It seems that the closest village from Aoranam is called Iatukat, and is three days away when traveling on horseback. That explains why we found rations in the remains of the envoy's saddle that Rangi had ripped off. And it also explains why nobody in Aoranam knew about the existence of that village. They usually only ever ventured out for a day at most, and since they don't have horses, none of those short adventures ever got close to allowing contact with Iatukat.

"[The village is not much larger than Aoranam, but the local god refused to pay tribute as well.]" Mereana explains as we ride along a jungle path. It's quite wide and couldn't be an animal trail, and it's not being maintained by Aoranam village, because this is already outside of their foraging range.

Actually, it wasn't a continuous path from there, else the villagers would most likely have tried to see what was at the end of it. We passed through a stretch of open steppe and rode for half a day, before entering this jungle.

Then again, it's possible that when the slave army passed through here, they cut this path to ease their progress. After all, there were nearly five hundred soldiers, so they couldn't have all just walked single file, or it would have taken ages for the last one to reach their destination.

"[Iatukat was subjugated by our forces on our way to you.]" Mereana continues. "[In a short battle the local god was killed and the villagers surrendered quickly.]"

I already found out myself that these gods can be killed in the same way humans can. I just wonder why the slave troops never thought of doing it on their own. It's not like that flamboyant guy could have defeated five hundred soldiers coming at him all on his own. And they could have tried to backstab him on the battlefield, or even just turned him into a pincushion from afar. He didn't seem especially strong and he certainly wasn't as sturdy as Rangi is.

"[Then is it such a good idea to go to that village now that you're without your army?]" I tease Mereana. Surely, they must still remember her appearance and now that she's coming with only a handful of people, they could just try to overwhelm her with numbers and lynch her.

"[The village should have been emptied by now.]" With a grim face, she replies.

"[What do you mean, emptied?]" I have a bad feeling about this. Somehow, I can imagine what the answer will be.

"[For those who oppose the God King, only death or slavery awaits.]" Pretty much what I expected.

"[You mean to say that if we had lost, the rest of the villagers would have been turned into slaves?]" Awhina catches up to us and asks with an indignant expression.

"[... since your father killed the envoy, it was decided to burn down the entire village and execute every single inhabitant...]" It's clearly hard for Mereana to say this, considering she would have gone through with it, had I not killed her overseer and fulfilled that prophecy she believed in - and probably still believes in to some extent.

"[But we would have never lost.]" Puffing out her chest, Awhina states with pride. Well, I don't know about Rangi losing, but with the overwhelming numbers, the villagers wouldn't have been safe, if Tahiri and I hadn't been there as a failsafe. Well, the God of Storm didn't really do anything, but she would have, if I hadn't been there. Then again, she wouldn't have been there, if I hadn't been there.

Whatever, the fact of the matter is that we didn't lose.

"[It's getting dark. Are we going to ride through the night?]" I look up, through the canopy of the jungle. It's quite dark down here already, but the little I can see of the slightly cloudy sky tells me that within the next hour or so, it's going to be night. Uten and Saten, and of course I, can see in the dark, but I don't know about the others.

"[... no, we shall find a place to rest and continue tomorrow.]" Welcoming the change of topic, Mereana sighs and looks at me with a hint of thankfulness.

"[So, what does that brand mean?]" As we finish setting up a campfire with the help of some magic from me, I ask Mereana bluntly.

Blinking a few times while staring at me with a blank expression, the question seems to take her by complete surprise. Then she turns away slightly as if trying to hide the brand from my sight, before loosening her expression.

"[Like Felgar told you, I'm a former slave.]" She starts to explain. That's quite obvious, considering every single soldier in the slave army had a brand on their faces. What I'm curious about is the meaning of their different shapes. When I got closer to her, I could tell that it's actually only remotely heart-shaped, and actually seems to be a letter or a rune. "[I was a slave in the lord of Uarapo's bed chambers.]"

That's a euphemism for sex slave. When I still believed it to be a heart, I thought that's exactly what she used to be, too. Well, I have to admit that I wouldn't push her out of bed, to say the least.

"[How did you come to be a commander?]" That should be interesting to hear. From being confined in the master's bedroom to leading troops into battle. Even if she was freed, that's a pretty strange step-up in ranks for a former slave. Of course, there was a god as an overseer, but it's still a pretty huge responsibility.

"[My former master liked to play Agnihut. It is a strategic board game.]" Mereana begins to explain. Must be something like Shogi, I suppose. "[He taught me how to play and found that I was gifted with a mind for strategy. When he... did not call upon me... he let me read the books in his library.]" Why, her former master doesn't sound like the typical slaver scum I know from stories. In fact, allowing his slave to educate herself after discovering a talent makes him seem like a nice person - aside from the fact that he was keeping slaves, that is. "[When he died, he set me free. But in the laws of the kingdom, a freed slave is still not the same as a freeborn person.]"

That doesn't sound like freed slaves are free at all, then. And it seems to have been in disregard of her former master's last wishes, too. This kingdom seems to have the kind of system I hate, and I think it's the right call to destroy it.

"[Based on my strategic talent, I was drafted into the army and given an education as an officer.]" I take it back. Is this a modern meritocracy? Talented people are nurtured, even if they're slaves or freed slaves. I guess I have to take a closer look at things before I can judge them, but one thing I'm sure of: Slavery needs to end. "[After three years at the military academy, I was put at the head of a company of the Nameless. They are auxiliary troops, composed solely of slaves and led by freed slaves.]" She noticed my questioning expression at the mention of the "Nameless" and adds a quick explanation.

"[You sound proud.]" I couldn't help but hear a prideful undertone in her speech.

"[Really? I... I guess I was.]" With a hint of embarrassment but also self-loathing, Mereana looks into the flames. "[For a former slave, it was an honor to become a commander in the military.]" I think I can empathize with the sentiment. She grew up being owned and commanded by others, so rising to a position of power must have felt great.

"[Why did you start putting your faith in this prophecy of a savior freeing all slaves, then?]" If she felt content in her position, why would she ever start thinking about a prophecy that would have led to the dissolution of her troops?

"[The Nameless were sent to the most dangerous battlefields and I lost many comrades. Even when we achieved greatness, we were never honored and our losses never acknowledged. After all, we were slaves - less than human.]" Touching the brand on her cheek, she looks bitter. It's clear that she cares for her troops. "[The succession war bled out the slaves of this country. The man who now calls himself the God King used to be a kind man. However, when the first prince - son of the queen, who was a freed slave - was announced as the successor to the throne, he changed.]"

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Mereana goes on to speak of the succession war, but I'm barely able to pay attention since it sounds really convoluted. Basically, the God King turned into a power-hungry and scornful bastard when he - son of the first concubine - didn't get to sit on the throne. So he started a war against the legitimate king after their father died, rallying all the slave-keepers in the kingdom to his side by promising laxer slave trading laws. This way he gained a decisive financial advantage, which allowed him to gather followers within the palace and plot an assassination.

It failed, and the king was forced to flee the capital, consolidating his forces at the Awiho Fortress. This turned into a protracted siege, which had such widespread influence that loyalists staged attempts at helping the king, by fighting against the usurper's supporters across the land. It became a messy civil war that engulfed all of the kingdom.

"[And you missed this?]" I turn to Awhina and the others. To miss that basically the entire nation went to war is quite a feat, but maybe the Aoranam village really is the most remote of places in the kingdom.

"[I knew of something going on recently, but I don't pay attention to the conflicts of man.]" Tahiri comments while leaning back against a tree. Well, I didn't really expect her to care either way.

"[So is this God King a human?]" Maybe I should have asked this question earlier, but I basically forgot and simply assumed that he must be some kind of god.

"[The former king was a normal human... but nobody really knows.]" Mereana must be wondering about that herself. "[But he must hold some kind of power, or else the gods would not follow him.]"

"[Especially since he apparently wants to eradicate all heathen deities.]" To quote the dumb envoy's announcement.

"[The gods that follow him become part of his pantheon. Those who do not are killed or enslaved.]" Turning to look at Awhina, she gazes at her with an almost envious expression. "[You are blessed to have a strong father like that. If mine had been only half as strong, I would not have become a slave...]"

The conversation dies down. I think that kinda killed the already heavy mood.

"[Let's sleep for tonight. I'll keep watch.]" Since I don't need to sleep at all. My children have quickly adopted the idea of never sleeping over the past year. They used to waste away almost half the day by doing it, even though they don't need to, but after realizing that they have more time to play around and explore the world of the night, they now pretty much always stay awake.

"[Care to join me for a drink?]" Tahiri waves me over. She doesn't need to sleep either, so she spends her nights either drinking while looking up into the sky longingly - as if wishing to go back up there - or talking to me about various things.

"[Is there even enough left for the rest of the journey?]" I joke around, as I point at the gourd filled with Oripiaw from Aoranam that she's carrying.

"[If it runs dry, I could always go back overnight and get more.]" Grinning, she hands me the gourd to let me drink from it directly. Fair enough; I could do the same in Chaos Warhead Mode, especially now that I'm getting more familiar with the lay of the land.

In either case, I seem to have turned into an alcoholic. I mean, I started to drink with Tahiri almost every evening not too long ago, and it's become a routine for us after our daily battles ever since. Really, at this point we clearly don't want to kill each other anymore, and I would be content with just landing a blow on her during a spar someday.

"[You two, don't wander off too far.]" I turn to Uten and Saten, who motion to sneak away without telling me. I doubt there's anything that could be a danger to them around here, but I'd rather not risk anything in an unfamiliar land. They most likely won't get lost, as long as this fire is active, so it should be fine in that regard.

"[You're like a real mother.]" Tahiri teases my youthful appearance, knowing full well that she herself doesn't look much older or especially wise, even when she talks like an old lady.

"[That's because I am their mother.]" Taking a gulp and handing the gourd back to her, I state with pride.

"[Wake up, everyone. We got company.]" Sometime during sunrise, we have been surrounded. They haven't shown themselves yet, so I can't tell if they're humans or animals, but I can feel at least twenty large life forms approaching slowly and carefully from all sides. They are closing the encirclement, but nothing can escape my Chaos senses.

"[W-what?]" Awhina sits up sleepily and looks around while rubbing her eyes, before yawning heartily. She's not a morning person, just like me in my previous life, and doesn't seem to be fully conscious yet.

Mereana, on the other hand, looks alert. Her military training must have taught her to sleep only lightly, since she's fully awake in an instant and her hand is already on the hilt of her sword. My two children look around with their hands raised and transformed into blades. Tahiri is looking at me rather than her surroundings, as if to gauge how I would know about the approaching potential danger.

"[Bandits out here?]" Looking around nervously, Mereana mutters.

"[We know you're there. Come out and show us your faces.]" I call out to see if they're people or animals. Surprised rustling can be heard from my right, suggesting that it must be a human who understands what I just said. I won't attack without knowing their identities and intentions, so I'll wait and see whether they actually come out or not.

"[How many are there?]" Tahiri asks me curiously, not at all alarmed by the situation. Well, if she can dodge me, she can dodge bandits.

"[... twenty-five.]" I take a moment to count them. So we're outnumbered five to one, huh?

"[Kakaka!]" Suddenly laughing, the God of Storm stands up. "[You haven't learned at all, Tokomaha!]" She calls out into the surroundings, not aimed in any particular direction.

"[... Tahiri?]" From my right - the same direction from which the rustling came from moments ago - a voice emerges. It sounds like a little girl's...

Then all other presences disappear in an instant and I'm wholly confused. What was that? I look around but obviously, I can't see what happened. Then, from the undergrowth a girl just a little older than my two children emerges.

"[What do you mean, I haven't learned?]" She speaks with a lisp... so cute! Her hair is a huge green mane that actually looks like it's made up of leaves. Protruding from that brush are pointy ears covered in light brown fur. Thick eyebrows are drawn together in a frown and her large amber eyes are glaring at Tahiri. Her tan body is completely exposed and full of white asymmetrical markings. In her right hand she's wielding a giant bone covered in totemic carvings, which has been sharpened on one end.

"[Outnumbering by five to one. Whenever we meet, that's how it goes.]" Walking up to the girl, who's undoubtedly a goddess, Tahiri states teasingly. "[And always encircling your prey from all sides in perfect synchronization.]"

"[You! How did you know I was coming?!]" Pointing the sharp end of her spear towards me, this girl named Tokomaha asks sharply.

"[I just know such things, don't ask me how.]" Shrugging, tension leaves my body upon learning that there's no immediate danger. Mereana still seems alert, but Awhina has actually gone back to sleep. She's incredible, really. "[You know each other?]" I turn to Tahiri.

"[Yeah, she's Tokomaha, a savage god.]" Tahiri's introduction sounds very casual. This must mean that this girl isn't a powerful goddess and not particularly noteworthy.

"[I'm not a savage! I'm the God of Growth!]" Swinging her spear at the God of Storm, she corrects her angrily.

"[Why don't you give that pitiful body of yours some growth, then?]" That was a strike below the belt!

"[Not that kind of growth!]" Ah, apparently that hit a sore spot, since tears appear in the girl's eyes as she stomps her feet and shouts. The fact that she isn't trying to attack even though she has a weapon means that she must be aware of how powerful and slippery Tahiri is.

"[So, what were you trying to do?]" I ask, still wondering how the many presences earlier are tied to her being called the God of Growth.

"[I'm not talking to you, ugly!]" Barking at me, Tokohama disregards my question.

Pop.

"[You shouldn't talk to people with such disrespect, little girl.]" I realize that my voice is shaking. No point in getting angry with a child, right?

"[Stop talking, fat ass!]"

Pop pop.

That was the sound of veins popping on my forehead.

I think she needs some discipline.