Mortal Goddess

01. The Memories Return

The wood creaked as the string stretched from the tips of my fingers to the side of my shoulder. Three arrows were positioned right into the center of the bow and pointed at the ripe fruit meters away from me. The rustle of leaves could be heard from my position with its gentle sway muffling the chatters of people in my surroundings.

Three...

Two...

One...

Arrows flung at an unseen speed, piercing through the air of the open field.

Bullseye!

Loud cheers erupted as my lips tilted to one side at their reverence. I waved to the crowd and put down the bow.

"Who wants to challenge me?" I questioned and sat on the chair provided for me.

A pair of men approached the built-up stage made last minute for this event. Just a simple platform raised to show my status among them.

The two bowed simultaneously before speaking, "Allow us the honor, Your Holiness."

Wild noises erupted, almost shaking the ground with the audience's extreme enthusiasm. Both ends of my lips had already hooked from ear to ear.

"Go ahead. The stage is yours."

However, before they could even do the proper stance, light shone at the center as a man wearing white robes strode in an elegant posture. All the people dropped to their knees, except for me.

"Cannaria." The crisp voice sent chills to anyone who could hear it but I was already accustomed to his unfeeling tone.

"What is it, Father?" I asked, my lips straightening from his arrival. Yet instead of answering, specks of golden dust shimmered and covered us in an instant.

"Explain." His gaze went to the guy who should have pissed himself from fright. The arrows were still stuck on the apple above his head.

I smirked at the mortal's horrified expression. This event was made solely for the human scum. Even with his body tied and the humiliation he suffered, it was still not enough after what he did.

"A punishment, Father. He abused the woman---"

"That's not enough reason." He cut off.

"Not enough reason? He dared to be violent with the weak---"

"Isn't that what you are doing as well? How many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn't harm humans, Cannaria? Mhilrim made the law for this reason and you shall not interfere. Why are you always engaging in such violent ways?" He let out a sigh as his voice became lower while those black orbs were filled with discontentment. "Why can't you follow Mhilrim's approach? Your sister---"

"Ha! Do you expect the Goddess of War to behave like the Goddess of Knowledge?" I snapped. "Dream on, Father. My territory, my law."

My hand flicked and his barrier disappeared. I walked out as my mood plummeted. Mhilrim, Mhilrim, Mhilrim! Why am I even here?

***

ÝLIR DAY OF TYR

A pallid hand holding a spoon nudged my mouth. The balminess of the soup trickled in my throat yet all the while, I could not take off my gaze on the person feeding me.

Those eyes were like a bottomless pit of darkness contrasting with natural silver strands. His lips pursed as he blew the soup before sending it to me again.