Qalena's celestial gaze flickered to him, her smile widening ever so slightly. "You have grown stronger, and you continue to amuse me, my child."
"Glad to be of service…" Jolthar murmured, still dazed. Orıginal content can be found at novel•fire.net
The goddess's presence filled the room completely now, her divine energy washing over everything like an ocean tide.
Qalena's gaze shifted sharply to Eloda. Her voice, calm but laced with authority, echoed in the chamber. "So, you want me to help you? And you led my child here into this valley on purpose."
Jolthar's brows furrowed deeply inwards. "What!? Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"Don't worry, child," Qalena calmed him down.
Eloda's eyes darted nervously, her hands trembling as she tried to bow her head lower, as though that might shield her from the goddess's piercing scrutiny. "I... I didn't know it was you, Goddess Qalena," she stammered, her voice breaking. "I was only trying to survive. I've been betrayed and left in this state by Hesuas."
Qalena's eyebrow arched ever so slightly, a flicker of curiosity mixed with faint amusement. "And why, pray tell, would Hesuas do such a thing?"
Eloda froze, her lips trembling but unable to form an answer.
Instead, she lowered her head further, the weight of her guilt pressing heavily on her shoulders.
The silence spoke volumes.
Qalena's voice cut through the tension, smooth as silk but cold as ice. "Ah, I see. You left him for his father, didn't you? And now you expect him to show mercy?"
Eloda's body visibly stiffened, her shame almost tangible in the air. She didn't respond, didn't lift her gaze. It was as if she wished the ground would swallow her whole. To get scrutinised by the great goddess and that too in front of a mortal, made her want to bury herself, in shame.
Jolthar, who had been watching the exchange silently, blinked in astonishment. His brows shot up as he put the pieces together. "Wait, what?" he muttered under his breath.
"She had an affair with the father? And now the son is out for revenge?"
He shook his head in disbelief, muttering, "Gods and their drama. Always next-level."
Eloda flinched at his bluntness but didn't lift her gaze from the ground.
Qalena glanced at Jolthar, a flicker of amusement tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Mortals have an amusing way of summarising the affairs of gods," Qalena said dryly, her voice like distant thunder.
Jolthar shrugged. "Hey, I call it like I see it."
Eloda, desperate and teetering on the edge of despair, lifted her gaze just enough to speak, her voice trembling. "I... I will do anything. Please, Goddess Qalena, help me." She fell to her knees, bowing deeply once again, her forehead nearly touching the ground.
Qalena's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile, a look that made Jolthar's stomach churn with unease. The goddess had a plan—he could feel it in the air. She always had a plan.
"Anything?" Qalena repeated softly, her tone laced with mock sweetness, as though testing the depth of Eloda's desperation.
"Yes, anything to regain my powers," Eloda pleaded, her voice cracking.
The goddess's smile widened ever so slightly, her expression unreadable yet undeniably dangerous. "Good," she said, her voice a whisper that seemed to reverberate through the room.
"Because I want you to take Jolthar to the Chamber of Phi-nalr Essence."
Eloda's head snapped up in shock, her wide eyes searching Qalena's face for any sign that this was a cruel joke.
"The Chamber of Phi-nalr Essence?" she repeated her voice barely a whisper.
Jolthar glanced between the two women, his confusion evident. "Uh, what's a Phia-nalr Essence? Should I be concerned?" he asked, his tone half-serious, half-joking.
Eloda ignored him, her disbelief consuming her. "But... how do you know about that?" She finally managed, her voice tinged with both awe and fear.
Qalena tilted her head slightly, her expression calm but her eyes glinting as her smile deepened, sending a chill through the room. "Do not underestimate me, Eloda."
"I know everything," she said simply, her words heavy with divine authority. "Did you really think you could hide something like that from me? Maybe from anyone but not from me."
Eloda's lips parted as if to argue, but no words came out. The goddess was right—how foolish had she been to think such a thing could be kept secret from one of Qalena's stature?
Jolthar, still seated and bandaged, raised a hand. "Sorry to interrupt, but can we backtrack for a second? What is this Chamber of Phi-nalr Essence, and why does it sound like something that's either going to kill me or turn me into some kind of superhuman?"
Qalena's gaze shifted to him, her eyes softening for the briefest of moments before returning to their usual intensity. "It's not for you to understand right now. Just know that it will help you," she said dismissively before turning her attention back to Eloda.
Eloda, still in a state of shock, whispered, "But... the chamber... it's sacred. Its existence is a guarded secret, known only to the tribe and me. It's the essence of fallen gods, refined into pure energy and stored within the chamber. For centuries, it has been protected, and I've used it to rejuvenate my powers."
Qalena's expression didn't waver. "And yet, here you are, powerless and begging for help. Clearly, your 'protection' has failed," she said bluntly.
"I can't use the essence in this state in which I am right now. It would kill me, and I would cease to exist,' Eloda said, her voice panic-stricken. Even the essence of the fallen gods can be dangerous and volatile if not absorbed carefully. Even the gods wouldn't recklessly do such a thing. But Eloda, she had a variety of knowledge as she travelled to the realms even deities wouldn't go, and she was imprisoned for a century in the land of the dead. She wasn't a simple deity but a resilient one. She found ways to use the essence, and so she made it so that she could use it for herself.
"Now, you will take Jolthar there and help him soak in the essence," Qalena stated.
Eloda's breath hitched. "But..." She knew if Qalena wanted, she could take the chamber or destroy it if she pleased. She wasn't doing any of that.
"No buts," Qalena interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Hesuas is still enraged over what you did, and Saubra's wife is waiting for an opportunity to strike. If either of them finds you in this state, you'll wish for death long before they're finished with you."
Qalena's brows knit together as if she were thinking, "I wonder why Hesuas left you here?"
Eloda's lips trembled, her eyes darting to the floor. The goddess's words were harsh, but they were true. She had no choice.
Eloda, her gaze dropping to the floor again. After a long pause, she spoke softly. "I… will do as you ask, Goddess."
Jolthar sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fantastic. Another life-threatening adventure. Exactly what I needed while still recovering from nearly getting sliced in half."
Qalena's smile returned, faint and enigmatic. "Your path is far from over, child. You will find that the chamber holds more for you than you expect."
Jolthar rolled his eyes but gave a half-hearted salute. "Great. Can't wait to find out what else you've signed me up for."
Qalena raised a single hand, and a faint beam of golden light shot from her fingertip, striking Eloda's chest. Immediately, warmth spread through her body, and she felt a surge of energy she hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity. She straightened slightly, no longer shaking as badly.
"That should be enough to get you moving," Qalena said casually, as though she hadn't just performed a miracle. "Take him to the chamber and ensure he completes the process. When it's done, meet me on Mount Drakkianc."
Eloda then asked, "But isn't he a mortal? What if he can't endure the essence?"
Qalena raised an eyebrow at her, "Nothing should happen to him, and you should take care of it, like I said."
And just like that, she disappeared, her form dissolving into an ethereal glow that vanished into the air. But not before she glanced back at Jolthar one last time, her gaze lingering as though it was both a farewell and a warning.
Jolthar blinked at the empty space where she had been, then turned to Eloda. "Well, that was... something," he said, scratching the back of his head. "So, about this chamber. What exactly am I walking into?"
Eloda sighed heavily, her gaze filled with reluctant determination. "You'll see soon enough," she muttered.
As they prepared to leave, Jolthar couldn't help but shake his head. "Gods and their family drama. I swear, this is more complicated than my last job on Earth. And that had office politics." He didn't say the last part out loud, though.
Eloda didn't respond, but her lips twitched slightly. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself the faintest flicker of hope.