Garima stood before the window in her room. gazing outside.
Then she sighed. And pulled out a small artifact. She tapped it lightly.
"...Hello" she muttered "customer support?"
A faint warmth spread through the artifact.
"..Hello" A gentle voice answered, almost amused.
Garima blinked. "Where were you? I have been calling you since yesterday. It can't be a network issue right?"
A soft laugh echoed "I was busy"
Garima stared at the artifact "Busy doing what haan?"
"Monitoring the cracks and holding the unstable regions" she answered, which was not comforting at all.
Garima narrowed her eyes. "But still, I needed you, I was so nervous. It was scary"
"But you enjoyed it a lot" Cosmo replied lightly.
Garima sighed "It's not funny"
"I am not joking," Cosmo said, and silence followed.
Garima groaned. "Great, Fantastic, Amazing. You didn't even help, and you are teasing me"
Cosmo's tone softened.
"But, you are doing well"
Garima paused, "Really?"
"You changed the outcome, with just a few words"
Garima gripped her dress lightly.
"...I just wanted to know if it can be done without my direct interference"
"It can be done" A quiet hum. Almost approving. "But not always, you need power"
Garima frowned. "I know" she said " That's why I need rules, power systems, limits and knowledge of everything unwritten"
"It can be done with belief, will and connection" Cosmo answered " they have already started to trust you, they will easily accommodate your doctrines and for connections, you saved a princess. You are the benefactor to the King"
Garima blinked. "...that feels like cheating"
".. I prefer convenience"
"more like flexible" she muttered.
Cosmo laughed "I think you like flexibility. A flexible system"
Garima glared at the artifact " stop saying things like that"
"But still you need artifacts"
Garima's eyes sharpened "Power Buffs?"
"If that's what you want to call them"
Her mind started racing
"...So I can use them too?" she murmured.
"I don't know about that. You wrote about tests and worthiness. So I guess it depends on you"
Garima's lips curved into a small smile.
"So you mean I am not worthy?"
"No..no…I didn't mean it that way, but what I meant was you can borrow them and guide them…"
Garima interrupted before she could continue
"Yeah, it's borrowing and guiding. If I guide them well enough…they won't lose anything" she laughed " Or I can take it and guide them, and they will gain even more?"
Oh it's the dream of every transmigrated person to take the cheat codes of the protagonist. Even the writer herself. Well technically she didn't transmigrate, she was transported? Well whatever. It was exciting. And she can always guide them to other cheat items.
Her thoughts spiraled quickly. The things she had only written before…now within her reach.
A small laugh slipped out. Her eyes gleamed.
" If I guide them properly…it's not really taking, right? They are main characters they will grow anyway or I can make them grow faster"
"...creator have you thought this through? I just meant borrowing their power" Cosmo asked hesitantly.
"...Cosmo, if you want me to be in the front line. I need some skills right? Or do you want me to die accidentally?"
Cosmo didn't reply.
"Leave it to me Cosmo, Chill" she said lightly "you will see,I will guide them properly"
That didn't feel wrong. Just a little bit of guilt perhaps. But it was necessary for the war. If she really wanted to join the war with the devils.
It should be alright. She reasoned.
The artifact in her hand had already gone quiet. The warmth faded. The connection was cut.
Garima stared at her faint reflection on the glass window.
"...I don't even know what is right or wrong anymore" she whispered to herself. " But this is Jindagi, I guess"
A laugh escaped her lips.
"Relax Garima, let's save this world and return home" she murmured " You are just optimizing the system, not stealing. Like making things efficient. Bas…thoda smart play" she nodded to herself, as if approving her own logic.
Knock. Knock. Garima flinched.
"Your Holiness" a calm older voice came from outside.
Garima quickly slipped the artifact back into her robe, like a guilty child hiding evidence.
She shook her head quickly "Okay, Saintess mode activation"
She straightened her posture. Lifted her chin. And walked towards the door. When she opened it. An older woman stood there. Her hair streaked with silver, tied neatly behind. Her robes were more refined than others. And more importantly she was beautiful. Her greyish eyes were mesmerizing. But they were sharp and observant. Unlike Ava.
"Priestess Agatha" Garima greeted.
The woman bowed slightly " Your Holiness, I hope I am not disturbing you"
"Not at all", she said stepping aside "Please Come in"
Agatha entered quietly.
Garima closed the door behind her and turned.
"So what brings you here?" She asked lightly.
Agatha didn't answer immediately.
"Words have spread about your prediction, You Holiness" she said calmly.
Garima blinked " Oh, so soon"
Agatha tilted her head slightly. " Yes, now the nobles and common people are at the doors of the Shrine"
"So," Garima asked, "Is it a bad thing? This was to be expected"
Agatha's expression didn't change
" But they had promised not to leak information"
Garima grinned.
"It was the knight's families. The knights must have told their families before leaving. They don't even know if it's the truth. The princess has not arrived yet" Garima grinned.
Agatha's lips twitched. She pressed them into a thin line.
"Did you know about it beforehand? A vision again?" She asked.
Garima shook her head. "You don't need a vision to know these. The knights were scared about facing the devils. So they must have confided in their families before leaving,"
Even a King cannot control the masses.
Agatha looked conflicted. Garima smiled again. "Praja hi raja hai" she said.
"Pardon," Agatha said.
"It's a divine term." Garima laughed. "Anyway. If they wish to meet me, sure I will fulfil their wishes"
"But" Agatha added slowly "They may take it too far, they are with selfish motives"
Garima's expression shifted a little. Serious now.
"People are sovereign, and the one who resonates with them can be called populist?"
"Or a true King" Agatha asked.
Garima's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Does it matter, I am not here to compete for the kingdom"
Then Agatha spoke "It matters if we are together trust you"
Garima laughed, "So that was an act in the council room?"
Agatha remained silent.
Garima looked at her amused "Just you or the others too?" Agatha stiffened.
There it was. "Just you?"
Agatha's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't, if you don't want to," Garima said simply. And walked past her and sat on the edge of the bed. Relaxed and casual.
"Just observe and then decide," she said and leaned back slightly. Supporting herself on her hands. "Blind faith is dangerous". Almost careless.
"Doubt is healthy" she added "In fact, I prefer it"
"Most who claim divinity do not" Agatha spoke.
"I am not most" Garima tilted her head
"Then what is it, you want ?" Agatha asked.
"I just don't want people to die," Garima said. Simple but effective.
Agatha's expression softened.
"You speak like a ruler," she said.
Garima snorted "Oh, please I don't want that headache"
Agatha smiled a little, she changed the topic. Not to be obvious.
"Your Holiness" she said "there is something you should see"
Garima perked up instantly.
"Secret stuff" she asked. Agatha almost sighed.
"Important stuff" she said. "Same thing" Garima grinned and stood up immediately. "Lets go"