Chapter 3

03

I woke up about three days later, finding myself chained to a stone wall with Spirit-Binding shackles.

I couldn't use a drop of my divine power. I didn't even have the strength to call for help.

My head hung low. It was obvious why Cillian had brought me here.

"Can I really use her core? She's just a lowly shifter!"

It was Elara's voice. She sounded disgusted by me.

I stayed quiet and listened.

"Don't worry. I'll extract the energy from her core first and then transfer it to you. It won't hurt you at all."

"You're so good to me, Cillian," Elara chirped.

Cillian held her with immense tenderness.

"You blocked the lightning for me and lost your magic. I will never fail you."

"You don't need to feel guilty. I'll compensate her later."

I felt a chill, not in my body, but in my soul.

I was the one who saved him!

Yet he was so easily fooled by her lies that he was willing to torture me.

If the fallen gods knew I was being played like this by a minor immortal, they'd laugh until they cried.

My energy was slowly being pulled into a ritual circle. In my haze, someone gently lifted my chin.

Cillian looked at me and said, "Liora, Elara needs your core."

"She saved my life, and I owe her this. As for you, don't worry. Even if you can't shift anymore, I will take care of you."

I couldn't speak. My eyes were filled only with cold hatred.

Extracting a core is like ripping out a heart. If I were a normal shifter, I would become a useless cripple.

It would be like a human having their hands broken and eyes gouged out.

As if to comfort me, Cillian spoke again. "I'll make it up to you."

Elara walked into the circle. "Cillian, it's almost time."

Cillian hesitated for a second, looking between me and Elara.

Then, he steeled his heart and started the ritual.

Pain like a thousand needles pierced my body. I wouldn't die, but I had to endure it.

After a while, they realized something was wrong.

"What's happening? Why is the ritual taking so long?"

My face was pale, almost translucent. I looked like I was dying, yet I didn't revert to a flower.

Cillian walked closer and pulled out a Spirit-Breaking Spike.

My heart stopped. He was truly determined.

He was willing to let my soul scatter just to get that core for Elara.

He drove the spike toward my chest without a second thought.

As he cast the spell, he whispered, "I'll find you in the next life. I'll compensate you. Don't be afraid."

How pathetic. The man I loved was flaying me alive for another woman while promising to find me in reincarnation.

Just as the second spike was about to hit my heart, the ritual shattered.

The force threw them both to the ground. They stared at the golden light radiating from me.

"Is this… Divine Light?"

"Are you… a Goddess?"

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