The Sinful Young Master

Chapter 95 The chamber

Qalenaʼs celestial gaze flickered to him, her smile widening ever so slightly. ”You have grown stronger, and you continue to amuse me, my child.”

”Glad to be of service…” Jolthar murmured, still dazed.

The goddessʼs presence filled the room completely now, her divine energy washing over everything like an ocean tide.

Qalenaʼs gaze shifted sharply to Eloda. Her voice, calm but laced with authority, echoed in the chamber. ”So, you want me to help you? And you led my child here into this valley on purpose.”

Joltharʼs brows furrowed deeply inwards. ”What!? Wait, what do you mean by that?”

”Donʼt worry, child,” Qalena calmed him down.

Elodaʼs eyes darted nervously, her hands trembling as she tried to bow her head lower, as though that might shield her from the goddessʼs piercing scrutiny. ”I... I didnʼt know it was you, Goddess Qalena,” she stammered, her voice breaking. ”I was only trying to survive. Iʼve been betrayed and left in this state by Hesuas.”

Qalenaʼs eyebrow arched ever so slightly, a flicker of curiosity mixed with faint amusement. ”And why, pray tell, would Hesuas do such a thing?”

Eloda froze, her lips trembling but unable to form an answer.

Instead, she lowered her head further, the weight of her guilt pressing heavily on her shoulders.

The silence spoke volumes.

Qalenaʼs voice cut through the tension, smooth as silk but cold as ice. ”Ah, I see. You left him for his father, didnʼt you? And now you expect him to show mercy?”

Elodaʼs body visibly stiffened, her shame almost tangible in the air. She didnʼt respond, didnʼt lift her gaze. It was as if she wished the ground would swallow her whole. To get scrutinised by the great goddess and that too in front of a mortal, made her want to bury herself, in shame.

Jolthar, who had been watching the exchange silently, blinked in astonishment. His brows shot up as he put the pieces together. ”Wait, what?” he muttered under his breath.

”She had an affair with the father? And now the son is out for revenge?”

He shook his head in disbelief, muttering, ”Gods and their drama. Always next-level.”

Eloda flinched at his bluntness but didnʼt lift her gaze from the ground.

Qalena glanced at Jolthar, a flicker of amusement tugging at the corners of her lips.

”Mortals have an amusing way of summarising the affairs of gods,” Qalena said dryly, her voice like distant thunder.

Jolthar shrugged. ”Hey, I call it like I see it.”

Eloda, desperate and teetering on the edge of despair, lifted her gaze just enough to speak, her voice trembling. ”I... I will do anything. Please, Goddess Qalena, help me.” She fell to her knees, bowing deeply once again, her forehead nearly touching the ground.

Qalenaʼs lips curved into a slow, knowing smile, a look that made Joltharʼs stomach churn with unease. The goddess had a plan—he could feel it in the air. She always had a plan.

”Anything?” Qalena repeated softly, her tone laced with mock sweetness, as though testing the depth of Elodaʼs desperation.

”Yes, anything to regain my powers,” Eloda pleaded, her voice cracking.

The goddessʼs smile widened ever so slightly, her expression unreadable yet undeniably dangerous. ”Good,” she said, her voice a whisper that seemed to reverberate through the room.

”Because I want you to take Jolthar to the Chamber of Phi-nalr Essence.”

Elodaʼs head snapped up in shock, her wide eyes searching Qalenaʼs face for any sign that this was a cruel joke.

”The Chamber of Phi-nalr Essence?” she repeated her voice barely a whisper.

Jolthar glanced between the two women, his confusion evident. ”Uh, whatʼs a Phia-nalr Essence? Should I be concerned?” he asked, his tone half-serious, half-joking.

Eloda ignored him, her disbelief consuming her. ”But... how do you know about that?” She finally managed, her voice tinged with both awe and fear. Explore stories at empire

Qalena tilted her head slightly, her expression calm but her eyes glinting as her smile deepened, sending a chill through the room. ”Do not underestimate me, Eloda.”

”I know everything,” she said simply, her words heavy with divine authority. ”Did you really think you could hide something like that from me? Maybe from anyone but not from me.”

Elodaʼs lips parted as if to argue, but no words came out. The goddess was right—how foolish had she been to think such a thing could be kept secret from one of Qalenaʼs stature?

Jolthar, still seated and bandaged, raised a hand. ”Sorry to interrupt, but can we backtrack for a second? What is this Chamber of Phi-nalr Essence, and why does it sound like something thatʼs either going to kill me or turn me into some kind of superhuman?”

Qalenaʼs gaze shifted to him, her eyes softening for the briefest of moments before returning to their usual intensity. ”Itʼs not for you to understand right now. Just know that it will help you,” she said dismissively before turning her attention back to Eloda.

Eloda, still in a state of shock, whispered, ”But... the chamber... itʼs sacred. Its existence is a guarded secret, known only to the tribe and me. Itʼs the essence of fallen gods, refined into pure energy and stored within the chamber. For centuries, it has been protected, and Iʼve used it to rejuvenate my powers.”

Qalenaʼs expression didnʼt waver. ”And yet, here you are, powerless and begging for help. Clearly, your ʼprotectionʼ has failed,” she said bluntly.

”I canʼt use the essence in this state in which I am right now. It would kill me, and I would cease to exist,ʼ Eloda said, her voice panic-stricken. Even the essence of the fallen gods can be dangerous and volatile if not absorbed carefully. Even the gods wouldnʼt recklessly do such a thing. But Eloda, she had a variety of knowledge as she travelled to the realms even deities wouldnʼt go, and she was imprisoned for a century in the land of the dead. She wasnʼt a simple deity but a resilient one. She found ways to use the essence, and so she made it so that she could use it for herself.

”Now, you will take Jolthar there and help him soak in the essence,” Qalena stated.

Elodaʼs breath hitched. ”But...” She knew if Qalena wanted, she could take the chamber or destroy it if she pleased. She wasnʼt doing any of that.

”No buts,” Qalena interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. ”Hesuas is still enraged over what you did, and Saubraʼs wife is waiting for an opportunity to strike. If either of them finds you in this state, youʼll wish for death long before theyʼre finished with you.”

Qalenaʼs brows knit together as if she were thinking, ”I wonder why Hesuas left you here?”

Elodaʼs lips trembled, her eyes darting to the floor. The goddessʼs words were harsh, but they were true. She had no choice.

Eloda, her gaze dropping to the floor again. After a long pause, she spoke softly. ”I… will do as you ask, Goddess.”

Jolthar sighed, running a hand through his hair. ”Fantastic. Another life-threatening adventure. Exactly what I needed while still recovering from nearly getting sliced in half.”

Qalenaʼs smile returned, faint and enigmatic. ”Your path is far from over, child. You will find that the chamber holds more for you than you expect.”

Jolthar rolled his eyes but gave a half-hearted salute. ”Great. Canʼt wait to find out what else youʼve signed me up for.”

Qalena raised a single hand, and a faint beam of golden light shot from her fingertip, striking Elodaʼs chest. Immediately, warmth spread through her body, and she felt a surge of energy she hadnʼt experienced in what felt like an eternity. She straightened slightly, no longer shaking as badly.

”That should be enough to get you moving,” Qalena said casually, as though she hadnʼt just performed a miracle. ”Take him to the chamber and ensure he completes the process. When itʼs done, meet me on Mount Drakkianc.”

Eloda then asked, ”But isnʼt he a mortal? What if he canʼt endure the essence?”

Qalena raised an eyebrow at her, ”Nothing should happen to him, and you should take care of it, like I said.”

And just like that, she disappeared, her form dissolving into an ethereal glow that vanished into the air. But not before she glanced back at Jolthar one last time, her gaze lingering as though it was both a farewell and a warning.

Jolthar blinked at the empty space where she had been, then turned to Eloda. ”Well, that was... something,” he said, scratching the back of his head. ”So, about this chamber. What exactly am I walking into?”

Eloda sighed heavily, her gaze filled with reluctant determination. ”Youʼll see soon enough,” she muttered.

As they prepared to leave, Jolthar couldnʼt help but shake his head. ”Gods and their family drama. I swear, this is more complicated than my last job on Earth. And that had office politics.” He didnʼt say the last part out loud, though.

Eloda didnʼt respond, but her lips twitched slightly. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself the faintest flicker of hope.