EIITAB - Chapter 121 [ Many Names ]
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Hestia floated in unconsciousness.
'Angela!'
'Aslan!'
No matter how many times she desperately calls, there is no answer. After repeating it countless times, she began to doubt whether she was actually making the sound.
'How much time has passed?'
Hestia was clearly aware of the situation she was in. The last thing she remembered was the intense pain that felt like her body was going to break apart. Her breathing became heavier, and her vision began to blink before becoming completely dark.
When she came to my senses again, it was here.
'Whoa.......!'
Hestia looked around, but nothing existed. All she could feel was light and dark, and even that felt like the bright side was so far away that she couldn't reach it.
What can she say about this place?
It was a space that felt as if there was thick sea fog. While she couldn't guess anything, she was sure of one thing. It is in a state of being completely cut off from the outside world.
'I am... Am I dead?'
The first thought that came to mind was, of course, that. Even though she didn't make an 'oath' with Aslan, she still felt it was a bit early.
In her first life, she somehow managed to stay alive and well until the day she decided to marry Stephan Cerreto.
'So I thought there was still more time left...'
Her heart became heavy at the thought of not being able to leave a proper last greeting to anyone.
'...Uh?'
Then, without her realizing it, she realized that the space surrounding her was completely different from before.
'Here is...Where is it?'
Flowers were blooming everywhere as far as her eyes could see.
Hestia stood alone in a field so wide that she could not find the border between heaven and earth. She had never been to a place like this, nor had she seen it from afar. Despite this, she was not unfamiliar.
The reason why she feels so familiar with her is......
Maybe it's because this place is similar to the land of rest described in the Bible?
That's what she thought. But then, a warm breeze blew from somewhere, tickling and ruffling Hestia's silver hair.
[You ate silphium.]
At the sound of a voice carried by the wind, Hestia looked behind her in surprise, but she saw nothing.
'What was it? Did I hear it wrong?'
However, a voice she did not know whose origin was heard was heard again.
[This was the only way I could meet you. Do you understand?]
The voice had a gentle tone, but Hestia did not let down her guard, shrugging her shoulders like a cat with its fur raised. She asked a question,
'Who are you?'
Meanwhile, she was still looking around and checking her surroundings. However, it was difficult for her to find a place to hide her body in this treeless place.
'I'm sure there's someone nearby.'
But since he didn't show himself, she couldn't let go of her mind easily. At her question, the owner of the voice burst into laughter.
[You call me many names. It doesn't matter what you call me. You are the child who can hear my voice.]
At that moment, only one name appeared in Hestia's mind.
'If.... Are you El Rafa?'
Hestia felt her heart tighten as she waited for the answer to come back.
[If you like that name, you can call me that.]
Words of affirmation. She took a breath without realizing it. El Rafa. God was Hestia had longed for answers to all her life. He was a harsh and heartless God who never responded to her numerous calls, but strangely, she did not harbor any resentment.
Hestia forced her heartbeat to slow down and bowed to God.
'See El Rafa.'
She can talk to God. Hestia felt truly amazing. In the past, the only time she received the oracle was in the form of letters appearing in her head, so this was the first time hearing her voice like this.
[Now you finally get the answer. I'm sorry.]
At that moment, Hestia curled her lower lip and bit. Something hot surged inside her. Before she received an apology from God, she thought that her earnestness was not enough, that her voice did not reach God, and that was why the answer did not come.
But what he said just now confirmed to her that even though El Rafa was listening to her anxious calls, he did not respond.
When she recognized it accurately, the emotions she had been burying, trampling, and ignoring all along burst into tears without her knowledge. God continued speaking as if he was not aware of Hestia's feelings.
[When you were young, your mind and strength were unstable, so you couldn't hear my voice, and then the veil next to you blocked my voice, so it had to take this long.]
The veil?
Hestia's eyes narrowed. El Rafa's words sounded like she meant that there had been some kind of obstacle between her and God.
[Silphium is a gift I sent down to earth to help you...Dulcinea, it looks like she fed you too much. You must have been in a lot of pain.]
God once again handed the apple to Hestia.
'Silphium.'
Hestia recalled a story she had once read in a book about an herb called 'God's gift'. Since Dulcinea's name was mentioned, she could easily guess that this was the type of tea she had been drinking. But there were remaining questions.
'Then you gave an oracle to Dulcinea to feed me that tea?'
God immediately denied Hestia's question.
[No, I just arranged it.]
Hestia's eyes naturally narrowed.
'What an arrangement'
The answer was unclear.
[I cannot directly intervene in human affairs. Therefore, although it is quite cumbersome, I have to arrange the words so that my wishes can be achieved.]
Hestia calmly took a breath. There was nothing she couldn't understand. If God could do everything his way, There would have been no need to use a Saintess to convey his words on his behalf.
[If I bring you right here, it would be against the laws established by the world. Moreover, since I have already turned back time for you once, I am under strong restraint from the world.]
At that moment, Hestia stopped breathing. She can turn back time. So, does this mean that upon her death, she went back in time a year and opened her eyes because it was the will of the God El Rafa?
Her heart, which had barely calmed down, started beating fast again.
Thump, thump, thump.
Hestia swallowed her dry saliva and asked very carefully.
'I... Were you the one who saved his life?'
Her heart tightened. God's voice, unable to continue speaking for a moment, was heard in a quieter tone than before.
[Yes. Because you still have unfinished business. I didn't want your life to end like that.]
She couldn't understand. Hestia poured out the sorrow of being treated, which she had been enduring all this time, with a feeling of vomiting blood.
'Why? You sent Anette to this earth as a new Saintess, and you will take my life, a flower that bloomed incorrectly... You gave such an oracle.'
God, who had quietly listened to her complaints, spoke softly.
[I never said that.]
'But...! You certainly gave Anette such an oracle.'
[My representative last time, and this time too, is only you.]
'Huh? What is that...'
At that time, the wind in the wide field became stronger. When Hestiq looked up at the sky, she saw that the brightness from before had disappeared and dark clouds were starting to form. Then there was a rumble, a thunderclap, and it started to snow.
The flowers that had bloomed brightly froze and were buried in the snow. El Rafa said in an urgent voice.
[Oh my. It seems the world has noticed that we are meeting. I can only buy for a very short time now.]
Hestia asked, her mind becoming anxious at the same time.
'Then, please tell me the main point. What did you want to talk about when you met me?'
El Rafa's voice was heard again.
[In the past, you bloomed in the wrong land. But that doesn't mean your life had to fall apart.]
'What you said... '
Unlike Hestia, who could not finish her question and blurted out her words, El Rafa gave a firm answer.
[At no time or under any circumstances have I ever wished for you to die.]
Solemn, heavy words seeped into her heart. Her eyes grew hot. She tried to hold back, but her tears quickly rolled down her cheeks. She wasn't abandoned by God.
It was the moment when she finally faced the deep despair that she had been suppressing and ignoring all along. Fortunately, the old feelings seemed to fly away, as if oxidized by Hestia's hot tears.
[You don't know how relieved I am now that you have returned to your rightful place.]
El Rafa's voice became faster as if he was being chased.
[It will be difficult to put down roots. Because the soil is barren, it will be difficult for roots to spread. But you can thaw the frozen ground and restore the warmth that was taken away. So be sure to do it. That is your mission.]
'Frozen land.'
Hestia took in her shaky breath and looked around her. It was clearly a land she had never seen before, but before she knew it, the terrain had changed into something familiar to her eyes.
The snowy mountains were reflected in front of her, and Kalathi Castle was reflected behind her.
The blizzard grew stronger, making it difficult for Hestia to stand on her own two legs. Moreover, a dark shadow was seen rising from the ground in the distance and running like crazy towards Hestia.
Hestia asked, sensing that her meeting with God was soon coming to an end.
'El Rafa. Then why didn't you tell me from the beginning to go north?"
[You say I am omnipotent. Of course, compared to humans, that's true. But I too am just a part of this 'world'. So, I can't do something that the world doesn't allow.]
In the end, it meant that this kind of meeting was only possible if he slightly avoided the eyes of the world. Still, questions remained, and God continued his next words as if he had read Hestia's inner thoughts.
[And don't you know better than anyone else? That many people around you want to use you. Since they are busy serving me and looking after their own interests, they must have wielded my oracle as a weapon.]
Hestia quickly realized that it was referring to Yorgos and the High Priest. Wasn't she the one who made up the fake oracle?
Even if El Rafa had given an oracle that he should leave Hestia and go to the North, it would not have been out of the question for her to cover it up. They always wanted to have her in their grasp.
If she had not slept with Aslan in this life, the outcome might have been the same as before her death.
[Hestia, this is my child. I will always respond to your faith. So now, follow my true will and return to where you belong. So take root again in the frozen ground and sow seeds. Then the snow will melt and you will be able to regain what you lost. Never forget. It must never be touched in winter.]
God repeatedly warned.
[If you touch it, everything will be taken away from you again.]
At that moment, the entire scenery was instantly pushed back and away from Hestia. Just like when she first fell into this space, the surroundings began to go dark.
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