue dress that faded to light blue at the dresses edges. It was neither form-fitting nor frilly, but it couldn't hide her outstanding, immortal beauty.
Curious what she meant, Jack asked, ”What do you mean, we're on the same side? Aren't you one of the holy gods?”
”I was at a time, but I also refused to fight in the Holy War,” answered Lunara. ”There were a few battles that Halmut forced me to join, but I've been against that lying pestro for a long time now.”
”Well, my husband is a neutral god, so that should count for something.”
”Husband?!” Not expecting such an answer, Jack asked, ”You mean…”
”Sterfen, yes,” replied Lunara with a chuckle. ”Sterfen and I have been together for a long time now, since before the Holy War…”
She stopped talking and let her words trail off as if she was recollecting her memories from long ago. But sad frown appeared on her face, not a smile.
”You came here for him, right? I see you've already gotten one of his cloaks, so he'll like that. Come, you and your friends can follow me.” Lunara turned around and started walking toward the spiral staircase at the center of the large room.
Looking back to the others, Jack shouted, ”Come on guys, let's get going!” He followed behind Lunara, not waiting for his confused party members.
He wasn't worried about Bowzer. Jack wanted to leave Bowzer down there since he was in the middle of evolving, and it's not like there were any threats to him so he could be alone. Once he was done evolving, he could just come upstairs.
Eventually, the party members ran toward Jack, not wanting to be left behind.
”Jack is she really…” Maura was hesitant to ask, too caught up on the fact that she might be standing so close to an ancient deity.