Ellie and Gennan walked in silence.
After their awkward introduction, Ellie noticed that his pace had quickened.
"Are you going to tell me where we are going?"
Gennan didn't answer immediately.
"Less talking, more walking."
"Rude."
"Not as rude as someone who pukes after seeing another person's face."
"Hey, I said I am sorry, okay?"
"How did you even puke that much? You have to be a pretty powerful Hero to afford to have that much food. You should be, after all—you survived that abomination."
Ellie blinked. "What are you saying?"
"Come on. You can stop the act now. I have to give it to you, though. You played a very convincing role as a hunter. I didn't even realize it until now. How long have you been stationed here? We wasted so much time because of you, you know that?"
'It seems my ancestor suffers the same delusional mental disorder as his descendants. Best to play along.'
"Well, you know... I honestly don't remember. I think I acted so well that I started believing I was one of them. I even had a kid."
Gennan paused mid-step, then shook his head with a chuckle.
"A man dedicated to the art. I hope you are as devoted to subjugating the multi-eye beast."
Ellie sighed internally. _Yep. Definitely runs in the bloodline. At least, this way, I don't have to convince them to hunt down the beast or to let me join them._
"I am. But... can you remind me what exactly are we doing?"
Gennan glanced over his shoulder. He was silent for a moment.
"Moldrivore had finally managed to create his very own method of communicating with the divine spirits based on what was left behind by the goddess. The problem is… the goddess is still alive. The old contract still exists, even though it's no longer effective. As long as the old contract lingers, the divine spirits stay tethered to her will."
"The goddess… is still alive?" she repeated slowly.
Gennan exhaled sharply through his nose.
"The multi-eye beast is the goddess."
Ellie stared at him, wanting to probe him more, but she decided to leave the conversation at that. If she asked too much and sounded too clueless, he might realize she wasn't who he thought she was.
She swallowed her curiosity and nodded instead.
"I see."
Gennan didn't seem convinced. His voice stayed low and careful.
"You really don't remember much, do you?"
Ellie forced a smile. "Memory's a funny thing."
Gennan stared at her for a beat too long before turning back around.
"I don't blame you, though. Her eggs are getting rather old. There are bound to be some problems."
***
Gennan brought Ellie to a clearing just below the floating island. The roar of the waterfall was deafening as it hit the lake below.
But Ellie wasn't staring at the water. Her eyes locked onto the strange machines lined up along the shore.
They were massive — covered in thick armor plating with countless wheels underneath. Each one had a long, metal weapon sticking out from the top, like a spear, it had a sharp tip and was much thicker, more ominous. Next to it, was a smaller weapon that she was unfamiliar with. The metal vehicles looked old but sturdy, rust clinging to the edges like dried blood. Ellie had never seen anything like them.
Gennan gave her a light pat on the back, snapping her out of it.
"Let's get you into something more appropriate after settling your little companion."
Ellie blinked, then looked down at Ray, still asleep in her arms.
Gennan didn't wait for her response. He guided her toward a larger structure at the edge of the clearing, where animals—horses, mostly—were being led into makeshift stalls.
The man in charge, a broad-shouldered brute with a face like a kicked-in door, glanced up from where he was tying a horse. His eyes immediately landed on Ray.
He scoffed. "Does this look like somewhere you'd drop off your babies?"
"Do you see a daycare around here?" she shot back.
The man's brows furrowed.
"Don't come crying to me when the kid gets trampled."
"It's not like I want to give my baby to you. But trust me if anything happens to him after I am done with the beast, I will make sure to come for you next."
Despite his unfriendly words, the man reached out, taking Ray with surprisingly careful hands, holding him gently as if Ray was made of glass.
Ellie stared, caught off guard by the tenderness in the way he adjusted Ray, cradling him against his chest.
Gennan pulled a pouch from his waist and tossed it to the man.
"For your trouble," Gennan said casually.
The man caught it.
"Keep your meat. I don't want it," he muttered, keeping his voice low as if not wanting Gennan to hear it. In one quick motion, he had already tied the pouch to his waist.
'What's with this guy? And how did he do it with only one hand?' Ellie thought.
Another person approached the stable, leading their mount by the reins. It was some kind of sturdy, thick-furred beast, resembling a bear but not quite.
The rider patted its neck.
"Sorry, boy. I've to leave you here. You can't join me in battle this time. This beast is too dangerous. If you join us, it will change the heroes' bodies with their mounts. It would be utter chaos. We couldn't risk it."
The mount huffed softly, pressing its head into the man's shoulder. The hunter sighed, giving it one last pat before handing the reins to the stableman.
"Take care of him, yeah?"
The stableman gave a grunt and nodded, leading the beast away without a word.
Ellie's eyes lingered on Ray, wondering if this was the right call to make.
Being a parent was hard. Ellie swore to never have kids after the trial, at least not until she could provide them with a healthy and safe living environment. Right now, she had to leave him here. It was safer than the white hell outside.
"Don't worry. Your kid is safe. He is in good hands," Gennan said.
"If I am gone, will there be anyone taking care of him?"
"Moldrivore will."
"Do you trust Moldrivore?"
"Yes. He is the best chance we have to end this nightmare. Besides, we wouldn't be here without him."
Then, Gennan led Ellie to the armory, a large, open tent not far from the stables. Rows of armor and weapons lined on the display rack.
Ellie stepped forward, eyeing the racks. Swords, axes, spears… all looked impressive, but she didn't know how to use any of them. She needed something simple, so simple that even an amateur like her wouldn't mess up. Her eyes landed on a mace, no fancy engravings, just a heavy head and a sturdy handle.
She grabbed it and gave it a test swing. It felt right.
'Hard to mess up with a light mace.'
Next, she was given a set of armor. Along with it came a bundle of underclothes.
"Get changed," one of the armory workers said, pointing to a curtained-off section in the back.
Ellie stepped in, realizing it wasn't just her that had to change.
She froze. Bare skin, muscles, scars. Her face burned. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned to the side, fumbling with the clothes.
'Get a grip. You've seen men's bodies before. Remember? When you were eating those cannibals.'
She peeked for a second and immediately regretted it.
Slamming her eyes shut again, she dressed faster than she ever had in her life, nearly falling over trying to get the armor on. Her racing heart was one reason, the other was the amour she was putting on was too heavy, covering every bit of her body, the helmet hindering her vision greatly.
"Ready?" Gennan's voice called from outside.
Ellie yanked the curtain back.
"Yeah. Let's go."
Everyone gathered together, standing in perfect lines. Ellie shifted in her spot, the weight of the armor was suffocating. The armor they wore covered every part of their bodies, leaving no hint of who they were beneath.
'Is this number sufficient to hunt down the multi-eye beast?'
Her thought was interrupted by a shadow from above, a boat descended, riding the waterfall that was cascading down from the floating island. It hit the surface of the lake with a controlled crash, sending waves rippling outward.
Hooded figures disembarked first, moving in unison, dragging their soaked robes. Each steps they took was slow and deliberate, like they were marching a funeral procession.
Behind them came something stranger. A bed carried on the shoulders of four more hooded figures. On it lay a woman. It was a human, a saint. Mythical creatures that rarely make an appearance.
She had long, dark hair that was falling over the edges of the bed like silk. Her face was porcelain-like a doll. Her features were soft and delicate.
The sound of metal hitting against the ground echoed as one by one, soldiers around Ellie dropped to one knee, heads bowed in reverence.
Gennan, standing beside her, knelt too, bowing his head low. Ellie followed, kneeling with the rest.
One hooded figure stood in front of the others. His voice was weak and low, yet commanding, filled with the weight of decades.
"Brothers and sisters," he began. "It had been some time to see so many of us gather in one place."
He glanced over the kneeling crowd.
"For eighty long years, as her eldest, I have watched over her domain. I have waited, while you—her faithful—endured. You protected the leeches who bask in warmth and luxury on their floating island, shielding them because she willed it so."
His voice hardened.
"But that ends now."
Ellie could feel the air around her shift.
"Many of you don't know this. But we have done what once seemed impossible. We lured the tarnished Goddess here. We will slay it. We will kill the false one who walks in our mother's skin, the parasite who took her form and mocked her sacrifice. We will end this blasphemy and establish a new contract with the divine spirits."
The hooded figure took a step forward, his voice growing sharper, colder, like a blade drawn from its sheath.
"The reason I tell you this only now is simple. I can't risk letting those parasites know what is coming after them. Once the false Goddess falls, you will not rest."
He gestured to the sky, to the floating island looming high above them.
"You will march. You will lay siege to the leeches and pull them down from their throne of clouds. You will burn their false paradise to the water's edge. And from the ashes, we will bring forth a new era."