Chapter 953 — The "Chosen" Amber
Blade of Dawn · Page 4 of 4
Gaoyang had already caught on: "The God of Storms..."
So the Dragon God truly knew a very great deal!
"In other words, two gods survived that war of ancient times—one the Goddess of Shadow, the other the God of Storms," Gaoyang pressed on, but halfway through he remembered something. "Wait, that ought to include you as well..."
The Dragon God merely kept that ambiguous half-smile, seeming to acquiesce, yet gave no answer.
"Then the Goddess of Shadow survived and lay dormant in a special state?" Gaoyang finally steered the talk back once more. "So her situation is highly peculiar—she can give no strong response to her believers, nor can she elevate a God-Chosen from among them?"
"That is so."
"Then what sort of state is it exactly?" Gaoyang's curiosity had already been stirred to a keen pitch. "Is it... a false death like Amorn's? Or an escape like the Goddess of Magic's?"
"Regrettably, even I do not know that," the Dragon God said, shaking her head—to his surprise. "I cannot see Him, nor hear Him. I know only that He lives, lives in a most peculiar state... I once tried to seek out His whereabouts, but in every realm I could reach, I found nothing at all."
"So there are things even you do not know..." Gaoyang could not help shaking his head. Then he glanced at Amber beside him and looked once more to the Dragon God. "Very well—by your account, the Goddess of Shadow's situation is peculiar indeed... She truly cannot elevate a God-Chosen of her own from among mortals. So the question returns to where it began—Amber says she has established a connection with a god. Then what exactly is it she believes in?"
The Dragon God did not answer at once. She seemed to smile, and let her gaze fall upon Amber. "Child, do you still firmly believe that you are God-Chosen?"
Amber opened her mouth as though she meant to hesitate, but soon she drew herself up. "Of course!"
"Frankly, I do not believe for a moment that any bond of faith exists between you and the Goddess of Shadow—I cannot even see in you any bond of faith pointing toward a deity. However confident you may be, my judgment remains the same," the Dragon God said, watching Amber in a placid tone. "Yet I am willing to believe in your peculiarity... God-Chosen or not, you are peculiar, and that, to me, is rather interesting."
"Peculiar?" Amber scratched at her hair. "What do you mean?"
The Dragon God gave her a long, deep look, but said nothing.
Then the deity rose from her seat—quite abruptly, in Gaoyang's eyes—and said to those present, "The hour grows late. We may stop here for now."
Gaoyang was taken aback; almost without thinking he spoke. "But I still have so many questions..."
"Yes, I know you have many questions still—especially many questions about gods, about Tarrande," the Dragon God said, casting him a look that seemed heavy with meaning. "I will answer them, but not today.
"Do not be so eager to hear answers from the mouth of a god. Better that you first go and see for yourself.
"I would have you first take a good look at Tarrande, examine it earnestly with your own eyes, look upon... this 'Eternal Cradle' under the gods' protection. Once you have seen it, our next exchange may go more smoothly.
"You will know what it is you wish to ask, and you will better understand my answers."
Gaoyang wore a thoughtful expression.
Then he nodded. "Very well. This too is your goodwill—and we should not decline it."