Alice, Duke and Emilia left their skeletal horses outside the elf village. As they were about to enter, a goblin ran past them. Emilia still remembered their last encounter with these creatures, and the mess it ended in.

”You guys didn’t mention that there were goblins.” Emilia noted. ”We don’t have a good track record with them…”

”There weren’t any goblins before...” Duke said and checked his surroundings. ”We should hurry.”

They ran for the house Anastacia was kept at, and on the way there they saw goblins running around with random items and either arguing with or being chased by elves. They crashed inside, interrupting Coquelicot and Gobby’s conversation.

”Like I said, I don’t actually have any arms, these are just something my husband made for me. We’ve been over this like six times now. And I’m not going to play any…” The high inquisitor was explaining before getting interrupted. “Ah, you have the priestess. Good work.”

“Why are there goblins there?! Is everything okay?” Alice worried.

“Well you see, Anastacia here has been made the Queen of this forest, or at least the goblins in it. So they’ve followed her here. By the way, that simulacrum was the king.” Coquelicot explained.

“Not this again…” Emilia sighed.

She hurried to Anastacia. Before Emilia could only really heal minor cuts and bruises, but with the situation in Crescent dealt with and the church no longer interfering with the people’s faith in Sylvia, healing broken bones was well within her abilities. Though they’d be sore for a while. The priestess grasped her mace and began her lengthy prayer.

“I was kind of thinking she’d pull out some herbs and potions or whatever, to numb the pain until the girl’s ribs heal. There’s no way some common priestess can pull this off with magic.” Duke doubted. “Maybe if she was like the head of the church or something…”

“Silence! Let her do what she can.” Coquelicot demanded. She had read Alizarin’s notes on what happened in Crescent and knew Emilia wasn’t just a common priestess.

About a minute into the prayer, the priestess’s mace began glowing brightly. Emilia lifted her head and tapped Anastacia’s chest with the mace.

Anastacia felt like her chest was on fire, but couldn’t move her body at all.

“Anastacia the Queen of the forest, we meet again, sooner than I had hoped.” A familiar voice greeted her.

“Sylvia? So has this joke of yours come to an end? While I do think it was nice of you to try, but in the end, it would have been better if you wouldn’t have bothered with the lies and making me think I was revived” Anastacia said.

“Is that what you actually think happened? It saddens me that you think so little of me, that I would lie to you, trick you. I do understand that your burdened mind was broken by that ring, but your claims are insulting.” Sylvia stated.

“Yeah, sure. Just end it now, I’m tired.” Anastacia responded dismissively.

Unlike last time they spoke, Anastacia was now in what seemed infinite darkness, she could feel her body but not move it. Suddenly everything lit up, but not in a white calming way, it was like everything was set on fire. Followed by a tight grasp on her throat.

“MORTAL! Silence your insults! There is no benefit for me in tricking you. I need someone to guide and protect my chosen one, and no one is more fit for that than you.” Sylvia said and raised her voice.

Anastacia could feel flames burning her face as the goddess scolded her.

The fires died down and the darkness returned. The grip on Anastacia’s throat loosened. For the first time she felt like maybe she shouldn’t be so disrespectful towards the goddess.

“I apologize for that… It seems like our meeting is about to end, as healing your body is almost done. It is time for you to face reality and understand that this isn’t about you. There is no trick, no dream, your actions caused the death of Alizarin. Now wake up and make amends.” Sylvia advised. “Farewell, until we meet again.”

Anastacia opened her eyes. The burning sensation on her chest began fading and was being replaced by a common ache. She had no idea where she was.

“Anna?” Emilia asked calmly and took her hand. “Are you okay?”

Anastacia looked around, she noticed the blue-robed necromancers and got nervous. But since Coquelicot was there too, it must’ve been fine.

“Yeah, a bit sore but I think I’ll manage.” Anastacia said as she slowly got up. “Who are those three?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Coquelicot interrupted. “You’re fine, yes? Then I would like everyone else to leave the room.”

The three necromancers obeyed and left, Gobby was too overjoyed by the Queen waking up and didn’t listen. Instead it jumped on the bed and started dancing. Emilia didn’t like the idea of leaving them alone, so she stood her ground.

“Gobby, go collect some berries or whatever. I bet the queen is hungry.” The high inquisitor suggested.

The goblin stopped its celebration and vacantly stared at Coquelicot for a few seconds. It seemed to like the idea and scurried off.

“Now then, miss priestess. In case you missed it, that was an order. Leave.” Coquelicot said and stared at Emilia.

“I… I’m staying! Who knows what you’ll do!” The priestess stated defiantly.

The high inquisitor sighed.

“I’m not going to hurt her, I need Anastacia. You on the other hand, are far more expendable. I need you to understand that. And don’t bother saying that Anastacia wouldn’t help me if I hurt you, she doesn’t have any other options. The inquisition will come for her no matter what.” Coquelicot explained. “Now leave, or I will literally go through you.”

Emilia looked at her friend, looking for some kind of answer. Anastacia took a deep breath and told her to back off. The priestess grudgingly left, but waited right outside the door.

“Now that we have some privacy, you’re going to tell me the whole story, from the second you left Crescent with Alizarin.” Coquelicot said and sat down next to Anastacia.

Anastacia explained what had happened, how they had fled from the inquisitors, how she fucked everything up by being a complete idiot and how Alizarin sacrificed himself just to give her a chance to escape. Coquelicot just sat there, silent. Once the story was over, she got up and walked to the door.

“When the inquisitors are dealt with, if you ever set a foot in Mournvalley, I will skin you alive. We have nothing more to discuss. I will stay in contact with you through my subordinates.” The High inquisitor stated without looking at Anastacia, she obviously couldn’t stand being in the same room as her. “Goodbye, Anastacia.”

Coquelicot left the village without her three companions, who she told to accompany Anastacia and Emilia to Valor.

Gobby wandered in with a handful of berries, without a clue about what was happening.

“Woman of too many hands but secretly no hands gone?” Gobby wondered. “Goblin made many drums.”

“Yeah, I did something terrible to her and she’s mad.” Anastacia sighed.

“Burn?” The goblin suggested. “Burn solve many things!”