Rocky got up and the two of them abandoned their tea. He took a few steps around in the small space and Gi followed. A section of rock jutted out in such a way that it hid a small alcove from the doorway. This too had a red curtain covering it.

Rocky pushed it aside and Gi's eyes lit up.

Enchanted steel purred against his Soul Senses. Everywhere he looked in the small space was packed with weapons and armor. Unfortunately, most of the weapons were swords, but there were a good dozen or so maces in there as well.

"It's beautiful. Where did you get all this?"

"A handful of them were from the Bazaar. We just happened to raid a few rival merchants while we were collecting our own things."

Gi laughed. "You probably saved it from being taken by the humans anyways."

"The rest came from the Sky Tier. The Toucans dropped us off there before the Fighting Drakes led us here. That's where the 'favored' merchants of Igna traded with the Sky Clans."

"Does that mean there's more?"

Rocky shook his head. "I convinced one of the Fighting Drakes to take me out to look, but the humans had wiped it clean."

"Shame, but at least they went to our allies."

"Our what?"

"Did I not mention that? I should get you up to speed, but before that..."

Gi pulled Rocky away from the curtain and then opened [Danna's Realm]. Like before, it mirrored her heaven with the gentle plains dotted with flowers and a gentle river in the background.

The image was mostly window dressing for his Skill, but Danna's essence pervaded the entire space and it made him miss her something fierce. They'd spent too long apart and not nearly enough time together.

A melancholy thought popped into his head.

Danna was a goddess now and like Noctua she would live as long as she had believers. Gi, on the other hand, would continue to reincarnate for eternity. They were now soulmates destined to be apart... unless he could step into godhood himself.

"How big is it?" Rocky's question helped Gi chase those thoughts away, but they only retreated to the corners of his mind. Now that he'd realized, that Pandora's Box couldn't be closed.

Rocky stepped inside and started pressing his hands along the edges of it to find the invisible barrier that hemmed it in.

"It's bigger than this this alcove easily! We could probably fit some our supplies in here as well!"

"So do you like the new Skill Evolution?" Gi asked, his somewhat forced excitement barely reaching his voice.

"It's amazing. It's really unfair that something like this didn't go to a Merchant Clan."

"Well, it's in your clan now?"

"Yes, yes. We're all Underbridge, I know. Anyways, let me grab some golems to help us move this across and maybe you could start breaking our situation down for me?"

"Of course."

Over the next few hours, Gi's space was stuffed to bursting, only leaving a little space leftover for the things that he'd brought back from Plutus.

He and Rocky sat down and he filled him in on everything that he knew so far - Veridia under attack, bringing the clan back together, and the Thousand Island Kingdom. Those were followed by the why and he explained further about the Old Gods and the threat they posed.

When he was finally done, Rocky leaned back with a heavy sigh. "I'm too old for this shit. Want something stiffer?"

Gi didn't particularly want to drink, but he figured with his Vitality that it wouldn't affect him anyways so he agreed. The two of them sat with their drinks and turned to lighter topics with Gi letting Rocky do most of the talking.

He'd always thought that Rocky and Poe were such good friends because Rocky didn't mind being talked at, but honestly, the Deft Golem was a good storyteller himself so perhaps he and Poe's relationship was different than he'd expected.

Eventually, they slept.

The next day, The Faithful were all ready to go, still staring daggers at Gi, but more importantly, the Fighting Drakes had come out of their mourning. Versha, again, came to Gi as their representative.

Our Souls have wept until our bodies were but husks. Reborn anew, we stand prepared for Noctua's final task.

Gi bowed in the Sign of the Mother. "The burden will be heavy, but I thank you for your assistance. Noctua Dominus has two wishes of you.

"The first is to assist me with defeating the Demon Empire. There are troubles beyond our world that I am uniquely suited to help with and the gods wish you to guide me to them."

Versha gave a single nod. The God Stage. We will provide our full might in this endeavor. And the second desire of our god?

"He... wishes you to forget him. Cease your worships and prayers. Never speak his name. Let the generations of Fighting Drakes that come after you never know of his existence so that when the last of you dies, Noctua may fade into non-existence."

Versha looked pained and another wailing of their mourning song echoed in the back before a growl from Versha cut it off. The time for mourning is finished. We've resolved ourselves to the task laid out by Noctua Dominus.

Gi watched Versha glare at the other Fighting Drakes who all were in some state of attempting to steady their emotions. They were preparing themselves to do as Gi wished, few questions asked.

"I'm shouldn't ask this, but... why do you believe me? What if I was lying to use you?"

At this, Versha chuckled. We've long had theories on the silence of No... of our former god. This task you've provided us was one of those. The Queen didn't want to believe it, but she also didn't have any other ideas for his silence and she was the closest to Him.

"So just because it aligns with what you've already thought?"

That and the messenger. Versha motioned a claw towards Gi. You bested our Queen and we all saw you pass beyond the veil. Your fate has tangled with ours in a way that we must follow. If you say it as one that has returned from the beyond, we will believe you.

Gi had known they were a religious and knowledgeable group, but he hadn't expected the reaction that his battle with the Queen would have among them. Even with his mind as clear as it was now, he thought that he would hate them if their roles were reversed.

"I am honored to share my fate with you," Gi said, again bowing with the Sign of the Mother.

As are we with you. Now, let us speak of our next steps.

****

Tiria marched eastward with Chum and Orchid beside her. It had been a whirlwind since Gi's resurrection. Poe had shown her the map where Georgia was and they'd met with Nori who would eagerly welcome any who would resist the Demon Empire.

With Poe rushing off to gather Kumo and Tiria heading to Georgia, they were soon to all be together again.

She felt relief, but with the burden of Gi's resurrection finally dropped. She didn't feel happiness.

Chum eyed her warily as they walked.

"I'm okay," Tiria said for what felt like the hundredth time.

"I know," Chum said, but it didn't sound believable to her.

"Then why do you keep looking at me like that?"

He sighed. He checked that the shoreline and the hills to the north were clear before pulling her to a halt. "Orchid, could you give us a moment?"

Oh, you wish to procreate?

"That's no-"

Very well. I shall go find a spot to pray.

Orchid wandered off, leaving a very embarrassed looking Chum behind. "We're alone now. What is it?"

"It's just... you're too responsible."

"I'm too... responsible?"

"Yes," Chum said, pacing back and forth. "While Gi was here, you took on all the burdens of the clan. After his death, you took it upon yourself to bring him back even when you realized that you weren't strong enough... or that you might have to do things that you didn't like."

"Like killing the demons?"

Chum shook his head. "No. I mean, yes, but that was an easy burden. You've fought before. It was just one step further to slaughter them for power. I don't think you'd be as troubled by that as you seem."

Chum was far too observant for his own good, but she supposed if she couldn't talk about it with him. Who could she? "Gi's mirror. The human."

"Yes. I think killing him the way you did has put a lot of guilt in your heart - a responsibility for your actions."

"But he was a human!"

"Are you saying that to justify it or to question why you're feeling guilty?"

"I-," Tiria's tail flicked back and forth. "I don't know. I do feel guilty. Samba was so... broken afterwards and the human's family. I just... I just keep imagining what if the roles were reversed. What if I was forced to watch Samba kill you?"

Chum stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. She still wasn't quite comfortable with their recent affection, but being enveloped by him made her feel... loved. Not alone.

She squeezed him tightly. "Is this where you offer me some wise words of wisdom to make me feel better?"

"I would if I had any. I don't think I'm strong enough to make the kind of choices that you have and I'm definitely not strong enough to live with the consequences afterwards, but I might be strong enough to help relieve some of that burden from you. I just wanted you to know that you're not alone."

"Thanks... that does help actually."

It didn't get rid of the guilt she felt. In some ways, it made it worse, knowing she could have what she so callously stripped away, but there was something to having Chum here.

It was steadying and that's exactly what she'd need for the war ahead.