CHAPTER 64

Soon, Otorine and Nassus entered the Goddess sanctuary once again. Otorine noticed that the Goddess Amora had already fallen asleep at the bed. The shackled chains around Amora's body were gone as well. Though, she just didn't mind the slumbering Goddess that much, as she went in front of Nassus. Otorine held Nassus's hand and she brought out a magical card that sparkled like sapphire. Soon, the two of them were shrouded by a curtain of ascending lights and they vanished once more.

Not much soon, they landed at a different place instantaneously. As Nassus glanced around, his eyes were very much awestruck. Since, he was seeing that everything in nature was ridden in vibrant autumn. His feet were sensing the coarse yet fine feeling of the brownish and reddish grass. There after, Nassus asked his Goddess,

"Is this another world as well? My Goddess?".

Otorine nodded,

"Yes and this world is quite different than the others, as this world is known as the oriental land of eternal autumn...".

Nassus held his own chin,

"Fall I see...".

Afterwards, Otorine went ahead and moved first,

"Just follow me Nassus, as I am quite familiar with this place...".

Nassus was made to question in his thoughts,

"So she knows this place...even though it's not her world?".

Really, Nassus you've just noticed it just now? Soon enough, he did as he was told and followed Otorine's guiding path. While their gentle walk took longer than expected, Nassus's attention was drifting away. Since, he was witnessing the bright red and orange trees, drifting their leaves in the breeze. It's as if it was a magnificent sight for him. There were golden wolves and foxes racing afar such as the place was a haven for wild animals too. A while later, the two of them arrived at an uphill. Strange thing is, there was an upside down gigantic elder autumn tree that floats above the vast golden pond. Moreover, Nassus noticed that the tree was rooted to the cloud caps above. In turn, it was strikingly odd at the same time amazing. Otorine continued to move forward and moved through the shallow lake that reached up to her delicious thighs. Nassus followed suit as well. Later, Nassus was clearly seeing that the petite-looking Goddess Shunya was meditating and floating above the waters. Strangely enough, there was a white leaf on top of her head that never falls off. As Shunya was sensing the mild rippling tides of the stagnant pond, her ears twitched. When she opened her eyes and took notice of Otorine, she rushed to Otorine,

"Hey there Ori! What's up!".

Otorine responded in a gentle manner,

"I'm just here to introduce you to someone...".

Shunya tilted her head as she was a dumbfounded little girl,

"Hm?".

A little while later, Nassus had caught up with Otorine. Though, he was even more mystified, as the Goddess Shunya was floating above the waters. Otorine took the time to introduce Nassus,

"This is Nassus the current hero of Uminoya...".

Shunya made her comment,

"Your world huh...hmmmm...".

Soon, Nassus took the initiative and brought out his hand to greet her. Shunya shook his hand energetically with both of her hands and she made a smile of a radiant sun,

"Nice to meet you Nassus! Oh yeah, I'm Shunya! The Goddess of Shaifan world! The oriental land of eternal au—!".

Suddenly, she bit her tongue and looked-like she had a sting of pain in her expression. Nassus was a little bit surprised,

"Are you alright Goddess Shunya?".

Shunya replied like it's not a big deal,

"I'm okay I'm okay...Hehe I just bite my tongue when I introduce my world...".

Nassus made his remark in his deep thoughts,

"Weird little Goddess...".

Yes, this Goddess is kinda weird. There after, Shunya had hatched an idea,

"Oh yeah! Since you two are here...Could you two listen to my favor?".

Her index fingers were touching each other, as she was kinda shy to ask them somehow. Nassus and Otorine looked at each other but soon enough, they nodded. Otorine held Shunya's hands and made a comforting smile,

"I see, then tell us...What is your favor Shunya?".

Shunya just had a forced smile somehow, while she was looking away,

"Well, I just want you two to follow me...It's kinda hard to explain it really...".

Otorine just nodded,

"We understand, we shall follow you where ever you may go...".

Shunya's attention was caught, as she heard Otorine's conviction. Thereon, Shunya's smile was reaching the highest peak of gratefulness,

"Sankyuuuuu!".

Thereupon, Shunya lead the way to the west, while Otorine and Nassus followed. The breeze was stronger than before but, still manageable. There were more yellow trees along the way as well, as the place was basked in much more sunlight. Suddenly, there was a pack of yellow wolves who tried to threaten them with their snarl and fangs. Nassus tried to bring out his blade although, Otorine just stopped him midway and she just told him to observe,

"They are not what you seem, Nassus...".

Nassus did as he was told and just observed the current situation. He witnessed that the fresh-looking Goddess Shunya just poof out a bunch of oranges and apples. Then, she gave the fruits to each and everyone of the pack. The pack of wolves had stopped being aggressive and accepted her offer. While the wolves were eating the fruits, Shunya went to one of them and rubbed their furry heads. Both Shunya and the wolf were delighted such as it was fluffy dog wagging its tail. Nassus was absorbed in his thoughts afterwards,

"To think this Goddess is too soft...".

They continued their strange journey and entered the dense forest clad in the vibrant sunset colors. More so, the sun rays were shining upon the place as well. In turn, Nassus was even more awe-inspired,

"This place is beautiful...".

Then, they resumed their long winding travels. The sound of cicada was heard soon enough. Suddenly, Otorine clinged to Nassus's left arm such as she was a cowardly maiden. Nassus asked her,

"What's wrong Goddess Otorine?".

Otorine replied but, she was stuttering, as her feet were trembling in fear,

"Th-There are s-snakes here...".

When Shunya overheard Otorine, she paused and turned around to face her companions. Shunya held her own hips and reminded Otorine proudly,

"How much do I have to tell you big sis Ori. There are no snakes here, heck! If there's one, I should have noticed it by—.".

In an instant, Nassus unsheathed his weapon and sliced the snake that was about to pounce on Shunya. Shunya felt that a small strand of her hair was cut as well, making her to turn around immediately. Thereon, she felt sweaty as she saw the dead snake with venomous fangs dead on the ground.

"You were saying?",

Nassus said. She turned around again, bonked her own head, and did a silly smile on her cute face,

"Oopsies! I guess there WERE some, now move along!".

Later, the three of them resumed their journey along the thick but, warm to the touch forest. Strangely enough, Otorine was still clinging to Nassus as she was still afraid of the snakes that might be wandering the woods. Who knew matured Goddesses get scared as well. Not much soon, Nassus tried to ease her fears by caressing her head to soothe his Goddess's tensions. Thankfully, Otorine felt less terrified, as she was feeling the warm touch of her beloved hero. More so, she was having a relieved smile and her pink fish-like feelers were twitching as well. Shunya was making a smile from behind, as she sensed that the two were going along well. Soon, they've reached the other side of the woods.

"And here we are! Well, what do you think?",

as Shunya said dynamically. Moreover, she was scratching the back of her head, while she had an embarassed smile. Although, Otorine and Nassus weren't filled with amazing surprise. Instead, they were widely shocked as their eyes noticed that the whole place reeked of decay and death. Nassus gulped,

"This is?".

The dead trees that was unearthed from the deaf-defying abyss were everywhere and there were no signs of life or the color of autumn like the previous areas. The vast land was barren of bad omen. Since everything was ridden in dust. Moreover, there was a flock of vultures circling around the area, while they were letting out their eerie cries. Otorine patted Shunya's shoulder and asked,

"Shunya? What happened to this place?".

Shunya turned around but, she just sighed,

"That's what I wanna know too but, going alone would be dangerous...".

Otorine asked her another question,

"How about your current hero Shunya?".

For some strange reason, Shunya didn't respond. She just twisted herself to the other side and continued to tread along the sudden badlands. Although, Otorine noticed a glimpse that Shunya had a weak and faded smile on her face. Otorine and Nassus just followed Shunya once more. While they were walking, Nassus was absorbed in his thoughts,

"I never knew that a dead place like this existed in a beautiful world...".

Later on, the three of them arrived at another giant tree yet, it didn't have any leaves anymore as it was long foregone. Moreover, there was a dreadful spectral figure who didn't have a face anymore and who was leaning at the dead tree. The spectre took notice of their presence and unsheathed his crude blade made from black iron. As he approached them, his attention was caught by Nassus,

"So, you've come and fulfilled your promise of sending another hero to me? Goddess.".

Shunya replied like an irritated little schoolgirl,

"Yup! So please stop decaying everything into nothing now...Please! I beg of you hero...".

The spectre made a grin and pointed his blade at Shunya and company,

"Heh! So you still call me a hero! Even after you made me do huh?".

Otorine was dumbfounded of what was happening,

"Shunya? What's going on?".