Chapter 37: Stay Neutral! [Request for Monthly Ticket]
2017-01-21
Author: Floating Tower
It is indisputable.
Lady Mystra is in a predicament, as her conflicted expression reveals.
Lady Silver Moon clearly has no intention of helping in this matter; after all, it’s something that Mystra must choose for herself. Moreover, Lady Silver Moon has guessed that the Goddess of Magic managed to escape the last ambush with Soren’s help, although she is unsure of the exact nature of Soren’s relationship with Mystra. It is known that the gods of this world are relatively open-minded, somewhat similar to the wild and free-spirited Olympian pantheon, but this pantheon has been in dormancy for too long. Throughout the long history, no one knows what could happen, not even the divine pantheon, which might perish within it.
The Goddess of Magic gazes at Soren before her, her eyes flickering for a moment.
She is Mystra, she is also Midnight, a former human sorceress, and Klanvor was her lover before her investiture as a goddess. Although their relationship has gradually faded over time, there was still an experience that binds them. Soren, on the other hand, is her close ally and, in some sense, can be considered her current lover (as she thinks of him). Thus, having to choose between them is undoubtedly very difficult. One is a past lover, distant but with shared memories, the other is a present lover who not only has a close bond with her but also saved her once, helping Mystra through a fatal crisis.
How should she choose?
Soren seems to sense the Goddess of Magic’s dilemma, his expression appears a bit disappointed as he says, “I do not wish to put you in a difficult position.”
“However.”
“This is a fateful confrontation! Whether it is me, Klanvor, or Naraku, this conflict is unavoidable! The Three d*ath Deities’ power reuniting is inevitable, and the future world needs this force.”
“The Hell of Bartok is stirring!…”
At this point, Soren glances at the expressions of the two goddesses, and indeed, their faces change slightly.
He continues, “Perhaps you are unaware, but Sherek has already broken free from his seal. He is also secretly observing everything. The Undead utterly loathe Klanvor, which only strengthens Naraku’s power. Neither Naraku nor Sherek can emerge victorious.”
“I do not ask you to help me fight against Klanvor.”
“I only hope that if the final confrontation arises between me and Klanvor, I do not wish to stand against you!”
It seems difficult to recruit the Goddess of Magic as an ally, which leaves Soren immensely disappointed. Even after he saved this goddess and helped her through a crisis, she still cannot stand on his side. It has been evident since the beginning because the Goddess of Magic has not appeared before Soren since her injury, instead hiding with Lady Silver Moon. Feeling profoundly disappointed, Soren has already placed the Goddess of Magic outside his circle; in such critical times, someone who cannot stand behind him is not worth expending too much energy on.
Nevertheless, he still attempts to fight for a chance, saying, “I only hope for one thing.”
“You can refrain from intervening in the conflict between Klanvor and me; if the final victor is either me or him, I hope you can remain neutral.”
It seems there is no chance to enlist the Goddess of Magic.
For this reason, Soren can only lower his demands further, requesting that she not intervene in the conflict between him and Klanvor. This is already a very low request, especially considering that Soren has saved her once.
Mystra’s eyes waver, and she breathes a sigh of relief, even feeling a bit guilty toward Soren.
In fact, Klanvor had sought her help earlier to deal with his enemies, but at that time, the Goddess of Magic had not yet recovered from her wounds, so she did not agree. In comparison, Soren’s request is much lower; he does not force her to assist him, only wishing for her to remain neutral and not become his enemy.
The situation has reached this point.
The Goddess of Magic has no other choice but to either agree to Soren’s request or become an enemy in the future.
No one wishes for that.
Thus, the Goddess of Magic quickly responds, “I can agree to you. Between you and Klanvor, I will remain neutral.”
Soren nods.
Then, he gives a slight bow toward Lady Silver Moon beside him and then leaves the forest.
To be honest, he is still very disappointed; however, some things cannot be forced. It can only be said that this time the Goddess of Magic cannot stand by his side, and in her upcoming struggle with the Lady of the Night, Soren will also not assist her. According to the timeline, in the next conflict, the Goddess of Magic will be at a disadvantage, and even with the help of adventurers, she has previously been unable to defeat the Lady of the Night. This time, Soren will not intervene again; whether she can survive this time depends on her luck.
Because the Goddess of Magic’s choice has exhausted the remnants of affection Soren held for her.
Soon.
Soren left the Moonlight Forest, but this time he was not smiling as his expression grew cold.
“Alas.”
After Soren leaves, Lady Silver Moon shakes her head and sighs, “Can you not let go of the past with Klanvor? In fact, you should choose to cooperate with Soren; he is a powerful and cunning deity.”
“And he holds the Divine Profession of Shadows, his relationship with the Lady of the Night is not harmonious.”
“If you agree with him, we still have a good chance of bringing him into our faction!”
In response to Lady Silver Moon’s words, Mystra’s gaze flickers. Although each Mystra inherits the memories of her past lives, the dominant consciousness remains that of Midnight. Midnight merely possesses the memories of the former Goddess of Magic, but her thoughts still belong to herself, which unconsciously leads her to favor Klanvor much more.
Today’s actions, without a doubt, pushed the relationship with Soren further away.
For a moment, even the Goddess of Magic feels a sense of loss. After all, Soren saved her once, and they have a close relationship; this choice undoubtedly hurt him deeply.
The Goddess of Magic suddenly feels a bit regretful.
But at this point, there is no other choice; she simply gazes in the direction Soren departed, letting out a deep sigh.
……………
Outside the Moonlight Forest.
Just as Soren’s avatar is about to return to the Southern Coast, he suddenly senses the essence of battle.
Then, his figure appears near a certain hill where many corpses lie. He bends down and picks up a badge from a corpse, which bears the insignia of [Five Hands Holding Curved Blades, Forming a Circle].
“Believers of the God of War – Karyus?”
Soren frowns and murmurs, “It seems the God of War finally intends to deal with the War God.”
There is not just one God of War.
Historically, many War Gods have been born under this divine profession, but the most powerful is undoubtedly the Battle God – Tampus; he is the winner in history. Throughout the long history, at least over ten War Gods have arisen, and the Battle God has attempted to eliminate them since the time of Mother Earth. Currently, the only surviving War God in the human pantheon is the War God mentioned by Soren. These two deities represent weak divine power and strong divine power, respectively.
“It seems the God of Battle intends to reclaim all divine attributes of war.”
An inevitable struggle.
Soren takes a glance and leaves; the gods are plotting something, and the Saint’s Cataclysm has too many events erupting, many of which he no longer has the energy to participate in.
Time is drawing near.
The ascension ceremony of the God of d*ath – Naraku is approaching, and this battle will be a major melee; as for who the victor will be, no one knows. Soren must be more prepared.
Klanvor has evidently begun his actions.
The Goddess of Magic did not agree to stand behind him; undoubtedly, Klanvor has previously sought her out in the shadows. Since he has sought the Goddess of Magic, Klanvor will surely try to win over other deities as well, and Soren must prepare even more. The most important consideration remains the Lord of Radiance’s attitude; as long as the Lord of Radiance can support him, then the attitude of the Goddess of Magic becomes less significant.
After all, the Lady of the Night is still watching in the shadows!
……………
