It took a week before the three decided it was time to leave; they had prepared everything they could in that short seven days: appropriate clothing(basically Sima's clothes without all the bling), rations, waters, transport and most important of all... information! Maps, books, rumour mills and intelligence brokers, the three pulled out all the stops and learned everything they had to learn, ask everything they had to ask. And now, they were finally ready to leave...

"We have everything?" Connor looked to his companions, Mariya and Malkov, who were busying themselves with storage management. They had separated for the past week since it was far more productive to have them working apart than together.

"Mn," Mariya nodded, and after a final once-over, closed the sack that draped over the back of a two-meter camel, "Malkov; map?"

"Here," He deftly handed her a rolled up piece of papyrus from his own backpack before going back to work.

After what seemed like an eternity, the three were finally ready to depart, and Connor prefaced this with a little speech:

"Okay, we're in the home stretch of this journey, and I won't blame any of you for leaving. So if you wanna go, I completely understand," He paused to stare at the two in front of them; both had a rather bored expression on their face, as if they weren't even listening.

He was unfazed, seemingly expecting this exact reaction, "That's what I thought. Anyways, Mariya, map please,"

She complied, unfurling the map on the ground, allowing everyone to take a look: there were ten black dots on the map, but out of them, four were crossed out in blood-red ink.

"Now then," He tapped on the outliers individually, "Through our sources, we have confirmed these cities to have the biggest shrines of Aite, a god that has taken the form of the current Sultan, Mehmed II,"

"Aldahab," Bottom left.

"Shar," Bottom right.

"Almas," Top left.

"And finally..." Top right, "Shangri-la... capital of the Khalaiya Empire!"

Shangri-la... the headquarters of his target.

"We will investigate each one in order, starting with Aldahab and ending with Shangri-la; any objections?" Nothing.

"Searching these cities won't be easy; we have little to no info about who guards these shrines, a place where even a single misstep can mean death!" He spoke solemnly, "Fortunately, my source has given us some names, which although not much, could tip the scales in our favour,"

"The first shrine is being guarded by Aite's champion himself, the legendary warrior Don Khai," He paused, "Second is Razum's champion: Wissen, a young sage who up until recently, was meditating in the icy tundra of Cloropis,"

"Next is the shrine maiden Dahlia, and the final guardian is the head priest himself, Hikma," He stopped to recollect himself, "Just like me, these people hold artefacts of power, naturally conforming to their respective laws,"

"So, three Corporis and one Animo?" Suddenly, Mariya cut in.

"Mn, how the laws will boost them though, we have no idea. But there's no doubt it'll be more powerful than anything we've ever seen," He sighed, "Two of them are in the same position as me, after all..."

There was a pregnant silence when he stopped, inviting anyone else to take over. Malkov did just that.

"Actually, we may not be as helpless as we thought," He smiled and took out a little notebook, "Over the week, I've scoured for any info I could find, and I think I've managed to discern two of the four's ability,"

"Oh?" Connor leaned forwards, an eyebrow raised, "I'm all ears,"

"Hum... It's in regards to the shrine maiden and head priest," He flipped to a particular page and began to read, "According to some references, Dahlia was seen performing medical miracles, like bringing a dead man back to life. Hikma, on the other hand, was known to be able to kill anyone with a single touch,"

Mariya frowned and asked the obvious question, her tone critical, "How're you so sure these sources are trustworthy?"

Stolen novel; please report.

He chuckled in response, "They weren't even trying to hide it! I found numerous books detailing their powers; no doubt to increase the legitimacy of their religion,"

She was satisfied with this and didn't say any further.

Seeing this, he continued, "Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything about Don Khai or Wissen, so we have to assume they have something to do with Razum and Aite..."

After a few more minutes of exchanging trivial intel, the three got on their camels and began their journey.

***

The trek was long and arduous, but they had already expected this. In fact, Mariya had gone above and beyond to mark all the oases that were close to their path on the map. Right now, they were in one of said oases, refilling their canteens and allowing their camels some rest.

-Glug! Glug!-

"Gee, someone's thirsty," Connor turned to the voice. It was Mariya.

"Better to be over than under," He didn't say any further and continued to drink.

She smirked and pointed at the ground next to him, "May I?"

He didn't oppose, "Knock yourself out,"

She nodded and sat down beside him. The two didn't say anything, content to just take in the quiet atmosphere...

At least until one of them didn't.

"So... What are you going to do after your revenge?" Mariya asked hesitantly.

He didn't answer right away, looking thoughtfully at the ground. Eventually, he answered, though it wasn't the answer she expected.

"Why do you ask?" She recoiled at this, though she managed an answer.

"W-Well," She stammered out, "We've been swamped with so much stress— Y'know, either fighting or preparing for the fights to come, and Sephrates really got me thinking..."

"You're scared I'd be like Paragor?" She nodded.

He sighed, "I see... I'll be honest with you: I'd probably commit suicide,"

"Wha—?!" She sputtered, "W-Why?!"

He broke eye contact from the ground to stare at her, "I... I have no one left,"

She nodded slowly, allowing him to explain, "Everyone close to me is dead. And all I have left is a flimsy excuse to keep on living. But after that... after I kill him? There's no net to keep me here anymore, and... and I don't think I can follow what Paragor di—"

"What about us?"

"Huh?"

"Me and Malkov. Aren't we friends?" She grit her teeth, "Aren't we enough to keep you living?"

"W-What?" He was confused, "W-We aren't friends. We were just people tied together by a common goal! I-I don't get what you mean,"

Suddenly, she stood up, her eyes filled with anger. She talked slowly, trying as hard as she could not to scream in rage, "...Is that it?"

She pointed at him, her finger mere centimetres from his face, "Is that the shitty lie you're going to use to justify your life? Huh?! You fucking coward!"

"No! I just... you all have li—"

"Fuck you! No more excuses, you fucking pansy! If you wanna die so bad, I'll kill you myself," She unsheathed her dagger and readied it.

Fortunately, just as she was going to swing it at Connor, she was tackled by Malkov, forcing the dagger to fly from her grip.

"Tch! Get off me!" She pushed him off and tried to take back the knife. He didn't allow it, though and kicked it away while he got up.

"Oi, calm down!" he practically commanded, "What in the shits are you trying to do?! We're in the middle of trying to kill a god, and you have the free time to infight?!"

She only glared at Connor before getting up and leaving for the camel, muttering curses under her breath.

When she got far away enough, Malkov turned to Connor. He stared into his eyes, and seeing the inner turmoil within, he sighed.

He sat down(coincidentally at the same place as Mariya) and faced him, "Explain,"

So he did, and after it all, Malkov sighed a second time, feeling as if he aged an extra ten years. Eventually, he shook his head and spoke, "You fucked up,"

"B-But you guys have your own lives to go back to!"

"As I said, you fucked up," He pointed at himself, "I was in prison for years," He then pointed at Mariya in the distance, "She was a weapon for most of her life," before finally looking back at him, "Do you really think we have a life to go back to?"

"Still! I—"

"Repeat after me. I. Fucked. Up."

There was a pause, but after what seemed like an eternity, Connor finally opened his mouth, "I fucked up,"

He nodded and got up, "Good. Realizing your mistake is the first step to fixing it," He held out a hand, "We'll talk while we travel,"

Connor looked at his hand, then at the person who gave it. Suddenly, his past experiences came crashing in at droves: the battles they've fought, the conversations they had, the implicit trust they cultivated while on their travels...

"Hmph," He took the hand, "I guess... you're right,"

"Aren't I always?"

"Hah! Not nearly as much as you think!"

"Keh! Whatever..." With light banter, the two compani— No, friends, headed towards their camels. Ready for whatever Fate had in store...