Chapter 81 #2
As the Demon King’s energy abruptly left Victor’s corpse and snaked back through the portal’s cracks, I cheered, so happy I felt like crying.
I didn’t know if it was appropriate to give a goddess a hug, but I was damn tempted.
She had done the very thing I’d struggled with and failed to achieve.
I wanted to dance, sing, and shout all at once.
I admittedly also felt a bit miffed. If it was this fucking easy, why hadn’t someone told me about the spell in the first life? It could have been over in five minutes then, too!
Granted, I hadn’t been in any state to use it after Edwin was killed, but still!
With a wave of “my” hand, Valentina’s body also dropped like an abandoned marionette, her energy seeping straight into the portal.
The priests had apparently done their jobs well enough that Vuheia was able to finish sealing the portal without direct contact.
I saw the other possessed people also collapsing, priests rushing to aid them.
It seemed that when Vuheia returned the Demon King and Valentina—or whatever demon had been inhabiting Valentina—back to Hell, the possessions canceled themselves out.
Phew, good, that was a worry I didn’t need to deal with.
My people were handling the aftermath of this battle very well. I’d reward them for it later.
Then Vuheia lightly stepped to the portal, knelt, and placed one hand against it.
“Is she…” I almost didn’t dare ask but I had to know, because surely I was not seeing this right. “Is she permanently sealing the portal?”
“You are correct. She is. She wanted to do this last time, but no one called upon her, so her hands were tied. There’s many rules about how much the gods and goddesses can directly interfere with the mortal realm.”
“If you’d told me, I would have happily done it.”
“You also died immediately,” she pointed out.
Touché.
Although this gave me more food for thought. The spell had been powerful enough, even half recited, to give her the ability to do this?
I now felt bad about not reciting it properly.
For a moment, just a moment, time seemed to stay utterly still.
I blinked, and Vuheia suddenly stood before me.
She looked like the depictions in the temple, her raven hair in a high ponytail, the ornaments of gold on her, with the thigh-high boots and sword strapped to her side.
At the same time, those depictions did nothing to convey her stunning beauty.
I doubted any amount of paint or skill could do so.
“Vuheia.” I greeted her with a bow and a smile that threatened to break my face. “Thank you so much.”
“You did well, my child.” She put her hands on my shoulders, ducking down to eye level.
“I’m so incredibly proud of you and Edwin for doing it right this time.
I know how much of a struggle this was. But this time, the demon realm is properly sealed.
So enjoy your life with Edwin to the fullest, without worry.
And when you have finished your time there, return to me, as I miss you both dreadfully. ”
Part of me was in awe at being able to see her in person.
Surely this was a one in a million event, being able to speak directly to your goddess.
My very soul shivered, overwhelmed by her divinity.
Another part of me felt the love she had for me, like my heart was directly connected to hers, and validated all over again I was truly her child.
I suddenly knew why I’d been allowed to regress—because her heart had broken, too, knowing I’d be separated from Edwin. I was so thankful for her, for her faith in me, that I told protocol to go hang.
I threw both arms around her waist and hugged her tight.
“Thank you,” I spoke against her shoulder, feeling choked up with too many emotions to name. “Thank you for the second chance.”
“You are more than welcome. I’m glad I did. I knew you’d succeed on the second try.” She squeezed me tight for a second before stepping back, her smile gentle and warm. “You must return, but remember, you both are very loved. Now, off with you.”
She laid a kiss against my forehead—a benediction, or a blessing.
Then, with a snap, I was back in my body. I barely registered my return before pain racked me from head to toe.
“Owww, fuck, owwwwww.” I knelt on the ground, just breathing and wishing for a nap. Apparently, being inhabited by a goddess was hard on mortal flesh. I felt like I’d tried to cage lightning with my own body.
Was I complaining? Hell no. My goddess had finished the battle for me, and it was worth every bit of pain. Plus, hey, I’d lived this time! Yay, go me!
Mage Rexword scuttled to my side, kneeling and supporting me, his eyes worried. “Your Majesty, are you all right?”
“If you have a pain-relieving potion on you,” I panted out, “I’ll take twelve.”
“Start with two.”
“Spoilsport.” I was relieved he had them, though, and tossed both back despite the sour taste. Their magic flowed through me, and I felt better already with my next deep breath. “Thank you. Our losses?”
“A dozen, which is amazing, all things considered.”
“Truly. Tell your mages there’s no need to put a ward up. The portal is completely sealed. Goddess Vuheia did that herself before leaving.”
His eyes bulged right out of his head. “Is that who was possessing you?”
“Indeed. We owe her much thanks. I’ll throw a banquet in her honor when we’re back. Maybe donate half my fortune to her temples. Seriously, we’d be dead without her aid.” I grabbed another potion bottle from him, as I still felt like I was a single banana peel away from a grave. “Call Edwin.”
While he pulled a mirror free of his pocket, I looked about.
The testament of battle showed all around me—scorch marks dented the earth, buildings had gaping wounds from the impact of the fight, blood splatters from the injured and fallen painted the ground, but it wasn’t as bad as the last time I’d battled demons.
This town was still intact. It could have been far worse.
There were many ex-possessed who were still down, and the troops focused on helping them, obeying the directions the priests gave.
I hoped there were enough places to put all the people to recover.
I was glad my soldiers realized these poor souls were victims too and treated them accordingly. No one had wanted to be in this battle.
Well, aside from the demons.
Poor Victor’s and Valentina’s bodies lay not far away.
No longer acting as hosts for demons, every injury they’d sustained in battle had reinstated itself.
They’d been killed, in essence, once the demon’s power no longer healed their flesh.
Neither of them had deserved this ending, per se, but I couldn’t feel upset about their deaths.
Not after all they had done. I’d see they had proper burials, though.
To avoid them becoming some ghostly menaces, if nothing else.
Rexword presented the mirror and I oriented myself, still tired enough to desperately want sleep, but at least the pain felt more like overused muscles and fatigue than wrestling with electric eels.
Edwin’s image came into focus in two seconds, so he must have kept a mirror on hand this whole time. Of course he had.
“James.” He greeted me with relieved urgency, his whole body leaning toward the mirror. “How fare you?”
“It’s done. The Demon King, Valentina, all the possessed—everyone’s been defeated.”
His eyes closed with blatant relief. “You?”
“Not injured. Exhausted. Goddess Vuheia answered the spell to possess me. Turns out, being host to a goddess feels like harboring lightning.”
Jaw dropped, he spluttered for a second. “That’s who the spell calls?”
“I don’t know if it called her specifically, but she’s the one who answered.
Which makes sense, as she’s my goddess. Of course she’d have an easier time with me than the other gods.
But for now, beloved, know this: All our enemies are vanquished, the portal has been permanently sealed by Vuheia herself, and she’s promised it will not open again. We’ve won.”
The truth of my words resonated down to my bones.
We had won. I had won. It wasn’t just the battle I’d waged, defeating the Demon King again, although that was significant all by itself.
I’d won all around. I had everything I had ever wanted.
Valentina was no longer a threat to me, there was no screwup Victor to deal with, nothing loomed on the horizon, threatening to decimate half my country.
I’d won Edwin’s heart this time, married him—a dream I’d never thought I could actually realize—and now Vuheia herself had promised me I could live in peace with him for the rest of our natural lives.
I’d won.
The joy, the relief, was indescribable. If Edwin had been on hand, I’d have seized him and not let go.
Tears stood in Edwin’s eyes, and I could tell he felt as overwhelmed as I did. “I’m so happy I could scream. Come home, quickly, so we can celebrate.”
“Trust me, my love, I’ll return as quickly as the winds can bring me to you.”