Chapter 12 "Answers"
Arthur stared at Kuro, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. His voice, barely more than a whisper, trembled as he asked, "What… did you do?"
Kuro stood still, his posture tense, the cross in his eyes dark once more. He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "I was searching that soldier's clothes for anything useful when suddenly—" He hesitated, the memory of the sensation still fresh in his mind, "It was like a zap of electricity ran through my body, and then... my mind flooded with memories—memories of how to use this power."
Arthur, still in shock, listened intently. "So, you just… took his ability?"
"I think so. But I don't know how," Kuro replied, his brows furrowed in confusion. "It's like I stole it."
Arthur exhaled, shaking his head. "We should get going."
Still unsettled by what had just happened, Kuro followed. The two mounted the horses and rode deeper into the forest. Shadows danced between the towering trees, their leaves rustling with whispers of the wind.
After some time, the elf girl—silent since their journey began—suddenly pointed in a direction.
Arthur glanced at Kuro. "I think she wants to take us somewhere."
"Let's follow her," Kuro responded.
They followed the girl's lead until a village-like settlement emerged between the dense trees.
"I think it's her home," Kuro observed.
Arthur dismounted, gently setting the girl down. "You're home now," he murmured, motioning toward the village.
But she didn't leave. Instead, she turned, looking up at them expectantly.
Kuro sighed. "I think she wants us to go with her."
Arthur hesitated. "So… do we?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
With cautious steps, they followed the girl toward the village entrance. Two elven guards stood watch; bows drawn the moment they spotted the newcomers. Their piercing eyes flickered with suspicion.
Before Arthur or Kuro could react, the elf girl stepped forward, raising her hand in a silent command.
The guards hesitated—then, to the shock of both men, they lowered their weapons and knelt.
Kuro exchanged a quick glance with Arthur. What kind of authority does she hold here?
As they walked through the village, villagers emerged from their homes, watching in wary silence. The tension was palpable. Whispers floated through the air, hushed and uncertain.
The elf girl spoke softly to another elf woman, who immediately turned and hurried away.
Kuro's brows furrowed. What's going on?
Moments later, an elderly elf woman approached them, her gaze sharp yet curious. When she met Kuro's eyes, her expression changed—doubt, recognition, and something else… something unreadable.
She turned to the elf girl, murmuring something in their unknown tongue. The girl nodded in confirmation.
Then, the elder raised her hands and stepped toward Kuro and Arthur.
Arthur instinctively tensed, while Kuro merely observed.
The woman gently placed her warm palms against their foreheads. A strange, soothing energy seeped into their skin. It wasn't painful, but it felt as though something foreign was being woven into their very thoughts.
A soft glow surrounded her fingertips before fading.
The silence that followed was deafening.
"It is done, my lady," the elder elf announced.
Arthur and Kuro exchanged wary glances. Something was different.
Kuro hesitated before speaking. "Do… you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes," the elf girl answered simply.
Kuro and Arthur's eyes widened in shock. Not only could they understand her, but they could also speak the language that had been foreign to them moments ago now felt natural.
The girl bowed her head slightly. "Thank you for saving me." Then, after a pause, she added, "You are not from this world, are you?"
Arthur hesitated. "No. We were… brought here by some strange woman."
The girl's expression darkened slightly. "Take them to the guest's tent," she instructed the elder before turning to leave.
The old woman motioned for them to follow.
As they settled inside a modest tent on the village's outskirts, Kuro wasted no time in asking, "Where are we?"
The elder met his gaze with quiet understanding. "You are in the World of Gods."
Arthur shifted uncomfortably. "And how did we suddenly gain the ability to speak your language?"
She smiled faintly. "That is my gift. It allows me to share knowledge."
Arthur leaned forward. "Gift?"
"The gifts are abilities bestowed upon us by the Supreme One."
Each answer only brought more questions.
Kuro's voice dropped. "How does someone receive a gift?"
"A few are chosen at birth," she explained. "Their abilities are a blessing from the Supreme One."
Arthur clenched his fists. "And who exactly is this Supreme One?"
The woman's expression darkened. "The Great Ruler of this universe. None has ever seen him, but he is the strongest entity in existence."
Kuro and Arthur's breath hitched; they exchanged uneasy glances.
Then, the woman's gaze settled back on Kuro, her expression unreadable. "But… those eyes, boy… why do you have them?"
Kuro's heartbeat quickened. "I don't know. They changed the moment I got here."
The old woman examined him, her stare lingering. Then, to their surprise, she chuckled.
"You don't even know about the Supreme One," she said. "There is no way you are one of them."
Kuro stiffened. "What do you mean?"
The woman's smile faded. Her voice grew solemn.
"This world has nine kingdoms, each ruled by a ferocious god. They may be called gods, but they are terrifying creatures." Her face shadowed with sorrow. "The little girl you saved… is our queen."
Arthur and Kuro went rigid.
"What?" Kuro stammered.
"She was cursed by the God of Sufferings," the woman continued heavily. "During the day, she transforms into a child."
"The God of Sufferings…" Kuro whispered.
"He is the ruler of the tenth throne, the kingdom of Duril," she revealed.
Arthur, lost in thought, suddenly spoke. "Earlier, you mentioned his eyes." He pointed at Kuro. "Do you know something?"
The woman hesitated, then sighed. "They are the eyes of one who has ascended to the realm of gods."
A shiver ran through Kuro. Arthur inhaled sharply.
"A god? Me?"
The thought coiled around Kuro's mind like a serpent, tightening with each passing second. His breath grew shallow, his fingers twitching at his sides as he stared at the dirt beneath his feet, unseeing.
This doesn't make sense.
His heart pounded against his ribs, a dull, relentless drumbeat. He had never been anything more than human. He had never felt powerful.
And yet…
Flashes of the day's events surged through his mind like a storm—lightning crackling beneath his skin, his body responding to a power he had never learned.
His stomach twisted.
The soldier's ability had become his, as if it had always been waiting for him. As if it had always belonged to him.
A shiver ran down his spine.
His lips parted, and in a voice barely more than a breath, the words slipped free.
"But I never asked for this."
Kuro wasn't sure if this power had been given to him… or if it had been inside him all along, waiting for the right moment to take him instead.