Levi slowly opened his eyes.
"..."
"...Not again."
An endless void stretched before him.
No sky.
No ground.
Only darkness.
He let out a defeated sigh.
"...Where am I this time?"
A familiar voice echoed throughout the empty space.
"You remember."
Levi turned.
Standing several paces away was Pyrathera.
Her crimson robes flowed as though caught in an invisible breeze.
Golden eyes quietly observed him.
"You've grown stronger, child."
Levi blinked.
"...Goddess."
She smiled.
"You remembered me."
"It would be difficult to forget the person who branded my hand."
Levi raised his right hand, revealing the crimson Stigmata.
Pyrathera chuckled.
"Fair enough."
She slowly walked around him.
"Hm..."
"I can already feel Mana within you."
"It seems you weren't wasting the time I gave you."
Levi scratched the back of his head.
"I've been training."
"Quite a lot."
"I noticed."
Her smile widened slightly.
"Now..."
"What affinity did you awaken?"
Levi answered honestly.
"...Fire."
"And Darkness."
Pyrathera paused.
Then...
She laughed.
A soft, amused laugh.
"Oh..."
"How fortunate."
"...Although."
She glanced at the Stigmata.
"I suppose receiving my blessing made Fire inevitable."
Levi nodded awkwardly.
"...So..."
"Can I go now?"
Pyrathera slowly looked toward him.
One eyebrow lifted.
"...You're rather impatient."
A small flame ignited above her fingertip.
Levi immediately raised both hands.
"H-Hey."
"We can discuss this peacefully."
The flame disappeared.
"I wasn't going to burn you."
"...Probably."
Levi wasn't entirely convinced.
Pyrathera folded her arms.
"Besides..."
"I have a reason for calling you here."
Levi tilted his head.
"...Why help me at all?"
The Goddess answered without hesitation.
"Because you're entertaining."
Silence.
Levi stared.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
She shrugged.
"It's been centuries since I've watched a mortal this interesting."
"You make rather amusing decisions."
Levi sighed.
"...I don't know whether to be honoured or insulted."
"You should feel both."
Pyrathera smiled mischievously.
"Now."
"I was considering giving you a gift."
"A weapon."
"Perhaps an amulet."
"You may choose."
Levi thought for a moment.
"...A sword."
Pyrathera tapped her chin.
"...Hmm."
"I've changed my mind."
Levi blinked.
"...What?"
"It'll be much more entertaining..."
"...If you earn it."
A triumphant smile spread across her face.
Levi deadpanned.
"...You literally said you'd give me one."
"I did."
"You lied."
"I changed my mind."
"...That's still lying."
Pyrathera ignored the comment.
"Travel to the Darkin Forest."
"There you'll find a waterfall."
"Behind it..."
"Lies an ancient temple dedicated to me."
"My followers hid something there long ago."
"A Divine Artifact."
"It now belongs to whoever proves worthy enough to claim it."
Levi sighed.
"...Could've just handed it to me."
"Where's the fun in that?"
She grinned.
"You mortals grow far more when you're forced to struggle."
Levi quietly muttered beneath his breath.
"...Convenient excuse."
"I heard that."
"...I figured."
Pyrathera stepped closer.
"One last thing."
Before Levi could react...
She placed a hand against his forehead.
A blazing warmth surged into his body.
Mana.
An overwhelming amount of it.
It flooded every corner of his being.
Levi's eyes widened.
"G-Goddess...?"
"Consider it..."
"...A small gift."
The world shattered into crimson light.
-
Levi's eyes flew open.
"AAAGH!"
Pain exploded throughout his entire body.
Every muscle burned.
Every bone felt as though it had been set ablaze.
He clutched his chest.
"...MOTHERFUCKER!"
His scream echoed throughout the palace.
Several servants froze where they stood.
One maid nearly dropped an entire tray of breakfast.
Somewhere far away...
Pyrathera rested her chin upon one hand as she watched.
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"...He'll survive."
"...Probably."