"I suppose it can't hurt," Othima said, carefully seating herself across from Zu - though further away and out of reach. She gave a series of chirps and her otter bounded back over, handing her the knife. Zu tensed, ready to snatch it away again, but she slipped it back into its sheath and leaned back on her hands. "What do you want from me?"

"I want only to be left to my ascension in peace, and for my family to remain unmolested. If you can promise to take no action against me or mine, by your hand or by proxy, for as long as your line endures, I will release you at once and never trouble you again."

"And what reparations will you offer to the Otterman Empire in return for this oath? What will you give to undo the damage you have caused? The Chartreuse Cougars are more unreasonable than ever, and it's directly your fault."

Zu nodded. "That may be the case, but, again, what could I offer? I am but a poor reject, unable to cultivate, relying on spirit enhancements and magical creatures and items to make up for an absolute deficit of natural ability. My clan is poor, weak, and all but forgotten. I can speak to the Cougar patriarch, but I doubt my word would be enough to sway him."

"Then you can come back to the Empire and face justice."

"Sounds like an incredible waste of time."

"What's incredible is your insolence!" She leaned forward, all traces of relaxation gone. "I cannot forgive your crimes so easily, nor make so great a promise without anything in return."

"I will not return with you to the Empire."

"Then I will not swear on my entire lineage to protect your interests."

"I can kill you. Then who would carry the news of my interference back to the Empire? They'd probably assume it was the Cougars, possibly invade, and perhaps Viha would give me up. But I rather think he's the sort to relish a conflict like that, don't you? I think I can convince him to stay quiet."

Othima leapt to her feet, knife slipping back into her hand. "Help!" she shouted. "Murder! Betrayal!"

"No one can hear you. The time barrier prevents any sound from entering or leaving."

"And if I kill you?"

"You cannot. Try." Zu stood, tilting his head up to bare his throat. "Go ahead. I guarantee I can kill myself faster than you can."

She stared at him, nonplussed, then shrugged and slammed the knife deep into his jugular.

Zu self-immolated, aided this time by his inner phoenix triggering the spell since he couldn't speak.

Othima stared in horror, disbelief--

"You impersonated an Otta," Othima said, her vehemence trailing away as she blinked uncertainly, blade pressed against Zu's chest. "You... you kidnapped that otter and enslaved it."

"Neither of which is worthy of death, surely," Zu said, gently pushing her arm away. She let him, frowning. "I'm no threat to you or your Empire. If you promise not to seek vengeance against me for my past actions, I promise they will never be repeated."

"You can't just apologize and assume everything will be fine."

Zu kicked away her otter; he'd forgotten to plan for its presence, and it was gnawing at his knee. That made her jump back into full rage, pressing the blade to his throat.

"Leave Taale alone, you vile heretic!"

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"Oh, I see we've upgraded from 'impostor' to 'heretic', have we?" Zu put a hand between his throat and the knife, but didn't otherwise move to interfere with her threatening posture. "What's the big deal with the otters anyway?"

"Otters are our brothers and sisters. The Otterman Empire is dedicated to their protection and enhancement. No Otta would be without an otter charge, to accompany and protect on our lifelong journey."

"Right, so, it's a religious thing?"

"Not exactly. Otters and Otta live in harmony. We help each other, guide each other, strengthen each other. There is no Otterman Empire without our otter companions."

Zu looked at the irate otter standing and glaring at him from a stride away. It hadn't resumed its attack on Zu's leg, thankfully, but it certainly didn't seem to be toning down the aggression. While Othima seemed receptive to Zu's aura and each loop she'd been less violent, the otter seemed to retain its full disdain for him.

Or perhaps he just wasn't versed well enough in understanding the thoughts and moods of small river creatures to know for sure.

“Can your otter speak?” he asked Othima.

“Not in words, no. He sends me concepts and impressions. Right now he is very angry with you, but also afraid.”

“Afraid? Because I kicked it once?” That was interesting. Perhaps adoration wasn’t the only side effect of the Protagonist Fragment. It could be that other emotions were heightened too. In the first loop, even kicking the stupid creature repeatedly hadn’t been enough to dislodge it. There were other explanations - fear for Othima, rather than itself, perhaps.

“I can’t say for sure. I just know he wants to be far away from you.”

Zu chuckled. “Probably wise.” Animal instincts could often be keener than human senses, at least for those below the higher realms.

Othima slowly backed away. Zu let her go. He could easily have snatched away the knife but refrained.

"Who are you?"

"Zu Mari. Future high overlord of the heavens."

"Ambitious one." Othima laughed softly. "There is something... different about you. Something I've never noticed before in anyone else. What is it?"

"Destiny."

"I suppose it must be. I know you are a criminal, that you have transgressed unforgivably against the Otterman Empire's most sacred of tenets, and yet... I find myself unable to strike the righteous justice as I know I ought."

"Because your heart knows that I am innocent. That I acted from necessity and ignorance rather than malice. You know I will do my utmost to recompense for the errors in judgment and that they'll never happen again."

"Perhaps..."

"I truly wish your empire no ill will." Zu tried to put as much emphasis and confidence into it as always, but after repeating it so many times the passion was somewhat lacking.

"But I have a duty to my Empire, I cannot return knowing I've left injustice to roam free!"

Zu Mari stared at her steadily. "Would you rather die?"

Othima looked away, but did not answer. Zu let the silence linger.

"I am the youngest, weakest daughter of my house,” she whispered at length. “I can only serve in this meager capacity because I am too useless to do anything else but run errands and deliver ultimatums to stupid, tiny, insignificant rural backwaters like this. My duty is everything. How can I even consider breaking my oaths? Shouldn’t my loyalty be stronger than life itself?”

Her hands tightened into fists, voice becoming a hiss. “And yet… I owe my family nothing. What have they ever given me but derision and scorn? What has my Empire ever done but throw me away?”

She snapped her head up sharply, meeting Zu’s eyes. “I am done,” she said, voice wavering though her gaze held steady. “I am done living for the whims of others. I hereby resign my post as Outer Realms Ambassador for the Otterman Empire. Taale, you bear witness to this moment.”

The otter nodded, bounding over to Othima’s leg to lean against it comfortingly.

“Zu Mari, I will not inform the Empire of your involvement. You may go your way, and I shall go mine. There is no reason for us to be enemies. Indeed, without you as a catalyst… I may never have had the courage to break myself free of the invisible chains of duty and perceived honor that bound me to a life I never wanted. Now… I can make something of myself.”

“Seek out the Mari clan,” Zu said, impulsively. “Go to my cousin, Kayli, and my Grandfather Gari. Tell them I sent you. You will be treated well, and can spend some time living with my family until you know what you wish to do with your life.”

Othima leaned forward and kissed Zu gently on the cheek. “Thank you, Zu Mari. You have done more for me than I would ever ask, more than I deserve by far.”

“You deserve a second chance,” Zu said. He withdrew the time field, allowing reality to slam back into them. “Go, and live well, Othima Otta.”

She bowed, deep and grateful, then departed.

Zu sighed in relief and hurried out of the village before anyone else could come bother him. He cut sideways into the forest, called Death Shadow, and lay down.

How long had it been since he last slept? Between loops, constant danger, and more loops, he didn’t think he’d rested since leaving the Mari lands. Regardless of his inner spirit and phoenix, right now he felt entirely worn out.

Zu checked that everyone would be fine, put up a moderate sized bubble, told Death Shadow and Little Otter to keep watch, and fell asleep.

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