CHAPTER 117: THE HEALED TORTOISE

The hallowed site of Yoiglah’s repose was given a visit once again.

At the center lay Yoiglah, his colossal form—a blend of draconic sinew and crystalline growths—sprawling across a dais of polished basalt.

His scales shimmered with a soft glow, each one a showcase to his recovery from the Second Apotheosis incident, their edges now free of the cracks that once marred them.

As for the shrine above the massive tortoise’s shell, they were the same with little to no change except for the appearance of a second snake that coiled the headless statue.

Kivas stood before him, her hands clasped behind her back, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp with concern. Her white-gold hair spilled over her shoulders, catching the gilded light as she tilted her head.

"Yoiglah," she said, her voice steady but warm, "Are there any lingering complications?"

Yoiglah’s massive head lifted slightly, his eyes—deep pools of molten amber—meeting hers. His voice rumbled like distant thunder, calm and measured. "None remain, Kind One. The physical wounds have sealed, and the spiritual weight has lifted. I am whole again, ready to serve you and Vaingall for the foreseeable future."

Samael, leaning against a pillar with her draconic wings folded tightly, snorted softly, her deadpan expression unwavering. "Great. Just don’t do anything that careless again. You’re too big to keep being patched up. Next time, make sure that your state of being is also prioritized when there is any crisis happening from now on."

Yoiglah let out a faint chuckle, the sound reverberating through the hallowed site. "Your concern is noted, Endless One. I’ll be more cautious."

Samael’s lips twitched, her fingers tapping on her own wrist. "Not concerned for you. I’m concerned that Kivas is concerned. Big difference."

Kivas’s grin broke wide, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I apologize that she is still the same in that aspect."

"It is something that must not be fixed, so your apology is unneeded." Yoiglah’s eyes glinted with amusement.. "Predictably, I prefer a familiar pattern from this unrelenting force of nature."

"I told you," Samael glanced at Kivas. "My attitude does not need any fixing, everyone’s understanding is."

"That only works because you’re the former Endless Dragon."

"And I still am, just without the Dragon."

"Regardless," Kivas’s grin softened, her hands unclasping as she gestured in a sweeping motion. "A Karasu representative’s coming. An important matter, they say. We’ll head to the council hall soon."

Oizys’s fingers brushed the edge of her wing. "I need a quick word with Yoiglah. It won’t take long. I’ll catch up the moment I have nothing to say."

Kivas raised an eyebrow, her posture shifting to one hip. "Private, huh? Don’t go plotting a coup or anything."

Oizys’s smirk widened, her halo flickering with amusement. "Tempting, but no."

"I’ll make sure that you regret doing so if that’s the case," Samael said casually, still wearing her deadpan.

Oizys nervously put on a wry smile. "I doubt that, considering that there aren’t any benefits for me to do so."

"Who knows, a heart is as fickle as the direction of a bumbbling wind," Samael snickered. "Of course, removing you from the equation will only benefit me, so please stage a coup."

A tightened veins appeared on Oizys’ face. "Now you’re just asking for a fight."

Kivas glanced at Samael, who shrugged. "Don’t start an infighting now, or else I will restrict our cuddling time."

"... I apologize," Samael’s expression drooped into depression. "I’m just feeling a little bit silly."

"To think that the former Endless Dragon got defeated by less cuddling time." Oizys expected this outcome, but she was still baffled.

"You have no idea how such precious time meant to me," Samael nodded in self-appreciation, as if she was referring to something significant and sacred.

"Anyway, we’ll see you at the meeting," Kivas waved with a smile as she walked away.

Samael followed suit, still thinking how bad it was that she almost got a warning for being too aggressive at her tomfoolery.

The chamber quieted, the hum of sigils and Yoiglah’s steady breathing filling the space.

Oizys stepped closer, her wings folding tightly as she crossed her arms.

"It’s about the resonance, isn’t it?" Yoiglah rumbled, his amber eyes narrowing slightly.

Oizys nodded, her fingers tightening briefly on her arms. "Yeah. I needed to know if there’s any... conflict. You’ve been analyzing the shrine, the assimilated catalyst that allowed you to represent a Divine Portfolio and directly exist as a middleman.

"So, after the self appraisal, anything tied to me?"

Yoiglah closed his eyes, his scales pulsing faintly as if drawing on the shrine’s energy above him. "I’ve conducted an intensive analysis of the Major Shrine and your essence, Oizys. Simply put, there’s no resonance traceable to you.

"It’s as if the Deity of Harvest’s Divine Portfolio has rejected you in this timeline, likely because Kivas already holds it."

Oizys exhaled sharply, her shoulders relaxing as her halo steadied. "Good. No conflict, then. I was worried I’d be stepping on her toes—metaphysically speaking."

Yoiglah’s tail shifted, a low chuckle vibrating through the chamber. "In a way, you’re a shadow of Kivas from another timeline, so the concern about any kind of anomaly and conflict from you and Kivas is expected. The Portfolio chose her here. It’s... selective, to say the least."

Oizys’s lips quivered, her fingers uncrossing. "Divinity and miracles in Fathomi are absurd. Ever since the Second Apotheosis, Kivas and I have been peeling back the layers. You don’t see how ridiculous it is until you’re neck-deep in the river of godhood, no matter how shallow your feet are into the water."

Yoiglah’s eyes opened, glinting with agreement. "Indeed. Even now, I must be cautious with Kivas’s resonance to the shrine. The Major Shrine on my back is stable, but any miscalculation could disrupt the balance. Divinity is a delicate dance of what exists and what is added by the will of the divine miracles.

"For such a thing as stable divinity is naught but an illusion, that all vines and brambles hiding the instability are nothing but proper will and calculation."

Oizys’s smirk returned, her fingers tapping the vine rhythmically. "Speaking of your shrine, how’s Lyenar holding up? The Shrine Maiden’s got her hands full with one Major Shrine. I heard a report that she’s tackling a second at Solvish Keep?"

Yoiglah’s voice is warm with pride. "Lyenar’s resilience is remarkable. She’s integrating Solvish Keep’s belief to fully harness the Deity of Harvest’s mark for the church she is in. And yes, the second Major Shrine is under construction, and she’s managing both for now."

Oizys tilted her head, her halo flickering with curiosity. "Two shrines? Doesn’t that need another Shrine Maiden?"

Yoiglah’s voice was thoughtful. "Ideally, yes. But Lyenar can maintain both unless complications arise. If they do, we have a trained candidate among the Claturians—Uryusha. She’s shown promise."

Oizys’s smirk widened, her fingers pausing on the vine. "Uryusha, huh? I think I’ve seen her before. How’s her training going? Are you working her to the bone?"

Yoiglah’s chuckle echoed, deep and resonant. "Hardly. The faith of the Deity of Harvest saturates Vaingall, amplified by Kivas’s direct presence and active integration of divinity. It makes resonance effortless, accelerating Priest class growth. Uryusha’s progress swiftly because of it."

Oizys nodded, her wings rustling as she straightened. "Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out, huh." Oizys then gazed at the bright sky of Fathomi. "Guess I’m done here. Gotta catch up to Kivas and Samael before they start the meeting without me."

Yoiglah’s eyes softened, his voice low. "Safe travels, Oizys. May the Harvest guide you."

Oizys’s halo flickered with a rare warmth, her fingers brushing her wings as she turned. "Yeah, you too, big guy." She strode toward the exit, her steps light but purposeful, the golden light of the chamber fading behind her.

Moments after Oizys’s departure, the chamber’s sigils pulsed brighter, heralding a new presence.

A Claturian stepped into the hallowed site, her tall stature commanding yet graceful. Her darker skin gleamed fair under the light, her muscular frame accentuated by flowing garments—a cascade of sheer, silver-threaded drapes that clung to her form, their edges embroidered with glowing sigils that touched her long orange hair similar to that of a setting sun.

The fabric, loose yet tailored, swirled like liquid starlight, revealing the sharp lines of her ashen tattoos that spiraled across her arms and shoulders. A wide, open-front skirt trailed behind her, split to allow fluid movement, while a fitted corset of obsidian leather hugged her torso, its surface etched with delicate Claturian runes that pulsed faintly.

"Uryusha, Shrine Maiden candidate, reporting," she announced, her voice clear and confident, her hands clasped respectfully before her.

Yoiglah’s massive head tilted, his eyes glinting with approval. "Welcome, Uryusha. Your training—how does it progress?"

Uryusha’s lips curved into a proud smile, her fingers brushing a tattoo on her arm. "I’ve attained Level 1 Discipline in my Priest class, Unrelenting One."

Yoiglah’s voice was warm with encouragement. "Impressive. And which advanced class have you chosen?"

Uryusha’s smile widened, her posture straightening as her eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Templar," she said, her voice ringing with conviction.