Chapter 894 — Both Ends of the Chain

Mezen and Noretta stood at the foot of the high steps, heads lowered, daring neither to look up nor to speak, waiting with tense expressions for further instructions from the god.

Even the most flighty, most daring, most unconventional young dragon, in the presence of the patron god of their race, was filled with awe and dared not overstep.

"Raise your heads, you two young children," the magnificent woman with golden hair trailing to the floor sat upon the ornately decorated divine throne, looking down at the two figures at the end of the steps. A smile seemed to appear on her face. "I am not angry, and you completed your task well—among the younger generation, you are outstanding."

Only then did Mezen and Noretta dare to raise their heads. The latter glanced reverently at the goddess high above, an expression of modesty on her face: "Thank you for your praise..."

A smile did indeed appear on the Dragon God's face. She looked at the two young dragons with apparent satisfaction and asked casually: "The outside world... is it interesting?"

"It is interesting," Mezen answered at once. "And the human world has changed greatly in recent years, for example... ah, of course, I have not been overly absorbed in the outside world..."

She seemed to feel that such an unsteady manner was somewhat improper, and hurriedly tried to make amends, but the god's voice had already come from above: "There is no need to be nervous. I have never forbidden you from coming into contact with the outside world, and Tarond is not a closed place... So long as you have not run too far, I will not mind."

Mezen lowered her head: "Yes, yes..."

"Gao Yang Cecil—what sort of person would you say he is, roughly?" the Dragon God asked again. "Beyond refusing my invitation, how else did he conduct himself?"

"He is... complicated, hard to see through at a glance," Metzzen said, speaking as she pondered. "On the whole, I would say his will is firm, his goals clear, and his vision far ahead of most humans—and a whole string of facts has proven that most of those far-sighted judgments of his turned out to be correct. As for how he behaved beyond refusing the invitation..."

Here she thought carefully for a moment, then, piecing her words together as she went, said: "He remained calm throughout—apart from some surprise when he first heard your invitation, he behaved the entire time as though he were facing an ordinary 'invitation card.' He did not seem to feel awe or trepidation merely because the invitation came from a god, and that composed manner of his was probably not feigned; my lie-detection sensors gave no response."

"The craftiest deceivers can even deceive themselves, and lie-detecting spells and devices are useless against such people," the Dragon God said mildly. "Still, I am inclined to trust your judgment, Metzzen. That human seems somewhat special; he truly appears to feel neither awe nor trepidation toward the gods."

A brief silence fell over the great hall, and only then did Metzzen and Noretta finally hear the voice that seemed to come from the heavens themselves: "That will do. Go back and rest."

They bowed their heads at the same time and said in unison: "Yes, my Lord!"

The two young dragons departed, and for a time the vast temple held only the god enthroned on high, the dragon priest who served the god, and a few attendants beneath notice.

Enya sat in her broad, magnificent seat in a somewhat languid posture, leaning back against it with one hand propped beside her face, and spoke in the tone of casual conversation: "Hragor, those two children were very nervous—am I truly so terrifying to you all day to day?"

"They only stand in awe of you, my Lord," Hragor said at once. "You have always been tolerant and benevolent toward the dragon race, and toward the young of the race above all; they surely know that as well."

"Only in awe..."

The Dragon God Enya murmured as though to herself, her eyelids drooping slightly, gazing lazily with narrowed eyes toward the far end of the hall. Her gaze seemed to pass through the temple, through the mountain peaks and the vast skies of Tarronde, and come to rest at last upon every dragon in that land.

She saw a net, and upon the net countless threads; she saw chains woven from faith, binding every living being in that land.

Faith is a chain: mortals on one end, the gods on the other.

"...How dull."

The god spoke with a trace of disappointment.

...

"I was nearly scared to death just now!!" Walking across the plaza outside the great temple, Metzzen could not help patting her chest and breathing deeply as she spoke. "I felt like my heart was beating out of place... ah, I really must have my hearts checked when I get back, I honestly think two of them have jumped into the wrong chambers..."

Noretta glanced sidelong at her friend: "You have no one to blame but yourself for skimping on internal implants—the composite blood-pump hearts from Frostlight Heavy Industries or Bakbato aren't even expensive."

"No heart of any kind can hold up against the pressure of standing face to face with a god—and besides, those so-called new products are technically not much different from the old models. A few extra lights and pretty badges on the casing won't make my heart any stronger."

"All right, we shouldn't be discussing this at the top of our voices here," Noretta could not help warning. "We're still within the holy grounds."

Metzzen made an effort to settle herself, then stared at Noretta several times over: "You don't get any more chances to meet the gods than I do... so why do you look so calm?"

"Perhaps you should try inhaling half a unit of 'Ash' booster before an important meeting," Noretta said. "It takes the edge off, and the dose is just right so it won't make you lose your composure."

"...I don't care for these flashy boosters," Metzzen shook her head. "I'll just go on being my young old relic."