Tyra spoke again and Leanne translated. "If you don't mind, the Gunders would like to take a quick walk."

Ada nodded. "I would have liked them to stay a bit longer so that they're informed on the other gods but that's fine."

She didn't want to force her followers to stay. The discussion on Karren has rattled them and no doubt the couple wanted some privacy to talk. "Do they want the kids to stay here?"

"The youngest will go with them but the other two can stay if you're willing."

Ada nodded again. "Sure, no problem."

Leanne translated and the two Gunders said a few words to Ada which no doubt was thanking her. These rustic farmers were incredibly polite or perhaps they were just in awe of an actual goddess and felt proprietary was absolutely necessary. Tyra called out to the child Pier and he looked up from the blocks. There was a quick word and the little boy scuttled off his chair to join his parents at the door. The other two looked at their parents and after another brief word returned to building their city. They had knocked down their previous attempts at building the city and were now trying to build a model of her palace. Ada thought that was a more modest goal than building the model of an entire city. She turned back to the three at the door. Alfre bowed and pushed the door open stepping out with his wife and child following.

"I think we are done discussing Karren for now. We'll do more research and inquire others once we reach the Academy. There should be enough time for us to prepare our confrontation. Let's go down the list. Who do you suggest we talk about next? Oh, before I get, Leanne, can you translate what we're discussing to Sçæaisøh as we go along?"

"Certainly. I will translate everything we say," Leanne said.

"How about Yuano?" Ruciella suggested.

"I'd like to save him for later since we got to cover the other gods since I would like to update the book. Let's continue. Who is most likely to be our adversary aside from Yuano and Karren?"

Leanne offered. "How about we start with those who were on the side of the last war that wished to allow mortals to pursue knowledge?"

"That would be on the same side as Yuano and Karren. I think they wanted that so that they can squeeze out from their followers and didn't find them to be a threat. At this point, I'm going to put out my view that all of them are adversaries except for probably the Goddess of the Sky and Goddess of Life."

"Well, we have to start with somewhere. Seeing that there isn't a good means, let's just do alphabetical order. That'll be the Goddess of Beauty Alula."

Honestly sounds Hawaiian to me, Ada thought.

"Sure, that's as good of a start as any. Sorry to disappoint you but I really don't know anything more than that she's considered the most beautiful of them all. Also, she can change her appearance to match that of anyone's desires."

"So she's like a master of disguise? Can she change her sex?"

Ruciella shrugged. "I'm not sure about that but maybe? I don't know if those are actually illusions or real changes."

Leanne added, "I do not know either. I do know that she is the patron of artists and musicians."

Ada pursed her lips in thought. "I would have thought she'll also be a Goddess of Love."

"Goddess of Love?" There was a marked sense of confusion from Leanne. "I have not heard of such a goddess."

"Moving on. What do you know of her personality and how she treats mortals?"

Ruciella snorted. "Typical arrogance is the standard trait of almost all the deities. Other than that, I would imagine she enjoys the finer things in life. You probably would find her in a fancy ball rather than a dark alley or in the fields."

"I concur with Aurian. From what I heard, she is especially gracious to the nobles and those who shower her with praise. She also likes those with immense artistic talent but only if they also heap praises on her even if she has done nothing to help them."

"Arrogance box is checked. Between her and Yuano would be a good competition there. Would you call her intelligent?"

Ruciella rolled her eyes. "I was sure she is but that was before I saw Yuano and realized that I gave the gods too much credit on their mental capacities."

"I have heard that she has true talents in the arts and that she can Inspire those who follow her."

"Inspire? By the way you said it, that sounds like one of her powers. What other powers does she possess?"

Leanne spoke. "I have heard of Sensor Graft which she used to great effect in the Rift War."

Sçæaisøh's ears perked up upon hearing Leanne's translation. Ada felt gladdened by his willing participation. She was expecting him to just recline in his chair with a bored expression the entire time. She calmed her excitement and spoke calmly. "Yes, Sçæaisøh, let's hear your insight."

The man spoke slowly while Leanne translated. "I've heard that she also used Mesmerize during the war. There was a particular notable incident when she took away the lives of over two thousand men led by the Club of Rose in one afternoon. Her followers justified that Alula saved a bloody battle which would have killed more. The Club of Rose considered it mass massacre."

"How did she manage to do that?"

Leanne translated the man's words. "Her spell is an extreme level of hypnotism which is akin to the effect of Compulsion. In that incidence, Alula Mesmerized the soldiers to where they perceived themselves assaulting her soldiers when in reality they were killing each other."

Ruciella whistled. Whether that was in admiration or fear Ada couldn't quite tell. The young mage's voice didn't tremble. "That sounds absolutely terrifying."

Leanne shook her head in disbelief. "I had no idea that she had such a powerful ability. I advocate not confronting her at the moment until we know more."

Ruciella twirled her red hair and fidgeted in her chair. "Yeah, way too much to handle, at least for me."

Leanne as usual translated for Sçæaisøh. "Sçæaisøh agrees as well."

Ada nodded. "I concur with everyone's assessment. That's a powerful ability and we don't know what other powers she could unleash. Let's continue. So we already talked about what we know of how she treats mortals and what her abilities are. What about her followers? Where are they and how do they worship her? When does she appear to them?"

Ruciella shrugged. "No idea."

Leanne answered. "Her followers are in every city where there is an Artist Guild or Musician Guild. Not everyone of the arts follow her but many do. There are also some nobles, especially patrons of the arts, who follow her. As far as where she appears, that is unpredictable. She tends to surprise her followers with her sudden appearance and never stays in one place for long. I believe the last time she appeared to mortals was as a guest at last year's Tesia City summer ball."

"Any chance she would present herself again this year?"

"No. That was actually a great surprise for everyone that she deigned to attend. Usually, the ones in Tesia are considered too rustic by her standards."

"What if we kidnap or threaten a mortal that she especially fancies? That might draw her out." Ada asked.

Ruciella laughed. "You expect a goddess to save a mortal? I don't think so."

Leanne nodded sadly. "Sadly, I will have to agree with Aurian. Alula is not known to have ever cared about the well-being of any of her followers. She may like their talents but that does not mean she cares for their actual lives."

Ada pondered. "And if we cause a huge ruckus, all the gods would know and I don't think I can confront several of them at once. This means we don't have a reliable way of surprising her at the moment. How's her relationships with the other gods?"

"She has a good relationship with Serina and Catiano. She abhors Mara and dislikes Ayula. She thinks of Karren as an uncouth fool. I am not sure about her relationship with the other gods."

Ada pursed her lips. "Hmm, I can understand why the Goddess of Beauty would look down on the God of Farmers but why would she hate the Goddess of Healing?"

"I have no idea. From what I hear, there is some past history between them which has never been resolved."

"If we are able to convince her to be on our side, Mara would probably be against us. This is presuming in the very unlikely scenario that we can get any of them on our side of course," Leanne suggested.

"That's true. We hardly understand the politics between them well enough."

Ruciella tapped her fingers on the table. "Her followers don't appear to be that tough though. Musicians and artists and a few nobles?"

Sçæaisøh spoke again and Leanne translated. "I don't think that we should underestimate her. I have heard that her blessed followers have powers similar to hers which can defeat even a coterie of well-trained soldiers. The specifics are not known to me."

"If they possess some of Alula's powers, that could present a serious issue for you guys. Thank you Sçæaisøh for pointing that out."

Sçæaisøh smiled. Though it was meant to be cheerful, his toothy grin looked predatory. Leanne and Ruciella saw his smile and quickly diverted their eyes. I have no right to tell him not to smile but that would be appreciated, Ada thought. She cleared her throat. "Moving on. Has she done anything noteworthy lately?"

"She has not been seen in public since the ball last summer. I have no doubt she has presented herself to some of her followers at various guilds or temples throughout the world but that would be in private."

"I think we're done discussing Alula unless there's something I'm missing?"

The three mortals pondered and then shook their heads. Leanne spoke, "That is all I know."

"Let us move on then. Next up on the alphabetical list is Ayula but obviously we all know about her. Let's talk about Catiano, the God of Wisdom."