Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 37: The place of Origin - Part 2

Chapter 37: 37: The place of Origin - Part 2

Auriel stood before the ruined temple, her hands clasped tightly as an unexplainable feeling tugged at her chest.

The air around the crumbled structure was thick with an old, lingering power.

Something about it felt eerily familiar, like an echo from a distant memory that refused to fully surface. Her distraction was apparent, and the silence stretched long enough to prompt the Duchess to speak.

"Goddess Auriel, you seem unsettled. Is something wrong?"

Duchess Amara’s voice was soft, yet there was an undercurrent of curiosity, as though she was eager to uncover whatever had ensnared the goddess’s attention.

Auriel hesitated. Sharing her feelings with the Duchess seemed risky, especially given Amara’s sly and calculating nature. Instead, she deflected with a question.

"This temple... Who did it belong to? And how did it end up like this?"

The Duchess tilted her head, her expression becoming one of mock contemplation.

"Ah, the origins of this temple are a mystery. When I inherited the Grand Duchy, it was already in this state. The story I was told is that it was trampled overnight, though no one knows how or why."

"Trampled overnight?"

Auriel’s brows furrowed as her eyes scanned the remains of what was once an imposing structure. The sheer scale of the damage made it difficult to imagine that such destruction could happen so swiftly, much less without anyone noticing the culprits.

"Yes. The villagers were terrified when they found it like this the next morning. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but they took it as a bad omen and decided it was best to keep their distance. No one dares approach this place, except for me, of course. I’ve always been... curious about it"

The Duchess replied smoothly.

Auriel caught the slight smirk on Amara’s lips but chose not to comment. Instead, she stepped closer to the temple, her eyes narrowing as she felt a faint residue of power lingering in the air.

It was weak and nearly dissipated, but unmistakable. Her chest tightened as the realization struck her.

This energy... it reminded her of Kana, the daughter of the Chief God. Kana was a minor deity, playful and mischievous, but also kind-hearted.

However, Auriel couldn’t fathom why Kana’s energy would be tied to a ruined temple in the mortal realm.

Kana rarely left the celestial plane, and even if she did, the Chief God was meticulous about keeping her activities in check.

’The Chief God wouldn’t allow something like this,’ Auriel thought, her mind racing. ’She’s too busy, yes, but not careless.’

Her silence stretched on as she tried to piece together her thoughts. Seeing her interest, Duchess Amara stepped forward, her tone light but probing.

"Goddess Auriel, you seem captivated by this place. Would you like to look around more? I could arrange for a closer inspection, perhaps even a guide to assist you."

Auriel hesitated. The Duchess’s eagerness was suspicious, but the temple called to her in a way she couldn’t ignore. She needed answers, and leaving without exploring further would haunt her. Finally, she nodded.

"Yes. I’d like to take a closer look."

The Duchess’s smile widened, though Auriel couldn’t tell if it was genuine or calculated.

"Of course. Please, take all the time you need. My lands and resources are at your disposal."

Carol, who had been standing silently at Auriel’s side, frowned deeply.

"Goddess, are you sure about this? Something doesn’t feel right here."

Auriel gave her a reassuring glance.

"I need to understand what happened here, Carol. I’ll be careful, I promise."

Carol still looked uneasy but didn’t press further. She kept a watchful eye on the Duchess, whose smug demeanor didn’t sit well with her.

As Auriel stepped closer to the temple ruins, her senses became sharper. The remnants of Kana’s energy felt scattered, as though something had disrupted its natural flow. The closer she got, the stronger the pull became, tugging at the edges of her memory.

The temple’s architecture was ancient, its stone walls carved with intricate designs that had been partially obscured by the damage.

Auriel traced her fingers along the carvings, feeling the faint hum of divine energy beneath her fingertips.

"Fascinating, isn’t it? Even in its ruined state, this place exudes an air of mystery. It’s almost as if it’s alive, waiting for someone to uncover its secrets."

The Duchess’s voice broke the silence.

Auriel didn’t respond. Her focus was entirely on the carvings, which seemed to depict a story—fragments of a tale long forgotten. The imagery was vague, but she recognized symbols of the divine: a sunburst, a crescent moon, and a star surrounded by waves.

’These symbols... they represent balance. Light, darkness, and the unknown.’

Auriel thought. But what did they have to do with Kana?

Carol hovered protectively at Auriel’s side, her gaze darting between the Duchess and the ruins.

"If this place is so sacred, why hasn’t anyone tried to rebuild it?"

The Duchess chuckled, her tone light but carrying an edge of amusement.

"As I said, the villagers consider it cursed. They believe that whatever destroyed it will return if they attempt to interfere. Superstition, I’m sure, but effective nonetheless."

Auriel continued her inspection, moving deeper into the ruins. The air grew heavier, the energy more concentrated. She could feel it thrumming beneath her skin, a quiet but insistent presence.

At the center of the ruins, she found what appeared to be an altar, its surface cracked and weathered. The energy was strongest here, and Auriel hesitated before reaching out to touch it.

"Goddess Auriel, be careful. Please, don’t take unnecessary risks!"

Carol warned, stepping closer.

Auriel nodded, her fingers grazing the altar’s surface. The moment she made contact, a surge of energy shot through her, filling her mind with fragmented images and sensations.

Laughter, warmth, and the gentle touch of a hand... It was Kana. Auriel was sure of it now.

But there was something else—a shadow lurking at the edges of the vision, dark and foreboding. It felt cold and malevolent, a stark contrast to Kana’s light.

Auriel pulled her hand back, her breathing uneven.

"Kana was here,"

She murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Her words went unheard by everyone, but that was for the better. The less people who knew about Kana, the better it would be.

"Goddess Auriel, did you find anything fun? Would you care to share with us? Please?"

The duchess asked, trying to act cute to get what she wanted.

Auriel didn’t answer . She didn’t trust the Duchess enough to share what she had seen. Instead, she turned to Carol.

"We need to investigate further. There’s more to this than we realize."

Carol nodded, her expression grim.

"Agreed. But we should be cautious. Something about this place doesn’t sit right with me. Goddess Auriel, please stay close to me. I will protect you."

Duchess Amara’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a glint in her eyes that made Auriel uneasy.

"Well, I’m delighted to assist you in any way I can, Goddess. Please, don’t hesitate to call on me."

Auriel forced a polite smile but said nothing. The mystery of the temple was deepening, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that the Duchess knew more than she was letting on. For now, she would play along, but she resolved to keep her guard up.

There was no need to go any further into the ruined temple, but Auriel felt compelled to venture deeper to uncover the secrets of this place.

"Carol, I will be heading inside now, but I want to go in alone. For now, please head back with the Duchess and wait for my signal. I will let you know when you can follow me,"

The goddess said firmly, ensuring her words were clear.

Auriel could instantly tell that Carol was about to protest.

Instead of turning to face Carol, Auriel shifted her gaze to Duchess Amara. A single glance was enough to convey her point.

The Duchess immediately caught on and grabbed Carol’s shoulder, yanking her close.

"Priestess Carol, you are coming with me. I need to follow the Goddess’s orders."

The Duchess said, her tone light but commanding.

Carol’s glare sharpened, and her feet planted firmly in place as if rooted to the ground.

"No. I’m not leaving you here alone, Auriel. This place reeks of danger, and I’m not about to abandon my duty."

Auriel sighed, her patience thinning.

"Carol, please. I need you to trust me on this. I’ll call for you if anything goes wrong."

But Carol wasn’t budging. She crossed her arms over her chest and shot a fiery glare at Duchess Amara.

"You think I’m going to leave her alone in your company? Over my dead body."

Duchess Amara chuckled softly, though there was a dangerous edge to her smile.

"My, how protective you are. But orders are orders, Priestess Carol. Shall I remind you that your loyalty is to the Goddess’s wishes, not your own?"

Carol scoffed, her grip on her resolve tightening.

"And you expect me to believe you’ll keep her safe? I—"

Before she could finish, the Duchess stepped closer, grabbing Carol’s shoulder firmly.

"You’re coming with me."

She said, her voice low and authoritative.

Carol struggled, her heels digging into the dirt as she resisted being pulled away.

"Goddess Auriel, this is a mistake! You don’t know what’s in there—what she might be planning—"

"Carol! I’ll be fine. Please, trust me. I’ll signal if I need you."

Auriel’s voice was sharp, cutting through Carol’s protests. Reluctantly, Carol’s resistance weakened, though her expression made it clear she wasn’t convinced.

"Fine."

She muttered through gritted teeth, still glaring at the Duchess.

Duchess Amara smiled triumphantly and began guiding Carol and the goddess through the temple.

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