Sitting before Alis, in the large bath of glorious warm water, was the extraordinary beauty of Aggard.

Despite it being a supposed safe space, Alis was fearful.

It was not the strange and overwhelming pristine glossy white of the room which they were in. Nor was it the subtle and pleasant, calming smell, which smelt so much like a trap. Nor was it the strange bubbles that kept appearing in the bath. Nor was it the fact that Alis could not help compare her awkward stick-like body to Aggard’s wonderfully feminine body.

What made Alis fearful was Aggard herself.

Part of the fear came from the realisation it would be possible for Aggard to steal Klarric away from her and there was nothing she could do about it. But the largest part of her fear was because Aggard was worried about Klarric.

That fear meant Aggard really did care about Klarric.

That fear meant that there was something about Klarric which not even Aggard could deal with.

‘Eons ago, my divine realm was so vast it rivaled this world in size.’ Aggard said. ‘Oh, what I am to say to you in here is just to remain between us girls. That means no telling Klarric or Celameth.’

Alis looked at Aggard. Instead of an all-powerful divine goddess, Aggard appeared to be no different than Alis herself. The heart-broken look that Aggard hid behind the crumbling facade reminded her of herself after her sister had died. Klarric had told Alis that Aggard was not as regal or as strong as believers depicted her in the holy texts, upon the walls, and her the statues.

Though Klarric had said that in the past, Alis had never fully believed him.

Until now.

‘You trust Klarric, why tell me? Not him?’

‘Because if I do, I will no longer be able to hold back. It was a stupid moment of weakness giving him access to this, my divine realm. Just imagine what would happen if I did open myself to him? I doubt I would be able to hold back. Not only would he become a god before his time, but all that I sacrificed would be for nowt.’

Aggard’s head dropped, and her shoulders started shuddering. In the presence of the silent scream for her, all Alis could do for Aggard was pretend that it was some splashes from the bath which wet Aggard’s cheeks. That somehow the pleasant warm air and bath water was too cold for Aggard, making her shiver. That somehow those screams of pain were her laughing at some funny internal joke.

‘My sister died.’ Alis said aloud. Trusting in the promise of secrecy that Aggard had put in place. ‘One evening, she was there. The next morning, she was cold. I had done all I could to protect her, but I failed. I so desperately wanted to die that I started doing stupid things. Once I decided to steal something valuable from one of your temples.

‘I mean, that dread warrior shown on the wall of every temple. I wanted her to come and smite me down. I was too cowardly to do the deed myself, you see. I took one of your holy relics, a small golden ring which had been carelessly left on the altar after the service. On the way out, with the ring clenched in my fist, I saw a random worshipper sitting quietly within the temple. I was sure they had seen me take the relic from the altar, but they did not mention it.

‘No, they started talking, like I now am talking. Just out loud, to no one, but to me. I don’t know what they were talking about, but it helped to hear that I alone was not in pain. That there were others struggling. I went back time and time again after that, always in possession of the relic. Yet never again did I see that person. Nor was that relic ever replaced.

‘Then finally I admitted my guilt to the head of the temple. You know what, she laughed, not harshly but in a nice way. Aggard is wise, they told me.’

Alis stopped for a moment, recalling that one pleasant time in her life as an abandoned orphan. She could not help but feel the peace and love fill her once more. Nor could she help a smile blooming on her face. Alis then moved over to Aggard, and took her in her arms. There was a strange disconnect. Alis knew Aggard was a goddess, but in her arms all she could feel was the warmth and body of a fellow human. Doing her best to ignore the disconnect, Alis held Aggard tight, like she had done for her sister all those times when her sister had needed her.

‘They then carried on: “Aggard can see the beauty and struggles, the fights each person fight, within themselves.” I didn’t know what to say about that. So I went to give the relic back, but they refused, putting it back into my hand and closing my fist over it. With that I decided to give back, the best I could, that meant with my life and with my devotion.’

‘You lost that relic, did you not?’

‘I did,’ Alis admitted. ‘It was taken from me by one of my fellow trainees. They told me I didn’t need something so pretty, as I was nothing but a whore.’

‘Not all who do things in my name, do so in my name. They do it in their name. They dress it up in some manner, making them appear holy. It happened when I was at the height of my powers, and it happens now as my powers are failing.

‘I know the depths of your love for both me and Klarric. I know the depths of your devotion towards the both of us. I know the effort you take and the pain you are under. My powers are all but spent. What I desired have yet come to pass. All the grand plans I have made may never come to pass. This cabin is what is left of my divine realm. I am spent.’

Aggard pulled herself away from Alis slightly. Turning to face Alis, Aggard took Alis’ hand in hers.

‘This is hard to say, but Alis, will you please stand by his side? Will you please protect him in my stead? It hurts to see the two of you together when all I desire, more than anything, would be to spend just one night with him.’

Already knowing the answer, Alis asked anyway. ‘Why can you not?’

‘If I do that Alis he will become a god. I will die. And the fate of the Surviving Lands will be in peril. The younger gods have ignored the threat they’re facing. The older gods themselves fled rather than be destroyed. Only I stayed behind.’

‘That last smile from my sister, the one she gave me before she fell asleep for the final time, is my most precious memory of her. One full of love and grace. I believe she knew she would likely not last the night, which is why she pushed herself that final night.

‘You love him, don’t you?’ Alis said. She could not believe that she was about to give a rival of hers free reign over Klarric. ‘I can tell that you love him in a way that Celameth doesn’t.’

‘You’re right, I do.’

‘Then go to him, tell him, give him the choice. Spend that night with him, if you both so desire. I will be there for him afterwards, to help him.’

‘But if I go to him,’ Aggard said, ‘you would lose him too. He would no longer be able to sire your children. He will be taken from you before you are ready. He too would be alone forever, no longer able to have any meaningful relationships.’

‘Then give me some of the blessing too. I will sacrifice myself for him.’

Aggard stared at Alis. Alis felt this was no simple observation. It was one which went far deeper and was far more intrusive than even the leering stares which troubled her when she had been washing herself.

‘If you are so willing, then it shall be so.’

Aggard released her hand from Alis’. When she held it out, there within the hand, was the narrow golden ring with the row of set diamonds that Aggard had stolen from Aggard’s temple.

‘If you take this ring and put it on, you shall be granted a portion of my power, hastening my downfall, and putting in jeopardy my plans for the protection of this world.’

Alis looked at the resolute gaze of Aggard. She smiled and took the ring and slid it onto one of her fingers.

For a moment Alis saw Aggard smile, then pain like nothing she had felt before spread out from the ring. It was so intense she could not hold back the screams.

She lost control of her body. Before everything faded, she saw Klarric’s panicked face as he rushed in to save her.