The warmth that surrounded me when I woke up was unlike anything I had experienced before. It was like I was submerged in a hot bath and receiving a full-body massage at the same time.

  I smiled in utter contentment and opened my eyes. The sight that was presented to me as soon as I rubbed the sand out of them was as soothing as it was breathtaking.

  Black hair spread across the bed and framed the beautiful face of a sleeping goddess. Her expression was serene as light snoring noises filled the room.

  So…yesterday was real. I really am in another world. And this… The gaze I had directed at the woman lying on top of me sharpened; she is my goddess now.

  I snorted quietly at the thought.

  If somebody had told me that I would end up joining some god's family a mere few days ago... I would have called them crazy.

  A chuckle rumbled in my throat.

  Since I did not wish to wake Hestia up just yet, I remained motionless and instead swept my eyes around the basement of the abandoned church. It was a tiny room, but also very cozy.

  The only real furniture I could see from my position was a green couch next to the bed and a round wooden table. Behind them, attached to the wall, a dimly shining lamp illuminated the room. The lamp held within it a small purple crystal that was the source of the light.

  This must be one of those magic stones I heard so much about. How fascinating. How do you get one of those from monsters?

  I lifted my hand and tangled it into Hestia's silky hair. My mind lost in thought.

  Everything had happened so quickly yesterday. I could still scarcely believe that this was real; I barely managed to keep up.

  I was burned to death.

  Only…I did not die. Instead, I woke up here, in another world. A world with elves, monsters, and gods.

  Then I was again attacked by a criminal and forced to kill in self-defense. Despite not having initiated the fight and even trying to de-escalate whenever possible, I could not deny that I had…enjoyed it. I enjoyed killing him.

  Killing humans with my blessing… It was a pleasure unlike anything else. It was an indescribable experience.

  A tight knot formed in my stomach at the direction my own thoughts had gone to. With conscious intent, I dragged my attention outward to what my hands had been doing all this time.

  Stroking the goddess's soft hair was therapeutic.

  Once again feeling anchored, I resumed my earlier introspection.

  I had killed my second person. And I still felt like it was justified. After all, I did not kill an innocent, unlike what the Bishop had accused me of. I killed a slaver who was actively trying to bring me harm. I told Hestia that I had never used my Blessing on an innocent before and that I would do my best to only use it for good. I had no intention of becoming a liar in her eyes.

  I would prove both to this world and to myself that Solstaris made a monumental mistake when they allowed me to be executed based off the words of an oracle of all things. I would become a hero greater than anything this world had ever seen. My Blessing was evil; I truly believed that. However, like Hestia said, what truly mattered was how I used it.

  I did not feel regret after killing criminals. I did not care what the laws said or if every single person in the world told me that I was wrong. Some people just did not deserve to be alive.

  All who try to rob others of their freedom, all who kill innocents, and all who physically abuse others. All of them were acceptable targets for my blessing.

  Those were the only morals I would never compromise on. I had held that moral code since I was just a young boy, and my third set of foster parents “educated” me on what a proper citizen of the theocracy was allowed to do and what they weren’t. Suffice to say, I did not agree with them. Why should I stand by when evil is committed right in front of me? Why should I not be allowed to fight back? I rejected a society where that was how a "proper citizen“ behaved.

  Still, I did not expect to encounter a situation like that so soon into this new world. It did not paint a pretty picture. Was it possible that this fantastical world was just as corrupt as my last one?

  I refused to believe that.

  As if in response to my discomfort, Hestia hummed softly and snuggled even closer into my embrace. A smile tugged on my lips as I glanced down at the goddess.

  If nothing else, I was fortunate to have met here. In the state I was in, I likely would have been willing to accept a worse deal, with worse people.

  A thin crease formed between my brows as I fixed my amber eyes on the sleeping goddess.

  I had been too exhausted to really take note of it the day before, but now that I was fully rested, I was somewhat put off by the absolute trust she had given me.

  How quickly she accepted me into her family.

  My own reaction to her grand displays of affection, was just as unexpected. I never thought of myself as a person who grew easily attached to people. Or at least, I did not used to think of myself that way.

  Clearly, I was wrong.

  An irrational desire to protect the short woman lying on me surged from my chest. It was a futile thing, I knew. She was a goddess, and therefore had to contain more power hidden within herself than I could even begin to imagine.

  Someone like that did not need the protection of a mortal man like me.

  Still, I could not help it. Now that I finally knew how it felt like to be wanted by someone…to be accepted so unconditionally…I would never let go of that feeling.

  I would never let go of the one who had invoked these strange feelings within me. I wanted more of it. Much more.

  Relationships with other people were not something that I had much experience with. No matter the form such bonds might take. I never had a real family, and it was hard to make friends with people when they were just so different.

  Hestia…was almost too easy to get along with.

  A huff escaped me when a pleasant smell reached my nose.

  She even smells nice….This is ridiculous.

  My gaze snapped downward when something pushed back against my hand. Hestia had leaned into my touch and slowly stretched herself awake. With a deep yawn, she opened her gleaming blue eyes and addressed me in a sleepy voice.

  "Good morning, Cain.“

  A smile rose on my face as I continued to run my fingers through her hair. "Good morning, Hestia."

  The goddess melted into my arms. The sounds she made were reminiscent of a cat purring.

  "You know…I really am happy that you chose to join my Familia…This is perfect. I want every morning to start like this!“

  My breath hitched.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Hestia perked up without waiting for a reply and scrambled toward the wooden table. Once there, she grabbed the piece of white paper that had been lying on it. The smile on her face when she pushed it into my waiting hands was blinding.

  "I forgot to give this to you yesterday…but I promised to show you your status first thing in the morning!“

  I raised my upper body into a seated position and directed my undivided attention onto the unassuming object that held within it a detailed report of my soul’s potential.

  Name: Cain

  Level: 1

  Strength: I 0

  Endurance: I 0

  Dexterity: I 0

  Agility: I 0

  Magic: I 0

  Skills:

  Morsalis

  Each life taken with the Blessing of Death is used to empower the host.

  Magic:

  — None

  My shoulders sagged. A bunch of parameters with a zero behind them was not what I had been expecting when thinking of the "physical manifestation of my divinely enhanced soul."

  The only silver lining was that, if nothing else, I could now finally put a name to my previously nameless Blessing.

  Morsalis

  How appropriately ominous. As expected of an evil power like mine.

  “I know you told me that you were born with this skill, Cain…so I’m sure it must seem natural to you, but it really is important that you do not tell anyone about it!“

  Hestia peered into my eyes with more seriousness than I had seen her express before. "I know my people…if they found out that somebody like you existed…they would not leave you be!…Do not tell anyone that you came from a different world, and do not tell anyone that you got your first skill the moment you received your Falana…. Please, Cain, promise me that you won’t.“

  My own amber eyes held her gaze with matching intensity.

  Does she not trust the other gods?

  "I cannot make a promise that I’m not sure if I’ll manage to keep, Hestia…I don‘t know what will happen in the future…but…I will make sure to be alert. I promise. I have…some experience when it comes to keeping such secrets.“

  Hestia searched my face with glowing azure eyes. After a few seconds spent in silence, she seemed to have found what she was looking for. A deep exhale left her, and she spoke up again.

  "I did not write that skill into your soul, Cain….that likely doesn’t mean much to you just yet…but it really should be impossible. The way the Falna works is that you children gather excelia by performing extraordinary feats, and then we gods take that excelia and convert it into power…For a skill to have just appeared by itself...“ She breathed out a strained sigh. "It is very unusual…It is also extremely rare…and that’s what makes it so dangerous…I…I really just want you to be careful…I don’t want to lose you.“

  My arms reached out as I pulled the goddess into a hug. "I know…and I appreciate your concern more than you know."

  I released her from my embrace and sent her a smile. "Besides…it’s not all bad. Did you know that I don’t actually need to eat as long as I use Morsalis?…I’m also pretty sure that it would heal me if I ever got seriously injured….It looks like I still need to sleep, though…mental exhaustion is apparently not so easily fixed.”

  Hestai blinked and tilted her head to the side. She appeared caught off guard by the sudden change of topic. That expression did not last long as she quickly answered me with enthusiasm. "That is great! Did you know? I also don’t need to eat!… But it is somewhat of an unofficial rule amongst us gods that we would start doing so once we formed a Famila…. You know, to get the full Gekai experience.“ Her wide smile was radiant.

  How cute.

  The tension left my body now that I was able to take her mind off of her previous worry. "Goddess, I was planning to sign up at the guild today and then head to the Dungeon… So I was wondering, what exactly do gods do other than awaken the Falna for their…children?"

  Hestia returned to her seat next to me on the bed and crossed her legs. "Gods…are free to do whatever they want, really…. Most of the others spend their days indulging in whatever vice or obsession they are currently most interested in, while their children are busy working… However, gods from small Familia like ours…well, we also need to work! It is our duty to support our children in their journey until they are able to take care of themselves.“

  My mouth hung open.

  Gods need to work a job just to get by?… This world really is something else.

  "If you want to work, goddess, then I would never stop you from doing so…. But if you only do it on my account, then please don’t…" A tight pressure took hold of my chest at the thought of becoming a burden. "Being an adventurer is supposed to be the most profitable profession in the world. I am sure I will make enough… Valis, for both of us… I don’t even need to eat if I don’t want to! And this home we live in is free.”

  I rotated my body until I was fully facing her and took one of her hands into mine. "How about this: let me go into the dungeon first and see how much I can earn, then we will check our finances, and if you still think that it is necessary for you to work as well…I will not stop you.“

  Hestia stared at me with wide eyes. "Are you…sure that is okay?“

  Without hesitating any further, I jerked upward and straightened my clothes. "Yes, I am sure. Just wait for me, and I will see what I can do…We can postpone any further plans until then…Is that alright?“

  After I received a single nod in confirmation, I prepared myself to leave the church and once again journey out into the labyrinth city.

  ————

  Hestia watched her beloved child leave with a smile so wide it almost hurt.

  Is it really alright for me to get this lucky?

  Contrary to her expectations, the goddess had not been the least bit prepared for just how strongly having her first family member would hit her.

  The affection she felt for Cain was almost too much for her to handle. He was flawless! The cute child didn’t even want her to work! Had there ever been a mortal in Gekai as perfect as him?

  Hestia had observed them for long enough to know that mortals tended to be…put off when they finally realized just how deep the affections of divinities really went. With that knowledge in mind, she had forced herself to repress her more immediate urges and refrained from grabbing onto her child and forcing him to stay as close to her at all times as she possibly could.

  She wanted to lock him up in their home and never let him leave so that they could share their warmth forever! She wanted him to be hers…and only hers. She wanted to claim him like she had already claimed his soul with her blessing. It was a feeling unlike any she had ever felt before.

  …Is this why Freya always gets obsessed so easily?

  Hestia did not know. She did not have much experience when it came to romantic relationships. The only man to have ever seriously shown such interest in her was Apollo, and…well…the less said about that pervert, the better.

  In Tenkai, Hestia was the goddess tasked with looking after the sacred flame. As such, she did not have much time to fool around as the other gods did. The short amounts of free time she did have, she rather spent with her friends or witnessing the mortals and their exciting lives in the lower world.

  However, now that she herself had become part of that world and was finally experiencing the feelings that she had seen so many of them display so readily for herself…they were a lot more intense than what she had expected.

  The goddess could not wait to see just how many more new experiences and feelings Gekai had in store for her!

  ——-

  Once I exited the building I now called home, I was immediately faced with a scene of ruin. I had not been paying too much attention to it the day before, but the surrounding space really were left in a deplorable state.

  It was hard to believe, but the church was actually one of the more preserved buildings in this part of Orario.

  I wonder what happened here… Was it a war? Who would dare attack a city filled with gods and their followers?… Or was it monsters?… Are they not all trapped in the dungeon?

  My march toward the center of Orario was illuminated by the first golden rays of the rising sun. The day had only just begun, and I was momentarily awestruck by the sight of the approaching city.

  This world really is beautiful.

  When I finally arrived at the inner part of the city, I was once again struck by the diversity of the people that called this place home. Adventurers in full armour were headed toward the heaven-defying tower in the middle of the city. Shopkeepers prepared for the moment their stores would open. Idle early birds strolled across the streets, taking in the sights.

  Orario was a city bustling with life and culture.

  I appreciated the scenery for a while longer and then took off to find someone I could ask about the whereabouts of the guild building.

  While my sense of direction had always been excellent, that fact did nothing for me in a city that I had never been to before. Especially one as big and convoluted as Orario. The place resembled a labyrinth more than it did an actual city meant for people to live in.

  My eyes widened imperceptibly when my gaze fell on a lone figure leaning against the walls of a clothing store. The woman's dark skin was barely covered by a purple strip of fabric wrapped around her chest and transparent pants of the same color. Her white underwear was clearly visible.

  The striking woman had been staring at me with focused intensity since before I even noticed her. I closed the distance between us with an easy smile on my lips.

  "Oh? See something you like, boy?…You certainly are handsome enough, but I’m afraid I will have to decline. You’re still too weak to survive me.“ She smirked and propped a hand on her wide hips. "Come and visit me when you’re stronger….We’ll have some fun together then."

  My smile faltered.

  Is this how they greet each other in this world?

  "…You are without a doubt a great beauty, my lady…but…that is not why I have approached you today….I wanted to ask if you could direct me in the direction of the guild building. I am new to Orario and just recently joined a Familia."

  The woman leaned forward and pinned me down with piercing purple eyes. "I see, you’re a fresh rookie… Well, that is not too bad. It means you still have potential…How irresponsible of your Familia Captain to let someone like you wander around aimlessly after you just received your Falna…Who knows what could have happened? Luckily for you, you met me….Come on, let this big sister guide you for a while.“

  Her gold jewelry reflected the sunlight as I listened carefully to the directions she gave me. From there, it did not take much longer until I found what I had been looking for.

  The guild building was just as impressive as I imagined it would be. It was also very hard to miss. Multiple floors, colorful green stones, and painted banners marked its front. It appeared older than the buildings surrounding it.

  Fortunately, it was open for business even this early in the morning.

  Light entered my eyes as I crossed the entrance and entered the famous building for the first time.