Devryn rode beside Maren at the rear of the caravan. The old woman always fell back whenever they were on the road; she just couldn’t keep up with the others. Up ahead, Devryn could see the rest of the caravan coming to a stop. He saw Cromwell gesture for the group to go into the trees.

“Seems like the merchant found another clearing,” Maren said.

“Yeah, I guess he did,” Devryn replied.

Maren continued, “The man has obviously travelled these roads countless times. He finds our campsites with such ease.”

“Yeah, he does,” Devryn said blandly.

The woods of the Western Continent had large clearings located some distance from one another. The clearings served as camping spots for people who were traveling between cities.

“You don’t look too cheerful, boy,” Maren said. “Would you like to share what’s on your mind?”

Devryn scoffed. “Do I really need to share it? Why don’t you just take a peek and see for yourself.”

“Ah, I see now,” Maren said. “You’re still bothered by the discussion we had this morning.”

Devryn remained silent. He nudged his horse with his foot, urging the animal to go faster. “Hurry up, old woman,” he said as he inched past her slowly. “The others have left us behind.”

He grimaced as he pulled the reins of his mount, stopping it beside the trees where the others had stood by about a minute earlier. Maren soon came to a stop behind him. Devryn got off his horse and helped the old woman get off hers as well.

“Now to find the campsite,” Maren said as her feet hit the ground. “I suppose it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“The campsite is this way,” came a voice from amongst the trees.

Devryn frowned as Cromwell’s daughter, Aria, stepped out onto the pathway. “I stayed back so I could guide you two,” she said.

“Thanks,” Devryn said sharply. “Since you’re here, you can help Maren with her horse.”

“Ah, yes. That would be very much appreciated,” Maren added.

Devryn hurriedly pulled his mount through the trees, leaving Aria and the old woman behind. At that moment, he really wanted to be alone.

He walked into the campsite after a minute. The other members of the caravan were already setting up their tents.

Devryn tied his horse to a tree and grabbed his tent off the mount’s back. He began setting it up, ignoring Aria and Maren as they walked into the clearing. He stepped into the tent and lay down after he’d finished with it.

The events of that morning came rushing back to him. He sighed and put his hands over his face; the journey to Baynir had taken an unexpected turn.

He’d left his hometown two weeks earlier in search of someplace better. There was no way he could’ve anticipated that he would be thrust full throttle into the world of gods and Champions. A world that he’d previously considered made up.

Devryn took a deep breath. All day, he’d been trying not to think about the severity of his current situation. Not only were the gods real, one of them was about to wage some sort of war against humanity, and he—Devryn—would supposedly stand against it.

Devryn sighed. The task was one that he certainly didn’t want to undertake.

A frown crept slowly across his face as he began to realize that it didn’t matter exactly who took the first stand against the rogue god. If the rogue god waged war, every single human would be wrapped up in it. Everyone would have to take a stand.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“All of us are gonna be involved in this one way or another,” Devryn muttered to himself. “So, I guess it doesn’t really matter if I get involved a little bit earlier. And besides, my future depends on me; I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to. I could take a pass on this whole thing if I wanted.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” he said to himself as he slowly drifted off. “I can choose not to fight anyone.”

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he felt some sort of presence around him.

“Get up, boy,” Maren’s voice echoed in his head. “Come to my tent immediately.”

Devryn groaned. “Leave me alone!” he yelled internally. “I just want some time for myself. Why don’t you use this opportunity to tell Aria about her future? I bet she’ll be excited to know that she’ll soon be fighting gods.”

“The girl isn’t here anymore,” Maren replied. “But someone else is. The Champion of Chronos is finally here and he wants to see you.”

****

Gwyneth sat on a blanket inside the tent, and waited for her hostess to arrive. She’d just finished talking to Ryker, who’d brought her some food for dinner. After she’d finished eating, they’d talked for about five minutes. Then, he’d left for his own tent.

Gwyneth shifted nervously as the tent curtains parted and Aria stepped in. The space where she currently sat wasn’t hers; it belonged to Ryker’s twin sister.

“Hey there,” Gwyneth said.

“Hey,” Aria responded as she spread a blanket on the ground and lay down on it.

Gwyneth cleared her throat. “Um, thank you for sharing your tent with me.”

Aria shrugged. “Nah, it’s nothing. You know what they say, the more people you’ve got, the more fun there is.”

Gwyneth chuckled. “Just like your brother said.”

Aria smiled. “Oh, did he? By the way, I’m sorry you had to put up with his company throughout today. I would’ve come to say hello, but I wasn’t feeling exactly like my usual self.”

“Never mind,” Gwyneth said. “Ryker told me you ran into some stranger that got on your nerves.”

Aria scoffed. “I don’t know why I felt so rattled. I mean, you ran into Ryker and Gregor. I’m sure you didn’t lose your nerves after that.”

“Ryker and Gregor were quite friendly,” Gwyneth said. “Honestly, I don’t think they could scare anyone. Maybe the guy you ran into just had a bad aura, some people do.”

Aria was silent for a few seconds. “Yeah, I guess so,” she finally said.

Gwyneth yawned. “I think I’m going to sleep now, I’m feeling a bit exhausted. You should sleep too, I’m sure it’ll help with your nerves.”

“I’ll do just that,” Aria said. “I’ll probably be good come tomorrow.”

“I’m sure you will,” Gwyneth said. “Good night,” she added after a bit.

“Good night,” Aria replied.

Gwyneth exhaled tiredly. She lay down on the blanket underneath herself and closed her eyes, hoping she’d fall asleep. Several minutes passed but she still remained awake. She could tell that Aria was already asleep; her soft snores punctuated the heavy silence.

“Arise, Champion!” a voice suddenly yelled in Gwyneth’s head. “Get out of the tent at once! Your goddess beckons on you.”

****

Gwyneth took one last glance at Aria before she stepped out of the tent. There was no one seated outside, everyone had retreated into their private spaces. All the tents were dark except for one whose interior was illuminated by candlelight.

“Luna?! How dare you show up now?!” Gwyneth thought. “Where were you earlier today when the guards almost got me?!”

“Stop the complaints,” Luna, her patron goddess replied. “I remember I’ve told you more than once that I can only be present at night. Don’t blame me for something I have no control over.”

Gwyneth scoffed. “Just so you know, I was almost caught today. I barely managed to escape.”

“And that’s why you’re my Champion,” Luna said forcefully. “You’re smart and resourceful just like I am.”

“Oh, quit the flattery,” Gwyneth thought. “I don’t want to hear any of it.”

She heard Luna chuckle. “That was no flattery, girl,” the goddess said. “Anyway, you’ve got to leave this campsite right now. It’s not safe for you here.”

“Not safe?” Gwyneth repeated. “How? I don’t see any signs of danger here.”

“Of course you don’t,” Luna said with a disapproving tone. “You’ve got no sense for the divine.”

“What are you going on about?” Gwyneth thought.

“Look at that tent over there,” Luna prodded. “The one with the lights on.”

Gwyneth did as her goddess instructed.

Luna continued, “Now close your eyes and tell me what you feel coming off it.”

Gwyneth shut her eyes tightly for a few seconds. “I think I got it,” she thought. “I can feel some sort of…… power coming from over there. It’s reminds me of yours.”

“Good girl,” Luna replied. “Sitting in that tent at this very moment, are the Champions of two of my siblings. They seem to have struck up an alliance of sorts. I fear they may not see you as a friend if they find out you’re a Champion as well.”

“I’m not too sure of that,” Gwyneth countered. “The folks in this caravan have been mostly nice to me. I don’t think they’ll have pose any problems.”

Luna scoffed. “You’re not listening to me,” the goddess said, her voice laced with irritation. “They will turn on you, that I’m sure of. Remember the people back in Eldon? Or have you forgotten why you had to run from the city?!”

Gwyneth bowed her head.

Luna persisted. “If I’m right, the two Champions in that tent will soon sense my presence coming off you. When that happens, I doubt that they’ll want to leave you alive.”

Gwyneth shrugged. “So what do you suggest?”

“Haven’t you been listening to the words I’ve said?” Luna hissed. “You have to leave this campsite immediately.”