“Hello, Emily,” she says to me. That voice never gets old; the way it comforts me with its soft, gentle tone.

I step up and kneel, dropping my head in front of her. “Goddess Yhannason.”

“You may rise.” After she speaks, I lift my head and get a better view of her. Her skin is scarred, as if the portions of it are attached by little seams. I did it to her, but I was not in the right mindset. Years ago, I was influenced by two Descentian gods that got into my head and I nearly killed the goddess by forcing her into challenging me to a duel. I forget exactly what happened, but we eventually got out of there safe and sound... er, 'sound.'

“You look lovely, Goddess.”

“As do you, Demigoddess.” I suppose, at this point, the term is used pretty widely. When I became a demigoddess, it wasn’t even a proper word, much less an official title. “Now, please,” she adds. “Don’t be so proper.” She never did like all of the formalities that came with being a goddess.

“Of course, Yhanna. You’ve been well?” I can barely see her eyes, but there is a shining look about them. She smiles widely at me, but I feel like there is still some resentment for what I did to her. I don’t know, maybe I just worry too much.

“I’ve been better. I’m grateful to have a friendly conversation for once in a while.”

“Is there something I can help with?” I ask a bit eagerly. I’m protective of her, despite her being so magically-inclined.

“I am afraid not this time. Do you feel it, too?”

“Feel what?”

“Change. It is everywhere these days.”

I nod. “I definitely understand what you’re feeling. I can’t find myself to understand all of the new terms and technology.”

“Do you know there are increasingly more people with mechanical body parts now?”

“I don’t understand the need for them.”

“They enhance your body so that you can become stronger. Isn’t that what you want, mortal?” She’s testing me, I can feel it.

“No, not something I’m interested in.”

She quiets down, then says, “How many?”

“Fifty-six. Fifty-six have been marked.”

“Quite a number. Are you alright, Emily?”

“I feel alright.”

“These fights are taking a toll on you, you know.” She always had a way of understanding my feelings. I guess that is a perk of being the Goddess of Love.

“I’m going to continue until I can’t, Goddess.”

“You work yourself too hard. Emily,” I look up as she says my name. “Do you know why I take such interest in you?”

“I don’t think about it often, no.”

“It’s because of all creatures in all the worlds, you are the most merciful in our eyes. Yet, you are of the Void.”

“You don’t need to butter me up, Yhanna,” I joke. “I already worship you.”

“You are a smart woman.”

“I appreciate it, but I don’t feel that way sometimes. May I ask why you have summoned me?”

“I could tell you, but then you would be obligated to leave.” Oftentimes, I would come to her and we would chat for hours. However, when she brought me to her, she had something that needed done. “I suppose I should get on with it. Emily, Eleanor is back.”

I nod. “I knew she would return eventually.” Eleanor once worked under Akan, a mad tyrant that I shoved out of power. Eleanor was used by him, then I locked her in the Void. She emerged a different woman with otherworldly powers gifted to her by the Abyss. She is the nemesis I talked about earlier, the one who stole Elyse’s spirit. I stopped her from using Elyse to take on Morak Serihn, the God of Rot, and then I defeated him. After, she cut her losses and fled. I had not heard from or about her until now.

“She is in Everencia now. Are you ready to blend into a crowd?”

“You want me to stop her? From what?”

“Nothing yet, but we are afraid she is up to something.”

I bow my head. “Then, I will find her and figure out what she is doing.”

“Good. This is a matter of war, Emily. I believe you will prevent whatever she is doing.”

“I will, Goddess. I must go now to make sure my friends aren’t getting into any trouble.” I stand and smile at her. She lifts her head enough for me to see her eyes and she nods back at me. I turn and make by way back through the door. Yhanna was different than usual. She seemed under the weather, much unlike her happy-go-lucky self. Maybe I did something that she doesn’t approve of? I can’t think of anything in the recent past that I would have done like that. Oh well, I guess I’ll figure it out over a cup of tea with her later.

Once I had done my babysitting and finally rounded up my friends once more, I sent them to the beacon room. I went to check on Elyse, but I couldn’t find her, so here I am, prodding four messes back home. As soon as we get back into the Void house, three wander off to their respective rooms. I will leave them to do as they wanted tonight, but we’re going to Everencia tomorrow.

“Emi-*hiccup*-ly?” I hear as I get into my room. Arielle is unbalanced and very drunk in the hall, stumbling over like a child. I get her up and walk her to the bathroom. Like expected, she got sick and now I’m holding her hair back while she vomits.

“First time drinking alcohol. What do you think?” To my jest, she groans in response. “That’s why I stay far away from it. It clouds my mind and I don’t think straight.”

She eventually finishes up and says in a whimpering voice, “Thank you, Emily.” I loved the way she said my name like ‘Em-eee-lee,’ but it sounds even better now.

“Don’t get sick on me and you’re welcome, sweetie.” I help her clean up and walk her back to her room, which is more like an addition to my room. I let her be alone to change and get to bed. In the meantime, I get myself out of my dress and into a fluffy robe. From my nightstand, I pick up a light tablet in the drawer, then slide into bed. It is a gift Goddess Yhannason gave me for my birthday one year. I hardly celebrate it, so I think it was a way for her to try repaying something she didn’t owe. She does that sometimes. A lot of times.

I tap the tablet and the screen pops up. I use trace amounts of mana through my fingertips to navigate what is called the ‘Internet,’ which is an entire technological system that is supposed to have information and so many other things ready when you need it. I figure if I am going to stay caught up on all the latest… ‘gossip,’ as Elyse says, I should make the most of this gift. I tap through the many different ‘websites’ and end up on one with my face on it. Odd, but I’ll let it humor me. The headline says, ‘Demigoddess Everlock: Hero or Witch?’ That’s an easy one: both. I continue reading, then become more and more disgusted by what I read about myself. This person was making me out to be some killer, ‘destroying gods without remorse, like she is entitled to victory.’ I’m not entitled to anything, I do what is right. Near the end, it says that I should look for a new hobby and a job. I don’t need a job, I get whatever I need to do my duties through finishing my duties. This is loaded with over exaggerating lies. Who wrote this? I scroll back up to the top, then sigh with a roll of my eyes. Eleanor.

--

“You mean she’s writing articles about you? Let me see!” Iyo says when I tell him about Eleanor’s website. “Wow, she really did a number on you. Welcome to modern media, Emily.”

“What do you mean, ‘modern media’?”

“People write these all the time. Their jobs are to write things that will get read by as many people as possible. You can’t be hating it; it’s pretty well-written.”

“I can hate it because it’s a bunch of lies!”

“Well- see, look. ‘The washed-up mage is still living in the medieval times where violence answers everything. Her behavior is likely linked to the disappearance of Descentia’s Favorite Goddess of 4056, Mother Goddess.’”

“Wait, I didn’t see that part.” I look, but sure enough, it’s there.

“She edited it since you last read this. Wow, it just shows you how quickly the press keeps up.” Iyo was being way too calm about this.

“So, you mean to tell me that you aren’t as furious about this as I am?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “Is it really hurting you, Emily? It’s just words.”

“Words that slander my name. I want her smitten for that!”

“You can’t get a woman smitten for just writing something. That’s not how today’s world works.”

“Today’s world can go to Descentia with her. I hate the Internet.”

Iyo continues to look through my light tablet. “Hm… Wow, Goddess Weekly is really making a break now. Oh look, you were voted the ‘Most Beautiful Demigoddess’ of this year.”

I snatch the tablet from him to see, then realize I'm misunderstood. “I’m, like, the only known demigoddess.” I turn with my tablet. “Thanks for the help, Iyo.”

“Anytime. See if your friends can get more of those for us, will you?”

I laugh. “Maybe.” I go back to my room, then slip myself back into bed. With a guilty feeling, I keep looking through my tablet. I wish I could just look for all things that have to do with me on here. I look up, “Iyo!” I call out.

Soon enough, Iyo is explaining everything about the Internet to me. “So, this is called a search engine. A search engine lets you look for what you want to see.” Almost instantly, I type in my name and wait. After a few moments of silence and nothing happening, Iyo presses an ‘enter’ button on the pop-up keyboard. “You have to enter in the searches for them to work. Okay, so you can see all of these links to news articles and magazines that mention you. Here, you can just search pictures.” He presses a tab on the screen and a whole array of images purely of me come up.

“What in the Void…” There’s pictures of me all over. It’s like I didn’t even know someone was taking pictures. There is one of me just from last night with Yubik! “Wait-“ I press on the picture and it takes me to an article it was linked to with the title, ‘Everlock Late Night Shenanigans; Love Flourishes.’ “What the… I want this deleted!”

“Emily, you can’t get it deleted unless the original poster chooses to bring it down.”

“Well, who’s the- oh, damnit!” Eleanor. “Wait, she was at the party if she got that picture, then.”

“Not necessarily. Many times, someone gets the photos and someone else writes the story.”

“I hate this and love it all at the same time. I want to see more.” I continue looking through the different pictures of me. “Why can’t they get good images? None of these even look that good.”

“Well, most celebrities-“

“What’s a celebrity?”

“Uh, a celebrity is someone famous, whether they be a singer or actor in movies or something else like that.”

“Alright, go on.”

“So, most celebrities go in to the news reporters and get paid to have professional images taken of them. Is that something you want to do?”

I look down. “Sort of.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it, you just need someone to do the talking for you.”

“Why? I can talk.”

“Well, you see, it’s a lot of work and celebrities are usually very busy with something else.”

“Fine, you can talk for me.”

Iyo backs his head up. “Me? Of all people, me?”

“You and Lucelle. Actually… This is a horrible idea.”

“What, getting us to be your managers?”

“Trying to get to Eleanor on a friendly level. Cut the photo thing, I just-“ A knock at my door jars me from my thoughts. “Come in.”

Allu peeks his head in, seeing Iyo with me on the edge of the bed and the tablet in my hands. “You have a visitor. At the door.”

“Good one, Allu.” There is no way there is someone here that we don’t know about.

“No, really. They seem pretty excited to see you, too.”

“This better not be some joke,” I reply before getting up. I put the tablet back on the bed and walk through the doors and halls to the front door. I peek through the windows, but can’t see anyone there. Finally, I open the door.

“Hiya, neighbor!” Eleanor, she is here. She is right in front of me.

I consider blowing her away for a moment, then think about what I have against her. Sure, she stole Elyse’s spirit, but that was out of blind jealousy. Plus, she never hurt Iyo at the temple or Allu at the door. All she really does to me now is… I step out of the doorway and shove into, pushing her back. “What’s with those articles about me? Stop manipulating words to make me look bad!”

She lifts her hands up defensively. “Woah, calm down there, firecracker. You know they sell those super cheap in the Poltya market? They’re a lot of fun to stick up-“

“Stop. Why are you here?”

“Whaaat, I can’t visit my favorite idol?”

“I’m not dumb, you hate me.” At some point, I put my hands on my hips. I realize now that I’m still wearing just a robe.

“Look, the past is the past. Now is now, Emily. You see everything changing so much? There’s no money in the lone stalker business, so I get paid to stalk people with cameras now.”

“Hah, I knew you were in Elyse’s castle last night! Wait… why did you spin that story about Yubik and I? He is married.”

“Not everyone knows that. Plus, a good god prince scandal always gets plenty of buyers.” Eleanor looks nearly like how I last saw her. She has long, polychromatic hair that could be played off as being dyed these days. She has two extra arms that come out of her stomach, but I guess she found a way to hide those. She has two wings that are much smaller in comparison to her body that I’ve only ever seen folded up. I think if I had any wish to start a fight tonight, I would have punched her pretty face by now.

“What do you want, Eleanor?”

“I want you to know that I’m living in Everencia now, I am a reporter for the media, and I wish to live a normal life. Well, as normal as I can.”

“Nothing is normal about the evil you spout about me on the Internet,” I snarl.

“Really? Have you seen the other articles about you by people who ar…” I stop listening as I run to grab the tablet. I bring it back while scrolling through the titles of all the articles about me.

“’Everlock, Ever-Chastised,’ ‘Is Emily Hot for the Dark Sun,’ ‘Ten Ways to Avoid Becoming the Everlock Witch’? Agh, I want the news destroyed!” I shove my tablet into Iyo’s stomach at my side.

“Sorry, honey,” Eleanor jokes. “Anyways, if you want to catch up over a cup of coffee sometime…” I stop listening as I look to Iyo.

“Coffee is the drink of choice for most people in Everencia now. It tastes bad, but mainly keeps you awake if you put a lot of sugar in it.” Iyo is very smart on all things ‘today.’ I wonder where he gets this information.

I look back to Eleanor. “Why would I want to go anywhere with you?”

She lifts a hand up to her cheek and rests her elbow on her other hand, like she was halfway crossing her arms. “Oh, Emi, we’re both Void beings. We must stick together.”

I narrow my eyes. “You just want better pictures of me for your articles.”

“Don’t be so rude, Emily. I see a bright, happy story all about a recap of you saving Goddess Yhannason if you be nice and let me take some snazzy photos of you.”

“Oh, that would be gre- Wait, no.” I cross my arms. “I don’t care, Eleanor. I don’t want your silly articles.”

“Fine, suit yourself.” She stands still for a few moments. “Are you going to welcome me in, or…?”

“What, welcome you in? N-“