The Goddess's Hero

Confession

Skye's POV

I couldn't tell if I was up or down. My mind felt lighter but my body felt heavy. Sharp needles pricked through my veins. Light poured through my eyelids and I covered my face. 

"Uagh." I groaned as I squinted at my arm. My ears rang and I directed my attention to sitting up. The sharp prickle feeling I had drifted away slowly. I regretted it once an intense throbbing began in my head. Everything was moving, and yet I knew nothing was. I moved my legs over the side of the bed I was laying in. I gripped my head in order to stop everything from moving. Deep breaths, deep breaths. I inhaled for ten seconds and then I exhaled for ten more. The pounding lessened enough for me to look around. 

I was sitting on a small bed made of wood pallets and goose feather pillows. The blanket was scratchy but warm. The room was made of stone and there was no hearth. The only thing on the wall was a dark blue banner with some sort of crest. I turned my attention to the light. An incredibly bright lamp posted itself atop a nightstand beside the bed. I rubbed my eyes and noticed a piece of parchment sitting on it as well. I grabbed it.

"Nexus." 

The calligraphy was outstanding. I don't think I had ever seen something written so beautifully before. That's probably why the person who wrote it only wrote the one word. I chuckled to myself. Bri didn't answer. 

Bri?

No answer. I felt for her presence in my mind but she had left. A strange sadness clouded my mind for a moment. She'll be back. She just needed to recuperate. I shook my head remembering what she had said. She strengthened me and added her mana to mine. She shared part of her soul with me and she couldn't hold onto the mental connection long after that. Right now, she'd be in Nexus somewhere, chained up and enslaved to the God of All Matter. Anger flared within me, but then I realized that there was no reason to dwell on it. And really no time. I stood up quickly, all misfortunes forgotten. 

I had to finish the Trials and quickly. The enemy had the advantage, but if I gained the power of a demigod I could even the odds. If having the power of a demigod was anything like having Bri's power combined with my own, I could save the world. I mean, I commanded Comwen to make a mountain and Comwen obeyed. I could do this! I just needed to finish. 

I stared at the note in my hand. 

Nexus. That was where I needed to go next. That's where Bri was too. Now that she was gone, I missed her presence. When I finished the next trial, I'll find her and break her out of there. But first: I needed to get to Nexus. Determination led my feet before the raucous laughter and playful melodies sprang to my ears. I followed the noise to a grand hall where hundreds of dwarves were celebrating. It wasn't difficult to find the lanky red haired god among the shorter race.

 I entered and all noise stopped. Eyes from everywhere stared at me in awe. I swallowed down some saliva and willed my shaky hands to still. Sweat beaded on the back of my neck and I told myself to breathe. Inhaling for a moment, I took a step forward and nodded my head in the direction of the closest dwarf. That seemed to rile them up. Cheers abounded, drinks were chugged, and loud chatter began again. The dwarves kept a respectable distance from me though until I reached Jasper. 

He was sitting on a barrel with a lute in his hands. Where did he get that? I shook the thought from my mind. Hetdreat was sitting next to him with the female dwarf from who knows how long ago now. When they saw me, they scooted over so I could sit at their table. I did so and my stomach rumbled. 

"Well, then get ya somethin to eat!" The female shoved roasted pig and apples in my face. I took it gladly and tore into the meat. This was good. Hetdreat shoved a pint of ale in my direction and winked at me.