Chapter 3: Alone as I ever was...
After a day full of strange events, the two teenagers from before are in their beds, preparing to sleep. Alexa, however, not very efficiently. She takes out her cell phone and sends a message to Mark, who was on the other side of the lodging, in the men's dorm.
"Are you sleeping?"
Thirty seconds later, Alexa felt stupid for asking that question. Of course he was sleeping, he was always sleeping. But surprisingly, her cell phone vibrates.
"What is it?"
"I'm worried about that lady. She looked serious."
"You're not going to tell me that you believed her, are you?"
"No, but ... what if she has a problem?"
"It's not of our business. Forget it."
"You are so heartless."
"You're also not the most supportive person. What happened?"
"I'm just concerned."
"There is nothing you can do now. Thinking about it won't help."
"I know. Sorry."
"Good night."
Alexa hangs up the phone. Even though Mark said that, she couldn't stop thinking about the woman they met. She seemed overly dedicated to a chuuni. Even more a mature woman like that ...
What if she wasn't just a nutcase they found on the street? What if she was the real goddess? She didn't want to believe it, but at the same time, she couldn't get it out of her head. Unable to sleep, Alexa hugs her pillow.
"Tomorrow is the last day…"
Yes, the next would be the last day of her trip, the last chance to see all the great monuments of the city again. The day after that, she would take a train straight to her peaceful hometown, where, unlike Asteria's atmosphere, nothing really happens.
"I think I want to see the Shrine of the Fallen Goddess again... just to be sure."
She closes her eyes, hoping that tomorrow would last longer. She thinks about the woman from before one last time.
"Where she is right now?"
Not far from there, a goddess walks alone through the dark and empty streets of Asteria. Her appearance would clearly attract public attention, that is, if there was any public. Her only companions were stray cats. Not even a car passed.
She felt as if she were repelling others from herself, as if she were a goddess of misfortune. For a moment, she thinks about going back to where she came from, but where was that place? The streets were all the same, especially in the dark. It was like she was in a big maze.
It wasn't like this at the time she lived. There were big cities, but not as big as this one. The houses were simpler, unlike these large buildings. And the stars were all over the sky, which didn't seem to be the case.
Helpless, she misses her flying castle... her powers... her sisters... her devotees... she had lost everything.
"Where do I go?"
She finds a bench in a park she was passing by and takes a time to rest. It was cold and his fancy clothes didn't help. She opens her hands in an effort to do something with the little energy left, but it's useless. Only small sparks ran between her fingers. With this level of magic, she could be compared to an elven child, far from what a goddess should be able to do.
"Will I recover my magic? If I had, I could convince those two teenagers... What happened to the world? It really looks like four thousand years have passed."
Caelia lies down on the bench. She wasn't tired, she just wanted to see the stars that were so timid, as if they were also trying to escape.
"What should I do?"
Near that place, two police officers walked side by side on a dark street, lighting the way with their flashlights.
"Can you believe? We're looking for a goddess in the middle of the street."
"Yes. I never thought that I would go through this kind of situation."
"Besides, why would a goddess be on the street? Wouldn't it be normal for her to fly around?"
"Yes, it's not like she's homeless... wait."
"What is it?"
"Look."
The police officer points to Caelia lying on the bench.
"Is that…?"
"It looks like we're in luck."
One of them pulls out a communicator.
"There's a suspicious woman in the park. We believe to be the goddess. Please send reinforcements."
The officers look at each other nervously. This could be the goddess they were looking for. They didn't know what could happen, but that was their job, they needed to do something.
"Let's go."
They try to approach the goddess in a natural way. She notices them coming by hearing their footsteps and gets up. Her gaze almost makes the officers retreat.
"Humans?"
She observes the behavior of the officers. Their posture and clothing say that they are military. Although very different visually, it resembles Klaus' soldiers. She couldn't help being suspicious.
"What do you want?"
"I-I'm sorry for waking you up! We would like to ask some questions. Can you come with us?"
Despite his intimidating appearance, the polite manner in which the policeman spoke made her let her guard down a little. "Maybe I'm wrong," she thought. But when she thinks again she decides to remain defensive.
"I wasn't sleeping. And I'm not going anywhere. If you want to ask something, ask it right here."
The officers look at each other again. They knew it would be a difficult time.
"Okay, but some strange things happened in the city recently. Don't you think we should go somewhere else? It's dangerous here."
"(Hey, don't talk to her like you're a punk wanting to invite her to a karaoke!)"
"(I know, but what do you want me to do?)"
Despite the policeman's efforts, Caelia's apprehension only increases.
"Thank you for your concern, but I know how to take care of myself."
"I see... well, in this case..."
The policeman takes a pause to prepare himself for what he's about to ask. It isn't his custom to deal with this type of situation, so it's only natural that he was so nervous, especially in the face of a possible candidate for the goddess.
"We are looking for a woman… more or less your size and age… and clothes similar to yours…"
"(Hey, don't beat around the bush!)"
"(But it's hard to ask!)"
"(Just ask!)"
"Are you… the goddess?"
Caelia is confused by the policeman's question, which for her the answer seems obvious.
"Yes, I am."
Caelia's quick response brings a brief awkward silence along with a sudden nervousness to the officers.
"You are?"
"Yes. Isn't it obvious?"
"No, well… (What now?)"
"(I don't know! We should bring her with me, I think ...)"
"(But if she's really a goddess, she can kill us!)"
"(Reinforcement is already coming. Maybe if we just control the situation...)"
Caelia watches the officers talking to each other apprehensively. They remind her of the discomfort of students before. She sighs in disappointment.
"I see. You don't believe me either..."
Believing that the goddess is getting bothered with them, the policemen raise their guard.
"No, that's not it!"
"Wait, don't do anything absurd!"
"I won't. But if you don't want anything else, I'm leaving."
The goddess walks away. One of the policemen, compelled not to let a suspect escape, takes his shoulder.
"Please wait!"
"Take your filthy hands off me. Know your place."
Caelia's threatening stare makes the policeman back away.
"You seem to have ulterior motives, which is why I don't trust you. If you touch me again, I'll make sure you never touch anything again in your life."
After hearing this, the police officers, feeling helpless, think of backing down. But shortly after, several other policemen appear at the scene and find them in this situation.
"The reinforcements!"
Caelia is startled by the amount of people that suddenly appeared. One of them points to her.
"The goddess!"
"What is happening?"
The officers surround Caelia and draw their weapons: their flashlights, which were also an electroshock baton. They aim the batons at Caelia and surround her in a defensive position. They seem tough, but she could see that they were frightened.
"This again… "
Caelia feels her heart sink. She has felt this feeling before. Yes, it was the same as that day. She remembers clearly, as if it were yesterday. In fact, it made sense for her to assume that, since only a long sleep remained between that moment and now.
She could still feel the wounds... the contempt... the frustration... the pain of having her sisters killed one by one by Klaus's army and, finally, the pain of having to sacrifice everything while that very army looked at her with these same eyes, tough but frightened…
"..."
"Come with us without resisting. We mean no harm."
"So what is this that you're holding?"
The policeman grips his baton strongly.
"This... is to protect ourselves in case of you act aggressively."
"You think you can stop me with this? Don't make me laugh. Klaus's army was much, much larger."
"Please don't jump to conclusions! We just want you to come with us, that's all!"
"That's what you say, but I've already been deceived before! I know what you're up to!"
"Damn! She won't hear!"
"We have no choice! Let's get her!"
One of the policemen charges forward, but she dodges his attack and punches him in the face. Two other policemen advances in opposite directions, but she takes his arms and makes them attack themselves. One of the policemen manages to grab her from behind, but she uses his momentum to throw him.
No matter how many of them attacked at the same time, Caelia dodged and counterattacked, as one would expect from someone with combat experience. She didn't need her powers, she could predict all their movements and give an immediate response without losing her composure.
It wasn't long before she was surrounded by men moaning and crawling on the floor.
"What is this woman? She looks like she's made of iron!
"Is that it?"
Without caring about the gasping officers, Caelia leaves the place, disappearing into the dark streets again. One of the few men who could still move takes a communicator.
"What's the situation?"
"She fled to the northwest! I request use of lethal force!"
"Denied. Capture her alive."
"But she is too strong!"
"She is a goddess. We can't just kill her. First, we need to learn about her, in addition, there are people who still respect her."
"…"
"You did a good job by keeping her busy. I already sent more help. They should be there in a minute."
***
"What am I doing?"
Caelia's heart was still beating. She was unable to relax. After what happened, she knew the danger would only increase. She could fight, even without her powers, but for how long? She looks at the unknown horizon... still with nowhere to go.
"I got excited... maybe I should give up."
This was the second time that she was pursued by humans, her very creations. Even after all these years, even after things worked out, the world was still against her. It was so frustrating that she could explode.
"No... I am a goddess! I cannot submit to humans!"
Caelia's conclusion is interrupted by a loud noise of spinning propellers and a strong light coming from the sky. She covers her face to protect herself from the glare and try to see what lies ahead.
"What is that?"
It's the first time she has seen a helicopter. In the past, humans used small dragons as an aerial mount. One of those in the helicopter points to a rifle for her.
"Found her. Can I shoot?"
"Wait. Captain Claude ordered not to use lethal weaponry. Let's just follow."
Caelia just watches the flying machine, trying to figure out what its next move would be. Tired of waiting, she decides to act first.
"Damn!"
Caelia runs in an attempt to escape the scene, but the helicopter chases her, lighting her up across the street. Before crossing a track, countless cars suddenly appear and block the way. Then, several policemen get out and point guns at the goddess, using the cars as a barricade.
"You have nowhere to escape! Lie on the floor and surrender!"
With a helicopter on her back and a barrier of cars in her front, Caelia was out of options. She couldn't get away from this place.
"So that's it…"
Caelia closes her eyes. She remembers the last time she was in this situation, when Klaus' soldiers surrounded her in her castle.
"The other goddesses are dead! You have nowhere to run! Surrender!"
At that moment, she gave up everything: her past, her achievements, her expectations... But for some reason, she couldn't give up her life. She wanted to live. And this is no different now.
"Very well."
Caelia raises her arms. Her gesture makes the policemen drop their guard, thinking that she had surrendered. But soon a current of electricity starts running from Caelia's feet to her fingertips.
"What is she doing?"
"Oh no! Take cover!"
"Haa!"
Suddenly, a surge of energy comes out of her body, pushing the policemen and vehicles away. The force of the explosion destroys the windows of the houses and burns the energy poles, causing a blackout in the block. Exhausted, Caelia falls to her knees.
"Is that it? Is that what I can do with all my might?"
Even though it caused tremendous damage to human eyes, it was nowhere near her true potential. And yet, this was enough to make her unable to move.
"It seems that this is your limit. You've done enough."
A man approaches Caelia, but she can't see past his boots. She was sure that she was her enemy, but there was nothing she could do. Disappointed with her own inability, Caelia passes out.
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