Trials Of Life

Chapter 22: Sins Of The Divine

Yumiko stared at the doctor, her expression frozen in shock. “He killed a god? So it’s true... gods can be killed.”

Helfgott gave a solemn nod, his voice steady. “Yes, of course. Meino is not the only god who has slain another. The issue is that gods who kill are often slain themselves soon after. But Meino... he is different. He’s said to be one of the most powerful gods, and only one being is capable of stopping him.”

Yumiko tightened her grip around the edge of her bed sheets. “Only one?”

The doctor’s gaze shifted to her, his face serious. “In some ancient texts from early man, Meino engaged in a battle with many other gods, but none could stop him…. all except one god in heaven. Their clash was fearsome. Earthquakes split the ground, storms tore through the skies, floods ravaged cities. It was as if all the forces of nature had turned against the world of the living.” He paused, his eyes distant, as though he were picturing the chaos himself. “But what was happening in the heavens... that was worse. The skies in the eternal realm were said to have cracked open. Souls that ascended to heaven after death were caught in the chaos. Instead of peace, they were met with instant death—only to be reborn back on Earth, where they would die from the chaos. They were stuck in a brutal cycle of death and rebirth. Nowhere was safe.”

Yumiko swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. Helfgott’s voice was calm, but the horror he described felt too real.

“The fighting grew so violent that even other gods fled heaven, seeking refuge among the living,” Helfgott continued. “This was when the world saw the rise of worship as we know it. Gods like Haru the Blazing walked the Earth, helping those who survived the disasters. His legend grew from there.”

Yumiko shook her head, her thoughts scrambling for something familiar. “It’s said that Haru saved farmers by giving them warmth during the creation of the world. The storms were caused because the goddess of the sea was angry—”

“No,” Helfgott interrupted gently, shaking his head. “The goddess of the sea has no power over eruptions or earthquakes, or the storms that rage over land. What you’re speaking of is mythology woven over time, stories to explain events people couldn’t understand. The destruction I’m talking about happened not at the beginning of the world, but during the rise of human civilization. Those tales, the ones you’ve heard, are fragmented pieces of something much darker, absorbed into culture and legend.”

He moved to the window, peering down at the city below, his fingers lightly adjusting his glasses as he spoke. “As for Meino... after his battle, he was subdued. Hell was created specifically for him—a place of torment. Today, humans and other races believe hell is a prison for souls who committed heinous crimes, and while that’s true, it was never its original purpose.”

Yumiko’s mind swirled with disbelief. “How do you know all of this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Helfgott didn’t turn to look at her. His eyes remained fixed on the rooftops below, scanning the city like he was seeing something far beyond the horizon. “As I told you earlier, I’ve spent many years studying the gods, long before I became a doctor,” he said quietly. “But you learn a great deal by traveling the world, seeing how myths and legends connect, how the stories blend. You start to piece together what was lost.”

He straightened slowly, stepping away from the window and walking over to his briefcase, his movements deliberate and calm.

“So... you learned most of this from your travels?” Yumiko asked, her eyes following him as he reached for the case.

More or less,” Helfgott replied as he snapped the lid of his briefcase shut. He glanced at Yumiko and offered a gentle smile, though his eyes carried a weight she couldn’t quite place. “But that doesn’t matter much now.”

Yumiko hesitated, a thousand questions swirling in her mind. Why hadn’t Meino been killed? Who was the god he had slain? And who had fought against him? But before she could speak, Helfgott continued, his voice lightening as if to distract her. “I’m glad you woke up when you did. It gave me a chance to talk to you before I head out.”

“You’re leaving?” she asked, her brows knitting together in concern.

Helfgott nodded, his fingers tapping lightly against the side of his briefcase. “There are more lives to save out there. It’s a big world, and it’s full of people who need help.”

Yumiko shifted in her bed, her eyes darting around the room in search of her belongings. “At least let me pay you for saving us—”

“I don’t take payment,” Helfgott interjected, shaking his head with a calm, but firm resolve.

Yumiko frowned, confusion washing over her. “You can’t expect me not to repay you for saving our lives. I can give you something—money, equipment, food, anything—”

“No,” Helfgott interrupted again, this time more softly. “Saving lives is enough of a reward for me.” His gaze lowered to the floor, a shadow passing over his face. “I’m atoning for my sins. I deserve nothing more.”

Yumiko felt a pang of curiosity. His words were heavy, layered with a past she could only guess at. There was more to this man than his kind demeanor revealed. But before she could pry further, Helfgott’s expression brightened as he seemed to remember something.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled something out, walking toward her bedside. “A merchant insisted I take these.” His back blocked Yumiko from seeing the items directly. “You both should eat this, especially after your friend wakes up. And make sure he takes the medicine by his pitcher when he does. That goes for you as well.” He nodded toward a small vial of medicine that sat near Yumiko’s bed.

Yumiko glanced over at Lukas, who still lay unconscious, his breathing slow but steady, “I doubt he remembers me,” Helfgott said with a faint smile, “but tell him I wish him good luck.” She turned back to Helfgott as he walked by the foot of her bed, her curiosity piqued by his familiarity with Lukas.

Yumiko blinked, surprised. “You know Lukas?”

Helfgott’s gaze softened. “More or less. I wouldn’t recognize him now if not for his sword.” He pointed to the blade leaning in the corner of the room, the light catching the metal’s intricate design. “It’s truly one of a kind.”

He paused, as if recalling a distant memory. “When he first started out on his journey, years ago, he had some trouble with his foot. I helped heal him and escorted him to Headwich. He told me his story... about how he left home after his father died. He was running from something, though he wouldn’t say what.” Helfgott’s voice grew quieter, more solemn. “He has my blessings.”

Yumiko’s heart sank as she absorbed his words. “His father... died?”

Helfgott nodded gravely. “The Silent Cough took his father when he was younger… I think he said he was fourteen.”

Yumiko’s breath caught, the name of the disease ringing in her ears. The Silent Cough. The same illness that had claimed the girl in the wagon not long ago. An incurable plague that slowly drained the life from its victims, leaving them weak and helpless. Her heart ached as she looked at Lukas, lying unconscious in the bed beside her.

“And... what about his mother?” she asked softly, her gaze now tender, filled with sorrow for the man, feeling as though she was understanding what her brother was describing.

Helfgott shrugged, the motion carrying a hint of regret. “I met him years ago, but the details of his past are a blur to me now. If you wish to know more, it would be best to ask him when he wakes.” He pulled a gleaming watch from his jacket pocket, the silver catching the light as he checked the time. “I need to catch a ride. You’re in good hands with the doctors here.”

He put his watch away and began walking toward the door, his hand hovering over the knob. Then he hesitated, turning back to her with a somber expression.

“Good luck with your dreams,” he said quietly. “The gods can be mysterious, even cruel at times. But if you're searching for answers... it might be safer to seek them in quieter places. Don't be so open about it. Find a temple or shrine—somewhere sacred. You'll find more guidance there than you will in the open.”

Yumiko stiffened, her mind racing as she tried to respond. “T-those weren’t my dreams,” she stammered, her words faltering. She could feel her lie unraveling under his gaze.

Helfgott only gave a small nod, his face unreadable, and turned back to the door. As he stepped halfway out, Yumiko’s voice burst out. “W-wait!” She threw the covers off her aching body and struggled to push herself from the bed, her muscles screaming in protest.

Helfgott turned in surprise, his brow furrowed with concern. “H-hey! You need to stay in bed—”

Yumiko ignored him, stumbling to the floor in front of him, bowing low with her forehead touching the ground. “I never got to properly thank you.” Her voice was thick with gratitude, her body trembling from the effort. “Thank you.”

Helfgott looked away, his face betraying a flicker of emotion before he masked it again. “I don’t deserve your praise,” he said softly. “But I appreciate it, nonetheless.” He glanced back at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Until next time, Yumiko Hoshino.”

He stepped out, the door creaking slowly behind him as it shut.

“Farewell!” Yumiko called after him, her voice laced with sincerity. “Please, may the goddess of wind protect you on your journey!”

She waited until the door clicked shut, then slowly began to push herself up from the floor, her body still weak and protesting every movement. Her arms trembled under her weight as she climbed back into the bed, her gaze falling on the stand beside her. There, resting delicately, were two purple plums from her homeland—the very same fruit the doctor had left behind.

For a moment, Yumiko simply stared at them, her chest tightening with emotion. She reached out slowly, her fingers brushing against the smooth skin of the fruit. Nii-san? she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips as she grasped one of the plums. It felt too convenient, too close to what she had seen in her dream. The memory of her brother swirled in her mind, his face, his voice—a comforting presence, even in the darkest times.

She smiled, her eyes welling up with tears. You’re telling me to keep going, right? she thought, her heart clenching with the bittersweet familiarity of the fruit in her hand. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, her grip tightening around the two plums.

"I will try," she whispered aloud, her voice shaky but resolute. Something sparked deep within her, a fire kindling in her chest.

Outside the building, Helfgott stepped onto the quiet street, his footsteps muffled by the stillness of the early morning. He paused and looked up at the third-story window he had left open, the light breeze gently stirring the curtains.

“Sofia…” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “Are you really alive? And are these really your chosen?” A very faint smile grew on his face, “Interesting. Very interesting. Let’s see what they can do this time.”

The morning sunlight glinted off his glasses, obscuring his eyes as he lowered his gaze back to the empty street below. For a brief moment, he lingered in silence, as though waiting for an answer that would never come.

Then, without warning, he turned, walking away. Helfgott’s form slowly faded into the soft shadows of the street, vanishing as though he had never been there at all.