79 Old Sigma 1 (1/2)
”It was I who told that evil man your location.” Dessa Chimes had tears in her eyes as she finally told Jodye what had been bothering her.
”You… Did you sell me out? How?” Jodye Trill was dumbstruck. He honestly hadn't expected this woman would betray him so quickly. Disappointment rushed over him in a wave, but soon reason caught up with him. How could Dessa have not been killed by the tribulation lightning of the heavens if she ratted him out? She took a heavenly blood oath.
”I'm so sorry! I didn't want to do it I swear, I just couldn't stop it… I mean,” Dessa Chimes panicked and spoke too much, so she tried to hurry and cover her mouth.
”Couldn't stop what? Ah!” Jodye Trill's eyes suddenly brightened, as he instantly pieced the puzzle together, ”That's right, Autumn Saver should have a rather powerful soul right? Taking over your body for a moment to save your life by snitching shouldn't be too hard. I suppose it's also this cowardly sword who promised to reward Sirius Regal.”
The sword image on Dessa's hand lit up in response to Jodye's insult as if daring him to challenge it.
”Autumn Saver, do you believe that I will stay this weak for a long time? I'm sure you know the truth of my potential. Do you believe that I won't refine your soul once my realm improves? Do you feel infallible? Are you even a real person? You are nothing but a tool to me,” Jodye Trill quipped ruthlessly, without emotion in his voice. The light on Dessa's hand brightened, and her face turned a bit red, but then the light disappeared altogether.
”She… she said women aren't respected in this land, and you could never understand them or the pain in my heart and hers when she discovered it,” said Dessa Chimes gently, ”Those men didn't touch me, Autumn Saver would have never allowed it. She just wants me to be safe while I grow stronger. Please don't erase her, young master.”
”Autumn Saver is a… female?” asked Jodye Trill in puzzlement.
”She said that she would be whatever I influenced her to be… so… yes.” Dessa nodded in affirmation. ”If she hadn't protected me all the time in Dark Cave, those fiends would have surely violated me to death.”
”…She had a point. What the damn sword did was not wrong, it was the best thing for you based on the circumstances. After all, I wasn't there. Merely, the fact that it sacrificed your lord's well being for your own means that your heavenly oath doesn't apply to decisions made by your sword,” Jodye had his eyes closed as he spoke to Dessa, but suddenly heard nine booming thunderclaps and Dessa's voice.
”I, Dessa Chimes, swear that… Autumn… Saver… will never harm my master in any way, or let me be struck by divine tribulation thunder!” Dessa Chimes gritted her teeth and spoke word for word. Apparently, she was resisting some significant obstruction.
”Dess… well, whatever. Do not fear, I still trust you,” sighed Jodye Trill. He didn't know whether this girl was decisive or impulsive. ”That reminds me… why is it that women are mistreated in this world? Is there truly no justice in this land, men simply can do as they please without rhyme or reason, action or consequence?”
”Well, the old maid Ma Dear who brought me up taught me many things about this land,” Dessa raised a brow until she remembered that Mr. Jupiter had literally crashed out of the sky like a falling star when she first saw him. Plus he claimed to be six years of age. He wouldn't know much about the world. Thus, she explained, ”It's not just the women, young master. Even little Aiken… well, it's… voodoo you know? Do you know about the barrier energy? The Great Motherland is really two continents, and Pangaea is the larger of the two. The barrier energy splits Pangaea into five wards, which we call the east, south, west, north, and central wards. The West and South Wards are known as the Voodoo States because all the overlords practice dark arts. Whereas the Northern and Eastern wards are the Magic States. I hear the culture in the Magic States is closer to how things are in Rodinia.”
”Is Rodinia very different?” This was Jodye's first time hearing about these things.
His mother had never explained to him how wicked this world could be towards women, he had to learn that the hard way. Back at the Chimes estate, he saw plenty of examples of how low these peoples opinions of women were, it was too tasteless. At least back home he would still see influential female experts occasionally. He had yet to encounter a woman with a decent cultivation base in the south, all he had seen were mortal or captive women being violated. The strongest he had met was Monica in Little Oasis, and she was a master! Jodye's impression of masters was that they were born to be stronger than their peers, they had powerful souls.
This couldn't be the way of the world, right?
Of course, this was a place where might equals right! If the powers at the top of the food chain hand out the order for slaughter, it will, of course, be fulfilled.
”Ma Dear said that the Voodoo practitioners of Rodinia are different in that they are orthodox. The study of death and dark forces are allowed, but they don't harm mortals or innocents, or there are severe consequences. At least, for the most part, right?” Dessa Chimes was actually thrilled that Mr. Jupiter was taking such deep interest in her situation and her thoughts. Her smile was brilliant and threatened to make Jodye's heart race if he didn't steel himself.
”So basically, women are objectified this way because the men are just evil? That's a bit of a stretch…” Jodye Trill was unconvinced. Something was missing, right?