Crazy Stranger
Although the step seemed orderly and in rhythm, Xavier focused his mind on Cytherea's offer. At first, he refused her request and didn't care anything about the reward. But when he decides to settle here for an unknown amount of time, Xavier suspects that there is a possibility that the Goddess asked the villagers for help to persuade or force him to realize her needs.
If that does happen and the residents agree to help Cytherea, then Xavier will have another hard time, which he rarely refuses their request. Their kindness is his main goal of continuing to stay alive and live in Cliffside Village. Even he couldn't imagine if the villagers wanted Xavier to leave the village and give up his life just for the benefit of the Gods.
Actually, Xavier didn't mind helping Cytherea find personnel to help the Gods. But...
"Argh, damn it!"
He kicked the grass and fallen leaves under his feet, feeling annoyed at having to face a very complicated choice and disruptive to his activities. Not wanting to make a mistake when running errands, Xavier paused and ate all his provisions very quickly, hoping that at least it wasn't a burden that weighed on his mind and would get a way out a moment later.
***
When the sun rose, Xavier finished rest time and continued his work as a gatherer of medicinal plants. In contrast to guarding the village at night, he cooperated with some villagers who were predominantly middle-aged women. Xavier greeted them one by one with the usual warm smile he did almost every day.
The medicinal plants are located in the middle of the forest and are quite far from Cliffside Village. Although his job is only to collect medicinal plants, Xavier makes himself their guardian from the attacks of wild animals that are active at sunrise.
"Good morning, boy. You look pale and dull. Are you not feeling well?"
"Good morning, Mrs Hanna. I'm fine and you don't have to worry about young people like me. I'm just a little exhausted when a lot of intruders are trying to enter the village and their numbers are quite unsettling," Xavier replied, adorning his face with a fake smile.
"Really? If you don't mind, you can take a short break and leave the collection of medicinal plants to us. You've helped us and the other villagers a lot. I think you need a new atmosphere to seek the experience of living outside the village."
Instantly Xavier was stunned at his statement.
"Hahaha, this old lady is joking. If you leave the village, we will be lonely and lose our hero, boy. At least if you want to leave, wait until I am eliminated from this world quietly." The look on the woman's face was suddenly sad and smiled again almost simultaneously. Then she continued walking and left Xavier still cultivating his brain to reply to the statement.
Meanwhile, in a hut not far from the village, Cytherea, who is grieving and reminiscing about old stories, now wakes up from her sleep. Rubbed her eyes quickly and realized out there the ground was already lit up in the sun. Although it was a bit too fast, her mood was radiant again. Now she can sit at the door while waiting for Xavier's arrival who has left her.
"How long will that guy leave me? Did he hide his sympathy when he saw the Goddess of Beauty look miserable and almost die of being lost? I think man always thinks of himself even ignoring beings who are greater than them. Dare you, stubborn man!"
Exhausted from waiting for a very long time, Cytherea begins to leave the hut and search for Xavier's whereabouts. She kept walking without a clue and was sure to find him instantly. Even Cytherea didn't hesitate to yell at Xavier's name over and over again until her vocal cords almost exploded.
But what invited the shouting was just the beasts that came in turn. They were all eliminated without a fight after being stabbed by her miracle belt capable of controlling the consciousness of the beasts. Then she looked desperate after what she had attempted was futile and further aggravated her innocence. Her path began to slow down and lose direction as the sun illuminated every step.
After Xavier and the middle-aged women filled the basket behind their backs, they decided to return to the village before the sun was directly overhead. During the trip, Xavier watched the old woman who had spoken to him. He guessed that the Goddess and the old woman had already met each other and managed to order him to persuade him.
Yet when their eyes met each other, Grandma Hanna smiled kindly at him and there was nothing to hide or veiled intentions. Xavier hoped that there would be no intervention by the Goddess to trick the old lady into persuading him, and if indeed one day it was the truth, then he would not give up his intention to expel the Goddess who had already disturbed his life.
When they were almost heading towards the village, suddenly a weak cry was heard that stopped their steps. At first, the old women were suspicious and frightened, the form of the voice did not even appear in their narrow vision. In the next instant, they could hear the voice very clearly and the name of Xavier who was the target.
"Whose voice is that? And why did he call Xavier?" asked one of them, instantly goosebumps. Xavier who recognized the voice tried to calm them down and asked the workers to return to the village first. Before leaving, they nodded and told Xavier to always be on the lookout for anything suspicious.
A little away from the village, Xavier headed for the hut he had previously left the goddess who did not know the directions of the road. Once there, Cytherea looked helpless and kept calling out her name even though her body couldn't even stand up.
"Xavier ... Where Are you, damn man? I'll kick your ass ... when we meet again."
Xavier heard the stammering voice, instantly answering. "You're going kick my ass, aren't you? In no way reflects the behaviour of the Goddess. Then I'll go back to the village and let you die silly in this hut. Goodbye, you pitiful Goddess." When his body was facing the village, Xavier felt his hands being pulled so violently that his body almost fell and spilt some of the medicinal herbs he had collected.