Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Revelation

The rest of the afternoon following the sparring session of Lysette versus Mirae and Rayleigh was unremarkable, yet still productive.  Lilia and Kiarra seemed almost overeager to Cultivate after seeing the two demigods in action, and each all-but-ran off back to the village to spend the evening doing so.  The others spent their time filled with some Cultivation and some general discussion of various techniques.

Serrena and Lysette’s avatar had returned late in the afternoon as expected, and after some brief pleasantries, the group disbanded to eat dinner and prepare for the evening meeting.  Mirae and Lysette arrived at their cottage shortly thereafter and prepared a dinner of rich and hearty chicken and chili stew for themselves.  With the town’s winter food shortages no longer a concern, the two decided it was okay to partake in an enjoyable candlelit dinner.  This, despite neither needing any food other than the prayers that made their way to them via Omnia’s system.

Throughout their meal, Lysette was somewhat distant, still contemplating Solanna’s words and trying to make sense of the implications herself.  Just trying to wrap her mind around what sort of being Omnia must have been was enough to tax even her demigoddess brain, let alone also using that information for any strategic benefit.  On top of that, there was the more immediate matter of figuring out the best way to convey their newfound knowledge about Aimarion and the gods to everyone who would be at the meeting.  

Mirae, perceptive as they were, noticed Lysette’s forlorn pauses throughout their mental conversation.  They wrapped their arms around Lysette and planted a kiss on the nape of her neck.

“I know whatever you two learned must’ve been deep if you are this worried about it.  Please, love, share your troubles with me.”

“I’ll save the parts that concern everyone until tonight, but there’s something I do want to talk about with just you.  We met Serrena’s great-grandmother, Solanna earlier today.”

“Wait…  Solanna is still alive?  I thought she was dead.”

“Presumed dead, yes, but still very much alive and in hiding.  But before she spoke with us directly, she communicated with us via a phantasm of fog.  And she questioned us about how we would handle being functionally immortal.  About knowing that our friends and your family would succumb to the passage of time.  Even our…”  Lysette choked up.  “Even our future child, should she not choose to awaken her divinity.  Just as happened to Serrena’s grandmother some years back.”

“Love, I made my peace with that when I declared you as my goddess and strove to follow you along your path, wherever it may lead you.  And my resolve to remain by your side through all obstacles and challenges, my Devotion to your cause, has never been stronger.  Strong enough that I’d take a blade through the chest if you asked me to.”

Lysette looked away, eliciting another kiss on the cheek from the Demigod of Devotion.  “Thank you, love.”

“You’re worried that you can’t provide proper recompense to everyone else.”  Mirae booped Lysette’s nose.  “You’re never alone, and you don’t have to hide those worries.  Not from me.”

“I am worried, yes.  Especially now, knowing that it will take the faith and worship of millions of people, millions of mortals specifically, to destroy a primordial deity.  That, and my demonic powers, are the only two weapons Solanna mentioned having any effect against a being completely untethered to a physical form.”

“I will support you in whatever way you feel best, love.  But I think we should get going.  Already I can hear people starting to move toward the meeting hall, and we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

Lysette and Serrena stood in the center of Ciricu’s meeting hall, surrounded by Mirae, the six human Cultivators from Domaria, the full governing council of elders, plus Theo, Maxwell, Lyon, and about ten others with whom Lysette was less familiar.  The light of the blue hour seeped in from outside, joined by the flames burning in a fireplace along the northern wall and a few small lighting crystals providing supplementary illumination.

“Alright, everyone,” Lysette started.  “I’ve gathered everyone this evening because we have some new information to share with you following our trip.  Information about the creation of Aimarion, about the gods, and about the true nature of Cultivation.  What I am about to say is going to be difficult to explain, and I’m sure I will get no small amount of questions about these topics.  I ask that everyone please wait until the end to ask their questions, at which time Serrena and I will answer as best as we are able.”

“In truth, we spent much of the time flying back discussing whether or not to share what we learned, as much of it is painful, disturbing, and difficult to hear.  But ultimately, these matters concern everyone, and so we eventually agreed that everyone should hear them.”

A number of murmurs filled the hall, especially among the elders of Ciricu, who seemed surprised by the topic of conversation.

“Now then, to begin.  Serrena and I have just been to visit Serrena’s great-grandmother, a demigoddess named Solanna Raesh.”

Kiarra audibly gasped before covering her mouth, though neither Lysette nor Serrena paid her any mind.  For two hours, the two demigoddesses spoke in turn, explaining the story of Aimarion’s conception and its metaphysical structure.  They spoke of the first destruction and re-creation of the world three million years ago, as well as their Aestori progenitors.  And the two relayed both the true nature of the gods and the system which interlinked gods, mortals, and Cultivation together.

It was late by the time the two finished their story, but not a single sign of fatigue or boredom was present among the people listening.  Their faces expressed a mixture of shock, awe, and horror at learning how their world truly operated, and Lysette gave them a few minutes to process everything before Amalia first raised her hand.

“Lyse, you mentioned that Cultivation was the power of the gods.  Why is it that not everyone can use this power?”

“Because that’s how the system was reconfigured following Aimarion’s first re-creation.  The Aestori were all able to tap into the power of Cultivation, but humanity was not.  As for why the primordial deities changed the natural law of the world this time around, I suppose we’ll have to ask them at some point.”

Theo spoke next.  “So how were you able to give me this power?  How were any of the rest of you able to gain this ability?”  He pointed toward the students from Domaria.  “I was not aware that the rest of you were also gods.  And I certainly don’t feel like one myself.”

Serrena responded.  “I got my power and divinity through my family lineage.  Fourteen generations back, an avatar of Vorcal, God of Fire, fathered a child named Sierra Raesh.  And that seed of divinity has passed from mother to daughter through each generation, eventually falling to me.

“As for Lyse over here, she directly received both power and divinity from Zarielle, Goddess of Darkness.  Then–”  Serrena abruptly paused.  “This next part is also going to be hard to hear, so please brace yourself.  About two months back, said goddess decided to order the three of us to wipe out this village as a means to prove our loyalty to her.  Of course, we vehemently refused, and together, the three of us were able to fight off the incarnation who appeared here that night.”

“Why?” Evelyn asked.  Her head was low, shedding tears as Joseph and some of the other elders attempted to console her.  “Why would one of our gods forsake us like this?  Condemn us to death in such a heartless manner?”

“I wonder the same thing,” Lysette said.  “That happened to my original hometown.  Everyone living there, all of my family and friends, all perished at the hands of inquisitors serving the Church of Asterion.  I alone survived the night, and only then thanks to the divinity I received from Zarielle.”

Several of the villagers lowered their heads.  Their silent prayers and condolences were accompanied by a brief rush of power and vitality filling Lysette’s being.

“What about Mirae?” Lyon asked.

Lysette hesitated.  “I was…  selfish.  I was alone after my rebirth, left to fend for myself, to find out about who and what I was.   Left to mourn my family’s and village’s murder all alone, then to try to gather what information I could about Cultivation and how I could one day get my revenge against Asterion and his followers.

“Throughout my journey thus far, I realized that I needed someone by my side.  Someone with whom I could share my innermost thoughts, feelings, and concerns, in a world where potential enemies could be anywhere.  And so, not knowing what I do now, nor fully understanding the systems which govern Aimarion, I chose to share my divinity with my partner.

“I admitted even at the time that it was unfair.  Especially now that I know I can’t do the same for the many, many other people who deserve it.  But I need them, and they need me.  And I’m sorry that I can’t do the same for anyone else.”

Lysette gave everyone a few moments to let out their misgivings.   “All I can do at this point is move forward, acknowledge the mistakes I have made, and make the best of the situation I’ve been given.

“To answer Theo’s original question, most Cultivators either received the ability to Cultivate from the gods, or were descendants of those who were.  As Cultivation is the strength of the gods made manifest, said gods can unlock and nurture that power in their adherents.  And that is what I did for Theo.  I can do the same, in time, for others as well.”

“Would you do so?” Lyon asked.

Serrena raised her hand after about ten seconds.  “It will take time for you to learn how to gather and manipulate Essence, but I have just unlocked the power to do so within your Spark.”

“I don’t really feel any different,” Lyon said.

“Obviously not.  For now, I’ve only granted you the ability to Cultivate.  I can, in time, help you nurture that gift.  But I will only do so for those who seek to use it to better themselves.”  She looked toward Lysette.  “And those who use it to better and uplift others as well.”

“Thank you, Serrena,” Lysette messaged.

Maxwell approached Lysette and Serrena.  “So, what does this knowledge mean for us going forward?  We’ve been fortunate as of late, but now that we know all this, can we expect even more attacks from Seliora in future weeks?”

“It won’t just be here,” Mirae said.  “Domark was attacked twice by the same inquisitors of Asterion who destroyed Lysette’s village nearly half a year ago.  Elithria and Domaria have already declared war against one another, with open hostilities imminent.  Valdora may remain out of the conflict as they historically have, but Solise and Terea will both take advantage of the war to jockey for more power for themselves and their patron deities.”

“I’m sorry, everyone,” Lysette said.  “I know some of you have expressed misgivings since my arrival back in the fall.  A few of you continue to do so.  And I understand that my arrival has heralded a number of profound changes for everyone here.  Some good, some bad, and some whose impacts have yet to be realized.  But in my heart of hearts, I have only ever sought to do right by everyone here, to the extent I am able and with the knowledge I have.

“Tonight, I want to ask all of you for your continued help in the challenges that lie ahead for me, for Ciricu, and for all of Aimarion.  Knowing now what you do and the mistakes that I’ve made, would you still have me?  Would you still welcome me as one of your own?”

None said a word, but the rush of worship and prayer flowing into Lysette was deafening.

“Thank you.  Thank you all so, so much.”

Chapter 217: https://www.patreon.com/posts/112940070

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101896170

Chapter 219: https://www.patreon.com/posts/112940076