Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos

The villagers scattered about, picking up the feathers like Seiya had instructed. One of them floated to Kaeliyus where he stood, gazing in awe. He grabbed it, putting it into the pocket of his inner garment because he himself needed one to gain access.

After a while, the villagers rose, having finished picking up all the feathers.

"I do not yet have one, my Lord," a man said from the crowd.

"That is because there are people who picked up more than one," Seiya responded calmly. "I have counted all of you, including the children and those still asleep inside their homes, and I have released the amount of feathers corresponding to each one of you."

The villagers exchanged glances of confusion, murmurs rising. Kaeliyus, who stood aside, dug his hand into the inner pocket of his garment, aiming to bring out the feather he kept—thinking it was meant only for the villagers.

"I had counted you among as well," Seiya said, halting Kaeliyus. "I see, thank you my Lord."

Kaeliyus tucked back his own feather, returning to his rigid standing stance.

"So that is how it is my Lord," an elderly woman laughed softly.

"Those of you having more than one in your possession, please gather it up and bring it over. We have to keep it for the ones who don't have any yet," the woman announced.

Without delay, the villagers drew in, gathering the extra feathers like the woman had said. Those that hadn't taken any, took for themselves, while the rest was to be kept for the others.

"Then, we'll take our leave now," Seiya said. Without giving the villagers' any chance to appreciate them, Seiya and Kaeliyus teleported home.

Once in the house, Seiya hurried to Ibyu in the kichen, aware of the danger posed when they're far apart for too long.

Sprawled flat on the kitchen floor was Ibyu, drained and almost lifeless.

{Sei~~,} It drawled, voice scraping the back of its throat.

"What happened to you?" Seiya asked, picking it up from the ground. As Seiya held it in his palm, it sluggishly stretched its arms, flapping them gently—a hint that he wanted a hug from Seiya.

Without any protest, Seiya took it up his face, nuzzling it gently with his forehead. Ibyu latched instantly onto Seiya's cheek, building up its essence.

After a while, it sprang up in Seiya's palm. {I really thought I'd die this time,} it said, eliciting a sigh from Seiya because it never failed to repeat the same words every time.

"Did you hurt yourself?" Seiya asked.

{Ah! I fell from the kitchen counter after climbing up with all my strength to get food,} it said, sighing heavily.

"Must've been so painful that even I felt it," Seiya said. "Not like I wouldn't feel it even if it was minor."

As Seiya carried Ibyu, heading toward the door, its stomach growled loudly.

{I'm famished,} Ibyu sighed, squeezing shut its eyes as if in pain as he slumped down on Seiya's palm.

Kaeliyus, who stood by the door, admiring the interaction between Seiya and his own heart, perked up immediately he heard Ibyu talk about hunger.

"I knew it would be like this so I prepared your own portion of food. I'll reheat it for you," Kaeliyus said.

Ibyu's head snapped up at him, eyes glistening and sparkling with undying love as it gazed at Kaeliyus.

{Kael~~!} Ibyu called, its puppy eyes zeroed on Kaeliyus. {Thank you, I love you now uuu~} It extended its tiny hands forward and Kaeliyus wasted no time in carrying it from Seiya's grasp—happy that Ibyu had finally opened up to him.

Without a word, Seiya left them to themselves, retiring for the night.

*****

#The_Next_Morning

Within the confines of the grand commander's office, he sat comfortably on his chair while five HS officials stood nervous before him. At the corner, by the commander's side, stood his assistant, firm with both hands clasped behind him.

The commander's gaze was fixed sternly on the workers before him, silent—the air thick with undeniable tension.

The workers had come this morning after waking from the slumber Seiya had knocked them into, and had reported everything accordingly to the commander.

"In summary of what you all just told me," the commander began, causing the workers to flinch. "While keeping guard around the village premises, you were all knocked out from behind by somebody," he said, and the workers nodded to affirm his words.

"When you all woke up, it was already morning, and you found not the old barrier securing the village anymore but a new one," he continued, the workers nodding yet again.

"Since you all had no clue of what truly happened, you tried breaking through the barrier like we had done with the previous one, so as to get in and inquire from the villagers. But you couldn't break through it at all no matter how much you all tried, correct?" Once again, they nodded.

"And this new barrier, you said it's one you've all never seen before. And that you can no longer hear the villagers' faint voices with which you listened in on them, but can still see them."

"Yes sir, but not so clear anymore, a bit blurry," one of the workers said.

"The barrier, you said it gives off an odd sense of feeling you can't quite grasp."

"Yes sir. It gives this eerie feel like it had been cast by a demon."

"But the villagers' had said the person helping them was no demon," the commander said. "Did they lie then? Are they covering up for a demon?" He pondered.

One again, his gaze that had left the workers, shifted back to them, causing them to flinch once more under the weight of his stare.

"In conclusion, it is a failed mission," he blurted, causing the workers to tremble—thinking what punishment would be unleashed upon them.

However, before the commander could continue, his assistant interrupted. "It is time."

Casting aside the matter with no further comment, he dismissed the workers. "You're free to leave," he said and they hurried out after a polite bow.

The commander rose from his chair, taking his coat that his assistant stretched over to him. He wore it over his neat, former attire, stepping forward.

"Now, shall we go read that boy's memory to find out the real truth behind all this?"