The girls had been joined at some point by Trillia's siblings.

The five of them currently sat in a tavern located near the spire with promises from the others to join them. Amelia sat behind a large barrel with a hide stretched across it. The locals referred to it as a drum. Trillia was learning how to play the harp from a young girl who frequented the tavern often as a musician with her family.

Her brothers and Ba'Shoon were cheering them on, drinking heavily of some fermented drink that smelled quite foul. Ba'Shoon was also in the process of arm-wrestling some of the more drunk humans who thought they could take her. Overall, everyone was laughing and having a good time.

Trillia was doing her best to put on a strong face, but deep down, she was worried about the future. As the girl sitting next to her, showing her the harp played a few chords, Trillia wondered if she'd be one of the lucky ones to survive.

...

...

Suddenly the room felt far smaller than it had before. Trillia could vaguely hear the cheering and the girl explaining things to her, but it all felt so far away. She reached out and grabbed hold of the harp as the room began to spin around her.

She was vaguely aware of feeling weightless for a few moments, followed by more muffled shouts. Trillia could feel her mana draining rapidly.

She knew the source was [Remain Standing].

She didn't understand.

Why was she passing out?

She fought with all her strength to put her arms under her chest. Suddenly it felt like she weighed as much as Uncle Cordaos but had the strength of when she was born. Try as she might, she couldn't will herself up.

"Back off!" The voice cut through the haze around her head. She recognized it as Arlyss' voice.

Her heartbeat continued to thrum rapidly, screaming that there was danger all around her. She wondered if this was some sort of attack.

Perhaps the Sage had found a way to break through the barriers.

Perhaps the resistance hadn't been fully stomped out.

...

...

She reached out to try and grab hold of Arlyss. She could smell him nearby. The scent of books and fresh flowers. She felt strong arms wrap around her, and all of the background noise stopped.

She closed her eyes as the room began to spin faster.

She could feel the mental connection with Arlyss form, and a wave of relief flowed through her. Her mana stopped draining, and she heard him speak a single word.

"[Slumber]"

...

..

.

-=- Some Time Later -=-

She heard the faint scratching sounds of a quill on parchment. She had grown used to the sound over the past couple of years. She often read at night while Arlyss wrote. He always seemed to be writing something down.

Truth be told, it always made her feel at ease. Hearing that scratching sound. It meant that there wasn't something bad happening.

She opened her eyes and found herself laying on her bed. Arlyss had taken over her little desk and was writing next to her. Ialu was curled up next to the bed. Glancing around, she could see the faint shimmer of a barrier around her room. Her heart began to race again.

"Shhh...it's just to keep your family from battering down the door." Arlyss spoke softly to her. Having turned from his writing.

He grabbed a goblet and began pouring water into it. "We need to have a talk. First, the two of us, followed by the two of us and your family."

Trillia tentatively reached out to take hold of the goblet. She did her best not to panic. All of the old doubts from her childhood came racing back. She was trying to level quickly. Is that why she had felt that way in the tavern? Was she falling too far behind?

Was Arlyss disappointed in her progress?

She felt tears welling up.

Perhaps it was beca-

Her mind went blank. She blinked a few times and found that Arlyss' hand was touching her temple. "Trillia. You are my avatar. I will not abandon you. Not even if Alirast itself is burning into oblivion. Your progress is fine. In fact, I think you are progressing too quickly and taking on too many duties. The fault lies with me. I haven't taken on any more pact-bound creatures. I didn't want to burden them. But in doing so, it seems I've burdened you far too much."

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She shook her head, trying to swallow her drink. "No! It's fine. I can handle it!"

Arlyss smiled. It was the same smile he gave to his followers and worshippers. To the people of D'Jamu, who told him they'd work hard to make their city safe. It was the smile an immortal gave to a mortal. It nearly broke her heart to see it aimed at her.

Arlyss thought about his words for a moment while smiling. "I know, and you have been. For years you have been not only fighting the undead, clearing dungeons, and setting up deals. Don't think I'm unaware of how often the merchants come to you and Kismet with their worries. On top of that, you've been training Ialu and trying your best to keep up with your tribe and your family. You were finally trying to make time for Amelia."

It was a lot to do. That much was true, but Trillia knew she could handl-

Once more, her mind blanked. She scowled at Arlyss, who scowled back. "Slow down, Trillia. Your mother and uncles said it. We have time. This isn't something that is going to be handled overnight. I want to ask you to do me a favor."

She nodded. "Anything, you know that."

Arlyss sighed softly and nodded. "Promise? I have your word?"

She nodded once more.

"Go home, Trillia. Do not engage the enemy. Spend some time with Red River if you begin to feel restless. Work on your general skills. Do not use your divine skill."

Each word rang in her ears. As her mind worked itself into a huff, Arlyss leaned in and kissed the top of her head. "Rest, my dear Avatar. Rest, because I am going to need you at your absolute best in the coming years. I am going to be speaking with your siblings. I will not force you to do anything. But it is my earnest request that you take some time to rest and think about yourself and what you want out of life."

He immediately raised a hand. "Besides saving Alirast, your tribe, the people of D'Jamu, your family, and all the deities you've met."

She snapped her mouth shut. Looking somewhat dejected into the goblet of cool water. She mumbled in her defense. "I don't think I need to save Lethe. Pretty sure that it's ok."

Arlyss rolled his eyes and then rubbed them. The barrier fell, and a rather eager - but gentle - knock came on the door. "Come in. Keep your voices down.

As he said it, the door opened slowly. The first in was Ba'Shoon, who hurried over to sit next to her and placed the back of her hand on Trillia's forehead. Her brothers ducked and squeezed in as well. Amelia elbowed past them and sat next to Ba'Shoon with a bowl of soup. Kismet and Maldoun stuck their head in through the doorway of the cramped room.

Arlyss was standing away from all of them near the window. "I've asked Trillia to take a leave of absence. At least three or four months. It is my genuine worry as her deity that she is working far too much."

Amelia snapped at him with a half-scowl. "Ya think?!" She nearly bit her tongue off and sunk a little back as she realized she was yelling at a deity.

Arlyss seemed more amused than anything. "I do. I also think I need more people as capable as she is. There is a monumental amount of work that needs doing. At the end of the day, Trillia and I are just two creatures. As much as Kismet and Maldoun are trying to help." Ialu yipped and looked up at him. Arlyss smiled and nodded. "And Ialu. I still need more people I am connected to."

A few people tried to speak, but he raised a hand to silence them. "I would ask all of you to find one or two people you trust. That you think I can trust. The offer is, of course, extended to each of you to become pact-bound as well. But most importantly." Glaring at each of them in turn before looking at Trillia. "Keep this one from trying to save the world."

Tormash chuckled at that. "Sure, sure. Reigning in a hurricane with our bare hands is super easy. We'll get right on that, boss."

The others shared a chuckle at Trillia's expense. She would have retorted, but currently had a mouthful of some delicious soup that Amelia had found or made.

Ralrouk scratched his chin and stared at the ground. Kismet walked up to him, giving his arm a little squeeze, and gave him a knowing nod.

Ralrouk looked to Arlyss. "As long as you don't ask us to fight each other. Kismet and I will accept a pact. I'd ask that I still be allowed to serve as a General in the tribe as well."

Trillia paused in her eating at that. Looking up at her brother and Kismet, who both looked to her with smiles. Arlyss nodded. "It would be an honor to have you both. I know that many of your people still follow my father. I would never try to take the faithful from him. But know that I see Trillia's tribe as an extension of my people."

Maldoun cleared his throat. "I already serve you, Lord Arlyss. I would be honored to accept a pact."

Arlyss nodded and seemed a little more relieved. Trillia was happy that they were all people she knew and trusted. She'd figure out how to get out of this prison of friends and family that Arlyss was putting her in. Maybe she could talk to Red River about some of the problems and bounce ideas off of the raiding gobl-

Her mind blanked.

She blinked a few times and realized Arlyss was standing next to her with his fingers on her temple. "By all that is radiant. Can you not go ten minutes without plotting to save the world? There has to be a class for someone so dead-set on saving people."

He looked almost accusingly at the others in the room. No one really cared to meet his eyes for fear of spontaneously being in the wrong.

Amelia grinned and leaned next to Trillia, opening her mouth for Trillia to give her a bite. With a quick chew and swallow, she spoke. "Pretty sure if anyone here is going to get a heroic class. It's Tormash or Trillia. Pretty sure saving everyone just sort of runs in their family. Ralrouk won't admit it in public, but I've seen him run into a group of enemies to pull out orcs and minotaurs alike."

Ralrouk immediately scoffed. "That just makes sense. My tenacity lets me stay standing for an hour or so. I may as well run the risk of saving others."

Tormash covered his devious grin by scratching the beard he was trying to grow. Arlyss nodded to each in turn. "Tomorrow, I'll form pacts with all of those willing. I will leave her in your tender care."

Ba'Shoon and Amelia gave him nods. Trillia stared at him as he left. She knew they wouldn't let her leave. So instead, she reached out with her mind.

'Thank you. For understanding.'

She felt warmth wash over her and knew that she had been heard.

Ba'Shoon turned an angry glare at everyone else. "The boys can leave. Us girls are going to chit-chat, and you're not needed."

Tormash and Ralrouk immediately bowed and left. Both of them had been on her bad side. Neither particularly cared to be there again. Maldoun hesitated for half a second before getting dragged away by the boys.

As Kismet closed the door, Ba'Shoon took the bowl from Trillia and gave her a hug. "Stop trying to do it all yourself, dummy. You have a family. Let us help."

Trillia began to tear up as Amelia and Kismet joined in on the hug. Ialu yipped a few times and jumped up onto the bed.