The Sins of the God King

Chapter 31: Xan

The desolate wasteland gradually became more bearable as Xan and the woman, whose skin radiated like crystals in the sunlight, journeyed along a straight path. As they progressed, Xan noticed that the trees here had more leaves and greenery compared to the trees in his previous path. However, the trees were scattered, each one separated by several paces from the next.

Xan stole a glance at the lady walking beside him. She wore a constant smile, occasionally bursting into singing and dancing as they moved forward. Xan couldn't help but wonder how anyone could feel such unbridled joy in this place. He decided to break his silence and asked, "Where are you taking me?"

The lady turned to him with cheerful eyes and replied, "I'm taking you to your friend. That's where you were headed, right? Just before you... passed away?"

Xan had momentarily forgotten. He had died just a few hours ago, and the reality of his current situation had not entirely sunk in. He wondered if he was truly in the realm of the dead, or if this was something else entirely. The lady had not spoken much about it since they first met.

Seeking answers, Xan probed further, "Am I really dead? If I am, why am I here with you?" He continued, "You mentioned you're immortal, so you're not dead. Then why am I walking and talking beside you?"

The lady crossed her hands behind her back and looked at him. "What does death mean to you, Xan?" she inquired. Xan was caught off guard by the question, struggling to find the right words to explain his understanding of death. However, no words came to him.

"Right now, I made you retain your being in sin form," she explained, "free from the vessel of your flesh."

Xan grew even more puzzled. He pressed for more information, asking, "Could you please explain further?"

The lady continued walking, her response cryptic. "I can provide a better explanation when we reach your friend."

Xan found himself growing even more perplexed by the lady's words. Her explanations seemed to defy the very nature of his understanding. However, a glimmer of hope flickered within him when he remembered that they were on their way to meet his friend. He assumed she meant Maru, which meant that Maru was still alive. Relief washed over him at the thought.

Yet, questions continued to swirl in Xan's mind. If Maru was alive, why hadn't she returned to their camp? Before he could voice these thoughts, the lady provided an answer. She said, "Because she is in a constant battle with the horde of hallows."

Xan 's eyes widened in shock. "How did you...?" he began, then interrupted himself. "Did you just read my mind?"

The lady chuckled and replied, "When you're in this form, your thoughts flow like the scent of flowers in the air. I just caught the scent, so to speak."

Xan was astonished by the woman's abilities. First, she had displayed immense force without even touching him, and now this—she could seemingly read minds. Despite her incredible powers, however, Xan remained skeptical. He couldn't easily accept that she was a goddess.

"We must hurry," Xan urged. The goddess continued to walk along the straight path, replying calmly,

"No worries, Xan, we are near."

As they proceeded, Xan took in the landscape. Patches of trees and greenery still dotted the bone-dry ground. After a few moments, he spotted a pool of water, expansive enough to match five wagons. Xan believed this had to be the place Maru was headed. However, when he scanned the surroundings, there was no sign of her.

"Look," the goddess said, pointing to their left. Xan turned his gaze and initially mistook it for a cliff. But as he looked closer, he realized it was a colossal crater in the ground, as wide as the largest city of Navo'ri. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it, and upon reaching the precipice, he peered into the abyss. It was pitch dark below, an apparently endless pit.