The Goddess Reborns as a Nobody

04 To New Beginnings

The seconds, minutes, hours, days, and months pass by, we manage to transform Aster as best we could for now.

When I arrived, the Town Square was in the same shape as the Residential district. Potholes on the road, ransacked buildings, crawling insects, and a couple of burned establishments here and there--probably a result of the civil war that my family told me about after the Aster's royal flown the coop.

The war was also the reason why the only temple in Aster got destroyed. Since it was situated near the palace, when the civil war broke, the temple was a casualty from the rebels' catapults while attempting to destroy the palace.

So that's the reason why my siblings lost their source of sight and influence in Aster.

It had been a blow to their abilities since Aster is known to be the mecca of magic in the whole world.

However, thanks to our efforts, both the Town Square and the Residential district are faring better than before.

First, housing. We either manage to discipline or chase away the goons that monopolize the buildings that are still livable. We had those buildings assigned to the citizens of Aster so that they'll at least have a roof over their heads even though they have to share with others.

That's only a temporary fix for them though since I have to keep the people safe and healthy before the reconstruction of houses begins.

Second, food sources. I asked my Mom, an adept yet gifted water mage, to assist the magic-oriented citizens to cultivate the wide expanse of field just outside of Aster's entrance. Those who have the affinity of water and earth are under her supervision.

I assigned Uncle Roger to manage the ones who can use weapons to hunt. And for those who want to help but can't use any weapons, they can become gatherers for mushrooms and fallen wood.

Third, administration. With the food sources and shelter already had a temporary fix, clothing and other necessities will be done through trade. And that's where administration comes in.

I took the task upon myself since I already had rough knowledge regarding the kingdoms all over Asturias throughout years of watching from the Deity Realm.

My task also includes redoing the rules of Aster because I want the citizens to become self-sufficient whether there's a monarch ruling them or not.

Of course, I know that people can't decide everything on their own since it'll cause division amongst them. However, I want them to be able to at least hold on a little longer while they wait for someone capable to lead them.

Speaking of leadership, it's kind of understandable why the nobles of Aster packed their bags and left without looking back.

The Palace district, the source and symbol of leadership, power and prosperity of Aster is nothing more than rubble now. It's probably a huge blow to their morale and coupled with the bad-tempered townspeople, I doubt there's a noble who's strong enough to handle such an issue.

Well, now that I'm here, I bet nobody thought that a two-year-old would be filling in the role of leader. However, this two-year-old is spiritually a hundred-year-old adult goddess already. Unfortunately, I can't believe I'm stuck doing paperwork even though I volunteered for it.

If there's any consolation, I have Dad with me for company. As a Fire Mage, there's little he can do regarding cultivating the fields or gathering materials so I had him help me instead.

Well, he's not much on the reading and writing side of things but he's beyond the moon at the thought of spending time with me all by himself. Not only that but he's also very helpful in running back and forth, getting the townspeople's opinion regarding the current rules and regulations of Aster as well as asking them what they want to change or add to the rules.

Another surprising discovery, while Dad and I are inspecting the Palace district, is that there's actually a part of the Palace district that's intact even after years of war and neglect. What's even more surprising is that it's the Palace library.

I've learned that the royals managing Aster and their descendants are rotten to the core, preferring the extravagance and luxury over the greater good of their territory. All of them are egotistic and stupid except for one.

That royal is a total bookworm, he's also clever and compassionate. Aster would have prospered under his rule. However, his own flesh and blood ridiculed and humiliated him for being who he is.

After finding out that his family will destroy all his books, he had a private library installed in secret in the middle of the forest just behind the Palace. Because his family focused more on throwing parties inside the castle, they almost never step foot out of it, so even when he died, he was confident and assured that his precious collection of books, scrolls, and tomes are safe and sound thanks to their discreet location and preservation spells.

And what a collection it was! Thanks to his books, I manage to learn more about Aster, the kingdoms littering Asturias and Asturias as a whole.

The library is a haven for me so it's not surprising that I mostly spend my time there. Besides, it's the perfect place to work on the rules of Aster as well.

It's another day and I'm planning to spend it again in the library. I hope I'll be able to make a dent in revising current rules and approving new ones.

I had asked Dad to get me some opinions on what the people think of a rule from the past monarch and looking forward to the snack he always brings back to me. Dad is smart but he just can't be bothered with sitting still with me in the library facing paperwork, which is why I mostly ask him to go out and ask people because I feel bad for letting him stay cooped up with me.

The downside of making Dad uncomfortable is that I can't teach most books from the shelves. I decided to just wait for Dad to come back to reach the other books for me but there's just one book that I need to get for reference that can't wait.

Eyeing the huge books in a corner, I thought, maybe I could fashion makeshift stairs for me to use to be able to reach the top.

A couple minutes later, I manage to finish my stairs, leaving me sweating and panting with exertion. Whoever says books can't give you a workout are so wrong.

I don't want Dad to worry and I know I'm going to get scolded if he sees this, so I have to hurry and get what I need. I have no time to catch my breath, I begin to climb up my book stairs.

How I stacked my books must have been off because my stairs suddenly wobbles and topple over. With a yelp, I jumped and held on to the nearest bookshelf I can reach.

As I dangle almost three feet from the floor, I squeeze my eyes shut and dread if my Dad sees me like this and--

The shelf I'm holding on to suddenly moves. My eyes snapped open and I stare dumbfoundedly at the 'shelf'.

I'm actually not holding onto a bookshelf but a very big book. And that very big book is tilting off the shelf from my weight!

"No, no, no, please no," I implore it to stay in its place long enough for me to move to a real shelf this time.

Unfortunately, it didn't heed my pleas and starts to fall off along with me.

I open my mouth to scream but it turned into a squeak when I feel arms around my waist, halting my descent on the floor.

Wincing, I look up and meet my Dad's stern and angry gaze. I expected this but what I didn't expect was...

"What are you doing? Keira, you could have been crushed by that book!" he points to the open book sprawled on the floor, the one I was holding on to.

"I swear," he huffs, "seeing you fall like that shaved off years from my life."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

He sighs and puts me down gently. "It's okay. As long as you're not hurt."

"I'm not, I swear. I didn't mean to worry you like that. I just wanted to get a book and it's my fault for not waiting for you to return."

"Well, as long as you don't do it again. Otherwise, I'm going to tell your mother. She's already stressing out how to cheer the townspeople up."

I wince and begin cleaning up, starting with the book that almost caused my demise. Uhm, not that I'd easily die from being crushed by a mere book thanks to my godly aura. But that's not the point.

Besides, Dad's right. Despite the progress we're making, it seems that the people are getting restless and tired from working.

I need to think of something to cheer them up. Humans can be greedy but I can understand that seeing what little improvement we've made isn't enough to boost motivation.

Hmm...

My gaze wanders over to the open book that's out to kill me and my eyes widen at its contents. It's probably apologizing for almost killing me and if that's how it apologizes, then I'm all for it.

Because where the page opened up is exactly what I need to solve the townspeople drooping morale.

Hefting the book up, I rush towards my Dad who was busy picking up a plastic bag of snacks that he probably dropped from his haste to catch me.

"Dad, Dad!"

"Hmm? What is it, sweetie?"

"I know how to solve the motivational problems of the people!" I shake the book I'm holding in front of him.

He looks down and his eyes widen in surprise and I know that this is definitely the solution we've been looking for.

I give him a huge grin. "How about we hold a New Beginnings festival to commemorate Aster's new beginnings?"