Chapter 26: On the clouds with God once again

Lylia clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

'Alright. So... how does praying work again? Do you just say hi? Or do you start with “Dear God”?' She’s not sure. 'I'm not that religous before. Sorry.'

“Uhm… hello?” she whispered uncertainly. “God? It’s me. The girl who used to be not one you kinda... dropped here.”

She tilted her head slightly, thinking. 'Anyway, thanks for, you know, not letting me die yet. Things have been fun. I mean, I’ve got food, magic, and... oh, I also tried boar meat! So yeah, thank you.'

She fiddled with her fingers. 'And, uh, if you can… maybe bless me with good luck or something?'

“Oh really?”

'Yeah, like' she nodded automatically, eyes still closed, then froze. 'Wait.' she thought.

Her brain caught up a second later.

Hold on. That was 'a voice'.

Her head jerked slightly, though her eyes remained shut. 'God? Is that you? In my head?'

“Open your eyes,” the voice said, calm and familiar.

She blinked, then slowly opened them, and nearly screamed.

The church was gone. Instead, she stood barefoot on soft white clouds that rippled faintly beneath her feet. The air shimmered golden. In front of her sat the familiar figure, the golden god himself, upon his radiant throne.

Her jaw dropped. “...Oh.”

And weirdly enough, she realized she was standing now. She didn’t remember standing up, didn’t feel any shift. Just like when she turned into a girl, she hadn’t felt that either , as if it was natural all along.

Her brain spun. “Is this… real? Or am I dreaming?”

The god’s voice came smooth, almost amused. “Both, and neither. You’ve been summoned.”

“Summoned?” she blinked. “Wait, I didn’t die, did I?”

He smiled faintly. “No, you didn’t die.”

“Oh,” She exhaled hard. “Because that would’ve been awkward.”

Then she tilted her head. “So, uhm… why am I here?”

“Because you prayed before my statue,” he explained.

“Ohhh,” she said slowly. “So… if I pray every time, I’ll get free trips to heaven?”

He chuckled. “Possibly. That is, if you were allowed to. A god can hear prayers made before their statue, and may summon you if they wish. Except for me, of course.”

She blinked. “Because you’re the main god?”

“Because I have no need for statues,” he replied casually. “I see and hear everything in the world already.”

“Oh… that’s kind of creepy,” she muttered, then quickly added, “I mean, cool! Very cool.”

His eyes glinted with humor. “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on watching you all the time.”

“Appreciated,” she said quickly.

He continued, “I don’t summon mortals every time they pray. I only do so when necessary. This time, it was to explain this very thing.”

She nodded. “Ah, I see. So this is like a tutorial summon.”

“That’s one way to put it,” he said with a small smile.

“Alright, then noted. I’ll pray wisely next time.”

“Good.”

He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand. “Now then, how’s your new life so far? Are you enjoying your body? Your adventures?”

Lylia blinked, then scratched her cheek. “Uhm… yeah, I guess I’m doing good. I kinda like being a girl, actually. Especially since being cute has its perks. Like, you can make people do stuff for you if you smile right.”

That made him chuckle warmly. “You’re adapting fast.”

“Well,” she said proudly, striking a cutesy pose, “I guess it's kina like catfishing.”

He blinked. “Cat…fishing?”

“It’s a human thing,” she said, waving it off, then smiled like a flower blooming. “Besides, with this face, how can you not act cute? Might as well take advantage of it.”

He chuckled again. “I see.”

She then crossed her arms and joked, “By the way, speaking of cute, got any spare money?”

He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Being demanding already, are we?”

“Tehee~,” she said playfully, fingers framing her face.

He laughed softly. “You truly act the part of a girl now.”

“I try,” she said with a grin. “Oh, that reminds me!” She rummaged through her pouch and pulled out the platinum coin. “Is this thing legit? I almost forgot I have it.”

The god leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Ah. That’s one of mine.”

“So it’s real?”

He gestured casually. “Are those my writings? Yes. Is that my throne? Yes. It’s authentic.”

“So you’re the one making money, then?”

He shook his head. “No. The dwarves forge them. I simply gave them the stamps that imprint my throne and words onto each coin.”

“Ohh, dwarves,” she said. “The short people who forge stuff?”

“Indeed,” he said with faint amusement.

“Then they can mass-produce coins?” she asked.

“They could,” he admitted, “but the dwarves are responsible creatures. They don’t abuse that power.”

“Huh. Fair enough.”

Then, with a clap of his hands, two small pouches appeared, dangling in front of her.

“I can at least convert that coin for you,” he said. “Carrying such high value in one piece might be… troublesome.”

She stared at the coin, then at the god. She did want to keep it as a souvenir, but… yeah, if she lost it, she’d never forgive herself.

“Alright, sure,” she said.

The god smiled. “Done.”

The coin vanished from her palm, replaced by two heavy pouches. One jingled with copper; the other gleamed with silver.

“Whoa…” she said, opening them slightly. “That’s a hundred copper and a hundred silver? Wow, that’s… a lot. But also kinda underwhelming?”

The god chuckled, pointing beside his throne where a huge pile of glittering coins lay stacked like treasure.

Her eyes widened. “Has that been there since before!?”

He nodded. “That’s the rest of your money.”

“...Oh my god,” she muttered. Then quickly, “No offense.”

He smirked. “None taken. But tell me, do you think you can carry it all?”

She eyed the mountain of coins. “Nope.”

“Then I’ll keep them for now,” he said. “You can come here anytime to withdraw. Until, of course, I grant you your own Soul-Bound Credit Card.”

She froze. “…You have credit cards here?”

“That concept was made by another otherworlder before you,” he explained. “A brilliant man. Obsessive about trade systems.”

“Wow,” she said, impressed. “Is he still alive?”

The god’s tone softened. “He passed a decade ago.”

“Oh…” she murmured. “Am I the only otherworlder at this time?”

“That’s correct.”

“Huh.” She thought for a second, then grinned sheepishly. “Sooo… can’t you just make me one of those credit cards?”

He chuckled. “Denied.”

She pouted. “Figures.”

Still, she looked at her pouches and grinned. She felt rich. Though she knew herself, that money would probably vanish faster than she’d like.

“Man,” she muttered, “do I even need to work as an adventurer now?” She quickly shook her head. “Nah. Just kidding. Probably.”

Then, curiously, she asked, “If I can meet you through prayer, does that mean I can meet other gods too? Like, the sun, the moon, the god of magic, or the strength path?”

The god rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully. “Possibly. However, Somni and Solmeris are not under my domain. You would need their permission.”

“The god and goddess of sun and moon?”

He nodded. “Yes. From the world’s creation, they simply appeared, born of light and shadow. My authority does not reach them. My domain is the heavens, while theirs are the sun and moon themselves.”

Lylia’s eyes widened. “Wait, like, literally on the sun and moon?”

“Precisely.”

“So if I meet them, I’ll be… out there? Like in outer space?”

He chuckled softly. “Outer space… ah, such advanced words. You've been using terms my world has yet to invent, but yes, outside the sky’s veil. Don’t worry. They’d let you breathe.”

She frowned. “I can imagine standing on the moon, but on the sun? That sounds like instant roast.”

He laughed. “That’s exactly why no one’s ever met Solmeris in his domain.”

“Yeah, I’ll pass,” she muttered quickly.

Then he added casually, “By the way, this world is still young. I’m not even a million years old yet.”

Her eyes widened again. “Seriously?”

He smiled faintly. “Indeed. So don’t be afraid to treat me like a friend.”

She blinked, suddenly aware of how casual she’d been talking to him this whole time.

He laughed softly. “Don’t worry. I’m not a tyrant. Stay as you are.”

That earned a genuine smile from her. “Alright, friend.”

“Good,” he said warmly.

After a brief pause, he looked thoughtful again. “Hmm. Maybe next time, I’ll let you meet Tharus. He’s been quite busy. But Azurel… I can let you meet him now.”

“Right now?” she asked, startled.

He raised an eyebrow. “Do you not want to?”

“I mean… I’m not ready, but yeah, sure.”

He smiled and clapped his hands again. “Just don’t expect him to take you as a disciple immediately.”

“Ha… you know about that, huh?” she said awkwardly.

“I see everything,” he said teasingly.

Lylia hugged herself jokingly. “Aah! Privacy invasion!”

The god smirked and waved his hand. Golden letters appeared in the air, swirling into a complex formation before shooting forward.

They morphed into a towering blue door, engraved with shifting magical circles that glowed like stars.

Lylia’s eyes widened in awe. “Whoa…”

The door opened by itself, light spilling through.