DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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Chapter 3: Divine Truth, Natural Bond
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In the past, Kratos would have disliked an individual such as the peculiar deity that had taken him to drink wine and booze.
A chatty fellow, but overall someone that didn't seem to be outright trying to convince him to do his things. In fact, he looked a bit too busy being slouched over the table and not falling asleep by the time they were done talking. The conversation had been instrumental in forming a more detailed opinion on his whereabouts.
This world... had Gods. But they weren't above alls. There was something known that was deemed the 'source of judgment' towards Deities and Countries alike. This Celestia... Kratos didn't like it. While he had long grasped the need that there had to be a natural order of things that one should respect, the fact that this 'entity' was actually responsible for pruning all but seven Gods felt like a dreadful circumstances. As much as Kratos would prefer a world without Gods, this thing had actually caused a major war just to limit their numbers.
A war so destructive that several civilizations have been erased in the span of a few centuries. As a Spartan, he was familiar that divine Pantheons went through changes. Kronos killed Uranus, Zeus defeated Kronos, and then Kratos killed Zeus. Yet, these changes were somewhat driven by circumstances that had some reason. He was aware his own hunt had almost destroyed Greece, but there was a deep 'background' to what led up to that event.
In this circumstance, however, no one knew what happened to urge this war. Nor, could anyone explain this 'Cataclysm' where a Godless nation was decimated by the Gods themselves. The now-sleeping bard had been unaware of the purpose of this order, only saying that it was needed.
Considering his own odds, Kratos was legitimately nervous about the damage he could cause to Teyvat if Celestia waged war against him. While Barbatos' admission that he was the weakest may mean something to a couple of people, to Kratos it didn't mean much. He had faced strong and weak gods and those were differently 'gauged' in terms of their powers.
Likewise, he was strong enough to potentially decimate this Pantheon if needed. He didn't have a full reading on Celestia, but he had a feeling that he could beat this individual too within the right amount of patience and understanding of what he was facing.
Still... that wasn't the most concerning element. As he had seen with the Girl's own power, the 'spheres' produced by the slain enemy, not too dissimilar to those that provided him with strength, energy and magical power during his years in Greece.
The orbs channeled to him from his defeated foes, just like it happened with the Girl as she was able to ultimately use the gained energy to produce a strong attack which reminded him of some of the older magical attacks he used to be able to employ in battles.
As the bard told him about 'Elemental Energy', Kratos felt curious on what that could mean with his unique abilities. He left Barbatos to rest, a sack of Mora dropped on the table to pay for the booze that was consumed and Kratos was soon off to go outside of Mondstadt for an experiment about this interesting idea-
"Kratos," The Girl was finally done? She was currently walking towards him with the floating brat on her left. "We were looking for you."
"Yeah, why did you leave us like that?"
"I wasn't allowed to enter," Kratos flatly replied, causing both to appear surprised. "Yet, I made a few discoveries while checking the nearby inn."
"Is that so?" The Girl inquired hopefully. "What is it?"
"Let's just say I may have a clue on who attacked you and your brother."
"For real?" The floating brat squeaked in shock. "Tell us!"
He sighed. "Not here. We need to be somewhere private because... I don't think it's a certain information."
The blonde nodded and took the lead to have the group depart from Mondstadt for the time being. "We have registered at the Adventurers' Guild so we are allowed to depart from Mondstadt for Commissions."
"So Lumine gets paid and Paimon can eat a lot!"
The Girl didn't look pleased at that logic, but didn't rebuke that as she focused on the topic at hand. Even going as far as telling him that she got a Glider and a license to use it and...
Kratos had to hold back a flinch when this 'glider' reminded him much of the wings he 'borrowed' from Ikarus, once again bringing back some unpleasant memories of his vengeful past. At least he could tell they were making some progress in learning what is going on in this land but... he couldn't help but wonder and also worry what his companions were up to. He could tell Mimir wasn't going to 'shake the boat' but... Freya was a most troublesome woman when facing a difficult situation.
And Kratos knew she wasn't having any fun in this difficult world.
This forest was... hurting. And Freya didn't like it at all.
When she first woke up in the deep forests of Sumeru, Freya had been quite unsure on how she ended up in this land. The ocean and the sea were far, so it didn't make any sense she was suddenly dragged to this place without her body noticing. No, she hadn't been moved- she had been teleported there.
Which meant that there was a chance the cause of this was still around and plotting against them. As much as she didn't like Kratos, she had an oath with him in regard to 'family-related expansions' and the former Queen of the Norse Gods was not willing to give up on either that bald fool and Mimir just yet.
Her exploration had led her to find more about Sumeru. Its capital was massive, huge, it reminded her of Alfheim but the forest- it was tainted. Not extensively, but the corruption was easy for her to notice. Freya was sure the cause of it was not within this realm due to the faint tracks she had on it, but she found the 'solution' to this as she explored Sumeru City.
Everyone had been busy moving around and taking care of the strange device she had refused. Opening her mind? No, she had already risked losing everything after trusting Odin. That was the sort of price to pay Freya truly despised and, as far as she could tell, it had been a good situation since-
"Move, child!" She exclaimed, the white-haired child running in front of her keeping up with her pace as earnestly as she could as they ran away from the guards.
This was all the result of her bout of motherly instinct. One that had freed a fellow deity from imprisonment in her own land. It was ridiculous to imagine mortals being able to accomplish such a feat, yet the circumstances had allowed for greedy fools to do so. Freya found the child in the bowels of the 'Akademiya' and she had been horrified to realize these devices made use of the child as the source of all that wisdom.
The young goddess that was 'Lesser Lord Kusanali' was quite thankful of being suddenly freed, but panicking as much as Freya was as the two were being chased by guards. To make things even more complicated, the child had reasonably asked Freya to not use anything deadly on those people.
Freya complied by using stunning spells with her arrows, paralyzing the chasing idiots and giving them breathing space as they departed from Sumeru City and delved deeper in the foliage and the nature. After a hour of running, there was no one giving chase and the two took refuge by one of the nearby trees.
"It's not that bad," The child known as Lesser Lord Kusanali to many, but that introduced herself as 'Nahida', half-whined while Freya, kneeling down, fixed the wound on her hip.
"I sense a lie in that comment, child. It's alright to admit weakness at times. You are not to expect to be invincible," She mumbled comfortably, feeling once more motherly around the young girl as she finished patching up the injury.
"T-Thanks."
Freya smiled at the soft response. "It's alright. Here, all fixed."
Nahida smiled back and nodded, accepting the open hand Freya offered her as the two ventured deeper into Sumeru to find a solution to the mystery the young goddess had unearthed. As they traveled, Freya planned to teach the child a few divine tricks, some spells to be able to avoid capture from anyone trying to hurt her. The trip was long as their destination was most hostile to most lives.
They would have to go in the desert to find more about this 'King Deshret' if they wanted to discover what these 'Sages' were up to. And Freya was there to help Nahida and her people the best she could- as a mother should.
AN
Can you blame me for making Freya Nahida's mom? I mean, it's a perfect combo! Also, yes, Kratos is about to get slightly buffed. Not necessarily in a sufficient way to be around his GoWIII, but enough to give him an edge since... the recent trailer for the upcoming patch have shown that Kratos may struggle against some opponents.
Goddamn Dimensional-Crashing Whales...
