Yhannason nods, then stands as well. I walk her to her couch and have her lie down, then I kneel down next to her. “What are you doing?” she asks.

“What I should have done years ago, Yhannason- fix your scars.”

She begins to lift herself up. “Emily, that’s not nece-“

I set her back down. “It’s for me, not you.” I know that if I do it to help her, she won’t want it done. She’s so modest, so selfless. No wonder she became the Goddess of Love. I rest my hands over her head at first and begin drawing my fingers along the scarred lines, restoring the smooth, unscathed skin with my magic. She would have already had this done if she could do it herself, but she would never ask someone else to help. That’s just not the way her mind works.

She blinks a few times, then sniffles again. “Almost feels like a massage,” she tries to joke.

“You may be my chosen goddess, but you shouldn’t push your luck,” I smile back. Going over her head and neck was easy, but I have to begin going over her torso, which becomes a small hassle. It is one thing to do this to any mortal, but a goddess is sacred. I force myself to keep my eyes covered with a gold strip of cloth from my staff and would cover my hands, but I can't properly heal that way, so I settle with just not looking. She doesn’t seem to care much either way, probably since in her mind, I am doing it to help myself. She thinks I feel guilty about it, which I definitely do, don’t get me wrong, but I can live without having this done. I don’t feel right, however, leaving her to look mutilated with how she is as a goddess. She is the epitome of purity and innocence, something I just can’t take away from her.

“You are efficient,” she says as I trace my fingers over her stomach.

“I do not wish to degrade you further, Goddess.”

“Nonsense, you are doing what you feel is right.”

I nod, but say, “It is right, but your body is holy, Yhannason.” I reach her waist, but I don’t need to look. I remember well where I harmed her. It is something I can’t repay to Yhanna.

“You don’t speak of your father often.”

“There is very little to say about him.”

“Nothing? What was he like?”

“Serious and cryptic. He made sense with his words, but I could hardly tell what he actually wanted from me.”

“How do you mean, Emily?”

“One time, before I enslaved a Great One, he spoke to me about how people can change their body to fit their goals and intentions. He said that I could stay as I am and work with my allies, or I could change myself and be powerful on my own. After, he said he couldn’t wait to see what I would do.”

“And?”

“I did the latter. Well, bits of both. I used prisoners and others under my spells to take what I wanted. I also changed myself to be able to enslave them. That was… a lower point of my life.”

“We all do things we are not proud of.”

I scoff. “I doubt that you do things like that. Name one,” I challenge her.

“Very well. I eat more than I should and use my powers to stay thin.”

“I would do the same thing if I could get myself to eat more than I do. That one was weak, what else?”

“I… often give excuses as to why I can’t go to some event. Many times, I sit at home alone instead.”

“That’s better, but still not that great of an example.” I begin tracing over the scars on her thighs. “Anything actually bad, Yhanna?”

She stops for a moment, then says, “I sometimes… I’m not the best example, Emily.”

“You’re right, that was unfair of me. After all, I’m a Void being and you’re a goddess.” I just made that sound a bit worse than I intended it to.

She props herself up on her arms. “Emily, I didn’t mean to make you seem inferior or anything.”

I feel myself beginning to heat up, aggravated by her constant efforts to make me feel well. “No, you don’t need to make it seem like that because I already know I am. I know I’m looked down upon. I know I’m a lesser being.” I hear her trying to start talking by opening her mouth, but I keep going, knowing that she won’t interrupt me. By this point, I'm finished healing by memory and am going over lines I am done with. “I know people hate my father and I for being what we are and I know I was offered godship only because you fear what I will do to the living world.” My emotions begin to take control, probably because of thoughts and feelings I had bottled up inside. “If I was given an ounce of the respect I deserved, I would be revered as a goddess regardless of my current title. I’m not some corrupted girl with mommy and daddy issues. I’m a demigoddess, for gods’-“

“Quiet!” the goddess commands me. I shut my mouth immediately and withdraw my hands but she takes them in hers and her voice becomes gentle again. “Is that how you feel, Emily? We wouldn’t offer a position for godship to anyone unless we had full faith that they were fit for placement. We saw you as the embodiment of mercifulness, not some world killer deemed to be an inevitable bomb. You’re much, much greater than that, Emily. Do you agree with me or understand what I’m trying to say?” I nod, but stay quiet as I bite down on my lip. She continues, “I’m sorry for yelling at you. You do deserve respect for your feats and I believe you are much more than what you say people see you as.”

“You aren’t the issue, Goddess,” I say, my voice faltering for a split second.

“Emily.” She pulls the cloth from around my head and lifts my chin up. “I don’t care what others think about you. I know you and I know what you are capable of. You can destroy worlds if you put your mind to it, but what do you do instead? You keep bad people in a place where they can’t hurt anyone else. You can kill them with a flick of your wrist, I know, but you let them live. I know what you do to them, you know, how you lock their minds in alternate realities.”

“It’s to keep them from breaking out,” I answer.

She must have caught the skip in my voice with how she says, “No, it’s because you don’t want them to lose their minds doing nothing for eternity. That is the Emily I know, the demigoddess we know and love.”

I can’t help but smile. “Thank you, Yhanna. No world deserves your kindness.”

“Well, it isn’t nearly my time to ascend, so you’re stuck with me for now. Hey,” she says, leaning a little closer. “I have some chocolate cake stored away if you’re feeling hungry.”

I get myself up from the floor. “You know just how to cheer me up.” I step out of her way, but then hold my hand out in front of me. “Yhanna, the band…”

She notices and promptly returns the gold cloth to me. “Sorry, I know it’s important.” I close it in my fist and take it back to the staff where I secure it as a handle on the pole of it. Meanwhile, Yhannason goes back to the kitchen and begins going through her refrigerator, an advanced icebox used to keep food and drinks safe to be consumed for longer periods of time. I don’t know much about them because I tend to skip meals often.

I sit back at the table and wait for Yhanna to come back. She is so very casual with me, but can flip the switch to ‘goddess-mode’ in an instant. The way she snapped at me… she hated it, I can tell. She does not enjoy making others feel bad at all, which sometimes makes me think she keeps me around because she doesn’t want to upset me. However, I have a feeling she wouldn’t share her cake with just anyone.

“It’s a little cold, I hope that’s fine.” Yhanna sets a plate down in front of me. I pick it up in my hand and heat the cake with magic. She notices and says, “Do you think that could be ruining the food? You know, putting mana into it?”

“If that ruins it, then I’ll be happy when I die of… mana poisoning?”

“Is that a thing?”

“If it is, it’s never happened to me,” I smile at her. She looks down at her plate, then slowly slides it over to me. I laugh, “Want me to do the same for you?”

“Will you?” she asks a bit excitedly. I oblige and heat her cake for her, then slide it back. “Oh, thank you so much!” This woman is serious about her sweets.

“So,” I begin in between bites, “What do you think of the whole gladiator deal?”

“I think if it prevents innocent lives being taken by war, then I can get behind it.”

“Hm. Who would represent you, then? Surely, someone who is like you. Kind, loyal, forgiving, modest…”

“You.”

“Me? No, no, no, no.”

“Yes, you, Emily. We fight for the same things.”

“We don’t, Yhannason. You fight only when necessary to save others, I fight to be victorious.”

“It’s the idea that matters. If you represent me, you fight for what I fight for.”

“I’m not who you want to represent you. What if I lose control? What if I lose?”

“Believe me, you won’t. Either way, I won’t resent you if you do.”

“I don’t know… let me think about it.”

“If what Argoncin said was true, it won’t be introduced for a bit. I want you to do this for me, Emily. If not for me, then so you don’t get swooped up by some Descentian deity or some other Ascentian god or goddess who wants to use you just for fame.” I expected that as soon as she mentioned the idea of being a gladiator. People know I’m powerful and they will want me to fight for them. I know Yhanna won’t try to manipulate or use me because that just isn’t her way of doing things. For now, I’m just going to focus on my cake. It’s really good. I tend to stay away from sweets and regular food alike, but this was an exception. Long ago, I found a way to not be dependent on energy gained by physical means. With my magic, I can transfer my mana into energy by siphoning it from elements around me, such as fire or water. To sustain for a month, all I need is a box of matches… theoretically. However, real food does taste good.

“You think I’d be a good goddess?”

“I think you could do some great things. Why do we talk about such serious things, though? How have you been, Emily?”

“I’ve been a bit restless, to be honest. I can’t keep myself still lately.”

“That explains why you decided to come by.”

“Mhm.”

“…Emily, may I ask you something?”

I look to her. “Of course, Goddess.”

“Well… Oh no, it’s a silly question.”

“I won’t mind, I promise.”

“Wellllll…” She looks around. “Do you think I should get a new couch? I’ve heard those sectionals are a-ma-zing.” That is definitely not what she was going to ask.

“Hm, I think it would suit your place well, Yhanna. You can have more people over, too.”

“Huh? I doubt many would want to come here. I’m not that entertaining.”

“So? When is the last time anyone other than I was here?”

She takes a few moments to think about the question. “Arkaden.”

“Arkaden? Who is that?” She stays quiet, then I repeat the question. “Yhanna, who is Arkaden?”

I guess I pressed the right buttons, because she comes clean. “He’s… who I was going to ask you about. Arkaden is a god’s prince.”

“Oh? Which Ascentian God’s son has visited you, hm?” I’m intrigued now. Maybe she’s in love with this person.

“He is the Prince of Blades.”

I stand up instantly and exclaim, “What?!” The God of Blades, Sayun, is a master swordsman and an incredible fighter. He defeated an entire army with two swords, which is a feat in itself because he has four arms, two of which that are only used in dire circumstances. He gave children to Orella, Goddess of the Duel, in an attempt to create the perfect spawn, but all were said to have died in her womb. I guess that wasn’t the case, but that isn’t even the least of my worries. Sayun, the conceited, evil god, has been gone ever since without a trace.

Yhannason puts her hands up in defense. “Look, I know what you’re thinking. It was just a business visit to talk about Argoncin’s plan. He hardly even stepped into my home, Emily.”

“You had a meeting with a Descentian prince in your own home? Alone? I know you’re my goddess, but I can’t agree that you made a good, well-thought out decision, Yhannason.” She could have been attacked, she could have been kidnapped! Something horrible could have happened and where would I have been to stop it?

“I would hope that as my demigoddess, you understand that I know what I am doing, Emily,” she replies with bitterness in her tone. “Either way,” she softens her voice. “Arkaden was professional and very proper. I wanted to ask if you knew anything about him or his god.”

“I know enough to say that if he's anything like his father, he will forcibly take what he wants.”

“What if he isn’t, though? Emily, I need you to do me another favor.”

I back up. “No, I am not going to shadow this man to scout out his personality for you.”

She stands. “Emily, please. I… I enjoyed having him here. He is going to be in Ascentia for a masquerade ball. I want you to go there and watch him for me.” She is good; she knows I love going to proper gatherings like festivals and balls. It still doesn’t help that I was to look for a Descentian prince that may end up as Yhanna’s love interest.

“I don’t want you getting hurt, Yhannason.” She put on a puppy dog face, which she knows I can’t resist. I sigh, “Fine, I’ll shadow him only to ensure your safety.”

She skips over and hugs me. “Yay! Thank you so much, Emily!”

“Mhm,” I reply. I pull her away after a few moments, then say, “I should probably go if I’m going to get an outfit together. I had fun, Yhanna.”

She smiles at me, then says, “I did, too, Emily. We should get together more often. Alright, tomorrow night is when the ball is. Go through the silver-lined door when you’re ready.”

I nod, then start heading for the door, which she goes to as well to hold open for me. “If this prince is bad for you, Yhannason, expect me to protest your romance.”

She rests the side of her head against the edge of the open door. “Please, I won’t even go near a man in that way if you didn’t approve.”

“Good. Bye, Goddess of Love.”

“Bye, Demigoddess.” She closes the door and I’m left alone in the stairwell. From inside, I hear thumping like she is bouncing on the floor, probably excited that I’m going to the masquerade for her. She’s a silly, naïve woman, but she is also too amazing for any regular man. I will definitely watch Arkaden and I will definitely analyze everything he does to make sure Yhannason doesn’t get hurt by him. Arkaden, if you aren’t perfect, expect a horrible review from me.