After telling the Goddess of Nature everything, Alion didn't speak much. He didn't tell her about their next plan of action. He didn't want to make it too obvious.
Instead, he wanted for her to ask it herself first. That way, it wasn't them who was trying to involve her in their mission but she herself who asked them to involve her.
In the end, everything happened just as he expected. The Goddess of Nature knew that Karyk wasn't the kind of person who was going to let the ones who betrayed him, live in peace.
The sun might rise from the north, but Karyk forgetting his revenge was still impossible. She knew that he was planning something! It was also clear that his current absence had something to do with his planning.
"Is he planning to go to the Upper Realm himself?!" In the end, she took a guess. It was easy for her with the kind of personality Karyk had. She knew him all too well.
Most people would've stopped their journey after converting a world to their Domain. This was the safest place from outside influence. They could've lived an eternity in peace here.
However, Karyk was different. He wasn't the kind of person who could forget the past. Instead, he was someone who was to return it a thousand fold! He was the same person who sealed his friend for a thousand years over a single fight, after all!
Alion was slightly intrigued. Was Karyk so obvious that everyone who knew him understood what his next plan was? Didn't that mean the Goddess of Light and the beings in the Upper Realm also guessed it?
"Don't tell me you really didn't expect others to guess this plan?" She asked, noticing the stunned look of Alion. "That means you really underestimated others."
"I'm sure Karyk also knows that others have guessed what he's going to do next. Since he's still going forward with this plan, he must've had another plan on top. That's the one I can't guess..." The Goddess of Nature rubbed her temple, lost in thoughts.
"Looking at your expressions, it's clear that even you don't know the other plan of his. Am I right?" she asked after opening her eyes.
Alion's lips twitched. However, he knew that she wasn't wrong either. He really hadn't thought about it since he had been busy managing this world.
"Yes, you're right, I'm just as clueless as you are," he replied with a sigh. "But whatever his plan may be, we cannot afford to sit back and do nothing. You know that the other gods will never accept your truth since Karyk's the one who freed you. They'll always think of you as someone who could backstab them just like they did."
"In the end, you're also their enemy. Maybe not to the extent of Karyk, but still." He further added. "If he does, this world will lose the Domain protection and we'll all be the ones who are killed next. So no matter what his plan may be, I'll be supporting him. And I have a feeling that you will too. Isn't that right, Eia?"
The Goddess of Nature frowned, not responding right away. Her answer was obvious. If there was a war, then her only chance of survival was with Karyk. That also wasn't the only reason she wanted to help him!
She hated the fact that the Goddess of Light used her like a pawn in her scheme! As if her thousand years of suffering was just to be a stepping stone for the Goddess of Light to step higher. She hated this feeling and wanted to pay her back a thousand fold.
****
"What are you two talking about?" Gabriel's voice came from the other side as he stepped inside the room, as if appearing out of thin air.
The Goddess of Nature glanced back at him, but didn't show any emotions on her face. It was as if she was just meeting a stranger for the first time.
"Are you still angry?" Gabriel asked, placing his hand on Eia's head, like she was a little child.
Eia pushed her hand away. "Let me seal you for a thousand years and then I'll ask you if you're angry."
"I'm afraid that's never going to happen." Gabriel lazily answered. "In this life, I'll either die fighting or live freely. There's no in between..."
There were so many things for him to be concerned with, but Eia wasn't one. He knew she was angry, but it was also clear that her anger had mostly dissipated. Even though they hadn't reached the same relationship that they had in the past, but at least she didn't want to kill him anymore.
Despite knowing that she wasn't going to kill him, Gabriel had learned a lot from the Goddess of Light. Even in the presence of the Goddess of Nature and Alion, he always kept his guard up. He wasn't going to allow anyone to betray him this time, even if they were his trusted friends! Even Alion wasn't immune from this suspicion.
"I'll go with you to the Upper Realm. I also have to pay back the Goddess of Light for using me like a pawn!" Eia said, standing up and facing Gabriel while looking straight in his eyes.
"We aren't going on a picnic. You aren't needed." Gabriel retorted.
Even though he wanted to bring her, he knew that agreeing right away wasn't the right move. With her stubborn personality, the more he rejected her, the more she was going to be fired up to come with him, in the end feeling as if it was her own plan to go to the Upper Realm with him, not realizing that she played right into his hands.
Moreover, to make sure that his plan worked as expected, he didn't forget to imply that she was weak. That way, he also targeted her ego and her zeal to prove herself!
All the puzzle pieces were in place and it was soon time for his departure.
