It feels really hot for the middle of the night. I stand up and pull at my jacket and shirt. I dust 'em off like mad. They definitely need cleaning after everything that just happened, but that ain't why I'm brushing 'em off.

I can see the Elementals exchanging looks in the corner of my eye. I can hear Domina and Del whispering, and Zazel tapping her foot. I can feel Althea's gaze. Althea and that Goddamned gaze of hers.

"Hero."

Althea waves a hand and the lights go out and the bench thing disappears. Then, she comes up to me and takes my hand, cupping it and holding in hers. Her touch is firm and reassuring - loving, even. "I was initially very vexed by the way you treated me when we met, but I was also equally perplexed. Now, I believe I understand you. You've lived two difficult lives and lost them both in harrowing ways. No being can suffer in such a way and not have deep scars on their soul to show for it. It is no wonder why you are so angry - and so reticent to be close to us."

I look at her, but I'm not sure what to say.

She looks down. "I was also quite troubled by the rift that formed between the us. But now, I have also experienced the sting of regret. And I know the agony of failure and the torment of nihilism."

She looks back up at me, her eyes wet. "Hero, I am truly sorry for your suffering. But I believe we can form a bond even greater than the one you knew before, and cleanse ourselves of evils both inside and out. I hope you feel the same..."

"Thanks, Althea. I do. And we will."

She her tightens her grip a bit more before letting go, and she backs up and turns her head toward the others. "Now the the Hero has bared his soul, you are all invited to say your piece."

Del is the first. She comes up with a watchful Pinky curled in her arms. "Though I am not sure what to think about the fact that you were reincarnated twice, I care little for what lies you may have told or what secrets you may have kept. In the end, your actions are what matter - especially those in the present." She gently gives Pinky a couple of shakes. "Being trustworthy certainly matters, but the fact that this one is still alive is all the proof I need to know that you are a worthy Hero. Let us leave the past behind and evolve - creatures that fail to adapt to new conditions usually- What?"

Pinky whines and points his head up at Del. She furrows her brow at him for a few moments, then whispers something in his ear, and he make another funny noise.

"Oh, I see."

I scratch my head. "Don't tell me he has something to say about this?"

Del smiles. "He lacks the intelligence to understand your situation, but he is sad about your pain."

He makes another noise.

"Oh, and he's also hungry and hopes to eat soon."

I chuckle. "Wow, dude. A time and a place."

Domina pulls some jerky from her apron and feeds it to Pinky, who chomps the three thick strips down like butter. I know from experience how sharp those teeth are.

Wiping her hands with a napkin, Domina turns to me. "Master, the situation surrounding you is very complicated, but I agree with Lady Asphodel. I have seen your actions, and felt the desires in your heart, and I know you are a great person. Deeply hurt - and deeply flawed - but great all the same. I want nothing more than to serve you and subjugate all those who have done you harm."

"Thanks, Domina. I know I can count on you."

She smiles and bows. "And besides, someone is going to have to clean up after the fighting is over. War is-"

Zazel stomps up to me. "You coward," she squawks, "had you discussed your issues with us before, we might have been able to help you! You always underestimate us!"

"I'm sorry, I know I could be better to you guys; let you in a little more." I look down. "But it's complicated, okay? This shit ain't easy sort out."

"You always say 'it's complicated', but it's not. You just refuse to see the truth."

She's startin' piss my ass off with this constant bad attitude. I look up at her, scowling. "And what is that, huh? What do you think is the fucking truth, Zazel?"

She steps forward. The bitchy Elemental barely cracks five feet, but her glare makes her look a lot bigger.

She jabs her finger at me. "The truth is that you're obsessed with the past! When you're not languishing about the creature who murdered you, you're running around obsessed with revenge! And we have to suffer for it! We're not humans - we're Elementals! We want to be close to you, the 'Hero'. Yet you push us away and act like an ignoramus while you brood over what some cultists did to you two lifetimes ago!"

Ugh, what a bitch. I just stand there and take it. But what can I say? She's right.

"And the more you do, the more you deny us our right to love and be loved! And that's not fair! There aren't any other so-called Heroes running around, in case you haven't noticed. You're it! So get over your past, and get over yourself!"

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. But it's not like I haven't been trying. I have been. But I know I need to do better.

She goes on about this and that, but I get lost in my own thoughts.

Maybe... Maybe I need some closure on Kris. About the fact that she joined the Limp Dicks, killed me. She might even be in the invasion force. Maybe Zazel has a point, but how can I move on from the past if it's coming back to haunt me? Coming back to kill me?

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Pinky catches my eye for some reason. He tilts his head at me, and that's all need.

"And another thing- Hey! Are you even listening, fool?"

I ignore her ass as I walk over to Dell and gently take Pinky out of her arms. The itty-bitty deer coos and stretches his head a bit as I cradle him, and have to turn my cheek to avoid getting slurped on the face.

"You're right Zazel. You hit the nail on the head - I can't stop thinking about the past. And until I met this little guy, I was only fighting for revenge - and for myself. I didn't realize how selfish I was being. But my boy here showed me there's something more important to fight for."

"Like what?" Zazel scoffs. "Stupid, defenseless animals?"

I shake my head. "No, the future. I thought life was pointless. Like it wasn't worth living. I still think life sucks, but now, I also think that maybe... maybe it's possible to make it worth living. For all of us. Together."

The silence in the cathedral is thick.

Domina is the first to say something. She looks at me and smiles warmly. "Master," she begins, "I am proud to have met you, and I am honored to fight alongside you. I will stand by you, even in the face of the vilest of foes and the greatest of messes." She places her hand over her heart and bows. "I am forever at your service."

I can't help but smile a bit as she stands up. She's too damn cute for words.

Del steps forward. "Leader, when I first met you, I was deeply concerned about your apparent disregard for the future of the world - it was as though you had never even thought about it. But I can see the seeds I tried to sew are beginning to bear fruit. I will do everything I can to help you build this future." She bows. "Let us hunt and grow together, Leader."

I nod. "Thanks, Del. And I hope you'll help me raise Pinky to be a big, strong buck."

She smiles. "We're going to need a lot of meat."

Althea bows. "Hero, I have a duty to protect and maintain this world, and I will never regret putting Astraea before all else. I am the Elemental of Order - I am the very essence of structure and natural law on this world. When I left you on the mountain that day, I thought I was being true to my purpose. And yet, I am deeply ashamed of my choice to abandon you when you were in need of me most. I am unsure if I will ever be redeemed for that cruel, horrible blunder, but I pray you will give me the opportunity to try, Hero."

"I already told you - the hatchet is buried, as far as I'm concerned."

She bows deeply. "I cannot thank you enough. And I promise to stay by your side until the day I die. My guidance and protection are yours until the end." She stands up, and looks at me with glistening eyes.

Zazel sighs heavily. "Ugh, how much long must I endure this saccharine tripe?"

She steps forward, looking me up and down. Her expression is tight and cold, like a judge getting ready to pass sentence on a murderer. I swallow and wait.

"Brisket," she begins, "I believe you are most ill-equipped to handle this monumental responsibility. You have a bad attitude, and you're immature, selfish, and egotistical. And, above all, just plain stupid."

I glare at her, and Pinky twists his head in her direction.

"But I can't help but wonder what kind of glorious, wonderful future you've unilaterally decided to build. Enlighten us - what grand vision, do you have in mind, hm?"

I look at her. Then at Del and Domina. Then at Althea. They're all looking at me with a mixture of hope and anticipation. I take a breath. I've been thinking about this for a while now, but now that I'm about to put my vision into words, I hesitate. Can I really pull this off? Can I really create a better life for everyone?

Yes. Yes, I can. I have to.

"Alright, guys. Here's what's gonna happen. We're going to go around the world and recruit more Elementals. Then build a huge army of badass thralls and get Raelith to make 'em some weapons or something. We're gonna make you guys stronger too, so I don't have to rely on the Dice so much. When those limp-dicked fucks show up, we're going to kick their asses for good. I mean, we're really gonna turn 'em inside out."

"Oh, so you're plan is to keep doing that same thing we've been doing. That didn't serve you well in the last life, and it's not going particularly well in this one, so I'm already lacking confidence."

"Can you at least save your snarky bullshit until after I'm finished?"

Zazel rolls her eyes, but she doesn't say anything.

"After we win, I think it will all kinda depend on what Elementals we find and what their powers are. But I wanna have a farm. Raise some animals, and just chill for a while. And then, I hope we can start to make, like, a city or something. Maybe start small, with a town or village, and build our way up to a whole ass civilization. And, hopefully, we can find a way for you all to have babies. Can't have a world with no people."

Domina's eyes light up. "Oh, Master! I would be so happy if I could have a child with you!"

"Um, yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not happening. But we can figure something out. Maybe you guys can make clones, or find a way to get some male Elementals or something."

I look at Del and Althea. "You two are gonna be the ones to figure out how to do that. I got no idea where to even start with that shit."

Del shrugs and smiles weakly. "Well, there's much about this world that even we Elementals don't know. It may be possible."

"Yeah, even you guys don't know for sure what's out there. There might be, like, an Elemental of Reproduction or something like that, yeah?"

Zazel rolls her eyes, Del snorts, and Althea and Domina turn a little pink. Pinky cocks his head at me.

"Right. So, yeah. That's the plan. I know it ain't the greatest, and we'll have to change it on the fly as we go, but I think it's a good start."

Althea nods. "Indeed. Your plan is quite sensible, Hero. I am honored to work alongside you and the others to see it through."

Domina's face is beaming, but she's staying quiet. She looks at Zazel. "Lady Zazel, what do you think?"

Zazel sighs and shrugs. "It's not the worst possible idea. As long as everyone is as free as possible, and it's not too boring. And there's lots of wine and snacks."

"Ha. Wouldn't have it any other way."

I watch the Elementals as they exchange ideas and chatter. They seem content for a change, and I'm starting to feel the same way. And goddamn it feels good to feel good for a change. It's like there's some actual fucking hope for once.

"Thank you, everyone. I think we can make a wonderful world together if we try. Shit's gonna be tough, but it'll be worth it. I mean, there's shit on this world that I thought was impossible until a few months ago. Who knows what we'll find out there? First, we gonna take out the Limp Dicks, and that's gonna be a pain in the ass. But after that, the world is gonna be our burrito. And whatever we do - whatever we make - is gonna be awesome as all hell. I can feel it in my bones." I smile, and for the first time in a long while, I really mean it.

"Agreed," Althea chimes in, "We will encounter many obstacles along the way, but I believe that if we work together, we will prevail. We have the blessing of God on our side. We will surely not be denied our victory - or our futures."

Del nods, smiling. "Indeed. We will have the future we are due, and we will nourish it and watch it bloom together. No calling is greater."

Domina beams with joy. "I cannot wait to start cooking with you, Master! Oh, and building a wonderful place for everyone. My only desire is to be happy, and to make you and everyone else happy, too!"

Zazel shrugs. "I suppose I can indulge you as long as it stays interesting. Not like I have much of a choice, anyway."

"Dude, it's gonna be great. Trust me."

"But without Liberation, any vision, no matter how brilliantly and gloriously realized, will only ever be an illusion."

Everyone spins toward the voice.

At the entrance to the cathedral is a freakishly tall person wearing a long purple cloak. A smooth, pitch black metal covers their face and hands like a liquid coating, making them look like a giant living shadow.

It's the same freak I saw with the God's Eye - the Beloved.