Chapter 8- Viseration
Earlier, before heading to the tavern, they stopped at the town square to rest for a while. The afternoon sun cast mild shadows over the cobbled ground as they sat on one of the wooden benches, still turning over the events at The Benediction.
"It was awkward and weird. He was just... standing there, looking at me," Yor muttered as he leaned back on the bench.
"I'm telling you, that wasn't a god," Ludwig replied, dropping beside him with a sigh.
Ludwig scratched his head. "But let's talk about that later. Right now, I want to know how this Divine Tome works. I'm calling Winter."
A few taps later, a shimmer of light formed in front of them, condensing into a tiny floating figure. It was Winter, the game's guide.
"Hi, Winter!" Luwig let out a small wave, greeting Winter.
"Oh, it's you... Whats your deal, make sure it's important."
"Umm, I wanna ask about Divine Tomes, and the type of tomes that are said like Usurper, Guardian and Flow."
Winter, looking like a tiny holographic figurine, stood on the ground and began drawing with the tip of her broom.
Ludwig and Yor crouched down, bracing their hands on their knees to see better. Three separate circles were drawn on the ground—light markings made with the tip of Winter's broom.
She tapped the ground repeatedly with the broomstick—short, sharp taps like a strict teacher demanding attention.
"Alright, listen close. You, Ludwig just got your Divine Tomes, which means you're ready to learn how power actually works in this world. It's not just about fireballs and sword swings—each god blesses skills in one or two categories. There are only three, and knowing them could save your life."
She jabbed at the first ring, which pulsed a deep crimson.
"Usurper skills," she said.
"These are your offense tools. Pure damage, direct hits, fast and deadly. If you want to hurt things—break armor, burn flesh, end fights—this is your path. Think of it like punching through the enemy before they punch you."
She flicked her broom toward the second ring, glowing soft gold.
"Guardian skills," she continued.
"These are defensive and healing abilities. If you're the type who wants to protect others, take the hit, or patch up wounds in the middle of battle, this is for you. These skills include healing, shields, damage reduction, and yes—buffs. You boost allies' strength, speed, resistance—whatever keeps them alive longer."
Finally, she swirled toward the last ring. It glimmered a cool silver-blue.
"And then there's Flow."
"Flow skills include debuffs—you weaken your enemies: slow them down, shut their mouths, drain their power. Then there's crowd control—roots, stuns, confusion. If they can't fight, they can't win. You've also got mobility—teleporting, dashing, even vanishing entirely."
She paced in a small circle now, warming up.
"Flow users can also summon things—spirits, traps, decoys, you name it. Some leave turrets, others call illusions or shadow beasts. And don't forget tactical tools—like seeing through stealth, revealing enemy weaknesses, even altering the battlefield itself."
Then she smirked.
"Yeah, Flow can deal damage too. Not big, flashy fireballs—but clever pain. Traps, poisons, timed detonations—stuff that hits harder when the enemy's dumb enough to walk into it."
She stepped back, letting the diagram sink into the dirt like mist.
"Also, Here are the the gods with and their types of skills they can grant through divine tome. Im gonna send a list in your inventory."
They opened their inventory and saw a piece of paper. Unfolding it revealed the following:
------
Divine Tome Skill Categories — by yours truly, Winter!
1. Solarius – Sun, Light, Sacred Judgement – Usurper / Guardian
2. Pereluna – Moon, Darkness – Flow / Guardian
3. Deimon – Living Land – Guardian / Usurper
4. Krimora – Deep Sea – Usurper / Flow
5. Pyronus – Fire, Destruction – Usurper only
6. Horidae – Tempest Sky – Guardian / Usurper
7. Merumon – Greed, Knowledge, Trickery – Flow / Usurper
8. Juraia – Forest, Wild – Usurper / Guardian
9. Lyre – Music – Flow / Guardian
10. Harimon – Creation, Art, Beauty – Flow / Guardian
11. Alice – Frost, Northern Mountains – Guardian / Usurper
12. Leonyra – War, Wrath – Usurper / Guardian
13. Dydia – Death, Afterlife – Flow / Guardian
-----
After spending half an hour writing the skill into the Divine Tome—with Yor helping Ludwig through the process—it was finally done. The same guide now stepped forward to lead them to the next phase of Viseration.
"So, you received one Divine Tome from the Goddess of Moon and Darkness, Pereluna. Please follow me, gentlemen," the guide said with a polite nod.
They stopped in front of a pair of towering obsidian doors, where a round gold insignia was embedded—its center etched with a crescent moon, thorny lines branching outward in all directions. It was the symbol of the goddess of the moon and darkness, Pereluna.
The guide gave it a respectful knock. The door creaked open on its own.
"You," the guide said, nodding at Yor. "Please wait in the lobby." He offered a smile before stepping aside.
"Oh... Okay." Yor nodded.
---
Inside, the chamber was dimly lit. Gold wall-mounted candleholders lined the stone walls, their flames casting soft, shifting shadows. Overhead, the ceiling shimmered with a constellation of stars—no chandelier in sight, only starlight and flame. A deep red carpet stretched down the center of the room, guiding the way like a path through night.
Seated on a red-and-gold throne, the Oracle of Pereluna held Ludwig's Divine Tome in one hand, her other tapping idly on the armrest.
"'Ludwig One,' huh?" she said, a trace of amusement in her voice.
"Bold name for a skill. No way you'll forget it's yours." She chuckled to herself.
"Yeah. It lets me become undetectable when I'm in shadows," Ludwig replied, placing a hand on his hip.
"Not bad." Her smile curved. "So, Ludwig One…"
She flipped through more pages of the tome and paused at the sight of crude stickman sketches. Her brows lifted under her mask—then she let out a soft laugh.
"I love the effort. I totally wouldn't understand this without the drawings," she said sarcastically, then shut the Divine Tome with a soft thud.
"So at night... you'd basically be permanently invisible and undetectable? That doesn't sound fair at all."
"Yes—"
"No, no. Let's make it a little more balanced," she said, cutting him off with a wave of her hand.
"You'll be undetectable and invisible for five seconds while moving outside shadows. But if you stay completely still within a shadow—day or night—you'll get thirty seconds. No more, no less. As a bonus, I'll allow a movement speed boost while you're under the effect of Ludwig One."
"Oh wait can you add-"
"I hereby approve Ludwig One as Ludwig's skill," she declared.
She placed a hand over the tome and whispered, "Zoldras." The Divine Tome glowed softly with light, its surface responding gently to her voice.
The book floated into the air, then hovered toward Ludwig. He caught it with both hands.
"No objections accepted. That's final," she said briskly. "Oh, and don't forget your offerings. They're listed on the bulletin board outside."
"See ya, Ludwig." With a flick of her finger, a gust of magic swept Ludwig off his feet and out of the chamber.
"Ma'am—!"
He tumbled out into the hallway, rolled once, and came to a stop. With a groan, he stood up and dusted off his coat.
Across the room, Yor was standing by the bulletin board.
He glanced at Ludwig and gave a small nod with a raised thumb. Ludwig smirked and returned the gesture.
"On to your next tome—the Goddess of Music, Lyre," the guide said, now suddenly standing beside Ludwig.
"Follow me."
Ludwig trailed after him, hands in his pockets. "Let's just hope I don't get launched out of the room this time."
--
Lyre, the goddess of music, sat gracefully with her golden harp resting against her knee. Her fingers moved with fluid precision, dancing across the strings as she played. A soft, soothing melody filled the chamber, curling through the air like a warm breeze brushing the skin.
Lyre sat on a throne shaped like a quaver, her voice calm and refined. The chamber around her sparkled—lined with elegant instruments, jeweled décor, and soft golden light.
Ludwig side-eyed her and scratched his head.
"Am I supposed to sing here?"
She gently stopped playing her harp, letting the final note linger in the air.
"I—I apologize. I didn't notice."
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was Ludwig, even though she already knew he'd be coming to her chamber for Viseration.
This was her best shot at acting like a proper goddess—composed, graceful, divine—even if part of her was more focused on the man before her than she cared to admit.
"Greetings, Ludwig. I heard you received three Divine Tomes—that's pretty rare. Congratulations."
"Yeah, got pretty lucky," Ludwig said with a shrug. "Thanks for choosing me. I mean... I really want to get you."
"Get me?" she echoed, blinking.
Suddenly, everything else Ludwig said became background noise. Her heart tensed, and her grip on the harp tightened.
Does he mean my body? I may be old, but... it still feels strange hearing that.
"Winter said you're one of the gods who grant Flow-type Divine Tomes," Ludwig went on, unaware of her thoughts. "I need two, so I'm glad I got one from you."
"Here, I hope this tome meets your standards," he added quickly. "I made sure it's not too overpowered. Had a friend help me out with it."
One of the Divine Tomes floated toward Lyre, slowly turning in the air. Its surface bore the insignia of the music goddess herself—a woman singing, her mouth frozen mid-note in radiant detail.
"Right..."
"I shall need to evaluate it first," Lyre said as she caught the tome. She brought a hand to her chin, her movements precise but a little stiff. "My father will be mad if I approve something unbalanced."
"Fair enough. I get it, ma'am," Ludwig replied.
Lyre blinked.
Ma'am?
Her chest tightened a little—just a bit. She wasn't sure why, but she liked the way that sounded. Even as a goddess, she rarely felt that kind of respect. And somehow, coming from him, it felt different—more sincere, maybe. Ludwig looked like the arrogant type, especially with those constantly furrowed brows like he was always annoyed… and yet, this caught her off guard.
"U-um, I'm gonna read it now."
She traced the words with her finger, leaning in slightly as her eyes scanned the text. Her lips moved softly as she read.
"Ludwig Two—that's the skill name," Lyre said. "You want it to silence enemies after five consecutive hits, right?"
"I can drop it to three if you'd like."
Ludwig's eyes lit up.
"I hereby grant Ludwig Two as Ludwig's skill—Zoldras," she declared.
"Seriously? You're the best!"
Ludwig stepped forward with a grin, his footsteps echoing lightly across the chamber floor. He reached out, gently took her hand, and leaned in close, his voice low by her ear.
"You're the best goddess, ma'am."
But it was only in her imagination.
The chamber was already empty. The door creaked softly as it shut behind him.
---
The next stop was Leonyra, the Goddess of War and Wrath. Her chamber wasn't flashy—elegant but simple. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls, along with mounted heads of various monsters, trophies from battles long past.
Despite the simplicity, her presence was overwhelming. She sat on a throne draped in bear pelts, her posture relaxed, one hand resting under her chin.
"Is that your true form? The one behind the mask?" Ludwig asked, his curiosity showing. It had always puzzled him why the gods used Oracles as vessels to interact with players instead of appearing themselves.
"Our true forms cannot be seen by human eyes," Leonyra replied flatly. "Only the gods may witness one another as we truly are. The Oracles are our bridge to the human world—our means of communication with your kind."
"Are you curious about what I look like?" she added, tilting her head slightly.
"Not really," Ludwig shrugged. "Just a little concerned about the Oracles. Don't they have lives outside of being, well… mediums?"
"Their lives revolve around devotion to us. That is their purpose—nothing more," Leonyra said without hesitation.
"Right..." Ludwig muttered, glancing off to the side.
"I approve your skill. No adjustments are needed," she stated.
She raised her hand above the Divine Tome in her hands, and it glowed with a sharp, crimson light.
"I hereby grant Ludwig Three as Ludwig's skill—Zoldras."
---
Ludwig stepped out through the obsidian door with a long sigh.
Across the grand hall, Yor spotted him and waved. He was slouched in one of the lobby chairs, clearly bored.
"Viseration takes forever. I've been waiting here for ages," Yor said with a yawn.
The sun had already set—it was nighttime in the game now. The church interior had grown livelier. Dozens of players moved through the grand hall, quietly guided by devoted followers in navy blue robes.
They all looked worn, like they'd been through a lot… but strangely, none of them looked tired.
Then Yor's gaze caught on a group of four standing off to the side.
Wait a second—
Is that… Harper?
And those idiot friends of his?