Chương 30: The People of the Hidden Island

"Bah... it's just another bunch of mortals," Cerys sighed, her head drooping in disappointment as the crowd stared at her in fear.

"The visiare can live for thousands of years. I'm not sure what other mortals would say if we put them in the same category..."

"If they die, they're mortals," Cerys protested.

"You know what? I don't dislike your simple way of thinking. You save yourself a lot of trouble that way."

"Is that an insult or a compliment?"

"It's me saying you're right. If they die, they're mortals."

"Hehe, I'm always right."

"Don't exaggerate..." The onlookers listened to that strange conversation in bewilderment, but the eyes of one of them, an old man with a sky-blue beard, suddenly lit up. All the visiare felt some kind of fear toward the strange newcomers. But the old man gathered his courage and began making his way toward Nerez with slow, determined steps. I see that, unlike elves, the years really do show on them. Still... to bear marks of life like that, how many thousands of years must have passed?

"Excuse me... excuse me, please," he asked in a hoarse yet gentle voice.

"You are not only speaking our language. You also know the name of our race and our longevity... How is that possible?" Nerez hesitated for a few seconds. How was he supposed to explain the Godscript to them when he barely understood it himself? Apparently, it was a divine tool that turned the knowledge of the cosmos into understandable data. Or was it the will of the cosmos? And that knowledge, or will, was called the Divine Order... which he also did not really understand. But Cerys stepped in before him.

"We're gods, of course we know that much. Don't look down on us." The old man and everyone present were stunned. Gods? No, it was not unbelievable. In fact, it was an explanation that matched the powerful aura their shining magenta eyes could see surrounding the two figures. It also explained why the visiare were so afraid of them. Especially around Nerez. To the visiare, his aura was no longer merely powerful, but rather terrifying.

Without thinking twice, they all prostrated themselves on the ground, or at least everyone who could. Many had no room left in the cavern and remained standing instead, awkwardly lowering their heads in a clumsy attempt at reverence.

"Honestly, that's not necessary..." Nerez tried to stop them.

"You can get up, or some bug is going to crawl onto your clothes." Many of the more delicate-looking young women stood up without needing to be told twice, but they kept their heads lowered.

"Forgive our offenses, and thank you for your great compassion..." the old man said, bowing after he rose. What offenses is he talking about...?

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Thaelor. I am the Archonte of the city of Atlenia."

"Archonte?" This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"The lord of the city... though nothing remains of it now." Thaelor let out a heavy sigh before continuing.

"Our city was located on an island in the Granio Sea... But a magical storm struck our shores and destroyed the barrier that separated us from the rest of the world... The island that was home to our city began to sink, but when we thought all was lost, a light enveloped us and... well... we appeared here..."

"Too much blah blah! Get to the point already!" Cerys huffed, losing her patience.

"Ah, forgive me, please, Your Divinity!"

"Your Divinity...? Don't worry. Cerys just has trouble keeping her temper in check. I'll make sure she doesn't do anything to any of you," Nerez tried to reassure him.

"I understand that it must have been a traumatic experience." Old Thaelor looked at him with watery eyes, as if he had found his savior. Apparently, to him, Cerys was more frightening than the flood. Cerys, for her part, merely grumbled, crossing her arms and looking away. This was still better than a skeleton's chop, after all.

"If I may... I wanted to ask where exactly we are..." Nerez looked him in the eyes and began scratching his head awkwardly.

"Well... how should I put it... you're in the underworld..." Every expectant face instantly went pale.

"But calm down! You're not dead, I can assure you of that!" Everyone calmed down enough to begin whispering among themselves, but not being dead did not mean their problems had been solved.

"If we are in the underworld... then that means you are..." Thaelor asked, swallowing.

"Nereziel! The god of death, of course!" Chop"Ouch...!" It was Cerys who answered, puffing out her chest, only to immediately receive a reprimanding chop from Nerez.

"What did I say this time?!"

"That was the part of the explanation I wanted to skip."

"It's the most important part!" Nerez let out a resigned sigh. Now the pallor had returned to the faces of all the visiare.

"In theory, I ended up as the god of death, but don't worry, I haven't come for your lives or anything like that... This is just a coincidence."

"Forgive me for mentioning this. I do not wish to offend you," Thaelor said hesitantly.

"But in appearance and name, you are somewhat different from the one we knew as the god of death..."

"You are now in Eryndea..." Nerez explained, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.

"I don't know what world you came from, but you're probably referring to a god from there..."

"Your world must have been coming to an end," Cerys added without holding anything back.... The whispers among the visiare intensified.

"This is our punishment for shutting ourselves away from the outside..." Thaelor finally muttered.

"We were punished for our ignorance and apathy toward what was happening in the world..."

"I don't think this is a punishment," Nerez replied.

"I don't know how or why worlds end (at least not the magical explanation, only the scientific one). But I'm sure it isn't the fault of a small island that minded its own business without bothering anyone."

"Lord Nereziel...!" The old man's eyes began shining again.

"In fact, I think that is the correct attitude: keeping to yourselves without bothering anyone or being bothered. What more could anyone ask for?" Nerez continued, crossing his arms with an expression that reflected absolute conviction.

"If it were up to me, I'd say you were the ideal people. I would have been happy to be your patron god."

"Do you mean that, Lord Nereziel?!"

"Of... course...?"

"Does that mean that if we worship you, you'll become our guardian god?!"

"Eh... guardian...?"

"Lord Nereziel!"

"Yes, that's my name..."

"Please! I implore you! Be our guardian god!"

"..." But once again, it was Cerys who could not hold back any longer and stepped in, invoking her Eidolon, the gigantic black scythe with a spectral gleam.

"Ah, she's a reaper!"

"As expected of the god of death... even his servants are gods..."

"Please don't kill us!" Apparently, there were also legends of the Grim Reaper in the world the visiare came from.

"It was my fault! Please, take only me! Let my people and my granddaughter live!"

"Grandfather! No!" Thaelor prostrated himself on the ground once more, begging for mercy, but a young woman ran toward him and shielded him with her body. She wore finely decorated clothes with raised patterns, like the old man's, and her long hair, which was in a lighter shade of sky-blue, was adorned with two braids gathered behind her head. Both figures trembled on the ground, while among the onlookers, a young man and another young woman were on the verge of rushing forward as well.

"Do not be insolent, mortals!" Cerys exclaimed.

"Nereziel is one of Eryndea's three absolute gods, not some mere local deity. Why should he be your guardian god?" The visiare were left dumbfounded. Some even fainted. Their stricken expressions showed that they had just understood what Thaelor had asked for, and whom he had asked it of.... As for Nerez, who had watched everything unfold without finding the right moment to intervene, he brought a hand to his forehead, already regretting what he was about to say.