Milly’s mouth moved, but no words emerged.

How does someone respond to being called a goddess?

She could see the shock in the elders’ faces and felt the heat of Calista’s glare on her back. Nobori lifted his head out of the sand just high enough for Milly to glimpse his grateful, sparking eyes. Only Rain’s calculating expression remained unchanged.

A week ago, Milly had failed to convince her coworkers to band together to defend against the attack that would ultimately claim so many Freelancer lives. Jacob Stone’s venomous words had turned the crowd against her, and they had declared her an enemy of the tower. Milly remembered the men hauling her to the lobby floor, and the power of Salem’s Fury coursing through her blood as she flung them away with her magic, cementing the fear in the eyes of her coworkers.

It's her fault!

Arrest the Witch!

Punish her! Make her pay!

It was all too familiar, and Milly’s resolve fractured.

“I… I’m not a goddess,” stammered Milly, slowly backpedaling away from the Elder’s council. “I’m not… a witch. I’m just Milly. Just Milly.”

“She’s a liar,” accused Elder Tidebreaker, “A liar who corrupts our youth. I will not stand to have such a foul influence in our midst.”

“Don’t you dare call her a liar,” Calista spat, her rage now drawn to Tidebreaker. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles went white. Whitewing tugged at Calista’s sleeve, trying to calm her down, but Calista ignored her.

“If we were to expel liars, Elder Tidebreaker, you’d be first to go,” Elder Sapphire retorted.

“And you would be second, Sapphire,” countered the monkey elder Durian.

The council collapsed into a flurry of accusations and anarchy, as Milly’s spark ignited a fire fueled by long-standing rivalries. Only the fox elder Lightpaw sat quietly amongst his peers, his eyes never leaving Milly. He gave her a sly wink and discreetly pointed towards Rain, who was running through the sand to Milly’s side.

“I think we’d better give them space,” Rain whispered as she grabbed hold of Milly’s arm and led her away from the council.

“Wait, Goddess, I need to thank you…” came the cry from Nobori, but his words only escalated the arguments to a new crescendo.

Rain led Milly wordlessly along the shoreline until they reached the edge of the Gathering. The elders’ arguments were soon eclipsed by playful music and the laughter of children emanating from the bazaar. Milly no longer found any joy in the symphony of sounds. It only served as a reminder that their fragile peace was about to be shattered.

How many of them will not see the next sunset?

“Rain… I…,” Milly tried to begin, but her words failed her.

“Why did you leave the gathering?” Rain asked her directly, without hesitation. “Calista and I deserve to know.”

“Rain…” Milly started, but she fumbled again. What can I say? “I can’t tell you. Or Calista. Or anyone. It was just… something I had to do.”

Rain waited in silence, carefully considering Milly’s words.

“Nobori and the fairies… I just happened across them. They were captive, and I couldn’t just let them stay that way,” Milly continued. “I don’t know why Nobori calls me a goddess. I’m not a goddess. I’m just a nobody.”

Rain sat down next to Milly in the sand. “Milly, you may not be a goddess, but you are not a nobody. Those fairies were lucky you were there.”

For a fleeting instant, Milly thought she had Rain’s support. The thought died when Milly saw the disappointment etched on Rain’s face as Rain continued.

“But freeing those fairies does not absolve you of what you did. I don’t understand why you will not tell us what you were doing. I don’t like it, and, frankly, I’m angry that you would put yourself in such danger after Calista and I watched you almost die.”

Rain pulled up Milly’s sleeve, revealing her scarred arm. “Do you know what it was like to watch you lying there, not knowing if you would make it? Do you understand the panic I felt when the fairy’s healing magic stopped working on your arm. I thought I was going to lose you, Milly.”

Rain’s tears broke through her calculating facade. “And everything I felt, Calista felt five times over. She watched over you every second of the day. She didn’t sleep. She barely ate. When the wolves came, she fought like a banshee to keep you safe. I’ve never anyone happier than she was when you finally opened your eyes.”

Milly hugged her knees to her chest, drowning in guilt.

“Then, only a day later, you rush off into the wilds, on your own, without telling us. You put yourself in grave danger and, to top it off, you lie to us when you get back? You can see why we are both… livid… at you right now.”

“I… I didn’t think…,” Milly stumbled. What can I say? I need to keep Luna's secret.

“No, it doesn’t seem like you did,” Rain said. “We could have helped you.”

They sat in silence for a long while, until Milly worked up the courage to ask the only question that mattered to her.

“Have… have I lost you, Rain? Have I lost Cally?” Milly mumbled, desperate for an answer. The guilt felt like it was crushing her chest and she struggled to breathe.

Rain did not give a quick answer. She sat beside Milly, piecing together a careful answer, and Milly felt the weight on her chest grow with each passing moment.

“I’m still your friend, Milly,” Rain finally answered. “I’m willing to accept that you can’t tell me what is going on, at least right now. But don’t ever lie to me. I cut the liars out of my life years ago, and I have no wish to replace them with others.”

“I’ll… I’ll try, Rain. But… there are things I can’t tell you. Not yet. Maybe not ever,” Milly whispered with remorse. “It’s… God Contest stuff.”

“Then tell me that. Tell me you can’t tell me. At least that is the truth,” Rain said, pressing her shoulder comfortingly against Milly. “Even if you can’t tell us, there may still a way Calista and I can help.”

Milly hadn’t considered that option. She’d seen her role as Inquisitor in black and white, with the need for secrecy requiring her to do it alone. Was there another way?

“Look, we don’t know what this God Contest will challenge us with,” Rain cautioned. “You’ve been told to keep it secret. But you need to consider whether this might be a means of creating a rift between players. We know the Gods are watching, and conflict like this would be entertaining to them. You need to keep your mind open to all possibilities.”

Rain’s words hit Milly like a hammer striking an anvil. What if she’s right? Was being Luna’s Inquisitor simply another God Contest challenge? Were her concerns simply an elaborate farce?

Milly shook her head in denial. No, it couldn’t be. It did not feel right. Luna by-passed the God Contest rules to assign her the Inquisitor subclass. Didn’t she?

Milly tried to dismiss the thought, but doubts lingered at the back of her mind.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“As for Calista,” Rain continued, putting a comforting arm around Milly’s shoulders. “She cares for you. I think she loves you. Nothing fuels anger like being hurt by the one you love. And you did hurt her, Milly. I don’t envy what is in store for you once this Arena is over. You may want to start practicing your apologies now.”

Milly released a muffled whimper and drew further within herself.

Rain gave a small but comforting laugh. “This is your first fight, Milly. Most people worry about losing a new love after their first fight. It’s normal. It’s just that most couples also aren’t trying to build their relationship in a game of life and death. This won’t be the only hurdle you and Calista will need to overcome.”

Rain stood and rested her hand gently on Milly’s head. “When this Arena is over, talk to her. Let her know how you feel. Then do better next time.”

Milly gave a sorrowful nod, but Rain’s words had given her a spark of hope.

“Good. Now, let Calista manage the Elders. She was already angry at them after their decision on Twotongue, and I’ll bet on Calista’s fury over the elders’ stubbornness any day. I’m going to go brew some more potions. The exploding kind. I get the feeling we’ll need as many as we can get.”

Rain opened her inventory and pulled out three small, cylindrical vials filled with a viscous blue liquid. “Here, I want you to have these. While you were unconscious, we came across a tiny ring of blue mushrooms. I was able to use them to create these Mana Potions, which will help replenish your magic when you run out.”

Milly placed them gently in her inventory. “Thanks Rain, for everything,” she sniffed. “What should I do?”

Rain pointed towards the gentle eastern slope that served as the passageway to the Gathering. The pathway was wide enough for eight wagons to descend side-by-side and its surface pressed flat by the footsteps of many generations of fairy kin. It was bordered by steeper rises on either side, making it a natural funnel to the Lake of Memories below.

“The wolves will come from that direction. They are vicious but lazy, so they will descend into this valley through the path of least resistance. It’s the best place to fight them, but we’d be stuck in the open. Think you can use your magic to build us some defenses?”

Milly recalled the terror at the Battle of Tower Beach as arrows cut down the exposed Freelancers. They had been unprepared, and it had cost them dearly. She would not let that happen again.

“I’ll do what I can,” Milly promised, wiping away the last of her tears. “I guess I can use my earth magic to build some walls.”

“Thanks Mils. I’ll get Calista to send some fairies to help after she convinces the Elders to fight,” Rain said. She turned and ran back to the Gathering, already pulling her potions supplies from her inventory.

Milly glanced up at the eastern passageway. Where do I even start? I can build a wall, but it won’t be enough to stop an onslaught of wolves.

“See, now why couldn’t you have hooked up with Rain? At least she’s halfway likeable, unlike Kill-Stealer Calista.”

Milly whipped around and came face to face with Xavier, leaning casually against a tree as he smirked in her direction. A dark blade hung at his waist, and he wore a black cloak and ring, though his clothing was still office attire, now torn and dirty. At his side stood a small fairy girl whose eyes flickered between Milly and the Gathering.

Milly had seen Xavier’s name on Luna’s monitor. She knew he would be at the Arena, but she did not expect him to be here right now. Was he eavesdropping on us?

“Xavier… I’m… glad you are safe. What are you doing here?” Milly asked cautiously.

“Escort mission,” Xavier answered simply, nudging the fairy girl. “I found this fairy girl in the jungle, all alone. A monster had ambushed her tribe, and she was the only survivor. I escorted her to the safety of this Gathering thing. Isn’t that right, Passiflora?”

As Xavier answered her question, Milly felt a shiver run down her spine, as if his words were nails on a chalkboard. The feeling faded as his answer ended, but the disturbing sensation felt locked in her mind.

Passiflora nodded her agreement, but Milly could see the fear behind her eyes.

“Then, your mission is complete, right?” Milly prompted, stepping closer to Xavier. She wished she had taken one of Rain’s magic potions. Her own magic was only a quarter recovered. “She’s free to head into the Gathering?”

Milly saw the faintest glimmer of anger pass across Xavier’s face, but a moment later it disappeared. “Of course she is. I can’t turn in the quest until she leaves anyway.”

Milly felt another shiver run up her spine.

Xavier knelt beside Passiflora, his arm clutching her shoulder. “You’re safe, little one. Remember what we talked about. I’d be a shame to have to… save you again. Understand?”

Milly felt the shiver return.

“I… I understand,” Passiflora squeaked out, before turning around and running as fast as she could towards the Gathering.

“I hate escort missions,” Xavier complained when Passiflora was out of sight. “And you wouldn’t believe how much of a pain in the ass that little fairy was. Now, why are you three here?”

“Is that how you’re going to play this?” Milly asked sharply. “You show up and insult my girlfriend, and expect me to forget about you being a jackass at the Arena of Choice? You didn’t even bother to stick around to see if I was safe. There has been a lot has happened since you abandoned last week, and I’m not in the mood for any of your usual bullshit.”

Xavier simply shrugged. “We both survived. That’s all that matters. Though you should have taken my advice. You’d be much stronger now if you’d spent time leveling up on your own. It sounds like you tried to do that tonight and Rain and your new girlfriend are holding you back.”

Milly clenched her fists tight, fighting the urge to prove him wrong. “I don’t have time for this Xavier. The Arena starts in less than five hours, and I’ve got to prepare.”

Milly stalked past Xavier towards the eastern slope, looking for a place to start.

“An Arena?” Xavier asked excitedly, following her. “Ah, that army of wolves I passed by?”

“The Arena of Protection. They attack the fairies at dawn, and we’ve got to protect them,” Milly divulged. “I’m getting our defenses ready.”

Xavier laughed. “You? What do you know about tower defense games? Have you ever played one?”

“I know more than I did when I last saw you,” Milly spat angrily. “There was a battle at the Castle of Glass. A lot of people died, Xavier. We could have used your help, but you were off being a selfish little asshole.”

“A battle?” exclaimed Xavier. “I wish I had known. I must have missed a ton of experience points.”

Milly’s fist collided with Xavier’s chin. Knocked off his feet, Xavier flew backwards and collided with a willow tree. The force of the impact caused branches and leaves to rain down on his prone form. Milly was breathing heavily, and her knuckles ached from the blow. It was like striking a brick wall.

“Fuck you, Xavier,” Milly spat, her hand glowing blue as she healed her knuckles. “And fuck your experience. We lost friends that day. I watched as we burned their bodies. Maybe they would be alive today if you had been there to help.”

Xavier picked himself off the ground and brushed the leaves casually from his cloak. He touched his lips and saw blood on his fingers. Standing in silence, his eyes flickering as if he were having a conversation that Milly could not hear. Brief glimpses of anger flashed across his face, until Xavier removed the black ring from his finger and placed it in his inventory.

He looked at Milly, his anger dissipated. He started to laugh.

“Damn, Milly. You’ve gotten stronger,” he said, hands glowing healing blue as he healed the cut on his chin. “What’s your strength at now?”

“My strengths and weaknesses are best kept secret. Isn’t that what you told me on the first day, Xavier?” Milly said coldly, watching Xavier heal himself. His Healer’s Touch is slower than mine. Does that mean his magic attribute is lower?

Xavier smiled. It was the smug but harmless smile he used to give her before the God Contest, and for an instant Milly saw the old Xavier emerge from beneath his growing callousness. “I suppose I did say that. The student is becoming the master.”

Milly turned and stalked away from Xavier, headed up the eastern pathway. She was not in the mood for his sanctimonious self-congratulations.

“You aren’t being fair, Milly,” Xavier said, keeping pace with her. “You can’t blame me for the death of those players. It’s not like I knew that would happen after we beat the Arena. I didn’t even go back to the Castle after that.”

“… people,” Milly corrected.

“What?” Xavier asked.

“They are people, not players,” Milly said.

Xavier threw his arms up in exasperation. “People. Players. Whatever. What the hell is your problem?”

Milly did not answer him. At the base of the eastern passageway, she placed her hands against the ground and drew forth a wall of stone with her earth magic. The smooth stone rose six feet into the air and was long enough for four fairies to comfortably hide behind. She added a two-foot-wide lip to the top of the wall to shield them from arrows.

“Add narrow slits in the middle. Here, and here,” Xavier instructed, pointing towards the stone. “The fairies will need to see their targets.”

“… Fine,” Milly mumbled. She placed her fingers where he had pointed and shaped the stone as if it were putty.

“I’ve played my fair share of tower defense games. It’s more enjoyable than an escort mission.” Xavier said as he started slicing branches off a nearby willow with his black blade. Each strike was precise and powerful, carving through the branches with ease. He leaned the branches against the outside of the new stone wall.

“Camouflage,” Xavier explained. “We don’t want the wolves to see us waiting for them. We’ll need at least a dozen of these, and we can set up traps along the path. Pitfalls, or we can drop boulders on them from above. You didn’t answer my question earlier.”

“What?”

“How did you, Rain and the bit… Calista get here?”

Milly paused for a moment, irritated. “Escort mission,” she said simply, returning to her stone shaping. “And call her that again, and you’ll find out just how strong I am.”

Xavier barked out a laugh. “Is that a promise?”

Milly got to her feet, her patience at an end. “Xavier, there are a thousand fairies at the Gathering who might be wiped out in a few hours. You want to be my friend again? How about you show me you are human first, rather than some heartless gamer who only sees them as bags of experience.” Her words were sharp as she poured the hardships of the day into each syllable.

Xavier considered Milly for a long time as he fought against his pride. “Fine,” he finally said with an exasperated sigh. “I’ll start setting up some traps.”

Xavier stalked up the eastern passage, slicing off branches as he went. “You can count on me, Milly.”

The shiver ran up Milly’s spine once more, and she finally understood what it meant.

It was her Ceaseless Skepticism talent from the Inquisitor subclass activating.

Xavier was lying.