My SS-Rank Witcher System-Chapter 69: Goddess Zemira

"Felix Thomasville. Are you alright?"

Felix was pulled out of his frantic thoughts by the serene voice, and only now did he look up to realize he was in an oasis that could only be described with one word: Paradise.

Quite the opposite of his domain, everything in sight—from the heavens, to the Olympus-style infrastructure, to the cobblestone or so beneath his feet—only consisted of two colors: white and gold. It screamed royalty.

Standing a few feet before him was a servant girl with fair skin devoid of blemishes and draped in a white robe with classic sandals.

Felix picked himself off the floor as he replied to her, "I'm fine."

"Very well. The Goddess is expecting you. Follow me," she said and turned her back at him and began walking further into the mansion.

He pushed the thoughts about his fate with Lilith to the back of his mind and slowly followed behind the servant girl—likely to be a goddess too, or a Demi-Goddess like him.

He hadn't thought much about meeting with Goddess Zemira except feeling honored to finally get to meet her, but he felt different now. He knew the purpose of the meeting was likely to recruit him as an active member of the Light faction, probably elevating his status due to his relevance and key role in the brimming war, and though he hadn't decided yet, it was quite obvious to him what his answer would be.

He was a Sage after all; sworn to protect the lives of the innocent and vanquish the dark creatures, and inasmuch as he ended up a Champion for the former ruler of the underworld, he was on a conquest to defeat the Dark Lord. With all this, his goal pretty much summed up and aligned with that of the Goddess: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Making him a prime recruit for the Light faction.

But Felix wasn't so sure about that anymore.

He learned from Lilith's story of the Goddess and the Witch Master that Goddess Zemira was willing to do anything and go to any extent to achieve her goal, without letting her personal feelings get in the way. That was a remarkable characteristic, but a dangerous one. If he decided to side with her to successfully wipe out the Dark faction, would he—Felix—be spared after the war, knowing fully well he was a potential vessel for the true ruler of the underworld to return?

The fact that she hadn't backed down in war after the Witch Master had surrendered proved that Felix's chances of being let to walk away after was pretty much low. Non-existent even, considering the fact now that he had the power—the Crown of Judgment—to become the next ruler of the underworld after the Dark Lord was destroyed. And Felix wasn't willing to gamble his fate on that.

It was high time he began thinking for himself. But on a second thought, he'd hear what the Goddess has to say and, if possible, bargain his terms.

When Felix became conscious of his surroundings once more, he realized they had arrived at a beautiful garden sparkling in sight with the sweet aroma of the vegetation. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

There were tiny flickers of golden lights floating all around. But on paying closer attention to them, he realized they were making a buzzing noise that made him think was from their wings, and they might be some kind of insect, until one involuntarily got into his nose when he sniffed too hard, and Felix had to sneeze to get it out of his nose, but what came out stunned him for a bit.

On closer inspection now to the golden flicker that hovered over his face, buzzing frantically like it was scolding him for sniffing it—it literally was with an angry expression—was a tiny humanoid with golden, transparent wings: a fairy.

As much as it was screaming to his face in annoyance, Felix was amused by this and found the little thing and its antics cute.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" The melodious voice came across like a key from a musical instrument.

Felix reeled and his eyes looked onto the figure that had spoken. The embodiment of perfection and beauty draped in a white robe without blemishes with glittering gold linens.

"Goddess Zemira…" Felix murmured as he spotted the Goddess engrossed in watering a plant. She had spoken without even turning to see him.

"Worlds are like flowers," Her voice came again like another key to an instrument. "The moment you take your eyes off them for a moment too long, they start to blemish and lose their luster." She said softly, then finally turned to face Felix with a smile that could serve as a sun to brighten a world. Her golden eyes locked on him.

"I'm glad you honored my invitation, Felix."

"It's my pleasure," Felix replied with a curt bow.

With a gesture from the Goddess, a servant girl quickly stepped forward and carefully retrieved the watering can from Zemira, before swiftly disappearing in the garden once more, and the Goddess turned her attention to Felix once more.

"Walk with me," she said as she turned and began walking in a direction.

"I wish you could've stayed longer; to give you a tour of my paradise. But I've seen you're a busy… person, and have a long list of what you could be doing this moment," the Goddess said as she calmly inspected the vegetation from the path. It didn't seem they were heading out of the garden but rather touring it.

Felix couldn't refute the goddess though, as indeed he had a long list of what he could be doing this minute, namely: catching up with Elizabeth, modeling for his endorsement deals, reviewing his new set of skills for the false dungeon raid, and many more.

"They can as well wait, as the purpose for this meeting is of great importance and service to the universe." Felix felt like Shakespeare after spitting that line.

"Indeed. You're smart enough to understand that, and I believe you already know the reason why you're here. Your patron must have filled you in on the matters of the universe and the brimming war between my faction and the faction of evil. I admit making a grave mistake by letting the dark factions live, but there won't be a second time after this war, because there will be no other factions left standing aside the Light faction—not even the neutral faction.

You are either with me, to fight on behalf of the faction of light, or against me. And I will make sure of that."