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“Ronin, I’m done with them! Let’s run! A god’s possession is incredibly dangerous and nearly omnipotent, even if it’s only for a short time,” Warzheil urges.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aZLg4Y7jg
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Even though I am supposed to be a pro, I got so emotional over meeting my sister, but I know better than to succumb to my emotions and die.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAU7dDE7nv
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This had become a bad and yet very convenient habit of mine over years, I could just suppress my feelings, my emotions but its always helped me in times like these where I need to be wiser not emotional, thankfully Warzheil’s intervention snaps me out of my emotional turmoil. He’s right; we must escape. But if it’s a goddess, can’t she just catch us? I need to buy him time to get away.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CtK2hRxaR
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Drax’s skeletal remains hung over his back, missing parts. Where did they go?128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vV3KgPTdj
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Did he put them in his strange dimensional pocket? And now that I think about it, Warzheil looks Bigger, does he possess the ability to increase his size?.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZziERzZs4Z
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But I don’t have time to think about it seriously.
“You go ahead; I’ll stall her,” I declare, determination hardening my resolve.
Warzheil nods, understanding the gravity of the situation, and takes off into the underbrush.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjNZu9hehC
“You better not die lad, don’t push your luck and run when you find your chance.” Warzheil says to me128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF6QV1buqe
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“I saw him fighting earlier, his fighting style is very scary, he is mana-less and yet he was beating one of the seven heroes, I had my doubts, but the more I see him the more I think he is the one Drax was trying to call.” Warzheil thinks as he runs.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmxrbibgWv
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Run, huh? from a deity no less, this old man doesn't seem to understand what he is asking of me.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh1SSoeUEi
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“It’s useless; I will retrieve the divine skeleton, after I put you down.” Ava states, her voice chilling as she begins to levitate. I put on my mask again as it was getting too dusty.
“Divine Art: Divine Possession!” she intones softly.
Suddenly, energies around me surge toward her, launching a shockwave that clears the area. The boulder supporting Drax’s skeleton is obliterated, debris flying in all directions.
Ava descends gracefully to the ground, her presence radiating an enormous aura. I can see it clearly with my left eye. She raises her hand, and everything around me is enveloped in a blinding white veil, leaving only a two-meter radius of grass untouched. The air around me feels heated up, and the dust makes my nose itch.
“Grave of Light,” she intones, her voice distorted, echoing as if a multitude of voices spoke from the void.
I’m surrounded by millions of spikes of light, and panic surges within me. I can’t dodge them all. As she waves her hand downward, I close my eyes, bracing for the end.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzhuaogOWN
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Maybe it’s not so bad to die by my sister’s hand. She’s happy in this world. I’m happy for her. So what if I couldn’t live a good life? This is enough; I can finally rest.
Moments pass, but nothing happens. Slowly, I open my eyes, and to my surprise, the spikes surround me, yet I remain unharmed in my small patch of grass.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBwkGTlFsl
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The barrier protects me even from divine magic. I’ve always wanted to use magic, but having a magic-nullifying shield feels like cheating, that’s not bad at all. Is some god watching over me?
Ava tilts her head, her glowing eyes narrowing slightly. The white veil dissipates, revealing the clearing we were in before. Her eyes, now devoid of pupils, emit a fierce white light.
“So, you have mana resistance. I’ll use my divine powers then,” she declares, her voice still unsettling.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMihgu3JgKd
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Wait, that wasn’t divine magic?
“I thought gods didn’t speak to us,” I reply, stalling for time. If that wasn’t her divine magic then there is still a change I can get hit, even if I go down I shouldn’t just surrender and shame my forefathers.
She raises her hand to unleash an attack, but I refuse to wait passively. I charge toward her. She clenches her fist, as if to crush something, and I can see the concern flicker across her face. I’m finally close enough to strike, swinging my staff at her, but she blocks my attack with her sword.
“Interesting; I cannot detect you using or manipulating the world laws yet Mana and divine powers don’t work on you. Then How about physical attacks?” she muses, swinging her sword with brutal force.
I barely manage to dodge, rolling under her sword and sliding along its edge with my spear. The sheer strength of her swing cleaves through the forest, cutting down trees for kilometres. If I’m hit, I’ll be sliced in half for sure.
I use the momentum of my roll to transition smoothly, planting one hand firmly on the ground. With a swift twist of my body, I push off and swing my leg in a wide arc, delivering a powerful spinning kick aimed at her head. The fluidity of the movement—rolling into a strike—catches her off guard for a split second, but she blocks it effortlessly with her forearm.
Using the rebound from her block, I twist my hips and bring my other leg up in a follow-through kick, slamming my foot into her knee. The impact forces her to stumble, her balance momentarily disrupted.
Before I can press the advantage, she vanishes in a blur of motion, reappearing mid-air, hovering just above me like a Specter of divine power. Her glowing eyes bore into me, her astonishment evident despite her otherworldly composure.
“Even among gods, not many have managed to land an attack like that, You should be honoured Strange Mortal.” she says, her voice tinged with intrigue, as if she’s trying to decipher the enigma before her.
“How is this possible? He should have been dead. Is this the power of a No. 1?” Ava contemplates internally, her mind racing.
“Calm down, child. I searched the records of Earth and found no instance of a being called Shar. Your brother never existed, yet I can find traces of him spoken of in that world. He is a being that defies space-time, only the All-Mighty being that Drax worshipped and called Legend God could do that.”
“What does my brother have to do with this?” Ava questions, her confusion palpable.
“You are such a dull child, Ava. But since fate intends not to tell you, you will have to find the answer to that question yourself. I may not understand his existence, but it’s easy to read human emotions.”
As she floats there, I seize the opportunity to escape. I toss compact smoke bombs—small spheres that explode into a thick cloud. Even if she’s a goddess, this should blind her for a moment.
I run through the forest, branches clawing at my face, the ground uneven beneath my feet. My lungs burn, but I push forward. After what feels like an eternity, I finally spot Warzheil standing in the distance, scanning the area anxiously.
“Ronin! You’re alive!” he exclaims as I approach, relief flooding his features. “I was about to turn back. Don’t tell me you actually beat her?”
“No,” I pant, bending over to catch my breath. “I just bought us enough time to get out of there. Where’s Drax’s body?”
Warzheil smirks and pats something hanging from his belt—a small, ornate pouch that glimmers faintly in the moonlight. “Relax. He’s safe. I’ve got him right here.”128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2c53E99HR
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“I knew that pocket of yours was something but damn is it big.” I ask128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl293Pkvxjn
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“Don’t worry, I will give you one soon once I have the chance.” He says
“And Talking about big, I saw you were looking very big yourself. Is that you ability?” I ask as we walk.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q2FW1BU24
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“Yes, that an innate power we dwarven-kind have, we can use some of our lifeforce to turn into a giant for some time. I lost 1 year of my life in escaping till here.” He said128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tIrUH0Xsm
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“I hope you live long, old man. I wouldn’t want my first friend in this world die in front of my eyes so soon.” I say teasing him.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr9rnFqbv0
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“I will live long don’t worry, lad” he says128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZfqnKxcwL
“Lad?” I say in retaliation.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6onRuEqjZ
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“Oh? What else should I call you then?” he asks128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVXkhdhUqc
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“I may look like a young man but I am actually 41 years old.” I say128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6qZJ98FdZ
“Now that’s a surprise, but guess what, I am around 200 years old myself, so I am older than you”128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS6kgqzErb
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“God, you are not old you are ancient.” I say with an overreacting step backwards.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKWmDJ5KAE
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“Hahahaha, you have a long way to go, Lad.” He says in a teasing tone but I don’t mind it now.
I shake my head, still incredulous. “So, all that running with a dragon skeleton on your back was just for show?”
Warzheil chuckles. “Not entirely. I didn’t want to risk opening the pocket in a chaotic fight. It’s tricky to manage in the middle of battle, and the last thing we need is for Drax’s remains to spill out into the forest.”
“Fair enough,” I mutter, still catching my breath. The idea of Drax’s massive skeleton tucked neatly into that tiny pouch is surreal, but I’m too drained to question it further.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oOJK2MYgK
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There seem to be a strange vibe between us. Maybe I know what it is, and I feel like Warzheil knows to as next thing he asks me shakes me a little.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbfUKBZ1JE
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Warzheil pats my shoulder. “You did good back there. Surviving against divine possession? That’s no small feat, Ronin. You might not realize it, but you’re tougher than most.”128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtVYmanwwU
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“Is it so obvious?” I ask with a sad expression and a sigh.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXERr1hJVf
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“No matter how hard you hide behind that mask, a man cannot hide his grief, lad. Did she step on a painful nerve?” he asks128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LPUHh43Hm
“That’s my sister, I was looking for her back in my world, and now here she is, in this world, and just when I though I found her….” I said but Warzheil caught on.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v7TZ7X8yS
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“She was angry, huh? Even while fighting I could hear her screaming in anger. Never thought I would see a hero so frustrated Against a Mana-less” he said
I glance at him, my chest still heavy with doubt. “She said she doesn’t need me, Warzheil. She has her own life now. She’s happy. And me? I’m just a painful part of her past she’s already left behind.” I say removing my mask feeling oily.
Warzheil’s expression softens, his usual smirk replaced with something more genuine. “Hey, come on. Your sister’s alive, and she’s strong. That’s something to be proud of.”
I nod, though his words do little to ease the ache in my chest. I glance at the pouch on his belt, the faint glow from its seams casting a soft light in the dark forest.
“At least Drax is safe,” I say quietly.
“Damn right he is,” Warzheil replies with a grin. “Now let’s get moving before anything else comes sniffing around for him.”
But seeing me still sad, Warzheil praises me.
“Hey, come on, lad! Your sister is fine. And now you can live a fine life too. But I hope you do fulfil Drax’s task too. He may be someone who only dragged you into this world, but for him, you are supposed to be his god.”
“A god, huh? And I couldn’t defeat a goddess weaker than my devotee at her lowest form?” I reply, a hint of self-doubt creeping in.
“Hahaha, I’m sure you will get there soon enough,” Warzheil reassures me with a chuckle.
As night falls my get over the sadness and we set up camp near the Kobe River, which resembles an ocean more than a river.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeXuf2d8Lz
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The faint sound of the Kobe River whisper into our ears, Warzheil begins unpacking his supplies and starts preparing a simple vegetable dish while I sit by the fire, staring into the flames.
“So, Ronin,” Warzheil says casually, glancing over his shoulder as he chops some vegetables. “Can you cook? Or is your skillset limited to fighting goddesses and surviving impossible situations?”
The unexpected question pulls me from my thoughts. I chuckle, shaking my head. “I can cook,” I reply, leaning back against a log. “Where I come from, food isn’t just about filling your stomach—it’s a practice, a way to bring order to life when day exhausts you. After my parents were gone, I had to take care of my siblings. Cooking was one of the few things that made me feel... grounded.”
Warzheil pauses, raising an eyebrow. “Grounded, huh? My clan always said, ‘A meal shared is a burden halved.’ I never put much thought into it, but I suppose there’s truth in that.”
I nod. “There is. Preparing food isn’t just a task—it’s a responsibility. You learn patience, precision, and respect. In my home, wasting food was considered a Disrespect to those who grew, provided, and prepared it.”
Warzheil smirks. “Didn’t expect you to sound like a monk, Lad.”
“It’s... a way of life, part of my origins back on Earth,” I explain, choosing my words carefully. “We believed in spirituality, and living in harmony with the world around us. I believe in many things and one of which was, ‘cooking is great’; it was almost sacred to me. When life got... darker, those beliefs were the only piece of my old self I could cling to. Even as a hitman, I kept cooking. It was one thing the darkness couldn’t take from me.”
Warzheil whistles, impressed. “An Assassin who knows his way around the kitchen? Now that’s something. Care to show me what you’ve got?”
I smirk, rising from my spot by the fire. “Fine. Let me see what you’ve been working with.”
I step over to his makeshift cooking area, inspecting the assortment of vegetables and the pot of water simmering over the fire. Warzheil hands me a knife and instruct me on what kind of vegetables I was dealing with since I was new to the world’s flora, after learning about them I start slicing the vegetables with practiced precision.
“By Thunders, Lad, you’re fast,” Warzheil remarks, watching me work.
“Years of practice,” I reply, adding the vegetables to the pot. “Cooking was like therapy for me. It was the one part of my life where I could create instead of destroy.”
Warzheil grins. “Well, lucky me. I get to eat food made by a Spiritual Assassin. That’s got to be a first in this world.”
I can’t help Chuckle as I stir the pot, seasoning the dish with a few spices he had packed. The aroma begins to fill the air, and for the first time since the battle with Ava, I Exhale with force, as if a burden was lifted from my chest. Turn out Dwarves are experts on improving the mood of other.
“So, this is the Kobe River, huh?” I ask, breaking the silence as I glance toward the massive waterway. “But does the sun rise from the East or the North here?”
“Fine then, Let me tell you a little about how things work in our world just a bit,” Warzheil says “We call them Ocean rivers as they are massive. Small streams or rivers are extremely rare; most went extinct ages ago. We are headed east, and the sun rises from the North. The Kobe Forest behind us is the Western Kobe Forest, while the one we will reach after crossing the Dratnir Bridge will be the Eastern Kobe Forest.”
As we talk, the dish finishes cooking. I scoop some into bowls, handing one to Warzheil before sitting down to eat my own.
“Not bad,” Warzheil says between bites, his eyes widening in surprise. He nods approvingly. “Actually, scratch that—it’s damn good! A little spicy, but it suits me perfectly. I think I might keep you around just for the cooking.”
I chuckle softly, savouring the warmth of the food. “Glad you like it. People of my land don’t shy away from bold Flavors. The spice is just as important as the dish itself.”
“And where exactly are you from?” Warzheil asks, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.
I exhale, my gaze lingering on the fire. “A place called Rajputana,” I say, nostalgia creeping into my voice. “It used to be a land of warriors and kings, but by my time, survival had taken a different form. The swords were long gone, but the will to fight remained—only now, the battles were against time, technology, and the weight of history itself.”
Warzheil tilts his head. “Sounds like a harsh place. Got any stories about these warriors of yours?”
I take a slow bite, letting the memories settle before speaking. “Hmm, a story, huh? There are many but I can remember one of them which you might like. Back in Marwar, they used to tell tales of a warrior who kept fighting even after his head was severed from his body. He held his sword in one hand and his shield in the other, cutting through his enemies before finally falling.”
Warzheil lets out a low whistle. “That’s... insane. Fighting without a head? You sure they weren’t telling bedtime stories to scare kids?”
I smirk. “Dead serious. They called it sheesh kat Vijay Yodh—victory beyond death “ I exhale with a small pause. ”It wasn’t about just fighting. It was about will. About refusing to fall until your duty to your motherland was done.”
Warzheil leans back, shaking his head. “Your people sound like they were made for war. Makes me wonder how they’d fare against the beasts in this world.”
“I am sure They’d have given them a run for their money,” I reply, the pride evident in my tone. “My grandfather told me how Warriors of my nation were less about hostility and more about hospitality and surviving, although that changed with time. The land demanded it. But it wasn’t just about strength—it was about honour, about protecting what mattered most, even if it meant giving your life to follow the philosophy.”
Warzheil leans back, clearly impressed. “Thunder bless you Lad. No wonder you’ve got that fire in you.”
I give him a small smile, though the lingering ache in my chest doesn’t let me fully enjoy the moment. “It’s the only way I know how to be. Yet all I could do was be used by some fools.”
Warzheil tilts his head, studying me. “You are pretty tough yourself lad, Let me guess—someone taught you that toughness, didn’t they? No one’s born with it unless they are gods.”
“You’re right,” I reply, my voice softening. “It was my grandfather. He was the one who taught me how to be as tough as those warriors I told you about. After my parents were gone, he took it upon himself to raise me, my little brother, and my sister. He wasn’t just a guardian—he was a force of nature. Disciplined, fearless, and relentless. He taught me how to fight, how to endure, and how to carry the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.”
Warzheil leans closer, intrigued. “Sounds like a hell of a man. Was he a warrior too?”
“Not in the way you’d imagine,” I say, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “He knew martial arts and survival skills like no other, but he wasn’t some grand general or battle-hardened soldier. He was a man of discipline. He believed in the power of effort, focus, and resilience. He always said that strength wasn’t just about what you could do with your fists—it was about what you could endure and still keep striding forward even if you face a hurricane.”
I pause, the flickering firelight reflecting in my eyes as I think back. “My grandfather was a master of balance. He was well-versed in both Spiritual and martial ways. He knew the philosophies, and the disciplines like the back of his hand. He performed sacred fire rituals with a precision and reverence that could silence even the harshest critic. Not because he had to, but because he believed they were vital to maintaining harmony and balance within the family and retaining our history.”
Warzheil listens quietly, his expression contemplative.
“But me?” I continue, my voice tinged with a mix of regret and nostalgia, “I wasn’t like him. I watched him do those stuff, but I never truly understood them. I respected them, of course, but they weren’t something I ever took the time to learn. He tried to teach me, but... I guess I thought I had more pressing matters to focus on—learning to fight, to protect my family. Back then I was immature, I didn’t see how those rituals and teachings were just as important as my spear.”
I glance at the fire again, my jaw tightening. I say, my voice growing more reflective, “They say that An elder lost is equivalent to losing an aspect of your culture. When my grandfather disappeared... it wasn’t just losing a person—it felt like losing a part of myself, a part of my identity. He was the one who kept us grounded, who reminded us of who we were, even when the world tried to break us. Above all, I loved him, I normally don’t discuss about him but this is my first time, sharing this part of me with someone else.”
Warzheil’s expression softens, his usual grin fading into something more serious. “I feel honoured, But What do you mean, disappeared?” he asks quietly.
“He just... vanished,” I say, my voice heavy. “One day, he went out on one of his usual trips to the temple and never came back just like how my parents disappeared in an accident. No goodbyes, no sign of a struggle—nothing. After I destroyed the Shadow Company, I turned over every stone, followed every lead, hoping to find some trace of him along with my search for my sister. But it was like he was never there to begin with.”
Warzheil frowns, his brows knitting together. “That doesn’t sound natural. No one just vanishes without a trace.”
Before the weight of my words can fully settle, Warzheil suddenly laughs, the sound breaking through the sombre mood like a crack of thunder. “Who knows?” he says, grinning. “Maybe he ended up here, like you.”
I blink, my forced smile fading as my face twists into a look of shock. For a moment, I can’t speak. My mind races as I consider the possibility—a possibility I had never entertained before. Could it be? Could he really be here, somewhere in this strange world? From my recent experiences all I can think about is the possibility of him being here too.
Warzheil’s grin falters as he sees my reaction. “Hey, hey, don’t take it too seriously,” he says quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I was just joking. The odds of that happening are, uh, pretty slim. Right?”
But his attempt to calm me does little to stop the thoughts now spiralling in my mind. I shake my head, the idea taking root despite myself. “No,” I say quietly, almost to myself. “It’s not impossible. If I ended up here... why not him?”
Warzheil shifts uncomfortably, clearly unsure of what to say. “Ronin,” he starts, his tone cautious, “don’t let it get your hopes up too much. I mean, this world has its own rules—its own... ways of bringing people here. It’s not exactly predictable.”
“I know,” I say, though my voice carries a new determination. “But if there’s even the slightest chance, I can’t ignore it. I have to at least consider it.”
Warzheil exhales deeply, his hands dropping to his sides. “Fair enough,” he says, his grin returning, though less pronounced this time. “But let’s focus on getting through this mess first, yeah? Then maybe we can figure out if there’s any truth to my crazy idea.”
I nod, though my thoughts are already elsewhere, the possibility stirring something within me—a fragile glimmer of hope I hadn’t felt in years.
The fire crackles between us as the conversation turns to lighter topics, the weight of the moment easing slightly. Warzheil explains the history of the Dratnir Bridge, its colossal size, and the relics that support it. As his voice grows softer, I find myself drifting into sleep, the weight of the day finally catching up to me.
The last thing I hear is Warzheil sharing details about the bridge—the four Dratnir robots stationed at equal distances across it, the three Dratnir Colossus supporting it as pillars, and the story of a mad human king who tried to monopolize the bridge for tax collection.
Suddenly, a screech pierces the air, jolting me awake.
“What’s that?” I ask groggily, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Warzheil’s face sets in a determined expression. “It’s my fault that I forgot to tell you. The lich can sense the dead from leagues away, and the mana spilling from within my dimensional pocket where Drax’s body is stored is making us a beacon. Right now, every being within 50 kilometres probably knows our location.”
I stare at him, my pulse quickening. “Wait, you mean the pocket isn’t sealed enough to contain the mana?”
Warzheil grimaces, adjusting the pouch on his belt. “Dimensional pockets aren’t perfect. They’re great for storing things physically, but when it comes to something as powerful as Drax’s remains, the mana can’t be fully contained. It leaks, like steam from a boiling pot. I thought it would be minor enough to go unnoticed, but clearly, I underestimated just how much energy Drax is radiating.”
“Great,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “So not only do we have to worry about the lich, but who knows what else might come sniffing around.”
Warzheil nods grimly. “Exactly. We need to move now before anything worse shows up.”
"Tch—Damn it!“ is all I can manage as we hastily pack up, the urgency of the situation driving us into the night.
One moment, Warzheil and I are running, our breaths sharp in the cold night air. The next—everything stops.
The leaves above us halt mid-sway, frozen as if caught in glass. The wind dies in my ears. Even Warzheil's torch, its fire once flickering wildly, is locked in place, its flames casting long, unmoving shadows.
The silence is suffocating. A wrongness settles over the world, pressing down on my senses like a weight I can't shake.**
And then, through the stillness, light begins to gather.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu97h64f5dI
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Before me, a pure white figure made of ethereal energy materializes, radiating an aura of calm yet undeniable power. Her form flickers, almost like a mirage, and I can see her clearly only through my left eye.
"Shar. Ronin. Man of Death. The anomaly of space."
A pause lingers, deliberate. Her voice is soft—peaceful, even—but it carries a weight that presses into my mind, as if spoken directly into my thoughts.
I narrow my eyes to better make out her face but its all white.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEaRmiD0UG
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My mask—stuffed into a makeshift bag Warzheil prepared for me—feels like a missing part of myself. Without it, I feel exposed, a stranger in my own skin.
And yet, her voice… it doesn’t strike like normal speech. It’s soft, almost soothing, but it resonates in my skull like a thought not entirely my own.
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“I trust Drax’s body to you. If you must, take his power for yourself. Yes, I know you can. But by any means, do not let the Lich or the Demon Lord get their hands on it, or there will be cataclysmic consequences.”
I stare at her, my mind racing. "You know who I am," I say, my voice low. "My past too.
"Did you tell Ava about me?" I say, my voice low. “You know who I am, don’t you? My past too? Did you tell Ava about me?”
Her expression remains serene, unreadable. The stillness around us feels suffocating, like the air itself is waiting for her next words.
“Rest assured, I will not disrupt the wheels of fate more than your existence already has. But she will eventually discover the truth for herself. And for your peace of mind, I do consider you an enemy to the order in this world.”
Enemy?. It shouldn’t matter—it's not the first time I’ve been called that—but coming from a goddess, it carries a weight beyond mortal judgment. I nod slowly, the meaning sinking in.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SI4Rzl2CW
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“That’s fine,” I say after a moment, voice steady, “as long as you don’t meddle with her or me. I know this may sound strange to you—and it feels just as awkward to say—but if you’re really the guardian Ava believes in, then at least do this much: call me if she or her family is ever in danger." ”
Her gaze turns solemn, the divine glow around her dimming just slightly, like a flickering candle. “I can’t,” she replies.
I frown. “Why?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend. “Aren’t you her protector?”
“I do not have the time to track a mana-less being such as you merely to inform you of her well-being,” she says, voice cool. “We deities have matters far greater to attend to.”
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I clench my jaw. Of course. The gods are always busy. Always distant.
"Matters like what? You came in person, so clearly something's wrong. Should I assume it’s tied to what’s happening right now?" I ask.
Ethis’s eyes snap to mine—sharp, unreadable. This time, I have her full attention.
"Shar. This is an absolute. If the Lich reaches Drax, the world will suffer for it. Do not let that happen."
A strange chill runs through me, I feel a mix of frustration and anger. “You won’t stop it?”
“I will not,” she answers without hesitation. “And neither will any other deity.”
The stillness between us deepens.
I exhale through my nose, forcing myself to stay calm. “Why?”
Ethis tilts her head slightly, her voice as steady as ever. “The Lich seeks more than just power. If it reaches Drax’s remains, it will uncover something that should never resurface. Something that could unravel the fragile balance of this world breaking from his servitude of the King of darkness.”
A beat of silence.
“So stop it,” I say.
Ethis shakes her head. “That task falls to you.”
A weight settles in my chest. I don’t fear responsibility, but this—this is different.
“If the Lich gets to Drax,” she continues, “even you will not be able to undo what follows.”
She steps back—not physically, but in a way that feels like she’s withdrawing from the conversation entirely.
“This time stop is not something I can maintain for long.”
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I want to argue, to demand why she can interfere now but not when it actually matters, but before I can speak, she moves.
Not a step, not a fade—just gone. A breath ago, she was standing before me, still as the frozen world. Now, nothing.
The world jolts back into motion. The wind rushes past my ears, Warzheil’s torch flames dance once more, and the sound of our footsteps echoes through the night.
I exhale slowly, shaking myself out of the daze, and pick up my pace, hurrying to catch up before Warzheil notices.
Ethis’s words linger, curling around my thoughts like smoke. Enemy. Fate. A protector who will not protect.
I don’t like what any of it means.
"I force my feet to move, catching up to Warzheil before he notices. But Ethis’s words don’t leave me. They coil around my thoughts, whispering of fate, failure, and gods who refuse to act."
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