The Goddess Reborns as a Nobody

03 Plans for Aster

I knew there was something fishy about this guy. It's also no wonder he looks so familiar.

Save for his eye color, hair length, and just a teeny bit of height difference, Uncle Roger and my Dad can pass off as twins.

I tilt my head in askance. Or...maybe they are twins?

Uncle Roger suddenly chuckles, nudging Dad aside, and reaches over to pat my head.

"Cute kid. I can tell without asking that she's curious if we're twins or not, Rodney."

Dad shrugs. "I can't blame her. I mean, she's not the only one who's curious. Then and now, a lot of people wonder if we're twins or not. At least she's more well-mannered than someone we know who blurted out the question the moment she saw us after being assigned to our party."

Mom gasps and tries to cover my ears but ended up covering only my right ear cause she's still holding me up with her other hand.

"Are you saying I am not well-mannered? What's wrong with asking a simple question when all you had to do was say yes or no?"

Uncle Roger guffaws and slaps his knee before slapping his brother on the shoulder.

"Haha! To tell you the truth, Nialla, he stalled on purpose because he wants you to know he's the older one between us. I tell you, he's already liked you from the moment we saw the application file that the guild gave us."

Dad flushed red and looked away. I swear that's the cutest thing I've ever seen since I arrived in the Human Realm. If only I had some popcorn with me, I'll be munching along while enjoying the entertainment these adults are giving me.

Come to think of it, their camaraderie is so touching that it's more like they're a family. Well, they're technically family but, I mean, it's as if they're a family first before they're adventure party companions.

"Oh, Darling, that's so sweet of you! I never knew that!" Mom's blushing prettily and unconsciously squeezing me a little closer to her.

"That's because it was supposed to be a secret! Thanks to Mr. Blabbermouth here, it's not a secret anymore, is it?" Dad barks at Uncle Roger who was busy throwing his head back and laughing boisterously.

I can't help but smile.

Apparently, despite his menacing looks, Uncle Roger is a jolly fellow. If I thought my Dad was a jolly fellow back at the cabin, but apparently, Uncle Roger is even more so to the point where Dad looks like a serious, no-nonsense kind of guy.

So, wait, are they really twins or not? Did Uncle Roger already answer my question and I was just too busy marveling at the love between Mom and Dad to pay attention?

I jolt in surprise when Uncle Roger pats my head again. "There, there, squirt. I know what you're thinking. No, we're not twins. I'm older by a year. How about you? How old are you?"

"I'm two years old," I answer him. "That makes you at least twenty-one years older than me if you're a year older than Dad who's twenty."

"Waah!" He quickly pulls away as he stares at me with wide and shocked eyes. "Are...you sure you're two?"

I tilt my head, wondering why he's so surprised but I nod my answer and showed him two fingers, just in case that fact doesn't sink in.

Dad suddenly burst into laughter while Mom giggles.

"Oh, sorry, Roger. We forgot to mention that she's a very special girl. The Gods of the Elements didn't give me the vision to retrieve a child in the middle of the forest for nothing."

Uncle Roger frowns at the two of them, shaking his head.

"Gee, thank you so much for the heads up. I could've used that information a minute ago."

With a dark look, he punches Dad's shoulder before turning back to me.

Oh no, is he angry with these two? Is he going to take out his anger on me too?

Contrary to my doubtful thoughts, Uncle Roger flashes me a bigger, warmer, and friendlier smile then offers his hand.

"Well, little lady, let me properly introduce myself again. My name's Roger, brother to your numbskull dad and brother-in-law to your mom. And you are?"

My eyes widen and I can feel the excitement churn inside of me. Oh my goodness, I'm going to conduct an official Human greeting! The handshake!

Reaching over, I can only grab hold of his pointer finger and gave it a shake. Though I barely made his hand move, I wonder if it still counts.

"My name's Keira Asturias. And I would like to ask for your assistance along with my Mom and Dad as well as the townspeople here. My goal is to rebuild the Kingdom of Aster and I'm hoping you can lend me your strength and abilities."

I notice Uncle Roger's gaze flicker behind us but it was so fast, I'm not sure if he did do it. However, my heart began to pound in my chest when his friendly and open demeanor suddenly turns serious and a little cold.

"Rebuild Aster? Why?"

I wonder why he's changed his attitude towards me so suddenly. A covertly glance at my Dad, I can see that he masked his expression but I saw how he clenched his fist. Meanwhile, Mom's hold on me tightens a bit.

"Roger--"

"It's okay, Mom, really," I cut her off softly.

I'm not really sure why Uncle Roger's suddenly acting this way but I aim to answer him to the best of my abilities even with the lisping. I haven't told my plans to my adoptive parents yet so this is just a perfect opportunity for me to make things clear. If they're able to understand where I'm coming from, I'm hoping they'll be amenable to helping me despite the physical age of my human form.

"Uncle Roger, based on my observation since I arrived here, it has come to my attention that you, my Mom, and Dad are citizens of Aster based on your clothes and the way you walk and talk. I assume you three left the Kingdom to go on an adventure and explore the world, like any other youth. However, thanks to the previous royal who sat on Aster's throne, they ran away with a love that's both wrong and forbidden, leaving the Kingdom in shambles."

The image of the Residential district flits through my mind. The houses which are more like burnt wood piled up together, the streets that seem more like holes and cracks than cobblestone. The sunken faces of the hungry, the shivering limbs of the cold, and the hollow eyes of those who have lost hope.

It's even hard to imagine what the Residential district used to look like before and I bet that even in the minds of the townspeople, that image must've just been a dream, not a memory.

As a goddess, regardless of my wishes, I just don't have it in me to turn my back on these people, even though I might have said so when we first entered.

I continue. "The Kingdom of Aster right now is just a mere shadow of a shadow. No matter how hard I try, no matter how positive I think, I just can't imagine what this place looked like in the past. However, I can understand that despite the circumstances, even if you can't remember anymore, deep down in your heart, this is home."

I feel Dad flinching slightly beside me, my Mom's hold tightens again but Uncle Roger remained stoic. There's some flickering in his eyes though it's much too fast for me to get a read on them to find out what's he really up to. However, I can't just stare at him and try to figure him out like this, so I decided to just continue saying my piece.

"However, the home you grew up in and made memories from is long gone. And that's where I come in. I wish to help you all in getting your home back. As a matter of fact, I plan not to only rebuild Aster but to improve it. I want to turn Aster into a place where it can be called home again."

Smiling fondly, I close my eyes and imagine a place where those weary eyes are bright and sparkly, the once pale complexions become flushed, and the frowns are turned upside down. Thinking about those results that I expect to come from Aster's improvement, I feel that maybe, being sent in the Human Realm isn't such a bad idea.

Besides, once I'm done with my duties here in Aster, I can finally be a step closer to my wish.

Opening my eyes, I stare at Uncle Roger in the eyes so he can see that I'm not joking around nor am I just doing lip service.

"I want to help, Uncle Roger. I aim to make Aster a place where not only the children can be free to explore the world, but to also be a place where they return to no matter how old they get. And I want this place to be a safe haven for everyone, human, elf, fairy, you name it. Because I believe that everyone deserves a place to call home and I want for that place to be Aster."

I give a jolt of surprise when I hear a dull thud from behind. With wide eyes, I turn around and saw that the mob who left us are all standing behind us and then some.

The one person in front with Uncle Roger's sword on his feet--probably the source of the thud when he dropped it--raises his hands and began to clap.

Another person joined in and another and another until the whole rundown down is filled with ragged, scrawny, and malnourished citizens are booming with cheers, claps, and hoots of joy.

Meanwhile, I can feel my face heat with embarrassment because this just meant that they heard each and every one of my plans for Aster.

However, looking at them now, the tired and haunted look that occupies their eyes are now replaced with joy and a tinge of hope. Warmth fills my chest at the sight knowing that I'm the one who put it there. And then fear, hoping against hope that I'll be able to pull off and achieve my plans for them.

Probably sensing my fear and anxiety, my Mom rocks me slowly in her embrace and Dad pats my head comfortingly. When I turn back to look at Uncle Roger, gone was his stern and cold look, replaced with a beaming smile and warm, sparkling eyes.

"Well, my dear niece, you don't have to worry about making your goal real. Because you can consider my abilities and my talents at your beck and call. I also think the others here also feel the same way I do."

My Dad sighs and rolls his eyes at his brother. "You exaggerate as always, Roger. But you're not wrong. You can count on your new Daddy, Keira!"

"I'm so proud of you, baby. There's no need asking if I'll pitch in because Mommy will be supporting you all the way."

Against my better judgment, I'm starting to feel a prickle in my eyes.

"Mom, Dad, Uncle Roger, everyone...t-thank you."

Uncle Roger shakes his head and ruffles my hair.

"No, Keira, thank YOU. How about let's start to put the plans for Aster in motion, shall we?"