Shouts, and shrieks of laughter rang out as balls of snow flew across the plateau. Towering forts made of ice, and snow rose up from the ground each adorned with a flag of maroon or gold.

Staring down at the scene from the window of my library, I watched as Pia and Victoria made a crazed dash across the snow in an attempt to penetrate the enemy fort.

As the orcish defenders focused on the charging pair, an invisible creature scaled the walls of their fort to pluck the maroon flag from where it sat in the middle of their defenses.

It was only as Zaius began his retreat that one of the brothers noticed the Shimosaru had relieved them of their flag, and I watched in amusement as his attempts to catch the four arm primate resulted in him being pelted by snowballs.

Flag held aloft in one hand, Zaius used his remaining three to form and fling snow balls in rapid succession whilst screaming out a high pitched battle cry.

I wonder if he can throw fire orbs with the same precision? Smiling to myself at the image of Zaius throwing balls of fire, I turned away from the scene of glacial warfare to face the three people standing around my desk.

Yuki, and Darius had arrived this morning, having met up in Bovia before ascending the mountain together, with the blond Kitsune’s bear to pull them up on a sled.

The first thing Darius did on arriving was smack Noctus over the back of the head, while shouting at him for getting himself caught up in a stupid situation.

When he’d finished scolding the vampire, I’d braced myself for my own lecture, but Darius only asked for additional details on what had occurred in the mountain.

The three guild officers had listened in silence as I told the story, though Noctus already knew most of what had occurred. When I’d finished with my tale, all three agreed that extracting myself and the guild from the situation had been the best choice.

“During my quest I encountered many of Dreadmere’s people around the cove. No matter how I concealed my presence they were able to find me each time, so I suspect the land is claimed. Markings I saw on the trees in these points might be an indication of where their borders reach.” Yuki reported, tracing her finger over the map that was spread across my desk, pointing to an area of the coast that was near one of our guilds encampments.

“It makes sense that they would claim the cove, it’s the best place for construction of a port city.” Noctus said, looking up at me briefly as I approached the table. “However, it does place our own land near that area at risk. They haven’t attacked yet, but I find it unlikely they do not know we are there.”

The cove Yuki pointed out was near the marker of a town called Festivia, and looking at the land formation I couldn’t deny that it would be a good location to build a port.

As the world opened up for traveling to other continents, it was likely trade, and travel between the different lands would happen by ship until portals were built. Even then, with the high mana crystal requirement for portals, it may not be possible for them to be opened over large distances.

“I’d planned to use the coastal camp as a private port for our guild, due to the proximity to Caruan” Darius said with a sigh, rubbing a hand over his short beard. “I suspect Dreadmere will cut off our access to supplies, and isolate the land to bully us out. Same as they did in Airus.”

“We don’t have the strength to directly face them. Our allies are having their own issues with Dreadmere, but no one wants to waste time squabbling over land here when there is so much to claim elsewhere.” Yuki said, her lips turning downward into a frown.

“Which leaves Dreadmere free to conquer Salvia,” Noctus commented, tapping his finger on the map. “No one is opposing them because we all want to avoid conflict. War drains resources, and we’re all hoarding everything we can get our hands on waiting for the barrier to fall. Once the main strength of the other guilds depart, if Dreadmere remains behind, they’ll be able to set themselves up as the biggest power on Salvia. This is likely to be the main starting location for the incoming population once the early access phase ends.”

“Does anyone know when the early access phase ends?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

Don't games normally have a short early access phase? Markion said it was used to gauge player and citizen response, while fine tuning any issues in the world before it opened to the wider public. But Kaledon had already passed its one year mark, and it was still locked to only those who transitioned with a guild, or who possessed a gold or platinum plan.

“The most likely time would be when the barrier falls,” Yuki answered, brushing a loose strand of pale blond hair behind her ear, as she looked over at me with a smile. “Salvia is already becoming overpopulated, and most have outgrown the creatures here.”

“It’s pretty obvious Salvia wasn’t intended for anymore than a starting zone for new citizens to adjust to the mechanics of this world.” Noctus said, leaning against the desk with a sigh. “While I want the barrier to fall so we can get into the real fun, we aren’t ready yet. So I guess it is a good thing we were wrong about it dropping at the one year anniversary of Kaledon going live. Though I did expect some kind of fanfare at least.”

I nodded in agreement, having been a little disappointed myself when nothing occurred the previous month after the world reached its first year of being live.

“My patron said the barrier will fall as a result of the citizens, so there has to be some kind of quest that needs to be activated.” I speculated, moving to the desk to remove the journal I kept inside the uppermost drawer.

“It would seem that is the case, but who knows how long it will take to reach that point,” Darius agreed, and raised a questioning brow as I handed him the book, opened at the page of the former high priestesses' last entry.

As Darius read the passage describing the dreams, and Hemera II’s intention to leave via a secret hole in the barrier, the guild leader’s eyes widened ever so slightly.

“There have been rumors of ways out, but nothing proven. Until now, at least. Is there a map or further mention of the exit?” The guild leader muttered, catching the interest of the two other officers.

“No, I’ve searched through the records left behind, and there is no further mention of a hole in the barrier.” I informed the guild leader, who nodded with a look of disappointment.

“I’d wager it’s protected if there is a known exit.” Yuki said as both she, and Noctus read over the passage.

“It’d be nice to get a head start,” Noctus drawled, eyeing me over the book. “I’m guessing you’re going to be seeking out the temple this person is writing about?”

“My patron has suggested I do so,” I sighed, taking the book from the vampire who seemed reluctant to let it go. “However, there is no information on where it might be located in the book. I can only conclude that Tris will provide clues as to its location once I am actively searching for it.”

“We’ll circle back to the issue of finding your temple later,” Darius said, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture. “For now, we need to focus on the issues at hand. Do we leave the coastal camp, focusing our resources on Caruan, Bovia, and Sēkrit?”

Furrowing my brow, I looked at Darius as he began debating the merits of leaving the camp with Noctus, and Yuki. Why would the guild be focusing resources on Bovia?

“We’d be better moving our people from the coast to Bovia, most of our carpenters have already been transferred to Sēkrit, with hunting teams replacing them at the camp. Bovia is a good central location, it is almost an equal distance between Caruan, and Sēkrit.” Yuki advised, getting nods of agreement from both men.

“It’s also only a short journey to Rivera to access the portal, with the temples populating the mountain range it will quickly grow into a large town.” Noctus added, pointing to the large city to the west of Bovia. “If Kadia isn’t opposed to the idea, we could build around the temple on the land she claimed. This would give the guild a location to reside without needing to claim more land.”

“I was planning to build an academic village around the temple,” I informed them, grabbing the sketches I’d been drawing up with ideas for the land I’d claimed around the temple. “The temple would form the central building. Then surrounding it would be other buildings for outer disciples to reside in, and workspaces which can be hired on either an hourly or daily basis.”

“The guild can help construct the village, and fill roles in it alongside your disciples.” Darius offered, and seeing my frown he continued. “You’ll need guards, crafters, and even people to manage the village. Will you, or your clergy have time to collect rental fees, and deal with disputes?”

I shook my head with a sigh. Those were all issues I’d been pondering, and Darius’s suggestion to make the village into a guild run one was an easy solution, but what did they get out of it? What about when the guild moved away from Salvia? The temple would remain with the clergy I put into place left behind to run it, but I’d need to find people to fill the roles of those guild members who departed.

“Not everyone in the guild will be leaving the moment the barrier falls,” the guild leader said with a chuckle when I voiced those concerns. “Many of our guild will remain behind, with only around two hundred departing to search for land to settle on. Those remaining will continue to build ships, and gather resources, while recruiting new members.”

“Even once we settle, members of the guild would remain here to recruit those newly entering the world. We aren’t going to leave the continent entirely. Salvia will still have an Eternia presence, it just won’t be our main location.” Noctus interjected.

My cheeks flushed with heat, as I realized how silly it had been of me to think they’d just up and leave everything they’d built on Salvia behind. Of course they’d leave people here. This would be the main location to recruit people. Not only for our guild, but to settle on the land they planned to develop.

“As for what we gain, it's pretty obvious.” Darius continued, gesturing at the room we stood in. “You’re the high priestess of a god, and a high ranked member of our guild. So it’s to our benefit if we declare Trismegistus as the patron of Eternia.”

A wave of power crashed over me, knocking the air from my lungs and sending me crashing to my knees as I drowned in a sea of golden light.

“Fuck you, what did you do.” I wheezed, glaring up at the dark haired Okami whose body now contained a golden orb of light.

Pain arched through me, and I bit my lip to hold back my screams as I convulsed on the floor. My vision became consumed with light, as hundreds of confused voices filled my head.

A cool wave of darkness swept over me, snuffing out all the lights.

What felt light only moments later, I blinked rapidly, as the world around me came back into focus. Trying to sort through my scattered thoughts, I relished in the feel of the cool stone beneath my cheek. Stone, no… That's not right, my office has carpet. With a groan, I lifted my head glancing around at the room I laid in. The observatory? How, when did I get up here?

The sky outside was dark, with a smattering of stars that twinkled almost mockingly at me, reminding me of the golden eyed god of alchemy.

As though summoned by my thoughts, the face of said god appeared in my line of sight, peering down at me in amusement.

“While I appreciate your diligence in gathering followers, I do not recommend taking in so many at once without my guidance.” Trismegistus drawled, stroking a hand over his long beard. “It’s bad for your health.”

“I,” clearing my throat, I pushed myself into a sitting position before attempting to speak again. “Did I die?”

“Your body was destroyed by the onslaught of divine power, which it was unable to fully contain. I was occupied with assigning alchemic properties to a newly formed creature, and did not notice your distress until after your death, when the flow of power became redirected to myself.” The god explained, as I checked my body for signs of damage.

With a frown, I noticed the clothes I wore weren’t the same as I’d been wearing before my death. This morning I’d dressed in a set of floor length purple robes, with the fancy golden embroidery that Rainy created for me to wear as part of my priestess wardrobe. But now I was wearing a purple kimono, with my leather boots replaced by sandals of the same color.

“What happened to my clothes?” I demanded, scowling up at the old man.

“They were destroyed with your body. The bag containing your possessions was the only item you wore that was not damaged, and was collected by one of your companions. This outfit is granted to all Kitsune upon revival should their clothing be destroyed in death. It shall fade from existence once you remove it to change into your own clothing.”

Nodding, I pushed to my feet, still trying to piece together everything that had occurred leading up to my death. Why had I been suddenly hit by an influx of disciples? Even when I’d gotten the Whispers guild to distribute the flyers containing information about Trismegistus, there hadn’t been so many.

“Where did all the disciples come from?” I muttered, voicing my thoughts aloud as I tried to remember what Darius had been saying before I was hit by the wave of divine power.

“The one you call Darius, from the guild of Eternia declared me patron of his people.” Tris declared, and I fought the urge to gape at him in response.

“But, he can’t just do that, can he? Some of the guild already follow gods, and it should be their choice whether to follow you! It's not for Darius to decide.” I exclaimed, shaking my head in denial of what he was saying. No one should have the right to decide for others who they would follow as a patron.

“There is a difference between being patron of a collective, and that of an individual. Take the Kitsune for example. I am the patron of the Kitsune race, but many of the race follow Nyxi. That does not make them any less my own, however it does give her primary responsibility for them as part of our agreement.” Trismegistus said, waving his hand in the air, and conjuring up a table with two chairs in a flash of golden light.

Taking the seat opposite the god, I watched with interest as two goblets appeared on the table, and sniffed at the contents of the one closest to me cautiously. As I investigated the cup, Trismegistus drank deeply from his own before continuing to speak.

“Artificial and digital citizens belong to the patron of their race by default. We do not force any to follow their race's patron, and all can freely choose a god to follow without detriment. Those patrons have an equal share over the citizens, with the chosen to take on the more active role. When a citizen is part of a collective such as a guild, clan, or kingdom that serves a single patron, the power is split in three.”

“So, technically speaking someone could have three separate gods, getting benefits from all of them?” I asked, before taking a tentative sip of the dark liquid in my cup, which tasted like coffee, but carried with it the throat burning sensation of alcohol.

“A chosen god will grant individual benefits, such as the blessings I give to my disciples. The races are granted blessings from their patron in creation, giving them greater skill in that god's domains. When a god oversees a collective, they gain minor blessings related to that god's domains, and are given protection by that god’s followers.” The god said, watching in amusement as I frowned into the goblet. “Those of Eternia who are now my vassals, shall receive a boost to the effectiveness of beneficial alchemic items, and astral blessings. Those who use magic that crosses into the domain of transmutation will find it requires less mana. This includes most elemental magics, which is a lesser form of transmutation.”

“Does that make you the god of elemental magic?” I teased, getting a scowl in response. “The way you speak, it sounds like elemental mages are basically transmutations version of potioneers.”

“That is correct,” he admitted, frustration plain on his face. “Most neglect to look beyond a single element, just as potioneers do not look beyond the written recipe.”

“So, can people use the three patrons thing to stack blessings? Isn’t that a little excessive?” I asked, wanting to change the subject away from one which was annoying the god, and feeling a little annoyed myself that I’d lost the chance to stack blessings.

“You will find those who have many patrons receive weaker blessings. We dislike sharing our power with others. It is why many fill their clergy with only those of the race they oversee,” Trismegistus advised, and I nodded in understanding.

“Does that mean Kelnose and the transmutation priest are Kitsune?”

“They are,” the god confirmed, inclining his head. “Kelnose, and Brodel are not part of the Vulpīnus skulk, and thus were not included in my agreement with Nyxi.”

“Are there other Kitsune that are not part of the Vulpīnus skulk?” I queried, intent on dragging as much information from the god as I could.

“Yourself, and six other digital citizens.”

“Didn’t I just give you like seven hundred new followers? Shouldn’t that give you enough power for more artificial beings?” I asked, schooling my expression into one of pleading. “I need guards for the temple, and not ones that could be conflicted by other loyalties. Using the guild is fine temporarily, but for the temple I want only those loyal to the temple. They don’t need to be smart, just give them enough intelligence to follow basic orders.”

“Very well,” the old man said, setting his cup on the table. “You have pleased me with your efforts in gaining new followers, so I shall grant you this boon.”

Beaming at the god, I opened my mouth to thank him, but he disappeared in a flash of light, taking the table and chairs with him.

My smile fell away as the chair I sat on disappeared from under me, and my ass hit the floor, crushing my tails painfully in the process.

I glared at the roof of the tower, ready to shout insults at the god, when a book dropped out of the air, smacking me in the face.

“Ow,” rubbing my aching nose, I picked up the heavy leather bound book, flipping it over to look at the cover.

Dummies for Dummies, by Cleona Gale. “You're the dummy.” I grumbled petulantly under my breath, as I opened the book with a scowl.

Eyes narrowed, I flipped through the first pages, not entirely sure what I was expecting to find, but was surprised to discover it was a book detailing the creation of alchemic constructs.

“Don’t suppose you want to drop me the materials for these as well?” I shouted into the empty observatory after reading the requirements for creating a basic-grade alchemical construct. “Where the heck am I supposed to find this stuff?”