Wurn was gone.
The blood, the mess. It was all gone. The only thing that remained was the purple jacket on the floor.
Arlo pointed at the jacket, “It’s yours.”
Trent sat down on the floor. He looked exhausted. We all did.
I half crawled, half scooted over to where Trent had collapsed.
Rix was laying on her back with her arms stretched out a few feet away. Arlo was the only one standing.
“I don’t want it.” Trent shook his head as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, “You can have it.”
Arlo looked stunned. “That’s not how this is supposed to work…” He swallowed, “You’re not supposed to be a…”
“Godmaker?” Trent finished for him. “Do you know why?”
“Because if a city had been Desolated, then having a weak God take over would just invite it to be Desolated again.” Arlo sounded like he was quoting from something.
“So don’t tell anyone you took it.” Trent stood up and brushed his robe off, “Go back to Tres and let Celia set up a base here. Work out something with her to farm the dungeon extensively, and then when you’re high enough, come back.”
“I thought the Gods weren’t supposed to leave their cities for long.” I still didn’t feel like standing up was a good idea. I was barely managing to sit up.
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“The other Gods can view it as an invasion.” Trent looked at Arlo, “I doubt your father will see it that way.” He nodded at the jacket. “The only way we’re getting out of here is if someone puts on that Mantle…” He pointed at Rix and something invisible pressed her against the floor, “No!” The white-haired man looked at Arlo, “The only other option is for one of them to put it on and you know how fast Slece will be up here to wipe them out if they do.”
“Wait…” My head was finally starting to clear up. “I get why Arlo or I could put that on, but wouldn’t you or Rix just be like when Aryne put it on?”
“The Mantle can be put on by both Gods AND Heroes.” Arlo glanced at Rix, “There are a couple cities that have Heroes who have given up fighting running them.”
“Okay… did not know that.” I looked at Trent, “Does that mean you’re a Hero too?”
Trent closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “No, Atlas, I’m not a Hero.”
“You’re a GOD”???” I felt dizzy.
“No, I’m not a God either.” My Teacher glared at Arlo.
“He’s a Gibborim.” The other man continued to reveal his uncle’s secrets.
Trent just nodded.
“What’s that?” I looked over at Rix. She seemed perfectly content to lay pinned to the ground. Or maybe that was just how tired she was.
After a long pause Arlo spoke, “Gods sometimes have kids with other Gods, but most of the time, it happens with Adventurers.” The blonde man looked at me, “Those half-Gods are referred to as Nephilim and most of the time have that class line or…” He looked at Rix, “A new Sugaru line gets started.”
“Wait, is that..?”
Arlo motioned at Trent, who sighed.
“We don’t know who Rix’s parents are, but from what I can tell her mother wasn’t a God.” Trent let out the breath he’d been holding, “Very rarely a God has a child with a Mundane. When that happens the child is called a Gibborim as a slang term.” He pointed at himself with his thumb, “Which is what I am.”