Chapter 52: Divine Warning
It was clear now that a small schism was practically inevitable. Esphera’s studies in mythology and theology led her to believe that this was definitely so.
Although she was still a rookie constellation, only recently partaking in self-study, it couldn’t be more obvious that the buds for the separation of her religion were set to bloom. No ordinary solution could stop this fate from occurring.
As a powerful constellation, she had the ability to reset everything at once. Erase her mistakes and start from zero.
Save scumming. She also had the option of turning back the hands of time to a point where she could uproot the problem before it bloomed, but…
(Without true consequences for their mistakes, neither they nor those who come after them will learn anything.)
Words she herself had uttered to the object of her admiration.
If she were to wipe her mistakes from the annals of time, would she ever come to learn? If she were to become a constellation worthy of being his disciple, she must embrace these mistakes in full and learn from them all that she can.
All for the sake of her dreamed utopia.
Utopia…
Her dreamed utopia seems so far away.
If even small conflicts like these can escalate into something bigger, then how will she ever handle creating the utopia of her dreams? Is it even possible to get there in the first place?
No, if he managed it, then surely she could as well. She swore to make a wonderful place for her followers long ago. She would not break that oath, that much she decided.
And the long road to fulfilling that oath will start with a simple question.
“Friend.”
“Yes, benefactor?”
“Do you resent them?”
“Them? Oh. You mean my attackers? Well…”
Tumble, who was being princess-carried by Ramube, scratched his chin as he fell deep in thought.
“I do not hate them, if that is what you mean. But I do fear them.”
Tumble’s answer surprised Esphera.
“You do not hate them? Even after all they had done?”
“Do you think it is foolish for me not to?”
“No! No… I am just… confused. Were you not hurt by them badly?”
Esphera would know this for certain, having healed his bones while he slept in Ramube’s hairy embrace. Her Lord Yvell had instructed her to recover only as much as necessary to avoid drawing confusion or suspicion from Tumble once he woke.
“Yes, of course. But, it could not be helped, could it?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Trouble like this is inevitable when you are a burden to your tribe. The gnomes were once part of Starfell’s tribe long ago, and we burdened them plenty then.
The memory remains even as the years pass. Even had they understood our own deficiencies, what change would that make for the hearts already disturbed?”
You can’t reason with a heart, after all. Tumble’s logic was simple, but effective.
“Had it been us gnomes in their place, and had it been they who bore the burden, the story would have been the same. I should not despise those who cannot see the people behind our faces, for they have been blinded by hate.
Instead, the only thing I would lament is the circumstances that led to this. But…”
Tumble pulled a piece of plastic from his diaper—it was the dipping sauce container that had come with the WcNuggies they’d eaten days ago.
“As that benefactor said, I can afford to dream a little more. To dream of a future where we gnomes and humans might get along, just as we do, small benefactor. So I shall keep dreaming until that day comes.
It may not come today. It may not come tomorrow. It may not even come on the day I draw my final breath. Still, I will keep dreaming of that day, simply because I must.”
Tumble pulled the container close to his face and sniffed it. The contents were long gone, but faint traces of the sauce’s scent still clung to the unwashed plastic.
“Will you not share this dream with me, small benefactor?”
Tumble weakly offered the dip container to Esphera.
“... Um. This may sound a bit blunt, but that is quite a bit unsightly.”
“Ugh–”
“I apologize for my rudeness, but please put that thing away. It disgusts me greatly.”
“Agh–!”
“Never speak to me again in such a manner, or I will burn you alive with my efreet.”
“AGUH–!”
“Oog…”
Even Esphera’s love for her own followers was not enough to counteract the disgust she felt at Tumble’s gesture.
Ramube let out an exasperated sigh as he watched the injured gnome curl up into a ball in his arms. He felt like dropping that gnome right then and there.
“How are you enjoying the ‘instant ramyun’, Snide?”
“... It is quite the delicious meal, I must say. Nothing as I have ever tasted before, most certainly. However…”
Snide, his mouth smeared with red broth and a few bits of noodles, stared into the eyes of the man seated opposite him, his expression stern and unreadable. The other man, too, had red broth dripping from his lips—but he was smiling.
However, Snide felt the smile was merely a mask, concealing the emotions the man harbored within.
“Where did you obtain these… ‘instant ramyun’?”
“Where else could I have but from the gnomes?”
CRASH! THUD!
A cup containing only ramyun broth flew through the air toward Nova’k’s face. With lightning-fast reflexes, he drew his sword and cleaved the plastic cup midair, splitting the broth in two as it passed on either side of his head.
Vuuuooom! KSSHH!
Splash!
The red liquid splashed across the floor, painting it like spilled blood.
“... Rude. To think you would throw away such a delicious soup.”
“Is this your answer to me, Chief? Do you mean to side with the gnomes after all?”
“You seem quite excitable today. Did some hay get in your loincloth while you slept?”
“Enough jokes. Why did you invite me here today?”
Krrrsh…
Nova’k unpowered the holy sword, Agnova’k, with the press of a button, returning it to its place by his hip. Then, he gestured for Snide to return to his seat.
Snide reluctantly obliged, visibly annoyed by Nova’k’s behavior.
“You have grown quite insolent, Snide.”
“Respect is earned and lost, Chief.”
“I do not recall doing anything worthy of losing respect.”
“Then you are a fool who betrays his kin. Would she look kindly upon your actions, Chief?”
“Do not speak for the dead, you emotional old fool.”
The two exchanged hateful glares before the conversation continued.
“I brought you here today to discuss your more… recent actions.”
“What, did you think I could be convinced to stop?”
“I thought reason would be enough to convince you.”
“You thought wrong then, Chief. Shall we end the conversation here?”
Just as Snide moved to stand up, two warriors emerged from the shadows, pointing spears at his nape. Snide gave them both a mocking glance before returning his gaze to Nova’k.
“So you have chosen force, then.”
“Snide, it is time to give up.”
“Do we speak the same language, Chief? I do not believe that now is the time to give up at all.”
“You are mad.”
“I WILL NOT GIVE UP!”
Snide angrily ripped his bone necklace off his neck and tossed it at the stone table. The necklace hit Nova’k’s ramyun cup off the table, spilling ramyun broth onto his crotch.
“Why did you have to do that? Now it is all over me.”
“CHIEF!”
“What?”
When Nova’k lifted his head to meet Snide’s eyes once more, he was met with a gaze drowning in sickening madness.
“Did you not agree with me once before, Chief?!”
“That was back then—when you convinced me that the gnomes would make the perfect target to elevate my name, as those unloved by Esphera.”
“Was I wrong?! If you look upon their tiny fo–”
“It was a convincing lie at first. But the Agnova’k here is proof enough that they are, in fact, loved by Esphera, Snide. I need not be a shaman—or a so-called ‘star priest,’ as you have taken to calling yourself—to understand that much.”
Nova’k caressed the metal handle of the blade, which should’ve been plastic originally, but was enhanced by a certain nature constellation in collaboration with other constellations.
“... I bought into that lie as well, as shameful as it is to admit. Do you think you were the only one who carried resentment towards the gnomes? Need I remind you it was MY sister whom you fell in love with and lost?”
“Then WHY are you doing this?! This is our chance to finally get rid of them! To eliminate the–”
“You have grown mad, Snide. You were once a rational, intelligent man in your younger years. Lune’s death had clearly driven you and my father down the wrong path.”
“... Hahahaha…”
Nova’k raised a brow at Snide’s sudden laugh.
“What is it that you find so funny?”
“I will be rid of those gnomes in the following days. I will lead some of the young hunters to join me on this most holy quest.”
“Do you think I would let you do that?”
“You will have to.”
“What?”
Snide gripped the shafts of the stone-edged spears with both hands, pressing the blades closer to his throat. Blood trickled from the shallow wounds, and an unnatural smile slowly spread across his face as he tilted his head and spoke.
“Do you think it will be the end, once you get rid of me?”
“... What do you mean?”
“I am not the only one still grieving the losses from back then.”
Snide ran a finger down the blade, lightly soaked in blood. Then, that finger entered his mouth as he lapped up the red liquid with sick satisfaction.
“Take my head now, and another will take its place. Hold me here, in this building, and there will surely be someone to break me out within days.”
“... You. You have been conspiring with some of the elders.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Who is to say? I am not so foolish as to reveal the rest of my plans before you, Chief. Perhaps you are frightened that I might challenge your authority one day?”
“You would not dare."
Snide shrugged with a mocking grin.
“Time will tell, old friend. Now, if you excuse me, I have a few people I must go meet.”
The warriors, pointing spears at him, threatened Snide to move no further, but Nova’k gestured for them to stop with a bitter, reluctant face. The warriors shared in their chieftain’s frustration as they lowered their spears.
Snide smiled at this, finding a most addictive amusement in outplaying the strongest man in Starfell.
“Oh, and you ought to give Lune a visit one day, Chief. She surely misses you dearly now. I will be going to visit her at the lake today after I speak with some of the young hunters in the town.”
Just like that, Snide left—free to wreak havoc on the gnomish settlement, his mouth still smeared with oily ramyun broth as he sneered on his way out.
The aged man approached a grave near a lake, bringing with him flowers and fish as offerings. While he could not know if the dead could consume what the living offered, he would at least try to provide his lover with a gift in the afterlife.
After placing the gifts at the grave, he knelt, clasped his hands, and closed his eyes in prayer. He wished to send a message to Lune in the afterlife, trusting that, by her mercy, Esphera would carry his words to her.
“Lune. The young hunters hesitate to take the lives of those who made you fall ill. Instead, I’ve persuaded them to drive the afflicted ones out of the region. I find it almost amusing that they don’t seem to realize this will only lead to their inevitable deaths.”
The wind blew as he muttered his message for his lover.
“Revenge will be ours soon. Though I cannot see you now, I hope that you will be so welcoming of me in the afterlife. I crave your praise once I complete this quest, and be rid of those afflicted creatures from this world.”
Snide snickered as he imagined the gnomes’ suffering in the wilds, taken by beasts and made their prey. His imagination ran wild as the scenes in his mind grew disturbingly more grotesque.
“Oh… How I yearn to feel your embrace once more. The comforting warmth of your skin against mine as we fall into deep slumber, just as we had in those days long, long ago.
While I might make many enemies for myself soon, with you by my side once more, the afterlife surely cannot grow into such a miserable place.”
Snide’s eyes began to grow wet with deep and painful longing.
Though he had grown into such a disturbing individual, his desire to stand by his loved one remained pure. This act of revenge, which he believed he carried out in honor of Lune—whom he had lost long ago—he resolved would be his final grand gesture before departing for the afterlife on his own terms.
Just as he slowly began to open his eyes and unclasp his hands, he noticed a shadow loomed over him as he remained still on his knees. He felt someone gazing down at his kneeling, vulnerable form.
Following that feeling, he lifted his head and locked eyes with the individual standing before him.
It was a… woman with long flowing black hair, dressed similarly to Snide, though her garb was white and seemed more holy. The material was a type he had never seen before, seemingly soft to the touch and smooth on the surface.
Though the design was simple—perhaps even Roman-inspired—in Snide’s eyes, it was undeniably impressive. He had never seen clothing so intricate and flowing.
The woman seemed almost otherworldly, as if she did not belong in the mortal world. She carried an air of divinity as well.
Divinity…?
Gasp!
THUD!
Snide lowered his head with urgency, pressing his forehead to the dirt as he folded into a deep, reverent bow.
“O-Oh, holy messenger of Esphera! To what ends have you come to visit me here today?!”
“...”
For a moment, there was silence between the two. Tension built, growing stronger as the seconds passed. Finally, the woman spoke, her voice penetrating his mind.
“Star Priest Snide. You will soon make a most grave mistake.”
