บท 9: Goddess Myriam
*3rd person POV*
This time, the young flower girl had hidden behind Mokuren, her glowing golden eyes seeming to flicker with worry. The ethereal silky voice that echoed within her mind calmed her. She followed closely behind Mokuren and Kyuu-san as they exited the restaurant.
Upon the first step outside the restaurant, the atmosphere completely changed. A particular warmth, giddy butterfly sensation permeated the air. The cascade of azure sunlight ever more vibrant, invigorating those who are within its embrace.
Within the pillar of light now in front of the three, hovered a magnificent figure. Once the light dispersed and washed over the elegant shoulders of the figure, it revealed who it is: Goddess Myriam.
She's even more breath-taking than the carving on the doors the flower girl thought.
Her long, beautifully curved antlers hung with beads of starlight, her eyes shone the creation of the universe itself. The nearby flowers and trees grew ever more vibrant under her presence. Flowers and leaves burst to life on her flowing, verdant hair and branches. Her ethereal skin was adorned with elegant silver markings resembling flowers and vines… similar to the flower maiden's crests.
The Goddess wore little, her hair naturally covered her breasts, and intertwining branches wrapped themselves around her slender legs over her vulva and down towards her bare feet. Far from a sense of seduction, this appearance gave one of endless wonder and natural beauty that drew the innocent eyes of the people near. Even the space around her distorted, folding inwards to her allure, giving an exotic, powerful attraction.
A ring of celestial glyphs with an intricate lotus flower patten at the center adorned behind her. A mantra ring of powerful language (ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥). Blair and Xata kneeled to Goddess Myriam with respect to which the Goddess kindly responded with loving pats on their snout.
The flower maiden was awe-struck by her appearance, her small mouth slightly agape. The people walking outside stopped when Goddess Myriam appeared. Equally in awe despite knowing the Goddess well since the dawn of Heiwa. Some put their hands together in prayer, some even kneeled in respect while the children excitedly looked on with admiration to Goddess Myriam, the one who gave everyone here a place to live peacefully and happily.
"Goddess Myriam! Good afternoon to your graces."
"Goddess Myriam!"
A chorus of greetings and warm greetings welcomed her presence. Even Jacky came out of the restaurant.
"OOhh… will you look at that y'all, if it ain't Myriam herself. Afternoon Goddess."
Jacky leaned outside on the frame of the restaurant and tilted an invisible hat, winking at Goddess Myriam.
"Afternoon Jacky and to everyone here. It warms me to see everyone enjoying this beautiful day. Please, don't pray to me, we are all equals here."
*Flower Maiden's POV*
She's Goddess Myriam? She's so beautiful! Goddess Myriam's lush, morning grass lips curved in a dazzling smile.
"Why thank you for the compliment flower maiden. Though without doubt, you will grow into a fine beauty yourself eventually."
She read my mind! I'll look beautiful too? How long will that take? Goddess Myriam let out a light chuckle, echoing throughout the air. Suddenly, Mokuren steps in front of her, her arms crossed with an annoyed face.
"Oh stop it with the visual flare mother! Seriously, what a showoff. 'We are all equals' my sorry arse."
The magnificent ring around Goddess Myriam seems to crumble in shame and defeat. Her face pouting at Mokuren, the expression hidden by her hair except to those in front of her: us.
"Moku, can't you let your mother have some pride and a bit of fun? I'm hurt you know? Honestly."
"Hmph, you trying to look all cool? Please, mother, you might've fooled the flower girl and everyone else but I ain't letting that happen. Speaking of fooling, you thought you could hide the flower girl's secret from me?"
Mokuren raised her finger and pointed at her mother accusingly. Goddess Myriam's eyes suddenly looked sideways off into the distance, her fingers pointed together coyly.
"What are you talking about? I'm simply just greeting our new inhabitant…"
Kyuu-san stepped in at this moment.
"Goddess Myriam, with all due respect, your daughter knows, maybe we should take this conversation within the confines of the Magami Aura."
Looking like a child being caught hands in the cookie jar, Goddess Myriam's stunning stature and presence suddenly shattered.
"Oh… you weren't supposed to find out so soon… curse my lacking ability to lie well."
Is… is this really how a Goddess acts?
"Oh right, let's talk shall we?"
Goddess Myriam bare feet touched the ground and walking lightly towards us. She was tall… really tall (10ft/3.05m). I had to look up almost all the way to see her face only to see her sharp chin. She had had to kneel down all the way to see me properly and gave me a little pat on the head. She then muttered quickly.
"Oh right."
With a quick shine of her eyes and the glimmer of her antlers, she decreased in size to somewhere around Mokuren's height.
"That's better."
We began making our way back to the Magami Aura. Once again riding on the Dobos, Xata this time I think. People greeted us with small prayers and friendly gestures as we passed them. Goddess Myriam took her time greeting everyone, sometimes handing out lily flowers to children who giggled with glee as Goddess Myriam planted the lily flowers in their hair.
"I watched you burst into our little village you know? Quite the little display."
I remembered my lousy entrance here, kicking up dust everywhere and causing trouble. I was a bit embarrassed that she saw me.
"Ho-how did you see me?"
Goddess Myriam waved her hands in a playful manner.
"Magic! I'm kidding, I sensed you the moment you were in the vicinity of Magami Aura's barrier. I was the one who let you in."
So that's what I felt when I got near Heiwa.
"Really? Thank you Goddess Myriam."
"No worries, I created Heiwa to welcome people of all origins and places."
I flashed an appreciative smile at Goddess Myriam... everyone's so nice here... except for a certain someone else. Also… how come she gets to not wear clothes? I leaned towards Kyuu-san next to me.
"Hey Kyuu-san, how come Goddess Myriam gets to not wear clothes?"
Mokuren seems to raise an eyebrow at the question while Kyuu-san was struggling to respond properly.
"Uhh… Goddess Myriam… she has certain circumstances and she… is an exception?"
I could tell the hesitation and uncertainty of Kyuu-san's answer as her eyes seemed to struggle for an answer to chain me to my clothes… clothes fiend.
"Well, how come I have to wear clothes?"
"Cause you're a pervert…"
A blatant reply smacked me in the face.
"I'm not a pervert! The bra and bloomers I wear are itchy and it feels more comfortable without them!"
"I do have to agree with the flower maiden here, it does feel comfortable to not wear clothes."
Goddess Myriam thankfully backed me up… hah! What are you going to do when the Goddess supports me Kyuu-san?!
"My house, my rules brat… unless you want to face the punishments."
Kyuu-san smirked maliciously and showed her hand and clenched forcefully… *gulp*... I don't want to imagine her pinching me with that amount of force.
"Threatening innocent little kids like the ruffian you are Kyui… how brute and mean. Sorry flower girl, even I can't save you when you're alone at her house. "
My ears drooped in defeat while Mokuren giggled and Kyuu-san had a look of evil satisfaction on her face. Not going to lie for a second I thought of maybe asking Mokuren to take me in but the thought of leaving Ohari halted that idea. I couldn't leave mom behind! Goddess Myriam help! I tugged on her vines a little and looked up at her expectantly.
"It's ok flower maiden, I'm sure there are some soft and comfortable cute clothes you can wear."
Ah?! Even she's relinquishing to the mean fox!
The doors of the Magami Aura opened inwards upon Goddess Myriam's touch, the jewels on the door glowing in response. Its great size and the slow creak of the doors felt like opening up to a brand new world. Perhaps it was… for what awaited me… was an ethereal, forest garden. The inside of the Magami Aura was lush with a forest of trees and open prairie. Mokuren announced proudly.
"Welcome to my home flower girl, welcome to the Garden of Eden."
Trees of various colors, displays, and ancient designs grew within this paradise. I immediately took off my getas and planted my bare feet on the soft, warm grass. The lush grass, flowers, feeling… it reminded me of the garden I was born in, that same enveloping warmth and excitement. At the center of this garden, however, rose a spire of translucent, large, massive vines. They reached high, far up into the sky, reaching the top of the Magami Aura. Pulsing, perpetual iridescent light traveled up the spire, eventually spiraling outwards into interwoven structures that resembled a cobweb of nodes and branches (imagine the human brain neural network as reference).
The inside of the Magami Aura was hollow, but it was alive, a living, breathing being as the spiral of large vines and vein-like structures pulsed with the rhythm of a heartbeat. To think just within two days of me being born… I've lost count of how many wonders I've come across and how many times the breath left me as I stared unblinking in astonishment.
"Similar to the memorial garden you were born in isn't it, flower maiden? I watched you rise out of your lily flower the moment you were born… the memorial was inspired by this place."
The Dobos was prancing around rolling in the grass while we walked, freely treading upon the grass to a rosewood table and a set of chairs under the canopy of the trees. The sunlight passing through the canopy left streams of golden, aureate light cast on our tables and seats as if waiting for us. A small winding stream encircled the area with fish with fins that seemed likes dresses. Butterflies and birds chirped as they danced around us. Everything had a serene feel to it.
Speaking of which, the sunlight came from small, luminous suns that orbited the spire. We took our seats but I laid down on the grass, enjoying its hugging touch. Mokuren spoke up almost impatiently.
"So mother, care to tell us and explain why the flower girl has Primordial essence? Feel free to divulge any more secrets to us while you're at it."
Clearly in investigation mode, Mokuren probed Goddess Myriam for answers with her searching eyes. I have some questions of my own in response.
"Goddess Myriam, what's primordial essence, and what does Mokuren mean I have it?"
Goddess Myriam now let out a sigh now that the cat's out of the bag.
"Flower maiden, do you feel the strange energy that courses within you? Here, come."
I scooted to Goddess Myriam. Making sure to not get my dress dirty again. She put her hands on mine, a surge of warmth, and the same tingling sensation I felt before entering my body. I felt the energy within me grow and it coursed through my body faster… an orange aura started emitting from my body, dispersing slowly into the air leaving trails of fire gold. The cloak fell off my back as my petals unfurled outwards, flowing freely behind me. I felt Goddess Myriam's energy as well… so this is Primordial essence. Both Kyuu-san and Mokuren watched with anticipation and wonder at my display. Mokuren immediately started to take down notes with her matrix cube. Goddess Myriam's hands were still on mine.
"Saffron… your aura and flower petals are of a lovely saffron flower maiden. What you feel is Primordial essence."
Kyuu-san noticed something.
"Just like this morning."
Kyuu-san explained what happened to me this morning and my petals, though I didn't want to hear much of it. I don't want to remember the burning pain. It was somethign I tried to forget and did, until now. Mokuren and Goddess Myriam listened with intent, while the aura around me slowly dissipated with time. What can I do with this power? Where did it come from? Endless questions rushed to my head. But, it was too much to take in... so one step at a time then.
"Goddess Myriam… does anyone else have this essence?"
"Close your eyes… and try to feel the energy around you and those near like Kyuu-san and Moku. What do you feel?"
I closed my eyes, concentrating on the living around me. All around me I felt traces of Primordial energy within this garden and the Magami Aura just like the memorial garden. Except for Kyuu-san and Mokuren… I felt a different yet somewhat similar kind of energy within them.
"I feel it all around me but… Kyuu-san and Mokuren don't have it I think."
"You're right, all inhabitants here in the village possess an energy called quanta, but not Primordial energy."
Kyuu-san replied to that statement.
"Goddess Myriam, I thought the same thing, and concerning primordial energy, how could the brat even have it? If what Mokuren said before was true, then it is only a given attribute. I thought maybe the brat absorbed the surrounding Priomrodial essence in the memorial garden. Also, I have to share what happened this morning."
"Oh? Did you notice Kyuu-san? How observant, but even absorbing primordial energy doesn't mean you can use it or have it. Moku's right, the beings who can wield primordial energy are given-"
"By The Asura… so mother, why does the flower girl have it?"
Mokuren finished the last part with a much more serious tone in her voice. Goddess Myriam seemed to hesitate, her eyes shone a weary light within. Asura... the same disturbing name I saw on the mask at the memorial garden. Its ring felt again, familiar.
"That… even I do not know. How you are born… and why you possess this power is something I cannot explain."
Goddess looked at me apologetically. I felt a weight on my heart…
"Does that mean, you can't tell me who or what I am?"
"I'm afraid not… but what matters for now is that you stay happy and stay as you are… don't worry so much ok?"
"Then may I ask... who is Asura? I heard Asura's an important someone and I was born in its memorial."
I thought I saw a glimpse of sorrow on her face, her eyes no longer showing the brilliant light it once held before.
"Asura... is of the most important beings I knew. Asura was a warrior of untold origins, but I'm afraid I can't tell you much."
Mokuren added on.
"Asura was a Primordial God, the one who gave those who it trusted within this universe with Primordial power. Tales of Asura still passed down today and everyone knows them. No one knows who exactly Asura is, except maybe the Prometheus clan of which Asura was in. If you ask me, Asura was nothing but a ruthless monster."
I was disheartened to have so few answers and too many questions. Mokuren stepped in once more.
"Sorry, little girl, but we don't have any answers yet. But this primordial energy, doesn't it change one's body and seemingly existence? As far as I'm aware it changes one's biology on a conceptual level from what I can gather with instances of them in the Prometheus clan and you, mother."
Goddess Myriam cleared her throat and patted me on the head some more to comfort me.
"Allow me to elaborate more… those of us who have Primordial energy changed us. We no longer needed sleep, food, and the few nongods who have it have their anatomy changed as well, a line somewhere between biological and ethereal form."
"So that explains the brat's petals I guess."
No need for food...
"Goddess Myriam is that why I haven't felt hungry or thirsty the entire time?"
"Yes indeed."
Kyuu-san has a puzzled expression, then her eyes opened wide in shock and embarrassment. Her hand clenching tightly as she gritted her teeth.
"Wait! You're telling me we didn't even need to feed the brat the entire time! You've got to be kidding me! To think I sacrificed my pride... for nothing. Did you know Mokuren!"
Mokuren smiled sheepishly. Goddess Myriam chuckled at Kyuu-san's exclamation.
"Maybe..."
"Hey, you didn't feed me for no reason... the food was delicious."
I chimed in... perhaps not helping the situation. After a round of Kyuu-san's angry exclamations, she settled down and asked Goddess Myriam.
"So what should we do? I mean, there isn't much to do."
"Well just keep taking care of her as you have always been Kyuu-sam, I'm sure Ohari-san would agree."
"What?! Tch... and I thought maybe Goddess Myriam could take her off my hands. That brings up something, shouldn't we contact the Prometheus clan to take her in with all due respect? They have members of their own with similar circumstances, right? Perhaps they have answers we don't."
Mokuren was silent during this time, rubbing her antlers in thought. She then caught on to something and directed to Goddess Myriam another question.
"I imagine we would've but something tells me, mother, that your meeting was with the Prometheus clan am I correct?"
"Found out huh... my daughter as sharp as always. I'm afraid they haven't heard such an account of someone like the Flower maiden. I asked them the same question but she said she didn't know either and it was alright to raise her here and to contact them if anything happens."
Goddess Myriam's eyes seem to sparkle with a sly idea, like daughter like mother.
"Please Kyuu-san? They personally told me to entrust you to take care of her."
Kyuu-san's face lit up with elation. Woah! I haven't seen her this happy before it almost threw me for a loop.
"Really? The Prometheus clan asked me of such a task?! Well, I suppose I can take care of the brat for a while longer."
Gee thanks... with that our conversation came to an end. Odd since I thought Mokuren would continue to poke her mother for answers. They went on to talk about some boring life stuff while I was let off to play around in the garden. I was half-way climbing up the tree when Kyuu-san called out to me.
"Let's go brat! We still got things to do!"
I hopped off onto Xata's back. I'll play with you guys again sometime. I gave both of them a hug before running back to the gates leading to the outside. Mokuren and Goddess Myriam both waved at us.
"I'll catch up with you later Kyui."
"Later Kyuu-san, and flower maiden, I hope you enjoy your stay here... you can come by anytime if you want okay."
*3rd person POV*
Kyuu-san and the flower maiden made their way outside the garden of Eden. The doors click, signifying their exit. Mokuren turned to her mother with a much more serious expression, any hint of her coy and playful personality having left her demeanor.
"Mother, you and Asura were allies. You say you can't say much about that monster... or is it that you won't?"
"Asura was no monster, it's the truth. We were allies but only the Prometheus clan knew Asura the best."
Unconvinced and determined. Mokuren continued to attack her mother's defense.
"You are withholding something from us, me... aren't you? What was the meeting really about? I know someone like the flower girl does not just go unnoticed like this. Leaving the topic purposely ambiguous."
Goddess Myriam's eyes drifted towards her daughter, clearly wanting to tell her what she knew... what she and Durga had discussed. But, she couldn't... not now at least.
"I'm sorry Mokuren, I'm afraid I can't tell you... but I want you to keep a record of the flower maiden will you? Please record any changes you see in her."
"Record? So you're sharing this information with them as well huh. I'll oblige cause I'm particularly interested in her as well... I haven't seen you this serious in a long, long time. If you won't tell me, then I'll suppose I'll try to find out myself. Well, I'm off to do some relaxing, love you mother."
With that claim, Mokuren took her leave. She didn't hold it against her mother to hide such an important subject from her. However, it would be lying to say she wasn't impatient to find out what exactly is going on. The thought of unveiling this mystery stirred new ambitions and determination within the celestial dryad.
Goddess Myriam sat there at the tables, the sunlight now cast weary shadows on her face. She brought out her hand as glowing glyphs encircle her wrist. A deep, battle-worn voice came through.
"Myriam, how did it go? I'm assuming your daughter caught on."
"Durga, you know I'm bad at lying. Yes, she's suspicious but she's willing to help out. Are you sure this is a good idea not telling Seriana and Alycia? Shouldn't they know about her? She could be~"
"No, no... we aren't sure of her identity yet. Old wounds heal slow Myriam, even after millenniums. I don't want to give them false hope, they're still suffering from the loss. I don't want to cause upheaval within my clan either."
A forceful, yet unthreatening voice came through. A voice of commanding prowess yet unwavering care. The very same voice that greeted Goddess Myriam when she arrived at their meeting. Goddess Myriam told Durga what transpired during Myriam's absence at Heiwa, including the flower maiden's harrowing bleeding and petals. Silence hung in the air before the voice came back.
"For now, we'll do naturalistic observation as we discussed. These new developments, please Myriam, take care of her, and watch over her. I'll do my best to keep it from the rest of the clan and I hope you will keep this a secret too."
"I will, you think I'll leave such an innocent soul without help? But... when I held her hand, I sensed something familiar... an underlying sense of wrath."
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Wild_Silver
Wild_Silver Sorry for the slight delay! I hate having to have so much dialogue and have characters talk about things instead of showing. It is always more powerful and engaging for me to show the story rather than tell it. But I'm afraid if I showed how it went down then I would've spoiled the mystery to the readers. I'll try my best to show this world and characters more as I continue. This chapter was an absolute struggle and I'm sorry you had to read through this mess of information.