“Repentance is impossible for the ones that run! Repentance is impossible for the ones that run!” Nebli was nearly screaming the words, sobbing and fighting.

Then, in a moment, there was complete darkness—and silence. Mernia felt something pull Nebli away from her before she could figure out what was happening. In a blink, she was back to the streets of Istrus.

They weren’t exactly like the ones from before; that not-blood was nowhere to be seen now. But it was still quiet—far too quiet for it to mean it was real. Mernia walked around cautiously, deciding against calling for Nebli. She had a feeling that she didn’t want to be drawing attention to herself here.

She started to hear faint requests or praises, cried up to the heavens for whoever might listen; a kind of dedication near impossible to come across nowadays, to a completely foreign god.

It was a name that was never supposed to be said.

Mernia started heading in that direction, preparing herself for whatever she’d end up seeing there. As she got closer, each person’s voice became a bit more distinct. When she was able to see the gathered crowd, it looked like it was everyone in Istrus, packed together to get closer to whatever they saw in the center. She wasn’t close enough to it to tell what it was for herself yet.

“Oh, Father —, you are a mighty one indeed!”

“Father, guide us, and show us the world that you have planned.”

“Help those of us who don’t understand.”

“Grant us your wisdom and power!”

“Hail our Father, our creator.”

“Hail our Father, the cleanser of our tainted lands!”

She must’ve been the only one that wasn’t saying anything, even if she saw a few familiar faces that, realistically, wouldn’t have either.

Then again, everyone else showed taintings of this place; though the not-blood wasn’t present, most of their eyes were empty hollows, and many of them had blood on them.

Eventually, Mernia shouldered her way through the crowd to see what was at the center. She was only half-surprised and mildly disturbed by what she ended up seeing there.

The Fallen One, taller than he’d been before though perhaps not by much, sat on an elaborate throne-of-sorts; a throne made of gold, looking like it had begun to deform slightly before it cooled and dried. Several children were seated around him, staring up at him and intently waiting for whatever his next words would be. Nebli was on his lap, recounting something with a bright smile and cheerful tone.

“The traitor went snap under the weight!” she was saying as Mernia got close enough to pick her voice up among the others. “He cried, but I told him traitors didn’t have the right to cry, ‘cause they were the ones that decided to be bad. I think he learned his lesson. He’s not going to do anything to anyone anymore.”

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The Fallen One let out an amused laugh. “That’s a good story, indeed, my little Nebli. I’m quite proud of you.”

She beamed at the praise, then frowned when she noticed Mernia. “Oh, you’re back already.”

“I’m done with whatever this is,” Mernia remarked. “All this weird crap—what it looks like he’s doing to those people. I don’t want to stay here and I’m not going to leave without you.”

The Fallen One sighed. “You’re awfully persistent, for a rude, uninvited guest.”

“We can’t blame her,” Nebli said casually. “She doesn’t understand.”

“I understand this well enough.” Mernia tried reaching for Nebli again, but all the heads snapped to glare at her, and she had the feeling they wouldn’t stay still if she didn’t do the same. She just had to try to use her words. “Nebli, I don’t know what you’re seeing, but it’s not real. Whatever this is, it’s not what you think it is.”

Nebli shook her head. “You might be right, this isn’t real—but it’s going to be. One day, the world will be just like this.”

“A chaotic hellscape?”

“A sanctuary—for all of our Father’s faithful children. We will leave in peace, in a land where everyone will acknowledge Father’s gifts for us. It will cleanse our nation of its past sins and the transgressions of the ‘Heralds.’ Most importantly, we’ll be together with Father, forever…”

The Fallen One pulled her a little closer and, mournfully, mumbled in a not-so-quiet voice, “There’s no use, little Nebli. She wouldn’t be able to understand it, even if she tried. She isn’t one of my children—she’d never be able to have or grasp the kinds of things I have planned for you.”

“Oh, but I definitely will, won’t I?” Nebli asked. She must not have noticed the shadowy tendrils coming out from under the Fallen One’s throne and the crowd’s feet.

“Yes, of course. You and all your family. After all, you’ve all been chosen by the gryphons. You will be a part of greatness.”

The tendrils moved closer to Mernia, but she couldn’t will herself to get away from them. She continued to watch the Fallen One and Nebli, somehow certain of the fact that there was nowhere she could possibly run to now.

“Do you think I’m going to be the greatest?” Nebli asked. “Will I be your vessel, so that you can return to the world you were wrongfully banished from?”

“I appreciate your enthusiasm, but Caeso has another picked out for me. As I understand it, he’s practically perfect for all of our needs—though you’ll be a close second, I’m sure.”

“Will I get to meet him, then? I want to be a part of this perfect world’s creation!”

“I believe you will. By the end of his training as my vessel, everyone will surely know who he is. When you meet him, let him know what you saw here. He needs to understand the importance of his role.”

“Can you tell me his name? Or what he looks like?”

The shadows shot out and pierced Mernia from all directions. She could feel the pain, but… her mind was already blank, completely indifferent to the possible death it was supposed to be experiencing.

Her vision blurred and faded just as the Fallen One said, “His name is Emeron. As for his appearance… you’ll know, when you see him. Remember that not all of my children readily accept the fact. Make sure he understands it, without being too mean—after all, at the end of the day, he is still your brother.”

“As you will it, Father.”