As soon as Rio stepped into the fog, a weird sensation of being lifted into the fluffy clouds of air covered his body. And though he could still walk, with every passing breeze he felt the layers of his secrets slipping away.
Like nothing in this world could be hidden from this spreading fog.
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The mories he buried, the thoughts he suppressed, the plans he kept in mind, and the backups he wished would work - all seed to be failing as he felt himself being seen through inside out.
The clothes which covered him, the cuts which bled still, or the scars which healed and left nothing but a mory and a shallow mark - were all exposed, under the watchful eye of the god who designed this challenge.
It wasn’t like standing naked in front of a mirror. No, this was far more invasive. It was like lying in an X-ray machine while an expert ticulously scanned every inch of your body, leaving no corner unexplored. And that was precisely what was happening.
This fog was the first trial—or perhaps, more accurately, the zeroth trial—to reach the fabled *Mashad al-Aelthar*.
No one whose body wasn’t ’pure’ enough could pass through this stage.
Those deed unworthy would be trapped within the fog’s embrace, dood to wander endlessly until they succumbed to thirst, hunger, or the crushing weight of loneliness and despair, before dying and being one with it.
Shaky, shady, scary,_ but peaceful at last.
In the novel, Apollo explained this magical fog as sothing which got pulled along with Aelthar from his original world.
Under his control this seemingly harmless fog could even ensnare the gods, rendering them useless.
But as everything goes, with the eons passing by, even the effects of this fog had withered by.
"Nothing lasts.." Rio said and shook his head, swirling a gust of wind in his palms, before walking forward without stopping.
Through the novel he knew his body was ’pure’ enough to pass this level, as Leon did it after taking the Pura Corpus Potion. The very first potion he made and drank after being isekai’d into this world.
[It’s actually funny how sothing which was only made for the protagonist, is now being sold at every major shop in Arcadia.] System spoke and chuckled slightly thinking how 75% of awakeners can now pass this level which in the novel, only Leon went through in a thousand years.
"You sure you can upgrade after we deal with this legacy thingy?" Rio asked, noticing the flashing mission icon on his status page.
[Of course host.] System excitedly replied and explained, [The soul of a god sounds good to break the first seal, and reach level 2, right?]
"You’re a high maintenance, system, you know that?" Rio said, jeering at the seemingly sky high price from the get go level ups.
[...]
"Why can’t you just take so money off my account, and level yourself up like the other systems? Every other system does that.."
[Cause I’m the OG host.]
[And OG’s cost.] System replied, thinking how the mighty had fallen.
"Still– way too high." Rio said ignoring the joke, and asked, "Like a god’s soul is your first offering, then what’re you gonna need next ti?"
[We’ll cross that bridge when we reach there.] System replied, not explaining anymore.
[And besides, why are you even questioning so much anyway, Aelthar’s soul was going to be dusted as soon as you take his legacy. I’m just stealing the leftovers before they slip away.]
’That is true.’
[You wouldn’t even know if I did it behind your back for nothing. But being honest and friendly as I am, I tell you the truth, and this is what you do.] System said in complaint, sounding a little hurt, [You break my heart, host. I’m feeling hurt now.]
"...."
Okay, now it was Rio’s turn to be speechless. Seriously, who taught this system to act like this?
[...] × "..."
The duo tacitly agreed in silence and changed the topic. Focusing back on the present and the trials lying ahead.
The walk through the fog soon ended and Rio found himself at the gates of an ancient temple-like structure, which just felt …. breathtaking, to say the least.
The temple wasn’t anything grand, like there weren’t any dazzling designs, or shiny shenanigans to elevate it’s standards.
It was simple.
And that’s where it’s beauty lay.
The odd structure made by the hard work of mortals fully devout to the faith of Aelthar. Each stone, stick, or the pebble used here, filled with the love and belief they poured into it.
So much so that even after eons, though its past grandeur had died down, Rio could still feel the emotions behind it. As if everything around him carried the sacred feelings of it’s makers.
"He really was a great god." Rio said in admiration, trailing his fingers over the carved paintings on the walls he passed through in hallways.
Sothing which decrypted the story of Aelthar after he arrived in Arcadia.
And though Rio knew about it all from the descriptions in the novel chapters, he still slowed his speed to gaze at everything. Especially the parts which showed Aelthar’s role in the war of gods.
The figure of a man floating on a cloud, covered in a hood and a flying cloak with the only facial feature visible, being his lips adorned with a calm and reassuring smile.
A smile which could bring peace upon the eyes of it’s beholder.
Rio trailed his palm over the rays spreading across this man, which probably ant to show his aura which could make enemies drop their weapons and find rcy in their hearts.
From the records passed down, it was said that Aelthar was the only god in the world he ca from. And unlike other gods who lived in high heavens and watched the mortals squibble on the ground, from their thrones, – he lived among his natives.
He wasn’t distant or detached, he actually cared.
He helped when they called, guided when they lost their ways, gathered when they were divided _ he wasn’t a god. He was family.
A true saint and savior, who needed not the praise nor the prayers_ but just peace.
That’s why he was the most heartbroken when he got pulled in Arcadia, only to witness other gods forget their duties and fight amongst themselves to satiate their pride – all the while mortals beca the aningless casualty no one cared about.
He wanted to ditate, to solve and spread peace, love, and unity_ like he did back on his own world_ but he learned sothing new here.
He cald every storm, shunned every amber before it beca a fla which burned everything on his planet, because he was the strongest there.
On Arcadia, he wasn’t.
All his knowledge, experience, emotions _ everything was aningless when a god stronger than him crushed it all , just cause he was in a bad mood.
Power reigns supre. And weak dies on the whims of the strong. That is the universal truth.
And no matter how much Aelthar wanted to deny it, he could not unsee this truth.
But just as he couldn’t change the world, he couldn’t change himself either.
His morals had beco an integral part of his personality. His personal beliefs had ford the very core of his divinity. _ and so he found a middle ground.
While the gods battled amongst each other, he sided with the mortals.
Since he couldn’t face the strong, he chose to protect the weak.
And if the day ca, when his stubbornness asked for a sacrifice, he’d sell his soul for the shanti he believes in.
Rio sighed in sadness and shook his head as he watched the next few murals.
He admired this god Aelthar. The man lived upto his na. He truly did guide the mortals on the safe path. Veiling their spirits from the chaos spreading in their surroundings.
Even though deep down Rio himself personally believed his beliefs were a fool’s idea. He admired this foolishness of him nonetheless.
(There is always sothing oddly inspiring about soone who lives by their principals.)
As he continued through the temple, the murals seed to co alive, each one telling a piece of Aelthar’s story. One depicted him standing amidst a battlefield, his arms outstretched as he shielded a group of mortals from a falling teor. Another showed him standing among a crowd with his arms stretched, while people raised their hands to reach the god.
His steps slowed further as he reached the end of the hallway, staring at the final picture which showed the ending of Aelthar.
"Slain by the very mortals you fought to save…" Rio muttered under his breath and shook his head.
’Your demise tells that I am right. And that you, Aelthar, were a fool.’ His thought ended, and so did this chapter.
Hehahhahahhaha see u tomorrow idjits.
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Author note - see what I did up there. Ha ahha ahaha
Anyway I’ll post next chap in the couple of hours I think, if you guys r lucky. So u will see how Aelthar died and watch Rio go through the real trial of his legacy. Which is where shit starts going south
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