Saga of Atlantis

Chapter 97  Abandoned God

[First Person POV: Eden]

"Give me one good reason: Why are you sitting here?" I questioned the girl with chocolate skin seated next to Emily at the back of the class.

"You're late," Fatima responded as I settled into my seat, Emily on my right, and Aron with Cassia and Nora on the desk below us.

"Answer my question."

"Why can't I be here?" she asked, feigning confusion.

"It's fine; she isn't bothering anyone." Before I could reply, Aron interjected with a smile, earning a glare from me.

"Are you okay with this, Emily?" I asked, fixing my gaze on her. Among those present here, she is the only one who harbors a deep hatred for nobles.

"It's fine," she replied with a slight smile.

"She's my friend now, Eden," Fatima said, holding Emily's hand. "Don't even think about touching her."

"How's your health, Cassia?" I asked, ignoring Fatima.

"I'm fine; thanks again for your help," she replied with a light bow, and I smiled back at her.

"They got close pretty quickly," I whispered to Emily as I looked at Aron and Nora talking excitedly with each other.

"Yeah, Berg also got close to him," she replied, but immediately frowned. "You should have been with us; you were practically gone for the last four days."

"Poor guy," I mumbled as I thought about Berg. It looks like Aron is starting with Nora.

"What do you mean?" Emily asked as she heard me. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Nothing," I said, shifting my focus towards the two girls sitting in the middle of the class, Angelina and Aeloria.

Ever since I confronted Aeloria, she has been ignoring me all the time. But I did learn a few things after that day.

One thing is that she either doesn't have her childhood memories or doesn't remember them properly because she never once doubted my words.

The thing is, I never met her in her childhood; the first time I met her was at the awakening ceremony. And with the help of the Phoenix clan's information network, I also got to know about the secret she has been hiding from the kingdom.

"Let's see how long you're going to run away," I warned her, leaning back in my chair and dismissing the group.

Four days had passed since the entrance ceremony, and in the last few days, classes were suspended, giving new students enough time to become familiar with each other.

Even after the shocking death during the ceremony, most first-years seemed to have almost forgotten about it.

Despite the strict prohibition on students leaving the academy until the investigation into the security breach was complete, I managed to sneak away, returning to my house.

Over the last few days, I spent most of my time with my mother, talking and enjoying each other's company.

Surprisingly, Sarah hadn't been home during that time; she was out for some work she needed to attend to—that's what my mother told me.

*Click*

My focus shifted towards the door as the classroom erupted in whispers. Sophia Leoine entered, swinging the door open, and addressed the class.

"Good morning, class," Sophia began, her voice devoid of any particular emotion. "Today, we will be starting our first class, and the first subject is history."

Almost immediately, a collective groan filled the classroom as the word "history" was mentioned. It seemed like everyone hated this subject, even in this world.

Disregarding the students' reaction, Sophia took out a book and continued, "I want to tell you a tale that has been passed down through generations—a tale of a figure so extraordinary that many considered him a legend, the Human God."

Almost all the students in the class looked towards Angelina as they heard the Human God, but nobody said a thing. Sophia began reading the text from the book out loud, capturing the attention of the entire class.

"Long ago, in a time when humans were on the brink of extinction, surrounded by dragons and gods who sought to control and dominate them, there emerged a person with unparalleled abilities. This person could harness both mana and aura—where humans had only taken the first step, he was at the end."

She paused for effect, letting the gravity of her words sink in. "This individual, whose name has been lost to time, became known as the Human God. He had a deep understanding of the mystical forces that surrounded him."

Sophia paced in front of the class, "When the dragons descended upon the human lands, breathing fire and wreaking havoc, the Human God stood as a beacon of hope. He could not only defend himself but also protect those who were defenseless. His powers were a fusion of the ancient arts, a unique blend of magic and aura manipulation that had never been seen before."

She glanced at the mesmerized faces of her students as she continued,

"He was a symbol of unity, inspiring humans to come together in times of crisis. He showed them that even in the face of overwhelming odds, they could stand tall and face their fears."

"As the story goes, the Human God eventually vanished, leaving behind a legacy that would echo through the ages. Some believe he ascended to a higher plane of existence known as the god realm, while others think he still watches over humanity from the shadows, ready to intervene when needed."

Sophia concluded, "Whether he was a mortal blessed by the gods or a force of nature itself, the legend of the Human God serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope, and the strength to overcome adversity lies within us."

The class fell silent after Sophia's explanation, and Angelina was the first to raise her hand.

"Yes, Miss Angelina."

Angelina stood up and asked, "It's written in the history books in the Royal Library that he was the one who established humans on Eve's continent. Is it true?".

'Is she doing research on him?', I thought as I looked at her.

"Yes, that's what I also believe in, given all the evidence throughout history," Sophia replied, gesturing for her to sit down.

Next, Emily raised her hand, sitting beside me.

"Yes, Miss Emily."

"If he is known as a god, why don't people worship him?"

"That's a good question. Please sit down," Sophia said before elaborating.

"The thing that defines a god is their ability to use divinity, a form of energy that they can share with others."

She paused, letting the information sink in, and then continued, "The Human God, in any of the recorded history, has never been seen using divinity and can never share it. Because of this, over time, people stopped worshipping him, abandoning him for the gods who give blessings to their followers."

 "He got ghosted," I mumbled, placing my chin over my hand.

Aron followed up with another question: "Is it true that he killed gods?"

"In short, yes, he had," Sophia confirmed. She continued, providing more details: "In the history of every race, his existence has always been present."

"Every race has its own view of him; for example, the dwarves describe him as the master of craftsmanship, while the Elves portray him as the one loved by nature."

"However, in all their histories, he is always known by the names [god slayer], [genocidaire], [Annihilator]  and [bringer of death]."

"Wait, genocidaire?" I asked out loud as I heard her, wondering if it meant what I thought it did.

"Yes, Mr. Morton, genocidaire," Sophia replied as she explained. "During the era of deity demise, there were a lot more races than there are now, and most of them were stronger than humans."

"As the strong oppressed the weak, they also tried to do that, promoting a lot of war between us that always resulted in our loss."

"When the Human God arrived, he annihilated a lot of them, creating genocides and entirely wiping out a few races, which gave him this title."

"Even though some of the said races still have their people alive, most of them were wiped out of the face of the world."

"One  example of such a race is the witches, who only have one living descendant known to the world."

"Many nobles must know her; she is the commoner faction leader of the Darkoina continent known as the 'Witch of the Past.'"

"Valeria," I mumbled as I remembered the gray-haired beauty who I met years ago.

'I wonder how she is doing now', I thought, my mind filled with the image of the mother-daughter pair.

"Is there any portrait left of him?" Fatima asked as she raised her hand.

"No," Sophia replied, shaking her head, "the only thing that is known about him is the outline of his features."

"But there is one poem from the Elves that gives his description," she said as she took the book again, reading it out loud.

"In þe hushed whispers of yore Elven groves, A tale unwinds, as aged as hooded troves. Of a Man-God, a legend and lore, Wiþ a mask veiling his visage evermore.

Silver-white tresses, a grace cascade, Adorned his face, a riddle laid. Shoulders grazed by time's soft strands, He stood, a beacon in celestial lands.

Þurh realms he strode, a sword held high, Þe broad blade gleaming neath þe starry sky. Dragons bent, and gods in dread, As þe Man-God's presence ever spread."

"Wait, that description," I mumbled as memories of my awakening of time-space affinity flooded my mind.

silver-white hair, a broad sword, and a mask covering his face.

"It's the same as that person I saw in my vision."