Chapter 189 – Hardly A Gift

"Mother?" I ask.

"Yes, my Mother," the Goddess repeats. "Some of us are born Goddesses. Not created with the world or grown from gaining enough power. Just like I am creating a goddess in my own womb, I was created in a womb a very long time ago."

"Who is your mother?" I ask.

"Bold girl asking me more questions. Not even my Priestess dares to ask me questions despite the new temple," the Goddess says. "My Mother is my Mother. I do not care to talk about her anymore than that. I kind of owe her, so I am here to help you out a bit."

"Can you help me get a different class?" I ask. She is the controller of it and why else would the Priestess talk about my complete class?

"I do control the system," she says. "But my own rules state that the Patrons select your next classes. I do not wish to break my own rules."

"Please," I say. Already on my knees, I fall over. "Please, great Goddess. I just wish to be a healer. That is all. Please. What do you wish of me to get rid of the sex part of my healer classes?"

"You already have too many Goddesses taking a piece of you. There is no real room for me to ask something from you," the Goddess says. "But I like that you asked and offered so easily. Only two other women have come before me asking for help with their classes. There is only one thing I can do."

"I just want to be a healer. I don't want those titles," I cry out. "Please, please, please."

"Two of your offers make you a healer. But to my offer. I can give you all three classes," the Goddess of Power says. "That is my offer and the only thing I will do. Your patron Goddesses have given you the path they wish you to walk. As I said, another one would hurt you even more. If you wish for a different path you need to talk with the Goddesses that are over you."

"I don't know who that is," I whisper.

"Little girl, you do. Just give it some thought, and you can find out who decides your classes," the Goddess of Power says. "Just look inside. Now, my offer?"

"What would that do?" I ask. "I don't understand how that helps me?"

"You have four classes completed. Take on three right now, and you will have seven classes completed," the Goddess of Power says. "What kind of jump in power would you have? How strong would you be? How many skills and how much mana? You may jump over your owner if you move through them fast enough. Then you get three more classes from a choice of nine."

"What is the point of all that power with this chain?"

"Just become free then," the Goddess chuckles. "Even my Mother could become free of a Goddess. I think you can get out from under an Elven Princess. Then who would dare stand in your way?"

Can I really? The Princess is very clear: I will never meet the criteria to lose the collar. I doubt her promise to marry my Mother is real.

"The Princess does technically have to marry your Mother. She has a few ways to worm her way out, but then she gives you an easy way out. Even with your collar on," the Goddess of Power says. "Maybe even in a way to petition to get your collar off with the Queen. The collar is only if they follow the old ways. I don't keep up with all the rules. They change too often."

A soft hand touches my horns before gently raising my head. The Goddess kneeling in front of me. Her belly not causing her any problems.

"Oh, it is, little dragon. I just need an answer from you," the Goddess of Power says. "Yes or no?"

"Yes," I mutter. Once again, lost in the perfect face.

"Grow strong enough, and I may just let you put a child in me," the Goddess teases. "It is hard to get pregnant up here. Maybe I'll let you pick a few classes then. Now, here you go. Three classes in one little dragon."

A sharp pain comes from between my breasts. The Goddess pulls me up to stand before a mirror.

I'm naked once again, my womb tattoo shining light around as a little dot proves my pregnancy. A new tattoo shows between my breasts and right over my collarbone. It, too, dares to shine some light. It's a small circle split into three parts.

"Two women have gained that tattoo. Only one is still alive," the Goddess says.

"What happened to the other?" I ask.

"Killed by the first," the Goddess says.

What the fuck! Tell me first!

"Do not worry about it," the Goddess of Power says. "You will run into her. But she won't kill you just because of a tattoo. Be nice to her, and you'll live. Now I have other things to do, little dragon."

*** Princess Elora ***

I let Alzi start her prayer and wait for her to gain whatever the Goddess of Power wishes to bestow upon her. I have a lot of work to do when Fluvis comes to save me. I have been invited to the first temple of a Goddess. I think this Priestess is the only one who works here. How new this must be.

I just need Alzi to see my love. To understand my feelings.

It would be dangerous for me to marry her Mother. This entire trip should show her that for now. As the Queen, I can take a few weak women, but right now, it is just offering them up to an early grave.

"Princess, are you not going to pray?" the Priestess asks.

"I was waiting for her to get her time," I say. "I know they can talk to many at a time, but I wish to let her have the temple to herself for a bit.. I would never dare to step into a temple and not thank the Goddess for her blessing and help. I know they all have a part in making our lives what they are. My wife just needs all the help she can get."

"You are afraid," the Priestess says. "The Princess of Edeozia did more than you wish to share. You worry about how Alzi will see you over the coming months. Will a war help your love or hurt it. Just pray. Waiting does nothing for you."

"Should rape not scare someone?" I ask. "I wait for my wife, not fear. I have plenty of time to think of everything else. I have only now to wait and give my wife time. But I will pray if the Priestess of the temple says it is fine."

My eyes close, and I find white instead of the comforting black.

"Hello, Princess," a voice calls out. Goddess of Power.

"Thank you for calling me in, Goddess," I say.

"She fears for her freedom," the Goddess says. "She even thinks power is useless for her."

"Never. Power can help Alzi. Why would she fear the power, if I may ask?" I say.

"She doesn't even think you will marry her mother," the Goddess says. "I don't know why she would want to marry her Mother. But here we are. I am not really a relationship Goddess. I just wanted to tell you that from a source you can not ignore. But here is something more for your trouble."

I won't be able to thank her in person, and my vision is turning normal black. I'll just have to thank her in my mind, hoping the prayer reaches her.

Do I have to let the war go? Let Alzi have her next pregnancy in comfort, not caring for others as she would have to in war.

Before we leave, I need to learn how many kids Alzi gave that stupid, worthless Princess. If she did her normal act, that may be punishment enough and possibly a death sentence if she does not abort the gift my wife gave her.

*** Alzi ***

"Your jailor is likely looking for you two to leave soon," the Priestess says.

"One second, Priestess," the Princess says. "Alzi, how many kids does Princess Esiyae carry?"

"I do not know," I say. "Fifteen at least."

"Do you think she can live with fifteen?" the Princess asks.

"No," I say. "No. I think if she leaves my side, she will die."

"Then if she can't abort them, she'll die," the Princess says. "We should leave now. Thank you, Priestess, for the chance to visit your temple. I will try to send a donation here to help you build and spread the Goddess's word."

"She can't abort them," I say. "She can't."

"Thank you, Princess," the Priestess says. "Shall we leave?"

"Yes," the Princess says. "We shall. Alzi we can talk more about the pregnancy later, if you wish. I would like to know more about abortion. But I understand if you don't want to. Sorry for ending the conversation like this."

"Maybe," I say, standing up with the Priestess. I pull the robe tighter to cover the new tattoo.

I'm a little surprised the Princess asked about the pregnancy now and not about what the Goddess gave or told me. Is it rude to ask? Did she also get something?

We don't speak again as the Priestess hands us off to the shifty bitch. Walking back through the street and into some tall building.

It's a fancy inn, I guess. But we don't get much time to look around, as we are directed to a room immediately.

It was about the same size as the room they shoved us into on the boat, but without the rocking, so I guess that is something.

If only the Princess would let us run off. Maybe I could fly us out and find a boat willing to take us back? They must have stopped for something that keeps them from sailing for a bit, so we should be able to escape them if we leave immediately.

But her stupid rules.

"I know this is frustrating right now and awful before," the Princess says. "But it is for the best. A lot more death would happen during kidnappings if the rules didn't exist."

"We could just not kidnap people," I say. "But then you wouldn't have a husband to breed with."

"I bought you," the Princess says. "I did not kidnap you. I have promised to marry your Mother. Just let me do it once it is safe. You can see what is going on now. Do you wish for your Mother to get caught up in this? And don't blame this kidnapping on me. They were after you for a kid."

"I didn't have this issue in the brothel," I say. "Something about you must have made them want to kidnap you. It sure seems that the other Princess hates you almost as much as I do."

"When I was a kid, we were at war with their Queendom," the Princess says. "By the time I got my class and built some levels the war ended. To help fix the relationship we had some tournaments between the new generation. I was always the winner over her. Obviously, she didn't take losing very well. I did my best to make her look strong. I just wasn't willing to lose to her, I guess."

"Well, good job," I say. "It seems like you really built a great relationship here."

"That is hardly my fault," the Princess says. "I tried. Our Mothers were the ones ruining everything. They pressured us to win and that is what caused her to crack. I never humiliated her."

"Whatever you say," I let out, falling onto the bed. "I'm just going to sleep."

"Good night," the Princess says, the sun shining through the window as I close my eyes.