Divine machine which two gods want, a power hungry warmonger, a lich conveniently related to one of the gods, a mysterious woman with a crescent moon ring on a boat. This is all too suspicious of a ”The Chosen One” plot. Well, at least this world ain’t post apocalyptic. Thank goodness there is no radioactive fallout!

While traveling toward the Harjan aligned town I read up more on Horekesa and the mythos surrounding him.

Way back in the time when gods still walked the planet. Horekesa and Harjan were still pretty chummy with each other. Horekesa created the sun in the sky, and with the help of Harjan they ensured his sun would still shine during the night. A mutually beneficial relationship. Harjan would get power in exchange for having Horekesa’s sun be able to be shine through the night. In a way would the crescent moon signify their relationship. The darker part being Harjan and the lit up part being Horekesa.

What caused the fracture between them? A third god came into the mix! They created a machine which let the gods create avatars on the planet. By the time it was made, gods presence on the planet was greatly weakened. To make it worse the machine only had enough charges left to make two avatars. An unknown god managed to create a avatar and in the process break the machine. Now both Horekesa and Harjan want to get ahold of the machine so they can walk the planet again with their believers.

A petty reason? Don’t know, being in their realms must be pretty damn boring if they are willing to go this far.

”How long until we are there?”

I asked Laurel after I shut the book we got from the last town. We were now on a road surrounded by jungle on one side and rice fields on the other side.

”We should be there in two days.”

He looked back at me as we walked along the road.

”I wonder how Fang is doing.”

Asked Kim which now was carried by Nyaya on her shoulders.

”Us cats are survivors! Have faith in Fang!”

Answered Nyaya with a proud smile.

”You two sure get along well.”

Commented Izumi which walked with Seris and Nino on each side of him. Kim and Nyaya just looked back at them and smiled.

”I wonder what Harjan would say to me?”

I looked up in the sky absentmindedly for a while until I bumped into Laurel. The bump made me get out of my daydreaming daze.

”Sorry! I was just deep in thought.”

I apologized to Laurel. He just chuckled and continued walking.

”Are you religious, Laurel?”

Then I curiously asked him.

”Me? Well, you can say so. But only because it is practical. I pay my respects to the god of lineage. Wilthos, the god of lineage and rulership”

Laurel waved both his arms up as he answered me.

”It is a tradition in my royal family to worship him after all. In return we get blessed by Wilthos. Though I seem to had picked the short stick this time...”

He put his finger under his chin as he continued talking.

”Certainly interesting way to put it...”

I looked at him as if he was funny while I made a comment toward him.

We then spent the rest of the day walking toward the town. As night time was approaching, we setup camp by the road. Strangely enough it was just me and Nyaya awake late for once. Usually she is asleep by Izumi by now.

By the campfire sat me and Nyaya enjoying tea. Everyone else are soundly asleep.

”Having a hard time sleeping?”

I asked Nyaya which looked as if she was deep in thought.

”Mjaa... Was just thinking...”

She looked as in trance up at the clear night sky. It was a sea of stars up there. In the background noises of cicada-like insects was heard. And the relatively cool night breeze was blowing.

”Thinking?”

I asked her.

”Kim make me think of home...”

Nyaya was still looking up at the sky, then she took a sip of the tea.

”Home? How was it like?”

I took a sip of tea before questioning her further.

”I would have my smaller siblings on my shoulders as I played with them. In my home town we would play all day long before mama called us back.

We did many fun things like playing hide and seek, and soldiers and bandits.

And my mama would cook delicious things like beef gravy with potatoes. Ah, mamas cooking was the best...”

Nyaya started to look sad now as her nose started contorting.

”The weather was nice too... Like here...

A lush forest by the sea.”

She then sighed and brought up what looks like a ceramic shard with engravings on it.

”Hehehe, I remember how we used to make bits like these... We would pretend it was money and play as merchants... Th- Then...”

Nyaya now started tearing up. It looks like it brought up traumatic memories for her.

”Then bad men came and ruined everything!”

Then in a mix of anger and sadness she suddenly started crying. I quickly went over to comfort her. I patted her head as I hugged her. After a while she stopped and she clinged to me, not wanting to let me go.

This is the first time she truly opened up to me, ever since I got into Izumis household. Behind her facade of being a happy-go-lucky-girl she bears a horrible trauma from the past. I guess it is a given though. Slaves rarely become ones by choice.

”Let’s go to bed...”

I simply said and brought her over to my sleeping bag. We managed to squeeze into it so that me, Nyaya and Kim fit in it. Kim did not seem to notice and simply spooned Nyaya from behind. Me and Nyaya hugged as we sleeped. It did not take very long at all for her to fall into sleep.

The day after we arrived at the town where the Harjan faction make their home. Like the Horekesa faction they also cultivated rice in huge fields around the town. But unlike the other town, their temple was not as noticeable. But the top of the temple reminded me of how a observatory was back on Earth. Complete with a rotateable dome and a metal object pointing out of a opening. On the walls which surrounded the town, hung banners depicting the phases of the moon. They really love their symbolism.

We repeated the entrance procedure from the previous town, only this time they were a lot nicer when they saw me. They kept talking about me being Child of Harjan, and how my presence would bring great fortune here. Laurel, the prince did not seem to mind it. After all it would make negotiations smoother for him.

If I get a chat with Harjan, I will scold him for igniting this feud. This is so pointless.

”So we are here...”

I say as we enter the town. Unlike the Horekesa aligned town, the people here seem to be happy to see us. The houses in are in a much better condition as well. I guess they have skilled builders here. Kim seemed to be excited when he saw a market stall selling meat in bread along the main street. He kept pestering Izumi until he bought one for him. Nyaya kept asking for bites from him, so in the end he just split the meat sandwich in two. Instant karma.

Watching them eat made me realize that I’m hungry. I guess we will have plenty of time before the chief will have time for us.

”Master, aren’t you hungry?”

I tug Izumi by his arm as I ask him. The girls look at us in anticipation. Has been a few days since we last ate something decent. Campside food aren’t exactly the most tasty...

”...I suppose I am.”

He stretch his arms and looks back at me. Izumi looks exhausted, as if he is running on fumes. This day we skipped lunch, because we could see the town in the distance as we traveled. So it is entirely our fault.

We split our groups and entered a tavern connected to the main street. ”Djinn’s Dance” was the tavern called. From the outside it looked well established. Many chairs connected to round tables could be seen on an elevated platform by the entrance. Guard rails made out of wood surrounded it and connected the walls.

Laurel and his two bodyguards left for the town hall meanwhile we stuffed our faces with food.

After filling ourselves at the tavern we caught up with Laurel again. An hour must had passed at least. The town hall was the next biggest building after the temple. Its shape was that of a hexagon, and made out of large white stone bricks. Like the town walls it was adorned with moon phase symbol banners. Each side of it are adorned with windows on the top floor. And the main entrance door is made out of bronze which is enough to go up to the second floor.

We then started the long wait in the town hall lobby.

”Uhh... This is sooo boring...”

Kim said as he sat on the bench between Nyaya and me. He kept impatiently kicking his feet back and forth. Tail the monkey who previously had been quiet now sat on his lap. Looks like he is trying to cheer him up.

”Brother, wanna play?”

Nyaya asked Kim as she held up a deck of cards in her hand. I guess she turned him into her substitute brother now. Kim then sighed and looked at her.

”Sure! Got nothing better to do!”

He then answered her and jumped off the bench. They then scampered off to a table with chairs in the lobby. Nino then leaned closer to me.

”Nyaya got good family now.”

Nino then grinned and playfully touched my shoulder with hers.

”Y- Yeah. They get along very well.”

I answered her while I was bored out of my mind. Not even the books I stored in my head are entertaining me.

”Though I regret not getting another girl. Seeing Nyaya like this make me happy.”

Izumi then butts in with this comment. Nino then gives him the stink eye.

”Master always wants more. Are we not enough?”

Nino which is unusally talkative today reprimands him. Izumi looks shocked.

”N- No. I do not mean it like that. Kim is a happy accident for our family.”

He then awkardly smiles as he tries calming down Nino. Then suddenly do Seris cover his arm completely between her huge breasts. Even through the robe they are ever present.

”Come on~ Kim is a cutie! He practically is a girl.”

She then licks his ear by the lobe. He then looks awfully suspicious. Then Nino tales his other arm between her breasts. Though they are not huge, they are not by any means small.

”Seris is right. Kim is cute and good for our sister Nyaya.”

Nino grins like a hungry animal at Izumi which is now beyond confused. What are the girls planning, really?

”Uh, girls?”

Izumi then desperately asks them. Then they both grin like predators about to kill their prey. Then suddenly they start attacking his mouth with kisses. Wowie, a three-way kiss! The sloppy sounds and muffled protests of Izumi are heard all the way over here. Is this how they usually try convincing him?

Suddenly I get a tap on my shoulder. I look toward from where I felt the tap and I see a elderly woman in a clerical garb.

”Child of Harjan. The town chief require you to attend the meeting.”

The elderly woman tells me. I look confused and start following her.

”...okay...”

I answered her meekly.

”Follow me. This way, please.”

She says and make a waving motion to where we go. I could still her the noises from Izumi and the girls as we turned around the corner.

As we walk in the corridor toward the meeting room. We pass by a familiar looking woman with red clothes and hat. But the most defining thing was her ring with the crescent moon motif. Who is this woman? I feel like I have met her on the boat to here before.

I entered the meeting room and there I saw Laurel discussing with the town chief, which to my surprise is a relatively young girl. Around the table sat many different men and women in official looking attire. They all became quiet and then looked at me.

”Ah, Lotus. Good that you came here. Please sit beside me.”

Said Laurel which looked troubled. I just did as he asked and obediently sat next to him. The town chief looked a bit confused. She must had seen my slave collar I guess.

”This is Lotus, whom you all call the Child of Harjan. She is the property of Izumi, which I hired to escort me during my diplomatic mission.”

He then continues and look relieved.

”...umm, hi?”

I say quietly to all the people in the room. And then I give Laurel a glance.

”I think she can help us come to an agreement in how to prevent a full blown civil war to break out. Her being deeply connected with the gods we may get answers out of them.”

Laurel then confidently continued with his talk. All these people looking at me is creepy.

”Excuse me for interrupting. But how did Lotus come to be enslaved?”

Asked the town chief.

”Well... I came to this world naked, then I got captured and sold into slavery by bandit scum. Then luckily I got bought by Izumi.”

I told them the too long, did’nt read version of my story.

”Luckily?”

She continued her questioning with.

”It is lucky. Because my master take well care of me. He never forces himself upon me, and I now got a family thanks to him.”

”Family?”

”Yes, family. I consider master and the other slaves to be family to me.”

It then became silent after I told how it was from my heart. I could not help smiling.

”I... I see.”

Then the town chief stops the silence.

”Was that all about Lotus?”

Laurel then asks.

”Yes. Even though she is enslaved she is not suffering. Otherwise we would have to intervene. Those marked by Harjan are important to us.”

The town chief hen looks me in the eyes with passion. Then she puts an artifact looking thing onto the table, and pushes it towards me.

”Lotus, try using this artifact.”

She then says and urge me to use it.

It grab the artifact with my right hand, and I can feel a tingling sensation in my phylactery. Almost as if the artifact want to be filled by it. A faint glow is then seen around both the phylactery and artifact. I look at Laurel first and then the town chief. They both do not make any reactions. With that silent approval I then start channeling positive energy into it by using [Touch of Life]. And then suddenly everything fades into a dreamlike state...

”What is it now? Is it you Mistral?”

>

Harjan then chuckles.

”Oh, took you long enough to chat with me.”

>

”Argument?”

>

”So this thing about you guys being on bad terms is bullshit then? The books never really tell the full story I guess.”

>

”Maybe tell me where this damned machine lies then? We got a civil war brewing here!”

>

”Great! Backtracking! I love it!”

I said with great sarcasm.

>

”So not even gods are omnipotent.”

>

Then my eyes filled with a bright light before fading again. I then saw how people looked as if they listened intently at me.

”What?”

I ask them all and blinked.

”You made the artifact work!”

The town chief happily cried out!

”So apparently that damn so called Avatar Creation machine is behind a waterfall.”

I told them without any fuss or drama.

”Is that so Lotus?”

Laurel then questions me.

”Yes.”

”I see. I will then send Izumi and you all to find it meanwhile I stay behind and negotiate.”

He then shoos me out of the room.

”Wait Lotus! Take the artifact with you!”

The town chief then interrupts me mid way out. I hurridly take it and then walk out. I wonder why she want me to take it with me? All it did was to let talk with Harjan. Must be some hidden functionality to it.

Without a word I took it and went back to rejoin my party. During this brief meeting Seris and Nino had managed to completely cover Izumis face in saliva. They surely did not go easy on him. Nyaya looked quite frustrated while playing cards. She must had lost quite a few times to Kim which had mastered the game very fast.

After everyone joined, we then continued the quest at Laurels command. Time to do some backtracking I guess!