The Goddess

Chapter 5

"Are you enjoying Ofros?" Teris, the Goddess of War asked Astra who seems to be in her own little world. The other Chamberlains were helping the others attending injured mortals while Astra was given the task to prepare a nutritious meal for everyone.

"Milady!" Astra bows her head and so does the other kitchen staff.

"Lift your head, mortal," the staff did as told and continue to do their task. Astra smiled before showing the goddess her task.

"What do you think?" Astra asked the goddess making everyone surrounding them surprised by how they both acted. The staffs were looking at each other when Astra feed the goddess with a spoon full of the food she's preparing.

"Delicious, like always. I'm sure the injured mortals will enjoy them. Good job Astra," Astra smiled at the praise. She continued with her cooking while Teris went to see her sister.

"Remera, how are you?" Remera sigh heavily before leaning back to her seat. With more casualty than she expected, Remera doesn't know how to react.

"Nearly half of my people were killed because the God of Love being greedy. What happened to spread love instead of chaos?" Teris wonders about their sister Cirtix, The Goddes of Destruction.

"Cirtix? She manages to hold them back without any of our help. She's the goddess of destruction, she likes things like this. Of course, she has to suffer from many lost as well. It's inevitable," Teris hummed.

"They know I'll be here instead of my own land. That is why kodall decided to attack Ofros rather than Anrak directly. They want me to abandon my land. They just don't know what kind of general I have in my stead to protect the land," Teris smiled.

"It was wise of you to leave Fiona then. I can only imagine the bloodshed she caused," Teris looks around her sister's private quarters before her eyes caught on something.

"What's this?" She asked.

"Oh, it's something like a legend here in Ofros. It's about a mortal male fallen for the chamberlain who works for the goddess. I'm not sure if it's true but the story is beautiful," Teris was intrigued.

"But it's a tragedy because the mortal man was a soldier and he died protecting this land. The Chamberlain was devastated and decide to take her life away so she could be with her soldier. I was told about this by my head chamberlain herself. I decided to make it as an Ofros legend because to me it represents loyalty and pure love," Remera smiled.

"Except that both of them died in the end," Remera chuckled at Teris's wit.

As they were talking to each other, the goddesses heard a lot of the mortals who injured around the Cloud Palace cheer as they eat. They both went to the windows and noticed Astra was distributing the food she cooked earlier.

"They seem happy to eat her food. I wonder about this since I tasted the food she prepared for you. I feel like it's filled with spiritual power. It makes me energised for some reason," Teris hummed.

"The head chamberlain mentioned that she possessed the power to heal someone with her food. Whatever she possessed in that mortal human body, its something that made even us Goddess tremble. I can feel she's one of a kind. It reminds me of Teresa when I first met her," Remera gasped.

"To think you meet someone that has the same calibre as your strongest general? This bound to be something great!" Teris shrugged her shoulder.

"Great or not, she's still a mortal. Teresa is an elf who came from a long line of warriors. She was trained since she was little to be a warrior. I don't want to risk Astra's life like I did today," Remera touches Teris's shoulder.

"I'm sorry,"

***

"What do you mean you failed?! Don't you know how important the ancient text stone was?! It's crucial for our mission to invade Anrak!" Kodall was not happy to know that his plan had failed, again!

"I'm sorry, milord. The scouts told us that the Goddess of war herself went to the camp and killed the commander. She even asked every soldier that was on guard to kill themselves. We can't hold her back when she's in her wrath," Kodall slammed his hands on the table.

"Ether will kill me... he will!" Right after the God of love said this, the throne room was forcefully opened by a force that made Kodall cowers in fear.

"What is happening Kodall?! My soldier is dead because of your stupid plan! Don't you know how much I need them to attack Anrak when the time is right?! Why didn't you let the soldier retreat when you saw Fiona is out there?! That woman is one of Teris trusted vessel! You're lucky it's not Teresa! SHE WOULD WIPE OUT THE ENTIRE BATTALION!" Ether thunders as he walks into Kodall's throne room.

"I wasn't aware of Fiona's presence. the commander didn't even mention her when I asked about the situation. Obviously, he never watches Fiona in war before. After what happened, I had warned my soldiers about the notorious four generals that Teris had trained herself. It seems like they don't trust my stories about the four female generals," Ether sigh.

He beginning to feel that making Kodall as his allies is a wrong move. He should be persuading Cirtix, The Goddess of Destruction instead. But what done is Donets ether try to bounce back from this failed first attempt.

"Why would they even have the guts to say its a fairy tale? Don't they know who Teris is? She likes to make a fairytale comes true since we know her that well. Those generals will be such a nuisance to handle," Ether closed his eyes so that he could think of a backup plan.

"Well, they're still a woman. As strong they are, they won't be able to fight off the worldly things if they saw them right in front of their eyes. Find out what interests them the most and we shall make use of that information to bring down Teris's impenetrable fortress," Kodall nod as he knows how exactly to do that.

He is the God of Love for a reason.

***

"How was your mission, ladies?" The four generals bow their head to Teris before Teresa speaks as their representative.

"g*****a and I manage to locate one of the enemy base camps outside of Anrak territory. Maya, on the other hand, found a couple of Lord Kodall's assassin sneaking into Anrak. Apparently, they were the ones who informed the enemy soldier which entrance should they use to attacked Anrak. Luckily Fiona was here to stop them from attacking any civilians," Teris hummed her answer.

"Where is this assassin now?"

"Maya manages to capture one of them and he is inside the holding dungeon of the Cloud Palace," Teris was impressed by their diligence.

"I have a couple of official reports jay I manage to salvage from Ofros. I want all of you to see if there is anything significant regarding these reports. With your keen eyes, I'm sure you know what to look for," Teresa bows before taking stacks of papers from the goddess.

"g*****a, I want you to make sure none of the nobility in Anrak even dare to oppose me. Be my eyes and ears since I may or may not be able to be in two places at the time," g*****a bows. This is such an honour for her to be the use of the goddess.

"Maya, see if you can negotiate with the other land to join forces with us. If they wish to be allies, we shall send our soldier to aid them when they need us. And if they refuse and wanted to be on their own, let them be," Maya bows.

"Fiona, find what's lurking inside the dark forest just outside of Anrak. See if you can tame a couple of enchanted beasts to be my vessel. I'm sure your training will do you good," Fiona bows. She's eager to start her mission now.

"Anything else?" Teris asked if the generals wish to ask for something from her. Teresa bows.

"If you allowed it, I wish to be in the mortal world as I look through these reports. Is that okay?" The other generals were shocked by her request.

"You have my permission," Teresa bows again.

"If there is nothing else, I will go now. I don't want to let my sister Manelia wait long for my presence," the generals' bow as the goddess leaves the throne room.

"Why would you leave the palace just to go to the mortal world? You people down there wish to be here more than ever. This is the closest thing to heaven for those mortals," Fiona scoffed.

"As peaceful it is to be here, I wish to be surrounded by mortals. The look up to us, they want us to protect them. I want to feed on that energy rather than being here, pamper by wealth that the goddess had provided us," Maya smiled.

"Go on Teresa. Do what you must. If you think that being in the mortal world beings you joy then do it. Besides, the goddess herself gave her permission," Teresa smiled before excusing herself to get ready for her journey to the mortal world.

The chamberlain bows as they noticed Teresa walks down the hallway.

"Do you need any help, milady?" Asked one of the young chamberlains. Teresa smiled and shakes her head no.

"I can do it myself, young one. Thank you for the offer," the young chamberlain bows as she took a few steps back from Teresa. Teresa chooses a couple of mortal clothes before wearing them. It's not wise of her to wear something that was made here in the Cloud Palace. She doesn't need the treatment as she had in the mortal world.

Once she has everything she needed for her journey to the human world, she went to one of the gates and appeared in the middle of an unknown alley. Teresa looks around before trying to find a way to civilisation.

She was minding her own business, walking along the pathway when she stumbles a couple of children crouching on the floor. Her heart breaks when a man suddenly throw pieces of old bread on the ground and the kids literally fight each other just to have something to eat.

This is something that she should be reporting back to the goddess.

"Seems like the Lord of this part of town didn't fully tell the goddess about this," she said to herself. Teresa went inside the bakery and came face to face with the same man who threw the bread earlier.

"Is this a normal occurrence?" Teresa was referring to the children's earlier.

"Yea. My wife used to give hem free bread but now that she's dead, and sales don't get better, I can't afford to feed them like I used to. But those kids keep coming every single day!" He seems frustrated.

"What happened?" She asked while reaching for a loaf of bread.

"The lord of this part used everything the goddess gave him to support his own wealthy living. Some of the money the goddess grant us did came through but it's not enough to feed us. Even those who work don't get paid enough to buy food. The death rate in this part of town keeps on increasing as well," Teresa fully takes note of this situation.

"Some of us here started to think hay the goddess never care about us. That is why it's getting harder for us to make a living," the baker added.

"That never occurred in the goddess's mind at all. She cares for her people, she loves them all equally," Teresa suddenly burst. It made the baker weirded out.

"Maybe you're right. She has better things to think about rather than a small part of Anrak. I heard the war is coming. She has greater responsibility," the baker laughed.

"This is a lot of bread, lady," Teresa smiled. She paid for the bread and went outside the bakery to find the children from earlier. She searched for them until she noticed that one of the children was being beaten by a male mortal. She immediately went to the child's aid.

"That is now how you teach a child," Teresa was gripping on the mortal's wrist rather hard that he made a groaning sound.

"How dare you touch me, you filthy woman! These kids need a beating a two for they stole my money pouch!" Teresa then faces the child who avoided eye contact.

"Did you take this man's pouch?" She asked. The child nod and so does the others.

"Give them back. Stealing is a crime," the child relentlessly giving the pouch back. The mortal man was delighted and walk away. Teresa then looks around and devastated that the kids seem to be living in harsh condition.

She was once living on streets like they are. That was until the goddess sees a potential in her and took her in to live in the Cloud Palace. In other words, the goddess saves her life.

"Thank you for saving me," the child hugged Teresa by the waist before excusing herself but Teresa cleared her throat.

"That is not how you should be thanking someone. Give me back my money pouch," the child was surprised. She knows that she was careful enough so that the mysterious woman will not feel anything.

"Rather than stealing, why don't you work for food?" Teresa took her pouch back as she asked.

"No one will take a child," she simply said.

"Our parents abandon us, why would some other adult take us seriously?" The child was bitter and so does the others. Teresa then opened the bag that has the bread she bought early and gave a piece to the child.

"I thought you all might be hungry," Teresa smiled. At first, the child was reluctant to take the offer but the others have already dug into the bag Teresa brought.

"Lady you're kind. It's hard to find someone as kind as you around here. Adults like to abuse us because of what had happened. They see us something to let their anger out," blurted one of the kids who shoving the bread into his mouth.

"May we take the rest? There's more of us at home," asked another child. Teresa nod.

"Who are you?" Asked the child who tried to steal from her.

"I am a being. Why?" Teresa smiled.

"Because you don't seem like someone from around here. Are you from the big city?" Teresa doesn't respond to her question.

"Sometimes I wonder what it's like to live without worrying about tomorrow's meal. Why didn't the goddess help us? Did she abandon us as our parents do?" Asked another child who seems a lot older than the others.

"The goddess never abandons her people. She only wanted the best for her people and those who see her as a salvation. Why don't you try to pray for her help?" the child nods his head with a smile.

"I think I will,"

"That's nonsense. Even if you pray as hard as you can, she won't come to help us! She is busy with her luxury life rather than helping maggots like us," Teresa was triggered. She once thought the same about the goddess.

"Say, kids, do you know anywhere to find lodging? I am new here and I have no idea where to go," the bitter child pointed at a path.

"Just go through there to find the town and market. You can find lodging around there as well but be careful. With a face as beautiful as you, some man will find you unbearable," Teresa chuckled at her warning before place a gold coin into her hand.

"Use it wisely now," Teresa winked before leaving the kids and went to find lodging for the night.

***

"Where are you going?" The head chamberlain asked when Astra came to see her with her normal clothes rather than the uniform that was given to her.

"I'm going to visit my friends. Is that okay? I have a day off from work today since the goddess went to Afrea, the land of the Goddess of Fertility," the head chamberlain looks down on a basket.

"I thought I might bring my friends something to eat from the Cloud Palace. Don't worry, I didn't take anything without consulting head cook. He said it's ok for me to have them. It's a day old but it's still eatable," the head chamberlain hummed before showing Astra the log book.

"Alright then. Make sure to be back before sunrise tomorrow," Astra nod before signing her name on the log. After she's done with the protocol, she went to the gate and waited for her turn.

In a blink of an eye, she appeared in front of the orphanage where she used to go whenever she has time before being a Chamberlain. The kids noticed her and went to see Astra who's bringing gifts for them.

"We get to eat something Astra make for dinner!" Announced one of the orphans.

"Ahem! You all should be inside now! Come on," the kids ran towards the front door before the nun yells at them again. Astra smiled at the nun and showing her the basket she came with.

"How are you?" The nun asked when they hugged.

"I'm alright. What about you? And the orphanage?" The nun smiled before helping Astra with the basket.

"I'm fine. The orphanage, well, it's running like always. Just, with the war is coming, we have no idea where to seek protection if the enemies decided to attack us," Astra hummed.

"With the war on our way, some of the lords from the neighbouring town beginning to show their true nature and join the God of Torture. They literally let their own people die for the sake of this war, Astra," she heard about this when she served the goddess her meal.

If only she can tell the nun that the goddess is doing her best to catch the one who decided to rebel.

"Well, I know the goddess will protect us with her power. I pray that she will find the perfect solution for that too," the nun smile but it's rather dull.

"Don't you have to work?" The nun asked.

"I have the day off. I thought I should come to visit once a while. I know you miss me!" Astra smiled before the nun messing her hair up.

"Oh Astra, I don't actually," they both laughed and went into the kitchen to prepare for dinner. They were busy in the kitchen until a frantic nun came to the kitchen and informed them about a group of soldier seeking an audience with the head nun. Astra was curious and went to see who it is.

She was surprised to see one of the four supreme generals, Fiona. Astra decided to follow the head nun to meet Fiona.

"Miss Astra? This is a surprise," Fiona smiled. Astra smiles back and acted as the head nun representative.

"Oh, I'm here to informed the head nun, I assume it's you, that the goddess has prepared a place for the orphanage if this part of town ever got attacked by the enemies. It's a safety precaution and the goddess specifically said to protect this place at all cause," Fiona informed before handing a map to the head nun.

"If it ever occurs, my soldiers will escort you all to safety. There is nothing more important than to protect the people of Anrak," Fiona was about to go when Astra request for her time.

"Yes, Miss Astra?"

Astra beginning to tell everything she had learned from the head nun to Fiona.

"This is something Teresa will love to hear. I will certainly inform her about this. But for now, have fun, Miss Astra," Fiona smiled when Astra bows her head, thanking the general for her time.