The Erratum-Chapter 36: Droplet of Divinity.

As Skadi’s consciousness began to tremble at her counterpart’s actions, she felt a glimmer of light engulf her, covering her with a warm feeling that soothed her entire body.

The whisper of the unknown counterpart echoed in her mind for eternity.

However, when the light came, the whispers stopped.

Finding herself in a familiar place, she raised her head from the cold soil below and gazed at the distance.

Fields of wheat and corn covered the entire horizon.

In the middle, a lonely hut stood firm as it basked in the serene light of the moon.

Upon realizing where she was, Skadi heard a faint voice addressing her:

"Child, it seems that you were near death."

Skadi would’ve scoffed if it weren’t for him saving her.

Nevertheless, she gazed up and looked at him.

Round glasses, white hair, dressed in old garments.. Of course, the old man standing in front of her had a worried look.

"Historian.. mister.."

The Historian kneeled and patted her back, "Now, now.. Don’t force yourself too much. I’ve already gotten rid of the blood that that thing has placed inside of you, rest assured."

Skadi slowly raised her body upwards, and spoke with slurred words.

"I..have..to...go...back. Cetas...is..wai..ting"

The Historian’s face turned from concern to a scorning look.

"Hmph, very well.. However, before you leave, I think it’s due time that you learn about the Rule of Divinity," The Historian waved his hand and a blinding light came down from above.

Soon, he and Skadi were sitting in the middle of his kitchen.

"Have you noticed that ever since you went to the Poseidon Depths, you’ve been encountering more and more beings that are beyond your level of Zeal?"

Skadi shook her head, "I haven’t.."

Sighing, the Historian continued:

"Figures. Well, as you ascend up the ranks of a Zealot, more occasions and disasters such as these are bound to occur."

"Right now, you are at a lower level of Zeal, you won’t seem to notice much about it. However, the moment you become a Pathfinder or even higher-"

His face became even more serious.

"You would soon find yourself in encounters that are otherworldly and unexplainable."

"This is the Rule of Divinity."

"Inside of us, we possess a sort of.. droplet, if you may say. Sparks get little to none, Acumen has a small droplet, Pathfinders gain a much bigger one, and so on.."

The Historian put his fingers on his round glasses, adjusting them so it could fit his eyes better.

Then, he gazed at Skadi’s sea-like blue eyes, "Normally, in our nature as Zealots, we seek to get stronger, yes? There are ravings that we occasionally hear that compel us to ascend the ranks and become the pinnacle of ourselves!"

"This is due to the Droplets of Divinity. As mere droplets, we are instinctively thirsty. And this applies to the stronger the Zeal, the bigger the droplet."

"Think of it in this perspective: small raindrops usually contain a light volume and featherweight mass. However, when these raindrops become bigger, their natural state is usually heavy."

"Heavier mass means heavier attraction. The heavier the droplet, the more it seeks for a heavier component to nourish itself - to become bigger!"

Placing her delicate hands on the table, Skadi began to speak:

"So are you claiming that I attract some sort of bigger droplet? It was only natural in the Poseidon Depths as it was its territory after all. But there is quite a peculiarity in terms of the... counterpart that I’ve encountered."

"Hmm.. you’re quite mistaken."

The Historian leaned forward.

"It is not you who is the attractor. Rather, it is he.."

*

Cetas looked in the darkness that reigned among the forest.

Defended by the light of the warm fire, all he could do is stay within the barrier that Skadi has procured.

In the 15 minutes that Cetas had waited, a sense of worry grew inside of his heart.

Even though he did not hear anything nor sense anything, Cetas felt that something unusual had occurred.

A minute passed and he heard a sound above - the leaves rustled unexpectedly, as it looked to be parting.

A figure looked to be descending down from above.

Skadi stood up immediately and swiftly ran towards Galkan’s bulky figure.

Meters away from him, he felt the fire dwindle as a heavy gush of wind brushed through the camp.

Then, a voice resounded in the serene night.

"Cetas.. It is I."

Donning a black coat, Skadi returned from above, fluttering down and descending slowly.

"Skadi.. did anything happen?"

She nodded, "Indeed.. I was almost ensnared into becoming a puppet."

Cetas’ body trembled, his eyes widening and curious to know more. In his mind, he doubted whether the Skadi in front of him was the original or but a mere puppet.

Naturally, he stayed vigilant.

His body language changed to a defensive one.

Although subtle, Skadi noticed his entire demeanour change.

"It’s alright, I’m still the same."

She walked towards Cetas and placed her hand on his hair, rubbing them left to right.

"I’m still Skadi am I not?"

"I wouldn’t know..."

She kneeled to get in the same level as Cetas’ face, talking to him more properly and to give him comfort.

"You are right to be untrusting. After all, this world contains many horrors beyond our comprehension. But rest assured, I am the original one. The Historian saved me once more.."

She tilted her head on the right and with it, strands of her golden hair flowed graciously, basking her beauty with an even more serene grace.

Cetas loosened up and let out a long breath, "..alright."

"Good! Now, get some sleep. I thought I told you already not to stay too long, correct? Still, you’ve done a good job watching the camp in my stead. For that, I thank you."

She turned around and headed towards Jones’ direction, "I’ll wake Jones up, it should be his turn to take watch.."

With a nod, Cetas went to a hammock near the trees, somewhat far away from the fire.

Then, he laid down and felt his eyes becoming heavy.

In less than a minute, Cetas became stoic as his entire state turned to slumber.

The night sky gleamed brightly as the stars twinkled above. Skadi gazed up and admired the scenery.

Then, she whispered under her breath, "The Attractor, huh..."

*

In the morning, at the silent streets of Seyil, the blood sunken pavement splashed as numerous footsteps traversed on them.

"Curses! The blood stained my pristine coat! Where did it even come from?!" A lanky man wearing a gold-rimmed pearl white coat complained.

"We are still trying to figure that matter out, we only got the report this morning after all.." replied a cold-looking woman with long silky black hair."

"Tsk! Deacon Malfeith! Found anything?"

In front of the two, a man with bright blonde hair was crouched on the bloodied pavement. He did not care if his pristine white coat were to be stained.

Rather, he held his fingers to his chin to look upon something out of utmost peculiarity.

The man didn’t answer, continuing to gaze upon a particular detail under him.

"Hey! Argh, that man is always in his world. Hey! Umbra, come with me."

"Who are you to tell me what to do?"

The lanky man looked surprised, his face turning red from anger.

"Argh- you two are so! Hah! Forget it, let us conduct this investigation alone then!"

The three went on separate ways, exploring the town of Seyil to their own accord.

The Deacon named Malfeith continued to survey the area, looking for clues that he thinks is only up to his understanding.

The black-haired woman named Umbra investigated the town square. While the lanky man named Levillius, investigated the docks.

After a few hours, the sun vanished in the mountainous landscape in the west, turning Seyil into a shade-filled town.

The three met up once more in the town square, their feet sunken in the blood-filled ground.

Grouped up in a circle, Levillius spoke first.

"Hah.. Based on what I saw on the docks, the blood doesn’t seem to be as deep as it was in here. Additionally, there were signs of fighting. From the looks of it, a Physique Zeal Zealot fought with another Physique Zeal Zealot."

"There were a lot of cracks in the pavement, and in the shores itself, a large hole was dug up and filled with scorch marks."

"There was also a body of one belonging to a man blindfolded in black and layered with a red coat. He.. is of course, deceased."

He looked over to Umbra, who was gazing at Levillius uninterestedly.

Levillius tilted his head downwards, signaling her turn to speak.

"Near the town square, I investigated some of the houses. Inside, lifeless bodies stood firmly still. When I poked some of their skin, no blood came out. Their eyes were devoid of any life."

She abruptly stopped.

Silence ensued between the three.

Levillius and Malfeit awaited for her to continue but after 17 seconds passed they determined that she was finished.

Levillius snorted, "Ah.. This girl, really.. You have to write that into a report later, make it as detailed and concise alright?"

Umbra nodded and gazed towards Malfeit.

"It’s my turn now then. On the farther side of this town, I saw a red dome - a shattered one made out of hardened blood."

"It looked to have been crushed by something... heavy. We may not know what it is but this information aligns with your observations Levillius."

"There may have been a fight here, and not just any fight. But a battle between two high-level Acumens, perhaps even Pathfinders."

"Still, whoever won left the premises quite quickly. Look here."

From inside of his cloak, he grabbed a sack full of bones and burnt flesh."

The smell permeated the three immediately and Levillius covered his nose instantly.

"Gah! That rotting smell!"

"Exactly, whoever did this had an attunement to either light or fire. Additionally, there is a part of this body that hasn’t burned."

He reached inside the sack, letting his white sleeves be tainted gray and crimson.

After a second, he gripped onto something and pulled it out of the sack.

"This.. is an unknown crest," He showed a pieced of the corpse’s back to the two, its spine still hung out and the flesh around the symbol looked to be resistant to flames, "Us members of the Church of Helios have a long library of records belonging to specific groups, criminals, religions, factions, and much more.."

"And I’ve skimmed through all of them, memorizing every name and symbol. However, this one?" He opened his palms and directed it onto the symbol with sun-like features and 7 tentacles reaching out of it.

Then, red-hot flames spewed out of his palms, scorching the flesh with its blazing fury and casting smoke in the air.

After 5 seconds, the flames stopped and the smoke subsided.

However, the symbol remained untouched, almost looking as clean as Levillius’ white coat.

"Gaze upon it. It is rare to see human flesh be immune to my flames."

"W-we should report it to the Cardinal!"

Levillius panicked, thinking that they could be dealing with a Dreadspawn that is beyond their understanding.

"Indeed. Then, let us traverse back to the Cathedral here in Aurora. I’m sure that they will have contact with the Cardinal at Meridiem Region."