Interlude One: Megami no Kenshi
The members of the main staff of the Earth Help Center crowded into the room, wondering why Kami-sama had ordered them to an audience. They were waiting in the ante-room to his chamber, the white ceiling so far above them it was almost invisible. Most of them were quiet, but some of the junior members of the team were speculating.
The large ivory double doors opened without a sound, moving out of their own accord, admitting them to Kami-sama's audience chamber. Most of the goddesses gasped in surprise upon entering the room. The chamber was a large circular room that seemed almost bottomless. Balconies on either side of the floor they were entering lined the sides, and a single platform projected outwards.
And someone was already standing on the platform.
"Come in," Kami-sama's voice ordered. As all of the goddesses had moved inside, the doors closed again. Then he spoke again. "I have asked you to come here for a specific purpose – I wanted to introduce someone to you." It was disconcerting to most people to have a non-corporeal voice talking to you; especially if that voice was God, but nevertheless it made all of the goddesses focus on the person already on the platform.
The figure on the platform turned around and gave them a shy smile. He was a man of mediocre height, maybe a little short for European standards, and a long black coat fell from his shoulders. His handsome features were youthful, but his eyes betrayed his experience. To some of the younger goddesses, this seemed disconcerting, as his physical age didn't seem to comply with the years his eyes had seen. The shape of a longsword was barely outlined beneath his cloak.
"This is Tomaas Riatavin. He is a memeber of the Megami no Kenshi. He is a Goddess Knight."
Several of the assembled goddesses gasped in surprise. The Megami no Kenshi – the Goddess Warriors or Knights - were a legendary order of warriors, each of whom commanded their own element, founded eons ago to defend goddesses. It was a children's tale, and had become a legend over time, as no member of this order had been seen for millennia. It was said that their arrival always hailed nothing good, and that if one arrived, it was a very dire situation, indeed.
A young goddess with shoulder-length black hair spoke up, "But they're supposed to be mythical!"
Tom turned to face her, and offered a slight smile. "Well, I'm quite real, I assure you. Unless there are some new developments I'm not aware of," he glanced down at him, "I'm still flesh and blood." He focused back on the bunch of goddesses. "Whenever one of you goddesses is out in the field, we're watching. Just because no demon interferes means there is no demon present."
"Then why are you here?" The goddess glanced at the elevated platform where Kami-sama's voice emanated from. "Is something bad going to happen?" She asked, recalling the legends.
Tom shook his head and shrugged. "I can't tell you. But be assured, if something is coming, I'm there to prevent it. I've been officially assigned to the Earth Help Center as a liaison."
Kami-sama spoke up again. "None of you may talk to anyone about this – especially you, Peorth. I know you like to spread what you heard. This one time, it is crucial not to reveal the Megami no Kenshi's participation in this." The goddesses nodded their assent, and the meeting was dismissed.
On the way back to the Earth Help Center's office, one of the goddesses walked up to Tomaas with a curious expression. "What are you? Are you a god that you can fight demons?" Tom chuckled and shook his head. "Nope, far from it. I'm just an ordinary mortal." Upon hearing this, most of the goddesses cast suspicious or distrustful glances at him. He did his best to ignore them, but the young goddess named Peorth noticed. She wandered up to him.
"Don't worry. It's just temporary. They just don't believe a mortal could fight a demon even to a draw. Especially some of the older ones are stick-in-the-muds." "And you do?" Tom replied, one eyebrow raised, smiling slightly."
Peorth laughed. "No. You'll have to prove it."