《Anon: Goddess of Anonymity》 Prologue /We''ll sing if it means an eternity,/ /For our Goddess, the Mother of our desires/ /Love us for another eternity./ /After death,/ /Before life,/ /We''ll sing./ The ice in her veins ceased to stop. It chilled the entirety of her body: from the air she breathed, first. Then down her pale neck. Travelling quick and nonstop, the chills spread to Anon''s slender fingers whilst taking her feet as well. She gasped, but matters just weren''t getting better. The air was suffocatingly cold; and desolate of any ounce of warmth. Anon knew just then- and probably centuries before- death was but a dream.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. A dream so beautiful as it was unattainable. Nevertheless, she looked at the corner of her eye through the very little control of her body she had left. Heartbeats in discord, they beat in dissonance. Everything was erratic flickers of light in her eyes then. Figures surrounded Anon. Their expressions unreadable as they blurred into the background. Her visions was failing, the chills wouldn''t stop. It was cold down to the bone, but she couldn''t bring herself to feel afraid. Her fallen body, turning to ice was nothing in need of attention. What let her mind wander was the distant song further ahead; from they who wander. Anon, Goddess of the unknown and those who wish to remain anonymous, felt distant from the heavens and the duties she was bound to for what wasan eternity. A sigh escaped feeble lips. She''ll be damned. Chapter 1 - Dogs 101 We have loved just as much we''ve hated When spring comes forth and winter fades We''ve learnt much more from and; than the past From the crass children we once were To a new beginning we cheered. Rejoice! Rejoice! For our time of learning will never end. Anon''s eyes opened and the first thing they laid themselves upon was a familiar face. Neatly cut hair, a rigid posture alongside an equally rigid expression. Her loyal servant, Thorn, had patient brown eyes. "You''ve awaken, Milady." He plainly states. "Is it a new morn?" Anon asked. Thorn nodded in reply. The atmosphere was as silent as could be but not awkward. Long gone were such words to describe their relationship. Gentle rays of warmth caresses the Goddess''s face. Anon stared blankly at the milky white wall before her. She surrounded herself with nothing but the minimal necessities of a bed, desk and chair. Windows were built on the most right of her spacious room. A door for entry and exit; toilets were non-existent. They were Divine beings. They hadn''t the need to relief themselves, but so was sleep. Anyway, a glass of water stood still on the silver tray Thorn held. Anon quenched her non-existent thirst. Old habits died hard and she hadn''t the slightest want to change either way. The Goddess washed up with a simple chant upon her lips and summoned a hairbrush to brush her flowing white hair. She kept the nightgown worn and proceeded to exit the comforts of her room.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Behind her were remnants of ice. Shards sparkled under daylight as they melted. Empty. Empty could be a word to describe her mansion. Lonely. And lovely, could be another. Exquisite floral patterns engraved itself on the huge doors made from wood from trees of The Forest of Blessed sinners. Sunlight reflected off Marygrown vines whilst their flowers howl sorrowfully. Wrapped around pristine white marble pillars built in fours that formed a square. Silk white couches and a glass coffee table were placed in the middle of the spacious square lobby. Anon rooted herself on one of the couches. She slumped herself ungracefully over the cushions. In her hand was a well maintained book titled: Dogs 101. Suddenly, loud bangs reflected off the walls of the halls. The rattle of armour sounded just as clearly as the sound of heavy even footsteps. Heavy doors flew open and a well-endowed man curtly invited himself into Anon''s home. The Goddess hadn''t forgotten to *not* lift her eyes off the book. ''Poodles. Cute~'' "Anon!'' The man screamed. His amber eyes flared with scarlet flames of countless battlefields. His rugged face held a grave expression. Scars littered his large calloused hands. Cuts decorated his lips and forehead, they were still fresh with clotting blood. Oh how Anon hated the flecks of dirt on her marbled flood. She couldn''t give two damns of what the God of war had to say but if it will be rid him. Perhaps she''d reluctantly comply to the incoming request. Her face was stoic, unfeeling. The War god seemed to be unbothered with her lack of common etiquette. He knew Anon knew the reason of his coming here after-all. "Have yourself present for tomorrow''s conference!" He bellowed. "You cannot afford anymore absences. His Majesty will be terribly displeased, Goddess of anonymity." :/ ''Border collies... I want one...'' thought Anon inwardly. Chapter 2 - Majesty and Menus Where were you as the summer heat gave drought? Collecting the fickle amounts of water from wells. Have you seen the summer birds dance? No, they''ve died long since then. I''ll say, I''ll say, just where were you When the summer heat gave drought? The [Assembly of the Gods] took place once every decade. Gods and Goddesses, no matter how menial or major partook in the (somewhat optional in participation) event. Known on the surface as an important conference by the mortal planes; divine beings had more time than sense and in reality it was but a grand party hosted by His Majesty, King of the Gods, who was in fact fairly carefree in nature. The event normally took place at the Palace of Creation itself in a large, grand hall named [1.] Its magnificence wassaid to surpass the beauty of the River Goddess; with walls ingrained with precious jewels and floor made of the most beautiful granite. Exquisite paintings and beautifully carved sculptures- all over centuries old- decorated its venue. An aura, no inferior to that of a minor God, could be felt excluded from the years compiled of this ridiculously mysterious place. Mortals say that rumour has it: anyone who managed to cast only witness upon the hall will be exposed to an intense amount of mana and turn to dust immediately. The hall was said to be a forbidden ground to even overpowered Heroes!If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The Gods and Goddesses themselves have discussed the rumour however, and concluded it to be partially false. Currently, said King was in a dilemma true to his own. He sat in his office, decorated extravagantly with weapons of all nature and magical crystals, rarer than any other. Plus, amongst other luxury items, foodstuff- in which were most plentiful as they stood stacked in mountainous volumes by the corner of his office. Gods and Goddesses had no names, but for convenience purposes they take a nick-name in place. Anon, for example, required hers through the first few alphabets of her title: The Goddess of (Anon)ymity. His Majesty the King, called himself simply as ''Majesty'' As of late, Majesty had his fingers cupped to his chin. His eyes in a daze, the well-built God hummed in contemplation of the menu for this year''s great feast. ''Seafood could be the theme, but wouldn¡¯t that offend the Sea God?'' Majesty thought carefully. He didn¡¯t want to go with vegetarian again, the God in charge was hysterical then. Animals- mammals, or reptiles were an option too but... the same problem would occur. A light brightened in Majesty''s gold rimmed irises. He tapped his finger on his desk and summoned forth a servant clad in a simple lilac uniform. The figure kneeled before his King and politely inquired of Majesty''s wish. The God gave an order, albeit laughingly, "This year''s theme shall be colourful. Have all variety of foods prepared. Open-mindedness shall be practiced." ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡®Gods, goddesses alike do not even have it compulsory to consume food or water. But his Majesty always insisted¡­ Why?¡¯ wondered the servant to himself as he left the King¡¯s office. Anon, on the other hand, remained firmly seated on her couch with the book at hand. War, so was the uninvited God¡¯s name- remained standing not too far from where the Goddess was. He stared at her still figure, mind seemingly afar. Faint clinks were heard; silver windchimes rang clear. The atmosphere turned serene. ¡°Okay.¡± responded Anon finally. War didn¡¯t even bother to look relieved. The hurried steps back to his own manor was obvious. The muscled God already predicted of her answer but only remained for courtesy''s sake; so His Majesty the King wouldn¡¯t be able to reprimand him for being lazy and disobeying menial orders- or playful whims, as a matter of fact. Again. And he was in charge of wars, for existance''s sake. Chapter 3 - Ive heard through some grapevine that... Homes close, adorned with worship Let us sing our songs of praise Assembly and control on this very faithful Time of the year, decade, century We clasp our hand tight, sorrowful; Joyful; of the decisions to be made. Anon left her manor with a bitter expression. Her face was empty of any makeup but the light layer of lip gloss on her cracked lips. It was somewhat effective as Thorn stubbornly insisted on the application. The Goddess wore it feeling wronged. She absolutely loathed the feeling of thick layers of oil on wherever. Teleportation circles were not available as they headed towards the Palace of Creation. The circles themselves were normally available, but not if the destination were to be his Majesty the King''s palace. Due to the Great War taking place millenniums ago, in fear of enemies and such, the rule was simply passed down despite today''s peaceful times. Anon rode her most beloved magical steed, Rico as they travelled the three-day journey. Rico''s white coat was artistically splashed with ink-black patches. The Goddess was convinced of love at first sight then. Accompanied with intelligent eyes and a well-tempered nature, plus a flowing black mane, Rico quickly became the most doted horse of them all. She arrived an hour earlier than expected. Dismounting Rico, Anon took great care to ''advise'' the keeper of her steed''s care and management, likes and dislikes during meals while maintaining a balanced diet. It''s appreciation of grooming spots, the preferred temperature of his shed and the quality of hay etc.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The well-dressed keeper led Rico away with spinning eyes as he tried hard to memorise the advice given. It was well-known throughout Paradise: the land of the Gods and Goddesses of Anon''s love of her horse Rico and books. Butlers and maids alike greeted her unison as she entered the Palace of Creation. They led her to a guest room where she prepared herself for the upcoming feast. Majesty had not come out to greet her, though; and she did not mind. It was already mutually agreed upon so many years ago, that he did not need to abide by common etiquette when it came to Anon. The line-up of maids and butlers already sickened the anti-social Goddess enough. She was not one to appreciate crowds of more than 2. The Goddess muttered [change] and a glow of light surrounded her. In a split second, her outfit rid itself of its tomboy appearance and was replaced with a simple silver gown that went below her knees till ankles. Its sleeves were patterned lace-like and reached to cover half her palms. The sleeves that exposed of her slender fingers left an impression of delicacy. She wore a pair of lightly heeled shoes and indulged in its clicks and clacks as she paced the guest room. The Goddess did her hair last, plaiting and pinning her snow-white hair into a bun. Her fringe was left with a right parting to shape her face. Sighing- for it had become a habit- once more, Anon willed herself to calm the rapidly beating heart trapped in her ribs. One that threatened to jump out of her chest. The butterflies in her stomach failed to digest; the post-entrance was suffocating. A heated blush came up the Goddess''s cheeks for no apparent reason. She felt embarrassed although absolutely nothing had happened. ''I''m gonna die.'' Anon gravely thought. Slowly, but surely, guests continued to arrive one by one in pairs or little groups. The well-trained line of household announcers made sure to make clear of each note every time a name was called; sharp and clear, crystal. Anon''s frown continued to deepen with every turn. Also, she proceeded to dream of a fair burial as her name was announced so¡­ LOUDly. Yet, despite the reluctance to partake in any of these events, news through certain grape vines have informed her of an interesting piece of information. The Goddess of Mirrors had returned from her century-long holiday. Behind the return, trails of gossip followed. The local celebrity was back~ Chapter 4 - Well live an eternity (so, it doesnt matter) We can hear the whispers of wind It''s so charming, very charming. Feel the earth beneath our feet And our souls trembled In this very land we stand. The hall was quickly filled with incessant chatters among the Gods and Goddesses who''d arrived. Server boys and girls fool no one despite their young appearances. They stood obediently at the side in waiting for a summon. Obedient and quiet, yet they didn''t exclude lifeless eyes. His majesty was always one for taking care of others. Especially those under him. Anon pretended to not see the feverish gazes of those who saw her as she unhurriedly made down the stairs. Her appearance noble, and posture incomparable. She was second to none in graceful bearing. Anon carefully made her way to a circular table in which she sat alone. Her ears piqued, closing on any bits of juicy gossip. Her eyes were on alert too. Half closed, but sharp and observant. Around the corner, the Goddess could see the God of Rivers flirting with the Goddess of Clouds. The couple held clear interest in one another. ''Eye candy.'' Mused she. Further on, a pleasant voice could be heard dispelling colourful language with every turn. Unique in word choices, the God of Literature was a contrast to his usual image; in which was intellectual and silent, nose deep in a book no one knew. ''Had he a cup of wine already?'' Nearly everyone in the room thought.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Goddess of Flowers sat nearby Anon. She was a chatty one as she sat with her close friend, the Goddess of Love. "Have you heard? That lump of unnecessary mana Mirror is back again. She finally decided to return after years in the human world. Responsibilities must be non-existent in her book. It''s ridiculous!" Cried Flower. In response to her disdain, Love sipped on her cup of tea. Alcohol was a no-no if she were to make it through her dear friend''s rants. "I see. She did something to you?" "Yes! Had I not told you? That narcissistic, arrogant woman dared to lie after she stole one of my daughter¡¯s necklace. The one I specially chose for her on the sweet child''s 200th birthday! Hell, have you also not heard the way she speaks. The Goddess can''t even go a single sentence without an ''I'' or ''me'' in it! Funny thing is, you''ll never find that ''l'' next to a sorry for his Majesty¡¯s sake." RantedFlower. Flushed cheeks came with the deep frown and she knitted her long thin brows. The Goddess''s petal decorated hair glowed slightly in response to her strong emontions. Love continued to listen to Flower. Seemingly unbothered by the little crowd that silently gathered around the pair of friends. Putting down the teacup, Love then asked "it''s been more than a century, friend. Have you not gotten over that incident? You''ll seem petty." Flower snorted, retorting with great vigour "considering the fact we''ll live for what seems like forever, I''ll be however petty I want. We''ve got time to spare, Love, not positivity and forgiveness. Not if it concerns Mirror. I''ve got years of grievances with her." "Got it," said the Goddess of Love and the group around them missed the slight smile on Anon''s normally stoic face. Chapter 5 - Alcohol follows a supportive crowd Dancing figures prayed on a moonlit night Their flowing hair glowed with light. Colours sang, And fairies emerged the common shrubs. Bells rang; The holy maidens were entranced with the descent of their worship. Majesty waited for hours before he decided to emerge. He wanted all eyes to fall upon him and to do so, was to be late. Hence, the unreliable attention seeking. Slicking back his silky gold hair, the King of Gods fixed his velvet red cape. ''It is time,'' he mischievously snickered. Yet, suddenly, he turned unnaturally pale. Fist clenched tight, Majesty unexpectedly recalled the strict discipline of his wife. Queen of Gods and Goddesses, she was a prime example of textbook royalty. Everyone knew however, despite her stiffness, that the King loved her dearly either way. Fearing to disappoint, Majesty quickened his feet down the wide hallway. His heart palpitated as though he was proposing their marriage all over again. Wife dearest would be terribly displeased, and it was something he couldn''t afford. Not when their anniversary was nearing. Anon, who knew of the King''s intentions well enough to predict his state of mind, smirked. She drank a glass to cheer for him, a toast for whatever was to come. How would the man appease the Queen this time? Such was always an ongoing question. Once upon a time, the King was caught having an affair! Rumours so colourful emerged even the rainbow shied away. ¡®They held hands!¡¯ Some say. ¡®but isn¡¯t that far too innocent?¡¯ asked another, ¡®Nay.¡¯ Replied a trusted informant. ¡®Her highness announced a celebration it seems. His majesty has adopted another orphaned servant girl. And she was blind, so her guided her through held hands.¡¯ ¡®So His majesty is faithful?¡¯ ¡®Might as well consider his wife his religion. No scandals, not since they were married millions of years ago,¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s been so long already?! Sigh, we¡¯ve lost track of good¡¯ ol time.¡¯ "Because, Queen herself''s got thunderclouds of mixed feelings hovering over." Whispered Anon loud enough for none to hear. Indeed, Her Highness dressed in a beautiful midnight grown looked confusingly bitter. Tired, to say, of her husband''s childish games. And at the same time, pleasantly amused; a doting love quite apparent in her clear abyss eyes.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Great doors slammed open and what entered was a majestic figure. His aura demonstrated a type of need to those who felt it. The need to kneel and prostrate themselves before him. The pressure dissipated soon after Majesty¡¯s figure regained his composure from rushing to hall early on, his eyes immediately searched for his wife; Queen played the card of facade, she pretended to look at him coldly. Anon, who was great at reading people more so than any other, could see the subtle mirth in her eyes. The Goddess of anonymity was greatly entertained, she had no regrets on partaking in tonight''s feast. His majesty the King rushed to his beloved¡¯s sight upon the first second his eyes fell on her. With practiced ease, the God admitted his fault. His gaze held the look of a disobedient pup and Majesty apologized and ¡®pacified¡¯ her with great eloquence. ¡°Dearest,¡± He started. The crowd went wild, not displayed blatantly of course. Many, if not all, cheered for him earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ve arrived, if not finally, by your side. It has been a great displeasure to both you and I that your husband could not arrive any sooner. The fault falls upon my incompetence that due only to unbecoming temptations, I was, to put it short and blunt, late. Please do not be angry, my dearest, it is for sure that I will make it up to you. Would a stroll by your side in the most beautiful of gardens be alright with you tomorrow? I have heard from the servants of your desire to visit the Garden of Time not long ago. If not, your humble husband would even comply to reuniting himself with the couch for the next fortnight as well.¡± His tone was submissive and spoken hastily. A panicked husband appealing to his wife touched the hearts of the many wed Gods and Goddesses. They only nodded in agreement with Majesty¡¯s course of actions. ¡®the truth has been said, although not very specific. At least he hadn¡¯t lied.¡¯ commented Anon inwardly. Her highness looked on her adorable husband. His mere presence quelled her heavy heart from the fatiguing responsibilities of a ruler. Her mind felt light and her face lit. Queen reached out her hand to cup Majesty¡¯s face. Then, she smiled a smile filled with an endless supply of deep love and affection. ¡°Fear not, my love. I am not angry. So, shall we enjoy this night you so devotedly prepared?¡± Queen¡¯s steady voice filled the hall that unknowingly went silent. As if in queue, the crowd cheered. Sharp whistles and an array of supportive howls broke loose. It was a gleeful night. The sweet intoxicating scent of alcohol filled the air. Appetizing cuisines followed right after. Placed neatly on a long table separated into three equally long rows. Plates were at the side of each table on side trays of their own; and so were the carefully polished silverware and wineglasses. Preferred beverages could be summoned through the God¡¯s and Goddesses¡¯ personal summoning circles. When the night was at its peak, said circles lit the hall with their paled coloured lights. Chapter 6 - Campfires help group unity Prepare the shields and spears, your swords and bows. Now march towards the castle of black There, resides a corrupt being. Mother, daughter, sons, Hidden under the roof of their homes Are safe. Please, quick, before the evil kills us all. As dawn approached Paradise, much of the invited Gods and Goddesses remained active. They partied like wild animals¡¯ hours before and hadn¡¯t ceased to stop since then. Alas, but it was relatively tame nonetheless compared to the beginning as the double G(s) eventually huddled around a summoned campfire as though on a summer¡¯s camp. Newly made lovers found their way to each other as they sat intimately together on self-made benches; old friendships were rekindled; frenemies, enemies, acquaintances, alike stood on equal ground. [Open-mindedness shall be practiced.] No one protested. Tonight, even if it was only a night, was one of unity. The fire crackled with golden sparks; the hall¡¯s ceiling transformed itself into an endless night sky where the triple moons shined brightly among millions of stars. ¡°Hey, Mirror¡­¡± Flower slurred. She sat next to the Goddess of Love with her head leaned against Love¡¯s shoulder. Comfortable, the flower goddess sparingly rolled her eyes for no apparent reason. Drunk, she then pointed at the Mirror Goddess sitting close. The crowd heard a drunken sob and listened attentively with sober(??) hearts. ¡°You do know that I quite hate you, right? Mirror¡­ I mean, a d- decade. It took me a DECADE (of begging) to get that precious gift for daughter dearest but you ¡­ had the guts to take it from her. I- I hate you, it may be true Hydrangea was being a weedy bitch ¡®bout it. But you¡­ could¡¯ve returned it afterwards a- at least¡­ to me if not her¡­¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Mirror smiled and giggled. She gently took Flower¡¯s outstretched finger and pushed it back to its owner¡¯s lap. ¡°I was never one to be a pushover, Flo. Nevertheless, your daughter¡¯s face then was an amusing one. No worries, though, I appreciate the gift and confession whole-heartedly. Your pretty necklace is still with me, by the way.¡± The goddess of Mirrors had a distinct and unique voice. Her words bounced of everybody¡¯s ears with a pleasant crispness. Her sparkling eyes looked amused but somehow indifferent to their surroundings. They were clear and held the reflection of a flushed Flower Goddess with unshed tears in her eyes. There was a saying, ¡®speaking to the Goddess of Mirror proves dangerous because it meant reflecting at oneself. Meaning, her words echo; reflects. Make ya think twice.¡¯ So were the words of an experienced sage, admired by many in one of the various mortal planes. ¡°I know¡­. But, umm¡­ I- I ain¡¯t a pushover either!¡± The flower crowned goddess pouted. Mirror maintained her smile. If said otherwise, it grew even wider. Anon was part of the crowd listening with knowing faces. They glanced at the ones closest to each other and grinned. The Goddess of anonymity wasn¡¯t any different. Her lips hadn¡¯t moved but the God next to her at least recognized the mirth in her eyes. He himself nodded with approval. A finger to his chin. A moment of silence went appreciated within the circle of divinities. Quiet sighs added to the serenity. The heat of the fire warmed their chilled fingers from the hall that went cold. Temperatures affected Gods and Goddess too, but only if they allowed it. And this time, they did. The morning sun rose soon. A golden bell rang in the distance outside the hall the double G(s) resided. A yawn here, there. Flushed cheeks, remnants of food and drinks. Dirty plates and silverware littered in unexpected places; whoosh¡­ went the carefully polished double-doors as they opened. Everyone returned home after smiling goodbyes and hearty farewells. Anon immediately flopped herself onto the bed upon her return but didn¡¯t forget to cast a [clean up] spell before she slept. Just like that, the [Assembly of the Gods] ended. ¡°m¡¯ tired.¡± Sighed she into soft covers. Chapter 7 - Always, an uninvited guest The colour crimson stained their fingers, Faces and all those pavements. Witches and wizards don¡¯t burn but rise to glory. Look around. Look! The gore that surrounds you; Not only blood, but tears- Will be shed. Bodies numbering over thousands laid on cold pavement. The street was narrow, so the corpses stacked. Dead with open eyes, Anon could sense the fear and regret that remained. It stank. Like the rot of their decaying corpses; the dreams left unfulfilled, the life left un-lived. She walked through the blood-soaked street with feet unprotected. Her hand reached out to the untamed flames that burned so brightly. The town was ash and dust- Anon gave a wry smile. Charcoal. Smoke clouded most of the goddess¡¯s sight, she couldn¡¯t smell or hear due to certain circumstance. No matter, sight was all she needed. Even if she regained the other senses, what was the use? There was no point in hearing the cries of surviving children as they wept for their parents and friends. None. Not even the smell of burning bodies, the strong scent of liquid iron as it drained and turned cold. None. It was what Anon kept telling herself in constant repetition. ¡®No point; empty of purpose.¡¯ She didn¡¯t need to know more than she already does. Cursed, for how long more must she endure these visions? The violet-eyed Anon woke with a gasp. Her loyal servant, Thorn, was once again by her side with a glass of water. Again. She gratefully lifted the glass from its polished tray. Anon could see her unbecoming reflection from the mirror of the tray as Thorn held it against himself. Its wide surface area hid nothing. ¡°My lady,¡± Called he.Stolen novel; please report. ¡°I know.¡± Anon pinpointed the library as her first destination when she got out of bed. It was decorated with simple scenic paintings and placed carefully with custom carved bookshelves, laced in exquisite designs; books were arranged per genre and in alphabetic order. The library had two floors to its space; more than five hundred precious books in its name. [Doctrina] was the pride and joy of Anon; comparable to even her treasured Rico. Maintenance was a hassle, but Thorn was flawless in his job. Having served for more than two millennia, he ought to be. It was a week later when War decided to visit uninvited once again. Anon was busily grooming Rico in his ridiculously large stable then. The steed neighed in displeasure as the horse brush lifted from his glossy coat. A frown was on both Gods. ¡°¡­Why,¡± Mumbled the goddess, ¡°No.¡± She added immediately after War opened his mouth. Left agape, His muscles visibly tensed, a thick vein popped at the general¡¯s forehead. ¡°I have yet to speak.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. So, no.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an order.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± ¡°You always do. But disobey anyway.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Only because it¡¯s important.¡± A tired sign escaped Anon. She was always one weak to pressure and relented anyway. Packing up after leisurely leaving the stables, the goddess never forgot to at least bid Rico goodbye whereupon the stallion only whined. Thorn swiftly prepared a carriage to aid on the journey to his Majesty¡¯s Palace of Creation. The ride was long, lasting up to 5 days at full speed (Rico was faster). Anon felt sore by the time she arrived. Anon was later guided into the throne room where Majesty sat with a calm expression. Beside his throne was Queen, her eyes solemn. The goddess of anonymity greeted the royal divines with practiced ease and grace. Her actions caused a smile to appear on both their lips. Majesty then spoke, his voice deep and powerful. ¡°Anon, we thank you for arriving upon our invitation. The reason we have summoned you here is due to unfortunate reasons. You are ordered, by my name as King and Ruler of Gods and Goddesses to head below to the mortal realm: world #236 to obtain an important item. Further instructions shall be given in 3 days. Do make yourself comfortable in our home before said date.¡± Ended the God with an apologetic smile. Anon¡¯s eyes glanced to the carpeted floor below. She gave a brief nod and bowed. ¡°Anon, as the Goddess as Anonymity, obeys His Majesty the King.¡± In a snap, the tenseness in the atmosphere disappears and Majesty regained his carefree demeanour. Queen held his hand as the couple proceeded to invite Anon for dinner. She accepted, of course; not before requesting Cr¨ºpe Suzette* for dessert. Queen chuckled as she accepted the request. Merry Christmas! There''d be no chap today so srry if u were anticipating (ha, who am i kidding...) ur bedtime story or tea time read i dunno. N yes, non chap pep talk''s not the most entertaining thing but bear with it pls. Having written up to 10 chaps + a prologue the last chap which was 6/7( not sure...), had more comments than any other. It''s kinda hard to put this together but like... I really appreciate the comments cuz they represent a sort of guide line ya see and the excess 4chaps which i havent posted yet btw may or may not go through some improvements/modification.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ... errmm... and- thanks for reading?? ok, i actually had a better and more elaborate speech than this planned in my head but look how this turned out Chapter 8 - Details of the mission We grief as a time of sadness and madness descended upon us Working as one, but of various factions; Intentions the same, but they bleed For different reasons I fight, my hands aren¡¯t clean. Precious joys of children aren¡¯t heard anymore. The three-day waiting period felt longer than it was. Despite the leisure spent, Anon felt anxious. The drop in her chest refused to calm. Tortured groans and moans clouded her mind with images so sickening; the messages in forms of nightmares worsened. They haunted her even after the sun rose. Anon needed a source of comfort from the ever-working abilities. Such a luxury existed, but the time wasn¡¯t right. Not yet, but soon. On the promised day, Anon found herself in the throne room where Queen and Majesty awaited. They held kind gazes as they welcomed her. Pleasantries aside, Anon wanted to know the finer details of her descent. Sighing, Majesty enlightened the somewhat grumpy Goddess. ¡°There has been an¡­ accident, or so in world- excuse me.¡± The God turned his head towards his wife, signalling for help. ¡°236, dear.¡± Queen reminded. ¡°Thanks. Right. (cough) Orders were to retrieve an object, but it is more specifically a mirror. Mirror Goddess was supposedly chosen for the task but she is unavailable. After a paid vacation, much paperwork had accumulated. She is now making up for that, so you were chosen instead. Reason: court had selected such as your abilities would¡¯ve proven beneficial in the search. I¡¯ll tell you ¡®bout the mirror too. It¡¯s basically a mirror.¡± ¡®¡­¡¯ The room was silent. Anon¡¯s sceptical expression seemed to hurt the King.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. The object possesses a disastrous being to the human world. if unsealed in the wrong hands, this King might need to spend several months overworking an unpaid stay-back. The challenge isn¡¯t in the spirit locked up, its insignificant. Hard part¡¯s finding the mirror, Anon. Deadline¡¯s non-existent, so you may take your time.¡± Majesty (actually) looked bored as he took liberties to explain the mission. ¡°But that¡¯s not all, isn¡¯t it?¡± The snow-haired goddess added nonchalantly. King stiffened, but gave a helpless shrug in turn. ¡°Why not send an angel?¡± Asked Anon. ¡°We can¡¯t afford it, child. They¡¯ve already been given orders to clean up the 244th, 154th and 222nd world. Ya know, the spiritual battles there can get real nasty. Bane of my existence, cause of my exhaustion. I¡¯ve dedicated a decade¡¯s worth of paperwork in a week because of them.¡± Queen looked quite perplexed for a reason no one knew. ¡°When must I depart?¡± The Goddess inquired. ¡°In 5 days. The time ratio is 1:6. Their time moves six times as fast.¡± Anon managed a nod. Her cheek muscles started to cramp ever since Majesty entrusted her with the irksome task. It was reasonable, however. Anon was technically a NEET entrusted with minimal wage. More of an unofficial informant/prophetess, peaceful times had not called upon her powers as of late. Her Highness the Queen worried for Anon. Watching the child¡¯s back as she left, She could only keep her mouth shut of her concerns. The Goddess of Anonymity was strong despite her un-motivated attitude. Despite that, Anon was quite inexperienced with the ways of the human world. As though he owned a set of telepathic abilities, Majesty clasped his hand to hers. Lightly, he said: ¡°Worry less, my love.¡± Breaking a slight smile, Queen could only recall the ruthlessness Anon had towards her enemies during the Great Celestial War. She was torn between worry and tears for both human and divine parties. The grandfather clock by the side struck three, a phoenix cried thrice. Both made their ways to their respective studies where stacks of documents and paperwork awaited. Queen worked seriously with a pair of magically enhanced glasses; Majesty on the other hand, was distracted as usual, groaning at every stamp or signature given. On several occasions, his hands would stop. He¡¯d glance outside the open window, admiring the beautiful scenery with an unreadable gaze- only to resume stamping minutes later. Thud. Thud. Thud. Rhythmic sounds bounced off the walls. ¡®Will the dear child¡¯s vacation go well? She¡¯s been home for at least 300 years after all- due to His curse.¡¯ Chapter 9 - The drop-off Come, collect the scented flowers of spring; And when summer comes, herbs of healing; Autumn churns, we pick rust-coloured leaves; Careless, fairies drop the handful of fresh fallen snow in their palms. Beautiful, But such beauty would take decades to recover; A true pity, truly. Five days¡¯ pass. Anon found herself terribly reluctant in unwrapping the sushi roll of blankets she¡¯d encased herself in. Paradise was in its winter months; seasons were artificial in ¡®heaven¡¯, but the divine inhabitants appreciated the scenery in their bland peaceful lives. Mana, the essence of all magic, circled around Anon. She conjured a silver ring to fit her thumb, it¡¯d help her greatly in hiding the identity of [God]- from the godly aura she naturally came with. Dressed in simple wear, executive yawns were heard down the corridor when she left the room. Anon skipped breakfast because-
  1. It wasn¡¯t necessary.
  2. Nobody has an appetite when they first wake. (in her opinion anyway)
  3. She¡¯s going on a trip. And most certainly NOT on her most favourite rocket ship.
  4. People + a lack of dessert in the mornings.
Having entered enemy territory, the (secret)only teleportation circle in the Palace of Creation was confined in a well-maintained room. The power coupled saw her off before Anon left. She was touched, albeit still unwilling to go.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Several times along the way, Anon had asked for permission to bring her steed, Rico, along. But with no luck, such request wasn¡¯t allowed. ¡°No, child. Rico is considered a legendary mystical creature in the mortal plane. He¡¯d bring unnecessary attention during the quiet search.¡± Echoed Queen¡¯s motherly voice at the back of the Goddess¡¯s mind. Anon had sulked for approximately three hours. It was discussed during dinner, whilst Anon enjoyed her Ichigo Daifuku. Her puffed cheeks afterwards caused the servers on duty to supress their upcoming laughter with great difficulty. ¡®like a child(lol)¡¯ They simultaneously thought. Anon took the ¡®teleportation¡¯ circle badly. It wasn¡¯t a proper device. Designed with the intention of dropping off one into a designated world, the drop location was random. It being an emergency device and all. The goddess could plunge into the middle of some murky swamp and nobody would know. She even wore a set of black clothes for this inauspicious day. Stepping into the middle, a blinding light shrouded her body. The last thing Anon saw were the gentle faces of Majesty and Queen. It soothed her somewhat, to see her godparents send her off. In mere minutes, Anon found herself in the midst of a forest-nowhere. Greenery was everywhere. Tall trees towered over her figure, rays of light managed through the dense forestry, Nevertheless, it was quite clean- as clean as a forest could get. Anon started her journey by heading south, she wanted to find a place away from human population for the time being. Anon¡¯s first goal was to find a cave and meditate. Her mana heart buzzed, it was still a tad bit haywire due to the teleportation circle. Going into temporary isolation would help in focus for the tampering of the organ. An unfamiliar power suddenly flowed into Anon and orbs of light danced around her. [God¡¯s privilege]- immediate acknowledgement and affection of the spirits: catalyst of mana. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t require their help to establish her powers, but the humans did. The snow-haired goddess thought she might as well walk in their footsteps as she walks their earth. Composed, Anon set off to find camp. She found a camp site soon. But most unfortunately, already occupied by a family of Blue-eyed Grizzlies. They growled at her, territorial. The goddess backed off, sighing at the application of first come, first served. Anon wouldn¡¯t kill the bears, not when she knew the value of a fleeting life. Animals were sinless as they lived on instinct. There was no point in troubling them and herself over a cave far too cramped anyway. Those aware and cautious of their actions, on the other hand, deserved little more than a few minutes to explain themselves. She was a tolerant person after all~ Hours pass, the sun was still up and burning. Most probably late afternoon, Anon took her time unaffected from the humidity. A rustling noise was heard. It was heading towards the goddess¡¯s direction. Chapter 10 - Making a nest There was something in the city rebuilt, That remind us Of a bumpy year. Gigantic walls we hope protect us Once more, as we sing the melody Of familiar chances. Raise your voices everybody And smile. A smooth surface area greeted Anon. She stood, stoic but feeling quite dumbfounded with the half a metre egg that had rolled to her naked feet. Laugh, yeah, she forgot to take a pair of shoes before she left Paradise. It was a habit to say; Anon preferred to go around barefooted because it was more comfortable. She protected them with mana, so injury wasn¡¯t a problem. Anon wore a pair of shoes the banquet though, but they weren¡¯t hers. It belonged to Queen that dropped by her room after she arrived. Stopping the roll with her toes, Anon starred at the pure white egg for a solid minute and hummed. ¡®A magical beast¡­?¡¯ came the conclusion. Magical beasts mostly laid eggs so it might¡¯ve been just that. But the possibility of it being a common bird¡¯s egg also stood. Despite anything, there was a high possibility of the young in the egg not surviving even if it hatched with all the danger lurking around. The snow haired goddess decided to pick up the egg, adopting it. Confident it wasn¡¯t a cockroach¡¯s egg, Anon wouldn¡¯t mind the additional company.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Under normal circumstance you see, Anon thought herself an open-minded person. She also considered herself a tolerant being after years of practice. But cockroaches were an exception to it all. The way they moved with infinite speed. Their long nimble legs, twitching antennae that moved as though in the direction of filth and (felt)fear- frankly put, was quite frightening. Anon didn¡¯t hate cockroaches, she feared the critters, and it was a rational fear. Never questioning the gradual phobia all this while, it developed slowly with time. The desire to exterminate the entire species wasn¡¯t present. Anon never felt nauseous around them either; only a slight disgust alongside an unquestionable fear. Simply put, more of a: if I find it (cockroach) in the bathroom or in any room actually- you most certainly would not find me at said location! Embracing the cool object against her chest, Anon first made sure to listen for any impending cries of a distraught parent. Void of haste, the goddess waited for a while before returning onto her ongoing exploration after hearing nothing. As the clear sky darkened, wisps of dark clouds started to loom over the forest. Anon already found shelter, a humble cave deep enough as it was spacious. The excellent location was surprisingly empty but the goddess didn¡¯t pry. Cleaning the living area, Anon took the gathered vines or weeds she found along the way to make a nest for the egg. After spending who-knows how long living, bored gods were bound to find something to do. The goddess herself picked up a few tricks; although not perfect but somewhat decent in appearance, the nest was made after great effort. Anon decided to meditate next, she closed her eyes and focused for the pumping second heart in her body. It wasn¡¯t a physical organ, but more of a magically made organ after continued rehearsal. The heart was like figurative speech, an existing dream ingrained into reality. After stabilising the formerly unstable heartbeat, Anon planned for her next stop. The goddess may have been a recluse, but she was a fussy shut in; The cave she stayed in as of now didn¡¯t even have proper bedding, which was a huge ¡®no¡¯ in Anon¡¯s book. The bed she stored in her space wouldn¡¯t help relieve anything either. The cave was spacious, but still not wide enough to move around easily if a king-sized bed suddenly popped out from nowhere. She¡¯d have no place to put it. Anon currently sat on a cushion she summoned. With the egg opposite her, she quietly observed it. The room¡¯s temperature started to drop. ¡®Didn¡¯t eggs need warmth to hatch?¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ ¡®Should I find a feathered creature to do the job?¡¯ Adopting a living being before the age of maturity was hard¡­ Anon considered fire magic in hope it¡¯d help the egg hatch. Many questions occupied her mind. Thunder started to sound above them; lightning strikes could be seen quite frequently but it was yet to rain. The forest was eerily silent, save for the soothing rumbles.