Aia was near her home when she looked up at the sky.

A crow is flying over her. It was circling as if marking where she was. The other deities nearby must have felt her presence as soon as she attacked the machine. And they will not ignore it now that they sense her.

For a long time, they could not figure out her location. No one knew about her plan. When she hid among the humans while not using her powers, she blended in. She became invisible to everyone who knew her. But that does not mean the immortals could forget about her the way humans did.

Unless they all die, of course.

The crow descends, and now it stands on the ground.

It blocks her path. It was no surprise for Aia that the crow was as tall as her. It was a shapeshifter. Its feathers were shiny and black. In a slow transition, the crow changed its form. It first showed the face of a man, then a human body. And soon, some of its feathers change into jet-black hair. Its wings remained on its back as the creature stared at Aia.

She also sensed another presence.

“Hello, Klaus,” she said without looking at the god who appeared behind her.

“So... Have you found it?”

“Found what?”

“The answer.”

“Oh. That.”

Aia looked behind her and stared at the god. She was unsure if she would like to meet him again.

Without his face, Klaus is as black as nighttime, with no light in sight. His hair is so long it reaches his feet, hidden by his black robe. His eyes were pitch black. But it seemed empty like the eyes of the dead. His face, however, will always give off an honest expression. His pale skin is always cold. He wore black gloves that no one knew what for. Not that it matters to them if the weather is cold or warm.

If Klaus stood in a crowded place without uttering anything, people would stop as they sensed his presence. He is a god that people will not ignore even if he wishes them to.

Klaus was the last god Aia met before she disguised herself as a human. With her consent, Klaus tried killing her several times. They tried to figure out their limit as immortals. She wanted to know if their kind would die if the god of death killed them. But it turned out Klaus could only harvest human souls. And he could only kill living things that are not human but also not immortal. They both end up disappointed.

It only does not prove that even the god of death cannot kill their kind. It also set the limitation Klaus could not accept. It reminded him that he and the goddess of life only mattered because of the humans.

“Let us not waste our infinite time. Answer my question,” Klaus demanded. “You know I’m not a patient god.”

“I know,” she said calmly. “But even if you asked, it does not mean you’re ready to accept the truth.”

“Was it not your promise that you would only answer when one asked for the naked truth? It no longer matters whether that truth is accepted or not. That should never be your concern, as a goddess.”

He was right. That was what Aia promised herself. She wanted to regret sharing that thought with Klaus. Now, Klaus was using it against her.

It was a known fact that Aia could not lie. But she can also remain silent if she wants to. She can also avoid finding out the truth. Those were the realizations she had learned the hard way. To know that she can stop and recommence being the goddess of truth is terrifying yet liberating.

Aia has torn down her ruined dress and throws it in the air. The god of death looks up at the sky and avoids his gaze on her naked body.

“I was not asking for that you… you…”

He could not utter any insult. And Aia knew why. Klaus did not find Aia to offend her in any way. He was there for a reason.

“I am no longer the Aia that you knew, even if we still wear the same clothes we created as part of ourselves.”

The god of death looked at her and saw she was no longer naked. Aia looks the way she used to before she appeared as a human.

Some would say that her short white dress seems too simple for a goddess. And given her complexion and white hair, Aia looked plain but attractive. But it what was Aia wanted. Truth has always been plain and simple.

“The weapons wielded by our kind could hurt us. But our refusal to use our powers will not diminish our strength. What then would cause a deity to die?” asked Klaus.

“Nothing will make us perish,” she said sadly.

“Not even the lack of prayers?”

“You know we existed even before humans. We do not rely on them. They also no longer rely on us.”

Those are the truths he only needed to hear. Klaus no longer needs to know that vanity made the gods and goddesses mingle with the humans. And that some deities only needed humans for their personal gain.

“I’m sure you heard about the Departure of Deities.”

Aia shakes her head for she does not wish to discuss it with Klaus as of the moment. But Klaus misinterpreted her action.

“Truly? You, the goddess who always has the answers—” Klaus stopped speaking when he saw her expression. Aia is not happy to hear about that side of her.

“We all heard that from our maker,” Aia clarified.

“And yet you did not heed his command. We all know that he rarely gives us orders. But when he does, we all know it must not fall on deaf ears.”

“Would someone claim I should be punished for defying his words?”

“Were you refusing to obey?”