SWNOVELXO Chapter 70: The Winged-Humans (31)
"Oh really!" Moigit excitedly exclaimed, bringing his face forward and down such that Night Silver didn't have to look up to see the childish sparkle of excitement in his eyes. "That sounds like fun. I want to do that!" He continued, until the thought of food crossed his mind again, caused by the wafting of freshly finished roasts. "That smells delicious!!!" He said as his tail wagged just like a puppy's would.
"Brother! We are supposed to be giving Big Sister our attention, don't be rude…" Frayrsis scolded Moigit… Though, he wasn't in any position to speak.
"Pfft, like you're one to talk." Night Silver chimed in with a cute giggle. "The two of you should start getting along with the others here. I'll be putting the two of you to work as well. Don't worry too much though, the work should help you understand the elements you desire to learn." She continued.
The night filled with celebration continued on for hours. Celebrating the reclamation of one's homeland, and their goddess' announcement of her union. But more than that, friends and family celebrated the memories and lives of those they had lost. Even though these people were of different races, they were able to empathize with the pain and loss each other experienced.
Everyone having eaten their fill, they hopped in the bath their goddess so graciously created for them. Soaking away the remaining worries as they shared stories with each other and making friends… Friends that transcended the bounds of race and strength, all bound under their shared experience and deity of worship.
Everyone found themselves asleep in whatever place they felt most comfortable. However, if one looked down from above, those sound asleep fit inside a nearly perfect circle. The center of this imaginary circle was, Night Silver. She was looking up at the surprisingly clear night sky, the moonlight reflecting and accentuating her beauty. Two children were soundly sleeping on her lap, only furthering the motherly aura she gave off.
"A lot has happened since I came to this new world… This is the first time I've got a real chance to look up and appreciate the night sky…" Night Silver said in a soft, serene tone as she gently petted the children's' hair… Of course she made sure she wouldn't wake them.
Night Silver's words caught the ears of just a small number of people still awake. The number was rather small. However, it primarily consisted of those old enough to understand just how bad the life they used to live had been. And one of them spoke up with curiosity.
"Goddess, if I may ask… Your words, they are those even I would utter when looking upon a breathtaking sight. However, in your tone there seems to be a hint of relief I'm not familiar with… Is there a reason why?" The eldest of the Winged-Humans asked. Then in a sudden shift within him, he felt an instant and overwhelming regret… I shouldn't have asked that… Is that a tear upon my goddess' face… The answer I sought must have been a truly terrible answer…
"Hmm, I guess it's only fair to explain where I had been for so long. You do worship me as your goddess. The Goddess of Nature…" Night Silver replied with a smile, one indicating she was hiding an extreme degree of pain. Now that I think of it, considering what I am the goddess of here in this world… This story will likely be received with even more pain than I originally had thought.
With the agreement of Night Silver, she let out a stressful sigh. The two children on her lap stirred and shuffled for a moment. It was almost an instant response to the change in Night Silver's mood. And the story of the world from which she came began.
With every word falling from Night Silver's lips, came the accurate sense of despair. The Elder who asked the question was on his knees, unable to cry from the sheer shock and despair his goddess went through. What Night Silver had been describing was a hell unlike any other, one of the greedy wealthy ones creation. And on top of all of that, it drove home the pain deeper once the description of the world's once natural beauty and how Night Silver's powers were nothing but a dream in that place.
"Goddess, I… To think that you went through such a terrible hell. It's worse than anything we ever imagined. Please forgive me for asking you to explain…" The Eldest of the Winged-Humans spoke in a somber tone, carrying his regret and empathy. We just got our home back, but the one who gave it back to us… Will never get her home returned to her. Such a painful experience… It's one we shared, yet my people and I were freed from it by the very person who wouldn't be able to do the same for herself. The elder's thoughts were clear upon his face. No one needed any mind reading to get the general idea of what he was thinking.
"It's fine, I don't blame you for asking. I too would have wondered why my deity was absent during a time of upheaval such as what you went through. I expected I'd have to answer this someday." Night Silver replied, looking down at the children who unilaterally claimed the closest spots next to her for their sleeping spots. "As I look at these adorable cuties, I only wish for them to never go through the same hell the children in that place had." She added softly, a few tears fell upon her delicate looking hands. And then looking up with a smile… "And I'll use all the power at my disposal to protect the Nature around us. A world blessed with the vibrancy of life. I will protect it, against anyone and everything, so the world never rots the same way it did there." She finished.
"Whatever orders Goddess may have, we only need to hear them. They will be carried out." Several people said in a voice just slightly too loud.
One of the girls sleeping on Night Silver's lap stirred awakened slightly by the sound. "Mommy?" She muttered.
"Everything is fine, go back to sleep dear and have sweet dreams. Tell me about the stories in the morning." Night Silver whispered, and lulled the girl back to sleep.