The Goddess' Champion

29 Dreams, Reality

"Constantine Lionheart! Either you go out there and get some money for this house like I do, or don't even think about coming back here again!"

"M-Mother..."

He was merely a young boy, perhaps not older than nine... flowing silver hair that met hers and pale blue orbs that also matched hers.

The woman in front had a haggard expression that shouldn't match her beauty, her hands punctured and with signs of labour, heavy work that a female as beautiful as herself should not be doing, but she had to...

"No, buts... get out of my face, I don't want to see you... if you don't bring at least three copper coins this evening, forget about sleeping in this house today... nine years were enough, it is time you learn what real life is."

Saying no more words, the woman departed the small cottage they lived in, nothing more than a pair of beds on the ground, some guttery and nothing else.

Seeing his mother depart for her job like always, Constantine wanted to go after her, but... her expression frightened him.

For nine years she had supported him and he had a 'barely' decent childhood, friends, scarce... he was new in town and his royal features made it difficult for him to have friends.

He was called 'the prince' but in a despective manner.

From early, he learned how to fight to protect himself, aside from giving him food thrice a day, his mother did nothing else.

No, love... no attention, no chatting between parents... instead she kept her distance from him.

Despite all this, Constantine loved his mother and seeing her leave him behind so coldly to fend for himself... to bring back three measly copper coins that were valued to nothing for her, yet he wasn't able to get easily... cracked his heart.

"Mother, don't go..."

"..."

She was already gone for the entire day, working in their family business, not in charge... as a mere employee, it was this or prostitution.

The woman was too prideful to choose the latter and hence, she killed herself every day to bring food to the table.

Something he had only noticed recently, watching his friend's parents and the things they did to accomplish the same, way easier... sometimes not legal, sometimes not moral.

With nothing but the fright of not having a roof to sleep in for that day, the boy departed the house.

...

"Oh, what a beautiful painting boy... you still have a long way to go but, it looks fantastic, tell me, what is this?"

He sat on the stone floor, it was a rainy day and he had to use his clothes to cover the 'product'.

A Painting.

It was a mere painting of a hill he created by cracking rocks together to produce ink, he and some friends shared the same hobby.

But back then, he never thought of monetizing this hobby.

"It is Longborn Hill at the edge of the town, Mr... if you'd like-"

"That's great, you have a great future ahead of you young man, but... you should get some mud on that hair or something..." The man stood up and didn't even allow him to finish, didn't give him anything to cover himself.

He simply departed.

Constantine sat there, sighing, this had been the third time.

...

"That's some amazing talent, boy!"

"Y-Yeah, I like painting sceneries, but if you would like to get it-"

"Sorry, I'm not interested, but keep working hard, alright?"

...

"You used different shades, right? it is an advanced technique, where did you get that ink?"

"I created it myself! actually, the technique-" This time he was interested, this person seemed to be rather knowledgeable, so much so, that he forgot about his original purpose

...

"Boy, is that the Longborn Hill?" This time it was an old lady, perhaps in her forties and dressed formally, not regally.

She squatted elegantly and took a look at the boy and also, the painting.

"Yes ma'am... if you want it, it will be three copper coins..." this time, tired... Constantine forsook his passion and focused on his objective, but... the ma'am wasn't so interested in the paint either and he noticed this with her gaze.

However, he also noticed something else.

She was interested in something more.

"How about you come to my house and we talk further about it, boy?"

"A-Ah?"

"You shouldn't be in this rain anyway... where is your mother?" She looked sideways, the streets were crowded and she failed to notice the figure standing in a corner.

"She's working..."

"I see, then there should be no problem if you come to my house for a bit, right? then you can go back after we 'chat'~" The woman licked her lips and took his wrist, as if she wasn't about to take a no for an answer.

The moment she saw that cute face and that flowing silver hair, that innocence, she knew what she wanted.

"..."

"If I go with you, will you... give me the three copper coins?" He requested innocently, only desiring to get those three coins regardless of what intentions this woman had with him.

"No, she won't..." A voice said suddenly, stunning the two of them, when Constantine saw the person, he paled.

"Who are you?!" The woman yelled, that comment had been a clear menace to her.

"I am his mother..." The silver-haired beauty said, her forehead dripping from the rain, she glared at the boy as if saying 'confirm'.

"Mother..."

"Get lost..." Having her son recognise her identity in front of this woman who she was more than a little aware of what intentions she had, the lady didn't beat around the bush and separated the woman's hand from her son's wrist.

The woman had to reluctantly step aside, not before giving the boy a deep gaze, amidst the rains she departed.

"Mother, I still don't have the three copper coins!"

"..." The woman squatted down, not paying attention to his words and took one of the paintings.

"The Longborn Hill..."

"..." He shivered, for some reason, he felt nervous when she looked at it, unlike when others did.

"Who would have thought that a monster with Lionheart in the name, could create such a beautiful thing..." She stood up and his tears started to form, but she never returned the painting to him.

Instead, she took out nine cooper coins from her dress and presented them to him.

"Here... I'll take this painting..."

"..." He took the nine cooper coins and regarded them for a while before presenting three of them to her, still shaking.

"C-Could I stay in the house one more day?" He requested, still bearing in mind her comment about a 'monster'.

It was something he would never forget.

"Very well..." She took the three coins and grabbed his wrist, walking back to their house.

"It will be three cooper coins a day, understood?"

"Y-Yes, mom..."

Amidst the rain, she took her upper coat and placed it on her son's back as they walked in the rain.

His pair of blue eyes opened instantly, and he found himself exactly in the same place he had been, perhaps a single instant, not even a thousand of a second later.

*RUMBLE!!*

His four cores ragged in madness and even the group around him felt the air around them turn slightly... pressured.

"..." Constantine didn't know what to say, something had happened, he had a dream, but... not even a second seemed to have happened in reality.

[... Y-You have broken through, congratulations... you're now a Magus] Zebellia spoke naturally, but her voice contained a curious glint.

[Nascent Magus Stage Reached, Updating Trial's Briefing...] The Trial spoke this time, not Zebellia, but he was too deep in his mind to think about everything happening.

The Dream had been so livid, that he desired to live it again.

"Is there anything wrong?" Zamira addressed him, they had been walking and he stopped in his tracks out of nowhere.

"N-Nothing... nothing happened... let's continue..."

'Zebellia, what was that just now?'

[What are you talking about?]

'Did nothing happen at all?'

[I don't believe so, you broke through due to the extensive use of your four cores during this entire period, I expected it to happen a little later however... you're lucky]

'...'

[The trial is updating your parameters, would you like to see them?]

'Please... Zebellia, I am convinced something happened just now'

[It must be your imagination...]

[Status]

*Name: Constantine Lionheart (de Castile)

*Genre: Male.

*Age: 78.

*Race: [Human] [Royal Elf] [God (sealed)]

**Titles:

[Conqueror Constantine]

[Founder of the Lionheart Dynasty]

[Bane of Husbands]

[Heartbreaker]

[Champion of the Goddess of Life, Aurelianne]

[Husband of the Goddess of Death, Sandra]

[Husband of the Goddess of Dreams, Phoebe]

[Husband of the Goddess of Luck, Caroline]

[Husband of the Goddess of Rot, Lucille]

[Husband of the Goddess of Beauty, Melina]

[Time God's Utter Nemesis]

[Space Goddess' Beloved Son-in-law]

**Divine Blessings:

[Blessing of the Golden Seed]:

Blessing of the Goddess of Life, Aurelianne. Awake an individual limitless magic and divine potential and enhance your own potential with their own by using the sacred art of life... plant your golden seed into their souls for they shall be re-awaken with you through the tendrils of the tree of life. (Limited Use, Once a Month)

[Blessing of the Adjourned Death]:

Blessing of the Goddess of Death, Sandra. Cheat the infamous reaper from dragging you into the rivers of souls in the Death Dimension, be aware that with this you may incur the reaper's wrath! (Limited Use, Once a Month) [Used]

[War God's Wrath (Sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

[Blessing of the Daydream (Sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

[Blessing of the Causality (Sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

[Blessing of the Decaying Flesh (Sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

[Blessing of Infatuating Eyes (Sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

[Blessing of Spatial Conduct (Sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

**Curses:

[Grief of the Husbands]:

The myriad husbands you have sinned upon have cursed you after their deaths, even their wives' blessings can't save you, scoundrel! the heavens shall punish you with wrath shall you lay a finger on a single wife!

[Heaven's Decreed Punishment]

With Karma great enough to belong to a God, you are qualified to be subjected to the trial, in order to return your Karma to neutrality, the trial reserves the right to place you in pleasing/difficult situations, depending on your negative or positive Karma, this is your punishment, Mortal.

[Timeless Distortion (sealed)]

*UNAVAILABLE*

**Abilities:

[Swordsmanship: A+]

[Horse Riding: C]

[Archer: B]

[Scheming: A+]

[Seduction: EX]

[Charisma: A+]

[Hustling: A+]

[Drinking: E]

[Beast Taming: C]