I stood there in the cave staring at the old church. It was surprisingly intact, with very little in the way of damage, it was relatively ash free if you forgot about the tower.

It was still like I remembered.

And I’m about to remove that, the second it’s empty it’s going to be just an old church.

I walk towards the old building, the light of late afternoon lighting the room in a warm yellow.

Are my clothes ruined again?

I looked down and found that they were roughed up, but luckily not horribly so. There was little in the way of damage, only some spots where I skid across the ground.

Suppose it was a fist, not a blade; most of the damage was inside of me… which is still off-putting. If I’m going to get rid of the undead, I need to rethink how I do it… Maybe Anna or her brother can help out somehow? I’ll have to ask. Now that I think of it, I have a lot of things I want to do… I need to write out a list.

I was sidetracking myself, again. I took a deep breath… and focused.

No more putting it off, get it over with, and get home to Anna; everything else can come later.

I walk around to the back, each step making my hands shake. I walked up to the door like I was squaring off with it and reached my hand over before quickly pulling the door open.

I walk in, down the hallways of the church, following the path I had stirred up in the dust. The doorway to the main room was close to the back door, but I hesitated and passed it.

Let’s check the library first, see if Skip’s library is still around. Please still be around, I really don’t want to explain how all his books are burnt.

I made my way to the library, turned the corner and was met with a sight. Against the door of the library, was a skeleton. I nearly jumped when I saw it, I almost ripped out my shovel right there until I locked my eyes on its head and noticed that it had no flames.

I took out my shovel just in case, but the longer I looked at it the more I realized it was familiar. The skeleton had a priest’s robe on, although it had a large charred hole through the right side of its chest. The robe was familiar.

Skipseo’s body sat there against the door of the library. Half his robe burnt in a circle over his heart. He had gone out protecting his collection.

I looked at the wood. It was a huge hole, big enough that I could fit my head into it, only the bones and my unwillingness to defile his body stopping me. And no matter what, a big hole meant a big weapon, and a big weapon was a heavy weapon.

Sure enough, when I crouched down and ran my fingers over the fine film of dust there were slight indents where the wood had been deformed.

Those are big-ass bootprints. No wait those aren’t boots the line is too crisp. They’re more like a metal boot thingy a [Knight] would wear. What the hell happened here?

I started walking towards him. He didn’t get up, no flailing horror moment. I let my shoulders lower, all the way down, until I let all the tension out of them.

I kept walking, but when I was about ten feet away, I heard something. It was, much like other spirits, not a real sound, but the sound of a spirit. And off all things, it was humming one of the types of tunes that just went on and on. It was the notes for bottles of beer, only the parts for the number of beers were ridiculously long and getting longer.

He’s awake? Most of the others were silent and confused. Leave it to Skipseo to use an annoying song to keep himself going, I guess.

I got close the old guy and asked him, “Skipseo, are you in there?”

That got the sound to stop, and very abruptly at that. I waited for a moment; it took Skipseo some time to reorient his mind most of the time.

“Who is that? I can’t quite place your voice.” He said softly.

I suppose he can’t see me then, I wonder how the skeletons could see me then. Skipseo has just been trapped here alone since he died.

“It’s me, Spahine, we talked right before it started raining.”

“Saphine? Little Saphine, it’s good to see you pup, certainly better than the other visitor.” He said, rather tiredly.

He almost sounded confused to begin with, I suppose if he’s been awake the whole time, it would be surprising. He takes a few moments to organize his thoughts before he starts asking questions in a clipped tone.

“Are the books safe? I can’t remember much, but I remember the fire.”

“Yes, as far as I can tell no one has damaged the books, you’re blocking the door.”

“Good how long have I been here? I’ve been counting but the higher I go the longer each verse.”

“A very, very, long time. More than two thousand years.” I told him.

“That can’t be right, Death should have come for us.” He murmurs.

It’s not a question, but I answer him anyways, “I don’t know for sure, but I’m starting to think I’m supposed to, Death didn’t even talk to me, and I’m one of her saints. Apparently.” I tell him, my voice letting out a bit of ire toward the absentee goddess.

“A [Saint of Death]? I don’t know what they do, I’m sorry to say. But I suppose it stands to reason that if she’s not coming, one of her saints might.” He says, wistfully.

I can only sigh at that.

Not even Skipseo knows what I’m supposed to be doing.

“Maybe,” I hedge.

“That would be nice, by the quill I’m tired,” he remarked.

“I suppose I will collect you then,” I tell him.

“Thank you, Saphine, from the bottom of my heart.”

“It’s not a problem Skipseo, I’ll miss you and Kindly,” I tell him.

That seems to get to him somehow, causing him to hum for a few seconds.

“Have you collected Kindly yet?” He asked.

I bite my lip a little at his question.

“Not yet. I came to find you first, I decided to check the library.” I told him.

“That’s a surprise, you always go to Kindly first.” He said, before waiting for my answer. I didn’t, I was too busy trying not to cry or let the hideous laughter return.

“Would you like to talk about it?” He asked softly.

I took a deep breath before sitting down next to him, letting my shovel down so I could wrap my arms around my knees.

“I’m- I’m scared Skipseo. I can’t stand losing you two. You’re the only two I have left. It was easier when we were all going to die, because then I would be gone to whatever afterlife awaits me. But now you’re going to leave me, and I’ll be stuck here.” I told him.

“Now, I might be confusing you, so do tell me if I am wrong, but I understand that you see us as family, is that correct?” He asks, his voice taking on his professor's tone.

“Yes, you’re like the grandparents I never had. You’re an important part of my life, if you would have allowed it, I would have called you a grandfather.” I admit.

He let out a kind of warbling echoing noise I took as agreement, it took me a second to realize it was a weird laugh.

“If I may say it, Saphine. You lost your family and found us, it’s not a bad thing, that is to say, it’s not one-sided. Kindly doted on all of you on account of not being able to have any children of his own. It’s one of the many reasons why we started teaching others, you were like vicarious children for all of us, even if we had a strange way of showing it.” He said, dwindling his speech from a ramble to somewhat embarrassed. It left a heavy pause between us.

I caught something in his words, but I decided to not sidetrack him, he always got flustered when he got asked questions in between thoughts.

“I’m sensing more, come on, out with it.” I prodded him gently.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Yes, well, I can’t say this gently, but have you considered that because you see us as family, you’re afraid of losing us like your mother. I don’t know how it works for [Saints of Death], but even after we pass on, we just go to our afterlife, were still here, just far away. If you have lived as long as you claim, even if you never pass on, it’s just a matter of time before you can visit. You’re a saint child, no saint has ever been recorded as lack lustre.”

That caused a bit of pain. I held my knees against my chest a bit harder.

“So, it’s not goodbye forever, just goodbye for now. Don’t worry, I’m going to a better place? I’ve heard that before, it doesn’t make it easier.” I spoke.

“I know it doesn’t. It’s never easy when you get left behind, it’s certainly not fair, but when was life ever fair? I’m not trying to convince you it’s fair, just that you don’t need to fear it. Death is the only promise the living are ever given, but just because we die doesn’t mean we are gone. When you lost your mother, you lost someone who cared for you and who you cared about, even knowing she had passed on, you only saw and felt the lack of her, for you, she was gone. I don’t know how to break it to you pup, I’m just as dead as she is, but I’m still here, when I go where I’m going to go, I will still be just as dead as I am now. But no matter how long it takes, the core of who I am remains.” He rambled.

He seemed to catch himself then and stop to collect his thoughts.

“We always talk about the afterlife, or our afterlife, like it’s a place, like a house that once you enter, you can’t leave. It’s not a prison, Saphine, it’s just a world beyond ours, I’m already there, I just have a great journey to make. If I had to hazard a guess, which I hate doing, while we’re in our mortal form we're held in our bodies. All you have to do to visit is learn to pay attention to the other side, fall through and find us. I’m not any more gone than I would be if I moved. So don’t let my passing and the lack of being able to see or talk to me convince you that I’m gone.” He told me.

I could tell he was trying to help, even if he was bad at it. But that was Skipseo, he knew a lot, but never the best way to say it. It did little to stop the pain, but I thought over his words, and I found that they were at least reassuring, they gave me a little hope.

Not gone, just dead. Hells, I’ve died, multiple times at that. Why did it never occur to me that I might be able to visit, every time I die, I visit, don’t I? There not gone, just… dead.

“How much of that did you get from a book?” I asked him.

“Oh… 40% or so. A lot of it is just the experience of dying.” He told me.

That made it easier, I suppose, although it didn’t make it hurt less, but at least I knew he wouldn’t stop existing. Skipseo would always be Skipseo.

“Would you like to move on now, or would you rather wait, I don’t know for sure what my ability does, but I still think it’s likely that I am supposed to help you,” I tell him.

“It is long past my time to depart.” He told me.

“Come on then, to me, apparently, I’m warm,” I told him, holding my hand out and sliding it into his robe.

“You are warm. It’s like a great big bonfire. I’m going to take a rest now, thank you, pup, for everything.” He spoke.

And then he was gone, curled up wherever it is they go when they approach me. It was heavy when he settled it, like my heart had inherited a pound of lead weights.

I managed to get up, and I made my way back to the main room, but not before picking up his skeleton, hefting it up and around, while also fumbling for his book.

He went out with his journal in one hand.

I teared up a little but just hefted everything up and left the corridor behind. He wasn’t all that heavy, all said and done. I entered the main room and immediately spotted Kindly. He, too, had a hole in his robe, and he sat next to the fireplace.

The other chairs hadn’t moved an inch, only Kindly’s chair was pushed closer to the Hearth. I placed Skip down on the further chair before pulling the other chair next to Kindly.

“Hello, Kindly.” I told him.

“Ah, hello, Saphine.” He said like he had expected me.

Kindly started talking, and he and I retread the ground me and Skipseo had made. It was almost a mirror copy, they had the same line of thought, just a different tone and priority, instead of the library, it was the hearthstone. It was unbroken in the cold hearth.

He and Skipseo are so alike but opposites, they even think the same way. They're practically an old married couple.

How long have I been out? Have you talked with Skip? A [Saint of Death]? Look at you moving up in the world. Kindly had a way of lulling me into a sense of normalcy right up until he asked.

“So, oh great Saintess, have you found anyone yet? Us old folks get worried, you know.” He asked.

If I had been drinking, I would have spit. “Kindly, don’t go getting on my case now, old man, my love life is none of your concern.” I managed to get out.

“So that’s a yes. That time you managed to spill a little. It’s good to know you have someone in your life. Why you know, back in my day, bringing a hearthstone home was what we did when we were going to get married. I hope they make you happy, truly.” He told me.

That sent my mind into a downward spiral.

I do not need to know that Kindly, now I don’t know if I’m getting ahead of myself. Is Anna thinking I want to marry her? I mean, we aren’t even dating, right? I- oh gods why.

Kindly, the rat bastard, had managed to get me to flush as red as Anna. My cheeks were so bright he could probably see them in the afterlife.

“I mean, it’s not that serious, we have only known each other for like half a month, I’m not even courting her.” I blurt out, which only makes me realize I gave him more ammunition.

“Oh, ho ho, you found yourself a nice lady friend then? I totally won the bet; take that Skip. Come on then, spill. Have you been going on long moonlit walks at night? Romantic dinners? Gasp! Maybe even a secret roll in the sheets? Or have you gone straight to the most sinful, most lewd of acts, holding hands?” he proclaimed in a gossipy, somewhat mocking tone.

All I could do was hold my bright red face in my hands, it was horribly embarrassing. It made me want to run. I managed to not let my legs carry me away, but it was a close thing.

“Why must you use your powers for evil Kindly. Don’t tease me.” I said, squeaking a little, my voice cracking.

“Sorry Saphy, I can’t help it, I’ve been cooped up here for what? Almost three thousand years! I need gossip, maybe even a rendezvous of my own. Tell you what… I’ll let you in on a secret, I know a perfect pick-up line.” He said, returning to the gossipy co-conspirator I knew him as best. Which was Kindly to a tee, he was your best friend and grandfather at the same time, using his powers like a gossipy teen.

His statement left me both terribly curious and weary of a trap. I was simultaneously on my toes, waiting for him to embarrass me and hoping for some advice. I couldn’t stop myself from leaning in, sliding my chair over to him like he was going to whisper the secret to me.

“So, what you do is…” he said, like he was about to reveal to me the secret of the cosmos.

I listened while waiting for the line to get better, but when he finished, I was thoroughly dissatisfied with it.

“Kindly, I would be lucky to pick up a deaf girl with that line. Can I get a refund?” I say, injecting as much disappointment as I can.

“Ouch,” he says, “it’s not that bad; trust me Saphy, that line got me tons of people. Why I can think of at least four people off the top of my head. Skip fell for it. Just replace the descriptions with those that match your lady friend, and bang! Courting in no time. It works 100% of the time, 50% of the time.” He told me.

I looked at him, or rather his body. I did for a few moments before I remembered he was dead. Kindly couldn’t see me.

“You can’t tell, but I’m staring at you in disbelief,” I told him.

“Do take it under advisement at least, if she likes you, she will stay.” He told me.

“Terrible, but who am I to dispute the great Kindly?” I told him, trying to keep my scoff out of my voice. We sat like that for what felt like forever before Kindly breached the conversation I dreaded.

“So, Skip is already gone, yes? Will you take me?” he asked.

His words drained the emotion from me like water from a cup.

“I- Yes. It’s not fair to leave you here. I would like to ask a question first, though.” I asked.

“Oh? What can I help you with? Last minute advice?” He joked.

“Do you know who caused it? The fall of Moarn, that is. That and Skipseo mentioned some other visitor can you tell me anything?” I asked him, practically pleading for some answers.

“I don’t know who destroyed Moarn, all I saw was a large shadow in the door before I died. But that other visitor was a [Necromancer]. She attempted to raise us, but me and Skip are protected, our gods wouldn’t allow it.”

I nod to that, then catch myself and say, “ok, thank you, Kindly. I won’t hold you up anymore.” I told him.

“See you later, alligator.” He says.

I reached out my hand, just like with Skipseo.

“In a while, crocodile,” I replied.

And then he was gone too.

It was just as bad as with Skip, the swell and strain of it made me fall back into a chair. I sat there in the dark room breathing until I could get back up.

I made quick work of it. The stone could just be picked up, and I placed it in my sack. I was going to pick the two of them up, but it occurred to me, once again, I had to climb a ladder. So, I went to the storage room back the way I had first came in a few weeks ago, pulled the swollen door free of its frame and started looking for more rope.

I found some in an open chest with blobby comet things on it and left.

Keep on going; you still have to bury them…

I looped the rope around them, fastened them to my back, one old skeleton for either side and trudged my way to the ladder outside.

One hand above the other, then a quick walk home…

I was sweating by the time I got to the top, the hearthstone, two skeletons and the shovels had made me soak my smock through with sweat. I was carrying more than half my weight up a rickety ladder, but when I got up and flopped on my front, it was all worth it.

I lost my load and started to dig.

Skills are a funny thing, like magic; some people could copy a book lightning-quick or brew a potion that could save a life. A [Mage] might get a skill that could burn down a town, and a [Longbowman] might get a skill to kill a man from a mile away.

But me? I could dig. Fast. I moved two feet worth of earth, then four, then more. With all my skills blazing away and the overstretched feeling within, I felt like I was burning myself at both ends. But in no time at all, the dirt was gone.

Two mounds of dirt filled two graves, the unpacked earth bowing up a little. I buried their bones there, on the hill, Skip and Kindly next to one another in the early evening. Then I fixed my straps and headed down the hills.

Keep going; you can make it back…

***

It was dusk when I got back, I felt like my limbs were lead. But I set the tools down in the shed and walked into the cabin.

Anna was there, sitting at the table, eating some food. She looked at me and a look of concern crossed her face.

And just like that, all the fight left me. I fell to my knees and barely had the presence of mind to take the stone off of me before I fell flat. My whole body refused to move right; I had hiked a multiple-hour game path with a hearthstone as dead weight in a single hour. My legs were warm wax, and I could feel where the rope had bitten into me and I felt like I had a fever.

Anna rushed over because of course she would; she’s an angel. I could only imagine how rank I was, not to mention my weight, but she just helped heft me up and into a bed. I couldn’t even bring myself to move once I was down.

She settled down next to me and held my hand. I could tell she was looking at me, but she just let me recover a bit before she asked me a question.

“You good?”

When I spoke, it was sparingly, “Tired, but ok. Why?”

I’m fine, I know I look like a wreck, but besides being tired, I think I’m fine.

I didn’t deserve Anna; she was generous, thoughtful and beautiful. My eye's were getting a little blurry when she propped herself up and reached over, whipping the edge of a finger past my eye.

“Because you’re crying.”

Oh…

And I was crying, I went to try and calm myself, but it just made me sniffle.

Anna rolled me onto my side and into her, and I started crying. She reached around and rubbed my head and back. Whispering into my ear like I was a wailing newborn. I fell asleep in her arms while I cried my heart out.

I don’t think I deserve Anna. But I suppose I can always try my best to be worthy of her.

I dreamed a familiar dream; I heard the voice. It told me what I had done and what I had gotten from it.

Then I blinked.