Chapter 26
These people were dead. Why… were they dead? Who killed them?
Lance lowered his head and looked at his hands. They were both familiar and foreign. He had used this pair of hands to do many things but right now he didn't recognize them.
They were filled with red liquid and exuded a terrifying suffocating air. Between the seams of his fingers he saw pieces of minced meat…. Lance opened his eyes wide. It was as though something broke inside his blank memories, filling everything with darkness.
It was him that killed them…
He had killed.
In a state of complete lack of awareness, he had killed them all!
Why did it become like this? How? He didn't want to kill them. He didn't want to!
But…
"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!"
That's right. The first time he had killed someone was when he didn't have any comprehension at all. He had killed his relatives. Now he didn't have any memories either, but did this mean he didn't do it?
No.
Because he had done it. Other than him there wasn't anyone else here.
Lance was completely frozen. Countless images flashed through his head. The most numerous was Bai YueSheng's smiling face as he talked to him. It was so warm and gentle, so beautiful and so… beyond his reach.
Suddenly, Lance's small body trembled fiercely.
If his godfather knew, if he knew that not only had he killed his parents but that he had killed so many people…
Then would he still let him stay in the Water Temple?
Would he still think it was the Sun God that would bring hope and not the God of Destruction that would bring ruin and destruction?
Would he still smile, still talk to him?
The fear and anxiety was like a poisoned snake. It's fangs pierced his heart and the cold poison flowed into his veins, the terrible sensation numbing all his limbs. He was filled with despair. It was the kind of pain that an eight year old child could hardly withstand.
"Oh heavens!" A charming female voice sounded.
Lance looked up suddenly and in the depths of the forest he saw a strange woman.
She was wearing a white silk dress and the elegant texture outlined her exquisite body. At her waist she carried a bouquet of lilies and the skirt of the dress billowed in the wind. The most eye-catching thing about her was her floor length black hair, flowing with endless vitality.
The Earth Goddess – De Mo.
Lance had seen her portrait in the "Theology" book. She was the Goddess that represented life and peace.
De Mo's face was shocked. She looked at Lance and said, "What happened here?"
Lance looked as though he had been nailed to the stone. He didn't say a thing.
De Mo eyebrows twisted and she said, "Was this… done by you?"
So many people had died and Lance is the only one left alive. The answer was already very clear.
De Mo hesitated for as second, then suddenly became lighter. "If this got out, then probably you…:"
Lance opened his mouth without thinking, "Don't tell…" He cut himself off and didn't speak the last two words.
De Mo's eyes revealed a hint of a hidden smile. She said slowly, "You don't want to let YueSheng know, is that right?"
When Lance heard this personal name spoken he stood up straight. He looked even more like a bamboo standing in the cold wind, rigid and fragile.
De Mo's eyes moved lower and saw his hand filled with blood. After half a moment she said, "I can help you."
Lance looked at her. Because he was so nervous his eyes narrowed into a line. "What do you want in return?"
"What a clever child." De Mo laughed. "However right now I don't want you to do anything. I am good friends with YueSheng. His heart is kind and he cares about you a lot. That' right, last time he said you were smart. That even though you were so young you'd memorized "Theology", that's very admirable."
At such a young age Lance wasn't about the distinguish many things but when he heard Bai YueSheng's name he became nervous again. His whole head was filled with the thought that as long as he could cover this up, he would be willing to accept any price.
"So…" De Mo's wiped the bloodstain away from his golden hair and continued gently, "In order to break his heart I will help you. Don't worry, no one will know about what happened today."
It was just as De Mo said. After Lance washed away the bloodstains he returned quietly to the Central College. Afterwards this incident was like a stone that had sunk into the ocean, there wasn't even the slightest ripple.
Nothing happened. The thing he feared and worried about the most as though it was the end of the world, none of it happened….
It was only that Lance became even more quiet. He practically stopped speaking to everyone.
It was a pity that even though he didn't pay attention to other people, it didn't mean they would stop bothering him.
Because of his identity as the God of Destruction, he endured endless insults and mockery.
Afterwards when many years had passed Lance came to know that these people were being directed by someone else. But right now he didn't know a thing.
After a year the the Central College, Lance didn't become more cheerful or open but instead became even more introverted.
Bai YueSheng looked at the obedient to death child in front of him, and thought that something didn't seem right.
Were children supposed to be this quiet?
It was a shame that he and Ah Jiu were not good at raising children. He really didn't know what this child was thinking and he was extremely busy. Trying to create trouble between the Nine Lord Gods was no easy matter. The political power of Midgard is deep rooted. Although the Gods all had some small grievances between them, but in order to maintain the power of the collective, they didn't have any large-scale conflicts and everyone kept to their principal very firmly.
The Water God Xin Lin had an old-fashioned personality and he couldn't stir up trouble so Bai YueSheng had to act a certain way on the surface and another way behind the scenes. It really required a lot of energy so where would he find the time to research how to raise a child?
However De Mo often asked him about Lance's situation.
Bai YueSheng and her belonged to the same peaceful faction and often exchanged pleasantries. If she asked, then naturally he would chat with her.
"How is little Lance recently?"
Bai YueSheng said, "Very well. His grades are especially good. Even the most difficult battle magic he got an ."
De Mo sighed. "That's very impressive. I remember back then your grades were already very excellent, but even you didn't get an in battle magic."
Bai YueSheng smiled. He didn't continue reminiscing with her but only lightly said, "I only think that that child is a bit too quiet."
"Oh?" De Mo asked. "Is he still gloomy like before?"
Bai YueSheng didn't really like the word she used to describe him but actually the word "gloomy" really did hit the mark. Bai YueSheng nodded. "Yes, he's not like a child at all."
De Mo laughed and said. "I think maybe he's scared of you so he controls himself in front of you and appears somewhat dull. You shouldn't go to see him so often, give him more freedom and space. He's a child, naturally he's scared of his parents, especially one that isn't actually related."
Bai YueSheng didn't pay much mind to her words. He already saw Lance very rarely, if he reduced it anymore then he may as well not raise that child.
The two of them didn't continue this conversation. They talked a little more about the Northern Ice City's matters, the Ocean God Fili and the War God Qiang LinNi had always been eyeing the beasts that live there in seclusion, and it seemed like they wanted to take advantage of it again.
They talked for a while until it was noon. In the middle the God of Wisdom and the Goddess of the Hunt came and so everyone stayed together in the Water Temple to dine.
De Mo asked, "Is little Lance off from school today? Why don't you ask him to eat with us?"
The people sitting here were all from the peace camp. They all believed that Lance was the Sun God, so they treated him well. Once De Mo spoke they all clamored their agreement.
Bai YueSheng sent someone to fetch Lance.
When that golden haired and blue-eyed child appeared, the Goddess of the Hunt and De Mo both wore joyful expressions and began giving him lots of presents.
Lance was very respectful and polite. His manners were elegant and his voice was clear. They really couldn't fault his education but Bai YueSheng still felt as though something was not quite right.
He really didn't look like a child.
De Mo remembered what she had been discussing with Bai YueSheng earlier. She said to Lance, "Smile a bit, don't always wear this gloomy face. Your godfather likes happy and cheerful children."
Bai YueSheng frowned. He said, "Don't tease him."
De Mo looked at the sitting Bai YueSheng then looked at the little old man Lance. She suddenly smiled. "I know! This fellow is imitating you! If you really want him to become cheerful, you should let him come back with me to the Earth Temple. If he goes with me, I guarantee he'll become a little cutie!"
The child who had always been quiet and still, suddenly raised his head.
Like what I'm doing? Consider It will really help encourage me in my work. Also to thank you, you will get access to several advanced draft chapters of AWoE and SSSG. If you want to know exactly what is on there- hit the button below.