Chapter 5.2 - Origin Stories

The man bowed, ending the performance and the crowd erupted clapping.

It was a profound story, sad but necessary.

Adam couldn't help but be sorry for the girl. She must have had to deal with so much guilt, kinda like how he felt every day since his mother was taken.

Still thinking about the legend, the young God felt compelled to visit the library. Adam was never the kind of boy who had his face buried in books in school. On top of that he wasn't a genius either. Mathematics, literature, philosophy, nothing interested him much, he did the bare minimum to pass and that was it.

During high school he was always more interested in physical activities. Racing being the one he dedicated more time to. So wanting to visit the library to look for books was very out of character.

"Hm…" Agnis, who was by his side mumbled awkwardly. They were walking with no objective, just to get out of the crowd. "I should go to my dorm now."

"You live here?"

Adam wasn't sure about what he was so supposed to do. Not needing to sleep, eat or rest left a person with not much to do. And there wasn't many people like him around he could spend time with.

"Yes, many of the scholars do, but since Lady Hikari formed the task force many of us moved to the dorms to make the work more efficient."

They walked side by side heading to the temple entrance that was opened that evening.

"Mhm…" Hearing about the effort everyone was putting into the mission was odd. Being seen as a deity by common people was really a shock. They looked the same but they were worlds apart. "I don't know how to thank you guys."

Shaking her head while looking at the floor, Agnis looked up to reply.

"We were honored to be of use to the Elements." This time Adam was the one to look down, feeling his shoulders drop. "There would be nothing without your sacrifice."

Reminiscing on the speaker's words Adam didn't have anything else to say. They simply walked to the door in silence, both staring at the wooden floors.

By their destination, Agnis was the one to speak up.

"I'm going that way." She pointed directly at a red building with a five-story pagoda-style roof.

That was Hikari's castle. Very elegant from the outside, standing right next to the temple.

"Oh okay. I'll hang around here for a while."

She bowed and walked away.

Adam watched her and the other people leave the temple. Everyone that passed by him bowed, making him feel bad for not being able to see their faces.

Contemplating the city after the story gave him a whole new sensation. As if he was just seeing it for the first time.

Suddenly the Playboy took off to the interior of the building. He had the urge to know the origin story of all the Gods before him. If he knew them, the previous Earth Gods, perhaps he would understand his powers better.

Flying on his own to the library was a challenge, but one he could overcome. The rooms and corridors all looked the same but he had memorized the rhythm of the turns. Just like he did with the race tracks.

Didn't take long for him to find the narrow corridor that led to the fourth balcony in the library.

From above, the scholars were like bees in a hive, walking the hallways of tables, disappearing behind the bookshelves that were as high as the library itself.

Timid, he descended in the middle of the place, causing the paralysis of the hive.

"Hey guys…" Uncertain of how to ask for help, he waited for them to finish their bowing greeting before speaking. "I was wondering if there is some sort of book about the origin of the Gods…"

Everyone seemed intimidated and on top of that, uncomfortable. They looked at each other, whispering unintelligible things. Adam landed completely to wait for a response.

"There isn't one, my Lord."

A few tables ahead, in the back near a window, one girl with glasses and curly afro hair answered. Adam looked around to see if anyone had a different response, but no one intervene.

"Very little is known about the Gods. Besides the certainty of their existence not much else is known."

"But what about the story of the girl and the Dragon?"

Adam was confused. All four God's were right there with them, eating and sleeping under the same roof, why did they act like they didn't know them at all?

"That's just a legend. We have plenty of those but we can't confirm if any is true. Most are just stories invented by the people to tell their children before bed." The girl was hesitant in her words, as if she was afraid he might do anything to her.

"But why?" The boy forgot about his status and was just speaking his mind.

He relaxed his posture and translated his puzzled thoughts to his face. Which caused an effect on the researchers, they let go of some of the tension that had built up since Adam arrived.

"The Gods before the Four current Elementals didn't get in contact with society." The girl was calmer, letting her caution behind

Pulling up a chair, the Earth God sat down indignant, his plan was smashed like a snowglobe under a truck. Scratching his head, trying to think of anything else to do, an alternative question popped out.

"Is there a temple dedicated to Earth?" He lifted his head to check glass-girl's answer.

"Yes." Although the girl seemed less nervous, she was still fixing her glasses in an anxious way. "It's underground."

That was interesting. Adam stood up and walked over to the girl's table. She was shorter than him with big owl eyes, that made him wide his own in amusement.

As a civil person, the young God extended a hand to greet the girl and ask her name. Introductions finished he asked if she could give him a book about this temple or city underground and another one about sword fighting.

Not wanting to disturb the scholars any longer, Adam took off with his books. As the night was still bright he headed to the patio thinking it would be a good place to read.