Chapitre 4: The world against me, like a glimpse from the past...
The day barely dawned and it was already chaos. News helicopters roamed the city. People were distressed, not sure what had happened. And around the Shrine of the Fallen Goddess, a barrier of people unable to enter because of a police blockade.
Because of that, Alexa's plans to visit the sanctuary again have been dashed.
"What happened around here?!"
Even Mark, who wasn't used to being impressed with things, was surprised. Faced with all this turmoil, Alexa thinks about what happened yesterday.
"Wait! Do you think...?"
"Let's look at the news!"
Mark takes out his cell phone and looks at the news. He puts on a channel that was broadcasting live across the country. The reporter was in front of Lionheart Castle, along with an anxious crowd.
"…after the confusion, the goddess was taken to the Lionheart Castle where she will be interrogated by Queen Reyna Lionheart herself. Unfortunately, transmissions from inside the castle are prohibited, but we hope that after the negotiations, all details will be clarified."
"Goddess? It can't be!"
"So that woman..."
Mark and Alexa couldn't be more surprised. The woman they met, talked with and then rejected was really the goddess. They were probably the people who had the most contact with her before she was captured.
"But why did she have no powers?"
"I don't know. Maybe after a long time sleeping, she lost them. I just hope she doesn't remember us after getting them back."
"You don't think she would take revenge on us for that, do you?"
"I don't want to bet. She was involved in a war against the most ambitious of men. I don't think she has a good impression of humans."
"B-But things have changed! We are not the same as before!"
"This is your perspective, but for her who has slept all this time, it's as if only one day has passed. If we're lucky, she may be able to see the differences, but if not…"
"..."
***
Caelia finally awakes after a terrible nap. She was in the center of a large room, surrounded by soldiers who were aiming rifles at her. Her body was bound by chains of light attached to the floor, a very common spell used by humans to restrain prisoners. In front of her, a young woman in armor sitting on a throne looked at her with disdain, as if she didn't care who was ahead. Only Claude - the man who leads all these soldiers - was at her side.
"So this is the magnificent goddess of the crystal? What a disappointment..."
Caelia accepts the young woman's welcome with a defiant stare.
"And you are the queen of this nation? You remind me of all the state leaders I've met. Presumptuous and arrogant."
"Hey! Watch your mouth!"
A soldier behind Caelia kicks her, which falls flat on her face. The queen gives a signal that makes the soldier retreat. Caelia stands up with a bruised face.
"You don't even know me and you're already judging me with these words? It seems that they suit you more than me."
"…"
"Besides, you don't know what I did for this nation. I preserve the law and the justice. No goddess will stand in my way."
"But I also...!"
Caelia tries to get up, but is interrupted by a shock caused by the chains.
"You caused quite a stir in the city, didn't you? I heard you defeated several of my men with your bare hands. I imagine what you would be able to do with your powers."
"…"
"But it looks like you didn't use them much. Why? Is the goddess everyone talking about so incapable?"
"My powers are recovering. It's only a matter of time until…"
"Until what? Until you get into trouble again?"
"That was not my intention! Your soldiers who did…!"
"My soldiers approached you peacefully and you went on to violence. In this place, we don't accept aggressive people. The military's authority is absolute."
"But I am a goddess!"
"Goddess? I don't know if you noticed, but your goddess days are over, four thousand years ago. The only ones who still follow you are desperate, resigned, unable to cope with the circumstances of life. But the truth is, we don't need you here."
"…"
"May this be a lesson for you. If you want to start another war, well, we may not have an army as big as Klaus IV, but we have a much more advanced one."
Unable to respond to the queen's harsh words, Caelia lowers her head. Reyna gets up and goes over to her.
"That said, I'm not a monster. I wouldn't kill a goddess, so you can live as you like. However, I am concerned with what the repercussion your image will bring."
"What do you mean?"
"Whether you like it or not, you are still a goddess that everyone knows and many have expectations. Many believe that you will bring salvation or something. Because of this, people are anxious. How will you face them?"
"…"
"As I thought, you won't be able to answer them. There's no place for you in this world. If you don't mind, I'd like to give you a hint: disappear."
***
Outside the castle, a reporter was waiting for the goddess to leave, along with a large audience.
"It's been four hours since the goddess was brought to the castle. Everyone's nerves are on edge. We have no news of what's going on in there but she should be leaving at any moment."
Suddenly, the gates open and the goddess leaves with the queen and a couple of guards.
"Ah, the gates are opening! There she is, along with Queen Reyna! It looks like they're going to make a statement! Let's listen!"
The queen stands in front of the crowd that stops making noise to hear what she has to say.
"People of Austera, as well as the whole nation! We are officially announcing that Caelia, the Goddess of Heaven, has finally awakened for us! But don't worry, nothing extraordinary will happen! Everything is being very sudden and tumultuous for the goddess at the moment, she needs a little space! Therefore, I come to ask you to not pressure her! She will come to communicate with you at the right time!"
Although still frustrated by what had just happened, Reyna's choice of words surprised Caelia.
"Thank you for this."
"No need to thank. It's my role as queen to keep things under control. Now, don't you think you should say something to them?"
Caelia looks at the crowd of people who were anxiously awaiting her. Everyone was waving, taking pictures and asking for attention, there was no doubt that she was a celebrity. But how could she answer them? They already had a ruler, and there was no room for two. If she started a revolt now, it could have a negative impact, and that was not what she wanted. She wanted to be recognized, respected, worshiped - the things that make her a goddess. But how would she achieve this in this situation?
Caelia takes a deep breath. There's nothing she can do right now, but she should at least give then a response. Knowing this, she steps forward.
"Attention, people from all over the world! I appreciate your expectations, but at the moment, I am recovering from the time I was stuck in the crystal. I need a little more time to regain my powers, then I… I… I will do my best to be a goddess for you!"
The crowd is confused by Caelia's statement.
"What did that mean? Isn't she already a goddess?"
"Did she lose her powers? Really?"
"But I heard that she defeated several policemen with her bare hands!"
"I think it's best to not mess with her..."
"But I was expecting something else. It's kind of disappointing."
Caelia is not satisfied with her performance, but for her that was enough for now. As long as she kept people's hopes up, she could still fight for them.
After that, Claude along with some other soldiers accompany the goddess, pushing her away from the crowd until they reach a more peaceful place.
"Where are you going now?"
"I dont know. I have nowhere to go."
"…take this."
Claude takes a considerable amount of money out of his pocket and hands it to Caelia. There were 5,000 éclats, enough for her to survive for a few weeks.
"What is this?"
"Use it to buy things. I don't know how goddesses support themselves but maybe you should get a job. Live wisely."
With that, Claude says goodbye to the goddess. Despite now being hurt, now she was alone again. Caelia looks at the money Claude had given her, but she can't find any hope in it.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone