Chapter 10: The Gift

There he was, lying in bed after he had been fired. He didn't know how or why, but he just knew this was the exact moment he was in. Though sunlight was replaced by the moon's illumination.

There she was again: the Goddess.

"Heyyy Yuichiro! Or should I say... Iskatl?" She'd tease as she appeared at the foot of his bed. He was, yet he wasn't.

"It's been a while, hasn't it? I have a few things for you; for one, congratulations on the Sacred Treasure! You know, Hell's Fang? It's a big deal, though I won't yap too much on that."

"What do you need?" He asked with an almost annoyed sigh before the Goddess pouted.

"Well, Mister Sour Puss! I thought I'd join in on that whole Succession thing. You know, closest people in your life granting gifts? You were given three gifts, so I'll match those. Ask me three questions about anything, and I will answer them exactly how you ask them. They can be as lengthy and with as many extensions as you desire, as long as it's about the same topic! 'Kay?" She seemed proud of herself, or more so, it seemed like she enjoyed this whole thing.

"Fine. Are you Scylla, the Moon Goddess? If not, what is your title? What are you known as? I'd rather not have to play this guessing game on your identity."

"Mmmmn. Nope! Scylla isn't me, though she's one of my favorites. How's this? I'll give you my name once you procure the Reliquary. All you must know is nobody you have spoken to thus far knows I exist. An Emptiness lies atop Heaven's Throne, and that's because only those I care about showing myself to can detect my existence. Make sense?"

He'd blink twice and scratch his neck. "I suppose it does? Alright, second question. Why did you bring him here? I don't think I have to tell you who I mean..."

"Hmmm? Oh, right! Origami boy? Well, let's see... How can I explain it in a way you'd understand? Ah. You see, in my world, one of the most important things is duality, balance. Wherever light exists, so too must darkness. Blah, blah, blah! But you don't wanna hear hypotheticals, hmm? He's your direct opposite, and every hero's journey needs a villain! So who better than someone you already hate? Though I gave him his own purpose, I am not obligated to tell you it, nor will I if you ask. All you have to know is I gave him a life's purpose, like I have all the other Descenders."

A moment's silence.

"I say that like there aren't only three... I'll tell you this much! There's only three of you! Maybe a fourth in the future, but you may not be around for that? I dunno." Scratching her chin with a giggle as before, she poked his forehead.

"Final question! Make it count! Make it something that can help on your journey!" She stated with an annoyed growl.

Yuichiro sighed deeply before looking to the Goddess with a tilted head. "Well, Miss. Who is my mother? What can you tell me of her? What is her species, and what are their capabilities? You said I'm a combination of four races; so far, I only know of my demon's blood and the fact that I'm a wolf beastkin."

"Oh! Your mother? Well, her name is Vyarra, the-" The next few words were replaced with nothingness. She spoke; well, her lips moved, but no sound escaped from them.

Moonlight was replaced by darkness, and the air became thick and palpable as Yuichiro felt his sins crawling down his spine. He'd almost succumbed to fear before that woman's voice rang out.

"Oh! It would seem the puppy is upset by my sharing this information. Are you angry? Snake?" The Goddess seemed to have no fear in her heart, as Yuichiro did. She seemed more like an annoyed pet owner than someone being threatened.

The air became thicker, and despite the out-of-body experience this all was, Yuichiro found himself struggling to breathe.

"Calm down, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇." Once again, her word was blotted out, yet her lips movements made it clear what word she said: 'Ouroboros.'

His eyes widened. He could kind of assume what he was. It made so much sense. The scales and his slitted pupils. His mother was a powerful serpentine woman, yet that didn't explain her horns. Looking back, she was a woman with deep crimson hair, even more vibrant than his own. She had scarlet-colored eyes and deep red scales. She was definitely a snake, and the association with Ouroboros led him to believe this serpentine species was powerful.

"Well, Yui Chan... I'm sorry I can't answer your question; my puppy can get quite animated when I reveal her secrets. I should have assumed she'd get upset; she always watches these conversations as if doting on me and begging for my attention. Here, I shall give you a gift to make up for your third question being left unanswered. The next difficult fight you experience shall grant you the Reliquary. Typically, one's limits need to be shattered in a life-or-death scenario, but for you, I'll make a special exception."

Light would return before he awoke in a tent. He and Amani had been travelling the land for some time now, slowly yet surely. They'd make it to their goal. It had been fifty years of stagnation, merely traveling the large and vast forests of Falrunn to reach the High Elven Kingdom. Amani recommended that they go there. Unfortunately, she's quite directionally challenged and was made the guide for their journey. Not a very good combination. But they finally saw a large city from the mountaintop.

Iskatl looked at the silver-haired maiden with a soft smirk, "It took forever, but we're finally here. If only we had brought a map, instead of being stuck with a guide who doesn't know what the difference between North and South is."

"Shut up." Amani said plainly and calmly.