Twice Reborn Transmigrator Chapter 143 - 142: Coming to Terms with Great Changes

When I ntioned Nox's epithet, my companions reacted in different ways. Anna remained the sa, since she already knew about the Wandering Witch. Leroy and Cally looked at in confusion, suggesting they knew nothing. However, Priest Jai and Priestess Natille's reactions interested the most

Priest Jai scoffed with a disdainful look in his eyes. It appeared he remained the sa person, despite his newfound awe for . I found this reassuring.

On the other hand, Priestess Natille's face paled.

"Don't be ridiculous," Priest Jai said. "The Wandering Witch doesn't exist. She's a bedti story that my mother told about when I was a child. According to her, if I was a disobedient little boy, the Wandering Witch would co and take away." He shook his head. "I can't believe you believe in such nonsense."

I stared at him in disbelief. A part of wanted to point out that I learned about Aleah Jeffers from both Grand Priest Darius and Tempest. However, I kept that to myself for now.

"No, the Wandering Witch is real," Priestess Natille said, her voice shaking. "And she is terrifying."

I raised an eyebrow at her. From the way she spoke, I guessed she must've had dealings with the Wandering Witch.

Priest Jai gave Priestess Natille a disdainful look.

"Stop trying to scare us," he said. "The Wandering Witch is nothing more than a myth. A legend. Perhaps there used to be a woman called that. However, if she ever existed, she is long dead by this point."

Priestess Natille threw him a sharp look.

"She is real," she said. "My teacher has had dealings with her before."

Priest Jai opened his mouth to respond, but Cally spoke up first.

"Hold on," she said, rubbing her temples. "Who is this Wandering Witch?"

"A fiction," Priest Jai said. "According to the stories my mother told , the Wandering Witch is a powerful and dangerous figure. Her strength rivals that of the Sun Emperor and the Moon Queen." He snorted. "That alone should tell you how ridiculous this all is."

"The Wandering Witch is both an ally and an enemy of the gods," Priestess Natille said in a nervous tone. "She wanders the land, ddling in people's affairs. When she finds a favorite of hers, she subjects them to great trials and hardship. If they survive, they beco mighty figures."

Leroy and Cally looked at her for a few monts, before turning towards .

"It's all true," I said in a matter of fact tone. "Aleah Jeffers is the Wandering Witch, and I am one of her favorites."

Cally frowned.

"I want to believe you, Gabriel," she said in an uncertain tone. "However, I agree with Priest Jai. It all sounds so far-fetched."

I gestured to Anna.

"If you don't believe , ask her. The two of us fought her." I paused. "Well, I say fought, but it wasn't even close to an even match. She just humored us."

Leroy frowned.

"You attacked such a dangerous figure and she didn't retaliate, my lord?" he asked.

I gave him a flat look, before I rembered that I was still wearing the wooden mask.

"It's a perk of being one of her favorites," I said. "Apparently most, if not all, of her favorites have tried to kill her. The Wandering Witch doesn't seem to mind. In fact, I think she encourages it." I sighed. "However, if you still don't believe , ask Kiki. She knows more than I do."

Priest Jai frowned at . He still looked skeptical, but I saw the doubt in his eyes.

"Wait a mont," Cally said. "If Aleah Jeffers is this Wandering Witch, then what does she want with you?"

I shrugged.

"I have no idea," I said in a helpless gesture. "Whatever her goals are, they involve cultivating divinity."

Cally blinked at .

"Wait, are you actually on the path to becoming a god?" she asked.

"Yes," I said. "Or at least I'm on an adjacent path."

According to Nox, divinity wasn't the only path to Ascension. This implied that there were other ways to beco a god, or at least a being on the sa level.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and found all of my companions staring at .

"What?" I asked. "Why are you all looking at like that?"

"You just told us that you're becoming a god!" Cally exclaid. "How else are we supposed to react?"

Fair point.

"I an, I'm still the sa person," I said. "Besides, it's not like I'm a god just yet. According to the Wandering Witch, I'm a demigod at most."

Priest Jai nodded.

"As I suspected," Priest Jai said in a firm tone. "We need to bring you back to Mt. Sol as soon as possible."

Priestess Natille nodded, a serious expression on her face.

"What?" I asked. "Why?"

"If what you say is true, then we need to keep you safe and secure," Priest Jai said. "We can't allow the demons to get their hands on you."

"A demigod as weak as you is nothing but prey for them," Priestess Natille said.

I narrowed my eyes at them.

"You two speak as if you're experts on the matter," I said.

Priest Jai and Priestess Natille shared a look. So kind of unspoken communication passed between them, before they looked back at .

"What we are about to say is one of the Church of the Sun's greatest secrets," Priest Jai said. "I ask that you keep it to yourselves." He looked right at . "You aren't the first demigod to appear in Lumina. I'm sure all of you have heard the stories of mortals ascending to godhood."

I nodded. My ancestor, Tempest, was one such figure.

"They're true," Priestess Natille said. "However, the stories don't tell about the demigods who died before they could Ascend. So simply failed and remained mortal for the rest of their lives. Others died at the hands of evil and unscrupulous beings who wanted to steal their nascent divinities, such as demons." She shook her head. "The Church of the Sun has done its best to protect any demigods that appear, but we aren't always successful."

This caught off guard. However, after thinking about it for a mont, it wasn't entirely unexpected. I wasn't arrogant enough to believe that I was the only person to beco a demigod.

Hell, I already knew that it was possible to reach godhood through cultivation. Of course, most Awakened started walking that path after reaching Seventh Rank and becoming immortal. I never thought it would ever apply to , especially at my current level.

"For your own good," Priest Jai said. "It's best if you return to Mt. Sol and cultivated your divinity in seclusion with the other demigods."

I snorted.

"Not happening," I said. "Cultivating in seclusion isn't my style. I'm better off fighting demons and protecting people."

"Don't be stubborn, Lord Gabriel," Priest Jai said. "Your life is more important than petty pride!"

I walked up to him until we were less than a foot apart.

"Tell ," I said. "These demigods that the Church of the Sun is protecting, how many of them actually succeeded in Ascending?"

Priest Jai's expression soured.

"I don't know," he admitted. "That knowledge is reserved for grand priests only."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I expected as much.

"So you can't guarantee for sure that cultivating divinity is the right choice," I said.

Priest Jai's expression soured even further.

"But-"

"Enough," I said, cutting him off. "I'm not returning to Mt. Sol."

Priest Jai opened his mouth to argue, but stopped when Priestess Natille put a hand on his arm.

"You can't hide your nascent divinity forever, Lord Gabriel," she said, turning towards . "Right now, that wooden mask is enough to conceal you. It will beco ineffective after a while. Even disguise rings won't be enough. If you were stronger, this wouldn't be such a problem. However, with your current strength, you're nothing more than a morsel ripe for the taking."

I snorted.

"Don't worry," I said, before gesturing to my face. "I know how to keep this hidden. That's why I t with the Wandering Witch earlier. She taught a thod to keep my nascent divinity hidden."

Priest Jai's face twisted with frustration.

"Fine!" he spat. "If you're too stubborn to listen to reason, then you leave us with no other choice. I shall report this matter to my superiors."

"Are you threatening ?" I asked in a cold voice.

To his credit, Priest Jai didn't back down.

"I will do what I must."

Sothing inside snapped. I had never been a patient person to begin with, and the events of the past couple weeks had ground down what little patience I did have. Dealing with Nox, worrying about the fate of Lumina, my strange reaction to briar maidens, etc.

Priest Jai's threat was the proverbial straw that broke the cal's back.

The mysterious force from before, the one I felt when I wanted to leave Aurora's ho within my soul, rose up within. Soul magic, divinity, etc. Whatever it was. It responded to my anger and frustration.

"No," I said, my voice taking on a strange quality. "You will not."

Priest Jai's eyes widened and he took a step back. However, within the cramped confines of my cabin, there was no place for him to flee.

"I am not so cowardly wretch who will hide while the rest of the world burns. Do not keep pushing on this, or I will make you regret it."

I wanted to say more, but then the mysterious force within ran out and disappeared. A bone-deep exhaustion took its place and my vision darkened. I stumbled backwards, unable to remain standing.

"Gabriel!"

Anna rushed forward to catch . I slumped in her hold, struggling to remain conscious.

What the hell just happened?

"I… I apologize for my insolence, Lord Gabriel," Priest Jai said in a trembling voice.

I looked in his direction and found him kneeling on the floor alongside Priestess Natille, their heads bowed. My heart dropped at the sight.

What the hell just happened? Why did my voice sound like that? Did… Did I imbue words with soul magic/divinity?

"We shall do as you command, Lord Gabriel," Priestess Natille said. "Please, forgive us."

Stunned, I stared at them for several monts. I glanced over at Leroy and Cally. They stared at with wide eyes.

In that mont, I felt a gulf form between and my companions. When I first heard that I was a demigod, albeit a weak one, I feared for my life. While I didn't fully understand the implications of it, I knew that it would make a target.

However, I failed to consider how it would affect my relationships. Would my companions stop seeing as their comrade and comrade? Would they see as a burgeoning god instead? And what of my family?

Anna poked my side, pulling out of my daze.

"You're… You're forgiven," I said. "You may go now. I need to rest."

Priest Jai and Priestess Natille nodded and stood up, before leaving my cabin. They kept their heads bowed the entire ti.

Once they left, I looked over at Leroy and Cally. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words ca out. Fear clogged my throat. Even if it hadn't, I didn't know what to say. What could I say?

"My lord, was that your divinity?" Leroy asked.

I nodded, still unable to speak.

"What?" Cally asked, giving a disdainful snort. "Do you want to get on my knees and worship you too? To hell with that. Just because you're a demigod now doesn't change a thing. As far as I'm concerned, you're still the idiot I've always known."

Her words broke down the fear within and dissolved it, replacing it with relief. I found my voice again.

"Never change," I pleaded, my voice filled with desperation.

Cally nodded.

"Now then, Leroy and I shall leave you to your rest," she said.

Leroy gave a questioning look. I waved for him to go.

With that, Leroy and Cally exited the cabin, leaving Anna and I alone. As soon as they were gone, I ripped off the wooden mask and threw it to the side. It crashed against the wall with a crack. Perhaps that broke it. At the mont, I didn't care.

I held my head in my hands.

Exhausted, hungry, and filled with a tangled web of emotions, I wasn't in the best fra of mind. Ever since I learned that Aleah Jeffers was Nox, the Wandering Witch, it felt as if my life had been spiraling out of control.

Dread gnawed at from the corners of my mind. I ignored it most of the ti, but after witnessing Priest Jai and Priestess Natille kneel before , I felt overwheld.

I felt a warm hand on my back and a vanilla scent waft over. That helped ground . Little by little, the feelings of panic, dread, and alienation faded. They didn't disappear, but they retreated into the background for now.

"Thank you," I said after I managed to get control over myself.

I removed my head from my hands and faced Anna. She looked at with concern in her eyes. I gave her a self-deprecating smile.

"I'm sorry you always have to see like this," I said.

Anna shook her head.

"There's nothing to apologize for," she said. "When you're at your lowest, it's up to to pick you back up, and vice versa."

I snorted.

"Yet, it feels like you're the one comforting most of the ti," I said. "The only ti I ever comforted you was when we saw that illustration of the briar maiden."

Anna's expression faltered for a brief mont.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head.

I studied her. While the two of us had only been together since spring, I had gotten to know her quite well by this point. Anna was hiding sothing from . That much was obvious.

A part of wanted to press her for answers. However, I kept my curiosity in check. Anna would tell in her own ti, or not at all. I wouldn't try to force her.

Instead of demanding answers, I leaned to the side and rested my head on her shoulder. Despite the changes to my body, being with Anna still felt as natural as before.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," I said.

"You'd live on," Anna said in a strange voice. "You're not like ."

I stiffened at that.

"What do you an?"

"Let's just say that if you were to die, I'd follow you."

One mont I leaned against Anna, my head on her shoulder. The next, I found myself kneeling before her. My body moved before my conscious mind caught up.

"Never say that ever again," I said, staring up into her eyes. "The thought of you dying…" I trailed off, unable to finish my sentence. If Anna ever died, I'd go insane. "Just don't."

Anna gave a warm smile.

"But it's true," she said. "If you died, I'd follow you." She reached down to caress my cheek. "I'd give up everything to chase after you. However, you're not the sa. You have too many connections keeping you here. Friends. Family. Duty."

I stared up at her in disbelief.

"Is this so kind of test?" I asked. "Are you trying to see if my love for you is as deep as yours is for ? If so, then there's no need. The answer is yes."

Anna chuckled.

"No, I'm not trying to test you or anything like that," she said.

Despite Anna's light tone, I couldn't help but feel anxious. A terrible idea ca to mind, one I feared to speak aloud.

"You're not dying are you?" I asked.

Anna snorted.

"Of course not," she said. "Don't be silly."

I looked at her in confusion.

"Then why would you say sothing like that?"

Anna shrugged.

"It's sothing about myself that I recently learned," she said. "Or rembered, to be more accurate. I simply felt like expressing it." She gave an apologetic look. "Sorry, I didn't an to worry you. That was careless of ."

I studied her for several monts. Anna looked back at with clear eyes.

"Please don't say sothing like that ever again," I said. "You almost gave a heart attack." I laid my head on her lap. "We already have enough to deal with. Hearing you say sothing so morbid doesn't help."

Anna chuckled, before she started stroking my hair.

"Sorry," she said. "It won't happen again."

"Good."

Neither of us said anything for the next several minutes. Despite that, my mind continued to pick at her words.

"What about your family?" I asked, unable to help myself.

"Hmm? What do you an?"

I lifted my head and looked Anna in the eyes again.

"You said you'd follow if I ever died. What about your family? Wouldn't you stay for them?"

Anna shook her head.

"I love them, of course," she said. "However…" She paused with a thoughtful expression on her face. "How do I phrase this? You're the reason I have this life."

I blinked at her in confusion.

"What does that an?"

Anna flicked my forehead.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "You'll find out in due ti."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"You're keeping sothing from ," I said. "I suspected it earlier, but now I know for sure."

Anna grinned at .

"Yes," she said. "And I'll continue to keep it from you until you figure it out for yourself."

"That's not fair! At least give a hint or sothing."

Anna pursed her lips in thought, before a wicked smile spread across her face.

"You once built a tree house for us," she said.

Her words deepened my confusion.

"What does that an? I never built a tree house in my entire life. Either of them."

And yet, I felt the truth of her words, as confusing as they were.

"Too bad," Anna said. "That's all I'll say for now."

I looked up at her, before I scoffed and shook my head.

"Sotis, I don't know what's going on in your mind."

"As long as you know that I love you, that's all that matters." Anna grabbed my face and kissed my forehead. "My foolish human."

With that, I laid my head back down on her lap. The two of us stayed like that for a while.

Several days later, we arrived at Mirkvale Forest.