Whirlwinds scoured the open rocks all around the bleak mountaintop. There was no living thing in sight for all far as the eye could see, the terrain nothing but jagged stone and treacherous ice. In the darkness the only light came from the moon up above in the blackened night sky. Swirling in the air the huge snowflakes battered the landscape and negated vision almost completely. A full on winter mountain blizzard was raging uninhabited across the dismal local. Nothing could survive here and no living creature would ever venture to this terrible place. The temperature was so low that the snow froze into slick ice almost instantaneously, making the very ground itself an all encompassing hazard to one's very life.

None of this was true for me of course. As a goddess the cold never bothered me anyway. The swirling blizzard and howling winds also had no effect on my footing, nor would a tumble into frozen rocks harm me in any major way. I simply stood there among the battering of nature's fury deep in thought. In my left hand I was clutching a large crystal, inside which was the body of Miya.

For the last month I had been keeping to myself, isolating away from the rest of the world and only interacting with the village of Doovlin in any capacity. Yes I was answering prayers for my far away worshipers but not nearly as much as before. As time went on it became obvious that news of me has been spreading far and wide. There are worshipers popping up all over my map in locations as far away as the capital itself. There really had to be a better way to do this prayer answering thing.

That had been one of the topics of my thoughts in the last month, all the while sequestering myself into the wilderness. The time had been spent deep in thought and meditation, pondering several things and trying to sort through all that's happened. To better plan my next step of course! I was entering into unknown territory and the better the plan moving forward the more likely it would be for things to work out.

Deep within myself I had spent much of this time brooding within the great library of memories, sorting through them and trying to piece together more of what I knew. Sadly even though I remembered quite a lot of knowledge from my previous life what exactly I was still completely eluded me. Its not that my sense of self was damaged or anything, its just my image of what I had no representation in my memories.

I knew I was an adult back then, at least I knew that much for certain. But had I been a man? A woman? Something else entirely? For sure I had been a human as I have no memories of other species, those sorts of non human races only being fiction. Everything was still so foggy and it made me wonder if it mattered at all.

This conundrum made it embarrassing to speak to Miya about it as she was extremely curious about my past life. She still wasn't allowed in my mind palace but the little I told her about my other life made her hungry for more. I had originally feared she would see me as less as a goddess once she knew I had been nothing but a human before, but instead it only made her more fervent in placing me up on a pedestal. She said that the fact I became a goddess proved my life as a human clearly allowed me to earn such a right.

No one else could ever know of course. Not like Miya was in any position to spread the news anyway. That of course ties into the other major problem facing me and the topic of much of my brooding. There was an entire kingdom out there that was rapidly hearing about me and reactions from the royals was beginning to come to a head it seemed. After all my thinking and plotting of likely scenarios and outcomes the path forward seemed clear: I have to go to the capital and meet the king.

Thankfully the training of my new three guardians had been going well, as it was one of the few things I came down from the mountain to do during this time. Thanks to my memories I had been able to give them a comprehensive if not basic education in swordplay and the like. The ability to plan for and deal with the effects of many types of magic had also been something I tried to help them with as well, though sort of launching magic at them myself there wasn't much practical training available. In the end to continue their training I had sent for an actual military instructor from the big city to come and educate them.

My own training had been ongoing during this time as well. Far be it from me to waste my own latent potential, lest the oncoming events threaten to overwhelm me. No. I would overcome them! Who knew what kinds of threats would face me and my worshipers as the wider world became aware of my existence. What if there were other goddesses out there I would have to negotiate with or even fight? Also there could be all manner of monsters lurking in the dark corners of the world I would need to dispatch. Thus I had spent a great deal of time honing my use of magic, which at this point bordered on reality manipulation. Even from great distances I could do quite a lot in the areas surrounding my worshipers.

The biggest factor in the future of my goddesshood depended heavily on my own metal fortitude. That is why I stood on this bleak mountaintop tonight. Here deep in the Henjuk Mountains I came to face my past traumas and mistakes. I will put Miya's body to rest here where it will be safe and finally put behind me my biggest failure in this world. No more would I hide myself away from the world. It was time to move on.

"Jenna?"

Miya's voice came from inside me and snapped me out of my deep thoughts.

"Yes Miya? What is it?" I replied in thought.

My hand clenched around the crystal containing her body. It had been surprisingly easy to get used to having her inside my head, though holding her body while speaking to her was still a bit crazy. Thankfully she had seemed to get used to the situation pretty well herself.

"You know I don't blame you for my death right?" she continued. "I know you feel guilty about it and well... I think coming here to bury me is very sweet."

I let out a soft sigh. "I'm aware Miya. Thank you. This place is going to keep your body completely safe while I find a way to put you back in it. As you know I'm going to go out into the kingdom and meet the king very soon."

Miya's voice was very excited. "Its going to be so amazing! You really do deserve to have the entire kingdom worshiping you Jenna! No the entire world!"

"We'll see about that" I thought back with a smile. "Now give me a moment of quiet. I need to focus on this."

At my request she quieted down and I began to focus. This bare mountaintop wasn't going to be a place I just dumped her body and left oh no. There was going to be a proper burial site. So to this end I closed my eyes and began to envision a large crypt for her hewn from the mountain stone.

Reaching out my hands through the whirling snow I began my work. There deep in the darkness the ground began to move, the mana I pumped into it forcing the shapes I imagined to form by my will.

First the four walls sprung froth from the earth, each etched with images of Miya as she had lived her life as an epitaph of imagery. The tops of these walls flattened for a tented roof to settle, its four sides slanted into a elongated pyramid. This structure measured in feet was twenty tall, twelve wide, and thirty long.

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To finish the structure I had the front chiseled into an elegant double door that swung outward. On it was engraved my symbol and a warning written to anyone who might actually find it. Then as a finishing touch I added several ornate crosses to it: one on each end of the roof and one in the very middle of the back. Inside I had made sure to have places for wall torches and left a large slab for placing the crystal on like would would the body.

My work complete I lowered my hands and opened my eyes. Looking down upon it wasn't anything extremely extravagant, though it would have been quite fancy for any graveyard in my previous world. With a thought I asked Miya to give her opinion on it.

"That's so beautiful!" Miya said up to me in awe. "To think someone like me would deserve such a tomb. It looks like something fit for royalty!"

"I'm glad you think so" I thought back. "Now I'll put your body to rest and head back down to the village."

Crouching down onto my knees normally made a thundering boom that could be heard for a mile. Up here on the storming mountaintop however the sound was drowned out by the howling wind. It was both comforting and concerning that even a goddess like I was little compared to the power of this planet. At least for now.

Once I was kneeling down I carefully used a finger to poke open the doors of the crypt. Then I took the crystal between two fingers and reached inside, gently placing it on top of the stone slab. The torches inside were then lit with permanent fire. Their blazing yellow glow keeping the inside warm in tribute to who was contained within.

After this was complete I removed my fingers and closed the doors, the glow of the flames barely visible in the cracks between the door and its surrounding structure. Perhaps if anyone was to stumble upon this place the light of the fire and its warmth would remind them that hope exists even in the most remote places.

"Its time to go now" I said aloud. "Miya you will be revived. I swear to take this role as goddess more seriously than I had before."

---------------

The walk down the mountain saw me in a much better mood. It was as if the light inside me had been dimmed since Miya's death and only now had it begun to shine as brightly as before again. Inside me was bursting hope and excitement for the future, a joy that almost seemed to be fed from somewhere else besides myself. A gleaming smile was upon my face, something that hadn't graced the world for quite awhile.

It seemed like only a moment before I had reached Doovlin, the walk through the snow covered forest made light by conversation with my internal passenger. I'd have to let Miya into my mind palace eventually and I was thinking that time might be sooner rather than later. It did of course take actual time to walk all the way there, perhaps a couple hours, and I decided to stop and wait for daybreak before approaching the village.

Once the sun began to rise and I had made it to the edge of the village I stopped outside its wall. My thundering footsteps finally ceasing. They had been echoing across the silent winter world and most of the trees in the immediate area had the snow shaken off of their branches by the quakes. My winter coat had also brushed some of the trees on the walk, though of course I didn't need either it nor my large fur hat.

"Hello everyone!" I said cheerily. "I'm back with an important message!"

The happiness in my voice was picked up by the villagers and those that could gathered by the wall on the inside of the village. They weren't scared of my massive feet of course but since I had purposefully left the wall between them and my boots they saw no need to circumvent that courtesy.

Thankfully my three guardians were among those in the forefront of those gathered. Jackson, Elentra, and Duncan all there with their gear still equipped. Though of course the suit would be hidden under their winter clothing.

I addressed them specifically with a small wave. "Hello my guardians! I hope you're training has been going well and that you've been keeping up with it everyday."

Duncan stepped forward and bowed. "Yes goddess! Thank you again for trusting us with such an important task."

"No thank you" I replied with a nod.

Then after crossing my arms I looked out over the gathered villagers. It was still pretty early in the morning and their breath could be seen in the air as they tried to warm up. Some of them probably hadn't had breakfast yet either.

"I'm sorry for bringing you out here so early in the morning" I continued. "This will only take a moment and then you can return to your homes. As you're aware I kinda can't help being large and noticeable wherever I go. Because of this it seems I have worshipers all over the kingdom now."

There were murmurs of excitement from the villagers. This was good news for them as in their eyes I deserved it. They weren't thinking of the wider implications however.

Jackson then spoke up. "That's wonderful news goddess! Though I suppose you're telling us because of some negative associated with this good?"

At least this old innkeeper had a head on his shoulders. It took a few moments for me to formulate my thoughts to better address his question and my point.

I nodded. "Yes indeed. You all may not realize it yet, but as the number of worshipers I have grows so do my responsibilities to them. You've already experienced me being away for short periods of time." I let out a sigh. "However in the near future I'll be spending even longer times away from ya'll."

Now they villagers were getting upset and worried, voicing their protests and concerns to me. I simply raised one of my hands to silence them before returning it to my chest and continuing my speech.

"I'm well aware of your concerns alright? Not to worry as I'll still be answering your prayers and protecting you. It is however impossible for me to ignore the wider world any longer. Whether you or me like it or not I'm already known across the entire kingdom! There is a responsibility for me to travel the kingdom and help everyone who would devote themselves to me! Not to mention the fact I'm out of the loop in regards to the greater political landscape puts me at a huge disadvantage in world events!"

There was more speaking among the villagers as the validity of my points sunk in and were ruminated over. What I spoke was truth, as bitter as it was to swallow. No one was denying that I would need to spend large amounts of time away from the village now, and the thought of missing me greatly weighed on their hearts.

It was Jackson who spoke again. He had become the sort of defacto leader of my guardians as well as the village due to the fact he had been so previously anyway.

"Of course goddess we know you're not abandoning us. Its clear that your other worshipers need your blessings and assistance as well. Its just that you can understand it still saddens us to think about you being away from us for long."

I smiled and put my hands on my hips, trying to cheer them up with my body language.

"Don't think of this as a goodbye silly people! This is just your goddess gaining even more power and recognition. Doovlin is still where it all started and what I consider to be my holy place." I then waved my left finger at them. "Don't you dare think I don't have plans for it! In fact the temple in the mountains where I first came to this world at is going to be rebuilt and I'm trusting ya'll to keep it safe for me."

There was met with a very positive reaction from the crowd. Their fears of abandonment were eased and they felt both they and their village were important to me. Rightfully so as of course as they were! This village is the place I feel safest and the people here needed to know it mattered.

With a light laugh I posed again with my hands on my hips. The excitement for the future bubbling up from deep inside my soul. The joy I was feeling radiated from my brightly glowing hair and warmed the very air around me like a balmy wind. All the snow around my feet had melted and the villagers felt the heat of the summer sun beam down upon them.

"Well then without further ado I must be off! I trust the safety of my temple to you the people of Doovlin. Today I'm going to meet the king!"

The villagers all cheered loudly, clapping for me as I turned away. My own excitement infecting them as they celebrated their guardian deity's ascension. They were now fully aware of the part they played in that and felt the gratitude of their goddess.

To the east I set my gaze, the capital city of the entire kingdom of Celuduun awaiting me. The city of Norlov was its name. There were already a few worshipers within its walls, perhaps they heard from a traveling merchant or something. It would be simple to teleport over there of course, thought I felt it would be more pertinent to walk all the way there. It would probably take at least a day for even me to get over there, perhaps longer. The distance was a couple hundred miles at least and walking meant that every single town and village along the way would be made overtly aware of my existence.

The people of Celuduun were about to have their entire world changed by my arrival. Ready or not here I come!