A/N: Sophia is a mess...

  -x-X-x-

  They’re back on the road again, but the dynamic has changed completely. With a full week of rest under the protection of her refuge’s wards, Sophia has been able to restore her divine power. She’s no longer quite so helpless anymore, thankfully. But… what should be a relief and a joy is somewhat tempered by everything else that has happened.

  Oren… was the God Killer. Even a week ter, it was still difficult for Sophia to wrap her head around. Not least because just thinking about it filled her with rage and fury. He’d killed everyone, and then on top of that, he’d kept it a secret, letting her remain oblivious to the danger at her side as they’d traveled together.

  Of course, if Sophia were really afraid of Oren, she would have let him take his own life. Either that or she would have exiled him from her presence entirely. That she hadn’t… well, in the end she needed him. She needed his strength.

  Law and the rest of the Heavens deserved vengeance for what had been done to them, that was undeniable. But Oren was just the patsy. His ‘friend’ Raythe had made it clear that the Otherworlder had been nothing but a tool. But who? Who were the gods who had tricked Oren into doing their bidding? Why were there divine beings intent on killing not just the Heavens, but also the Gods of the Mortal Pnes as well?

  Sophia had the feeling that her youth was to bme for her ck of knowledge once more. At only a few centuries old, she’d been one of the younger deities back in the Heavens. And while she’d been a voracious reader and an eager learner over the years, she was starting to feel like there had been things her tutors had been reluctant to tell her.

  She wasn’t even willing to entertain the thought that her father hadn’t known about these ‘dark’ gods. But that he hadn’t told her… well, Sophia was sure he had his reasons. Just like she now fully understood the ban on Otherworld Summoning. Oh sure, she’d always believed she comprehended it on an academic level… but seeing was believing, as they liked to say.

  Oren was dangerous, as evidenced by his ability to sughter not just his fellow humans but also gods and goddesses alike. He’d struggled against Raythe sure, but in the end he’d killed the God of Lies and Duplicity all the same. They both had.

  And that was another thing that Sophia was forced to contend with. She had pyed a rather rge role in another god’s death. Even all these days ter, she still felt guilty. Even knowing that Raythe would have gdly returned the favor without a second thought, she still felt sick to her stomach at times.

  Perhaps that was because she couldn’t truly pin down why she’d done it. Was it for her own survival? Than that made it an action born of desperation, but also selfishness. She’d killed so that she could live, a concept Sophia had always found to be distasteful when applied to intelligent beings. Lower intelligent creatures like predators hunting prey for food… that was one thing. They were following instincts and satisfying their basic physical needs.

  But those capable of higher thinking and complex problem solving were another story, or so Sophia had felt. Be they man or be they god, they were all capable of just… walking away from the violence. Of fleeing rather than stooping to the same level as the instigator.

  … That wasn’t true though, now was it? Those in the Heavens hadn’t fled the God Killer’s advance. They’d stood and fought, trying to save their home and themselves from Oren’s relentless bde. Only Sophia had fled, coward that she was. And when Raythe had stood over Oren, threatening them both and demanding answers from the exhausted and injured human, Sophia… Sophia hadn’t fled either. She’d picked up the closest weapon and fought back.

  Of course, then there was the other option. What if she hadn’t done it for herself? What if she hadn’t stabbed Raythe through his neck because of her own selfish desire to live… but because of something else? That option was almost worse in a way. The only other person in danger was Oren, after all.

  The thought of killing to save her father’s killer, to help the man who had taken everything from her… that turned her stomach as well. Sophia hated Oren for what he did to everyone she knew and loved. She didn’t want to think she’d sacrificed her innocence just to save his life.

  The third option then, was the most patable of the three. She’d done it… because Raythe deserved it. Because his death was part of her vengeance. It wasn’t about survival; it wasn’t about saving Oren. No, at the end of the day, Sophia had helped kill Raythe because he was the first steppingstone to avenging the deaths of her fellow gods and goddesses.

  Sophia liked that idea. Or so she told herself. For some reason, that was rather hard to stomach too. But then, that was why she’d spared Oren’s life in the end. She wouldn’t be killing any more gods or goddesses with her own two hands. She wouldn’t be stabbing anyone else with a butterknife any time soon. Oren would be her bde. He would be the instrument of her vengeance.

  Of course, that did mean she would eventually have to give him the Celestial Dagger sheathed at her waist. He would need some way of ending a divine being. They would probably also need to get him new equipment in Goldriver, the city they were heading towards even now. Hm, speaking of which…

  “Step close. I’m going to walk us forward again.”

  Without grumbling or compining, Oren steps over to her side, allowing Sophia to reach out and grab his arm. The dynamic between the two of them had indeed changed. Once upon a time, it had been Oren who had carried Sophia. Now it was she who sped up their travel. With a burst of divine power shielded by the enchanted neckce around her neck, Sophia steps them forward down the road as far as her eye can currently reach.

  She doesn’t dare go further than anything in her line of sight. Not only would too rge of a discharge of divine energy potentially be caught by the God Hunters, but also who knew if they didn’t have traps meant to draw divine teleportation off track? That was the only reason that they weren’t in Goldriver yet. But still, the travel was being cut down immensely, even if they still took breaks and walked normally just to make sure nobody was on the road with them that might catch her divine actions.

  Letting go of Oren’s arm, Sophia steps away from him and they resume their journey to Goldriver, another stretch of road closer than they were before.

  Admittedly, being able to hop right over Oakvale on their way South had been quite the relief for Sophia. Between everything that had happened, she thought she might be starting to hate humans. Otherworlders were one thing. They were abominations and aberrations that damaged the natural fabric of Creation, just like her father had always said. Sophia had been foolish to think of Oren as different for a time.

  … But at least he had an excuse. Oren had been ripped from his world, pulled into this one, and lied to. She couldn’t exactly bring herself to pity him, not after what he’d done, but she could at least understand why it had all happened. However… what about the rest of the world? What about the God Hunters?

  Sure, one could argue they were being maniputed as well, because Sophia now had undeniable proof that they were from Raythe’s boasting and oversharing. The God Hunters were being controlled by evil gods. It would be ironic if it wasn’t literally an existential threat to her very existence.

  And yet, they were people of this world. Of this universe. Of Creation. Unlike an Otherworlder like Oren, these were people who had been born under the light of the Heavens. Under Law’s righteous rule. To see them so easily maniputed and turned to violence against the divine and those who dared to worship the divine didn’t just turn Sophia’s stomach… it made her see red.

  She had felt bad for the people of Oakvale at first. Having to live under the capricious and cruel antics of someone as small-minded and vile as Elric Steelwater. But then they’d shown their true colors after Elric’s death. They’d revealed that at the end of the day, they weren’t willing to stand up for themselves… so why should Sophia waste time on any of them?

  No. She wasn’t doing this for the mortals. If they were the only reason to track down Oren’s summoners, then Sophia might as well have stayed in her refuge. But that would have meant living in close quarters with her father’s killer for who knew how long and that… that wasn’t happening.

  They were going to go to Goldriver and discern whether there was a big enough presence of God Hunters in the city for their purposes. They were going to hunt the hunters and use them to find a Deity of the Mortal Pnes who might know more about these gods who had summoned Oren. Because Sophia was convinced of one thing… whoever these divinities were, they were old. Very old.

  They were also likely magnitudes more powerful than her too. Raythe certainly had been. Killing him had been more of a fluke combined with him getting sloppy more than anything. And if Raythe was stronger than her, just how much stronger would those above Raythe be? But that was okay because Law had been an ancient and powerful god as well. He’d been THE ancient and powerful god. And Sophia had the one who killed him at her side. These… usurpers would discover that their own weapon would be their undoing.

  Determination filling every fiber of her being, Sophia deems them having walked far enough physically for another hop forward. But just as she’s opening her mouth to tell Oren to come close again, she pauses upon noticing someone else coming down the road in the opposite direction from them.

  Immediately, Sophia stiffens up and grabs Oren anyways, albeit to get his attention instead.

  “Someone up ahead. Tell me what you see.”

  To his credit, Oren doesn’t hesitate to put his enhanced Otherworlder eyes to use for her.

  “I see… a man with a beard. He looks old. Gray hair and wrinkles. He’s using a walking stick.”

  Sophia frowns but finally nods. Slowly, they close the distance with the man and she’s able to make out all of those details and more herself. The man is indeed old. His hair is wild and untamed, neither pulled back with a hair tie or cut short by a barber any time recently. His beard is likewise quite rge and scraggly, going down to mid chest.

  His clothes are weathered and worn but well maintained. Despite his unkempt hair giving him a somewhat ragged appearance, his clothing has no holes. It’s also as Oren had said. He’s wielding a walking stick in his right hand and nothing else that Sophia can see. And yet… after their encounter with Raythe, she can’t help but be on edge. Is there anything remotely suspicious about happening upon another traveler venturing on foot down a road meant for travelers? Perhaps not. But her guard is up all the same.

  To his credit, Oren seems to be tense and ready for something to happen as well. Even unarmed, he’s still capable of incredible violence. If the old man proves to not be an old man at all, Sophia is sure that between the two of them, they can take him. All of the sudden, he’s upon them. Or are they upon him? Perhaps it would be more accurate to describe it as a mutual ‘uponing’.

  Their paths finally cross and Sophia prepares herself for anything… only to blink when the old man just smiles and tips his head to them both.

  “Good day.”

  And then continues on his way. Neither Sophia nor Oren stop walking, but they do both noticeably slow down as… nothing happens. And then nothing continues happening, even as the distance between them and the old traveler grows and grows and grows. After about thirsty seconds, Sophia flushes a little bit, embarrassed by her silence. Except at this point, it would be even more ridiculous to turn and call out ‘and a good day to you too!’ wouldn’t it? By now, the old man was too far away…

  Gncing back over her shoulder a handful of times, Sophia bites her lower lip as she watches the other traveler fade into the distance. Maybe… maybe she was being a little paranoid. For a moment she forgets herself and who she’s with and lets out a breathy ugh.

  “I can’t believe I thought he was going to attack us or something for a moment. Honestly… I’m becoming paranoid.”

  Of course, she remembers she’s supposed to hate Oren a moment ter, and that she’s certainly not supposed to be sharing ughs or confiding in the damn God Killer. Only, Oren doesn’t share in her ughter anyways. Instead, after a moment her sworn servant responds quietly.

  “It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you, Goddess.”

  That was… a very good point. Not that Sophia would admit as much. Instead, after processing his words, she checks to make sure the old man is fully out of sight and over the hill behind them and then checks up ahead as well to make sure no one else is coming in their direction. Once she’s confirmed that the road is clear again, she wordlessly grabs Oren and teleports them forward again.

  It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you…

  Well. He’s certainly not wrong about that.

  -x-X-x-

  A/N: Sophia out here thinking she's about to be attacked by random old geezers. Totally healthy.

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