The God of Realm had been stabilized for the time being, and Gabriel continued his training in the Abyss, not showing his face.
At the same time, the whereabouts of Caen were unknown as well. The Gods that were forced to escape the Realm of Gods couldn't wait for an eternity. They knew they all had to find a place for a temporary stay, and wait for Caen and Janus to return.
As for the place to stay, they all selected the same place that they were teleported to. All the Gods had managed to hide every single trade of their aura, as they appeared in the Southern World of the Upper Realm.
For most people, it was even impossible to feel a trace of divinity from them, as they made a new home in a human village. In fact, even Gabriel wasn't able to sense them when he arrived in the Beast Forest because of the distance and the hidden divinity.
Moreover, the last place he expected them to be was the Realm of Gods, since that was the place which was closest to the Realm of Gods.
The village where the Gods had settled was mostly Abandoned, and had barely any humans living there. Most of the humans had abandoned this village because this area was barren. It was impossible to farm here, or produce enough to be self reliant.
Even water was scarce here, since the area had a drought from as long as one could remember. It had been years since it rained here. Even the little bit of water that the few remaining people in the village consumed was brought from the distant town after much struggle.
Despite the harsh conditions, a small group of villagers remained determined to revive the village and make it thrive once again. They didn't know how long they could have hope for, but they didn't plan to abandon their village. It was the home where they grew up, and lived all their lives.
The Villagers were poor, but they were more welcoming. When they saw the Gods arriving in a group, asking for permission to settle down, they didn't deny them. The villagers had a big heart, and even let the gods live in the houses that were Abandoned.
The friendly villagers barely had enough water for themselves, but they still treated the guests with respect and shared water, not knowing that the other group consisted of gods.
For the Villagers, the other side were just humans in need. They shared their meager food supplies with the outsiders each day, ensuring that no one went hungry. Even the Gods were slightly surprised at how welcoming these people were.
Every day, the Gods in the village saw the humans praying to the sky, hoping for rain. It had been hundreds of years and it was a tradition for the villagers to pray.
Even after all these years, their prayers weren't listened to. If it was anyone else, they would've stopped, but these Villagers didn't lose hope.
"These people... Why do they still live here instead of going to a more prosperous place?" one of the Gods asked. "Humans are so stupid and stubborn..."
Many other gods nodded in agreement, wondering how the villagers could hold on to their faith for so long without any apparent results.
However, deep down, they admired the villagers' unwavering determination and resilience in the face of adversity. They felt impressed.
"These humans may not have divine powers or immortal lifespans, but their spirit is truly remarkable," said another God, his voice tinged with respect.
As the days turned into weeks, the Gods began to interact more with the villagers, although they kept their true identities hidden.
Some of them even helped with various tasks, bringing their own skills to contribute to the village's well-being as long as it doesn't need them to use their Divinity. Some Gods even subtly healed the sick.
Slowly, the village started to show signs of life again. Many miracles started taking place in the nearby region. The land which used to be barren... Finally showed some signs that made the Villagers excited. It was as if something had changed.
The Villagers didn't think it was the work of the guests. They still thought it was the gods in the sky who were finally listening to their prayers. They did think that the guests brought luck to the village, but that was it.
The devotion of the Villagers to the gods in the sky grew. The fields, with the Gods' assistance, began to yield some crops.
Unbeknownst to the humans, the Gods had their reasons for choosing this village as their temporary haven. The barrier they created to conceal their divinity also served to prevent any of their adversaries from detecting them.
The barrenness and lack of resources in the area discourage unwanted attention, offering them a respite from the chaos that unfolded in the Realm of Gods.
As the Gods settled in, they learned more about the villagers' culture, traditions, finding the humans somewhat intriguing. At least it was better than the boredom from all the waiting.
They saw the determination in their eyes, the bond of their community, and how they cherished their simple yet fulfilling way of life. The Gods couldn't help but be impressed by the humans' resilience.
One evening, under the vast canopy of stars, the Gods gathered around a small fire with some of the villagers. The villagers spoke about their history and the legends they passed down from generation to generation.
"There's an old tale," said an elderly woman with silver hair, her eyes filled with wisdom. "It is said that a long time ago, during a great drought, a deity descended from the heavens and saved our ancestors. He granted them a gift—the gift of perseverance."
"Perseverance?" one of the Gods asked, intrigued.
"Yes," she nodded. "Our ancestors believed that if they held onto their faith and determination, no matter the odds, the deity would one day return and bring prosperity back to this land."
