"We must make the journey to the Mouth of Oblivion," Jelen said forcefully, daring someone to argue. He saw Kenna set her jaw, but did not open her mouth to speak. Elda still held onto Ravenna tightly. Her eyes red and her face streaked with tears. His heart faltered for a moment, knowing what he asked of a little girl. She may be Hatyri, but she had not gained all of her power. He wondered if she could even free Itzal. Would she be too weak? He could not second guess it now. He took Elda by the hand, and Kenna took her other hand, staring at him with her jaw twitching, daring him to tell her no. He sighed and acquiesced to her will and did not object to her coming. Ravenna stepped forward unsure of Jelen's actions. He caressed her arm in his free hand. She wiped away a tear and nodded. She vanished into her room. Jelen opened the in between and all three disappeared from the city and came upon the entrance. As soon as they set foot into the mouth they felt their powers being sucked from them, he heard Kenna gasping for breath. Elda gripped his hand so tightly she made the tips of his fingers numb. He felt on edge and drew his sword Oso to be ready. He could feel the strength of his song. The notes vibrated in his mind and bone. Elda began humming his tune, which made Jelen pause for a moment, but the gatekeeper interrupted before he could question anything. "You have brought the toll," The gatekeeper sounded pleased, "You have brought me more than just one child of power." Kenna protectively cradled her expanded stomach. "This one is not for you," Jelen said and it echoed in the cavern. "That can be determined later," The voice sang gleefully. "Where is Itzal, you must keep your promises," Jelen said quieter. He could feel Elda tremble. He tried to reassure her by squeezing her hand. As if on cue a shadow appeared with what seemed like shadows leaping from him like a flame. The featureless man shaped shadow reached out to Elda. She let go of Jelen and clutched Kenna with both hands trembling. Jelen felt his heart break. "Come to me child," Itzal said in a hiss that seemed to evaporate into the silence in the cave. Elda hid behind Kenna now. "She isn't ready," Jelen said as he tried to go back to the cave entrance, regretting the trauma he had caused. For what, an army of shadows? He would find another way that did not hurt Elda. The diminished God stepped towards Elda and said something into her ear, and he saw that whatever it was calmed her, and she took a hand and stepped away from Kenna. Then before the gatekeeper could touch Elda, Itzal drew her into himself. She was engulfed totally. A light was glowing inside of Itzal, and wispy hands seemed to try and grab at them both, all while the light grew stronger. It was colored pink. Elda was Light, and she defined Itzal in her shadow. Then all of a sudden they exploded and all were knocked down and they could hear the gatekeeper scream out in pain. And then he was gone entirely. A wave of Mana emanated from them thick and infecting every rock and stone, tree and animal. Mana was loose and plentiful in the world again. She had brought magic back to the world. Elda had been thrown clear but she was changed. She now had the horns of a ram gold and shiny, and when she opened her eyes they shone with a million stars on a deep blue field of a night sky. "I know your name," She said in a whisper, "Your true name." "And you hold the power of life and death over me," Itzal did not sound distressed at the observation, "and now you know what your true purpose is, you are the only one that can destroy a god. You are Death, the scythe that cuts down gods. It is a power that gods themselves do not possess." "I am a weapon," she said slowly, "I am death." "Hatyri," Jelen whispered. Then reached down and helped her up. Itzal came from the shadow but was no longer faceless and formless. He looked human. Except that his eyes were dark, and had no white. It made his good-natured smile seem menacing. Itzal snapped his fingers and they were all instantly in Sid Hayef. Jelen was uncomfortable with the ease of his trespass. Jelen was about to address it with him, but Itzal held up a hand to stay him from talking. "We have a war to prepare for," Itzal said almost happily, then vanished leaving his words behind. Ravenna came from their home dressed in her armor of black mother of pearl, shimmering with every move she made. Her sword Alisla singing while sheathed, and Oso picked up the song of war. His people came out from their homes, weapons singing in time, singing the song of war. Swords, and bows alike. Then he heard Brecka singing and turned to see Elda clothed in shadow armor holding his sister's sword. He was about to object. "I go to kill a god, to bring death," She smiled eerily as though her spirit was suddenly a thousand years old, and ready for war.