"This place... It feels like it’s protecting me. But the monsters outside are relentless. You shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous." He started to lecture her seriously forgetting his own situation.
Adeline glanced at him, her expression softening but she spoke with a cheerful tone. "I could say the same to you. You’re lucky I found you."
Dimitri’s eyes flickered, and he smiled softly. "Thank you... For healing me. I thought I was going to die."
As Dimitri rested, Adeline retreated into her thoughts. Goddess, she called silently. Was this why you were so desperate to send me here this morning? To save Dimitri?
"Yes," The Goddess admitted. Her voice was solemn. "In the original story, Dimitri only came here when he was older and stronger. He made it to the Mage Tower then. But the plot has changed. Since Dimitri left so young, he couldn’t make it here safely. If you hadn’t come, he would have..."
The Goddess didn’t finish, but Adeline understood. Her chest tightened at the thought. She couldn’t imagine what would have happened if she hadn’t arrived here. Every event that had strayed away from the plot brought her guilt.
Was she doing the right thing by changing the plot this much? She was glad she could help out Benedict but she was responsible for the bad things that had happened because of her meddling, not just the good things.
And the ruins? Are they really what I’m here for? She asked.
"Yes," The Goddess said, her tone brightening. "This is just a... Happy coincidence. You were meant to explore these ruins and Dimitri... Well, let’s just say this is his lucky day."
Adeline glanced around the room, her gaze falling on a door opposite the entrance. It was covered in runes similar to those on the walls, glowing faintly with magic.
"What’s behind that door?" She asked, nodding toward it.
Dimitri shook his head. "I don’t know. I tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. I thought... Maybe because I was injured. But now that I’m healed..." He planned to try opening it again.
He tried to go deeper inside because of the monsters chasing him. The door didn’t budge, but he was still safe because for some reason the monsters dared not approach him while he was inside... It was like a magical force was protecting him.
He stood, testing his strength now that he was fully healed. With a determined look, he approached the door and placed his hands against it. The runes flared brightly, but the door didn’t move. They seemed to be reacting to his powers though...
Adeline frowned. "If you can’t open it, what chance do I have?"
Dimitri stepped back, his shoulders slumping. "Maybe it requires something else. A key? Or..."
Adeline bit her lip, her curiosity piqued despite her frustration. She approached the door and studied the runes carefully. They were in a language she couldn’t quite understand. They seemed familiar but at the same time confusing.
The dim lighting from the torches on either side of the room made it hard to see anything. She could barely make out things. So once again, she used her holy powers to light up the room.
"See! It’s so versatile!" The Goddess couldn’t help but exclaim. You don’t have to use it only for healing. There are so many things you could do.
Adeline shot a look up at the ceiling, she was not amused. Ignoring the Goddess she started to look around the room to see if there was anything that could help her open the door. There were a bunch of vines on the inside too, which seemed weird to her.
She shook her head and kept looking. There was absolutely nothing! No instructions, no keys... Nothing! How was she supposed to get the door open now?
’Well, aren’t you going to lend a hand?" She asked the Goddess sarcastically.
"Just look up!" Yelled the Goddess out of frustration! Seriously, how dumb can this child be?!
Adeline pouted and looked up as instructed. She was too focused on what was below that she ignored the walls and the runes.
Adeline’s light illuminated the chamber, casting an ethereal glow across the stone walls. She couldn’t help but gasp, it was so beautiful. Because of the faint light, she missed that some of the walls had carvings.
There were majestic animals, mystical and ancient, animals like dragons and gryphons... And at the centre of them all, the Goddess. She had her eyes closed, but she looked gentle overall. Her hair flowed like the rivers, they were long and untamed.
The animals were bowing to her... She gulped and looked at the runes around her.
The holy magic pulsed faintly in her hands, making the ancient runes on the door glimmer in response. Shadows of vines danced across the room, they looked eerie. Why were the ruins of a Goddess so eerie?! Where is the divine presence?! She couldn’t feel it.
’So was that supposed to be you?’ Adeline asked in a teasing manner. Did she write herself to be the supreme Goddess to whom even mighty dragons bow down?
"Eh?" The Goddess was confused about her question. She didn’t seem to understand what Adeline was referring to.
’The Goddess! In these murals! Is that supposed to be you? Is this what you really look like?’ The only thing Adeline knew about the Goddes was her voice... And that she was annoying.
"What? That’s not me! That’s the diety of this world. The Sun Goddess." She whined. She wishes she was the Sun Goddess. If she was, she would have more abilities than what she had now.
’So, you’re telling me that you’re not the Goddess the Holy Temple prays to?’ Slowly it seemed to be making sense to Adeline. She turned to look at her mural again, she didn’t understand why... But it almost felt like it was calling out to her.
"Yep. She is the imaginary deity I made up when I wrote this story." The Goddess confirmed her suspicions.
Adeline wondered... Since this world came to life, then wouldn’t this Goddess come to life too? Or was this a scenario where people say she exists but no one has proof of it?
Adeline snickered and mocked, ’I knew you couldn’t be her. Look at her: so majestic and cool and look at you."
She could hear the Goddess making noises in frustration, but she didn’t say anything to refute her. She kept quiet. That isn’t like her at all... Adeline thought to herself.
Dimitri leaned against the wall, watching her. His gaze flickered between the glowing runes and Adeline’s concentrated expression. "This place really is strange," He murmured, his voice growing wary.
"The monsters outside— they stopped chasing me the moment I entered. It’s as if... Whatever magic is here wants to protect whoever steps inside." He looked at the mural in front of him as he connected the dots.
This was the ruins of a temple that once was dedicated to the Sun Goddess... She was the one protecting them. He suddenly felt all warm inside, knowing that there was a divine being that truly existed and wanted to protect her people...