The Annoying and Arrogant Goddess of the Land

“Yes, yes, I suppose you’re here for your reward,” the goddess of the land groaned. “Where do you want it?”

Camellia, Lynn, and Damos were at a loss for words. Compared to Tethys, this woman was another species entirely.

Theio answered, “I’m not quite sure they know how it works, Sylvia.”

“Lady Sylvia,” the goddess snapped. “I’m a goddess, you know!”

“Yes, Lady Sylvia. My apologies.”

Camellia nervously fiddled with her winged dagger, a trusted strategy for stressful situations like these.

Sylvia swung her head left, staring Camellia down. “You. Where did you get that?”

“Huh? Th- This? I just found it.” Camellia said.

Putting a hand to her chin, Sylvia hummed in thought. “Interesting. You really are a strange one. I ought to talk to my sister.”

Why would she need to talk to Tethys?

Sylvia burst out laughing. “Oh, no. No. You don’t understand, do you? That’s fine. You will, soon enough, I’m sure.” She returned to addressing all three of them. “So, anyway. Your reward. For making it here, you are entitled to one high quality manse, anywhere you would like where there is space in the city.”

“Anywhere?” Damos asked.

“I asked for mine further away from town, so I could still live by the sea,” Theio explained.

Quietly, Lynn asked, “Would it be okay if we did that, too?”

Theio smiled. “Of course. So long as it is okay with Lady Sylvia, that is.”

“I don’t care where you salty brats live. Honestly, the further away from town, the better.” She looked at the three young champions. “Is that where you want it?”

They looked at one another. Verbal confirmation wasn’t even necessary. “Yes, please, Lady Sylvia,” Lynn bowed.

“Oh, you were the respectful one from the trial, that’s right. Come to think of it, wasn’t there a fourth? What happened to her?” Sylvia said bluntly.

The air turned frigid, silent.

Wait. It was her. Her beast. Her fault.

The goddess raised an eyebrow. Camellia stepped forward, rage bubbling up inside her, but a hand stopped her. Lynn shot her a look that said, Don’t.

Taking a breath, Camellia centered herself. They took on the trial willingly, knowing the risks. No one was at fault. Always a way forward.

“Well, anyways,” Sylvia snapped her fingers, “There you go. House is done. Right next to Theio’s. Enjoy the view, if you somehow find it pleasant.” She sighed. “Is there anything else?”

Camellia raised her hand. “Yes, actually. Tethys mentioned something when I asked her for my request. She said I had to go ‘up.’ Do you know what she meant?”

“Oh, of course I do. But will I just tell you for free? No,” Sylvia snickered. “If you want to know more, try heading to the training grounds at the edge of the forest. You’ll find an answer there.” She turned around. “Then, if that’s all, goodbye.” In an instant, she melted back into the stone beneath their feet, disappearing just as swiftly as she had arrived.

What a buzzard.

Oh, come on, Obbie, she really is awful. You saw how she treated them.

Not as concerned as I am with her attitude, Theio took the three back out into the fresh, open air. When the group returned to the tranquil coast, they found a perfect replica of Theio’s home, not ten meters away. The old man chuckled. “I suppose we’ll be neighbors, then.”

As they admired the place, Camellia timidly addressed the group. “So, um, I was wondering. Should we… find a place for Phoebe to rest?”

With a pained smile, Lynn nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. By the house?”

“For sure,” Damos said, his breath short and quick.

Theio cleared his throat. “I can help with that, as well.”

Camellia, Lynn, and Damos looked at him with surprise. His arm began to glow brown.

“I’m a champion too, you know.” Then, a giant crab claw shimmered into view around his arm. “Aspect of the crab,” he admitted.

The three smiled, knowing they made the right choice in placing their reward here. For the next hour or so, they all dug a hole together in the dirt in front of the newly constructed home. Theio helped make the work quick, bashing into the earth with his giant crab claw, softening it, and scooping the dirt and sand out. For a man as old as he looked, he moved as if he were in his prime.

When they were finished, Camellia with her wings gently lowered Phoebe, still wrapped in the sheet, into the hole. As they said their goodbyes, she had a thought. She pulled out her knife, and cut a lock of her own hair off, gently casting it into the grave.

“So you’ll never be alone,” she said as she wept.

Seeing this, Lynn and Damos did the same. “We’ll always be with you,” Lynn sobbed.

Putting the heaps of earth back was a much faster job. When all was said and done, a small mound right next to the front door of the sandstone home, topped with a small arrangement of stones, marked Phoebe’s final resting place.

“One last thing,” Camellia said, taking out her dagger again. She walked up to the front door, and began digging her knife into it. A few minutes later, she stepped back, and displayed her handiwork.

Anyone who visited would see that the house had a title, carved into the front door.

“Phoebe and Friends.”

~~~~~~

The next morning, the three found themselves at the edge of a thick forest, watching people spar against one another, just like they had in the training grounds back home.

Damos scratched his head. “So how are we supposed to find out what to do now?”

“Well, talk to someone, I guess,” Camellia shrugged.

They waited by the entrance for someone friendly looking to walk by. Only, it was quite a while before someone looked their way with anything but a glare or sneer. A few times, a trainee would walk by, scan them up and down, and mutter something like “Salt breaths,” while rolling their eyes.

“Lynn, do they hate people from below the water here, or something?” Camellia whispered.

Pursing her lips, Lynn replied, “I’ve no clue. They never told us anything about this.”

“Whatever, they wouldn’t know good mackerel if it hit them in the face,” Damos huffed.

As he complained, a mousy, bookish girl passed by, offering a curious look. She raised her eyebrows upon seeing them.

Lynn pounced. “Hey. Excuse me, miss.”

The girl froze.

Stepping forward, Damos held out a hand to ease her anxiety, “It’s okay, we’re just a little confused. We need some help.”

With a few tentative steps forward, the girl moved over to them. “You guys are from The Bed, right?”

“Yep,” Camellia nodded. “We’re just, um, lost.”

The girl warmed up to the three, a sparkle in her eyes appearing when Camelia confirmed their origins. “If you’re from The Bed, that means you must have had to fight your way to Sylvios. Are you guys gonna keep going, or just stay here?”

“Keep going? Where?” Lynn leaned back in confusion.

“Up, of course.” She looked behind her at all the various people fighting. “That’s what they’re all training for,” she turned back to the group, “to challenge the Trail of Ascension. To make it to the city in the sky.”