My heart was leaping to my throat as my hand drew near the door to Reshien’s house. What were the gods like after they were infected by human corruption? What did that even look like? The curtains to the front window were closed, leaving only my imagination to fill in the worst. I took a deep breath, and with my heartbeat thumping, knocked on the door.

“Come in,” a voice bellowed from inside. The sonorous projection that met my ears was unmistakable. Even though I had never heard him speak, I knew it was definitely Reshien.

I turned the doorknob and Punch, Line, and I walked through the door into the living room of the house. As we entered, I immediately noticed that worn rocking-chair and the round wooden table directly in front of it. The house felt smaller than it looked on the outside, but the coziness of the fireplace and the wooden walls made it feel more cozy than cramped. A man in a purple robe and sandals was hunched over a dog bowl pouring food for the little white mutt that was laying on its back next to him. After he finished, he walked from the tile floors into the kitchen to greet us. He smiled and waddled our way. It was the smile of only an old man that had lived a long life full of sorrowful lows but decades of fulfillment.

“Hello, Punch. Hello, Line. Hello, kind stranger,” he said in almost a whisper.

“Reshien…” Line lowered her head solemnly.

“You know me?” Punch asked with a wavering voice, clearly taken aback.

“Of course I do. Line has told me so much about you that I could easily recognize you, even if I hadn’t ever seen you before. And you are?”

“Alene, sir. I’m Punch and Line’s… friend. I’m with them to find out what happened to the gods.”

“Ah, on a journey with the angels to search for the gods I see. Come in. Make yourselves at home.”

Reshien ushered us and led us to the couch which faced its back to the front window.

“Here, I’ll make you three some tea.”

“Reshien, I can’t believe you’re okay. I missed you so much,” exclaimed Line in a shaky voice.

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“‘Okay’ is a bit of an exaggeration my dear, but it is a blessing to see you as well.”

Reshien finished making our tea and he told us about his situation. He didn’t remember anything after the beginning of The Fall. When he came to, he was here in Reanth. He would sneak off to here when he grew weary of being with the gods at all time. He fell in love with the city’s beauty, so he had purchased a house by pawning off jewelry he owned. He was always cautious, though. He had a feeling that any god that got too close to mortals would regret it sooner or later.

“What are the Atrocities?” Punch asked.

“If I had to guess, they’re likely corrupted angels or demons that are spawned from the minds of sick gods. I try to dispatch my own when I can, but I’m sure a few wander about. Even though they’re abominations, they still have undying loyalty to me. I have no problem destroying them. They’re not meant to exist, but it is sad to see a life gratuitously being snuffed out like that, no matter who it is.”

We were right then in assuming that Atrocities came from the gods. It couldn’t be just a coincidence that they started appearing across the world during the time The Fall occurred according to Punch and Line.

“So you’re experiencing something like dementia… And that’s what has caused you to lose control over the storms.”

“Exactly right, and it seems the only way to stop that is if I die. Though, I’m not sure how long a god takes to wither away and pass.”

I sigh and stare at the ground. My eyes fixate on my clenched knuckles in my lap.

“You’d think that an eternity of living would prepare one to die, but you never really contemplate death as an immortal. When you really confront that fear of mortality, right in its face, even a god might bow down and pray for another day. I’m sure you’re prepared to take my life if need be, but I implore you to wait. Just give me a bit more time… If I ever lose myself to the illness, stop me at all costs.”

“If we wait until then, won’t innocent people be at risk of getting harmed?”

“Yes, I understand that it’s a selfish wish. I guess that’s me being more human,” Reshien muttered with glassy eyes. His lips barely shifted into a slight crescent.

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill him, at least not soon. For a god, he seemed so down-to-earth. Forcing Line to participate in taking his life seemed cruel as well. I think I was praying with all my heart that I wouldn’t have to. Who was I exactly praying to? Funny. Look at how the gods were now.

The angels and I left Reshien’s home and returned back to our tavern suite. What exactly would it mean for a god to die? What did it mean for humans to die? As far as I knew, there wasn’t a single god that overlooked that.

“We’ll give it some time, okay? Let’s meet up again tomorrow after we’ve all had time to gather our thoughts.” I told everyone.