Curse Upon Curse

The woman's eyes had a hard time focusing. She wanted to close them but something prevented her from doing so. With bleary eyes and a mouth full of dripping blood, she remained motionless. It was until everything stopped, the clamoring of the people, the flapping of birds as they took to flight, the beating of drums ceased, everything stood still.

The only sound that could be perceived is the faint tapping of feet on the wooden stairs of the platform.

Hestia saw a woman wearing white clothes ascend the platform. Her steps were unhurried and refined. Toes peeking as the stranger took step after step. She stopped in front of Hestia and crouched. "My child, what have they done to you?" the woman asked, her voice ethereal laced with sympathy.

"Who-who are you?" Hestia croaked, she coughed and a gush of blood came forth dripping on the wooden planks, seeping on its seams and cracks.

Under the veil, the woman wore a soft, calming smile, "I am called Dalhallel. I was passing by and heard your pleas and was drawn here."

Dalhallel? Why does it sound familiar? Dalhallel… Dalhallel… Dalhallel! The Goddess of new beginnings!

She had read a book about Gods and Goddesses in the past as one of the scholastic requirements of their class. Dalhallel was one of the Chief Goddess who oversees a handful of worlds. But this Goddess was one of those who were forgotten as the Empire only recognize Lathnill as their one true God.

It is said that she's a goddess who grants the wishes of those who want to be reborn again, but then you have to pay a price equal to your wish. An Equivalent exchange said the article.

Tears roll down Hestia's face mingling with the blood on the wooden floor. It seems like the heavens have still not forsaken a sinner like her. With hands that have little to no strength left, Hestia touched the hem of the Goddess' dress. A crimson mark the shape of a thumb was then imprinted on the Goddess' clothing, Hestia instantly regretted such impulsive action. "I'm sorry, I ruined your dress. Please forgive me, Goddess Dalhallel."

An understanding smile on Dalhallel's face. The Goddess picked up Hestia's hand, not mindful of the blood, dirt, and grime on it. Gently, in a most soothing way, the Goddess pat her hand, "It's just a piece of cloth, child. Goddess, it has been thousands of years since a mortal had called me that. I assume that you know my origin."

Hestia who was so weak tried to nod, "Yes, Goddess. Please, I beg you, save my family. They are truly innocent. They were punished because of my wickedness. Save them, I beg you."

"I can."

Hope flared up once again in Hestia's heart. "Thank you, thank you, Goddess!"

"But it comes with a price, child."

"I will- I will pay the price! Just help them, I beg you."

A complicated look could be seen on the Goddess's face, "But there seems to be a bit of a problem. Your fate has been divined by your ruling God, Lathrill. Divine Fate, it could be a gift or a curse given by a God to a mortal. A mortal's Divine Fate could last a lifetime or continue through many reincarnations depending on the God who cast it."

Hestia's eyes dimmed, "Mine is not a gift but a curse, isn't it? I'm cursed by the God, Lathrill." She stated.

The Goddess sighed, her heart aching a bit for the dying girl. The Goddess reached a hand and touched the center of Hestia's eyebrows, a black flame pattern appeared on its surface. "Yes, you are indeed cursed. Ever wonder why you don't feel any pain even though your wound is fatal?"

Hestia shook her head.

"He cursed you to live five lifetimes full of despair. The pain you will feel in every reincarnation is ten times more excruciating than the last. Such a vicious curse, but necessary in cleansing your soul and for the atonement of the lives lost today. That numbness from pain, that is Lathrill's last act of mercy towards you."

Hestia pursed her lips and said in a most steady tone she could muster. "I don't care if I have to live a thousand more lives in despair as long as my family is saved."

"You truly cherish your family."

Tears burned her eyes, her lower lip trembled. "They are the only ones who remained with me in this life, they are the ones who truly cared for me, but I neglected them. I want to atone for my sins but I also want to see them again. I beg you, Goddess, I will do anything. Whatever it takes, just bring them back."

Goddess Dalhallel sigh with a heavy heart, she looked at the girl in front of her. Her soul is strong but her obsession tainted it with dark matter. If such soul were nourished early on, then Lathrill could have… "Are you certain of your decision?"

Hestia nods, she met the Goddess' eyes, steady and unwavering.

"Then if you are truly set to live a thousand lives full of despair, why not save those others who died wrongly today?"

"If it could be done, then save them for me, Goddess."

"There are a total of 114 souls who had perished today, no wonder Lathrill was very heavy-handed." The Goddess glanced at the piled bodies on a cart and pierced Hestia with a look. "I'll give you another chance, are you certain?"

Hestia felt her body weakening rapidly, but she still managed to give the Goddess a firm nod.

Dalhallel sighed but soon a golden aura enveloped her body, she touched the center of Hestia's eyebrows, eyes solemnly closed. "Mortal named Hestia Gravinze Bellmore, from here on, after you walk five lifetimes full of despair, you are branded by another fate of living one hundred fourteen lives, each time dying before the age of twenty-five. These lives will be littered with misfortunes and pain until you perish alone. This is your fate upon fate, curse upon curse."

The Goddess retreated and on Hestia's forehead, a red imprint entwined with the black flame appeared and then vanished.

Hestia choked on her blood and could no longer move, a spread of cold numbness crept from the tips of her toes to her bleeding neck.

"Remember, you are the one who chose the road you wanted to walk. Your fate might be predestined, but your actions reflect your heart's desires." A faint touch on her cheeks warmed her up a bit. "I will see you again when your Divine Fates had passed. Goodbye for now, brave child."

The once still plaza, as if in suspended animation, regained its life. The birds continued their journey, and drums were beaten more loudly as the body of a woman lay prone on the blood-covered platform, her eyes out-of-focus and chest unmoving. The crowd was hushed as they observed the woman.

"She's dead…" someone said.

"She's dead!" others followed suit. The excitement and jovial congratulations were passed to one another as a royal guard confirmed the passing of the wicked woman.

"Hahaha! Hestia Bellmore is dead! The Evil Bellmore family are dead finally!" the crowd cheered and drums were beaten wildly. It was one of the most unforgettable events that happened in the history of Graceland.

***

On one of the deserted paths of the plaza, a lone figure could be seen walking. Her pace slow, bare feet gently tapping on the pavement. Another set of feet match the figure's pace and the two walked side by side in silence, enjoying the sound of nature as they neared the shore of a lake. Both look on the glistening water like thousands of gems are thrown under the placid-looking blue.

"You told me you were just passing by." The man said.

"Fate brought me here, fate also brought me and that mortal together." The woman replied, her eyes never leaving the quiet and clear lake water.

"You should have just passed by."

The woman turned and smiled gently at the man beside him. "Like how I passed by you those thousands of lifetime ago?"

The man remained quiet and a heavy gloom darkened his eyes.

The woman's complexion dimmed and a heavy sigh left her lips, "I'm tired."

"Then leave everything. I'll accompany you. Wherever you go, I will be by your side."

The woman laughed, the sound crisp and soothing. The man glanced at her but then lowered his head like he could not bear looking at her without exposing the contents on the very depth of his heart.

"Oh, Lathrill. You never change. The same Lathrill I found under a pile of rotten flesh."

"Dalhallel, we can."

Dalhallel sighed and faced the rays of the sun that peaked from the eaves of the surrounding trees. Dark and heavy clouds had now parted in welcome to its brilliance. The surrounding was bright and cheery but turmoil steered and take root inside her heart. "I can't, even if I want to, Lathrill. The High Gods are gone, and the Supreme Father is still in his deep sleep."

A flash of resentment entered Lathrill's eyes, he eyed the golden markings on the side of her face that seems to move and glow. His eyes followed the trail down to her neck. Lathrill knows her whole body is littered with the golden mark, and he hated it. "Then, why does it have to be you. Such heavy burden was left for you to shoulder alone."

Dalhallel smiled and extended a hand, she brushed a lone finger on Lathrill's cheek making the other shiver in delight. "I owe someone a favor. He helped me once when some wayward disciple of mine angered a High God."

Remorse entered Lathrill's eyes, the look made Dalhallel pity him. She brushed her hand through the man's silver locks. A sigh of satisfaction could then be heard. Dalhallel chuckled, he's now a minor God but still likes his hair to be petted. He is so easy to coax.

"That girl, I see potential in her."

"As you've seen in me?" the hand in the man's hair was grasped tightly. A bit of threat in his cold voice.

Dalhallel has never been patient with anyone else except for this man who constantly likes to drink a jar of vinegar, "You are unique. No one could compare to you in my eyes."

The gloom on Lathrill's eyes vanished, he trapped the woman's hand between his cheek and palm and rubbed his face on it tenderly. He looked like a pet who yearned for his master's touch and not like a God who judges the lives of the living.

Seeing the blissful look on Lathrill's face as he rubbed his smooth face on her hand made her thought that the man is getting bolder and bolder each passing time they meet.

"That mortal, if her soul could withstand the trials, we can nurture her."

Lathrill stopped what he is doing and looked at her pointedly, "You mean…"

Dalhallel brightly smiled at him, "I want to try and ascend a Goddess this time."

"…"

"I know you also have someone you are nurturing for the same purpose as mine."

He was found out, Lathrill nod, still in a daze. The mortal he is cultivating is now undergoing his tribulations, he is optimistic of his disciple's success and knows that in no time he will ascend.

If what Dalhallel said is true, that the mortal could be nurtured, then they could quickly pass on their stations and leave the lonely life of being a God. Travel on places they want, touch each other to their heart's desire without any bounds and restrictions.

A dazzling smile bloomed on Lathrill's face. He couldn't wait. He couldn't wait for the mortal to pass her Divine Fates. He was now very regretful for giving such a heavy curse to the mortal.

"Happy?" Dalhallel asked.

"Hmm."