It felt strange to be disconnected from my own body once more. Fighting the urge to regain control, I mentally probed for any clue about Raenne's plan. She ignored me—though I sensed the faintest pang of guilt from her. Then, she shut me out completely, concentrating on the act of sleeping. For the first time in a long while, I truly felt alone.

  It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I was just… adrift. There was no way to see my surroundings, let alone manipulate them. Just darkness, quiet, and my own thoughts—nothing else.

  Now, that might be a decent way to pass the time. Were my thoughts truly my own? Or had the past heroes shoved things around in my subconscious? What if they were responsible for why I overthink things?

  Hmm.

  Do I overthink things? Or do I simply argue with my own faulty thoughts? But wouldn’t that just make the argument another thought? Maybe it wasn’t overthinking—just a constant back-and-forth of perfectly timed counter-thoughts. What if they happen to be the exact opposite of whatever I come up with? What if I had two thoughts on every matter, or three, but only one won out?

  I once read that we don’t actually think about several things at once—our attention just flickers between them so fast it only feels like we’re masters of multitasking. Since action follows thought, and thought is just our brain analyzing whatever we perceive…

  What was I doing, trying to bore myself to sleep?

  I probably didn’t even know what I was talking about. Er… Thinking about.

  With my thoughts about thoughts spinning in endless circles, I was almost ready to believe that entire years had passed faster than this particular night. At least Raeanne had the decency to wake up at dawn—promptly and efficiently. From the moment she opened her eyes, her thoughts were a constant stream of consciousness half manifested.

  “A destined morn. Praise be to Euphridia. To battle? The sword. Arms practice? Precedence—nourishment. ...Mind thy words. Hail the Keeper of the Dark Arts… With simple air. Well-wrought ruses keep the peace.”

  Do you think you can fool her? I demanded, pretending to be upset with my current predicament.

  She flinched, pausing mid-stride. While she did not respond, it was evident that she did not think she could pass Nora’s litmus test.

  “The journal may lend aid… a record of prior salutation?”

  Hey! You stay out of that! Invasion of privacy!

  “I undertake this burdensome Purpose for the sake of us both,” she silently replied, opening the leather book. “What manner of scrawl is this?”

  I had Nora encrypt it to keep unwanted people out of it. You know, like you?

  “I perceive no difference in secrecy between this journal and sharing our thoughts.”

  I do, though. You’re not always there, and you aren’t the only one I want to keep out of my journal.

  She uttered a few oaths as she slammed the journal shut, tucking it back into my cloak pocket. “Trifling diversions. The violet-eyed one shall but lay any discord at the feet of thy troubled humours.”

  She… My… What?

  “If she perceives a change in demeanor… She will blame… Your…” Her thought cut off as she searched for a synonym. “Disquiets. Of which you have in great plenty!”

  Who could blame me for having disquiets right now?!

  Raeanne proceeded to find breakfast, inevitably meeting up with my companions. Nora was smart enough to maintain a straight face as Raeanne executed her morning greeting, concluding with a solemn acknowledgment that she was my “constant and true-hearted comrade.”

  Tetora was too distracted with yesterday’s events to notice anything about me. Aleph seemed a bit unobservant as well. He had spent most of the previous evening attempting to console Tetora, and guilt gnawed at me for not following up on how things had turned out. I could make excuses for myself through Raeanne, but the truth was I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t make it worse. As always, Aleph acted as his rock, and I felt a mixture of relief and guilt as a result.

  Vernie just kept eying me, but I could almost hear her thoughts: She probably hit her head again or something.

  Relias was the last to join us, and the moment our eyes met, I felt Raeanne stiffen with anger and hopeless heartbreak. She shook herself out of a momentary paralysis and took a deep breath, tearing her eyes away from him.

  “At least he managed to escape…”

  Raeanne proceeded to help herself to breakfast, carefully selecting a balanced meal: an egg, a strip of grayish meat, a few boiled potatoes… It looked a bit bland, but I wasn’t in a position to confirm the taste. The moment her plate was clean, she stood up.

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  “I shall take to my arms now. Let none disturb me for the hour I devote to meditation.”

  Oh yes. That sounds just like me. Bravo.

  Relias was the first to object. “Chosen One… Perhaps we should review our plan of events? I believe there is such a thing as overtraining… If you exert too much energy before—”

  “I am well aware of mine own physical limits, Relias,” she snapped through my lips. “I have no need to be reminded. With this knowledge, I shall align myself with these holy arms, that I might transcend and fulfill mine destined Purpose."

  Without waiting for a response, she stormed toward the door, her steps echoing sharply. Behind us, hushed murmurs stirred among the others. As subtly as possible, I pressed my thumb and forefinger together as a silent, backhanded signal to Nora that I was still around.

  Raeanne stood in the training yard, rolling my shoulders back as if adjusting herself to fit into my frame. To my hot disappointment, none of her sword skills seemed novel. She seemed to favor forward movements, putting her weight behind the blade with most swings. She varied her targets a little, but it felt like she was working out a few kinks more than anything.

  I had hoped she had a trick up her sleeve I could copy, but maybe it was too early for her to reveal her hand. I still had quite a bit of time before noon, and I wanted to give Nora a chance to explain what was happening, generally speaking.

  Raeanne took breaks often, stretching her limbs in between practiced movements. For one long rest, she propped herself against a nearby wall, her thoughts still hidden from me. The Will of Euphridia sat comfortably in her grip, its golden hilt resting in her gauntleted palm. She turned it slowly as she inspected the blade, eyes narrowing as she studied the dark scorch mark at its base.

  “No doubt such a mark is due to its owners’ carelessness,” she grumbled.

  Aren’t epic-level holy items supposed to take care of themselves?

  Ignoring me, Raeanne lifted the sword skyward, her fingers tightening around the hilt as a familiar warmth bloomed from the blade and a golden light flickered along its edges. Unlike my aura, hers was more controlled, restrained, and even refined. None of her actions wasted her energy, so I was curious about why she was using her amity now. Maybe she was finally going to practice a secret technique, something she had never had a chance to use the first time.

  Something I could shamelessly steal.

  “Euphridia Most Holy, the Goddess I eternally serve,” she intoned in a commanding voice. “I call upon thee to bless my hand this day, as you have blessed those before and after me. Let my blade strike true with strength unyielding. Let my victory today bring Speranza one step closer to peace.”

  She waited, still holding the sword aloft.

  “Alert. NAUGHT Emergency Protocol active. Override activated. Error. Primary Network Interface Disconnected. Unable to Establish Divine Link. Disconnecting from server.”

  The message rang out like a hollow bell, cold and mechanical. I flinched, fearing what it foreshadowed. Reanne, however, didn't react.

  Maybe she can't hear the message?

  Raeanne still held the sword above my head, waiting for something that wasn’t coming. The seconds continued to drag on, my heartbeat sounding so loud it was almost painful. Finally, she exhaled slowly and lowered the Will of Euphridia, resting its tip against the packed dirt.

  “…So it is true, then,” she murmured. “You will not be present during my victory.” Her grip on the hilt tightened, and I felt my fingers ache in response. “No matter,” she said. “I shall prevail regardless, and all of Speranza will know of my actions this day. Therefore, I will dedicate my forthcoming victory to Your Supreme Holiness's return.”

  That was the first time I really considered what it would be like to have Euphridia back in this world.

  Would she listen to my lengthening list of concerns?

  Or did I burn that bridge when I complained to HR?

  “Faith of Euphridia,” she addressed the shield, causing us both to let out a startled squeak. Only then did I realize it was proverbially holding its breath this entire time.

  “Tower shield. Hold formation.”

  It was almost over-enthusiastic, abruptly transforming as ordered with a giant burst of bright light. A trio of trumpets blared in anticipation, only to be cut short by Raeanne’s following command.

  “Remain silent unless bidden! I shall suffer no distractions this day!”

  The shield twitched but obeyed, its warmth dissipating as its weight settled in her hand.

  You don’t have to be so mean to Faith. It’s only trying to help!

  "To name the object as such is—” She tensed. “Still thy thoughts!”

  To punctuate her request, she turned toward one of the wooden gates and broke into a sprint, with sword and shield locked in her grasp. As she pumped her arms, her aura flared. Then, with an imperious swing of her sword, she shattered the reinforced double doors. Splintered wood burst into the air, the smaller fragments soaring across the border.

  Wait. What are you doing? You told everyone to leave you alone for an hour for meditation, and they respected your wishes. Did you lie to them?! It’s too early to go out there!

  Raeanne continued forward, each step faster and more confident. “I will observe my opponent’s advance. Alone!”

  I heard the guards calling out behind us, their voices quickly swallowed by the desperate tolling of multiple bells. The urgency in their chimes struck a chord deep within me. I had to abort before things spiraled further. I just needed to throw Raeanne off with my thoughts, and then I could show her who was really in charge.

  We… we need the party! I know what you’re feeling. You want to protect them. You’re afraid that if they come along, they might get hurt or worse. And I get that, believe me. But we can’t do this alone. There are too many. We need their—

  “Silence!” Raeanne thundered aloud, pushing me back. “He is already here.”

  The vast, churning cloud of animus in the beyond rippled, then parted like a curtain drawn. A towering mix of castle and colosseum made of black basalt stood in its wake, with jagged spires jutting in every direction save for the perfectly vertical. Spike-capped columns supported ominous arches, their unnatural angles betraying the unmistakable touch of dark magic. Its many entrances gaped wide, swallowing the light, but the one directly facing us burned with a crimson glow, deep and unholy.

  A lone figure loomed within its depths, its silhouette unmistakable even from this distance.

  Demon General Ragnerus, Firstborn of Epiales, Commander of the Endless Horde.

  The blood-hued radiance behind him pulsed like a beating heart, twisting his shadows as they stretched out along the ground in front of him.

  “Come forth, Chosen One of the Goddess!” he bellowed, his voice rolling across the expanse. “Fate has decreed our meeting, and no force in this world shall delay our reckoning—”

  A gust of wind howled loudly through the space between us, thick with the stench of sulfur and decay. As the gale disappeared, animus curled around him like living darkness.

  “—you will face me this day!”

  Author Update: This is a Final Reminder that I will begin stubbing Book 1 on Royal Road starting Friday, March 28th, in preparation for its upcoming release on Amazon and Audible.

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