Aldritch, Sulika, and Faeyra stood in the shop area of The Fancy Dryad. Aldritch and Faeyra leaned against the counter while Sulika sat on an empty display table across from them. There was a somewhat somber mood in the air, though it was muted by the sight of the almost seven-foot tall Aldritch sipping on a pint of chocolate milk.

Faeyra was thoroughly amused by the sight. She’d known hundreds of dwarves over her two centuries of life, and none of them would’ve ever been caught dead with a ‘child’s’ drink. But Aldritch didn’t seem to care. In fact, he’d actually turned down her first offer of a seventy-five-year-old, self-brewed, dark liquor in favor of said ‘child’s’ drink.

Sulika was still too upset to find amusement in the giant’s choice of drink. But the oddity of seeing a grown man so infatuated with chocolate milk, of all things, was keeping most of her thoughts at bay. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was something like culture shock? Regardless, she was thankful for his presence.

“We should get a cow,” Oakairo muttered.

“I don’t think that’s possible right now, my Lord. Funds aside, raising cattle requires a lot of time and effort, and for now, we have an abundance of neither.”

“No, I understand that. But just think about it- all the milk we can drink!”

“Sadly, I don’t think it quite works that way,” Aldritch replied, also disappointed by what he was saying. He’d always wanted a pet, but between his duties as a priest, his duty as a representative of the Dwarven nation, and the death of the known world. He’d never really gotten around to getting one… Maybe he should get a dog?

“You’re right, of course.” Oakairo sighed. “But one day, after I’ve gotten my powers back, I’m going to make us a cow that produces infinite milk- No! Infinite Chocolate milk. Won’t that be grand?”

Aldritch smiled at Oakairo’s enthusiasm. It was nice to hear joy in his lord’s voice again. It’d been a long time since either of them had cause to be joyful… Aldritch looked to Sulika and mentally devoted his next glass of Chocolaty goodness to her honor.

“So, what’re you going to do now?” Faeyra asked, bringing her own glass to her lips and taking a sip. The liquor was the same one she’d originally offered to Aldritch; a seventy-five-year-old honey and vanilla infused blend that made her toes curl with every sip. She wouldn’t normally take her time with liquor, since the burn wasn’t her favorite. But the current mood made her want to savor the little things… Even if it heated her insides more than she’d ever admit.

Sulika was holding her own drink on her lap and watching her reflection in the amber liquid. Faeyra had also offered her a glass of her brew, but Sulika wasn’t a fan of dark liquors. She’d much rather have ale, rum, or regular old beer. At least they didn’t leave her feeling like someone beat her brain in with a hammer the next day.

Sulika shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I guess I could start applying to other guilds in the morning. The commute’s going to suck, but what else can I do?”

Aldritch paused mid-drink and looked at Sulika. “Other guilds?”

“Right, sorry.” Sulika sighed. “While the only guild in Auris is the hunters guild, there are other guilds out there. There are two more on Azuris Island- the ‘Shadow’s Rage’ over in Ventihold, and the ‘Illusions of Devotion’ in Impercall. Both are small sized guilds, but at least they aren’t run by the government. Hopefully, that means I’ll be able to negotiate a more favorable contract with one of them.”

“The hunters guild is a government institution? I didn’t realize.” Aldritch replied, looking genuinely interested in the topic. This was the first time Sulika had seen such a look on Aldritch’s face, and she wasn’t sure how to deal with him staring at her so intently. It wasn’t that she felt an attraction to him… Well, she didn’t think she did, anyway. But she really didn’t enjoy being stared at.

“Yep, it is. Some form of the hunters guild exists on every island across the world. And they always exist as a branch of the local governance.” Faeyra said, drawing Aldritch’s attention away from Sulika- much to her friend’s relief. “Privately owned guilds also exist on almost every island, but aside from a handful of super large guilds, almost none have the resources or power to compete with the hunters guild.”

“Interesting… And what is required to start a guild?” Aldritch asked and went for another drink while he waited on an answer.

“Why? Thinking of starting your own?” Faeyra asked. Her face was smiling, but her voice told Aldritch she was merely humoring the question.

“Depends on what’s involved. I’d certainly rather work for myself than someone else.” Aldritch replied.

“You can probably forget it.” Sulika sighed. “Believe me, I’m with you on wanting to work for myself. But if it were just a matter of filling out a few forms, everyone would have their own guild. The problem comes from the gods.”

“The gods? What do they have to do with this?” Aldritch asked. He was aware of the existence of Iolara’s gods, but he knew next to nothing about them. But the concept of many gods wasn’t foreign to him; Mag Ársa had over a thousand gods at one time. Though most faded from their followers dying out, a few evolved or merged with other gods, as their follower’s beliefs changed. Though, in the end, even they faded into nonexistence after the world fell to ruin.

“That’s… Complicated.” Sulika said, showing clear unwillingness to get into such a lengthy topic tonight.

“The short version is quite simple, though.” Faeyra suggested. “You need a god to sponsor you in order to form a guild. And since you’re a returner, there’s a good chance no god will sponsor you creating a guild of your own. Now, if you were to apply to an existing guild- that’s a different story entirely. Returnees are usually snatched up as soon as Thaniea detects them. I can only assume the reason someone hasn’t already contacted you is because Azuris Island is about as far from ‘civilization’ as you can get.” Faeyra said, flashing Aldritch an amused grin. “We’re a bunch of hillbillies compared to the people on the main line.”

Aldritch looked like he wanted to ask what Faeyra meant by ‘main line,’ so Sulika cut him off before he could ask. “The main line is what we outlanders call the main bundle of Islands, which surrounds the home of the gods. Azuris Island is isolated. But the main line is connected by enchanted chains, which allow the islands to travel together, rather than separate entities.”

“How fascinating.” Aldritch mumbled. He tried to imagine the size of the chains necessary to hold entire islands together. What materials did they use? How were they anchored? Who forged the chains, and did they overlay the enchants with each fold of the metal, or did they come in afterwards and inscribe all the enchantments at once?

“I don’t see an issue with you forming a guild.” Oakairo said, drawing Aldritch’s mind back to the topic at hand.

“Could you sponsor the guild?” Aldritch asked. He’d been thinking it needed to be a god native to Iolara, but if that wasn’t the case… Wasn’t this the perfect situation?

“I don’t see why not. Ask them.”

“Can any god be a guild sponsor, or does it have to be a specific god?” Aldritch asked.

“As far as I’m aware, any god can sponsor a guild.” Sulika said while continuing to stare into her drink. She hadn’t taken so much as a sip since she got it, and it’d gone disappointingly flat. “There are no requirements of age, power level, or follower count. The only requirement is an ability to wield godly magic… Wait-” Sulika’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought about it before, but Aldritch was a Cleric- wasn’t he? And Clerics had to have the backing of a god. It was practically a law of the universe. Without a god, a Cleric couldn’t use their magic. “You’re a cleric.” Sulika whispered while looking straight at Aldritch.

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“I am.” Aldritch agreed.

“You are?” Faeyra asked and got a nod from Aldritch in return. “I’ve never heard of a returnee cleric before. Did you meet a god in the other world?”

Aldritch thought it over for a second before nodding. He’d known Oakairo for as long as he could remember, but she didn’t ask when he met his Lord. Only where.

“Did… Did the god follow you here?” Sulika asked. She was holding her glass in a white knuckled grip, and her heart rate nearly doubled. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, Hope? Fear? Regret? Nothing was clear, especially not after everything she’d been through recently.

Once upon a time, Sulika had sought a god and attempted to form her own guild, but of the two gods who even deigned to give her an audience, neither of them listened to her once they found out what she wanted. Would Aldritch’s God be the same? Would her desires continue to go unfulfilled, or would she know hope thanks to some unknown being?

“Yes.” Aldritch said after a few moments. “Would you like to meet my Lord?” He asked and looked between Sulika and Faeyra for confirmation. Tentatively, they both nodded. “Ready?”

“Of course, now… How did this work again?” Oakairo jokingly said. It’d been a long, long time since he’d last spoken to anyone other than Aldritch.

He only hoped they didn’t die; that would be wholly inconvenient.

Sulika and Faeyra’s breath caught in their throats as Aldritch’s entire being changed in the blink of an eye- literally. One second the giant Aldritch was standing before them with his dark red hair, bluish-gray skin, and a gentle smile- but the irresistible urge to blink overcame the two women, and when they opened their eyes, Aldritch was gone. In his place was an eight-foot-tall woman in a semi-transparent gown. Her body, while still curvy enough to be feminine, was covered in lean muscles designed for explosive movement. Waist length silver and gold hair sparkled beneath the store lights, and her incandescent lilac eyes watched the two women for their reaction. Like Aldritch, Oakairo’s pupils were serpentine… Unlike Aldritch, Oakairo’s pupils were silver, not black.

Oakairo looked down at their body and made a surprised noise. “How odd.”

Sulika and Faeyra stared at the living god standing before them. Their brains had short-circuited the moment an almost seven-foot-tall man turned into a somehow even taller woman. But the sound of her voice; deep, feminine, and… perfect had only pushed their minds further into a state of absolute panic- Oakairo coughed into their hand, and just like that, the two women came back to their senses.

“I apologize for that. It’s been a while since I manifested in front of someone other than Aldritch. I had to adjust my veil more than I first thought- again, you have my apologies.”

“You look different,” Aldritch said from deep within Oakairo’s mind.

“That’s to be expected. My form is tied to the beliefs of those who worship me, and right now, it's not just you anymore. Their belief is also affecting my appearance. Honestly, I would've been more surprised if I didn’t look different from what you’re used to.” Oakairo replied, only realizing after they’d spoken that the two women couldn’t hear Aldritch. “I wasn’t speaking to either of you.” Oakairo explained and tapped on the side of their head. “Aldritch is in here, just as I always exist inside his mind.”

Neither Sulika nor Faeyra knew how to respond to that, so they didn’t question it. “What’d he say?” Faeyra asked, desperately wanting to ask about a thousand questions, but not wanting to offend the God standing in her store.

“He mentioned my appearance has changed. He’s correct, of course. Though-” Oakairo twisted at the waist and looked down at their own backside. “I must say, I don’t actually mind the change.”

“Oh, I’m sure the change wasn’t all that drastic. Did you change your hair or… something?” Sulika asked while smiling nervously. She had the feeling if she didn’t say something- anything soon, her poor heart would give out.

“Technically, but I don’t think that’s what he was referring to. I didn’t used to look like a human.”

“Oh, that is pretty drastic. What were you, a dwarf?” Faeyra asked. She tried to picture the gorgeous woman standing before her in a horned helmet with a battle axe draped over one shoulder, a cocky grin on her face, and her body covered in the blood of her enemies… “Honestly- not bad.” Faeyra arched an eyebrow and looked Oakairo up and down.

“No. I was a seven-hundred-foot-long dragon.” Oakairo replied while cupping their breasts together and releasing them. They were somewhat enjoying the way their chest jiggled with every drop. Likewise, they were completely oblivious to the effect their words and actions were having on the two women standing in front of them… “Oh! That reminds me.” Oakairo exclaimed and stepped forward, crossing the distance between them and Sulika in a single step. Sulika flinched at the sudden movement but couldn’t find it in her to actually move away.

Oakairo lightly grabbed her hand and brought it to their lips. Their gold and silver hair fell to cover most of their face, save for a single eye that bored into Sulika’s soul. Sulika felt a crisp, cooling sensation penetrate her skin at the place Oakairo’s lips made contact. “You have the pleasure of standing before the apex of all races. My name is Oakairo; the Dragon God of Pride, Herald of Destruction, King of the Golden Mountain, and oldest of the Dragons of Chaos and Order. You have treated my high priest with compassion and shown him kindness when you didn’t have to. For that, you will have my eternal gratitude.”

With their piece said, Oakairo dropped a stupefied Sulika’s hand and moved to Faeyra’s side. “And as for you…” Oakairo said, their voice dropping to a level that made Faeyra weak in the knees- There was a sudden shift in the air around Faeyra. Before she realized it, Oakairo had been replaced by Aldritch, who looked on with an amused grin on his face. “Damn it, ran out of power.” Oakairo sighed. “Why does your magic resistance have to be so damn high? I could possess the last high priest for days on end, but with you, it's like trying to stop the flow of a river with a single spoon.”

“My Lord wishes to apologize for leaving so abruptly. But they ran out of power and had to relinquish control back to me... Sorry for interrupting your moment,” Aldritch said, still clearly amused by the sight of a red-faced Faeyra.

“No-uh-no worries.” Faeyra replied in a breathy voice. “I can see why you weren’t interested in my body before.” She muttered. But Faeyra didn’t sound disappointed, jealous or even envious. No, she was in absolute awe of Oakairo’s appearance.

“Actually, that was the first time I’d ever seen that form. I’ve always known Oakairo to have a male form, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised they could also have a feminine one. The divine dragons of Mag Ársa were supposed to be genderless beings, born from the very magics that created the world.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know I was the most attractive of all my siblings. Regardless of what form I take, I’m always perfect.” Oakairo huffed, their voice coming across the bond as pouty and unsatisfied to Aldritch… Not that he would ever say that to his Lord.

“So, do you think we’ll be able to form a guild as we are now?” Aldritch asked, ignoring Oakairo's grumbled protests.

“Well,” Sulika began while trying to get her mind back on track after Oakairo thoroughly derailed it. “I think we’ll need a few more people, but I don’t see why not? Once we have at least five people, we’ll just need to make a trip to the governor’s office and pay the seven gold creation fees.”

“Perfect! To the guild!” Aldritch laughed. He raised his glass of chocolate milk to the two women and downed the rest without waiting for them to respond.

Faeyra and Sulika glanced at each other, shrugged, then repeated his cheer and downed their own drinks in a single gulp. It wasn’t finalized yet, but maybe their future wasn’t as bleak as Sulika had feared? Besides, she had a pretty good idea where they could find a few more people to join them.

She would need to contact them about the possibility of signing on tomorrow after a trip to the hunters guild. The Guild Master was supposed to return from the main line tonight, so hopefully she could get a meeting with him tomorrow. If she was lucky, she could get to him before the Vice-Master’s letters reached his desk and hopefully save her teammates’ jobs. There was no hope for her. She understood that, but they shouldn’t be blamed for following orders. That way, even if they turn her down and refuse to join the new guild, they’ll still be taken care of…

Now, how to convince the Guild Master. That was the question.