Jaha's domain had begun to grate on Nendas an eternity ago.

He spent his days being given opportunities to fly into the heights of the air and around. And each time, he had to return to Jaha's hand. Attempts to stay away from her led to him being in her hand again. Often she would feed him meat, though he did not see any animals for her to slay.

It was not unpleasant, but it was limiting. Jaha thought it was of vast importance. She was very beautiful, kind, and wonderful, but he found it infuriating to be like this.

He was an animal and could not feel the rage he ought to. Often she would hold him close to her chest, and he did not peck at her. It would not do any good. Even so, it began to make him feel crushed, though at least what he was being crushed against was soft and firm. It was not completely unpleasant.

But it was dull.

And then Elranor returned, appearing like a blizzard within the domain. And beneath his coming, the air became chill.

"Oh, Elranor, you're here," said Jaha.

"Hello, Jaha. I'm glad the cage has been dispensed with," said Elranor. "Do you intend to keep him as a pet?"

"Oh, um... I guess so," said Jaha. "But I prefer to regard my pets as a family instead of people.

"But he hasn't acted up at all lately. I'd thought his defiance would stay."

"I can't imagine why," said Elranor. He motioned, and the green fields were covered beneath falling snow. Nendas wondered what the symbolism in the act was or if it was merely personal preference. Jaha did not seem to mind either way.

"I think he's still confused," said Jaha. "He keeps trying to escape me, even though this place is where he truly belongs. But that's okay; I'll keep him with me wrapped up warm until he accepts it.

"So, how can I help you, Elranor?"

"I thought you might be interested to know that Nendas has a friend coming to rescue him," said Elranor.

"Rescue?" asked Jaha, perplexed. "But why would anyone ever need to be rescued from me?"

"...Free will is a concept, I suppose," said Elranor ruefully, walking closer. "Be that as it may, he has a good reason for doing so. He offered himself up as a sacrifice to the God of Judgement to save his city. When the God of Judgement was not satiated, he offered to get his friends to volunteer.

"However, both of his friends are prisoners of different gods. He plans to free them and convince them to sacrifice themselves as well. All this to save their city. Not full recompense for Tarasif's sins, but the thought alone counts for a great deal."

"But that would be far too cruel!" said Jaha, voice genuine. "Nendas doesn't need to return to that awful place again!"

"I expected you'd say that," said Elranor. "So, I hoped you would convince Tamar to release her capture."

"You mean that Taha girl?" asked Jaha with a frown. "I never liked the way she lingered around Nendas as she did. There is something off about her soul, an empty hunger. It's as if she has been hollowed inside.

"She is like a cipher, or a lens, showing only what passes through her." Nendas would be interested in knowing what that meant. "I've only seen such things before in...

"Well...." She shuddered. "Nevermind.

"But I suppose she doesn't deserve to be trapped scrubbing floors. Tamar doesn't need her for that, but she's doing her work as a slave. And Tamar has always been awful."

"I gather there is an element of retribution," said Elranor. "Although I suspect..." He paused and seemed to think better of whatever he would say. "Nevermind.

"In any case, you must understand that Nendas is partially responsible for the city being in a state of sin. And, while I know you love him, you did not do much to reign him in when he was a mortal."

"I'd never want to restrict his movements. Not after all those awful things that happened to him," said Jaha. Nendas was finding her more grating by the moment, though he did not hate her.

"You are keeping him in a cage, Jaha," said Elranor. "Just because it isn't here does not change the reality."

"Well, yes, but the cage is of his imagining," said Jaha. "Once he accepts me and is one with me, he will be completely free. He is mine, after all."

"Yes," said Elranor. "However, Jaha, have you considered that Nendas might not be a follower after your own heart?"

"Of course, he is, Elranor," said Jaha. "He was my Avatar. The very fact that he survived the process proves he is mine." Resentment surged through Nendas, but it was not his own. Was anything his own, really? What was the benefit of being perpetually in the company of such beauty when you were a hawk?

Or was he just a cipher himself?

"Yes, however, that was years before," said Elranor. "You have said that it was a traumatic experience for him. One which led to his violent career as a soldier. Are you certain he belongs here?"

"Of course," said Jaha, now defensive as the wind howled through her. Her hair flowed around her. "Nendas belongs with me!"

"Yes, of course, he does," said Elranor, tone now long-suffering. "But, you've kept him here a long time, and that cage has not yet weakened. Now and then, you can let him out, but he always returns to the cage.

"Are you sure that he can become, well... worthy of you in this situation?"

"Nendas doesn't need to be worthy of me. I love him no matter who he is or what he does," said Jaha resolutely. What irritated Nendas was that she meant it.

He wished she'd let him go. Anywhere other than Tarasif would be fine by him. To become something other than what he was now would be all he wanted.

"I understand that, Jaha, but do you think he is very happy now?" asked Elranor.

Was Nendas happy?

It was a question he had never asked himself, and he didn't begin to know how to answer it. He'd always been distracted by some goal and had never thought beyond it. Revenge on Samrasa was done out of duty more than hatred.

"Nendas is mine, Elranor. He doesn't have a choice," said Jaha, and her voice was hard now. "No one will take him from me. I am his benefactor."

"Yes, I know," said Elranor. "However, wouldn't you prefer him to be happy serving you? Rather than in a state of perpetual, self-hating despair."

"He will be happy," said Jaha. "I've already seen his hatred and resentment die down. His despair will die soon, and he'll love me no matter how long I have to wait."

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"But perhaps it would be better to make it so you don't have to wait as long?" asked Elranor.

Jaha eyed him suspiciously. Finally, she sighed. "...Just what are you suggesting, Elranor? You keep acting as though I'm the unreasonable one. Samrasa was ruining Nendas and everyone around him. And Nendas would have ended up as bad as him if things had gone the way they ought to.

"He'd already gone mad and was alone and dying when I took him. I saved him and healed him. Just what do you want from me?"

"Give Nendas something to do," said Elranor. "He was a man of action in life and would be happier if he had some kind of responsibility to pursue on your behalf."

"But then he might try to escape me," said Jaha.

"Do you think he has enough will leave to disobey your order, Jaha?" asked Elranor. "And even if he does, all you'd have to do is call him back. As one of your avatars, you have a hold on his soul that is broken when you want it broken."

"But he might get hurt or become worse," said Jaha.

"Then, at the very least, when you bring him back, he will feel like he accomplished something," said Elranor. "That alone could help your relationship.

"In any case, I think he has largely healed from his spiritual and physical injuries. He now needs the chance to test them against something on your behalf."

Jaha looked at Nendas, and he met her gaze. Finally, she looked up. "...Alright, I'll let Nendas have some sort of responsibility.

"I'm sure he understands better now anyway." Then she looked to Nendas in the tree and was suddenly near. As she did, Nendas saw her tower above him. Her eyes stared down at him from above. "Nendas, I need you to obey my instructions. Will you do that?"

Nendas nodded. What other alternative did he have here?

"Good," said Jaha. "I want you to find your friend, Rokas, and guide him to the domain of Tamar. You know the way now, so it should be fine.

"But Nendas..."

Nendas looked at her.

"If you try to run away from me again, I'm not going to be able to let you out of the cage for a very long time," said Jaha. "I trust you, and if you betray my trust, I have to punish you." Nendas shivered. "Once you've arrived at that domain, observe what happens, then come right back.

"And um... be careful not to be seen by Tamar. She gets very violent, and I don't want you to get hurt. Did you get all that, Nendas?"

He nodded. Anything to get out, though not being able to gaze at her would be a downside.

"Good, now go by my will. I will guide you; just be sure to pay attention to it this time," said Jaha. "Don't betray my trust, or I shall be cross."

And she moved her hand and sent him flying away.

Nendas soared into the air, flapping his wings as he finally passed beyond the river. He soared over open fields of a far green country, gazing down on the changing dimensions. He saw to his left a dark castle at the edge of a black precipice.

Drawn toward it, he passed it and found himself in a realm of nothingness. And beyond, the gray realm of turmoil lay between all worlds. A light drew him on through the innumerable pathways of reality. Yet as he flew, a will set itself against him.

It was unlike any will he had felt before; it was there, yet not. But his flight slowed unless he fought beak and claw to keep pace. There was, within it, snarling malice of sorts. Yet as he moved forward, it got weakened. Soon he was going swift and sure, with only occasional feelings of opposition.

Yet he saw visions as he passed through the turmoil of things that were, had been, and had not come to pass. And chief among them was a blonde warrior, covered in the blood of his enemies. Villages were laid to waste in immense numbers; entire civilizations were cast down. The earth broke apart as Ancient Namina was cast down. Against him, all the world conspired, and all the world suffered and burned.

Nothing could stop him or slow his progress, only divert his implacable wrath for a while. And a name came now to Nendas.

Anoa the Bright.

Who was this shadow before the gods cringed back? Upon whom vast civilizations had been shattered in mere decades? How had he scarred the land and set the borders between heaven and hellfire? And why did Nendas see it now?

And, little by little, he perceived a pathway of reality, connecting his spirit to the creature. Was it his nature that he drew from it, conflicting with Jaha? Was it the nature of all humanity to be tied to this figure? Or was it himself?

Every action taken broke and created innumerable connections to innumerable people. Yet Anoa had severed and touched so many; it had changed everything. The world was reshaped in his image and that of his rivals. Or was it rather that he took on a form in the shape of things to come?

Had he created the world?

Or had the world created him?

The answer may be yes.

These half-delusional thoughts had no meaning that Nendas could decipher for himself. He wondered if he was not simply catching some part of the mind of greater power. One that even now looked through him as a lens.

It did not matter. Nendas had work to do.

Against all the horrors this monster could be summoned was sent only his reflection. The other mirrored the motions in an echo through reality as one acted. Action and counteraction conspired against one another, though neither one had met. And Nendas wondered if he was that reflection.

Perhaps that was why Jaha had accepted him.

The grayish abyss passed him by as he neared the world of mortals. And at last, he came before Rokas as he strode through the dimensions. Rokas halted as he saw him, and Nendas flew before him. It was good to see his friend again, though Nendas had not considered him at it before.

Perhaps his time with Jaha had not been a waste after all. As he flew before Rokas, Nendas felt joy in his heart welling up. Rokas halted and looked at him in surprise. "You...

"You are not an enemy, are you? You want me to follow you, then?"

Nendas tried to motion yes, and it must have gotten through.

"Lead on," said Rokas.

Nendas was guided and guided in turn. And things could become better after all.