Companion

After spending a night alone, Aldebaran was surprised to find his bruises fading. He could stand and move easily now, thanks to the medicine Alissa had given him. Without her help, he managed to remove all his bandages and slipped back into his dark blue robes.

"What the hell is this thing made of?" he mused, inspecting the robe. Despite taking that heavy blow, it didn't have a single scratch. "No defense for me, though."

He glanced around, frowning. "Where's the Prophet off to?" He looked in every direction but couldn't find any trace of her.

The sun was rising in the east, a hill stood in the distance, its trees silhouetted against the brightening sky. The scene was stunning enough to make Aldebaran stop and soak in the warm weather. But then, a faint sound reached his ears, the soft rush of flowing water.

Curious, he headed toward the source. Behind a cluster of average-sized trees, he spotted three small waterfalls cascading down the slope. The water tumbled into natural pools before flowing into a narrow river. Rocks of various sizes were scattered around, and a herd of deer was gathered at the water's edge.

[Objective: Go to the forest. (Completed)]

[Congratulations! You are now level 9!]

[New Objective: Invite Alissa to become your companion.]

Aldebaran realized he might have pushed Alissa too far the night before, leaving her speechless. The entire situation surrounding her was strange and hard to wrap his head around. Even with the Goddess's absolute control over her followers, the idea of a Prophet being banished seemed almost absurd.

From what he understood, Prophets were born to obey. It was their nature. So how could Alissa have been cast out for trying to carry out her divine duties? He sighed, feeling as though meeting her should have simplified his mission. Instead, it seemed the root of the problem lay with the Goddess herself.

Walking along the riverbank, he could see straight to the bottom of the water, almost tempting him to dive in. But he settled to drink from it instead. Just as he brought the cool water to his lips, something caught his attention.

An attire draped over a rock, its brown tone color and style suggested who it might belong to. Curiosity pulled him closer. But as he approached, his breath hitched, and he stiffened.

In the waterhole below the small waterfall stood a woman, her back turned to him. It was Alissa. The sunlight reflected off her damp, fair skin, and her blonde hair cascaded down her back, glistening as droplets of water trickled from the ends. She shook her head, sending shimmering beads into the air.

Aldebaran froze, his mind racing as he realized what he was seeing—what he wasn't supposed to see. His heart pounded in his chest, and heat crept into his face. She wasn't wearing a thing.

Alissa then climbed up the small rocks, stepping down the waterfall. Her delicate hand reached out, feeling the touch of the waves until she completely immersed herself, turning to face forward.

Aldebaran, embarrassed, hid behind a stone. "What on earth is she doing?" he whispered with a flushed face. "This isn't the right time for a bath, damn it!"

He might be a God in this world, but he was still a man. As a Prophet, Alissa had a figure that was hard to ignore, her voluptuous breasts and buttocks sculpted like a work of art. Divine beings were on another level. And don't even start on the Goddesses. Just thinking about it sent his imagination wandering.

Aldebaran rubbed his face, trying to clear his thoughts. He forced himself to see around, checking if the coast was clear. But when he looked again, Alissa disappeared. "What? Is she done? This is my chance!"

Without hesitation, he darted in the opposite direction, eager to escape. Just as he thought he could run from there, he froze. Standing right in front of him was her, fully dressed now.

They both stood there, stunned and silent. Aldebaran, however, was mortified. He then bowed. "Please, forgive me! I swear I didn't mean to see anything! It was an accident!"

To his surprise, Alissa didn't scold him. "I've already decided."

That cryptic response left him blinking in confusion. "Decided? Decided what?"

"I've decided to come with you," Alissa said, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability as her gaze flickered to different spots around them. "Even though the Goddess no longer believes in me, I still want to fix everything. It's my task as a Prophet. I can't abandon it."

Her bright blue eyes locked onto his. "And in return, I'll help you find the materials you need."

Aldebaran hesitated for a moment before asking, "May I ask what caused this?"

Her expression darkened, and her shoulders seemed to sink. "I don't know the full reason," she admitted, her voice quieter. "But I've been accused of rebelling and disobeying the Goddess' orders."

"Accused by whom? Another Prophet?"

Her jaw tightening before giving a slight nod. The weight of the situation began to settle in Aldebaran's mind. From what he could piece together, it sounded like the other Prophet's failure to do their duties had led to Alissa being used as a scapegoat. Still, he couldn't jump to conclusions—not without speaking to Goddess Thalendra herself.

"So, how are you feeling? Better?" Alissa's voice pulled Aldebaran out of his thoughts.

He chuckled. "Oh, much better, actually. That concoction really works! No wonder it tasted so bitter. You're brilliant!"

Her cheeks turned a faint red, and she smiled. "Thank you. I learned it from an old alchemist." Glancing at the water, she added, "You should take a bath here too. It'll clear your mind of any lingering negative thoughts."

Aldebaran raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? Is that true?"

Alissa turned to admire the serene beauty of the area. "Believe it or not, this is the Goddess Pond. Prophets have come here for centuries to relax and rejuvenate. Even Goddess Thalendra herself used to visit this place."

"But now, this place is nothing more than a memory I refuse to let fade," Alissa said, her voice tinged with emotion. "It's a reminder of what was and a way to solidify that you are a God."

[Objective: Invite Alissa to become your companion. (Completed)]

[Congratulations! You are now level 10!]

[Unlocked: The Hand of God (Trait)]

[Reward: Telekinesis (Skill)]

[New Objective: Take a bath in the Goddess Pond.]

"Wait, hold on," Aldebaran murmured. "Explain to me what this Hand of God is?"

[This trait allows you to heal any wound and create an unparalleled sense of comfort. It may also evoke intense elation in women under the right circumstances.]

"What?" His face twisted in confusion. "What kind of elation are we talking about?"

[In specific situations, it may lead to their ultimate sexual excitement if the context aligns.]

"You can't be serious, right? That's not... Why does it work like that?"