27: The Situation is not good- Part 1

The next morning, the feeling of having forgotten something still pricked at Auriel's consciousness. But with more pressing matters to attend to, she pushed that nagging part of her mind aside and locked it away.

Carol, who had volunteered to accompany the Goddess and the master of the magic tower, stood still and vigilant. She shot Auriel a concerned look before voicing her thoughts.

"Goddess Auriel, you can still back out of this outing if you want to. There's no need for you to force yourself to help us. We won't be disappointed if you decide this is a human matter for us to settle."

Carol's tone was laced with worry, her words an earnest attempt to convince Auriel to stay back.

For some reason, it felt as though Carol was especially insistent on keeping Auriel away from the affected village. But not only was Auriel's curiosity piqued by this case, she also felt it was her duty to help those in need.

"I hear you, Carol. But unfortunately, I cannot just sit back and let those people suffer. If you're concerned about something, I'd rather you tell me now than hold your words back."

For a moment, it seemed as though Auriel's words had worked and Carol was about to share her worries. But before she could, a magical portal opened in the middle of the temple, and Lady Sophia emerged from it.

The cheerful expression on Lady Sophia's face caused Carol to fall silent, leaving Auriel in suspense about what Carol had been about to say.

"Hey, darling~ Did you miss me? I know I did. Now, would you mind giving me a sample of your blood? Do gods bleed? Can I check—"

"Lady Sophia, please do not get too close to the Divine One. I hope I don't need to remind you about this more than once."

Carol quickly stepped between Auriel and the boisterous Lady Sophia, her expression blank but firm. Her protective stance made it clear she wasn't backing down, and even Lady Sophia seemed to recognize it.

With an exaggerated sigh, Lady Sophia stepped back, her face briefly showing a trace of frustration before returning to her signature smile.

"Ah, of course! My apologies for being too forward when I had no right to. But it's for the sake of science and magical advancement, so I couldn't help myself. On that note, why don't you become the center of my next experiments, Priestess Carol? I've heard so much about you, and I—"

"No, thanks. And if you continue to harass me, I'll have no choice but to file an official complaint and request your removal from the empress candidate list."

It was a threat if Auriel had ever heard one, but it was effective.

Lady Sophia's expression faltered for a second before her smile returned. She raised her hands in mock surrender, her tone playful.

"Aww, don't be like that. I promise I won't play pranks on you again. Now, Goddess Auriel, are we ready to head out?"

Auriel nodded, feeling put on the spot by the expectant eyes on her. "Of course. The sooner we get to our destination, the better."

Lady Sophia clapped her hands together, her satisfaction evident, and brought out her staff to channel her magic.

"Let's get going. Priestess Carol, activate your protective barrier so you don't get infected in the disease-filled area. It would be a disaster if you fell ill too."

Carol scowled at the words, which even Auriel found unsettling. Lady Sophia seemed oblivious to how her words sounded, focusing instead on opening the portal. With a dramatic bow, she gestured for Auriel to enter.

"Goddesses and children first."

Auriel wasn't sure if she felt insulted or amused by the comment but decided to ignore it. Steeling herself, she stepped into the portal.

______

The air in the village was thick and stagnant, carrying a foul stench that made Auriel gag. She quickly conjured a protective barrier around herself, mirroring Carol's actions, and instantly felt relief as the barrier filtered the air.

Lady Sophia emerged from the portal last, her face twisted in an expression of disgust and disappointment.

"Tsk, I was afraid of this. It seems the situation has worsened. Just yesterday, there were still some people moving about, tending to the patients. But now, even that's stopped. It looks like everyone has fallen ill."

Her tone was a mixture of disdain and frustration, the severity of the situation clearly unsettling her. Auriel, meanwhile, looked around at the suffering people, feeling a pang of sorrow.

Something dark and terrible had gripped this place, and Auriel knew she couldn't turn back now.

Carol glanced uneasily at the village, her eyes scanning the lifeless streets and the crumbled forms of those who had succumbed to illness. She turned toward Auriel, her expression tight with worry.

"Goddess Auriel, should I go down there and assess the situation? Perhaps there's something I can do to help the villagers or at least identify the cause of this disaster."

Auriel shook her head gently, her gaze still fixed on the tragic scene before them. 

"No, Carol. It would be better for me to go. As a goddess, I am immune to human illnesses and will not succumb to whatever is affecting them. If dark magic is at play here, it's my responsibility to confront it."

Carol opened her mouth to protest but stopped herself, her shoulders tensing. Her worry was evident as her fingers fidgeted against the handle of her staff. 

"I don't like this. It's dangerous down there, even for you, Divine One. But… if you're certain, I won't stop you. Just—please, be careful."

Auriel offered her a reassuring smile, though inside she couldn't deny the sense of unease that had settled in her chest. 

"Thank you, Carol. I promise I'll be cautious."

With that, Auriel descended into the heart of the village. The air felt heavier with each step she took, as though the very atmosphere resisted her presence. 

Around her, the homes and streets seemed to sag under an invisible weight, the silence punctuated only by the occasional groan or cough from those still clinging to life.

It didn't take long for Auriel to sense it—the unmistakable aura of dark magic. It clung to the village like an oppressive fog, suffusing every corner with its malevolence. 

The tendrils of the magic pulsed faintly, almost as though they were alive, feeding off the despair and suffering of the villagers.

Auriel's heart ached as she passed by a family huddled together, their faces pale and sunken. A small child stirred weakly in their mother's arms, letting out a feeble whimper before falling silent once more. 

The sight was almost too much to bear, and Auriel found herself clenching her fists in frustration and sorrow.

"This is no ordinary illness. "It's feeding on them. Whatever this dark magic is, it's keeping them trapped in this state of suffering. They won't get better until I find and destroy the source" 

Auriel murmured, her voice barely audible. 

Her steps quickened, her senses attuned to the ebb and flow of the dark energy around her. She closed her eyes briefly, allowing her divine essence to reach out and trace the source of the corruption. 

The magic pulsed more strongly in a particular direction, and Auriel turned toward it without hesitation.

As she continued deeper into the village, the weight of the dark aura grew more oppressive, gnawing at her resolve. 

But her divine light burned within her, warding off the tendrils of malice that seemed to stretch toward her with every step.

She stopped in front of what appeared to be an abandoned house at the edge of the village. The air here was thick with the stench of decay and malevolence, and Auriel could feel the dark magic swirling more intensely within. 

Her instincts screamed that this place held the key to the villagers' suffering.

Auriel placed a hand on the door, her other gripping the small orb of divine light she had summoned for protection. 

"I'll find you, and when I do, I'll end this" 

She whispered, her voice resolute. 

With a deep breath, she prepared to step inside, her mind set on uncovering the source of the darkness and putting an end to it once and for all.

The village looked like it was in a horrible situation, but not all was lost. 

Auriel pushed the door of the first house open to enter it. At first, she sensed no one inside the house and she was about to leave, but then she sensed it - the small life form that was huddling in the corner of this house and needed her help.

It made Auriel hurry up and take urgent steps toward that man. She knew she needed to help him. It turned out to be a small kid, barely ten years old and he seemed to be struggling to get up and get a glass of water to drink.

Auriel felt bad for the kid and she knew that curing the kid would not help as long as he stayed in this village. But she still could not turn away from him.