It had been one whole month since Goddess had lost the strength of her demonic powers, and the ravages of her mortal powers set free. A whole month of pain, meditation, control sessions, and learning of the world she now occupied. Where before, under the strains of her dark taint, Goddess was rushed, impatient, angry, and counter-productive, Goddess was now forced to patience, planned, calm, and had a new goal: To get her immense mortal power back under control. From her time in her demonic state, her mortal magic was being used as a barrier from her mortal soul, to her demonic corrosion, preventing her from becoming simply a pawn for her demonic slaves. Made doubly difficult by her need to connect some parts of her being to it, so she could use the power, but not be overcome. Apparently, in this time, her mortal magic overcame her reawoken demonic power in terms of sheer volume. It was basically killing her from the inside. Goddess, however, was always a quick study, and a natural talent for magic, and so within the month, she was back in control, safe from her own power.
However, the re-training had already begun, and Goddess decided to remain in the room often as she reconnected with long lost ancient power she would yet wield again. Goddess had returned to simple brown roses, wearing but an ornate gold chained, and gold metal hourglass necklace with purple sand, most of it being on the top. To learn of the outside world, those who thwarted her, those she dominated, those she had yet to confront. If a fight with them was inevitable, she would have to use more than the parlor tricks and simple spells she brought on last time. Next time, she would take it seriously, and would not fall to the same arrogance she had before. Last time, Goddess failed only due to the backlash of divine power which eradicated the demonic power within her. This time, she would have no such weakness. Reconnecting with the magic native to her world, to her soul, and to her very basis would strengthen her. Goddess would abandon the direct strategies, which she considered playful, in favor of much more powerful magics. With a firm resolve to her original mission to heart, she had slowed her aging, and reconnected with the immense powers beneath, above, to the sides, within, and outside of her own being. Her magic, finally calm, was ready to be unleashed on her targets and desires. However, there were some new things to contend with....
"My Goddess, we have located some magical items for you as you've requested. But they're not the...quality you asked for. The sort of items you want haven't been in existance for some time, and the purges, alongside... ahem... reckless destruction of certain items of education eradicated most of the knowledge needed to make them," the man who came to save her before described to her. Goddess was not amused with his comment, knowing full well she had a hand in destroying the information.
"And my home?"
"As I have said before, my Goddess. There are few magos left in the world, and most people who use mana do so through items runed in magic they cannot read, only replicate. And the most powerful of items have their words hidden..." his voice was shrinking some, detecting the frustration in Goddess.
"So you're telling me, out of all the people in this following, I am the only true magos?"
"There are roughly four to five left. Two are those you fought before and are dormant in the frost rest, and the other one or two are unknown, and the last is you, who is barred magically from performing the spells required on the land your home rests..."
"You've had a month to locate someone who can set foot in the area other than myself, where are you on that?"
"A little tougher. We know where your two former friends-" Goddess winced at this "-are, and the one unrelated to you. We don't even know if there really are any more magos than this outside of rumor. We approached the one outside of your past dealings, and found he was not only probably too weak for the task, but has heard of you, and wants nothing to do with you. And..." he trailed off.
"And? The others?"
"Their very lands turned on us, identifying you in our purpose, and obliterated those who meant to commune. I'm sure we're not invited. We've honestly been more worried we may have awoken them to your return..."
Goddess turned away some, in thought. She knew she was still very powerful, but probably not yet ready to take on her former comrades, who undoubtedly had stayed true to their power, but had amassed powerful items of magic as well. Firepower Goddess herself did not have. She knew the spell of the frost rest as a spell used to preserve someone until the seal of purpose is broken. It may have been for her, it may not have been. But she's been active for a few months now, and hasn't detected the risings of great magic in a world almost devoid of it any longer. She should have felt them.
"Perhaps if you were to instruct us in the ways of magic outside of the basic spells we can use. Stronger magic like the chanelling magic you use..." the man began to ask her. Goddess, half in fear, half in rage, spun to him.
"You couldn't even begin to comprehend the forces you deal with when speaking magic. You replicate it as it stands, thinking you're masters of the craft, but you have no clue the power you intend to invoke. Your bieng couldn't even hold up against speaking the true names of Dominions you wish to summon forth with your power. They would override you at their mere mention and completely obliterate you in an accidental backlash of connection you ask for. The reason chanelling magic is rarely ever used, is because most magos fear they could not contain the immense power of the tiniest flicker of the gods they ask for, and would detonate on the spot," a small cough in the excitment, her voice was rash, angry, yet concerned. "Their names are not invoked so liberally. Their names have even been used to commit suicide. Anything their names are written on becomes their domain, and always requires a great exchange for success, lest it turns on the user which consumes them to power the magic. Why do you think they have false names used for worship?"
The man had nothing to say to her, he just remained quiet in fear of her wrath.
"Why do you think I cannot go back home? I require another magos to help alleviate the seal, and lend me enough power to bargain with the god who prevents me and all associated with me from being there to let me go back home, where I may resume my studies, and make sure my break from my demonic powers didn't unleash any of the beasts I had there."
"Well, your home is completely abandoned except for a few magic weapon wielders who check on it once every few months just to make sure..."
"So there's something there they are worried about. Probably the magical experiments my husband and I used to work on, and later on, just I..." Goddess moved into thought, but quickly came back with, "Take me to the magos still active. I must convince him to let me back in my home, where I hopefully still have a store of magical items. My quest is not yet done, my purpose not complete, and..." a few coughs from the worked up Goddess, "and there is still so much left to do. Leave me, prepare a group."
"But Goddess..."
"Do not question me. Send for my cat, and Patches. I have special instructions for them."
The man left as Goddess took off a necklace she was wearing, with an hourglass on it.
"Not much time to tarry. I must regain my immortality, as mortal magic isn't enough to contend with infinity..."
"And why do you say that?" a purr, and a sly phrase from her cat, rubbing against her leg, and Patches standing behind her.
"When my immortality was released from me, so was the pact of health and longevity. The plague is upon me again. Obviously the world did not fall to it, and there must be something the healers of this world can do for me i-"
"Bubonic Plague. Way ahead of you. There are treatments for it, and you'd normally have to go to the hospital."
"Hospital? Ah... the healing shrines of today."
"Yeah..."
"Then let us depart to this hospital."
"No need. However, the problem is, the magic in the plague died down from when you combat it, and now isn't as powerful as it once was. Patches got the antibiotics, and I think you can treat it as you did before: enchant the healing herbs, and then use them to combat the organic and magic forces at hand."
The Goddess smiled, not a grin of domination, but of happiness and relief, "Well done, my pet," she scratched his head. "After this is done, and my quest, I shall find a way to reverse your curse permanantly."
"Thank Patches, his clout got us the stuff we need."
"Thank you, very much. Your Goddess is very pleased," she pat him on the head.
"Well, let's start then..."
For three days, Goddess' cat and Patches guarded the door from those interested, and those looking to give thanks and praise while she recuperated. One leg of her journey possibly down, she still had much to do, and little time to do it. For every moment she was awake, the ancient forces against her could reawaken at any time, and any new forces much like the self styled heroes of this forsaken town may make an attempt against her.
