True Magician

Chapter 92

The capital.

The group of wounded and exhausted gods couldn't get to me and have a conversation, because all I wanted to do at the moment was check on Tia. In a brief flash of light, the magic circle transported me to her, and what I saw made my eyebrow raise so high it could have reached the planet's stratosphere.

In the midst of once green fields and dusty roads stained scarlet with freshly spilled blood, thousands of dead animal and bird bodies showing the marks of fangs, claws, and festering wounds, arrows, swords, and spears stuck in the ground, hundreds and hundreds of people knelt and prayed to the lonely Tia.

They were not hindered by their clothes, their weapons, their armor, or the dirt; they paid no attention to anything but her. Their foreheads were pressed tightly against the ground, and their collective whispers echoed around the neighborhood. They were all whispering the same thing, putting into their words nothing but worship, reverence, and gratitude to the goddess of another world. Among them were both the inhabitants of this world and those who came from beyond the Gate. I even saw Itami and his group, as well as Princess Pina.

With their whole being, every person praying recognized Tia as their god. Not for fear of divine retribution or anything like that, but out of sincere gratitude for helping them in their hour of dire need. She, the goddess whom no one had ever seen, save those who came from beyond the Gate, had intervened in the conflict and saved their lives without the slightest expectation of benefit to herself.

And even if their gods had also tried to do something, they didn't see it or even know it. The only god that responded to their pleas was Tia. Well, and her beasts that came out of the Sea of Life, quickly spreading in all directions from the capital and mowing down the aggressive fauna of this world.

I grinned.

Perhaps the spirit had partially achieved its goal. Faith in the gods of this world had waned. And with the passage of time, this effect would only increase. Of course, it won't come to a complete disappearance, since every religion has its die-hard fanatics, but it will be more than enough to prepare the world for the Age of Fairies. It will all depend on the spirit what decision it makes.

Returning to the picture that had been painted, Tia felt uncomfortable. And that was putting it mildly. She fidgeted nervously, not knowing which way to look, because no matter where he went, nothing changed. Her body and lips trembled, and tears began to well up in her eyes from feelings of anxiety and confusion that no one could see, for their gazes were directed toward the ground.

Her emotions were more or less understandable. In the centuries of her existence, no one had ever prayed to her specifically. There is no doubt that Tia has never seen so many people bowing their heads before her. After all, Tia is the analog of Gaea from Greek mythology. She is unaccustomed and uncomfortable being surrounded by people who truly honor her. Especially not in such numbers.

I slowly lowered myself behind Tia's back and gently hugged her shoulders, nuzzling my nose into the back of her neck. Then I clearly felt a shiver go through her body, followed by a steady breathing.

- "Calmly, I'm here with you. Our journey in this world is coming to an end, and we will be home again, where Ophis and the others are waiting for us. You shouldn't be nervous or scared, since it's unlikely we'll be here again," I whispered, leaning down to her ear and wiping away her tears with my finger, "But if you want, I can erase their memories to make you feel better."

- "Aaaaaa~" Tia sobbed and shook her head.

- "Is there something you want to tell them?" I raised an eyebrow, to which she nodded faintly.

Well, if that's the way she wants it, then so be it.

I stepped aside slightly, standing behind her shoulder, and clapped my hands together. It sounded loud and clear in the deafening silence, catching the attention of the people praying and causing them to look up, and the small wave of force that accompanied the clap only added to the effect.