He was confronted by the scene, a vision of both beauty and dread, a spectacle that captured his attention completely.
He saw a tall man, his face alight with a wild, untamed joy, playing around with fire. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a blazing orb, its fiery light casting dancing shadows on the walls of what appeared to be an ancient forge.
The man tossed the orb into the air, a playful grin spreading across his face, before catching it with practiced ease. Fireballs danced around him, swirling and leaping like playful sprites, their flickering light illuminating his delighted face. It looked as if the fire was accepting him as its partner, a symbiotic dance of power and control.
Renher watched, mesmerized, as the flames obeyed the man's every whim, a testament to the raw, untamed energy that pulsed within him.
The air crackled with heat, and the scent of burning wood and ozone filled his senses, even though he was merely observing a vision.
He was then abruptly back inside the room with the familiar, ethereal environment, the scent of osmanthus tea lingering in the air. He looked over to Aydra, her expression serene, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
She spoke with a gentle smile, "It would help you in choosing the most suitable power. Each card shows a potential path, a glimpse into what might be."
When the scene had ended, he saw the back of the card, now revealing a detailed illustration. It portrayed a man in a flowing robe, his hands outstretched, with embers of fire swirling around him like a protective aura.
Beneath the image, written in simple, elegant text, were descriptions regarding the power
Renher's mind raced, weighing the implications of such a power. Could he wield such destructive force? Would it be a boon or a burden? He placed the card back on the table, his gaze drawn to the other cards, each one a mystery waiting to be unveiled.
He went ahead and picked different cards, trying different ones over and over again. Each card revealed a unique scene, a different power, a distinct path.
One card showed a figure manipulating shadows, another a being commanding the earth, and yet another a figure soaring through the skies with wings of light.
He saw visions of storms, of whispers carried on the wind, and of the earth itself bending to the will of a single individual.
During this whole time, Renher had forgotten about anything else, just immersing himself in the visions, checking thoroughly each and every card.
The weight of his past life, the confusion of his current state, all faded into the background as he focused on the task at hand.
He was a king, a warrior, a strategist, and now, he was a student, carefully studying the tools that might shape his future, the cards of rebirth laid out before him.
After inspecting each and every card, a significant amount of time had passed.
The ethereal light of the chamber seemed to have shifted subtly, a silent testament to the passage of moments in this timeless realm.
Aydra was still sipping her tea patiently, her small hands cradling the delicate porcelain cup, waiting for Renher to conclude his selection.
Her eyes, though seemingly focused on the tea, held a keen awareness of Renher's every move, every shift in his expression.
Finally, Renher returned from inspecting the last card on the table, a gloomy look settling upon his features.
He looked at Aydra with eyes full of discontent, his gaze unwavering, locking straight into Aydra's eyes. "None of them are to my liking," he declared, his voice firm and resolute.
She was shell-shocked, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. Even the butler beside her, a picture of serene composure, was momentarily stunned, his gaze shifting slightly, a silent acknowledgment of the unexpected turn of events.
Neither of them had anticipated that none of the cards would suffice Renher.
Aydra replied, her voice laced with a hint of incredulity, "Are you sure none of them are to your liking? Some of these have been personally crafted by me, imbued with powers I envisioned."
A slight flush crept up her cheeks. "Your rejection is a direct mockery of my imagination."
"What is it that they are lacking?" Aydra asked, her tone now a mix of curiosity and frustration.
Renher gave a slight grin, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Some lack in defense, others in offense, but mostly, all of them have to rely on someone else to showcase their true power."
He paused, his gaze hardening. "Last time I trusted someone, and I got the result—my death." He leaned back in his chair, his expression resolute. "This time, I will not repeat the same foolish mistake."
Aydra, her patience wearing thin, replied, "Well, there is nothing we can do. These are all the cards we have. You have to choose from one of them."
Renher remained steadfast in his demand. "I won't choose from them. Bring me something else."
Aydra's voice took on a sharp edge, her anger now visible. "You have to choose one, and do it fast. There is already a slight problem on our end that we have to deal with. We cannot stay here forever."
Renher, unwavering, retorted, "You can't force me."
All traces of childishness were gone, and she spoke with gravity, her voice now a low, resonant tone. "Yes, I can. If you don't choose within the next few moments, I will take this last bit of hope you have and send you down to the gateway of the dead myself."
The angel next to her added, his voice a gentle murmur, "Your soul and identity would perish, fading into nothingness."
Renher gave a slight nod, his gaze unwavering, and remained firm in his demands.
After some time had passed, frustration was visible all over Aydra's small face, her brow furrowed, and a slight tremor in her hands. She turned to her butler, "Bring me more tea, this time make it from camellia flowers."
She crossed her arms and sat with puffed cheeks on her chair, refusing to meet Renher's eyes.
All this time, Renher laid casually in his chair, relaxed completely, without a care in the world. He observed Aydra's frustration with a quiet satisfaction.
The angel left the room, his movements as fluid as ever, and went ahead to make another tea.
Before leaving the room, he turned and looked at Renher's back, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, perhaps admiring his confidence or perhaps questioning his naivety.
Some time had passed since the butler left. Renher opened his eyes, breaking the silence. "Why are you not sending me to the gateway of death?"
Aydra did not reply to this slight provocation, still remaining on her chair, her posture rigid, her gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance.
Renher got his clue from Aydra's stance. "It's not that you can't send me to the gateway of death, but you are not able to do that, perhaps due to the error caused by you in my death."
Aydra still maintained her silent stance, and with that, Renher's guess was further solidified.
Renher's confidence was boosted. "Your silence says it all, that my guess was right. So, without further wasting of time, let's get to a solution."
Aydra was not pleased by Renher's thoughts, but there was nothing she could do. Renher had exactly pinpointed the dilemma she was facing.
She could not send Renher to the gates of death even if she wanted to, as she was bound to rectify the error the gods had caused due to their oversight.
She was the Goddess of Balance after all; if she resorted to unfairness, how could this universe have any semblance of fairness?
She left her childishness behind, her voice now filled with a mature resolve. "There are no new cards you can choose from, and that is fixed. You can't bargain on that."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "As for the problems with their biased nature, we can do something about that."
Renher gave a slight nod, his insides filled with a surge of confident satisfaction after getting the better hand in the negotiation.
Renher had known previously that there would be no new cards. As for how he came to this conclusion, it was all due to Aydra herself.
In their initial conversation, Renher had realized that Aydra is the Goddess of Balance. She would never advocate any unfair means to deny Renher the chance of revival.
Also, due to the conversation itself, Renher got a clue: the gods need a favor from him. She might be saying that, but it's the other way around.
The gods are bound to give him another life; it's up to Renher whether to accept or deny.
But if Renher is not satisfied, he can deny it anytime. She would have to fulfill her role as the Goddess of Balance and do something to satisfy Renher's demand. A life taken had to be repaid.
All these ideas together gave Renher the confidence to deny the proposal put forth earlier.
Renher, now in an advantageous position, could demand his needs, which he had formulated since seeing the cards. "Very well," he began, his voice laced with a newfound authority. "Then let us discuss how we can rectify these... imperfections.