Clash of destinies:Defiance against the goddess

The journey had been long, and by the time they reached the outskirts of Donovan City, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in deep hues of violet and crimson. The outer walls of the city loomed ahead, tall and foreboding, reinforced with enchanted stone that shimmered faintly under the evening light. The gates were heavily guarded, soldiers stationed at both the northern and southern entrances, each clad in the silver and crimson armor of the Donovan family crest.

Theodore halted, narrowing his eyes. His distinct red eyes and black hair were too recognizable—there was no doubt that if any of the guards saw him, alarm bells would ring immediately. He needed to blend in.

He sighed, considering his options. Sneaking in through conventional means was impossible. The only way to get inside undetected was either through magic or sheer deception.

"I can teleport us inside," Belial offered casually, his arms crossed.

Theodore felt a wave of relief. "Right. I forgot you could do that." But the problem remained—his face would give him away the moment anyone got a good look at him. "I need to hide my identity first."

Belial tapped his chin, then smirked. "Let me touch your hair, my lord. In the past, I had a master who frequently disguised himself in enemy territory. He taught me a simple yet effective illusion spell."

Theodore raised an eyebrow. "And this will work?"

Belial chuckled. "Of course. Trust me, my lord."

Theodore sighed. "Fine. Do it."

Belial placed his palm over Theodore's hair, and a faint light shimmered from his fingertips. A tingling sensation spread across Theodore's scalp as his hair shifted from jet black to a deep shade of orange, and his crimson eyes dulled into a striking blue.

Theodore glanced at his reflection in a nearby puddle, inspecting his new features. "Not bad. It suits me."

Mimi nodded in approval. "It does fit you."

Luna, peeking over Mimi's shoulder, clapped her hands. "Luna thinks it's great!"

Belial handed out black cloaks to everyone. "These will help conceal our faces further. Now, shall we?"

With a flick of his wrist, Belial created a small, swirling portal—a rippling distortion in the air just large enough for them to pass through. One by one, they stepped inside, emerging within the Market District of Donovan City.

The Market District was alive with activity, even as dusk set in. The cobblestone streets were lined with vendors calling out to potential customers, their stalls illuminated by glowing lanterns that hovered midair. Colorful banners draped across buildings, fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

Despite the city's grandeur, Theodore's sharp eyes immediately noticed the divide—wealthy merchants strolled confidently, their fine silk robes adorned with golden embroidery, while commoners haggled desperately over basic goods. Beggar children weaved between carriages, hoping for scraps, while mercenaries clad in mismatched armor loitered near taverns, their eyes watching for opportunities—whether for work or trouble.

"This place is more lively than I expected," Belial mused, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings.

Mimi nodded. "The Steel Vanguard, mercenary guild, operates around here I'll guide you were my father operate."

Theodore's gaze, however, was fixed on something else entirely. Near the center of the Market District, a large crowd had gathered around the town's bulletin board, murmuring amongst themselves.

Curious, Theodore pushed through the throng, Belial following closely behind.

His eyes landed on a newly posted announcement, bearing the sigil of the Holy Church.

Two portraits were drawn in fine ink—the faces of Priestess Sky and her maid, Cadi. The text below detailed a search for the missing women, urging any who had information to come forward.

Theodore's expression darkened. His fingers twitched slightly, but he quickly composed himself.

"Interesting," he murmured under his breath. "So, they finally started looking for them. Took them long enough—it's been two months."

Belial, noticing Theodore's lingering gaze, tilted his head. "My lord... do you know these women?"

Theodore chuckled, the sound devoid of warmth. "Know them? No. They were simply... useful."

Belial's crimson eyes gleamed with understanding. "Ah. A sacrifice, then?"

Theodore's smirk widened, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Indeed. I needed a way to break the seal barring my path, and they served that purpose well. Thanks to them, I was able to open the doors I needed—and in doing so, I found you."

Belial exhaled in amusement. "My lord, your ruthlessness never ceases to amaze me."

"Ruthless?" Theodore mused, tilting his head. "Hardly. It was necessary. If not them, I would have found others. At that time, it was a matter of survival."

Mimi, who had been quiet up until now, shot Theodore a glance before speaking carefully. "And do you regret it, my lord?"

Theodore turned to her, his blue eyes—now eerily calm—fixing her in place. "Regret? I don't dwell on such pointless emotions. They were obstacles in my path, and I removed them. That is all."

Mimi nodded, though something in her expression was unreadable.

Luna, still perched on her back, blinked up at Theodore, tilting her head. "Luna doesn't understand. But Luna thinks... you did what you had to do."

Theodore smirked. "That's a good way to put it, Luna."

Belial crossed his arms. "Shall we move on, then? We still need a place to stay before night falls."

Theodore nodded. "Agreed. Mimi, you mentioned knowing a few inns?"

Mimi gestured down one of the winding streets. "Yes. I've been here before with other maids from the palace. The Mary Veil Inn should be discreet enough for us to stay unnoticed."

"Then let's go," Theodore said, turning on his heel.

As they walked, the last rays of sunlight faded beyond the horizon, and the streets of Donovan City became a different world—one ruled by whispers, deals made in shadowed alleys, and the ever-present watchful eyes of those who thrived in the darkness.

The group arrived at the inn, a modest three-story building with weathered wood and dimly glowing lanterns hanging by the entrance.

"My lord, this is the inn we'll be staying in tonight," Mimi said as she opened the creaking wooden door.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of ale, roasted meat, and smoke. Chains hung decoratively from the ceiling, clinking softly when the door opened. The crowd inside was loud, a cacophony of drunken laughter, clinking mugs, and rowdy banter.

The moment Theodore and his group entered, the room fell unnaturally quiet. Heads turned, eyes lingering on the strangers who exuded an air of mystery and authority.

But Theodore, Belial, and Mimi paid them no mind. They walked calmly through the room, cutting through the oppressive stares, and made their way to the reception desk, where an older woman was serving drinks and taking orders.

Belial stepped forward. "Good day, miss. I'd like to rent three rooms for the night."

The woman glanced at him, her sharp eyes taking in their cloaked forms. "Only two rooms are available," she replied gruffly, sliding a stained cloth over the counter.

Belial turned to Theodore for confirmation. Theodore gave a brief nod. "Two will suffice," Belial said, dropping two silver coins onto the counter.

The woman pocketed the money and motioned toward the stairs. "Second floor, to your left."

As Belial turned, he noticed several of the men in the room glaring at them. Their gazes lingered on Mimi, their expressions ranging from curiosity to drunken amusement. Belial's crimson eyes flickered dangerously. "It seems this night may not be as peaceful as we hoped, my lord," he murmured.

Mimi, already sensing the tension, tilted her head slightly toward Theodore. "Shall I gouge their eyes out?" she asked, her tone calm but laced with menace, her killing intent faintly leaking.

Theodore smirked faintly, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Let them come to us first. If they bring trouble, we'll welcome them... generously."

"Understood," Mimi replied, her hands relaxing but her posture still alert.

"Enough," Theodore said as he glanced toward the menu board behind the counter. "I'm hungry. Let's eat first."

Before they could even settle, a bald, broad-shouldered man stumbled to his feet, clearly drunk. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Mimi as a lopsided grin spread across his face. "Oi, woman!" he called out, his voice loud enough to silence the room. "I've been watchin' you since you walked in here. You keep lookin' at me. What is it? Do I intimidate you? Or... are you interested?"

Mimi turned toward him, her green eyes narrowing in disgust. "I wasn't staring at you," she replied curtly.

The man staggered closer, his grin widening. "Don't lie to me. Is he your husband?" He pointed at Belial, sneering.

"No," she replied, her tone sharper now.

The bartender, noticing the escalating tension, stepped out from behind the counter. "Albert! Leave her alone. She's not alone, and you don't want trouble."

"Shut up, old hag!" Albert barked, waving her off. "I'll do what I want." He grabbed Mimi's wrist roughly, yanking her toward him. "C'mon, girl. Don't be shy. You'll love what I can offer."

Mimi sighed, glancing briefly at Luna, who was still on her back. She whispered softly, "Close your eyes, Luna."

The child obeyed, pressing her hands over her face.

"Oh? What's she gonna do?" Albert jeered, laughing as the men in the tavern cheered him on.

Mimi's expression turned icy. "I warned you."

Before Albert could react, Mimi's glowing green eyes sharpened as she clenched her fist. With a swift, brutal motion, she drove her fist directly into his nose.

BAM!

The sickening crack of bone echoed through the room as Albert stumbled backward, blood streaming down his face. But Mimi wasn't finished.

She leaped, her small frame deceptive in its strength, and grabbed his bald head. With precision and fury, she slammed his face into a nearby wooden table.

CRACK!

"Don't. Ever. Touch. A. Lady. Without. Permission!" she spat, punctuating each word with another slam.

The table splintered under the force, its legs collapsing as Albert's body slumped to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. His teeth scattered across the floor as his trembling form lay motionless.

The entire room fell silent, the earlier jeers replaced by shocked stares. No one dared to move.

Mimi adjusted her cloak and turned back to Theodore and Belial, her expression calm as though nothing had happened.

Belial chuckled, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ruthless as ever, Miss Mimi."

"I didn't kill him," Mimi replied flatly, glancing at the unconscious Albert.

Theodore smirked. "It's good you didn't. We don't need any unnecessary deaths... yet."

The bartender, still shaken, cleared her throat. "Y-Your rooms are ready. Second floor. Just... please don't cause any more trouble."

The inn's door creaked open as an old beggar woman shuffled inside. Her clothes were tattered, her hair wild and unkempt, and the smell of dirt and ale clung to her. Her sudden appearance drew the attention of the room, and she ignored the murmurs of disgust as she strolled past Albert's unconscious body sprawled on the floor.

"Oh my," she said in a raspy voice, her eyes darting around. "What's all this commotion? Who beat up poor Albert like this?"

Without waiting for an answer, she sauntered over to Theodore and plopped down uninvited at the table. Her sharp, piercing eyes locked onto him, and a crooked smile spread across her face. "Well now, what a beautiful young boy you are. How are you?"

Theodore blinked in confusion. (Did she just call me beautiful?)

Belial and Mimi immediately stepped forward, their auras bristling with hostility. But Theodore raised a hand, stopping them. He leaned back slightly, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Who the hell are you?"

"Who am I? Nobody special," the old woman replied, her tone unnervingly cheerful. "The people in this town call me crazy. They laugh because I can see the future. But surprisingly, my instincts drove me here tonight. Right to you."

Theodore's eyes darkened, his irritation barely contained. "And what exactly do you want me to do with that information?"

The old woman's grin widened as she leaned closer. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. Nobody does. But someone important wants to see you. A being not from this world sent me to deliver a message to you." She chuckled, her laughter unhinged and wild.

(Is she insane?) Theodore thought, his fingers twitching with annoyance.

The innkeeper stomped over, her patience clearly gone. She slammed her hand down on the table. "Get the hell out of my inn, you crazy hag! You're scaring off my customers!"

The woman frowned, her jovial demeanor fading. She stood, her voice taking on a grave tone. "Laugh all you want. Call me crazy. But I've seen it—a disaster is coming. Soon, you'll all be rotting like corpses. Something evil is on its way, and none of you are ready for it."

The men in the tavern burst into laughter.

"Here she goes again!"

"She's lost her mind!"

"A devil coming? What nonsense!"

The old woman ignored them, her eyes fixated on Theodore. She grabbed a nearby cup of ale, chugged half of it, and then splashed the rest onto the ground. With trembling fingers, she traced strange, glowing symbols into the floor. Her eyes widened, wild and manic, and she pointed at Theodore.

"You... YOU!" she screeched, her voice rising above the laughter. "Child of Disaster! You will bring chaos to this world!"

The room fell silent. Every eye turned to Theodore, who glared at the woman, his irritation boiling over.

"Enough of this nonsense," he growled, his blue eyes flashing.

Before he could say more, the woman's body jerked upright, and she began to levitate off the ground.

The room dimmed, the torches flickering violently as an eerie glow enveloped her frail form. Her voice changed, becoming layered and otherworldly, the time altered.

"My savior," she intoned, her voice both reverent and accusatory. "I've found you at last."

Theodore's blood ran cold. He recognized the voice immediately. "That voice... it's you. The one who brought me here!"

"Yes," the voice replied, half the woman's, half divine. "I am the one who summoned you into this world. I searched for a worthy savior... but I couldn't find you. Your soul was pulled into a vessel I did not choose. And now, I don't even know who you are."

(Lucky me,) Theodore thought, a sly smile tugging at his lips. (She doesn't realize I'm in the body of the original Theodore. I can use this to my advantage.)

The voice continued, undeterred. "No matter. Even the divine can make mistakes. But I have found you now, my savior. Come to the Holy Temple and receive my blessing. You must train for the disaster to come."

"Disaster?" Theodore asked, his voice filled with mock curiosity. "What kind of disaster? Are we talking about some devil king, like in those mangas?"

The divine voice faltered. "Mangas? I don't know what you speak of, but yes—an evil beyond comprehension is coming. You are the chosen one who will stop it."

Theodore smirked. "Let me ask you two questions. First—are you really the goddess Gaia?"

"Yes," the voice replied, the glow around the woman intensifying. "I am Gaia, the goddess of creation. I altered time itself to find you."

Theodore's smile widened. "Then, second question: why me? Of all souls, why choose mine?"

"I searched the infinite planes for a worthy savior," Gaia said. "Your soul called to me. It shone brighter than all others, as if it were destined to fight the coming evil."

Theodore leaned back, crossing his arms. "I see. Then let me make something clear to you." He locked eyes with the glowing figure, his tone turning cold. "I have no interest in saving your world."

The room trembled violently as Gaia's voice roared in anger. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

The torches flared brighter, the air growing heavy with divine energy.

"I must be hearing things," Gaia hissed. "You dare reject your destiny?!"

The room's tension thickened as Theodore leaned back in his chair, letting the weight of the goddess's threat linger. He exhaled slowly, his crimson eyes sharp and calculating.

"I said what I said," Theodore repeated, his voice calm but cold. "I've lived 30 miserable years on Earth, tied to responsibilities, and now you want to shackle me again? No. I refuse to be your pawn, goddess. My life is my own."

The divine voice scoffed, reverberating through the air. "What foolishness is this? Savior, if you accept your destiny, I'll grant you riches beyond measure. You'll slay demons, become a legend, and marry whoever your heart desires. Your name will be sung for eternity!"

Theodore's smirk grew sharper. "Riches? Glory? Marriage? You've misunderstood something. I don't care for your rewards. Dragging me into this world without my consent already proves you see me as nothing but a tool. Why should I dance to your tune?"

"You dare defy me?" the goddess's voice boomed, the inn trembling under the sheer force of her fury. Then, she laughed, her tone dripping with mockery. "Ridiculous! Do you understand who I am? I am Gaia, the Goddess of Creation! You want to go against me and the rest of the gods? You, an insect, have just declared war on the heavens themselves."

Theodore's smile didn't falter, his gaze unwavering. "War, you say? Then so be it. Watch as I take this world from your grasp, climb to the heavens, and tear your throne apart piece by piece. Let's see how a goddess handles defeat."

Gaia's fury erupted, her voice an earth-shaking roar. "Foolish child! Your arrogance will be your undoing! You cannot comprehend the forces you've challenged. Insects like you can only dream of defying the heavens! Know this: I will find you. And when I do, I will destroy your soul and scatter its remains across eternity!"

The radiant aura dimmed suddenly, and the old woman collapsed to the floor, her body lifeless. The time-stopped world resumed, and the bustling sounds of the inn returned as if nothing had happened. The patrons murmured in confusion as they noticed the unconscious woman.

"Is she drunk?" the innkeeper muttered, her brow furrowed.

Theodore stepped away from the commotion, his expression unreadable, but his mind raced with the weight of what had just occurred. He turned to Belial, who was already watching him with a knowing look.

"My lord," Belial said, his voice carrying both concern and excitement. "I felt her divine presence. That was Gaia, wasn't it?"

Theodore nodded, his smirk returning. "It was. She's declared me her enemy. It seems war will come sooner than I expected."

Belial's laughter filled the room, dark and full of admiration. "War with the heavens! How bold, my lord. Truly, you are destined for greatness. You've declared war on the gods themselves. Magnificent!"

Theodore chuckled lowly. "It's not war yet, Belial. First, they'll send their pawns—'heroes,' priests, or divine messengers. Let them come. I'll deal with them in due time. Until then, I'll grow stronger."

Belial bowed deeply, his crimson eyes gleaming. "I will follow you into the abyss, my lord, and beyond."

Mimi, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. Her expression was serious. "My lord, if war with the gods is inevitable, we must move carefully. Shall we proceed with the next phase of the plan?"

Theodore's gaze darkened as he glanced out the inn's window, the flickering light of the city's torches reflecting in his crimson eyes. "Yes. The Queen and Marquis Donovan will pay for what they've done to me. The shadows are already in place. Let's set the trap."

Belial and Mimi exchanged glances, nodding in unison.

"But first," Theodore said with a smirk, turning back to the table, "we eat and rest. The gods may send their lackeys, but I'll need my strength for what's to come. And after that..." His voice trailed off, cold and deliberate. "We'll remind Donovan who really controls this kingdom."