DESTINY;DIVINE

# Chapter 7: Well.. Fuck

\

\

\

\

\

\

“A lot has happened in the last few days,” I said, feeling drained as I looked at Pandora and Eve. “I don’t think we’ve had a chance to sit down and decompress since we got here.”

“Aww, poor baby! You miss the days when it was just us?” Pandora teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I chuckled softly. “Things were definitely simpler. But we can’t forget why we’re here. We need to gain strength and elevate you two to goddesses. Hopefully, today’s class will teach us more about that.”

Eve nodded, her expression thoughtful. “You’ve sure been busy, and the clan politics in this realm are a mess. We were lucky Rhea and the Ivy clan found you before anyone else, who knows what would’ve happened if the Bronte clan interfered.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Pandora interjected, her tone shifting to serious. “Elder Amaranth sent Rhea to you. We need to be cautious of her divination abilities. Her type can be dangerous. She clearly believes you’re going to do something big for her clan.”

“Yeah, her powers seemed far beyond what my third eye can do. Speaking of which, it was all over the place yesterday,” I said, recalling the chaos.

“I didn’t see Xane’s goons attack, but it kept me away from Ogun and Oya’s staves and then went crazy about Hyperion,” I added.

“Maybe your third eye’s perceptions can be blocked by more powerful deities,” Eve suggested thoughtfully.

“That’s what I was thinking. It’s frustrating because I thought I had a bit of an edge. Now I realize I can’t fully rely on it. Still, aura reading was effective for gauging the general disposition of the deities. Rhea and the store owners looked mostly good or neutral to me,” I explained.

“Rhea is quite the character,” Pandora remarked, leaning back with an amused smirk. “I can’t tell if she wants to mentor you, throw you to the wolves, or fuck you.”

“She seems whimsical on the surface, but she’s clever and cunning. She navigated those tense situations and complicated clan drama like a pro,” Eve agreed, adding her own observations.

“I think she’s been a huge asset, even if her motives outside of Elder Amaranth are unclear. I believe she’s an ally, and when the time comes, I’ll help her and the Ivy clan to the best of my abilities. I owe them that much,” I mused.

“And then there’s Xane..” Pandora spat, a frown crossing her face. “That poor girl, Aria. She says she doesn’t think she can be saved, but I think she wants to be. Her coming here to tell you her story shows she believes differently. She just doesn’t know how to ask for help or doesn’t believe it’s possible.”

“What they’re doing to her is disgusting. I will save her from Xane and the Bronte no matter what; it’s already a done deal. I’m honestly shocked that a bet like that could be sanctioned, but the headmaster approved it, so I’ll win,” I stated confidently, my resolve solidifying.

“How did you feel about Xane’s level of divine cultivation?” Eve asked, her curiosity piqued.

“It’s hard to say. I’m still not practiced at assessing divine energy. Rhea said he’s Tier 2, but I couldn’t sense much more energy than my own. What I could read felt turbulent and angry, unlike Rhea and the other gods we met, who felt much more stable,” I replied, my brow knitting in thought.

“We don’t really know what constitutes Tier 2 or 3 yet. Rhea mentioned that Tiers 1 to 3 are all considered lesser gods, so maybe the power difference isn’t significant,” Eve suggested thoughtfully.

“Let’s hope so, but I doubt it. The tiers have to exist for a reason. If not for vastly different energy levels, why not just call Tier 1 the lesser god and Tier 2 the true god?” I countered skeptically.

“Higher Tier gods are even more of an enigma. Either they were concealing it or their energy was just too vast for me to comprehend. I had no clue what tier the headmaster, Madam Baset, or any of the store owners were; I will say that they all felt more powerful than Rhea’s Tier 4,” I added.

“Ooh, I really liked Ogun and Oya! They were so warm and friendly. I hope we can have dinner with them soon,” Pandora said, her enthusiasm infectious.

“Yeah, I think Ogun will insist I try his rum at some point. I should probably prepare for it now,” I joked.

“Vulcan was a character, but he didn’t seem bad—just the strong, silent type. He reminds me of my old master,” Eve said with a fond smile.

“Zhinu was very elegant and warm,” I commented, glancing at the sleeping Luna nestled among the divine flowers.

“And?” Pandora asked, grinning widely.

“And what?” I replied coolly.

“She was elegant and warm.. for a giant spider, right? We both know you’re afraid of them,” Pandora teased, her laughter bubbling over.

“I wouldn’t say afraid. I just respect their space,” I countered, attempting to keep a straight face.

Pandora and Eve erupted into laughter.

“Anyway, Zhinu and Madam Baset’s human forms were pretty interesting,” I said, my gaze drifting back to Luna.

“How do you feel about that? Luna looks suspiciously like a white Aoife, but you know she’s not her, right?” Eve asked gently, her tone softening.

“Yes,” I sighed, a weight settling in my chest. “I know I can never bring Aoife back, and I won’t treat Luna like her replacement, but she’s so cute, have you seen her?”

“Damn right! I don’t even fully understand the implications of a divine fox, but her three tails are fluffy and adorable,” Pandora chirped.

“They are, and this time nothing will prevent me from protecting her, or both of you,” I said, clenching my fist with determination.

The helplessness we felt during that final confrontation with the celestial phoenix and the void dragon hadn’t left my mind.

Aoife died saving me, and I could never repay her. But I sweared to never let something like that happen again.

Eve placed her hand on my shoulder, her touch reassuring. “It wasn’t your fault; make sure you remember that.”

I sighed heavily, she was right. It wasn’t my fault, but that didn’t change the fact that I wish I could’ve done more.

Pandora rested her head across my lap, her voice gentle. “You know, Aoife would’ve absolutely hated it here. All of the flying and divine energy trails,” she joked, lightening the mood.

I snorted, a smile breaking through my thoughts. “Yes, she hated things moving over her head. Luna doesn’t seem to be bothered by anything.”

“Must be the benefit of being born in an upper realm filled with divine energy and beings,” Eve said, nodding in agreement.

“I wonder what other kinds of beasts we’ll encounter in this realm. Once I reach Tier 1 and get the martial challenge over with, I’d like to explore a bit,” I thought aloud.

“Maybe Rhea can take us to visit the Ivy clan house; they did officially sponsor you,” Pandora suggested.

“Maybe. How do you both feel about the different types of godhood we learned about?” I asked, shifting the topic.

“Fear gods sound scary, and the others sound weak. I think faith or principle gods are the way to go,” Pandora said bluntly.

“Agreed, but can faith gods be denizens of other faith gods? We’d need to stay in your soul realm since the clans are antagonistic to the transcended,” Eve added.

“I’ll ask in class. I wanted to inquire about those divine sigils we saw, too,” I said, recalling the small tattoos.

“The whole concept of believers and denizens is fascinating. I’m excited to meet your elementals,” Pandora said happily.

“Yes, though I’m concerned about resources, especially if we were to also pursue faith godhood,” Eve said.

“If necessary, I’ll share my elementals with you. You don’t even have to ask,” I assured them sincerely.

Pandora rushed over and kissed me, her eyes shining with warmth. “We wouldn’t ask! It’s not just you who wants us to be strong; we want you to be strong too. We’ll figure something out.”

Eve followed suit, kissing me as well. “She’s right. We need to learn more about denizen godhood.”

“But.. If you had valkyries, would you share those?” Pandora teased with a playful grin.

I took a moment to respond, and they both burst into laughter, the sound echoing around us.

“Hey, I like shield maidens. Don’t judge me,” I pouted, trying to sound indignant.

“We would never!” Pandora gasped dramatically.

“And you only have the one tree spirit seed; you can’t share that,” Eve added, her tone playful.

“Yeah, but anything that’s mine is also yours. You know that. Anyway, what do you think of my classmates?” I asked, thinking about the other young deities.

“Mielikki is adorable; I love her!” Pandora exclaimed. “We all love Aria, but the other three..” Her voice trailed off and her face twisted.

“Well, we didn’t speak to the dark-haired god, so let’s not lump him in with the others,” Eve chimed in thoughtfully. “But it seems wise to avoid Endymion and Amara.”

“I agree,” I replied, nodding firmly. “I can’t see anything good coming from dealing with them..”

“Anyway, let me get to class,” I said, glancing at the door. “I doubt Rhea is coming to get me this time.”

With that, Pandora, Eve, and Luna stepped into my soul as I prepared to leave for the preparatory class.

***

\

“Dead god walking!” Endymion jeered as I walked into the classroom.

“What were you thinking?” Amara joined in, shaking her head. “Challenging Xane Bronte? Are you some kind of masochist?”

“I’m not worried; I can win,” I replied calmly, taking my seat beside Mielikki.

The dark-haired god nodded at me respectfully and I returned it before waving a quiet hello to Aria. She returned the wave but quickly looked away.

“I believe in you,” Mielikki said through her wild red hair, her smile bright and encouraging.

Endymion let out a sharp laugh. “Just another idiot the Bronte will crush. I don’t even know why we’re talking to him.”

“Three months left to live.. I’d be losing my mind, what are you going to do?” Amara taunted.

“No battle is won before it is fought,” the dark-haired god intoned, his voice calm and serious. “Believe, struggle, and survive—that’s the only way to achieve true victory.”

Endymion snorted. “Whoa, Kaito talked. That was stupid and made no sense, but he actually talked.”

“It’s Xane Bronte,” Amara cut in, turning to me with an arched brow. “The scion and youngest Tier 2 god in the Bronte main family. There’s no way you’re winning. Whatever you did to tick him off, you’d better kowtow and hope he forgives you.”

Endymion scoffed, crossing his arms. “The Bronte clan doesn’t forget, and they don’t forgive. You’re dead. Plain and simple. Wish I was the one who got to crush you for the clan.”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring the idiot. “The seminary sanctioned the challenge; it’s not even a clan fight.”

“Oh no,” Amara said, her voice mocking. “You really are clueless. It’s always a clan fight, whether they say it or not. The only reason it’s not stated outright is to avoid a full-blown war over the result. But whoever wins will gain glory, and if Xane defeats someone from the Ivy clan, even better for him.”

I sighed more clan politics. Whatever, I didn’t need their approval. I’d fought thousands of beasts, some even more powerful than me, for days on end. Whatever Xane threw at me, I could handle.

Mielikki patted my back reassuringly. “I’ll be rooting for you. Those Brontes are nasty; I’m sure they instigated it.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, sneaking a quick glance at Aria. 

It seemed the full details of the bet hadn’t spread, and I was glad, I really didn’t want her feeling any more uncomfortable than she already did.

“Alright, deities,” Professor Astrape announced, cutting through the chatter as he entered. “Today, we’ll be discussing believers and denizens.”

He began pacing at the front of the room. “Denizens reside within soul realms. They’re intrinsically connected to their deity and provide a potent source of faith energy. Believers, on the other hand, can exist anywhere. They can believe in multiple deities or even abandon one entirely—something that’s not true for denizens. Only death severs a denizen from their deity.”

“Their cultivation can be ranked, correct?” Mielikki asked.

“Exactly,” he replied. “Denizens follow a ranking system similar to our Tier structure, from Rank 1 to 10. Ranks quantify energy, magic, and martial aptitude. Rank 10 denizens are equivalent to Tier 0 deities and are quite rare and typically found within large, resource-rich clans. The higher the rank, the greater the faith energy they generate for their deity.”

Endymion interjected smugly. “That’s not true for fear energy, though. Doesn’t matter how strong they are—just how terrified.”

“Gross,” Amara muttered.

Professor Astrape’s face twisted in distaste. “Fear godhood has no place here. One more comment like that, Endymion and I’ll see your sponsorship revoked.” His tone was cold and final.

Endymion slouched in his seat, mumbling, “Whatever. Won’t need this seminary when I’m strong enough.”

Mielikki glanced at me, her expression concerned. Fear godhood suited Endymion’s personality, but I hoped he wouldn’t actually go that route. I already had enough to worry about without an “edgelord god” to keep an eye on.

Professor Astrape’s voice cut through again. “Golden Palace Seminary has a zero-tolerance policy regarding fear godhood and god-eaters. Let that be the final warning.” He let his words hang heavily in the room.

The atmosphere turned tense, but my mind wandered to god-eaters. If the seminary opposed them so firmly, how could Xane take Aria’s yin energy? That was the same as eating another god's cultivation to me.

It had to be just more clan politics and the Bronte being horrible in every possible way.

Professor Astrape’s voice brought me back. “Moving on, denizen deities generate the very potent divine faith energy. This energy is invaluable and should never be converted to faith crystals. Furthermore, denizens and their deities share strength; growth in one benefits the other.”

“This is why cultivating your denizens is essential for your own growth. Some deities devote themselves to enhancing their denizens rather than cultivating themselves.” 

I raised my hand. “How does this work for different types of godhood? Can a denizen become a faith god?”

Endymion and Amara snickered, but the professor nodded. “Ambitious.. There are two main scenarios for denizen deities. In the first, a denizen transcends within their deity’s soul realm. They become a special type of convent god, with power comparable to a principal god. If they fully assimilate the divine spark, they may eventually sustain themselves independently.”

He paused. “In the second scenario, a faith god submits to another and their soul realms merge, with the dominant god in control. Should the dominant god perish, the other may lose their cultivation if they aren’t able to recover and control the merged soul realm.”

“Denizen deities must also remain at least one tier below their head deity to maintain their bond.” He said glancing at me. “Does that answer your question?”

I nodded, processing the answer.

“Remember, your denizens are an extension of your cultivation. I can not stress this enough. You share concepts, magic, arts, and techniques. Their power is your power, treat them well.”

I raised my hand again.

“Yes, Aeon?”

“What about divine beast denizens?” I asked, thinking of Luna, the celestial phoenix, and the void dragon.

Professor Astrape’s eyes brightened. “Excellent question. Divine beast denizens are common among newer deities, and yes. The same rules generally apply, but they grow rapidly in power up to Rank 6, where they typically gain sentience, then slow to a pace similar to non-beast denizens.”

The professor continued, “Any other questions?”

I hesitated, then raised my hand once more.

Endymion scoffed.

The professor chuckled. “Yes, Aeon?”

“Just one more, I promise. I’ve noticed these sigils on everyone but Tier 0 gods—what are they?”

Amara rolled her eyes. “What are you, from under a rock?”

“Three months is too long for Xane to put this simpleton out of his misery.” Endymion added coldly.

I messed up. I had forgotten I was supposed to be hiding that I’m transcended and didn’t grow up around gods. 

Luckily everyone just thought I was stupid and didn’t put it together, however, I didn’t like the way Mielikki was staring at me.

Professor Astrape silenced the room with a wave of his hand. “Divine sigils are a deity’s signature. They appear on your body when you reach Tier 1. While you don’t control the design, you can choose its placement. Denizens will also bear the sigil of their deity, though it appears at random, often in a spot favored by the deity.”

“I didn’t know you could choose where they go,” Mielikki remarked smiling.

I glanced at her, grateful she’d deflected some attention from my oblivious question.

“Yes, they can be moved, it’s not the easiest process, but it’s possible. On the same note, most gods also form halos that grow in size as they tier up. Faith gods, typically have them on their back while other gods and angelic creatures form them above their heads.” He said scanning the room.

“If there are no more questions, remember there’s no class for the next two months to give you ample time to create your soul realms. We’ll regroup and travel to a lower realm for resource gathering after that. Attendance isn’t mandatory, but I’d strongly recommend it.”

“And be sure to consider your concepts and principles carefully before creating your soul realms, they can and will collapse if you’re not careful. You’re dismissed.” He concluded.

As I left, Mielikki walked close beside me. She whispered with a grin, “You’re transcended, aren’t you? Don’t worry—I won’t tell.” She mimed locking her lips, then flew off with a wink.

I froze. Well.. Fuck.