I gaze upon someone like Fer or Arascus or Malam or Helenna and I have to ask, why is it that they can talk to mortals and I can not? What is it that they possess that I lack?

– Written by Goddess Kavaa, of Health, in the modern day.

Kassandora kicked her legs in the air as the address of Arascus’ temporary base of operations came into view. She was being carried through the air like a doll. A series of opaque crimson bands had been conjured up around her stomach as if a giant hand had decided to hoist her up. Next to her, Anassa shot through the air and Kassandora followed along, resigned to this humiliating display. The pair shot through the evening sky of Southern Rilia at the fastest speed Anassa could safely carry Kassandora. Without her sister’s assistance, the trip would have been hours even by plane. With her sister’s assistance, it was a quarter of an hour from the local Hole to the estate Arascus had been loaned.

Kassandora saw Elassa come into view. The Goddess of Magic was sculpting a marvellous statue of a series of animals, all stood on each other’s back. She wore blue and waved hands, smattered with rings, about. Those rings shone like azure candleflames as more soil lifted out of the ground and was crushed into mortar before being melted and stuck onto the rock. Anassa said nothing, she purposefully flew around Elassa and landed on the other side of the building. Maybe someone else would ask why, Kassandora just had a habit of making sure her nose was kept to her own business. She looked around at the odd buildings. They had no second floor but they were too large to be just bungalows.

Before Kassandora could even take a step, Arascus was already coming out from the most central of the buildings. As always, he was in a black and gold Imperial uniform, and he waved to Kassandora and Anassa. Anassa waved back, Kassandora fell a dozen feet as she was finally released from being carried. She was faster than her sister to report to their father. Kassandora began to speak before she even finished closing the distance to Arascus. “I brought Anassa.”

“I brought both of us here.” Anassa corrected her and Kassandora did not bother falling for the annoying bait. Neither did Arascus.

“I could take the train but you said it was urgent.” Kassandora explained herself. What else was there to say? Arascus had said it was urgent and important so Kassandora would treat it as urgent and important.

“It’s urgent.” Arascus confirmed.

“Also I wanted to come when I heard.” Anassa said. Arascus looked at the Goddess of Sorcery and the woman’s cheeks went red under his gaze. “I mean, it is waking a sister.”

“Fer will be angry we have not invited her.” Arascus said. Kassandora supposed she should have said before, but Anassa demanded an answer and whilst everything in her books operated on a need-to-know basis, everything did not include exceptions. “Will your fronts stay secure is the question?”

“Of course they will.” Anassa said, Kassandora rolled her eyes. What a stupid girl, she completely misunderstood the question. “I’m still there, it’s deep but it’s not far. Closer than from here to Lubska.”

“We’ll be going to Arika.” Arascus said. “Kass? How does it look?”

“My vanguard has almost reached the rift. Well it should be nearing on, by distance calculations we’re underneath the Sassara.” She looked to the side and looked up at her sister. It was annoying that Anassa was slightly just taller. Likewise, it was annoying that she had such a self-satisfied smile all the time. Her dress of red silk was annoying because she should be wearing an Imperial uniform and it was made worse by the fact the dress was obviously a manifestation of sorcery. It was so impeccably clean it looked as if it had just been unwrapped, even handwashing by the best team of maids out there would not get a material to be so pristine.

“I meant Anassa’s front.” Arascus corrected. Kassandora knew that Arascus meant that, she had just avoided the responsibility of whether.

“It’s not bad but it’s not good.” There. That wasn’t a lie. The dwarves should hold. Should. Anassa had pushed them away from the various frontline Holds now and given time for the Imperial Army to fortify against Tartarus. It was just a question of how strong those fortifications were. And besides, they would be gone for how long? But then a battle could be decided in a moment, and a campaign could be decided in a battle.

“Anassa’s going with us then.” Arascus said and Kassandora sighed with relief. There was something comforting in the fact it hadn’t been her choice. Even if the defences failed, she wouldn’t need to blame Arascus, she could just get to work to fixing the problem.

“Thank you.” Anassa said, she closed her eyes, clasped her hands before her stomach and made a slight bow. Everything about the Goddess of Sorcery was annoying, the fact she was so obvious in how she sucked up to Arascus was just as annoying as the fact her clothes were mere figments of the woman’s own imagination. Who in their right mind wanted to wear a dress of red silk for every occasion? Kassandora readjusted her black coat and white shirt.

“So is everyone here or are we waiting for someone?” Kassandora asked.

“We’re just waiting for you.” Arascus said. “But first, I want you to do something.”

“What?” Kassandora asked.

“Talk to Kavaa.” First Baalka, now Kavaa. Kassandora stood there as she felt the world speed up and slow down and freeze and burn up. What exactly was she supposed to do here? With Baalka, at least it was a job. With Kavaa? Well, the issue was the same as with Baalka. Baalka was a sister, Kavaa was something else but still close. How could something close be a job?

“Excuse me?” Kassandora asked. Anything but this.

“I’ll give you twenty minutes to see to Kavaa before we start.” Arascus said. “But take your time, she has to be ready.” Immediately, Kassandora’s eyes narrowed. If her father was talking to her like this then something must have happened. But if he gave her just an amount of time then Kavaa must be fine. She couldn’t be dead? Could she? What a stupid thought, of course Kavaa wasn’t dead. Kassandora would have known about it already if the Goddess of Health had died.

“Is she fine?” Kassandora asked in a slow and careful tone. Anassa made some annoying chuckle from behind, as if the Goddess of Sorcery did not have feelings of her own.

“She is fine, there’s nothing wrong with her.” Arascus said and clicked his tongue. He looked at Anassa and sighed. Was the man actually lost for words? Or maybe he was trying to hide something before Anassa? But then why would have something to hide? Was Anassa not reliable anymore? The Goddess of Sorcery was a sister though, that was… Kassandora tapped her thumb across each of her fingertips. The moment of madness must have lasted less than a moment, but she realised that in that moment, her mind had started to outspeed logic. Arascus put his hand on her shoulder. “I sent her off to the UNN to create a Holy Order, let’s leave it at the fact she took their optimism worse than was expected.”

Kavaa taking that worse than expected? And what exactly was Kassandora supposed to say to that? On one hand, she hated that she was incompetent in managing these situations. On the other… Well, she was Kassandora. Everyone knew she gave good advice and everyone knew what her advice looked like. It was simply things one did not want to hear. And now? With Kavaa? She… Kassandora looked up at Arascus, her eyes wide with nervousness. She felt her hands tremble and hand to once tap her thumb on each tip of her finger to calm down. Why was Anassa here? Anassa should be sent back to the underground so that Kassandora could ask what she needed to ask. Arascus put

“And what’s that?” Kassandora asked.

“You’ll know what it is when you’re there. Don’t worry. She’s in that room.” Arascus said and pointed to a door to their left.

“That’s not a plan.”

Arascus smiled, shook her head and poked his finger into Kassandora’s chest. “The plan is in here.” He said and turned. “Come Ana, I have wine. Neneria’s started on it already.” He turned and Anassa disappeared from Kassandora’s side to appear by Arascus. The fact the woman used every single moment to show her power, and that she could not even be bothered to traverse what? Half a dozen feet? That was annoying too. Arascus and Anassa swiftly disappeared through a door and Kassandora was left standing there.

Kassandora thought about what to do for a moment, and upon realizing she was planning for this, she gave up, turned, and marched to the door Arascus had pointed out. Why she felt the exact same sort of tension as she would before declaring a battle, she did not know. Besides it was obvious why Arascus had assigned her this job. Everyone knew that Kavaa and her were close. Even a child would be able to point that out. Her hand touched the handle. She was making a scene. Elassa would probably be looking at her. Kassandora took a deep breath, silently cursed herself and opened the damn door.

Kavaa was indeed inside. She was sitting on a chair by a table, slumped over a desk in her black coat. There was a wooden floor, a fireplace or something mounted onto the wall, a window, although Kassandora didn’t care. For once, the paranoia she had self-taught herself to survive warfare failed to kick in when she saw the Goddess of Health. The room smelled of gin although Kassandora couldn’t see any signs of drunkenness on Kavaa. There was a bottle on the table, it was opened but the drink inside untouched. Kassandora did not know how to approach. Kassandora circled around the room and tried to quickly sit opposite Kavaa. The Goddess of Health looked up, her grey eyes sharp and tired and shining. Her face framed by a hood of hair just as grey as her eyes. “Kass.” Kavaa said.

What was there to say? “Kav.” Kassandora replied and Kavaa smiled. She laid her head on the desk and ran her finger around the rim of her empty glass.

“Are you the last one?” Kavaa asked.

“I am.”

“Then we should get going.” Kavaa said with a sigh and stood up immediately. She looked down at Kassandora. The Goddess of War patted the table.

“Sit Kav.” Kavaa sat down immediately.

“Did something happen?”

“I don’t know.” Kassandora said. “Did something happen?”

“You tell me. Something’s off.” Kavaa replied.

Kassandora crossed her arms and sat up straight. “I thought something was off with you.” Why didn’t she say Arascus told her to check? Wouldn’t that have made it so much easier? But then wasn’t it shameful that she needed to be directed to check up on her friend?

“Nothing’s off with me.” Kavaa scowled.

“Well nothing’s off with me either.” Kassandora replied.

“So everything is normal and yet something is off?” Kassandora asked pointedly. There was only one glass on the table. Her eyes went to the bottle. It would be rude to just swig straight though, wouldn’t it?

“It seems so.” Kavaa said. Her scowl cracked into a smile. So did Kassandora’s.

“Crazy that.” Kassandora said, lighter. Two Goddesses looked at each other. Haggard, humourless eyes of grey met cold, emotionless eyes of crimson. How long did the silence go on for? Kassandora didn’t keep track, she did break it eventually though. “We’re the worst.” She declared and Kavaa burst out in laughter.

“Aren’t we?” She asked.

“Just the worst.” Kassandora said. “I know what my problem is, I have theorized of ways to fix it, I have failed to take a step forward down any of roads. I assume the situation is similar on your front too.”

Kavaa rolled her eyes in comedic exasperation rather than annoying dismissal and tiredly shook her head. “I went to the UNN, I saw people laugh and smile and I made a mother cry of happiness, then children scolded me on not being happy enough.”

“Terrible.” Kassandora said. “I have no advice to give.”

“I would not take any advice anyway.” Kavaa said. “What is there to say? I’m just a miserable bitch. I have no clue how you manage to stomach me.”

“Opposites attract but similarities bind.” Kassandora replied.

“Did Malam tell you that?”

“Believe it or not, I can read.” Kassandora answered and Kavaa smiled.

“I wanted to be a writer a long time ago, did you know?” She replied quickly.

“I did not.”

“I suppose you wouldn’t.” Kavaa said. “But that was long, long ago. Just after I formed. Do you know I spent six months not knowing I could heal? I just walked about, obviously I knew I was Divine, but you know what my healing is like. I thought I was the Goddess of fucking torture for a while.” Kavaa raised an eyebrow. “You?”

“Allasaria never told you?” Kassandora asked and Kavaa shook her head. “It’s nothing to talk about. I incarnated into the royal court of Sythia as it was in session. Allasaria was there, I almost fell into her arms. From there…” Kassandora shrugged. “Well, I assume you can figure it out. You throw me at a problem and the problem’s solved. Sythia itself was under siege so they threw me at that problem. The ease with which it was came to me decided what I was.”

“My sympathies.” Kavaa said and Kassandora silently cursed herself that she didn’t reply the same to Kavaa. She should have been faster on the pull of the trigger.

“So what in the UNN got you down?”

“Just children.” Kavaa said. “I didn’t realise just how soft I am.”

“Are you though?” Kassandora asked doubtfully and Kavaa shrugged.

“If not that, then what?”

“Just unused to it? Inexperienced?” Kassandora said and Kavaa rolled her eyes. Dismissively this time.

“Most likely I am.” Was Kavaa’s scowl at Kassandora? Or at herself? “A millennium in the Pantheon makes you forget you’re dealing with the same twenty or so people.” Kavaa’s scowl grew deeper. “There was a time when I was self-aware enough, I suppose I still am, when I knew it was a problem. I just did nothing about it.” In Kassandora’s mind, a blade struck blade and Kassandora realised she had the same problem.

“Goddesses don’t have friends.”

Kavaa nodded to that. “No they do not.” She declared. She grabbed the bottle of gin and then realised there was only one glass. “Honestly, a servant gave me this one. I don’t know where there’s more.”

“We’re adults, just pour and don’t drink it all.” Kassandora said. She felt her own smile become sheepish and her heart beat faster as she looked at Kavaa’s blush and sheepish, awkward smile.

“But as you said.” Kavaa began to pour. “Goddesses do not have friends indeed. It’s those twenty people and if it’s not those twenty people, then who?”

“No one.” Kassandora said, she pointed to the glass of gin in Kavaa’s hand and hurried her up.

“I’m more impressed with you.” Kavaa said. “Because you have a good relationship with your soldiers.” Kassandora shook her head. “I never had the problem the rest of you did. I saw mortals dying on the first day of my existence. Allasaria told me what it was like to make friends with them.”

“I meant with hand training your generals.”

“Do you not train your Clerics?” Kassandora asked.

“Touche.” Kavaa took a swig. Half the glass went just like that. She passed it to the Goddess of War who took it.

“It’s a job with the military. I assume it’s the same with Clerics. It’s just a job. Do I know that they will die someday and everything I crammed into their head will go to waste? Yes. But that’s part of the job. It’s like a farmer. After a while you’re just repeating the motions.”

“What about Iliyal?” Kavaa asked and Kassandora’s smile grew wide. She drank the rest of the gin and put the glass back down. Kavaa immediately began to refill it.

“Iliyal’s an exception.” How could he not be? This was an elf who single-handedly kept the cause going for a thousand years. To say he left an impression was an understatement. He was the greatest mortal to have ever lived.

“That’s going to hurt.” Kavaa said.

“I know it will.” Kassandora admitted. That was precisely why it was exciting. It shouldn’t be, but it was. A mortal would die and Kassandora would see what it was like. “But it will come when it comes, until then.” She tapped the glass.

“It’s my turn now.” Kavaa said. “Honestly I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“Because I should explain what’s wrong but I don’t know myself.” Kavaa said. “I just took it badly. I got comfortable I suppose.” And again, she drank half the glass before passing it to Kassandora. The Goddess of War drank her half as Kavaa kept on talking. Whiskey was a better taste, but it was not terrible. Definitely gin was better than cider or wine. “But that’s just repeating myself. I don’t know.” Kavaa shrugged. “Have you ever seen a child staring up at you, just full of awe?”

“Me and Allasaria were the twin Goddess of Victory for a while.” Kassandora said. “So plenty of times.”

“And?” Kavaa asked.

“It’s the Goddess of War that they look up at. Like I said to you before, Arascus is the first person ever to see the Kassandora and not deity.” Kavaa drank the whole glass and poured another, for Kassandora.

“When you said that the first time to me, I was envious.” She said lightly, there wasn’t a hint of shame in her voice. “And believe me, even back then, I would have not been afraid to admit I was envious. I think every Divine who saw you talk of him would be envious.”

“I know.” Kassandora said, looking down at the table as blood went to her cheeks. She still struggled to believe it, especially with how long it took the God of Pride to actually get through to her.

“But you know what the real envy was about?”

“Hmm?” Kassandora just pretended to find the gin she was swirling in her hand interesting.

“It was that even though I knew the words, and I could put them together and listen to what you said, I just could not understand what you meant. I knew it was great, and that was all I knew.” And to that, Kassandora had nothing to say. She just took a deep breath and drank the whole glass in one go. The bottle was empty when she went for the refill.

“I don’t know what to say to that.” Kassandora said.

“Don’t say anything.” Kavaa stood up. “Thanks for coming to talk.”

Kassandora had to admit, she could not just… It was a terrible admittance. If she said nothing, then nothing would come of it. Arascus would never speak about this to Kavaa and Anassa certainly wouldn’t either. But it had to be said. For Kassandora’s own sanity if nothing else. “Honestly, my dad sent me.”

The reply was immediate. “I know he did.” Kavaa looked down at Kassandora. “And you know what?”

“What?”

“I don’t care, you still came.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep