"A group of heretics? So it's true, they are cursed…" The King of Riverbend nodded upon hearing Caela and Fae's report.
Caela and Fae nodded in unison. They had arrived at the castle the night before, and now, in the morning, they were reporting their findings from the West to the King before heading back to report to Shala.
"Indeed, there have been many reports lately of the undead attacking travelers… But I didn't know they were actually living together somewhere near here," the King said.
"I also saw one of those creatures on my way to Central," said Caela.
The King nodded, then asked again, "And the Temple of the Thunder God, still no sign of it?"
Caela shook her head.
"Hmm… How strange… It really has been years since the Temple of the Thunder God was last seen…" The King then stood from his chair with the help of his staff and slowly walked around the hall.
Caela and Fae remained silent, slightly frustrated by the situation. Perhaps they would need to meet with the other Hosts again and continue exploring the land to locate the temple.
"What if you asked the Gods?" the King suggested with a smile.
Caela and Fae raised their eyebrows, curious about what he meant, "Ask the Gods? What do you mean?" Caela asked.
"Yes, ask the Gods who reside in your crystals, ask them where the Thunder God is," he said casually.
Caela and Fae looked at each other, then back at the King.
"I think that's impossible. So far, whenever we summon the Gods, it's only to fight or protect humans. Otherwise, they return to the crystal," said Fae.
"Hmm, I see…" The King listened carefully to Fae's explanation.
Caela, on the other hand, seemed to be considering the King's words. She was someone who could merge with a God—perhaps she could try to communicate with them. But Caela's emotions were in turmoil. She was afraid that what she was about to do would lead to something terrifying, but she also wanted the truth—no matter what it might be. After all, she had always trusted the words of the Gods and wanted to try this.
**
That night, Caela couldn't sleep in her room in Riverbend Castle. She planned to go to Varuna's Temple, hoping to communicate with Him. She slipped out through the window barefoot, trying to move as silently as the wind. She walked through the woods until she reached the lake where the Temple of the Water God stood. At the shore, Caela chanted a spell to walk on water and headed toward the temple. At the same time, Fae, from his room in the castle, noticed her from afar, watching her every move toward the temple.
Caela arrived at the Temple of Varuna once more. She stepped onto the stone dock and called out to Varuna again. A light radiated from her body; much of her energy was drained, but her body felt lighter. She once again transformed into the God Varuna.
"I knoweth thou carryest many questions, doubts, and fears, Mortal," said the voice of Varuna, heard directly in Caela's mind. They seemed to be communicating telepathically.
"Aye, I would ask thee, Great God Varuna, Give me answers…" Caela said.
"Art thou prepared for the whole truth, Chosen One?"
Caela fell silent for a moment, then closed her eyes in Varuna's form.
"I must be. Lead me onto the path of truth," she said, her feelings a storm of fear and surrender to fate.
"… Jupiter… Our companion is already in the right vessel. But sealed," said Varuna.
Caela's eyes widened. Light flared from her body, and she reverted to her human form. The God Varuna seemed to return to her, ending the conversation. Her thoughts spun wildly: "Already in the right vessel but sealed?" Did that mean the Thunder God, Jupiter, was within a human host or the crystal?
**
Caela left the temple and returned to her room. As she was about to enter through the balcony, she was startled to find Fae inside, seemingly waiting for her.
"Getting some fresh air?" Fae asked teasingly from his seat.
Caela widened her eyes in surprise, "Fae, what are you doing here?" she asked, trying to stay calm.
"Oh, trying to change the subject, are we?" Fae smirked, resting his chin on his hand, the tattoo on his arm visible and unsettling Caela again.
"I just… couldn't sleep," Caela said.
Fae was silent for a moment, watching her. "What were you doing at the Temple?" he asked curiously.
Caela didn't answer. She didn't want to tell him she had just communicated with Varuna. She feared his reaction and that he might judge her for slowly starting to believe in the old forbidden myths. She chose silence, but Fae spoke again.
"You were trying to talk to Varuna, weren't you?" he asked casually.
Caela's eyes widened at his words. She couldn't deny it, but she didn't want to speak. She still wasn't sure if Fae was someone she could fully trust.
"Yes… but it didn't work," she said quietly.
Fae nodded slowly. It made sense to him, since he had only ever been able to summon the Gods to protect him during attacks. He sighed and leaned back in the chair.
"You know… I once thought the same thing, maybe we could talk to the Gods," Fae said.
Caela remained silent, not wanting to argue. Fae continued.
"Because… Since I was little, I kept hearing the same message from God, over and over…" Fae said casually.
Caela raised her eyebrows, her curiosity piqued, "A message? What kind of message?"
Fae looked at her and spoke, "… The waves have changed. But the storm has yet to come. Let the storm come… then the Gods will return to the universe."
Caela's eyes widened. She knew that voice—she had been hearing that very message in her mind ever since Varuna had begun to reside within her. How could Fae have heard it too? Were they both being called by the Gods?
"You heard that? Isn't that one of the old forbidden myths from the cursed apostate group?" she asked, Caela tried to respond as neutrally as possible.
Fae was silent, then stood from his seat. "I know. But that voice keeps coming back to me. What do you think it means?" he asked casually.
Caela said nothing. She wanted to tell him she had heard the same, but stopped herself—not now, her heart whispered in turmoil.
"I once told my mother about it, but she scolded me and warned me never to say those words to anyone. She said it was an old mythic phrase from the apostate group…" Fae said.
"... Have the other Hosts heard it too?" Caela asked curiously.
"Alana, Valia, and my mother, none of them have," Fae said, gazing up at the starry sky.
Caela's thoughts were now a whirlwind. Her heart suddenly pounded. She began to suspect something strange about Fae—something strange that she also shared.
"And what about you, Caela? Have you heard that voice?" Fae asked, looking deeply into her eyes, as if demanding an answer.
Caela remained silent, staring into Fae's crimson eyes that always reminded her of Rieva. Should she be honest with Fae now?
***