Chapter 35: A Spark Of Hope

Another elf quickly followed.

“Yes! That’s right! And the other one—the one who kept chanting about bearing his children—she looked exactly like the Goddess of Fertility!”

More voices joined in:

“She had the same eyes!”

“And the same markings on her forehead!”

“By the heavens—it really was her!”

In seconds, realization dawned across the entire crowd.

“Wait…” a young elf whispered in shock. “You mean to tell me the women in the dream… were the goddesses themselves?”

The murmur became an uproar.

“The goddesses were in that dream?!”

“Does that mean it wasn’t a curse?”

“And it was actually a blessing instead?!”

Chaos erupted. Elves gasped, others groaned, a few even fainted outright. Luna and Lulu looked utterly dumbfounded.

Nyx’s eyes widened, her playful demeanor vanishing for once.

“Are you seriously telling us that the goddesses we worship sent those…bizzare dreams?”

“Exactly.” Luca said with a weary sigh, holding up his hands. “I didn’t know at first. But when I heard your nieces describe those women’s faces, I realized who they were.”

“It wasn’t just some random curse—it came from above. From the heavens themselves.”

Leona’s expression hardened again.

“Then explain why!” She demanded, her voice trembling with restrained rage. “Why would the Goddess of Space and the Goddess of Fertility torment us with such filth?”

“For two weeks, I haven’t been able to sleep without waking in disgust!”

Several elves nodded fiercely, one even crying out.

“I thought I was going insane!”

“Yeah!” Another added. “It was so lewd! I have never experienced such naughtiness before!”

“I had to take cold bath because of hot my body got!”

“I fell off my bed and sprained my ankle because of that damn dream!”

Luca sighed again, raising his hands helplessly.

“Believe me, if I knew why the goddesses sent those dreams, I’d tell you. I’m just as confused as you are!”

But then Luca straightened up, placing his hands on his hips and speaking with renewed confidence.

“But all of you can relax.” He said. “I’ll be able to find the answer soon enough. In fact, I’ve got a meeting with the goddess herself tonight.”

The crowd gasped.

“You what?” Someone blurted out.

“A meeting? With her?” Another said in disbelief.

Luca nodded as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

“That’s right. I’ll ask her directly about all this dream nonsense and get the truth from her myself. I promise I’ll clear everything up without any doubt.”

Leona narrowed her eyes, suspicion sharp in her gaze.

“You’re saying you have a way to contact the goddess?”

“Of course.” Luca said, smiling confidently. “She’s the one who sent me here in the first place. You think she just tossed me into another world and ghosted me after that? No way. We’re in touch.”

A few elves exchanged bewildered looks at his casual tone, as if he were talking about some old acquaintance instead of a celestial being.

“I already promised her we’d speak tonight.” He continued. “And before the time of your Grand Matriarch ceremony and the celebration, I’ll have all the answers you want. Every single one.”

Whispers immediately filled the air again.

“He can speak with the goddess?”

“Maybe he really is divine…”

“But he’s also the guy from the dream!”

“Exactly! So what does that even make him!?”

It was pure confusion—half awe, half disbelief.

To them, this was a bizarre situation: the man in their dreams was claiming he was innocent and that he was going to ask the goddess herself to prove it.

Yet Nyx, ever the calm one, stepped forward, her expression thoughtful. She studied Luca for a long moment, then finally asked,

“Can you promise that, Hero? Promise that you’ll really find the answers we need? That the goddess herself will confirm that you aren’t here to harm us—or to, well…” She cleared her throat delicately. “…repeat those lewd acts we’ve all suffered in our sleep?”

Her tone softened slightly as she continued.

“You have to understand, this is a village full of women. It’s only natural that many of us are…wary of you.”

The crowd murmured in agreement, several women folding their arms nervously or clutching each other’s sleeves.

Luca fell silent for a moment, then looked up with a serious expression.

“I understand.” He said seriously. “And yes, I promise. Even if I have to fight with that damn goddess up there who’s sabotaging me for answers, I’ll do it.”

“She didn’t tell me everything when she sent me here, and now it’s making me look like a creep.”

He sighed.

“So I’ll make her explain herself properly this time.”

His eyes gleamed with determination as he added,

“And not just that—if I can, I’ll even make her come into your dreams again and clear everything up herself. No more cryptic, lewd nonsense—she’ll explain exactly what she meant.”

That confidence and sincerity silenced everyone.

The whispers faded.

Nyx blinked, then let out a quiet sigh before smiling faintly.

“If that’s the case….” She said, her tone warmer now. “…then there’s no reason for us not to accept you.”

A collective gasp of surprise rose from the crowd.

“Wait! Lady Nyx, you mean—?”

“Are we really accepting him?”

Nyx lifted her hand, silencing them.

“Even though we still need confirmation from the southern watchposts about the human retreat, and even though we must understand the true nature of these dreams, everything he’s said—and what my mother’s letter revealed—proves that he is indeed the hero the Goddess sent. The one meant to save us.”

Her voice grew solemn but proud.

“So even though he is human, and even though he comes from the enemy’s kind, we shall welcome him.”

“From this moment on, we will treat him as our honored guest—our hero.”

And in that moment, hope and excitement lit up the elves eyes.

The whispering changed tone—now it was warm and amazed.

“An honored guest!”

“The goddess’s hero…”

“Maybe peace is finally possible…”

Luna and Lulu were both practically bouncing with joy, smiling brightly at each other.

Luna whispered. “They’re really accepting him!”

Lulu grinned and whispered back. “See? I told you he’d win them over!”

And down below, Luca was grinning so wide his face might’ve split in half.

He could hardly believe it—finally, finally, he was being accepted.

But, once again, fate wasn’t going to let him enjoy that victory for long.

As just then—Leona took one cold step forward, her eyes sharp as a blade.

“No…” She said flatly.

The entire crowd fell silent.

Nyx blinked, frowning. “Leona?”

“It will not be as my sister says.” Leona’s tone was frigid, her voice commanding. “We will not accept him so easily.”

Gasps went around the crowd again.

“Even if there’s a possibility he pushed back the human armies…” She said icily. “…and even if he is the one the Goddess and our mother spoke of—we cannot trust him. Not yet.”

She crossed her arms, her expression hard.

“He is still a human. And humans are lustful, deceitful, cunning creatures. They lie, they seduce, they betray when it suits them. You know this as well as I do.”

Her words cut through the newfound hope like a blade of ice.

“He may act noble now.” She continued. “But how long before he reveals his true nature? How long before he turns his back on us and joins his kind?”

“We cannot risk it. Not with our people’s safety on the line.”

She turned toward Luca again, her glare sharp.

“So, until we receive every confirmation—of both your story and your goddess—you will remain right where you are. You will not roam freely around the village.”

Her tone left no room for argument.

“I will also assign patrols to keep watch on you at all times. You will stay put until we have proof of your claims.”

Hearing this harsh command, Lulu immediately stepped forward.

“But that’s not fair!” She protested. “He hasn’t done anything wrong!”

Luna joined in. “Yes, he’s proven himself already, Mother! You can’t just—”

But Leona raised a hand, silencing them.

“Enough. My decision is final.”

The sisters froze.

“Everyone except the assigned patrols is dismissed.” Leona said, her voice firm. “That includes you two.”

Before either of them could argue again, she grabbed them both by the hands and began to drag them away.

Lulu looked back, pouting miserably.

“We’ll get you out soon!” She called.

Luna, cheeks red with frustration, mouthed a silent apology before being pulled out of sight.

The other elves, following their Matriarch’s order, also began to disperse reluctantly, though many stole curious, lingering glances at Luca as they left.

Soon, only a few silent guards remained hidden in the trees above him, watchful and cautious.

Nyx, however, stayed. She looked down at him and smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry about that, Hero. My sister can be… a little overprotective.”

Luca chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

“It’s alright. Honestly, I’m just happy she didn’t shoot me on sight. I’ll take this as a win.”

Nyx giggled softly.

“Fair enough. Just know that her anger isn’t truly directed at you. It’s just that out of everyone here, she’s been the most… affected by those dreams.”

“She’s had them every night for two weeks straight. So her frustration and suspicion, it’s been building for days.”

“I get it.” Luca said with a tired grin. “If I had to see my own face every night doing something I didn’t remember, I’d probably want to shoot me too.”

That made Nyx laugh quietly, covering her mouth with her hand.

“It’s good you can joke about it. You’re quite understanding.”

She then turned toward the path Leona had taken and sighed.

“I should go. My nieces are probably getting quite the scolding right now. They’ll need someone to defend them.”

“Go on, then.” Luca nodded with a small smile. “Tell them I said thanks…for the help earlier.”

Nyx smiled back warmly. “I will. Rest well, Hero.”

With that, she turned and walked away and when the last trace of her presence faded, Luca let out a long sigh of relief.

Finally, silence.

He stretched out, sitting down on the grassy floor and leaning back against a thick tree root, staring up at the dappled canopy above.

“Man…” He muttered to himself. “What a day.”

Despite the mess—the accusations, the embarrassment, the sabotage from a certain goddess—he couldn’t help but smile.

He’d survived. He’d been accepted, even if partially.

He was in.

And as he lay back with his hands behind his head, watching the sunlight flicker through the leaves, one thought echoed in his mind with a tired grin.

’This world’s a little intense compared to my previous world… but maybe my life here’s going to be amazing after all.’

He then closed his eyes, letting the forest breeze wash over him, while being completely unaware of what the goddess above was planning for tonight’s meeting and the shocking truth she was going to tell.

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