Deity 2.310

—I don't need your stupid sympathy— said Semiramis, she was standing in the corridor leading to the rooms on the third floor. She wore her hair black, long and combed to perfection. With two dark locks framing a stylized and sensual face with a cold look. Her eyes with a yellow iris emitted an intimidating gleam as they chatted.

On the other side, there was Hitomi, the red-haired, pointy-eared elf with a pretty face that could rival Semiramis's. However, her expression was one of sadness as tears streamed down her face.

—Why are you like this?— Hitomi asked, running her hand over her eyes, and wiping away her tears —I thought if I helped you, we'd be real friends. Then we could get along Why do you treat me this way?—

—Hitomi, you seem to forget something— said Semiramis —you are a slave we bought to help Viggo. So far you have not done anything outside of what has been asked of you. You only do your duty. Also, don't be insolent. You and I will never be on the same level—

Semiramis turned around waving her long black hair and walked down the hall to the stairs.

Hitomi was staring at the black-haired woman in the white chiton with golden edges. Too beautiful, too cold, and arrogant. Hitomi shed tears of bitterness as she looked at her. She just wanted to be friends with the woman she admired so much.

Hitomi was alone, standing in the hall, but suddenly a door opened, and a friendly face framed in a silver hair, peeked out. Once she checked that there was no one except Hitomi, she came out and showed herself completely. It was Rosewisse, the Valkyrie who had fallen in love with Viggo and was now his wife. As always, she wore a long one-piece light blue dress that attached to her beautiful figure. Behind her came another grey-haired Valkyrie, Brunnhilde who, in layman's terms, was Rosewisse's roommate and friend. She was also dressed in a one-piece dress, but green.

—Are you okay, Hitomi?— asked Rosewisse, slowly approaching when she saw that Hitomi was crying standing in the middle of the hall.

Hitomi looked at her as tears streamed down her cheeks but nodded and tried to smile.

Rosewisse grimaced uncomfortably and hugged her. She was a head taller than her, so she had no trouble hugging her. Hitomi crumbled upon feeling Rosewisse's contact.

At the same time, Brunnhilde looked at Hitomi and felt that they were very similar, but Brunnhilde was lucky enough to have Rosewisse as a friend. Brunnhilde approached from behind Hitomi and hugged her next to Rosewisse.

After a couple of minutes, Rosewisse and Brunnhilde took Hitomi and put her in her room. It was a quiet and spacious place. They had two beds, and the bathroom door was abnormally wide. Also, the windows that overlooked the balcony were wide and folded as to have enough space to stretch the wings and launch into the sky to fly.

On the walls were several shelves with books and in the center of the room was a glass coffee table and several individual armchairs, but none had backs.

Rosewisse took Hitomi to an armchair while Brunnhilde went to make tea.

Hitomi sat on the couch, looked at Rosewisse with swollen eyes, and smiled —I'm fine now—

—Ooooh, my friend, none of that— Rosewisse said and sat down in the next armchair —when I see you're okay, I'll let you go—

Hitomi smiled truly, looked down and nodded.

Rosewisse gave a complicated smile and said —Why do you want to be friends with that witch to begin with?—

—Well— Hitomi said in a trembling voice —it's a little embarrassing—

—Go ahead, say it, there's no one here who's going to judge you— Rosewisse said in a serious tone of voice.

Then Hitomi told her how she was enslaved for helping a man escape and how he left her for his true love. Then it was bought by Semiraris and when she met her, she thought she had met the smartest person in the world. However, Hitomi saw herself in an advantageous position and thought they could be friends, but Semiramis despised her.

—I still don't understand why you want to be her friend— Rosewisse said, growing more and more confused.

—Mrs. Semiramis is a good person, you don't know her— said Hitomi as if defending her —she is cordial with Scheherezade, I am the problem. As she says, I'm just a slave—

—Seriously— Rosewisse muttered, she was going to tell Hitomi that her brain was full of stones, but in the state, Hitomi was in, it would be like putting the final nail in her coffin. Rosewisse let out a sigh.

At the same time, Brunnhilde brought a white porcelain cup with golden edges and held it out to Hitomi. The red-haired elf raised her face and looked at her. Hitomi smiled and received the cup. Brunnhilde also smiled and sat on the other side of Hitomi.

—Would you like to be like Semiramis?— asked Brunnhilde shyly.

Hitomi raised her face and looked at the beautiful gray-haired Valkyrie with two braids framing her face —How do you know?—

Brunnhilde showed a small smile and looked at Rosewisse —I also have a person I would like to look like, but you see, I am very stupid—

—You're not stupid— said Rosewisse.

Brunnhilde shook her head and said —I'll never be as smart as Rosewisse, but we can be friends— then she looked at Hitomi and said —I don't know if it's worth a friendship with that woman (Semiramis), but I think you should leave her. She reminds me of interested people. If one does not do what is convenient for them, one is of no use. Hitomi should seek her own happiness and real friends. That's what I've learned a short time ago. I don't know if it's helpful, but it's my advice—

Rosewisse grimaced uncomfortably, thinking that Brunnhilde would never heal the wounds of her childhood. Suddenly someone knocked on the door and Rosewisse got up leaving Brunnhilde and Hitomi talking.

Rosewisse went to the door and opened it. She raised her eyebrows in a sign of confusion and said —Grandpa, so long—

On the other side of the door was Xiao, the primordial elder whom Viggo called Grandpa. He had a huge entrance that almost doubled his forehead, a gray beard on his jaw, and a ponytail raised on the back of his neck. Friendly looking and sincere smile.

—Hello, girl— Xiao said calmly —Viggo told me about one of his wives, Hitomi, could I talk to her for a moment?—

—Well, Grandpa— Rosewisse said somewhat complicatedly, recalling Hitomi's condition.

—Don't worry, experience can advise very well. Just give me a chance— Xiao replied.

Rosewisse looked at that old, kind face and found it hard to refuse —okay, pass— she said.

—Thank you very much— Xiao said.

Rosewisse stepped aside and let it go. Xiao walked forward calmly and looked at Rosewisse's room. He could have gone in, stopped time, and taken Hitomi, but that was not his intention.

Xiao saw Hitomi chatting with another winged girl, smiled. Hitomi was smiling as if she had found someone who understood her, but her appearance was quite helpless.

Hearing Xiao's footsteps, Hitomi and Brunnhilde, sitting on the armchairs, looked at the old man in the black Chinese robe.

—hello— Xiao said with a friendly smile and raised his right hand. He focused on the red-haired elf, continuous —you're Hitomi, right?—

—Yes, and you are?— Hitomi asked and got up from the couch while holding the cup.

—Xiao, but Viggo calls me grandpa, how are you, girl?— asked Xiao and stopped a meter away from her.

—I, well— Hitomi said with a sad face, but forcing herself to smile —well, I think—

—Mmm, a lot of problems— Xiao said —well, give me some of your time, and maybe this old man will guide you to find a solution—

Hitomi stared at him, unwilling to hear weird things.

Xiao smiled as if reading her mind and held out his hand for her to sit down.

Hitomi sat on the armchair, and Xiao looked back to see Rosewisse.

—Do you mind us talking here?— asked Xiao.

—No, not at all— said Rosewisse —it would make me feel better if Hitomi stayed here—

—I see, then let's move on, what's your armchair?—

—The one next to Hitomi—

Xiao looked at the three armchairs side by side. He circled the glass table and sat in the armchair facing Hitomi's —Do you want to talk about how you feel?—

Hitomi shook her head as she held the teacup in her hands.

Xiao nodded and said —well, in that case, what are your goals in life?—

—I, well— Hitomi said doubtfully.

—Go ahead, I'm Viggo's grandfather, he tells me his problems and I help him in his affairs, especially in relation to the king of the gods—

—Are you also a god?— Hitomi asked as Brunnhilde and Rosewisse at her sides paid close attention.

—In a sense, yes, you could say I'm a god— Xiao replied —I've lived a long time, so let me guide you—

—How could I?— asked Hitomi —I have two goddesses helping me, you are only one—

—Well, if Viggo talks about me, it must be for something. Even his father, Kain, listens to this old man's advice—

That answer gained a lot of respect in Hitomi's mind, in his mind, Kain was a scholar, a sage. Then she realized that she could have talked to him. Kain looked like a scholar. Perhaps he could understand the concerns of another intellectual.

—Well, what are you saying?— asked Xiao.

Hitomi looked at the affable-looking old man and took a deep breath. She nodded and began to tell him her worries and aspirations: the newspaper, the goods, her future as queen of the gods, her relationship with Semiramis, and Viggo's expectations of her.

Xiao nodded and replied —I see, too many targets. That implies a scattered mind—

—Is that bad?— asked Hitomi.

—There's no good or bad, girl— Xiao said —just the difficulty of attaining kung fu. A mind scattered in too many goals is a mind in crisis. Goals produce anguish and mistakes damage trust. In that regard, I have a word for you... Kung fu—

Hitomi grimaced uncomfortably and asked —What's that?—

—Your goal in life—

—Aaaaa— Hitomi said as if exhaling a sigh, looked away, and then looked at Xiao with an awkward smile —I don't understand—

Xiao chuckled and said —kung fu, it's a big word that encompasses many concepts. Everyone understands it in a different way, but it is what you are looking for. Under the concepts of kung fu, you create a path, pursue kung fu and consequently achieve your goals—

—Sorry, I still don't understand—

—It sounds like philosophy or something— said Rosewisse.

—Yes— Hitomi replied —it seems like something Bitshamon would say —she looked at Xiao and said —you would let me call my friend, she could clarify what you tell me—

Xiao smiled and tilted his head in a momentary gesture and put it straight again —kung fu is not such a simple thing and even sometimes, the gods cannot understand it. I have taught this concept to Kain and Viggo, but neither of them understood it. They remain scattered across many targets, just like you—

That left Hitomi full of curiosity. If it was something that even Viggo or Kain couldn't understand, then it had to be something complicated. Hitomi focused on Xiao and said —Please continue—

—You see, girl— Xiao said —kung fu is different for everyone, but it's all-encompassing in your life. There are people who pursue happiness, others enlightenment, others knowledge, a masterful skill, but having goals you only get worried and frustration when you cannot achieve them. On the other hand, if you use kung fu as a guide and focus it on each of the things you do in your life, you can be invincible, unstoppable. Why your mind is not focused on many goals. But your mind is focused solely on kung fu—