88 How to climb a mountain?
***In another time on another world***
I did it! It was my first time! I have taken a huuuuge step forward! Today was the first time I talked to a group of men! And guess what!? They didn't try to rape me!
Hell, Yes! Maybe my life will really take a turn for the better! I am so happy that I could almost cry! If I wasn't in the middle of nowhere. On a mountain. And lost.
So right now I am crying out of fear and insecurity. This world is so unfair! And cold! Too much ice and snow all around me!
I sit down on a rock and try to think about my situation. After I met Miruliru, I travelled further south while trying to get a grip on my abilities.
The villagers went in another direction, but their village was very close. So they shouldn't have had any problems.
Somehow I managed to arrive at the Academy. I was very well supplied because I looted the slavers and had no worries with equipment and money.
The Academy was a little disappointing. It was very troublesome to find female teachers to learn from. Furthermore they didn't have any hard information on the gods.
They just had those esoteric books which sounded like some guy had made them up. They didn't have any information about Miruliru and Angrod. It's like those gods don't even exist!
After reading up on multiple gods and smaller deities, I reached the end of their library. That's what I would call a big fuck up!
All the way to the north and no further clue about my curse at all. Well it wasn't a complete waste of time.
I spent a year at the academy and researched magic and spellsongs. My female teacher was most impressed with my abilities as a songweaver. A special type of mage who concentrates in casting spells and buffs by singing.
This really made me happy! It was the first time I learned something which wasn't directly connected to doing something improper.
Unfortunately my curse is heavily involved in this ability. It's infuriating! I really like singing and my proficiency in it is directly related to my curse.
After a year of studying and learning everything which looked useful, I decided on a new plan. If I couldn't find a hint on the gods from my own kind.... then I have to ask them directly!
I already managed to talk to Miruliru! Unfortunately she didn't give me a chance to ask questions. She never showed up since.
Then I made my way further north to the highest mountain in the world. It's said that adventurers who manage to climb the mountain and meditate on it's peak will be able to talk to Nazareth.
Nazareth is the god of the mountains and travellers. If you pray to him, he will see to your well being during your journey.
"Kukukukuku!"
A mad laugh escapes my lips. This mountain is so high and rocky! I will never reach the peak to pray! It feels like I was walking for days while not getting any closer.
Then I tried to walk back but everywhere are cliffs and impassable terrain! I will die up here. The next adventurer coming this way will find my frozen body and commit a necrophilic act!
Shivers shake me and I am not sure if it's the idea or the cold. I am tired and too weak to go on. Maybe I will sing a last song in order to fall asleep....
"~Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis....
I sing and sing until I finally slide from my rock and fall asleep. At least this end won't hurt.
….
….
….
Something shakes me and I shoot up. I am still on the mountain, but a small area around me is green like when it's spring. The flowers bloom and it's warm! Further out I still see the icy landscape of the mountain.
"Is this the afterlife?" I talk to myself in wonder.
"Hell no! The afterlife won't be much different from this one, hot little babe!" A voice is raised behind me.
I whip around and crawl backwards. A small little green kobold is sitting on my stone and looks at me with expectant eyes.
"Who are you?" I ask the creature with a wary voice.
"What? Don't you recognize me!? I am Nazareth! The god of mountains and travellers! For a bombshell like you to not recognize me. It hurts my feelings!" The little gnome wipes his eyes like wiping away a tear.
Huh? "B...But the texts describe you as a little man in a cloak."
"Bääh! The texts, the descriptions and your stories! You mortals make up so much on your own about the gods." The green kobold shakes his head and makes a dismissive gesture.
"So what brings a hot babe like you to my sacred mountain? Originally I didn't plan to talk to you, but your devotion and your song moved me..... and those breasts. Do you drink milk everyday to get them like that? I must admit that I never would have imagined to meet a mortal goddess like you!"
This little green kobold is bad news! "I wanted to talk to the gods! In order to lift the curse on me. And what about this devotion?"
The little green kobold raises an eyebrow. "Well. Usually the mortals march up to my preferred vantage point and pollute the air up there until I talk to them. It's the best view up there you know? And who would curse such a beauty like you? Oooh, Wait! Don't tell me! Violet hair. Perfect skin. Blue eyes. Unbelievable body and two huuuge mountains as...."
*Whack!*
".....Hey! What was that for!?"
Ohhh! Nooo! I went and did it! I hit him without thinking!! I throw myself to my knees and bow down. "I am sorry! It was a reflex! Please don't smite me! It just infuriated me to hear how the gods see me!"
Nazareth rubs his red cheek for two seconds while staring at me. "Well. Never mind. I didn't think that you are actually so pure at your heart, Sharid."
I look up. "You know me? Then can you answer my questions?"
The little kobold looks a little embarrassed. "I am sorry. Nobody can help you. You got cursed by Angrod."
"Then tell me why!? I will assemble all the gods if necessary! Even the major ones. This Angrod cursed me and never even bothered to explain why! And he didn't even show up for my whole life!" I glare at Nazareth. Yes! I will gather them all!
"BWAHAHAHA!"
The gnome starts to laugh with tears in his eyes. "Sorry kid. I hate to pop your cherry bubble. But all the gods on this world aren't enough to go against Angrod. When you were born, he dragged all of us together and explained to us that you are off limits. He did that in very clear words." The little gnome shudders while I look at him agape.
"He is stronger than all the gods assembled? It's hopeless! I am lost." I let myself fall into the dirt. There is no hope for me.
"Well. What do you expect of a king of gods? All gods of this world are just flies compared to him. He is a soul mage on top! And if you learn one thing as an immortal: Never mess with a soul mage! You just have to take a look at yourself to see what happens if you step on a soul mage's toe. Be happy that he is busy with the war and doesn't have time to play around with you any further." -Nazareth
"War?" -Me
"Well. We gods have some problems with demons and soul eaters and so on. The higher realms have their own troubles. Nothing that should concern you mortals. Just be happy that you are on your own." -Nazareth
It doesn't help. I am still lost.
"Don't be so down! I will lend you a hand! Such a devoted follower should get some help. To actually walk fourteen times around the mountain until you almost drop dead. Such faith has to be rewarded!" -Nazareth
"I walked fourteen times around the mountain?" Fuck! Why!?
"You didn't know?" -Nazareth
"Well! I was so happy when I managed to convince the perverted monks at the foot of the mountain to show me the way. I just had to do a little dance for them and they looked so happy! They didn't even try to rape me! It was the first time that I managed to control my abilities that well! I just walked forth, but at some point I lost the path...." I bite at my fingernail while I think about it.
"... your sense of direction is the worst! How can you walk around the mountain fourteen times without finding the trail to the top! There are signs everywhere! This is a well visited holy place!" -Nazareth
"What?" -Me
"Never mind. I will help you to get those abilities of yours under control. Angrod forbade us to lay hands on you. But I guess a few guiding words from time to time are ok." -Nazareth
"Really!? Really? Really? Oh thank you!" -Me
"Call me master!" -Nazareth
Eh!? I hope I make no mistake here. "Yes. M..m...Master!"
"Oh... and one more thing about those perverted monks at the foot of the mountain....." -Nazareth
"Yes?" -Me
".......They are eunuchs."
"..."
***A higher realm. Some time later***
Multiple gods are assembled for a crisis-conference.
"So did you go and save her?" -Nuin, High god of the sun
"Yeah..." -Nazareth, god of mountains and travellers
"....Good. It would be bad if we violated our duty of supervision. I don't want to imagine what Angrod will do to us if she dies before her time!" Zenial, High goddess of the moon
"We have to keep an eye on her around the clock! Nothing is allowed to kill her. The easy way out of her fate isn't allowed." -random god
"He threatened us with THIS and THAT! Be sure to keep her alive! If I just think about those costumes!" -random goddess
Multiple gods look to the ground with depressed faces and an aura of looming doom over them.
"*Sigh*. So who has to watch her for the next shift?" -Nuin, High god of the sun
"Ah! That's me. I am on my way." -Some minor god
Everyone waves goodbye to the minor god and then the group continues to mourn their fate.
