Alandra walks through my town, then approaches me.
“You. I choose you,” she says.
“Me?” I say. “You’re the deity of love and sex and all that, I’m not a good choice for that.”
The other people look shocked, my dad is covering his face with his hands. My best friend Samlis tries to contain his giggles.
“You’re the most beautiful in the Kalpo Kingdom. Of course I’d choose you. We’ll have to work on your self-confidence, though.”
“You’re not in charge of beauty though, that I’d understand. It’s that I’ve never had sex, and I don’t know if I’ve fallen in love. Ask someone else,” I say.
“I chose you, though. The only way you can get out of this now is if another deity chooses you, too. Then you could choose who to follow,” Alandra says. I’ve never heard this before, it hasn’t popped up in any of the stories.
“I’ll do that then.”
The next day me and Samlis set out to find Alkanar, Lord of Stories, a minor deity. Plus it gives us an excuse to check out the library in Wonya.
On the road, a group of boys pass by.
“Looking hot!” one says. I roll my eyes. Samlis laughs. Honestly, he seems to think it funny when people are attracted to me, cause he knows I won’t be returning the favor.
Eventually, we come across someone with a wagon, and hitch a ride for the last few miles. The driver is a really nice baker who was visiting her sister, and is now returning to Wonya.
“If you’re from Wonya, do you know much about Alkanar?” I ask, “Is he looking for a Chosen One?”
“He doesn’t have one currently, but he’s very peculiar about who he’ll choose. He says they have to be both interested in stories, have an interesting story, and becoming his Chosen One ‘fits well into their arc’. I once asked him, but he said I’d be more interesting without it.”
When we arrive, Samlis goes to find a hotel for the night, and I head straight to the library. It’s a huge, ugly building, but inside is filled with books
I look through the shelves for Alkanar, but a book about dragons and their history distracts me.
“Enjoying that book?”
“It’s great. Did you know dragons used to choose their leaders by a vote, but then switched to monarchies in imitation of us?” I look up “Alkanar? I came here to look for you. I ask that you would consider me for your Chosen One.”
“Why?” he asks.
“Because I love stories.”
“Your love of stories won’t be affected by being a Chosen One. Why do you want me to choose you?” he asks.
“She doesn’t want to have sex, or date people,” Samlis says, rounding the bookshelf.
“Alandra wants me to be her Chosen One, but as Samlis interrupted, that would be awkward, and she told me the only way I could get out, would be if another deity also chose me. And I like stories, so I thought of you,” I say.
“Not only is that interesting in your story, it might start a conflict between me and Alandra. I’ll choose you,” Alkanar says. “Wait, what’s your name?”
“Thranli. And I accept your request, Alkanar, Lord of Stories.”