First Light of a New Age

Chapter 191: Human vs Goddess

A/n: Hey guys. It's been a long time. Got some Christmas events that got me delayed on writing this chapter down.

But anyways, stay safe and Merry Christmas!

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Second Civilization Zone, Northeastern Continent, Land of the Fairy, Fairy Community.

4th Year of the New Age, Friday, 2nd Week, 10th Month of the Father.

The Fairy Shrine was deserted by the time Riley arrived, and the emptiness came as a much relief to him.

There was no need for any kinds of formality, so he simply sped into the outer court and landed on the hallowed grounds.

The vast interior of the shrine felt hollow without the Fairies. It reminded him of a lung that had exhaled and never bothered to breathe back in, like something essential had stepped away and left the body behind.

That suited him just fine.

Riley walked along the cobblestone path that stretched across the shrine's still inner lakes. The water didn't ripple as he passed, not even at the edge of his boots. Stone walls and pillars were wrapped in flowers and creeping vines, but without Fairy hands to guide them, they looked frozen in time, preserved rather than alive.

The air felt colder than he remembered, sharper against his skin, and the mana pressure felt uneven, like something deep within the shrine was drawing at it from the center.

He didn't stop as he moved straight ahead and past the inner arches until he saw the familiar white tree standing exactly in its usual position, along with its hollow core cradling the blue orb like an unblinking eye set into living wood.

Riley slowed and stopped a few steps away.

"So," he said quietly in the empty space, "I did what you asked."

There was no response.

He waited a moment, then sighed and continued. "I brought an army of specialists with weapons and knowledge that can fight these corruptions and whatever's behind it. Your enemies won't walk over your people anymore. They're not alone."

Still nothing.

Riley clenched his fist. He was tired, more than just physically. Every step since setting foot in Fairy Land had been one decision stacked onto another, one risk piled on top of the last. In less than two days, he had bent an entire civilization, healed thousands, and pulled in forces capable of reshaping the war itself.

And all of it had been done with one promise hanging in his head.

"You said you would speak to me," he said flatly. "You said I'd get answers."

The orb stayed dark, not even a single movement from the tree.

Riley dragged a hand down his face and sighed through his nose. "Alright. Fine. I'm back, I've done my part, and I'm here to claim the audience you promised. So please—!"

But, just as Riley was about to burst out in irritation, a sudden pain hit him mid-sentence like a sledgehammer.

"A–arrrghhh!" Riley cried out as something exploded inside his skull, and he dropped to one knee hard enough to rattle his bones.

It wasn't a headache. It wasn't pressure. It felt like hooks sinking deep into his brain and yanking in opposite directions, like his thoughts were being wrenched apart by something vast and uncaring.