"So hold up." I raise a hand in protest as the Sage looks blankly into the distance, "You're saying that this world, our world, was created by Ea."

"Correct. In broad outline at least. There were other creator gods involved as well, but Ea was their leader." the Sage nods distantly, "Though I do believe this to be common knowledge, Mac Nair."

"And the world was created for Pahlaver's amusement." I continue to speak, glaring hard at the Sage, "As a toy."

"Again, correct." the Sage agrees and begins to walk deeper into the potato fields, gesturing at Ramon, Loaner and myself to follow him.

"And now Ea is going to end the world, because Pahlaver is bored or something?" I fix the Sage with my best incredulous look before realizing he hasn't bothered to look back at me, making the whole thing a waste of effort.

"Full marks." the Sage nods again as he stops in front of a crudely made shelter meant to provide farmhands with some shade when they take a break from their labors. Underneath the weather beaten wooden roof is a large rectangular chest without a lock, the kind used to store farming tools rather than anything actually valuable.

"You know, when talking about something out there, and I mean really, really, out there," I guffaw, "like the apocalypse for instance. You need to gradually build up to it. Just so that the story is believable."

"Believable." the Sage finally faces me, his voice inflectionless, "You do not think that the end of the world is believable?"

"Do you?" I smirk lightly at the Sage, amazed at the man's gall. No wonder he's possessing someone else to speak to us. He would be laughed out of Springvale without the whole mysterious sorcerer act.

"I believe you and your friends," the Sage points squarely at Ramon and Loaner, "recently experienced the complete obliteration of this village and all its residents. So you tell me, Mac Nair."

"He's got you there, Mac." Ramon agrees from the side and I suppress the urge to shoot my companion a dirty look. Ramon may be entitled to his opinion, but come on. Agreeing with the weirdo stranger is not being helpful right now.

"That's different." I doggedly reply, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"The difference being Hackal saving the three of you in the last minute." the Sage drolls, "Make no mistake, all of you would have died if Hackal had chosen not to intervene."

"The Logos would have revived us." I rebut, "There was a mass resurrection here, y'know?"

"Again, that was Hackal's doing." the Sage doesn't miss a beat, "A safe space was needed to protect you from Ea's wrath and Springvale's recreation served that function. The revival of its inhabitants is nothing more than a side effect."

"Ea's wrath?" Ramon jumps at this piece of information, "Are we cursed or something? You mean its not over?"

"Far from it." the Sage chuckles as he opens the chest, retrieving a bag of charcoal and a brazier, "Your troubles are just beginning in fact. That is why we need to help each other."

"Uh huh." I give the Sage a dubious look, "And how are you going to be helping us then?"

The Sage dumps a heap of charcoal into the brazier and with a snap of his fingers a blazing fire springs into existence. The puppeted village watchman then turns back to the chest and pulls out a long iron brand, the type used to mark horses and cattle. The brand is placed into the fire and is soon glowing red hot.

"I will be granting each of you Hackal's divine insignia." the Sage states conversationally, "It will provide some measure of protection once you leave Springvale. As long as none of you act too outrageous that is."

"What." I drone as Ramon swallows hard, looking away.

"I will be granting -" the Sage repeats but Loaner snorts in derision, the horse giving its opinion on this load of crap.

"We heard you the first time." I roll my eyes, "So just to confirm, your help involves marking us with a branding iron that you found in a random chest on a farm. And that brand is supposedly a dark god's 'divine insignia' that will protect us from the most powerful of the creator gods. Have I got the story right so far?"

"Yes." the Sage confirms, raising the branding iron out of the brazier, "Who is going first?"

"I don't think you realize how retarded you sound." I comment, "Or maybe you think the three of us are retarded."

"I see." the Sage nods patiently, "You don't believe me."

"Its a bit of a stretch, don't you think?" Ramon adds rather delicately, "You're asking a lot out of us just on blind faith, good sir."

"The exit from Springvale is down the road, right there." the Sage says calmly, "Go on and try to leave. See what happens."

"Is that a threat?" I growl, clenching my fist.

"Yes, but not from me." the Sage goes back to heating the branding iron, "I will not stop you from walking out of Springvale. So go ahead. Try and leave."

"Mac ..." Ramon smacks his lips hesitantly, torn by the absurdity of the situation. Even Loaner has a confused and scared look on its face.

"I'll do it." I answer, walking toward Springvale's exit, "Just watch my back. If our 'Sage' tries anything funny, gun him down."

"Sure." Ramon gives me a determined nod and draws one of his pistols, levelling it at the Sage's head. The Sage doesn't seem to mind though and keeps playing with the branding iron without a care in the world.

"What a load of crap." I grumble as my feet eat up the distance between me and the exit.

It doesn't take too long for me to reach the border, but a sense of unease begins to settle over me. That Sage's tall tales had managed to get my hackles up, regardless of how stupid they were. I take a deep breath and step over the border, my entire body ready for action.

And nothing happens.

Absolutely nothing.

"Its all bullshit!" I turn around and yell triumphantly at Ramon from the distance, "We can leave anytime we want!"

Then I realize that both Ramon and Loaner sport aghast expressions on their faces.

"MAC! WATCH OUT!" Ramon shouts at the top of his voice as his gun hand swings about and fires.

I hear the bullet whizzing past my ear and spin about in alarm, just in time to see a gendarme officer's head explode in a cloud of gore. As the corpse topples to the ground, I realize that a massive wave of gendarme are bearing down right in front of me.

"What in the world?" I cry out in disbelief. The road was clear and there was no one in sight. How did the gendarme suddenly show up? And what are they doing so far away from Deshawn City? As my eyes scan for where the gendarme had been hiding, the sound of marching feet molests my ears, this time on both my flanks.

"Shit." I grit out between my teeth as more gendarme march down the slopes of Granite Pass, fanning out to surround me. And its impossible for my enemies to have hidden themselves in waiting on those slopes. There's no vegetation or crevices to conceal such a large number of men.

"They're appearing out of thin air!" Ramon yells, giving words to my suspicion. Loaner neighs as well, urging me to turn tail and run.

"Not this again." I curse, bolting across the border back into Springvale. Its too early in the day for another life and death battle.

I glance backward and to my relief, the pursuing gendarme have abruptly ceased their pursuit, milling about aimlessly. The border of Springvale had become an invisible wall that they were not able to cross. The gendarme instead gather right at Springvale's exit like blood clotting a wound, eagerly waiting for me to sally forth once more. I settle into a more relaxed jog and make it back to the small gathering in the middle of the potato fields.

"Convinced?" the Sage asks mildly as he adds another handful of charcoal into the brazier, "None of you will survive outside of Springvale without my help. Not for long, at least."

"Why is this happening?" I demand.

"All of you have become enemies of Ea," the Sage solemnly explains, "and by extension, enemies of the world itself. Nowhere will be safe for you from now on. The entire world will conspire to, and ultimately succeed in ending all of you."

"Unless we get branded." I purse my lips in consternation.

"Yes." the Sage settles back into that infuriating calm and raises the branding iron invitingly to us.

"Maybe things aren't that bad." I quickly back away from the crimson poker, "We could settle in Springvale for good, right? You said that it was safe here for us."

"No." Ramon vehemently shakes his head, "I need to get back home to my family. That's not up for negotiation."

"Didn't you hear -" I press Ramon but he merely waves me off.

"Springvale isn't my home, Mac." Ramon says resolutely, "And if there's a way for me to get back home safely, I'm going to take it."

"Alright." I sigh, giving up. At the end of the day, Ramon's an adult. His life, his decisions and all that.

"So how are we doing this?" Ramon asks the Sage, "Does the brand need to be applied at a particular spot or ... ?"

"Anywhere will be fine." the Sage shrugs, "Though like I said before, this is a quid pro quo arrangement. We are helping one another."

"What do you need me to do?" Ramon asks nervously, clearly worried about what bizarre trial he will be subjected to in return for this boon.

"I need you to travel back to your family estate with Mac Nair." the Sage states flatly, gazing at us placidly.

"Nice try." I snort, "But no means no."

"Why do I need Mac with me?" Ramon objects.

"Because without him, Ramon Dasar," the Sage explains, "you will die."

"WHAT!" Ramon jumps back, "You said the brand would keep me safe!"

"It will." the Sage continues, "Until you draw Ea's attention to yourself. And the task I have in mind requires you to just that."

Ramon flashes a pleading look at me but I fold my arms, looking away.

"But why Mac?" Ramon queries unhappily, "Couldn't someone else manage?"

"Actually you don't need Mac Nair himself." the Sage answers affably.

"Hey, I'm standing right here." I grumble from the side, "You guys know that, right?"

"You just need someone like him." the Sage barrels on, ignoring me.

"A magic knight." Ramon concludes, "And Mac is the closest one around."

"Nice to feel wanted." I sulk as Ramon and the Sage continue their discussion about me as if I'm merchandise. Or livestock.

"A magic knight who understands our situation to be precise." the Sage elaborates, "So you can see the problem."

And with that, both Ramon and the Sage turn to stare meaningfully at me.

"Its not my problem though." I quibble, "And Ramon, you can stay here in Springvale with me. Safe and sound. Isn't that better for everyone?"

"Not for Ramon Dasar's family." the Sage interrupts, "Their death approaches soon. The only way to save them is -"

"To help you." I complete the Sage's sentence with a dour look on my face, "How convenient."

"It is what it is." the Sage's reply is indifferent and he goes back to staring into the distance.

"Please." a single word from Ramon to me. But heavy with meaning.

"I suppose I did agree to escort you home before we reached Springvale." I grimace, "And I'm a professional."

"Thank you." my friend gives me a genuine smile, relief flooding his voice.

"Let's do it." I sigh, turning around and dropping my trousers, presenting my ass to the Sage.

And on that day, my agonized screams echoed across Springvale.

I should have been biting down on something first.