There exists some debate on whether the soul exists or not. The principal argument is made that our understanding is so limited that we are unaware of the exact process which causes souls of the dead to stay on this world after death. To give some strength to the argument, in the earliest ages, when humanity was little more than savages which lived beholden to nature, there existed doppelgangers and creatures able to change their appearance. Whereas the doppelgangers were wiped out, there could exist a similar species which is some of immaterial doppelganger. The theory sounds ridiculous although it explains circumstances such as spontaneous hauntings or people seeing their own souls.

Nevertheless, both of the authors of this text assume that the soul exists for both are able to touch something within humanity which can only be called a soul-realm. Whereas it is impossible to manipulate this miraculous energy, Anassa of Sorcery can physically force the consciousness of a body away from the real world and into, whatever this realm is. She herself has experienced it and only experienced it once.

How to explain it? It is the realm born entirely of one’s fancies. It is the land where one is entirely beholden to their own whims and yet the land where one is God, titleless. There is no concrete or reproducible fashion to drag power out of there, yet it is possible. Everyone who wishes to claim the power of sorcery must plunge into themselves and truly see what they are made of.

– Excerpt from “Principals of Immaterial Arts”, one of the few ever texts co-written by Goddess Elassa, of Magic and Goddess Anassa, of Sorcery. This was published in the immediate years after the advent of Sorcery as its own distinct art, separated from the realm of Magic.

Kavaa clicked her tongue as she stood and looked at a batch of fresh Clerics. Now that she had given out her blessing to the three hundred and eighty-one, she had no plan to rip it away from them unless she saw some truly despicable behaviour. She stood in the white corridor of Anver health as Clerics worked through the people. They were amateurs true, real Clerics would heal without talking or with only giving the most basic of commands to their patients and then move on quickly. But they were amateurs armed with battleships against tiny little rubber floats. A whole team of doctors would take a day, maybe two to work through that room of people and then the healing process would take a week? Maybe even a month. A team of amateurish Clerics had done it in fifteen minutes. A team of experienced Clerics would do it in five.

Kavaa turned away to inspect the next team. She greatly appreciated hospitals. The most important thing they had done is freed her from needing to make pilgrimages every year across the countryside to heal the annual flu. The second most important thing was that they were built with high ceilings. Mortals may have had good airflow in mind, but it was one of the few buildings a Divine could enter comfortably. One of the new Clerics stopped her before she took the first step. “Goddess! Goddess Kavaa!” He drew up a downright terrible salute that Kavaa waved down.

“What is it?” The Goddess of Health asked as she looked down at the man. Even after just a few hours, the corridor had emptied to the point that now, it was just lines of empty beds that filled it instead of patients. This silence was more satisfying than any amount of joyous tears could ever be.

“Goddess Ciria is outside in the parking lot. She wants to see you!” And immediately, Kavaa’s mood fell down. What could she even say? First Etala. Now Ciria. What next? Would she have to explain herself to President Kochinski maybe? Maybe she would have to hold a news talk?

“Has she said anything?” Kavaa asked.

“She asked me if you were busy.” The Cleric replied. He had been a doctor, Kavaa had not gotten uniforms from the Empire yet, or maybe she was expected to procure them here? She didn’t know exactly but she supposed the bureaucrats Arascus had given her would handle it. If not then she would tell them to handle it.

“And what did you say?”

“I…” The man trailed off and Kavaa managed to stop herself from scowling at a mortal.

“You told her I was free, didn’t you?” Kavaa asked.

“Not that exactly but I said you were inspecting us.”

“Next time say I’m saving lives because that’s what I’m doing. I’m training you and once you’re trained, that’s saving lives.” Kavaa said. She supposed she wouldn’t be able to get out of it now. “I’ll go to her now.” So Kavaa turned and left the safety of her hospital. She walked through the corridors which had nurses in looking through glass windows into operations rooms in awe. Patients and the other hospital workers bowed to Kavaa. Others burst out in tears. Kavaa didn’t even bother counting how many times someone cried for her. She just walked out through the front door and into the parking lot.

It was largely empty. There was a crowd out. The police had come to push the population gently away and stop them from crowding into the hospital for now. The sky was blue. The buildings were tall. Ciria was short. Kavaa stood far away enough from the Goddess to be out of striking distance. She knew it was paranoia but she didn’t care, it was good habit she had built up that saved her life more than once in the Great War.

“Kavaa.” Ciria said, her tone light and hopeful. Kavaa replied with only a flick of her head to Ciria to show acknowledgement. There was no need for anything more than that. Ciria stared in silence in at Kavaa for a few moments, gold eyes met grey ones. Kavaa felt her lip curl upwards when she realised that she was a full head taller than Ciria. What sort of Civilization that Goddess represented, it must be a failed one. “I greet you to the UNN.”

“I have already been greeted.” Kavaa said. As terrible as she had been to Etala, she was like that to everyone. The Goddess of Democracy deserved the credit of being the one that had actually been there to greet Kavaa. “Etala beat you unfortunately.” Kavaa said whimsically. “Don’t worry, I did not bring one of Arascus’ Daughter’s or the man himself. You don’t have to be scared.”

If there ever was a way to start off on a bad foot, it was that. But then Kavaa did not particularly care. This was Ciria, the Goddess of Civilization. This was a title so grand that Ciria should have come and forced herself onto the White Pantheon during Pantheon Peace because it would not do for such a deity to just be some nomadic wanderer. And yet Ciria had not done that, Ciria had just resigned herself to her own irrelevance. Immediately, Ciria’s smile dropped. “So you haven’t.” She said and gave a pause for Kavaa to say something. What exactly was there to say? Kavaa was here to supervise a job. That was it. She must have realised that Kavaa had no intention of talking after another long dull silence as people around took pictures. “Why do you work for Arascus?”

If there ever was a question that Kavaa was unwilling to answer, then it was this one. Where could one even begin? “It’s a long story.”

“We have time.”

“We don’t.”

“Then make it short.”

Kavaa made it short then. “Because when I stand besides Arascus, I stand besides a leader.” Kavaa replied coldly without bothering to explain more.

And yet Ciria did indeed demand more. “And that means what exactly? Are you not a leader Kavaa? Is Allasaria not? Was the White Pantheon not successful in its thousand-year peace?”

Kavaa supposed she had gone about this the wrong way. When one wrapped a bandage wrong, all that had to be done was re-wrap it, not try to cover it with plaster or another bandage. “Why do I follow Arascus Ciria? I know that even if I explained it to you, you would not understand. The people who would understand have no need to ask in the first place.” There. That shut her up. Or it should have. The fact Ciria was beginning to smile wryly at Kavaa was a bad sign.

“You did not answer my questions.”

“What questions?”

“Was the White Pantheon not successful?” Kavaa sighed. What was this girl even doing? She had ignored them at the start because they were so stupid that they weren’t even worth answering.

“Arascus has claimed Epa, he has what? Almost all of Arika bar the western edge and the very south. Let’s round him down, he has a continent and a half.” The Goddess of Health spread her legs to take up more space and spoke louder for everyone to hear. “He’s done it in less than two years! And he’s shed how much blood? Tell me? How much blood has he spilled?” Kavaa realised the mistake she made but she kept on talking and dug her hole further, before Ciria could reply and cease the opportunity to chastise her. “And if you wish to include Continent Cracking and the great wave which devastated the UNN, because that is what it did, then why don’t we include some White Pantheon history? You’re speaking to a Goddess that sat on that mountain for a thousand years, did she not? Go on, ask me about history. Let me take you on a trip through my memories.”

“So you discount more than sixty million dead in the UNN? And how many more worldwide?” Ciria shouted back. Her voice was annoying. Kavaa didn’t appreciate being shouted at. She knew it was hypocritical, she didn’t particularly care. If there was one person who could be given permission to shout at people, then it was being responsible for people’s damn fucking health.

“Arkarikon.” Kavaa said. “Do you even know where it is?” The second’s pause was enough confirmation. “It’s where the Green Sea is now. Green and baffling for how rich it is in sulphur, save I know how. Do you know?” Again, no reply. Kavaa kept on going. “I was there, it was the greatest spell Elassa has ever cast. We worked with Tartarian magicians. We connected our worlds for a moment. We cast a city and all its villages into Hell because it was in our path. Two million.” Kavaa snapped her fingers loud enough for everyone around to hear. “Like that.”

“Tourai, although I’m sure you know of that.” Kavaa’s voice got louder as she spoke. “Because we all do. Arkarikon was wiped off the map and forgotten and Arkarikon did not scream on the way down. It just fell. Almost every man we brought to Tourai threw down his blade after he saw and heard what happened when our own allies in Paradeisius cleansed the city in a flame that froze and burned so slowly you could see the people in there reach out to us. That’s why we know of Tourai, because by the time we realised it should be hidden, every soldier had written and told of it. And do you know why? It was because the city spirit of Tourai killed one of theirs.”

And Kavaa kept on going. “Rhomaion. Arascus’ ancient capital, sitting in the middle of where Rilia is now, although you did not know that, did you? Rilia was once an island. The nation’s north is just a landbridge we pulled out of the sea. How many do you think where washed away then? And Rhomaion put up such a fight that we dismantled it brick by brick. When Arascus fell laughing at us, there was no city, there was dust!”

Ciria fell silent as Kavaa kept on recounting her own crimes. “What of the World Core? When we sentenced the Dwarves underground to eternal darkness and shut off their power source? The number they’ve lost is immeasurable. We are not discussing millions but billions here!” Kavaa stood there, infuriated as this Goddess of Civilization looked at her as if she had just stepped on some baby. Her tone became low. “How many purges were conducted in Allasaria’s name? How many peacekeeping operations in Fortia’s? How many times has Maisara restored order? And Pantheon Peace? How do you think it was brought about? Do you think soldiers willingly beat their swords into ploughshares? No Ciria. Pantheon Peace was not bestowed or ensured, it was enforced. Enforced.”

“So don’t talk to me about death. You see one fucking disaster and you think you’ve seen it all. If you want some of my sagely fucking advice, then let me give you some of it. Shut the fuck up and stay in your damn lane. I was there, spilling the blood that was required to make sure that your hands are kept clean, Goddess of fucking Civilization.”

Kavaa didn’t know if she went too hard or not. Was Ciria tearing up? The Goddess of Civilization blinked and took a deep breath. “Kavaa, what has happened has happened. That cannot be changed. The White Pantheon ensured a thousand years of Peace. That is what I know. Arascus has spilled blood. That is what I know. I cannot talk of the past to you for you have lived it and I have not.”

“I can list off White Pantheon and Imperial crimes during the Great War for years before I get through just the ones I was involved with.” Kavaa said. “Callous it may be, but it does not matter to me. I have seen too much to be afford the luxury of casting judgement. I do not care. I am the Goddess of Health and I am Kavaa. Kavaa is an Imperial Goddess. The Goddess of Health is the Goddess of Health. My power is too great to waste, I do not come eagerly, but I come nonetheless.”

“Then why did you wait so long?” Ciria demanded. “Why? You talk of all these things and for what? To try and pretend that there is some equivalence? There is none! All suffering is suffering but all suffering is unique in its terribleness! If you want to me to chastise you for the Great War then you’re looking for the wrong person, but I will chastise you for what you are doing now. You’re a tool and you know you’re a tool! The suffering of the past has to be worked through of course but the suffering of today takes priority! Why did you take so long!?”

“Because within me is Kavaa too, and Kavaa is a jaded little creature that isn’t particularly appreciate of the job fate has given her.” Kavaa said. She thought for a moment of what to say. Kavaa realised there was a crowd of people looking in horror at her. She took a deep breath and thought of what Arascus would say. What Arascus would say is that he would not get into a worthless verbal spat in the first place. He probably would have just made a joke when Ciria first appeared and then said he’s helping and trying to make up for the past crimes. That he was some reformed God. He just wouldn’t bother.

And if Arascus was no help, then what would Kassie do? What would precious little Kassie do? Kavaa did not know. She was no Kassandora, she was just Kavaa. She was just a bitter, contemptible, little creature that had grown tired of its eternal, fruitless crusade against ill health. Why was she even bothering? Kavaa felt her hands instinctively ball up into fists as Ciria spoke. “Kavaa or Goddess of Health, I do not hate you. You are one of the few White Pantheon Divines I actually respect still.” Ciria began diplomatically. Kavaa had spent too much time with Malam to believe that. She didn’t know or care on whether the woman was being truthful, she just assumed it a lie. “But this is why I have come to hear you out. If you were Maisara or Fortia then what talk would there be? They just assume themselves right, there is nothing to discuss with them. Why work for Arascus? And don’t make this about the crimes of the White Pantheon or about the ancient history. Why now?”

Why? Kavaa stood there and felt her own chest rise. Why? What sort of question was that? Why? There was no reason why! Same as why people wanted to be healthy and why they did not want to be ill. Because it felt good, that’s why! Because Kavaa had thought she would never meet another soul was fighting a war they knew they would never win until she met Kassandora. That’s why! “I said it at the start.” Kavaa replied coldly. “If you have ask, you’ll never understand in the first place.” She raised her arm and flicked with her hand away. “Now shoo, I have work to attend to.”

Ciria stood there, her shoulders low, her eyebrows dropping, her lips sad. She shook her head. “We both know that the more complicated something is, the simpler it is actually.”

Kavaa took a deep breath and saw Maisara in front of her. She saw Fortia and Allasaria and Elassa and that inner marble chamber of the White Pantheon meeting room with its tall columns and its floating lamps and its magical seats. She swept Ciria away from her heart and her mind. It was not into the bin of passionate dislike she had for Malam, and she doubted whether she could truly hate anyone, nor annoyance like with Helenna. She just swept Ciria away, far and far away until the woman was in some place Kavaa did not know about and had no intention of exploring.

When Kavaa replied, her tone was cold and stable and unwavering. “I have come to do a job Ciria. I am here to heal the UNN and give them an order. I do not know what is going to be done with and all I ask is that you trust me that I have no intention of using it against you. I am the Goddess of Health, the gift is too much to waste, let me do my job or tell me to leave.”

“Kavaa…” Ciria half asked, half whimpered, half moaned the name. “Really Kavaa, you’re a force for good. Please, I just want to know why.”

“One or the other Ciria.” Kavaa replied.

“But-” Kavaa interrupted Ciria this time. She didn’t want to share another word with the Goddess of so called Civilization. What was Civilization without Health anyway? Kavaa was building block for Ciria. This little deity should be on her knees. At the very least, this little deity should just accept and be happy at the work Kavaa was doing so that Ciria did not have to.

“I heal and bless or I leave. Your choice.” Ciria said nothing. She just stared at Kavaa for a few seconds and Kavaa took the first move. She always did. There was no reason to wait for such slow layabouts at the end of day. No reason to talk or discuss or do anything else. There was simply people to be healed, lives to be saved, tears of happiness to be spilled and smiled to be had. And Kavaa was there to make sure they would be spilled.

The Goddess of Health turned towards the hospitals and retreated back inside. Tears to be spilled. People to be healed. Smiles to be had. Lives to be saved. The Goddess of Health would do it all and Kavaa was only there to facilitate the work to be done.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep