The Everlight party enters a city that is not far from the 'Dead City'. Because the name 'Dead City' sounds unsettling to travellers and adventurers, they would skip that city and head to this city which is known as the 'City Of Giving'.
The City Of Giving, known for its history of being the altar of the goddess of giving, their residents are all followers of the goddess of giving and are very strict with their rules. While people say this city is like paradise, some would not think the same way.
When the Everlight party first step foot into the City of Giving, Will could hear grumbling voice up high. He tilted his head up and saw no one. Well, I supposed the goddess of death wouldn't just appear in the sky, that would scare the heck out of anyone! Will also heard gritted teeth which made him realised that the goddess of death has a grudge with the goddess of giving.
Will didn't ask much, nor he care about it. Just when the Everlight party enter the City Of Giving, a crowd came running towards them, each holding food and some papers. They were all eager to give whatever items are on their hands.
"Please have some breads,"
"Please take this fish,"
"Can we do a survey with you guys?"
The Everlight party were dumbfounded by the residents but they accept the food that they offer. They manage to sneak past the crowd by blending in with them and covering their head. The crowd were pushing each other, trying to find the Everlight party, but they were holding foods on their hand which disguise themselves as also one of the crowds that were giving food. They quickly escaped before being noticed and headed for an inn.
The Everlight party decided to take a stroll around the city after booking an inn. There was a huge statue of the goddess of giving. The statue of her was her cupping both of her hand, she wore a long dress and her expression was innocent. Will look around and found himself to be in front of a church. Will could heard the grumbling sound even louder. What grudge could that self-contained goddess of death possibly have with the goddess of giving?
'That bitch...' Wow, that sure is a huge grudge to hold! Will sighed and decided to U-turn back to the inn. Suddenly, the goddess of death, Araphiel, started talking to Will through telepathy.
'My dear apostle....how have you been? Pardon my daily bugging for the past few days....'
Don't try to sweet talk me, what do you want? Will thought in his mind, so no one would think he's crazy for speaking to the air.
'Well, I was hoping you could do me a favor....' Favor? What favor does she want? Will was listening to what Araphiel has to say.
'Well, I was hoping you....you know....destroy this place....'
What? What kind of damn grudge you had with the goddess of giving? Will question Araphiel but she just fiddles with both of her index fingers.
'She used to...humiliate me...so I was thinking I could get back at her...'
No, I'm not doing that, Will did not give a second thought, he just straight up declined the goddess of death's request.
'Wait! I'm your mistress, shouldn't you listen to my request?'
Not when that request is something that gets you in trouble! Will kicked a pebble on the ground and turn his head to his right to see a large sea that reaches to the horizon. He then lean his body on the railing and enjoy the sunset view.
'Well, you may not know this...but...'
What are you going to tell me now? Will scoffed but what Araphiel have to say next made Will twitched his eyebrows.
'Do you remember that one rent collector who used to demand high fee from your family, you were financially broke that time yet he cared about the cash more than your situation, well...he is a pretty devoted follower of the goddess of giving,'
Will's face darkened upon hearing those words. When Will was a child, his parents were financially broke. They lived in a small house that was rented. The renter was a money greedy person. He cared about the money more than anything else. He would even beat up Will's parents when they couldn't afford rent. When Will moved out from the house, the renter still demand money for the things they used. Will had to work 24/7 just to fully pay back the cash. Even when he became the Shadow Sage among the Dark Sage, he had never gotten revenge on that guy.
Will let out a huge grin, a grin that has the word revenge written on it. He started laughing which surprised the passerby near the area. Will suddenly stop and turn his body around.
Well, I can't do your request without a good reason. Will then speaks to Araphiel, continuing their conversation.
'What? I thought that was a good enough reason for you.'
Will then was collided by a woman who was passing by. She is a Rolken tribe which is common in the east of Ferria. She wore a blue dress and has brown hair. She was holding a basket full of fishes.
"I'm so sorry, please, accept this as my apology,"
Will look at her hand which was holding a piece of fish wrapped around a newspaper.
They really lived up to their city's name don't they. Will declined the fish but asked her a question.
"I don't want your fish, just a question,"
"If it's anything, I will provide it for you,"
The woman was eager but Will didn't ask for anything, just an answer of a question.
"Does your belief give out anything, like anything?"
"Yes, we would even give you gold if you want to!"
"...What if someone from your belief didn't act the same way, I supposed the word 'giving' in your belief is charity, what if a believer of the goddess of giving was a greedy bastard?"
"That's a weird question to ask but us followers never greed, we even sell our kidney for whatever you need, I swear in the name of the goddess of giving,"
"...You swear?"
"Yes I swear,"
The woman then places her hand on her chest, promising her words.
"...Thank you for your time,"
"Would you please accept this gift either way? It would hurt my feeling if you didn't,"
Will has no choice but to accept that gift. After she left, Will look back at the horizon and let out a evil smirk.
Now we got a reason. Will thought as Araphiel kicks her feet in glee.
'Then when should we start?' Araphiel asked to Will. He could tell that she is very eager to get her revenge.
Not now, midnight, while everyone is asleep, then we would cause havoc in this place.
The goddess and her apostle were laughing devilishly which scared the passerby of that area.
At night, Will cover himself with his black cloak from head to toe. He then exit the window without opening it by turning into shadow. He flew above the statue of the goddess of giving and pointed his index finger at it.
'Destroy it!'
Will fire a thunder spell at it. A quick blitz at the statue's head. The head of the goddess of giving fell off and made a large sound from the impact. The head was shattered into pieces which is what the goddess of death, Araphiel exactly wanted.
Will then flew around the city again and reached to the church. He hesitated for a while and decides to just set the roof on fire. The alarm roared which woke up the residents. Will decided to end this quickly and flew up high to fire a few more fire spell around the city. He then stopped at a donation centre and pointed his finger at it. He stop for a moment and decided not to destroy it.
'Why aren't you destroying it?'
"My grudge isn't even that big to begin with, I don't hold a grudge with the people, I'm just doing it as a part for you,"
Araphiel clicked her tongue but even so, Will still chose not to destroy the donation centre and return to the inn quick.
The next day, Raye flipped through the newspaper which talks about the incident happened in the 'Dead City' which the Everlight party was also a part of it. The next page was the very incident that just happened last night.
CLOAKED FIGURE CAUSE ARSON IN THE CITY OF GIVING, WHAT DID THEY EVER DO TO DESERVE THIS?
Below the headline was an image of the incident that happened. They managed to catch a glimpse of Will in full cloak but could not make out who was it. Raye tilted his eyes to Will who was just sipping his cup of tea. Oddly, he wore a dark blue scarf today with a black shirt that was a bit tight. It has a grey color scheme at the armpit to the end of the shirt.
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just..."
Raye didn't say much which Will just continues to sip his cup of tea.
'Good job, my apostle, should I give you my blessing or anything you want from me?'
Araphiel said in a flirty tone but Will just scoffed at her and continue sipping his tea, ignoring the goddess of death.
'Is that how you treat your mistress? Show some respect at least,'
What do you want?
'Nothing, just that what you done really make my day,'
Will didn't say anything. He just continues sipping his tea.
'Though I'm not satisfy, so...could you do that again tonight?'
Will scoffed again which enraged the goddess of death. She then continue nagging Will even after leaving the City Of Giving all the way to their next destination.