Return of the Woodcutter

[I am Valinar, the goddess of Bravery. Or at least what remains of her.]

That particular sentence made Aito lose the little interest he had in the notification window. He stared at it, at a loss as to what to do with it. The gods with their war and forced urgent quest were seriously starting to rub him the wrong way. And now, there was another one that he felt would try to rope him into some sort of perilous situation "for a change."

'The fuck is that divine swindler gonna try to make me do?' He thought while switching the skewered meat side as not to overcook one side.

[I can read your thoughts, you know.]

'Shit…'

[Shit indeed. Now, just be quiet and cook your meat while listening to me. We have already lost enough time with your hungry monkey over there, who by the way can't see me.]

Jack, seated by the fire, had drool coming out of its mouth, dripping down its chin onto the rocky ground while it stared at its soon-to-be dinner.

'I don't see the harm in listening to her, since she'll disappear soon, anyway.' Aito thought out of habit. Even if he knew now that somebody was listening, he couldn't restrain himself from thinking. 'And if it can keep that flying thing from making divine shit commentaries, then all the more reason for me not to interrupt her. Although I probably will.'

[Yes, so listen.] Valinar said, purposely neglecting Aito's other disrespectful thoughts. [Sigh. I am one of Valinar's residual divine power. Let me make this clear, I am her, but not her at the same time. So treat me as if I was her but keep in mind that I am not.]

Aito felt a headache coming from that nonsense. Couldn't she just say that she wasn't the goddess to avoid confusion?

[Anyway, I have left me and three other me behind before sacrificing my divinity to create the Veil, a powerful barrier surrounding the material plain to prevent a foreign god and his demigods dwelling into the Void to set foot on Iris. It also serves as a conduit to manage the system you are currently using.]

'Shit…' Aito thought, thinking that what he was about to hear something that wouldn't be to his liking.

[But I know it won't be enough to stop him. It would just delay the bastard. I am certain that by now he is on the verge of finding a way to either break through it or subvert the Veil using some unknown means. And since it only blocks gods or demi-gods from entering, his Fearmongers are still wreaking havoc in Iris.]

'So let me guess,' Aito said, using his thoughts to avoid having Jack know he was talking with an entity visible only to him. 'You hid inheritances in the hope that someone would eventually be 'brave' enough to gather those. Once that someone inherits those fully, that someone would somewhat find some way to somehow save Iris. What kind of bullshit is that?'

[I never talked about saving my world. We are talking about power. A power I wouldn't purposely leave in mortal hands if I could help it. I had no choice. One, if not more, of the remaining Iris gods might be a traitor. That incomplete candle you have is a part of the most important item I wanted to pass on to a worthy one, but also the reason I had to hide my so-called inheritance. Don't let its appearance deceive you, it is an object of tremendous power from which the current system managed by the gods derives from. As for its name and origin, hum, I can't seem to recall them. It can't be helped, my memories are fragmented. All I can say for sure is that this item is related to the Balance and I cannot take the risk of having it fall into a traitor's hand. Thus, do not ever give it to a god. Ever. Even if you can trust one.]

Aito turned his gaze toward the ordinary still lit candle in his other hand, understanding why it could permit him access to other's status windows. But more importantly, it appeared to grant classes.

[So, before dying, I split the candle into four parts and, with a few other things, hid those far from the prying eyes of the gods. That island which is located in between the planes was perfect. Those siblings of mine would not think about searching here, just under their noses. And in case someone, be it a mortal or a god, ever stumbles upon one inheritance by chance, he wouldn't have been able to activate it using normal means without passing my test. Which you did, that's why you are now considered the candle's owner. Congratulations.]

'Double shit…' He cursed internally, tired of seeing "congratulations" written on a floating blue window. It also troubled Aito to know he had triggered what was happening to him right now. Even if he didn't know yet how to return to Earth, he needed the power to do so. That much was clear.

But relying on a dead goddess's inheritance, he knew nothing about, to gain the strength he needed seemed like a terrible idea. He also really didn't want to meddle in some kind of conflict between divine beings with powers far beyond his understanding—although, in a way, he had already set foot in it since his revival.

'I don't want your inheritance. Just take it back. Find someone else.' Aito said mentally, before throwing a medium-rare skewered meat to Jack who caught it on the fly and almost instantly started to eat it.

[Hum, don't you want to go back to your world?]

'Don't you play that game with me!' He said, thinking that she was trying to take advantage of his current goal—which she was apparently already aware of—to bait him into accepting her inheritance.

[I am not playing any game, but I sure am almost out of time. So let me tell you something that might just help you reach your objective. Once that candle is whole again, it will grant you the power to return to Earth. And believe me when I say transmigration is no easy feat. Don't compare it to your revival. I do not have the time to go into details, but let's just say there is a reason gods choose to summon dead humans instead of live ones. Therefore, my inheritance might just be your only way out of Iris.]

Aito sighed. Valinar could be trying to swindle him into completing the candle for some unknown motives. Or she was actually telling the truth. Either way, he had no choice but to believe her since he had no other alternatives—for now, that is.

'I'll do it, but if I somehow find another way back, I will throw that thing away.'

[Hum, I suppose it is better than nothing.] Valinar said as her blue window started to fade. [… I feel my power weakening.]

'Wait! Tell me where to look for the next part of your inheritance.'

[I… think one of them was given for safekeeping to the Old Farsighter living in the Icehel frozen plains. Be careful, that old hag is powerful, and she hates visitors. But if you find an offering to her liking, she might let you leave with or without the candle's piece.]

'Might let me leave… great.' He said.

[Two last things, if you have to put your trust in one god, it would be Belmont. Despite his title as the god of sloth, he works himself to death to keep this world from being destroyed, and... he was my husband.]

Aito grunted. Belmont was probably the last god he would like to come into contact with. After all, it was that bastard who had sent him to save that ungrateful girl and the other guy.

And what about him being her husband? Didn't she use the terms 'siblings' before? Not that he cared, anyway. This world may allow incest for all he cared, but it was not his kink. Still, he won't judge them for their culture.

[Sigh. Gods are siblings only in name to symbolize unity.] Valinar said, her means of communication becoming blurrier by the passing seconds. Knowing she was almost out of time, she cut her explanation short and got to her last advice. [To pass my tests, remember this. I praise four virtues. Acceptance toward one's own weakness. Benevolence towards those in need. Righteousness for those who deserve it. Bravery in the face of an unknown destiny. Also, do not forget that everything isn't black or whi—]

The notification window disappeared before Valinar could finish what she had to say.

'Black or white, but grey.' He thought, completing her sentence that was all too familiar to him since his father liked to say it from time to time.

That conversation left him with more questions than answers. Although he had known in advance, it would bring him troubles, at least he had learned of a way home.

But right now, even if his mind was in jeopardy, he wanted to rest above all else.. And chances were, the monkey army wouldn't dare to set foot in the cave, for a while at least, turning his current resting place into a safe house—something he never had before and he wasn't about to waste that opportunity to rest.