I watched Calden sleep for a moment or two more, and my smile faded to neutral. To think all he wanted was to help these people rebuild their homes after a living calamity attacked, and this is the reward he gets.

I heard a little sniffle behind me, and found Ysdra standing there with her hands clasped and head bowed–which was surprising since Silvia stopped everyone else from approaching. “Umm. Anon? Is he going to be okay? L–last time you did something amazing… L–like the whole world went… Whoosh! B–but this time…”

She trailed off and Carmella picked up for her. “All you did was call his name.”

Silvia stepped up to Carmella as if they were a couple of pro fighters squaring up before a match. “You doubt Boss? You would question Master?”

The mage shrunk back, threw me a pleading look and said. “I meant no disrespect! I–I just–”

Silvia reached for her throat. Her claw-like fingernails were ready to rend so I stopped her with a quick barrier, and tutted. “Now, now, Silvia. Not everyone is as trusting of me as you, and that’s okay.”

She whipped her head around so fast I thought it’d fly off. “B–but–”

I calmly shook my head, like a parent scolding an over-eager child. “All they’re guilty of is trying to understand. And the reason they asked was because they were worried. And they’re worried because they care, and caring is a good thing, therefore, they haven’t done anything wrong.” Silvia backed down, and I turned to look at Carmella and Ysdra. “But to answer your question. It didn’t look like I did anything because I didn’t need to. Calden already has the power to heal, so all I needed to do was get him to use it on himself–since I don’t think he realized he could.”

Ysdra blinked and glanced back at the older magus. “So…?”

“It means nothing appeared to happen because no power actually left Lord Calden’s body, milady.”

“Oooohh!” She watched her friend expectantly, but he remained still, save for his steady breathing. “But if he’s okay, why isn’t he waking up?”

I brushed some of her unruly blonde hair from out of her face, and tilted my head while pressing a thumb to my lips. “Hmm. How do I put this? He’s come a hair’s breadth from death once before, so this time his soul remembered where it was supposed to go, so it fled his body faster than it would normally… Which also means it’ll need more time to come back too.”

I’m not joking either! I swear I could see heaven’s gates when I called out to him… And he turned away from his mom’s embrace to come back too… What a strong boy.

“But that’s enough about that.” I looked between Ygvarge and Carmella. “Can one of you tell me what happened to get Calden into this state again?”

Carmella cringed, clasped her injured arm, and frowned. “I–I um… I went to find Lord Calden after I confirmed the presence and use of the observation ability you granted me…” She looked away. “I wanted to see if I could learn anything about you through the power you granted him, but I only ended up with more questions, and the realization that there were assassins targeting him.”

Holy. Okay. Wow. There’s a lot to unpack there. I gave her the observation ability? Me? I knew she was seeking answers, but didn’t notice they were about me though… And didn’t Alder-Craig say something along the line of observers being blessed by– Nope. Nuh-uh. Not continuing that thought. Back to reality.

“I see. And then?”

She gulped. “I–found two assassins, and moved to protect him, but… Ah, this is so humiliating… my wand got caught in my pocket and I fumbled it, giving the closer one time to strike while the other attacked me.”

Wow. She’s really got no luck with that thing does she?

Ygvarge stepped forward, a hand on his bandaged side. “I was rushing to find them, as I’m faster than a horse, and word had just arrived from Ariadhole that the assassins you captured escaped custody. I tried to defend Lady Carmella, but the one that uses shadows outmaneuvered us and we were both injured.”

That’s some good timing! By the sound of it they’d both have died if you hadn’t shown up.

Then Count Linus, stoic as ever, offered. “Word likely would have arrived sooner but the magic message had trouble getting through the dense mana released from your fight with Gretkarn.”

I kept my face neutral, but I really wanted to scream at my own incompetence. So it’s really, really, totally and undeniably my fault!! Not only did I forget to tell them what I knew, but I also inadvertently blocked their only other recourse!

Griswold bowed. “Forgive my liege, magnanimous Anon, we don’t mean to insinuate that it was your fault, but it is fact that your mana is supremely overwhelming when compared to what we are capable of.”

What? Did my face give it away? But no, you have every right to blame me! I screwed the metaphorical pooch and burnt down the dog house for good measure!

I sighed. “Well, everyone survived so that’s all that really matters.”

Ymir’s muffled voice burst up from the floor. “I agree completely, great one! However, if I may be so bold. Who is your companion?”

I barely managed to keep from facepalming as everyone else started eying me and the bird lady.

Ysdra clapped. “Yeah! She’s really pretty, and strong too! Where did you meet?”

Silvia leaned forward to admire Ysdra’s glowing face, then patted her head. “You have good eyes, large chick.”

Well, ya see, little girl, I found her head stuffed and mounted to the wall of–

My thoughts went in a funny direction, but Carmella answered the question by questioning me further. “Is she the giant owl that appeared at the end of the fight with Gretkarn? The one that carried you off?”

I smiled. “So you saw that, did you? Yes, that’s her.”

Ysdra hugged Silvia. “Then you’re extra amazing! To be able to change your shape like Uncle Barigg and fight at the same level as Anon, too! Just incredible!”

Silvia blinked in confusion at the sudden embrace, then peeled the excited torathan off her and stared steadily into her eyes. “Your repeated praise is enjoyable. Silvia hasn’t been praised before. But Silvia isn’t able to fight at the same level as Master.”

Carmella interjected. “Really? From what I saw your attacks were fierce enough to end the fight with Gretkarn when Anon couldn’t.”

I sensed that Silvia was about to lunge at Carmella, so I plopped a hand onto her shoulder. “Easy. We’re among friends.”

She relaxed, clutched my hand like it was the most precious thing in the world and muttered. “Boss was tired from helping. Weakened from making. No one can rival Master. Nothing is greater than Boss.”

I cringed internally at her words and the implications they held for me, as for the others, Ysdra seemed impressed, Ymir shouted his agreement, Griswold, the Count, and Ymir appeared skeptical, and Carmella was, well, shocked.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

But what I wanna know is how she knew I was tired from helping others, and the details of what she meant by I’m weakened from making? Uriel? System? Any ideas?

To my surprise they both remained silent.

I thought for sure I’d get something after seeing how talkative the system had become lately, but not even Uriel’s giving me a tip here so this really has to be something big… Which means it’s something I don’t really wanna know right now.

“Alright, I think we’ve burdened you all enough for one day, so to make it up to you I’m going to go see if I can’t help streamline the reconstruction of this city. Toodles!”

Shifted steps.

#

Anon and Silvia vanished in a flash, every bit as abruptly as they’d appeared.

Ysdra frowned. “Aww. They’re gone already?” Then she stalked over to her still bowing brother and lightly kicked his head with her boot. “Come on! Get up! Calden’s better so we need to get back to helping people! There were only a few hundred left before Calden got hurt, and I don’t want Anon to have to do anymore work!”

Ymir obediently snapped to his feet in a single fluid motion, and uttered nary a word or complaint at her attitude or treatment of him as he followed her toward the door.

Before she could go, the Count called. “H–hold on, Ysdra.”

She froze at the sudden weakness in her father’s usually commanding voice, and hesitantly asked. “What is it?”

Both Griswold and Ygvarge moved to support Linus as his pale face faded a touch further. “Just now, when Anon was still in the room, what, or rather who, did you see when you looked at them?”

“Huh? That’s it?” She giggled. “Father, did you not know that their appearance changes? Calden thinks that you’ll see who you want, or need, to see the most reflected in Anon. I’ve seen them as Mother for a while now, though when we first met I mistook them for a legendary white torathan.”

The Count took the handkerchief Griswold offered and dabbed the cold sweat from his brow. “I–I see. So I wasn’t hallucinating. That being gets more and more dangerous the more I learn.” He clenched a fist. “But to profane the dead so brazenly! To taunt and torment the living with those who have passed! It’s–”

“Father! Really?” Ysdra crossed her arms and glared at him. “Profane? Torment? Taunt? You should know by now that Anon isn’t like that! I get that your position forces you to remain wary, but they’ve only ever helped us, and don’t pretend that you weren’t happy to see and hear Mother again!”

He lowered his head, and tugged free of Griswold and Ygvarge. “Even if her voice was used to speak another’s words? Even if her face was worn by a stranger–even a benevolent one?”

Her face fell, and she walked over and took his hand in hers. She swallowed the lump building in her throat. “I told you what Calden thinks, but I… I think they appear that way to give us just a little more time with those we’ve lost… T–to remind us that they’re not so far away. That they’re still here with us.”

He knelt, wrapped her tight, and rested his head on her shoulder. “Then I’ll have to tell Anon I won’t need them to show me her again, because I get to see her whenever I look at you.”

A few feet away, Carmella stood stock still, completely oblivious to everything around her, a single line of thought dominating her mind. Anon can grant abilities and blessings, block investigations into their nature, wield incredible power with ease, see the soul, destroy blight, and return from death. They claim to be very old and have crossed many different worlds. Calden thinks they’re an angel of the Creator God… But if what that Silvia creature just said is true… A chill raced down her spine. Then… Is Anon actually that very Creator? Have I been looking down on, and been wary of, the very source of all life?

#

I popped up to the roof with Silvia in tow, since I really didn’t want to leave her unsupervised given her tendency toward aggression at even the slightest remark, and then spread my senses out toward the city.

I made a point of ignoring the interior of the castle as I didn’t want to hear anymore of whatever they thought of me, because I all but knew they were talking about me, and frowned when I saw how disarrayed the reconstruction effort had become.

Looting, stealing, infighting, exploitation, hoarding, oppression, and all manner of other inter-faction conflict reigned across every district. I’ll spare the bloody details, but the once united front died while the Count strove to save Calden. “And even once that sweet boy returns things won’t go back to the way they were before.”

How did this happen? There’s no way people just went off the rails this quickly! It even looks like Ysdra’s set up a little clinic, but even that has been ransacked! Uriel, explain!

Uriel buzzed.

Notice: It's been two days since Calden was stabbed.

My eyes widened, and I glanced over at Silvia–who inspected the city with indifference.

So you’re telling me he got shanked around the same time I powered her up?

Uriel buzzed again.

Correct.

Ugh. I really hate being out of commission. I sighed. Then there’s nothing else for it then. I lacked the strength to intervene then, and I can’t change the fact that I forgot to warn them, so I may as well make up for it all now.

I cast my eyes over the remaining evidence that things were going great before he got stabbed, just to see where to start.

The majority of the city was still heavily damaged, but there were also plenty of houses that only received minor damage that were now restored–and were being forcefully occupied by unlawful residents.

I’ll have to get them out.

Then there were the piles of construction materials that had been distributed throughout the city which were now gone, but I could still see the impressions in the ground and the scuff marks where things were moved to and fro repeatedly–and could easily track where everything was hauled off to.

We’ll need to get those back, at least the ones that haven’t been used up–can’t unburn firewood after all.

Lastly, there were all the charity stations where food was kept, most of which had been emptied–though good ol’ Iskel was working with that robo merchant to still offer help to those he could.

Aaand it looks like the nobles are to blame for the disappearance of most of the city’s sustenance. Leave it to the entitled to pig out when everyone’s starving.

Only a few other people still strived to undo the damage, slow and haphazard though it was. And to be fair, it wasn’t really out of goodwill either, as the restoration efforts were really just property owners fortifying their dwellings against invasion by other more desperate denizens.

Geez. I know you’re all scared. Someone striking at and nearly killing one of your protected leaders right after a massive disaster hit would cause anyone to panic, but if you just maintained order things never would’ve gotten to the point where people are starving and dying.

I requested a few spells from Uriel and sat mulling over my feelings for the next hour or two.

And let’s face it, the Count probably dropped the ball too. I can’t imagine how overworked he is right now, so keeping control of this mess while someone close to him is dying–again–is too much to ask. And nobody out here is likely thinking of that since they too need to do whatever it takes to survive, which is how we got to this point.

When I received the notice that the master level mind magics: Unite Will, Experience Extension, and Leadership, were complete I quickly requested the beginner space magic spell: Return, and then smiled softly.

Alright, I’ll have everything I need in a minute. However, things can’t be allowed to return to the way they were before. They need to be better. And that means I need to use these last two days as a lesson. So how do I teach them? Should I share the memories of their struggles with their neighbors? Give them a greater understanding of what their actions have done and could do? Gather them up and give them a lecture? Please tell me I don’t have to make an example out of the worst offenders? I don’t really like pretending to be above them, but if I want a better world, then I’m gonna have to make hard decisions too.

#

Benedict Andrun sat staring at the simple wooden staff that Soaria had brought to him. He’d been at a loss after his sudden and overwhelming defeat at the Church of the Creator but now that he had an artifact that belonged to the terrestrial deity, he had a clear and distinct advantage over his target.

The only problem is that woman.

He turned his gaze over to a dark and empty corner of the secure basement of his shelter. It shouldn’t have been possible, but Soara had not only infiltrated, but emerged from a corner of a warded room furthest from the door when she first made contact.

He got the feeling he could hold his own against her, but an assassin so skilled as to escape even his detection magic wasn’t an enemy he could afford to make right now.

With this I’d have completed my mission already, but her insistence that I wait and use it as insurance for her own safety is nothing short of infuriating. Why wait? If I remove my target she’ll have free reign over her’s?! It’s asinine to hold me back!

He froze, then chuckled. “Heh. Don’t tell me she’s afraid? Powerful though they might be, it’s only a terrestrial deity! I can easily–”

A storm of memory cut him off. A flash of lightning devoid of mana. Oppressive magical prowess at a snap of the fingers. Condemning words that he couldn’t unhear.

He slowed his suddenly racing heart, and spat. “Fine. Have it your way, desert witch.”