Chapter 25
The same events but from seen from different perspectives, you would find another side to things.
For example Bai YueSheng felt like he had treated Lance Steen pretty well. But sometimes this kind of shallow regard might not be better than no regard at all.
Midgard existed above the Nether Sea, it was a floating island. It relied on the unlimited power of the gods to raise itself above the ground, leaving behind the violent titans, creating a peaceful land belonging to the gods.
Lance Steen was born in a very ordinary family of gods. Or a better term would have been humble. Because his mother was a disparaged demigod (a mix blood born from a god and a human) and his father was also a low-level god whose only skill was smelting. With this he was barely able to support the living expense of the two of them.
So when Lance was born he didn't bring his parents any happiness but instead brought them only calamity.
Every time one of the Lord Gods is born, there will be oracle signs.
When Lance was born, the entire Midgard erupted into nine days and nine nights of glorious light. It was so bright that it illuminated the night, shining from the sky to the earth, it made the whole world topsy turvy, turning night into day and filling the continent with celebration. The scene was like the rebirth of the dragon and the phoenix.
This kind of oracle was something none of the Nine Lord Gods had ever experienced.
As the cheers throughout the continent faded, a noisy debate began in the Temple of Gods.
All Nine Lord Gods were still in their positions. Then who was the awakened new God?
As for who he was, it didn't matter to Lance Steen. Because the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the dead bodies of his parents.
The power of the Lord God was extreme, however he was born into an ordinary family. His demigod mother and his low level god father, they could not withstand his "oracle" – the godly light that had lit up the entire Midgard had taken with it his parents blood and lives.
Lance Steen was too young to remember it, but afterwards there were always people constantly reminding him.
Reminding him the reason he was called the Sun God came from the burning death of his parents.
The one year old Lance Steen couldn't understand, the two year old also was quite confused, even when he was three he could only comprehend that he didn't have a mother or father, but after he was four he understood everything.
He understood that he carried the heavy burden of crime and at the same time that everyone around him didn't like him.
He was always by himself, subsisting bit by bit, cautious and careful, he had experienced all the coldness in the hearts of people.
That was until he met that man.
A five year old child couldn't understand too many things. In the long days afterwards his memories should fade and vanish but Lance Steen would never forget the shock that went through him when he raised his head and saw that silver haired man for the first time.
At first he couldn't see his face clearly but only his long and slender body, that pale blue robe moving like water and the silver-white hair like moonlight. But as the man slightly leaned forward, the hair moved gently like mist and slowly parted to reveal an exquisite appearance. Beautiful eyes, a delicate nose and pale lips softly rising… even before he spoke Lance was filled with the strong impulse that he was willing to die or be killed by that man.
That man said, "Do you want to go back with me to the Water Temple?"
Lance Steen didn't even think about it. Even if he couldn't understand what Bai YueSheng was saying he nodded his dead, immediately agreeing.
Afterwards he discovered who he was.
The current Water God, his official name was Xin Lin. He also had a strange personal name, called YueSheng.
Lance didn't know what these two names meant. But he felt that it was beautiful, just like the person, so beautiful that it made people not dare to take a second look.
This person actually became his godfather, it was wonderful.
For the first time in his life the five year old child felt a sense of security.
Bai YueSheng really didn't mistreat Lance Steen. His position in this world was high above. Even though there were many people constantly saying bad things about Lance, then didn't dare go against him to hurt Lance.
As one of the nine Lord Gods, the Water Temple was very regal and luxurious. There were many servants and everything they used was of the utmost quality. Bai YueSheng had a lot of responsibilities, but every day he would ask after Lance's situation and when he had time he would go and see him.
Every time they met, little Lance was very obedient. He was dressed cleanly and neatly, golden haired with white skin, cute and small. Anyone who saw him would feel pleased.
Bai YueSheng didn't speak to him very much, just simple things like, "Did you sleep well at night?" "Is the food to your taste?" "If you have any needs just tell the housekeeper."
Every time Lance Steen's answer was practically the same. "I'm sleeping very well." "The food is to my taste." "I don't have any other needs."
Bai YueSheng thought he was pretty easy to take care of, rather like a piece of personal jade kept by his side. It was pretty good.
A blink of an eye and three years passed. Lance had grown to eight years old. He was obedient and self-sufficient, he didn't have any mischievous tendencies that others children had. He was hardworking and diligent, with a perseverance and tenacity other people could hardly imagine. He had actually completely memorized that dry and boring "Theology" book that was nearly half as tall as him.
The first time Bai YueSheng heard about this he was surprised. He called him over and ask him a few lines and unexpectedly he answered everything smoothly, without even half a mistake.
This really wasn't something that even the word "genius" could fully encompass.
Although Bai YueSheng had an eidetic memory but that torturous "Theology" book, he couldn't memorize it if he died.
At that time Bai YueSheng asked him, "Do you like this?"
Little Lance's voice was very soft. "I like it."
Bai YueSheng didn't believe it. But he was such a small child. If he didn't like it why did he put so much effort into it?
Actually he was right not believe it although he didn't know the real reason. In reality this reason… as long as Bai YueSheng used some effort, he could have easily found it out.
It all began when Lance made a request from the housekeeper for the first time.
"Can I see my godfather?" At that time Bai YueSheng went to the most northern city in Midgard, Sentolan City. It had already been three months and he hadn't returned to the Water Temple.
However Lance didn't know this. He waited for the usual meeting every seven days. Even if it was only a short few minutes, even if it was only to exchange a few meaningless phrases, it had become the thing little Lance looked forward to the most.
However he waited seven days then another seven days… three months to a child was very slow and arduous. Lance really couldn't wait any longer so he went to look for the housekeeper.
Because Bai YueSheng had told him, "if you have any needs just tell the housekeeper."
But this housekeeper gave Lance this kind of answer, "His Highness should wait a little longer. Maybe after you memorize that book, then the Great Lord God will have returned."
He pointed to the thick enough to cover little Lance's waist.
So Lance memorized it.
However in the end the only thing he got in return was Bai YueSheng's surprise, a few questions and that final "Do you like this?"
Little Lance said softly, "I like it". But as for what exactly he liked, the truth was something only he knew.
These kind of thoughts, Bai YueSheng didn't know about them at all.
When they went to the Temple of the Gods to discuss things, Bai YueSheng mentioned this matter to a few gods close to him and together they marvelled at Lance's intelligence.
At this time the Earth Goddess De Mo smiled charmingly and said, "Xin Lin you really don't know how to raise a child."
Bai YueSheng looked at her. "What?"
As one the Lord Gods, the female Goddess De Mo was extremely beautiful. That long and soft black hair was once proclaimed the pride of the Lord Gods, because it connected all the land of the Midgard, her strong power supported the life force of many living things.
The Earth Goddess belonged to the peaceful faction and her relationship with Bai YueSheng was pretty good. Sh continued to say, "A child of seven or eight, what does he do every day shut up in the Water Temple? You should let him attend the Central College and play with kids his own age. That way his personality will become more open and cheerful."
Bai YueSheng thought for a while and thought this made sense.
De Mo then said, "Do you think he really likes that book "Theology"? He must be bored to death, nothing to do every day, so he had no choice but to read that book that only old men read."
Bai YueSheng really didn't understand children. After being reminded by her, he thought she was most likely correct so he said, "It's my mistake."
De Mo smiled and said, "It's not too late. Although he missed the start of the new term, he can still go as a transfer. It's better than being bored for another year."
This kind of small matter was no problem for Bai YueSheng. As one of the Lord Gods, if he didn't even have this kind of power what was the point?
Thus he arranged for Lance to attend the Central College.
On the first day, Bai YueSheng personally accompanied Lance to school. On the way, little Lance was extremely happy. His blue eyes were bright like beautiful gemstones and Bai YueSheng realized that he had indeed shut up this child too long.
Actually Lance's happiness was for a completely different reason. This day he had spent a complete three hours with Bai YueSheng. Although they didn't speak much but as long as his father was by his side, he felt extremely happy.
At that time Lance was innocent as a piece of paper that only had Bai YueSheng's portrait on it. And because the portrait was too large, it couldn't fit anything else on it.
Unfortunately this piece of paper was too thin and could be ripped up by others too easily.
Going to school wasn't something that was good for Lance.
He was the adopted son of the Water God Xin Lin, but at the same time he was the child at the source of the dispute between the Lord Gods.
Sun God? God of Destruction?
These two extremes placed Lance into an unstable position.
One one side were those people who admired and followed him, on the other was those who despised him to the extreme.
An eight year old child, how could he get used to this? From his left ear he heard bright and kind words, but from his right ear he heard dark and shadowy things. How could he differentiate between right and wrong?
Lance was an obedient child. He looked up to Bai YueSheng, he was familiar with all of the Water God Xin Lin's history and achievements. So he only knew that Bai YueSheng was righteous and liked bright and good things.
So he hoped that he would become the Sun God of Midgard, and not the God of Destruction.
But the plotting had already begun under the surface of peace, waiting for the right opportunity to ripen and emerge from the ground.
During a hunting excursion, Lance was surrounded by the children of the destruction faction.
Seven or eight teenagers bullying a eight year old child… even if Lance had enough power to retaliate, he couldn't.
The Central College strictly prohibited fighting. If he was found out he would be punished.
He didn't want his godfather to lose face, so he chose not to retaliate.
But these teens were young devils.
Among them there was one who yelled loudly, "Don't you know? Your parents were killed by you! As soon as you were born you killed your own mother and father. You're the God of Destruction that can only bring calamity. You're a demon that should have died ages ago!"
This was pressing down on the knot in Lance's heart, the scar hidden in the deepest part. Now that it was exposed, he had a terrible feeling of having nowhere to hide.
This young child said clumsily "It's not like that… It wasn't on purpose. At that time I…."
"So what if it wasn't on purpose? If you kill someone by negligence is it not a crime? The people you killed were your own parents! You carry this kind of crime, how can you think to stay beside the Lord Water God?"
Lance's entire body tensed up. He was really scared, really really scared. "I…. I…."
"We should let the Lord Water God see your true face! Your dirty, devilish face that will one day destroy everything. Even the Lord Water God will be destroyed by you!"
"Get out of the Water Temple, hurry up and die! You taint the Lord Water God with your filth…"
Suddenly all sound stopped.
Lance had entered an empty state of being. His heart felt as though it was being tightly held by someone, he couldn't breath, his mind was empty.
He couldn't think of anything. A nightmare like voice swirled around his head.
Get out out the Water Temple, leave the Lord Water God, you dirty piece of filth…
Only this, only this thing he couldn't accept. He couldn't do it.
He couldn't… he couldn't lose his godfather.
When he opened his eyes, Lance was standing in a pool of blood.
All those people who had beat and ridiculed him were motionless corpses surrounding him. In the forest an eagle flew past, there was a cold and chilling whistling sound filled with murderous intent. He stood there not moving and his hands were filled with the fresh blood of other people.
What… what had he done….
T/N: Now that we’re quite a ways into the story, can I ask you guys to head to NU and leave a rating for the story? You can leave a rating without a review, but if you have time leave a review too. I noticed a lot of reviews are from a long time ago from people who only read a few chapters since it wasn’t updated for a long time.
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