Chapter 2: A Goddess's Blessing...?

Looking up from the dagger, Akira smiled brightly as he pulled Amelia into a hug, "thanks Amelia I love your present, and be sure to give my thanks to Thorin as well."

Amelia nods happily with brief, "Of course!"

Akira pauses in thought before asking, "Where is Uncle Curtis? Jared the herbalist said he carried me here."

Amelia's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Oh no we need to go! We'll be late!" With a sharp turn she began rushing him through the busy streets of Focis.

"Whoa hold on where are we going?!" Akira staggered for half a pace being nearly pulled off his feet at his cousin's sudden insistence.

"Are you daft, Cousin? We have to be at The Temple of the Gods by noon. You do remember any 18 year old has to be tested for a god or goddesses favor as that may very well change your life!" Amelia shouts breathlessly to be heard over the clamor of the street.

'well regaining a past live's memories on the day of my test is it coincidental or not?' Akira felt as if it had something to do with it.

The duo dashed through the streets sifting through the crowds trying to reach the hillside the temple was built into.

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"Ha...ha.. We barely made it!" Akira and Amelia both were drenched in sweat. The stairs leading up into the temple were steep and winding back and forth up the hillside. A man on a Pilgrimage once counted all 1,080 steps claiming it was a test of one's will to climb the stairs to pray to the Divines.

"You're both here! Akira get inside you are late as it is. Don't keep the Divines waiting!" Curtis, Akira's uncle, pulled him to his feet and ushered him into the temple. "I'll wait for you here. As it is forbidden for someone else to interfere with the blessing of another."

With a boom the gilded metal doors shut leaving Akira alone in the main chamber of the temple. Looking around Akira could see statues of gargantuan size depicting the different Gods and Goddesses each having their symbols of power shown around them. 'What do I do now? Do I wait for one of the gods to speak or show some sign?' Akira had no memory of what the gods were like in this world. With no further instructions or idea of what to do he inspected the statues of the Gods.

'Are these the gods of Greek Myth? Wait, I see Osiris from Egyptian Myth over there. There's Odin as well with a couple of the Indian pantheon next to him.' Basically every major pantheon of Gods were represented here.

"I see the next member of my pack is quite knowledgeable of us Gods."

"Who's there?!" Akira not expecting a voice to cut off his train of thoughts. He spun around to stare open mouthed at what used to be a statue of the goddess Skadi. Now replaced with a Gorgeous woman with a bow etched with runes that glowed with power strapped across her back, and a giant wolf lying docile at her feet.

"Well, Young Akira, I am Skadi the Goddess of Nature, and Hunting. I can see you for what you truly are. Reincarnation is a rare gift among the people of divine blood. Use your second chance wisely as is your namesake."

"Divine Blood? Also what did you mean I'm a member of your pack?" Akira questioned as his thoughts raced.

"You, as all races, are made by us Gods. But only the chosen few can claim to have direct blood of the gods in their family line. Those chosen few will sometimes have gifts manifested in the form of various abilities or in your case a second chance. I don't know what god your original blood was from in your first life, but you were reborn here in Acies as my descendant."

Akira was overwhelmed as he found out that he'd not been entirely mortal in his past life either. "Wait am I a demigod?"

"No you aren't there yet as you have to develop mana to the point that your mana source becomes a core to break into the ranks of Demigod."

Akira jolted as it sounded a lot like those wuxia novels he read in the past. He'd dreamt of being a cultivator and grasping his own destiny while rising to the pinnacle.

"Now I will give you my Blessing as my descendant."

Floating off the ground, Akira could see rays of brilliant mana gathering onto him in a light show all his own.

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Blessing of Skadi - Your Ancestor has deemed you worthy of a Blessing.

•Animals of Neutral alignment are now Friendly.

•Nature's wind - you can traverse the forests and plains 50% faster

•Bountiful Hunt- As a child of Skadi's line you are a natural hunter. Bow shots are 25% more accurate and will pierce low grade armor and hide.

•Sharpened Fangs - Bladed weapons are just as important to men as fang and claws are to wolves. 25% chance to pierce armor and deal Bleeding effect.

•Lastly Wolves are Skadi's favored animal and as such you have the ability to transform into one for 2 hours a day.

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Akira clutched his head in pain as the information of how to use his new skills poured into his brain. Also he could feel his body's senses sharpening, and even his muscles strengthened.

"Child, you have gained my blessing now. But beware, for the gods are not united and our pack has it's enemies who are oath bound to hunt us down. This world has been divided up by the gods long ago. Dissidents amongst the gods want chaos and war to rage so that they may scheme their way to power. Be careful of the Children of Loki. Monsters, Liars, Thieves, and murderers are only the beginning."

Akira's heart sunk as he found out that he is now being hunted for just being alive. Skadi smiled as she saw his expression.

"Akira, you and your parents are dear members of my pack. Always remember the wildlands are our people's home if ever you are in dire need of aid, call for the forest..."

Akira glanced up only to see the glow fading from Skadi's statue. A last couple of words reached his ears.

"....Come to the temple when you form your mana core, I expect great things from you Akira..."

"What do you mean my parents? Are they alive?!" Akira couldn't help but shout desperately. No answer ever came as Akira stood there motionless overwhelmed and left with more questions than answers.

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The gilded metal doors rumbled open as Akira stumbled out into the evening sun. "Akira! Finally you're out! what's your blessing? Did you meet one of the gods? which one? Why were you in there for so long?!"

Akira couldn't but be caught off guard. As his cousin barraged him with question after question never giving him time to get a word in edgewise.

"Now now, Amelia dear, give the poor boy some space to breath why don't you." Uncle Curtis reprimanded Amelia and gave Akira knowing look and a nod.

"Let's go home, lad." Uncle Curtis turned and began the descent down the steps. Akira walked after him in hopes of getting an answer from his uncle about what actually happened to his mother and father.