It was the end of an era.
In the wake of the departure of the Gods, life on this planet was irrevocably shattered, left a remnant of its former glory. Without the presence of the Almighty, people would be left without guidance, and the realm would descend into ruin.
Salem contemplated this bitterly. The Gods took everything with them when they left. Fragments of the past, the hope of a brighter future - all gone now. But they did leave something behind - her. Cursed with immortality and blessed by their absence, Salem could do whatever she wanted.
And all she wanted was to be happy.
—
Salem welcomed a survivor into her home.
He was young, barely more than a teen, but the haunted look in his eyes belonged to a man who had seen far too much. His clothes, caked with mud from the journey, left a mess on Salem's otherwise immaculate floors, but she didn't mind.
First, she allowed him to bathe himself while preparing clean clothes. When all the dirt had been washed from his body, she inspected his wounds with motherly grace and treated them expertly. He was silent throughout this affair, though Salem didn't pressure him. She placed a bowl of warm soup before him, and finally, in the face of all this kindness, he broke down, crying.
When the tears began to subside, the boy looked at the woman and saw no judgment in her gaze. She only commented that he should eat, for the soup was getting cold. He ate silently, accepting her kindness for what it was.
When night fell, she offered him a bed, and he gratefully accepted.
He stayed for several days, sifting through his thoughts and memories, processing the horrors of his experience while accepting Salem's kindness. As the days passed, the boy felt a sense of duty, and asked what he could do to help. Salem brought him to her garden, gave him some tools, and showed him how to tend to the plants. He accepted the task and got to work.
Weeks passed, and life continued in this way for the two. One day, the boy asked why she had welcomed him so readily. "You were suffering," she replied. "I can guess why, so it didn't make sense for me to rub salt into your wounds. I helped you because you needed it. There is no other reason."
A few days later, the boy announced his intention to leave. "I have lost my past, but I still have control over my present and my future. Thank you for all your help. You have inspired me to help those who need it, and so I must go." Salem accepted this, gave him a few gifts, and bid him farewell when he left.
—
Salem welcomed pilgrims into her home.
Inspired by the tales spun from a wandering mercenary, these people sought out the goddess in the forest, in order to receive her blessing.
When they arrived, they found her in her garden, working peacefully and serenely. At their approach, she smiled and asked if they wanted food and water. Not wanting to be rude, they accepted her gifts.
One among their number was frail, rendered weak from a lifelong illness. The village doctors had been unable to treat her condition, yet when she ate of the provided food, she began feeling better, and when she finished her meal, she was healthier than she had ever been.
When asked how this was done, Salem smiled and said it was merely a miracle.
The pilgrims, having completed their pilgrimage returned home, and spoke of a paradise hidden in the forest.
—
Salem welcomed an army into her home.
On the orders of their king, they marched to conquer and subjugate new lands to spread the glory of their kingdom. There was a forest just outside of the kingdom's territory that the locals called Paradise. It was said to be the home of a merciful goddess, who aided all who called on her. The king wanted to claim this land for his own, that this goddess would serve his people exclusively, and so the army marched.
When they arrived in the forest, they encountered a woman, tending her garden. There were many tables set, and an abundance of food being prepared, as if she was expecting to host many people. She smiled at the approaching army, and told them to wait just a bit longer for the food to be prepared.
Suspicious, the general ordered his men to stay in formation. When she brought some food to eat, the youngest soldier was ordered to eat it, to test it for poison. After taking a single bite, he ravenously devoured the rest, and asked for seconds. The rest of the soldiers, exhausted from their march and tired of their rations, took their seats at the tables and waited for food to be served, despite their commands. Magically, food floated from the many pots into the plates of the soldiers, allowing them all to be served at once.
Seeing that his men could not be dissuaded, the general joined them. They stayed for a few days and nights, and they left without harming a single soul.
—
Salem welcomed a king into her home.
When his army was repelled, yet no casualties were reported, he had to investigate personally, despite the counsel of his advisors. He approached a quaint cottage with a large field. There was a single woman sitting on the porch of her home, but two cups of tea beside her. She offered him a seat and the second cup of tea.
"I have no time for your games. I would have you serve me and my people."
Salem refused.
The king drew his sword. "If you will not join me, then you will die. I will not let you aid my enemies."
There was a peal of laughter, the sound of flowers dancing in the winds, a mother's amusement at a small child's jest. "You cannot kill me."
The king raised his sword. "So you say."
At once, the sun disappeared, as thunderclouds rumbled ahead. There was a raging inferno a small distance away, eagerly waiting to consume arrogant men. There was a rumbling of the earth, as the ground on which he stood gave way. When it all stopped, the man was left on his knees, the thoughts of death and glory long gone. "You cannot kill me," Salem repeated.
Wordlessly, the man returned to his horse and rode home.
The king returned to his kingdom a changed man. He no longer spoke of expansion nor conquest. He focused his energy into improving the lives of the people under his care, and the kingdom rejoiced.
—
Salem welcomed the Gods into her home.
They were as austere as ever, but there was a slight softness, almost fondness in their eyes as they judged her.
"We apologize," the God of Light admitted.
"We were wrong," the God of Darkness continued.
"We were young and arrogant, and we were outraged at your deception."
"We denounced you as a wicked human, irreverent and foolish."
"Yet over the centuries, you have proved us wrong at every turn."
"You who would defy the Gods have shown nothing but kindness and compassion to the people of these lands."
"We judged you ignorant, but it is clear that you have an absolute understanding of life and death."
"And for that, we apologize."
Salem looked at the twin Gods, and accepted their apology.
They offered her peace, and she accepted that as well.
—
Ozma welcomed Salem into their home.
"The Gods allowed me to watch you after they retreated here. Every single second I saw reminded me of why I love you. Let us enjoy our eternity here in peace." He extended his hand.
She accepted it, and once more, Salem was happy.
