Hope and Aftermath

"Goddess…"

I slowly opened my eyes and was greeted by the drop of waters by the drizzle that poured from above –As signifying something was lost or in mourning.

I realized everyone surrounding me –their attention was split into two; Jolted in surprise seeing me awoke or the crying form of Bell.

And then suddenly, a golden blur tackled me to the ground, burdened with fatigue I only lay face-flat on the ground as the goddess straddled me.

"Thanks the heaven, I knew you would make it."

She let out a heartfelt relief, joy in her eyes when I reciprocate her hand with a tight intertwine. None the caring what everyone around the thought, as on the other side someone was mourning instead she was blessed with her precious one lived to see the light again.

"What are you worrying about, of course, he will always fill his promises. Without fail. Trust your partner a little." I said in a somewhat tired but attempted to make it lighthearted.

She nodded with a smile, closing her eyes I can see a few tears at the corner.

To be honest, I felt bad about them. Looking to the side as they still mourning after the goddess death. Though technically they can't die, but something is missing there.

"Hermes-sama."

"What is it, Asfi?"

"A god, when they die in the lower world their soul will be brought back to heaven, and usually participated with a blinding halo light as signifying their ascension."

"Yes, that's correct."

"Then… why is it not happening?"

Hermes's eyes widened, registering the fact of what Asfi said. He hurriedly kneeled before Artemis, just beside bell, and promptly check her body for a sign of warmness.

"No, it's strange. Her pulses clearly indicated that she'd already died. Then why her soul is not ascending."

"Could Antares who took her body destr –Ow!"

Welf winced in pain after lily hit his boots. "What is that for midget!?"

"Be considerate Mr. Welf." The pallum only harrumphed at the blacksmith, as she indicates towards bell.

"Ugh fine, fine, I'm sorry for that."

Deciding that was the good time to interrupt, I opened my mouth, relaying what I have learned from the meeting with Molag after that battle. Of course, I will not disclose the prince's existence nor his origin looks like everyone assumed that Antares was the culprit of the goddess fate.

"Should you mourn any longer this matter won't go anywhere." I inserted a painful jab, enough to wake them up and shifted their utmost attention towards me. "During the battle… this knight has learned, of what happened with the goddess."

"What is it, Mr. Knight!"

I cleared my sore throat, my eyes shifted towards bell who seems eager to know the answer, albeit a bit modified from the truth.

"First, promise me that not even a single soul here to tell this knight involvement in this battle."

"Why would that be?"

The annoying Elf, Ryu, asked me though she should have understood what I meant.

"You have never heard of me, we've never met me, would that be understood."

Though I didn't dance around her whims and curiosity, or everyone here for that matters. "Don't worry about the guild this one will handle it, and if anyone asked just tell them a past hero was sealed along with Antares and defeated the goddess who was controlled by him."

That should up their imagination, and perhaps a- though my thought was interrupted.

"And what if the news were…mayhap, leaked?"

I didn't immediately answer the Hermes Adventurer, instead I pull my sword from its scabbard, earning a big gulp from everyone.

"In the name of Khajiit ancestors and honor, be assured that none of your family, bloodlines, friends, loved one to see the light of tomorrow."

I scanned faces sharply, remembering their features and imprinted in the back of my mind.

"A cheap price to pay, isn't it?" Everyone gulped at the sheer bloodlust. To earn the rage of high-class adventurer is dangerous more so in the case of an enigmatic knight that capable to slay gods and matched them in combat.

"I understand, Mr. Knight. Can you just tell us?"

Bell who still in his knees asked me again. I tried to release my breath, relaxing my mind.

"She's not dead or the matter, it should be questioned whether she's currently a divine or not."

"What do you mean by that?"

This time the twin-tailed, short-stacked goddess tried to ask for the clarification. Though I will get to those parts even without her telling me.

I put my hand to my chin, as was thinking, "Technically, after that corruption her soul –no, her divinity was sapped by Antares, which means she isn't a god since her power has been lost, though god is not a fragile thing, surely she will regain her power in time."

"Does that mean she's still alive?"

There he goes again, simplifying things, while it's true she will be in a state of indefinite limbo until her divinity is recovered. Her soul is broken, and her power is gone after being used. Molag didn't exactly manage the usage of her power as most he said was wasted away since he uses the goddess Arcanum as a fuel to support his existence in this realm.

Sigh, no wonder he was losing.

What a farce.

If only he corrupted the goddess thoroughly and bend her to his will willingly, then it will be another matter should I faced her.

She had the power to break a world apart, hell, all gods do, and yet I could still match her in combat.

"No, not really. Her soul broken so is her mind, she's dead in a mortal sense but trapped in limbo until she recovered her divinity."

"Then how long it takes!?"

I only shook my head, not knowing how fast a god Arcanum can regenerate. It could be tomorrow, years, or an entire millennium.

Though I do feel a little bit guilty at the current situation, not only Molag was here because of me, she also died in my hand. A victim in the scheme of the Domination prince and hell will follow him along the plethora of another prince that will surely sniff the chaos and potential target.

Sigh, I wish I could make a connection with the goddess, then that way I could request or force her, if I could, to safeguard the connection of the Nirn and Gekkai from the touch of malicious being such as Daedric prince. If only I can make contact with Akatosh and demand compensation or favor after these debacles. Maybe I will experiment on that.

"There's a way to bring her back."

I have no intention to bring this power in the first place, but whatever, the tail of the cat has out of the bag anyway.

"Really, how, please tell me, I'll do anything please!"

"Bell-kun reign yourself, we have no idea what he will demand!"

I dismissed such a notion at the two, clearly not trusting me after my display before. Then I step aside and went towards the crumpled form of Artemis.

I raised my hand, hovering above her body as a strong magical wind coated in gold breezed emerge from the goddess. Everyone was shielding their eyes from the strong light.

"Alles forme"

This is a bit harder than conventional spells. Resurrecting is not an easy job. I concentrated there for a long 30 minutes to form the foundation of the spells.

Most of my Magicka has been restored by now, and then summoning the [Planar Gate] I grip the fresh heart of a daedra, then with a telekinesis spell, I make it hover above the goddess.

"—Mystre, Morte, Sancte Pior"

With a little touch of the spell, drops of blood started pouring out from every inch of the hearts as it began to beat.

Slower then it began to beat faster until the sound of the beating was resounded. The blood began to drench the entirety of the goddess.

The excess blood as it had an own will, it flows out to entire direction and makes an intricate line of magic sigils.

"—Gloria in resurrectem!"

The sigils then glowed in a golden hue, the wind gets stronger, and finally, terrifying screams echoed from the hearts before it died and the hearts wither away, gone to the mote of dust.

By his will [Resurrection]

A twitch from Artemis, that's good.

I promptly slumped from my position. Having spent out my entire Magicka reserves, and then a warm hand immediately supported me. Ereshkigal was the last one I saw before my vision darkened.