Chapter Three - Withermia

 After watching the biker dressed person fall, a gulf of white light blinded all of my senses. I looked at what seemed to be a hologram of a boy named Julian’s memories. He looked like a much younger version of the biker dressed person.

“What’s happening?” I asked Astral who was now in his human-like form.

“Right now, we are currently going through this person’s judgement.” Astral exclaimed. “When a potential believer is going through a state of needing to be forgiven, they are given a trial where you look over their actions and decide whether to forgive their sins or not.”

After overlooking the biker dressed person, now known as Julian’s memories, Astral had nothing to say about Julian’s actions. “Wow! Two Gods mentioned in just one trial. What an important guy.”

I scoffed at the so-called God and was soon returned to the present. “Whatever, all I have to do is jump down and break his fall.”

“That’s not a good idea!” Astral panicked in his light form.

“Why not? I’m a God aren’t I? I won’t die even if it hurts.”

“Although it’s true you’re a God, the fact still remains that you have barely any believers and you’re currently in a mortal body. It may be decades before you can awaken again!”

Great.

I quickly turned behind me in search of an object to help. Behind me were only the train passengers and nothing else. I pointed at the group. “I just saved your lives,” I smirked. “Care to help me real quick?”

As expected, we were very high in the sky and the train was also falling from the breakage. I flew down and moved my arms closer to my body to quicken my fall. As soon as the biker dressed person was at arms reach, I grabbed ahold of his collar as payback and tugged him closer to myself.

“But why?” He quietly muttered.

With the force of the heavy and fast fall, the words naturally came out of my mouth:

“Julian, you are forgiven!”

…

After being pulled up by the train passengers, the reflective, pink eyed boy broke down and started crying. As expected, none of the passengers would comfort him after his stunt. Or because they were distracted and panicking that the train was quickly falling.

Gosh, how high up were those islands?

“Why’d you say you forgave him and not his sins?” Astral interrupted the chaos in my head.

“We have much more important matters right now.” I sighed.

“You were supposed to forgive their sins, so why’d you say your lines wrong?”

As if to shut him up, I threw the helmet on top of his light self.

The train was full of screams and prayers. The trio hunched over towards me, begging me to come up with something. But I tuned everyone out while holding the filter in front of everyone.

Much earlier, it hurt when Astral hit me. Will it hurt again? If this is a long dream, do I seriously have to sleep for decades in a dream just because of an incident like this? Will I even notice how long it’d be?

BAM!

After continuous debating, my body flew to the top of the train. It felt like all of my organs were going to burst out while that dizzying, head spinning, feeling returned. I didn’t have much time to process the pain surging through my body because I soon fell to the bottom of the train floor to feel that overbearing pain once more.

I’m really starting to doubt that this is a dream.

After the pain subsided enough for me to lift my head, I looked out the window to see many onlookers. Although I could barely see past my blurry vision. Are we back on ground?

“You poor things.” An angelic voice was heard. My vision was still blurred but I could make out that the figure had long golden hair and had two bright blue gems at the top of their head. “Don’t worry,” the angelic voice assured. “I’ll take care of all of you.”

My head hit the ground once more; except this time my consciousness was taken along with the growing pain.

“Mister!”

…

“That’s strange, my abilities should’ve made sure everyone was unharmed.”

Other than the white static, the angelic voice could be heard once more.

How long was I out for?

“You clearly didn’t protect him well enough!” The young voice of the girl Anica could be heard. “The mister saved everyone yet is in a lot of pain!”

“Anica, calm down.” The older sister, Dernica, could be heard, interrupting her younger sister.

I raised my head and looked tiredly over at the group of people in the room.

“Mr. Astral, I think the mister is finally waking up!” Janica said to the glowing light in front of him.

“Astral?” I murmured while rubbing my eyes. “You can talk to him now?”

“They’ve always been able to see me!” Astral remarked. “I just haven't shown myself to them yet. Remember why I’m taking the appearance of a glowing orb to you?”

“Then you must’ve done a lot of talking while I was out.” I glared. “Inform me of my current situation.”

“‘The situation’ is much better than I could’ve predicted!” Astral said excitedly. “Not only did you gain thirty-four believers totaling up to thirty-six, but your heroic acts also gained us an audience with the King of Withermia!”

“‘King of Withermia’?” I tilted my head in confusion.

“Yes! The ‘King of Withermia’ is a direct descendant of ‘The God of Love’, meaning we're one step closer to completing our mission!”

I looked around and noticed that the three pups were in the room waiting for me along with their filter. Other than them, one other person resided in the room. A beautiful woman with long, blonde curls and bright blue eyes that sparkled like jewels.

“And who is this?” I questioned.

“I am no one important.” She interrupted. “I am Alice, the matchmaker and strong believer of ‘The God of Love’.”

“She is the first person to find the train crash.” Astral pointed out. “Since she is the most loyal and a strong believer of ‘The God of Love’, she managed to share your story to the king.”

“Speaking of which,” she smiled. “I don’t mean to rush but I’ve told our king that you’d grant him an audience as soon as you’ve awoken, so let us make haste.”

I nodded and got up from the bed rest.

Wait.

“That boy,” I paused. “Where did the train terrorist go?”

“No fear,” Alice reassured. “After ‘The God of Forgiveness’ forgives someone, they’re free from punishment. However, to reassure the train passengers, I’ve guaranteed him a strict, God monitored life.”

“You know that he was forgiven by ‘The God of Forgiveness’?”

“I am a direct and the most loyal believer of ‘The God of Love’ after all. Our Gods’ news goes directly to me before anyone else.”

“I see.” I pondered her words quickly and stared directly at her. “If you don’t mind,” I started. “Could I look after that boy?”

Alice looked puzzled, before tilting her head to a smile. “What did that poor thing do to receive even stricter supervision?” She seemed to laugh at something on her own before nodding. “I don’t think any of the Gods would mind that punishment. He will be able to meet up with you after your audience with the king." Alice looked over at the three pups. “They’ll have to wait as well.”

The pups nodded in agreement and waved at me before being led to another direction.

Alice asked the guards to announce my arrival and soon huge, golden doors revealed a long carpet to the King’s throne. On the throne sat a king and two younger people. Unlike the king who had blonde hair and blue eyes and skin was on the lighter side, the two younger people had darker skin and dark brown hair and blue eyes.

At their mythical appearances, I was so enamored that I almost forgot to put up the filter. With the filter, they only looked more mythical. They seemed to be human sized fairies with long ears and transparent wings.

“It’s nice to finally greet the hero of the terrorist train.” The blonde man smiled. “Or should I say, ‘The Forgiver’?”

“Huh?” I tilted my head in confusion.

“No need to play coy.” He chuckled. “Our ‘God of Love’ has been very excited to hear of your arrival. She said that she went to you almost immediately after she heard you’ve forgiven someone.”

“So that’s how it is?”

“But I do have to say, I’m quite shocked. Wasn’t ‘The Forgiver’...” He muttered. “Well, nevermind that. I’m sure you must’ve guessed, but I am Herrence, the ‘King of Withermia’. A descendant of ‘The God of Love’” He then pointed at the younger people next to him. “These are my two children, Shara and Reymin. They are both currently competitors for the throne.”

“Nice to meet you, the royalty of Withermia.” Astral whispered in my ear to repeat.

I bowed my head and repeated the words with a smile.

“How courteous,” Shara chuckled. “Maybe I’ll select him as my lover.”

Pardon?

“Oh, please ignore this cheeky daughter of mine.” Herrence also chuckled. “‘The God of Love’ has given them a mission of whoever falls in love first is to receive the crown. So far, they’ve just been teasing others rather than actually searching for a lover.”

“That’s actually what we’ve come to ask!” Astral quickly interrupted.

The royal family stared dumbfoundedly at the orb of light. “What is this?” Herrence questioned.

“This is Astral.” Alice informed him. “‘The Forgiver’s’ companion that I informed you about earlier.”

“Oh, right. Please continue.”

“What if I made a proposal that ‘The Forgiver’ is willing to help the young prince and princess fall in love?” Astral slightly laughed before finishing. “For the reward of having an audience with the ‘God of Love’?”