Chapter 11: "Beneath the Dead Goddess"

Days went by. As we walked along the riverbank, we came across villages, ruins, and empty fortresses. We crossed the border of the Fringe Cities. Yet they were dull, cities that stood out for nothing.

Zera has changed—she lost a part of herself.

Time gave her no solace: her mind remained clouded. I never asked what decision she made.

In the distance, we saw the entrance to a massive cave.

"That’s where we’re headed. Inside lie the domains of one who was once a Goddess."

"Okay," she replied curtly.

Irregular stone steps, ruined by time and moisture, guided us as we descended into the depths of the cave. They seemed endless.

Beside us, a quarry carried an impossible stream: its flow surged upward.

The stalactites are so long I nearly hit them three times. Shouldn’t this place be wider? How could a temple even fit here?

"Darek, it’s really dark. I can’t see anything. Are you sure this is the way?"

Then, a column carved into the cave wall collapsed, plummeting down the stairs toward us. In my rush to flee, I stumbled and clung to Zera, causing us both to tumble down the steps.

"Why did you have to grab onto me? Damn bastard!" she bellowed at me.

It hurt not only from the impacts, but also because Zera always landed on top of me. I feel like she’s using me as a cushion.

The ground gave way beneath our feet: the quarry and the steps vanished into an abyss. We fell, and below us the stream continued its course, dragging us mercilessly.

After several seconds of struggling desperately against the current, gasping for air, the stream deposited us on one of its banks. Once we wiped the water from our eyes and regained our composure, we found what we had been seeking.

The cave stretched before us, immense, like a secret world beneath the earth.

Sunlight filtered down from above through deep cracks. The temple rose against one of the cave walls, imposing and silent. It climbed in multiple tiers, each adorned with dozens of balconies.

"It's walled, and many sections have collapsed," I said, watching as its colossal base narrowed and ended in a small dome at the top.

Its state was decadent: cracks ran across its walls, and broken stained glass reflected the light like empty eyes. Yet its presence commanded respect, as if the world itself still revered it.

I couldn’t be happier. Perhaps, at last, I’ll discover how to kill Zenith! Yay!

Without hesitation, we entered. Inscriptions in an indecipherable tongue filled the walls. The air was dense and heavy. Dust, dampness, and the stench of centuries of desolation created an unbearable atmosphere.

"Don’t you find it strange that there are so many torches?" I asked Zera.

This temple is supposed to have been abandoned for millennia—or worse, eons! Why are they still lit?

"Their light is dim. They’ll go out soon if they bother you."

We continued walking, exploring the place. Besides the torches, there were stained glass windows everywhere. It was strange—though almost buried underground, light still filtered through them.

It is a labyrinthine space, full of narrow hallways and corridors. Many forks. Where could they lead?

"We’ve been in here for a while and haven’t found a single hall or chamber. What’s the point? How could they worship their Goddess like this?" I asked Zera impatiently.

Thick water dripped from the ceiling, forming puddles with a foul stench.

"We need to keep investigating. Do you know which Goddess lived here?" she asked, slowly regaining her cheerful tone.

She’s curious; surely a mysterious place like this will lift her spirits.

After a long while, we reached a great hall where the corridors converged. Stained glass and mirrors covered entire walls.

This place was spotless, as if time hadn’t been able to corrupt it. Also, the air felt fresh. Could there be a breeze?

"At the far end of the hall, there’s a sarcophagus," Zera pointed out. "And a lectern with a book. Is that what you’re looking for?"

"I hope so. After many years, this might be a huge step toward my goal. If I’m right, we’ll leave this temple knowing how to kill a God."

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What a disappointment—we found nothing! We searched every corner of the place in vain.

The book crumbled into dust at our touch, the stained-glass images were blurry, and the writings on the walls were in an ancient, incomprehensible language. Coming here had been a waste of time.

"The only thing left is to open the sarcophagus," Zera suggested.

"With whose permission?" A heavy voice resonated through the hall.

Someone’s here? Why didn’t we notice?

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

"There’s no need to yell at me," he said in a calm, relaxed tone.

Damn. Is he strong? Hostile? Will he punish us for trespassing?

I grabbed the hilt of my sword, ready to draw it. Zera put on her gloves. At that moment, a blinding light appeared above the sarcophagus. When it faded, we saw who stood there.

He wears armor that gleamed like silver, seemingly made of glass. Is he… a Knight?

"Why didn’t you show up earlier?" Zera asked. Unlike me, she showed no fear.

"Because my duty is only to protect Lumen, Goddess of Eternal Radiance. I have no problem with you wandering this temple, so long as you don’t disturb her rest."

The light streaming through the stained glass began to flicker to the rhythm of a heartbeat.

The mere mention of his Goddess exasperates me.

The Radiance, an element born from Genesis. That was the source of the hall’s intense light.

“We don’t want a fight,” Zera said diplomatically. “We just wanted to know about Lumen.”

“She was a merciful and compassionate Goddess who gave her believers what they needed.” Melancholy filled his voice.

She was the opposite of Zenith, who maintains order through Punishment and Penance. Yet, Zenith is the most venerated Goddess on the continent.

"Because of her kindness, the people who once lived here built this temple and came to her unfailingly. More than a Goddess, she seemed like a mother."

"And why are you still here?" Zera asked, barely hiding her enthusiasm.

How did he survive for so many years? Is he human? No, he’s no ordinary Knight. There’s something… different: his aura is pristine.

"I was born from the faith of the believers. Their will and hope created me to protect her. I have the form, the feelings, and the purpose they gave me." He rose and gently caressed a sculpture of Lumen.

He is a sentinel. He must fulfill his purpose and nothing more. Yet, can he feel? Does he miss his Goddess? Is that what faith achieves? It’s astounding.

"How did she die? Why did this place fall to ruins?" Zera asked, regaining her spirit. She seemed to be recovering from what she’d done in the village.

How can it be that his connection with Lumen is so strong, that without her he longs for death? Does the same happen with people? Does love create a bond so powerful that, once broken, they lose their reasons to keep living?

“Your honor forbids you from living in any way other than at your Goddess’s side,” said Zera, fully understanding his situation.

“I, her greatest disciple, cannot vanish anywhere but in this temple, beside her tomb.”

To die in the name of a goddess who will never answer your prayers is… pathetic. He lies—surely he wants to die to bury his past and ignore his sins. How ignorant. I know death does not erase your guilt; it only makes it heavier.

“To murder you out of pity? Out of mercy? What kind of request is that? Why didn’t you just kill yourself?” I asked, outraged.

A breeze carried a refreshing scent of red fruits and swept the dust from one of the Goddess’s statues.

“I am her Sentinel, her eternal knight. My honor grants me no other end but to fall in battle, sword in hand, defending Lumen.”

“I refuse to fight you. You told me what I needed to know, so I have no reason to stay here any longer.”

“Of course you do, the true secret of her death rests inside the sarcophagus.” He stepped away from Zera and turned his back to us. “Nevertheless, I will prevent anyone from opening it as long as I live.” He conjured a shining sword, his challenge clear.

There lies the answer no one should ever know, an arcane secret: how to kill a Goddess. I have been searching for it for so long, and at last, here it is, before my eyes.

I unsheathed my sword. Zera, without a word, accepted what he proposed and slipped on her gloves.

I will not waste this opportunity. After defiling the sarcophagus, I will march to Aurethys. I will shatter the Order of the Unconquered Sun, slay every damned Knight, and, as my final act in life, I will kill Zenith.