As you can imagine, Gerra had no intention of joining her husband in exile. Learning that the man you loved was willing to sell everyone you ever knew to a psychopath to “save” you, had quite a chilling effect on people.

Ireela, also quite understandably, was devastated by Kojiro's death. He might have been a psychopathic serial rapist, but he was also her son. So, to let her grieve, Ren took over running the household for the time being.

The day following the battle in the cave, funerals were held for Ireela’s household staff. Ren and her mom also held a separate small ceremony for Kojiro. He was buried in an unmarked grave not that far from the entrance to the escape tunnel. Savri agreed to help with the manual work, but otherwise, none of us attended the funeral. Xyrus’s body for his crucial part in the events was hanged from a tree near Kojiro's grave. This one had a full attendance from us. The remaining Red Masks were thrown into a mass grave and covered in dirt. No rites were held for them.

It had been two days since the battle and Lilyth still hadn’t woken up. We were getting seriously worried about her, though our patrons repeatedly assured us that she would likely recover. I frequently spotted Aki lying next to her in the bedroom we put her in, holding her and weeping. Sometimes I joined her, but otherwise, I left the girl to her grief. I had a lot to process myself, and looking at the unconscious form of Lilyth was only intensifying the immense guilt I felt. We are both aware with Ren, that had Lilyth not sold her soul to Ereshkigal, we would likely spend the rest of our lives as Kojiro's slaves, our only purpose being to satisfy him and his men. Unfortunately, both Akh'ret and Nyx confirmed that we wouldn't be able to do anything to help Lilyth regain control over her soul, though Ereshkigal unless the circumstances really warranted it, had no intention of ever actually using the power the contract gave her and would treat Lilyth the same as she did before, so long as she was alive.

It’s not that bad of a deal then.

‘It’s still something my sister hardly ever offers to mortals. Consigning yourself to an actual eternity of servitude is not to be undertaken lightly. Consider this - you and Aki will eventually die. Lilyth will have to exist forever without you at some point.’

Unless…

‘That is an option. Yes. I am fairly certain my sister would figure something out. But… a decision not to pass on would likely be final.’

I will keep that in mind.

I didn't want to tell it to Akh'ret, but I had already decided. It didn't take Aki long to come to the same conclusions either after I told her about the possibility, as when that night, after falling asleep, I suddenly found myself lying on a white disk in the middle of nowhere, she was right next to me. And, to my surprise, so were Ren and Savri.

‘Don’t you think I discussed this with Nyx?’ Rennie said, seeing my confusion.

‘She might have slipped something to me too,’ Sav admitted.

‘But why?’ I suddenly heard Lilyth's voice.

I saw her standing next to a beautiful white-haired woman with blue eyes. She was wearing a black skirt and a pink hoodie with floppy ears. Both she and Lilyth were holding steaming cups.

‘What my friend here means: are you four sure?’ Ereshkigal corrected her. ‘Especially, you, Savri. Once you agree, your quest is over.’

‘Yes,’ we all said as one.

‘Perfect,’ the goddess smiled and snapped her pale fingers. Lines of blue-white energy flowed from her to us for a few seconds, and I felt a small tingle at the back of my right hand. Examining it I saw a glowing rabbit’s head there. It soon faded to nothing.

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‘I told you, they wouldn't leave you here alone,’ Ereshkigal said to Lilyth, who looked genuinely moved.

‘Exactly,’ I said. ‘You did this for us. It would be rotten of us to leave you here alone for all eternity.’

Aki tacklehugged Lilyth, though Ereshkigal managed to grab my wife’s cup beforehand. It was enough of an agreement with my general sentiment. Savri and Ren soon joined her. And so did I.’

‘Thank you, guys,’ Lilyth sobbed. ‘You have no idea how much this means to me.’

‘Hopefully, none of you will need to start your stay here soon,’ the goddess said. ‘Enjoy your lives for as long as you can.’

A sword materialised in her hand. I recognized it to be the physical version of the sword Lilyth used during her fight against Kojiro.

‘There is one more formality we need to do. All of you kneel, please.’

We were then all named knights of the Tenebral Order.

‘Wait… do we all serve now under Lilyth?’ Savri asked with dread in her voice.

‘Fuck, no,’ Ereshkigal laughed nervously. ‘I barely managed to rebuild this thing. I know that Lilyth considered herself the Grand Master by default, which I never bothered to correct, it’s not like she told about her position to anyone other than you four, Baial and Aldvil. You guys are equal in my eyes. Whoever you say is in charge is in charge as far as day-to-day stuff is concerned. I’m keeping Lilyth as my voice, as she is the most durable of you five. Other than that, however, you kids organise yourselves, is up to you. All gear and other fun stuff you will have to earn. That being said, I do owe you all a reward for saving that slime of mine. You will find them next to your beds when you wake up. Any questions?’

Ren raised her hand. Ereshkigal pointed her hand at her.

‘Go ahead, Rennie,’

‘So… umm… My Lady…’

‘Just call me Ereshkigal in private.’

‘Yes. So… Ereshkigal… when you… spoke… t-to m-me…’

‘Ah. I told you to improve. Yes. You are doing well. I definitely wouldn't have considered you a candidate if you weren't. Keep at it.’

I raised my hand.

‘When we were in that cave, just before Lilyth turned, were you there?’

‘Perceptive little vampire,’ the goddess smiled. ‘Yes. Normally, I don’t show up in the world of the living, because well… you saw what happens, but since I was planning to offer Lilyth part of my power, I decided it wouldn't hurt.’

‘Thank you.’

Ren raised her hand again.

‘What happened to Kojiro?’

Ereshkigal pointed at the infinite void.

‘I dropped him there. By now he should be past the point of even me being able to retrieve him. I rarely resort to this one. Basically, he will spend eternity falling through the endless void, completely helpless to do anything.’

Ren paled.

‘Never ask a question you may not like the answer to, sweetie,’ Ereshkigal smiled coldly. ‘It’s a special fuck you for what he did to Lilyth.’

‘I understand.’

‘Don’t feel bad about considering this unjust or whatever. Whatever feelings you have towards me regarding this are fine too. Punishments are something I will never involve any of you for that very reason.’

‘What will our duties be then? Either now or then?’

‘We’ll get that. This one may take a while and I can tell Aki has a question she wants to ask, but has trouble mustering the courage to.’

‘C-can I see Matis or my mom?’ my wife asked, tearing up.

‘No,’ Ereshkigal said sadly. ‘Your mother had recently passed on after she learned you have found a new family. She knew now that you were safe. Relatively at least. As for Matis… he is still here, but seeing him would destroy you, so I cannot allow it. The souls of the living and the souls of the dead should never mix.’

Aki nodded and did her best to swallow up her tears.

‘Feel free to mourn, Aki,’ Ereshkigal said, seeing her reaction. ‘It’s only mortal.’

‘Ereshkigal, if I may?’ Savri spoke up, and after the goddess nodded for her to continue adding. ‘What do you mean by “passed on”? We don't stay here after death?’

‘No.’

That was apparently all the answer we would get on this subject, which was kind of disappointing, but then again we just all collectively signed away right to experience whatever it was, so maybe it was for the best.

Seeing we were out of questions, and after we comforted Aki a bit, Ereshkigal smiled and said:

‘Why don't I give you a tour since you all are here?’