A Fool's Goddess - Chapter Four
In order to fulfill my end of the agreement with Chen, I went with him to deliver the wagon’s cargo. The city wouldn’t allow him to drive down the narrow street where the blacksmith’s workshop was located, so we first had to go back to the freighting company’s warehouse. From there, we then loaded the crates onto a pair of smaller carts and pushed them there ourselves. As expected, it took everything I had to pull my load while Chen moved ahead effortlessly, though he somehow still complained that transporting metals was a pain for him.
Once we arrived at the workshop, Chen quickly got down to business with the blacksmith while I was busy trying to stay upright. Once I caught my breath, I then took a moment to speak with the smith myself, but he affirmed he didn’t know any sculptors or where their workshops might be. It was disappointing, but I thanked him for his time before leaving with Chen to return the carts.
Back at the freighting company, Chen stepped away to speak to his employer, both to confirm he’d completed the blacksmith’s order and check and see if she knew any sculptors. A few minutes later, he returned with his boss alongside him.
It took only a few words from them to assure me that my meeting with Chen was no pleasant coincidence. Tornara had most definitely set me on this path, and I would gladly continue to follow it.
His employer not only knew a sculptor personally, but she even offered to write me a letter of introduction as thanks for my help. I was beyond thankful, in fact, I’d have prostrated myself if my back wasn’t still throbbing. The boss, who told me to call her Gili, seemed endeared by my gratitude and assured me it was only fair. With a friendly wave, she stepped back into her office to pen the letter.
I then turned my thanks towards Chen. He also tried to play it off like it was nothing, but experiencing such kindness was like a fireplace in winter after dealing with the frigid eyes of Unoph. If this was just a taste of Dostyn’s hospitality, I would gladly make this city my new home.
“You don’t need to worry about it,” Chen said as we walked back towards his wagon. “Aren’t friends supposed to help each other, anyways?”
“Of course, but it’s only been you helping me so far. I need to even things up.”
“Feh, you’re underestimating your side. Keeping me company on the road is invaluable, and helping me transport the goods cut my work down by half.”
“That’s not good enough for me, unfortunately.”
“Fine, then how about you pay when we go drinking? Then you’ll reconsider being such an indulgent person.”
“That’ll have to do, Liooor,” I sneered in my Master Idan impersonation. The joke still hadn’t gotten old, and we both started snickering like children.
I then climbed onto the wagon and grabbed my things. My ration’s were nearly depleted, but everything else was still in order. I hopped back down and knelt on the ground in front of Chen, taking hold of the painting. With great care, I slowly undid the wrapping on Tornara’s portrait.
“So are you sure you want to see her?” I asked. “People claimed I was cursed by this painting. This is your last chance to say no.”
“My, how scary!” he cried as he put his hands on his cheeks theatrically. A gregarious smirk then curled his lips. “Yes, I’m quite sure. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I’ve seen what’s gotten you so worked up.”
“Alright then. Here she is.”
With that, I dropped the cloth covering Tornara’s portrait.
I held up the painting at my side, and my eyes darted between glancing at the art and watching my friend. Chen stared at Tornara’s portrait, rubbing his bearded chin. He appeared to be in deep thought as he looked over the canvas, his face an ambiguous mask of interest and contemplation. Tornara held her same wondrous pose in the portrait, shining her enchanting smile upon my friend.
Nearly a minute passed by in fretful silence. Just as I was about to ask him what he thought, Chen finally nodded with apparent understanding.
“Yeah, she’s pretty.”
His flat response left me, in a word, incredulous.
“Of course she is, she’s beautiful!” I exclaimed. “Is that really all that came to you after looking at her?!”
“Well, yeah. I mean, she looks nice, but I don’t think I’d go crazy over her like you.”
“You don’t feel speechless at her elegance or yearn to know why she looks out with such warmth and familiarity?”
“… I guess not?”
“…”
“…”
“… Well, I guess that’s fine too,” I sighed.
“You’ve really thought hard about what it is about her that draws you in, haven’t you?”
“Sort of. I still feel like there’s something more, something mysterious in her expression that really captures my heart.”
“You’re strange. In a good way.”
“Thank you. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised that you didn’t feign suffering a curse when I pulled off the cloth. That would have been a prime chance for a joke.”
“Nope. I don’t mock my friends.”
“Not even when such a good opportunity arises, huh?”
“Especially not right now,” Chen said with unexpected seriousness. “I’m not gonna poke fun at you when you’re revealing something so dear to you. I might not get it, but I can tell you love her. I’d be a terrible friend to take advantage of that.”
Although Chen’s consideration was impressive, I was completely caught off guard by that word he chose.
It tore through my heart and assailed my thoughts.
Like an inner beast returning to its home in my mind, the concept was at once familiar and terrifying.
“Love?” I repeated.
Chen looked at me like I was being silly. “Yeah, what else could you be feeling?”
“W-well, I’m just enraptured by her beauty and want to help her be-”
He held up a hand. “Listen, you told me you think about her everyday, you work hard to make her happy, and you’re fine with getting alienated by a whole town over showing them how much you adore her. If those aren’t signs of love, then all those poets lied to me.”
“Yes but… wouldn’t it be strange to be in love with a Goddess?”
“Like I said, you are strange. It sounds like a perfect fit.”
“Even so… is that okay?”
“Well, maybe it’s not how things usually go, but I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with it. Lots of people love the Gods, I think you’re just a little more romantic about it.”
Chen’s nonchalance about this whole conversation was more baffling than anything. We were talking about someone not just loving a Goddess, but being in love with a Goddess. How he approached the scenario without a hint of ridicule or sarcasm was beyond me.
But still…
What he was saying felt true. It felt right.
Part of me was convinced I was arrogant for thinking such, but Chen’s words echoed the sentiments I held in my heart. I had always aspired to share Tornara’s grace and possibly even restore mankind’s faith in her, but, deep down, I knew I felt more than that. Her image and her stories had resonated with my soul and instilled me with an unequivocal passion, yet something had gnawed at me, whispering that my feelings didn’t stop there.
There really was only one word to describe how I felt about my Goddess.
I love her. I love Tornara.
My heart began to pound as the recognition of my own infatuation filled me with an unsteady yet pleasant warmth. I glanced up at my friend, then averted my gaze. I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
“I guess admitting those feelings just… didn’t feel permissible to me,” I said. “But you’re right, Chen. I think I really am in love with her.”
“Congratulations, Lior.” He patted me on the shoulder. “A little sad that it took you this long to figure it out, but that’s okay. Late bloomers deserve romance too.”
“You really don’t think it’s wrong of me to feel this way?”
“People don’t get to choose what fills them with love. Maybe not everyone will understand your feelings, but I like to keep an open mind. I’d say so long as you don’t start using your love as an excuse to hurt people, it’s fine.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Then you’re fine, my friend.” Chen stretched his back. “C’mon, Boss Gili should have your letter ready by now. Let’s see if we can find you a new home before the day is over.”
With that, he began walking towards his employer’s office. I began to wrap Tornara’s painting back up, but I took a moment to gaze upon her image before it was covered again. As I looked over the canvas, however, I felt a new sense of intrigue. It was likely just my imagination, but I could swear there was something different in Tornara’s eyes.
More than ever, it felt like she was looking back at me.
I smiled. With my heart brimming with excitement and fulfillment, I hurried after Chen.
Once inside the offices, Gili handed me a sealed letter and a sheet of directions to the sculptor’s workshop. Ironically, the sculptor was actually located on the same street we had delivered to earlier, making the blacksmith’s ignorance almost worrying. I was a bit annoyed that I had already been so close to my goal, but it also meant the place would be easy to find. I thanked Chen and Gili once again, said my farewells, and stepped out the door.
I was almost off the freighting company’s property when Chen ran up to me.
“Hold up, I’m coming with you,” he said.
I cocked an eyebrow. “What? Aren’t you busy?”
“Boss told me I’m done for the day. She probably just wants me to make sure you don’t get lost or something, but I’m not about to complain.”
“I’m sure I could at least find my way back to that street.”
“Maybe. But now I don’t have anything better to do, so you’re stuck with me.”
“You’re telling me that standing around while I talk to a sculptor is the best way to spend your afternoon?”
“Sure,” he shrugged. “Besides, now I can know firsthand whether we’ll be drinking tomorrow to celebrate or commiserate.”
I made an act of rolling my eyes, but said nothing more. With my friend at my side, we made our way back into town.
Enjoyed the chapter and want to support the author? Check out the full novel, available now on Amazon!
