“This is not at all what I expected waking up today.”, he tried to collect himself. “Please tell me you’re doing crazy talk and I’m not supposed to believe you.”

"I-I don’t mean for you to believe me...sorry for catching you up in this mess. I'll...I'll take my leave!", she tried turning around to run away.

"Hey, hold up.", Lass grabbed her arm. "Moments ago you were ready to drop on the floor, I can't let you go like that. And besides that, fake soldiers hunting you down and unexplained talk like this…crazy or not, you'll end up hurting yourself!"

"Y-Your arm...", the little goddess stopped on the spot, fearfully looking at Lass's grip on her. "I'm sorry! P-Please, don't hurt me!"

Lass then let her arm go as she crawled away in the corned. Frightened and with her arms on her head, Lass saw the first drops of tears coming out of her eyes. He then calmly got up and approached her again.

"I'm sorry...it was too strong a grip, was it? I didn't mean it like that but. I'm not that great at expressing myself. I just...something happened rather recently, so I'd much prefer not to let someone get hurt like that, especially given everything that’s going on. Monsters are everywhere and even with live ammunition and neo-blades, it’s still an ongoing hell. So please, don’t run away out there.”

"I just…I don’t want to hurt others with those people again! I can’t stand them following me with the monsters!", she apologized through her tears.

“Listen, I know it's sudden for the both of us, but goddess or not, you shouldn't be going off like that. Pain is pain, and from that kid's story alone, I know you can feel it too, hence me not wanting to let you go at your state. And despite everything, you don't have to come up to me with a sorry face all the time, alright?."

Though Lass had seemed to be handling the situation with relative ease, the little goddess for once had been taken by surprise herself, to finally receive treatment of equal like she always wanted.

"You will not hurt me for what I've done? For what I am? Ok then...thank you."

Lass sighed, trying to take everything in. "Look, I don't know if you used the same power you did just now on yourself to wake up back there, but until I'm absolutely sure you're kicking back at full health, you wont be going out there. Judging from everything, you're most likely either coming from a dangerous place, or planning to traverse a dangerous place. So I'll let you crash here for a bit until I can make sure of everything.", Lass folded his arms.

"Then you don't...hate me?"

"Oh for the love of-Why the hell would I hate you, you? You did nothing more than help me ever since I brought you in. Or at least...tried to help me. But it still counts…”, Lass scratched his head. “You seriously need to perk up a little. It will do you a lot of good, I promise. No need to sound apologetic, no need to sound weak. Besides, I'm used to it by working with my dad with so many people."

As those words where spoken tears not of sadness but of joy began tripping down the goddess's eyes. To her those words that came out somewhat harshly, where all she had ever wanted to hear, for behind their harsh appearance hid the meaning of love and care behind them.

"Now, now.”, Lass calmed her down. “Why did you do this? All of that I mean...the rain, the poor clothing. What happened?" He said as he sat her down.

She took a deep breath before she started to speak. "I've been...travelling like this. I had once settled in and started living at a peaceful town around the dragon land of Frigo near Gardard. But ever since that war I was...lost. I was separated from both the townsfolk and a friend. I was lost in this world again, ever since. I fell on the hands of some...bad people. They told me they were part of a bigger picture...that they would fight for the world's freedom. But...they did so many horrible things to me...only a few days ago I managed to escape. Escape that torture...escape.", she started to shake.

"Also quick to throw some tears out, aren't you? I did hear about this. Monster attacks have been more and more rampant lately, unexplained scenarios causing death and mayhem...it all caused people to turn against the church and the gods themselves as it was viewed as a hateful verdict upon everyone. But it's okay. I for one can tell you, I'm not blaming you for what's happening. Passing fad or not, you don't exactly seem like one to...do such things. And what is your goal anyway? Wandering around all alone like this? Sure you escaped but didn't you know where to go next? You did create this world after all."

"Umm...my friend used to know directions for our travels. Her name was Cecilia but I can’t find her anymore."

"So you're telling me that you’re the goddess and you've supposedly made this world from scratch, got lost in it and do not have any sense of direction whatsoever, but you're still wandering around it with everything that's going on.", Lass grabbed his forehead, letting out a long sigh.

"Was I not supposed to do that?", Ikarisa ignorantly said.

"She is as good with social interactions as she is with directions...what a naïve moron.", Lass whispered. "So...again. What's the end goal? Why are you putting yourself through all this?"

"My brothers...Makaro and Kikaro. They are about to bring great destruction in this world. They have severely intensified Obsulyte to rile up monsters and everything all across the world because they're after me. And I...had to escape. To protect everyone from the chaos they were going to unleash trying to get to me. Anyone I get close to...the monsters only seem to follow me and they hurt everyone. That's how the ones who captured me knew about who I was...or rather what I was. Everywhere I go."

"Relax. It's not your fault and you know it. But surely there must be something that can be done about this rising hell?"

"Only one thing. After I escaped I planned, and still am planning to put an end to this...I have to find out where Makaro and Kikaro have descended in Riza. That's the only way they could chaos of such magnitude they must have broken Dante's seal from Kaima and brought themselves back into this world."

"This sounds like it's leading up to some lame vanilla final battle to me. And let me guess, you were planning to face them all alone? If I recall the tale correctly, you lost most of all your power with the fall of Dante...so that means-", his words were interrupted by Ikarisa.

"It's what I have to do...for everyone. Be it destiny or a prophesy I have to do it. They both want hold of me and will keep on rampaging until they get me. So I can’t run anymore…even if my life is to be taken."

“Kind of an oxymoron, considering you were just running for some cultists, but aren’t planning to run from two mad gods. But you’re persistent...ok then. Where were you heading at exactly?"

"Some place called Reingard..."

"You mean the capital of Aleria, Reingard? The place in the complete opposite direction of my house where you were heading at?"

" I-I uh...I guess so. But I cant stop! No matter what happens I cant..."

"I never told you to stop, just turn around 180 degrees is all.", Lass sighed. "You're so clueless about the world, how it works and clearly you're oblivious to directions so..." He said as he got up "Fine. Give me a moment to get changed and we can head out together alright?"

"What?!" She said in surprise.

"I can already bet your combat experience isn't exactly 'refined', your only power revolves around healing people and your main goal is to clash head on with two other gods so...you might need help. And since I have way less of a chance than containing you in here, rather than escorting you out there, might as well, right? And don’t worry, I’ll get to see if that whole “goddess” thing is myself. Though considering how big of a klutz you are, I can tell you’re a horrible liar so…chances are this far fetched claim isn’t that far fetched at all."

"I truly am the goddess, I swear! And I can fight but...I don't want to hurt anybody."

Lass started gearing up as they talked. "This is how 'fighting' works. You cannot 'fight' without hurting. My point still stands then. I'm coming with you little goddess. And its final."

"But you...what if you get hurt?! I don’t want to see you get hurt!", she instinctively spoke.

”Why so worried? I’m a stranger to you and I’ve got nothing better to do myself here so…it works out both ways.”, he carelessly said.

”But I don’t want to see you get hurt like that every again!”, she yelled.

Ikarisa paused as she realized what the meaning behind her instinctive words meant. A change in her attitude only helped to further solidify a longer stutter as the atmosphere became lighter and lighter, despite the circumstances. Now, despite the suddenly heavy shift in her comfort around him, she started looking at Lass with a different perspective.

”I…don’t know what came over me.”, she took a weird look at Lass.

"Well, it is sudden no denying that, but having you roam out there with zero protection whatsoever does make me uneasy to say the least. And I can hold my own, don't worry. I don't exactly know what kind of standards gods have set for 'mere mortals', but when it comes to me I can guarantee you right now...I'm not in the least bit fragile."

"I don’t care if you’re a mortal or not. I just want you to be safe, that’s why I don’t really want you to go out there at times like these…", she said before she started to mumble, "Even then, I would like to have someone with me. After so, so long of being alone...could it be what she once said? Or even what Lily said. This doesn’t make any sense…he doesn’t seem to be the same. But even then what is happening to me?"

"Then that's that I guess." He said as he picked up a sword. "This will do for now. I've also gotten geared up adequately enough so...guess we're good to go. I would be using this base for a sword for any monster in the way, but all are orders due to next week, and I'm in by no means in the mood of starting over in case of damages. Besides, it’s a simple escort, right?"

A shred of doubt was filling her eyes again, as she herself tried to reflect the affection given to her.

"And I-uh...your name was Lass, correct?"

"Yea that was it."

“Well then. We can’t stop each other so, let’s instead travel together.”

“Sounds about right. I closed everything down and have prepared some meals for the way as well.”

"Alright! Let's get going then!", she said with sparkling eyes, grabbing Lass's hand.

"Woah there! Someone sure got comfy rather fast! Where did that rush suddenly come out of goddess?!"

"Call me Risa if you will! Now lets go!", she said as she chuckled.

And so, with these few words had the story began. To what the world would soon come to know as a legend full of adventure, mystery and unique circumstances, a story unlike any other had finally gone underway...