She nodded slowly in response. “He’s already here.”

“Here? Who?” Deep in her bones, Ror knew the answer to that question, but it was so incomprehensible she had to hear it spoken out loud. There was no way that could be true. It had been 1,000 years since the last god was recorded to have walked the earth.

“Cors,” Nethira muttered out. “He’s already at the temple.”

“That’s impossible,” Manesc said, rising to his feet. He was a large and rather intimidating man. He should’ve known better than to burst up like that. His actions drew Shannon’s heavy stare. He stroked Nethira’s hand to try and ease her back to a place where she was comfortable enough to speak with them.

“We haven’t heard anything from the Coriast temple,” He said, relaxing his posture and taking a step back.

“They never tell us anything, why would they tell us about this?” Ror retorted.

“Those braggadocious dimwits will talk about anything that glorifies the Father God,” Manesc said.

“Unless he doesn’t want anyone to know,” Shannon said, catching Nethira’s eyes again. She nodded a bit. “She believed he was waiting to see what she did since...she is...was...his last opponent. She told me he’s become entranced by his own amusement...that the ‘game would stop being fun for him if it ended too quickly’ “

“Is that what she wants us to do? Appease him by keeping his game alive as long as we can?” Ror asked. The reality of what she’d just said fell heavy on the inner circle. Their goddess was gone and all that was left was her avatar, the embodiment of her spirit on earth. They alone carried the responsibility of keeping the balance of power from being completely lost. The Tilliana Temple was going to have to play a game of tug-a-war that held the fate of their very existence. What could they possibly do to amuse him!?

“Did she tell you what she wants us to do?” Shannon asked.

Nethira chewed on her bottom lip and tears started to escape from her eyes and dripped down to her lap. “She told me…” Her voice was as soft as a breath. “She told me to offer myself to him as a bride. She said...that will entertain him for a while...he won’t turn me away and it will give you time to plan what comes next…” She was crying again. “The last thing she said to me was ‘I’ll leave you in their care.’ “

Ror couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This was how they were to appease him? To give him an offering? And why her? Why this child? Why was it essential that they put so much weight on the shoulders of a girl who shouldn’t, and probably couldn’t, bear the burden. Tillia gave the entirety of the truth to someone who had never performed a spell on her own? Ror let out a frustrated growl. She knew that she shouldn’t have been questioning her but every answer she was given threw her from side to side in an endless flurry of doubt.

Noh looked pale. She gathered her daughter into her arms again. As she did the cup finally dropped from Nethira’s hand and clanged to the ground, the water splattering across the floor but, with this news, a little bit of water on marble and a dented cup were inconsequential.

Shannon stood now that the girl had clung to her mother. He looked to Manesc and Ror. There was a lot that needed to be discussed, a lot that would only bring more trouble to the situation if spoken now. Decisions that needed to be made in regards to the... gift that their goddess had left them with.

“Noh, I think it’s best the two of you go home and rest. This news is a lot for anyone to take in, and Nethira’s body is carrying a heavy burden right now. No matter how much power she had left it’s going to be causing her quite the strain. In three days time come back to us, and we’ll tell you what is going to happen from there. For now trying teaching her a few simple spells to help ease the strain and get her body used to breathing with the earth. Bindings, cleansings, maybe a song or two. Little things,” Shannon said gently to the mother, before putting his hand on Nethira’s shoulder.

“No matter what, Nethira, remember that from now on you are the most precious person in the world. Your sacrifice is going to do amazing things for many people. I won’t tell you to pretend this is an honor, but I do want you to remember that you will not be making this move alone. She left you in our care, remember?” He gave her a reassuring smile, before sending them along their way.