Atlas did not stir. His body remained motionless on the stone floor, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Though his eyes stayed closed, the Goddess of Life could sense the gentle pulse of vitality flowing through him. His spirit was intact, his body unharmed; only his consciousness lingered in slumber.
"It will not be long," she murmured softly, almost to herself, her gaze warm but reserved. "He only sleeps."
With a graceful motion, the Goddess extended her hand, and space itself rippled at her command. A portal opened before them, its edges woven with threads of pure light, spiraling into a gateway that led directly to her sacred Domain. The air around it shimmered, pulling like a tide that promised safety beyond mortal reach.
Then she turned to Selindra, the elven woman who had accompanied her without faltering. The Goddess regarded her not with the detachment she had shown others, but with the faintest spark of acknowledgment—a rare thing from a being who answered only to Fate.
"It is time for my departure," she said, her voice calm and resolute. "My quest is complete." Her eyes softened slightly. "And you, Selindra. You have been… more than a mere companion upon this journey. For that, I grant you this reward."
The Goddess extended her hand, and light gathered at her fingertips before sinking gently into Selindra's chest.
Selindra gasped, her entire body trembling as if her very soul had been washed in flame and then cooled in crystal. A radiant warmth surged through her veins, not painful, but overwhelming in its purity.
The Goddess refined her soul, polishing its rough edges until it shone like a jewel. At the same time, she wove into Selindra a measure of divine power—not excessive, for the Goddess's restrictions were absolute, but enough to shape her into something far beyond mortal measure.
The world itself seemed to shift around her. Every sound sharpened, every color deepened. Mana, once scarce and distant, now felt abundant and eager to heed her call. Selindra's breathing quickened as she realized the truth: in the mortal world, she could only be described as a powerhouse.
The elf's eyes brimmed with tears, her lips trembling as she dropped to one knee, bowing deeply before the Goddess.
"Selindra thanks the Goddess for granting her such an undeserving reward," she said, her voice thick with reverence and joy. Her heart soared, not only from the strength now coursing within her, but from the acknowledgment she had received—a blessing from the Goddess of Life herself.
The Goddess gave a faint smile, one of serenity rather than warmth, before stepping gracefully into the shimmering portal. With a flick of her wrist, Atlas's unconscious form rose from the ground, weightless, and followed her into the gateway. Light engulfed them both, and in an instant, they vanished from the Capital, transported beyond mortal reach, back into the Goddess's Domain.
Focus Shift: Selphira's POV
The temple was silent. Then, slowly, the invisible bindings around Selphira's soul unraveled. The seal that had shackled her powers loosened, dissolved, and finally broke apart with a whisper. A rush of mana surged back into her veins, filling her with the familiar weight of her strength.
Selphira gasped, clutching her chest, as though breathing for the first time in ages. Relief washed over her in waves, so potent it brought a grin tugging at her lips.
"I thought… I thought I had lost it," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with delight. Her long years of accumulated divinity—it was all still hers. The Goddess had sealed her, yes, but only temporarily.
Then—something else.
Her breath stilled as her senses flared outward, probing the temple. And there it was: a surge of mana, powerful, radiant, and seemingly infinite. It resonated like a bell tolling in her very bones. But the source… was not Atlas. No. It was someone else.
Her eyes widened. Her lips parted.
"The elf," she whispered.
It hadn't been like this before. She had sensed the girl earlier, yes, but her aura was faint, fragile compared to what she felt now. There was no mistake—this power was newly bestowed. Which meant… the Goddess had granted it to her.
Selphira's pulse quickened, her mind whirling with possibilities. Delight shimmered in her eyes, not envy but calculation. So, the Goddess found her worthy of reward? Good. Then this will be easier than I thought.
Without hesitation, Selphira wove her magic. Scarlet light flared around her as she teleported, her figure blurring into a streak of crimson.
Selindra barely had time to turn, her ears twitching at the sudden disturbance, when Selphira appeared before her like a phantom.
"You—!" Selindra gasped, instinctively stepping back, her hand twitching as if to summon her newfound strength.
But Selphira was faster.
Her palm struck like lightning, infused with divine suppression. The blow wasn't meant to kill—merely to overwhelm. Selindra's eyes rolled back as the force rattled her consciousness. She staggered once, twice, then collapsed onto the polished floor, unconscious before she even touched the ground.
Selphira stood over her, crimson robes cascading like spilled wine, her face lit with the satisfaction of a hunter who had just caught her prey.
"At last," she whispered, her lips curving into a smile. "The Goddess may have taken Atlas from me… but she has left me a gift in return."
Her gaze lingered on Selindra's still body, her mind already racing with schemes.