Though I knew the faint barrier of divinity protected me from the cloying incense which filled this tiny hard edged room, I felt a shortness of breath.

I so longed to escape this tiny stone room to the vast open meadows which surrounded our divine cabin. A place where I could feel at home and at ease despite all the troubles which surrounded me.

Yet I remained trapped within this tiny stone room, filled with the worn figure of once-proud Hallvard. If the troubles had not been kind to me, they had been worse to Hallvard. That was easy to see, yet I was putting more on him.

And I had not yet given him the most dangerous truth of them all yet. I was scared if I told him he would break. Or that he would not believe me and end up hating me, seeing me as an enemy to destroy. Not that he would ever be able to.

‘The second portion of her power. That which held the vast majority of her pain, grief, anger is housed deep within the Isles of Dunkeltal. Most call it a curse, but it’s not. That second portion is a blessing, a tainted blessing filled with dark emotions, yet it truly is a blessing. ’

Hallvard fell into silence. His head collapsed forward into up turned hands. I waited in the oppressive silence, waiting for Hallvard.

‘That darkness which rules in the depths of the isles, that is Aggard’s doing?’ Hallvard asked.

I wasn’t sure if he really wanted an answer, but I gave him one anyway. He deserved to know more before he made his mind up. ‘It is. You see, this world is not what it seems. Aggard learnt this at great cost to herself when she lost her husband— No, no. That’s not important, not really. What is important is she has finally cast off the facade she built for herself. Thanks to me. Me, and Alis. The upcoming fight scared her more than she dared admit, even to me. Until the very end, that was.’

If Aggard had never created that ring, I would’ve never learnt about all of this. Nor would I’ve had ever realised just how much Aggard loved me. It was her love for me which finally gave her the strength to face what she needed to do.

‘Unlike how our holy scriptures claim, the silent creator god, Pleistos, did not abandon his creation. In fact, he is not the creator of this world. He came from another world, a world he had toyed with until he somehow destroyed it. After coming to this world, Pleistos tricked the original gods into welcoming him before destroying the true creator god. It seemed he wanted this world for his own plaything. Maybe there was more to it…

‘Anyway, much too late, some of those who had once welcomed him realised the truth about him. And about what would happen if Pleistos’ plans came to fruition. Bravely, that small group of deities attacked him. The other deities protected Pleistos. Finally, that small group of other gods finally cornered Pleistos. Despite their sacrifices, Pleistos was too strong for them. It was all they could do to chain him up before they died.

‘Those chains have been weakening for almost ten centuries. Aggard only learnt all of this after her husband was killed—’

‘The scriptures never mentioned any of this.’ Hallvard butted in. ‘Not Pleistos, nor the war of the gods, nor of Aggard’s husband.’

I had been watching him carefully. He had become more and more uneasy about everything the longer I talked.

‘Of course they did not. If this was to become common knowledge, then Pleistos would gather strength though an increased flow of divinity. With that, he could break the bonds and rule this world.

‘What Aggard wants to do is terrifying, I must admit.’ The unease which lay deep within was difficult to overcome. Yet I had to. ‘She wants to destroy this world so that she can finally wipe the final hold of power that Pleistos has over this world.

‘When that power is destroyed, to make sure that Pleistos no longer has any standing, she will stand as a dark goddess. But what she does not know is that Alis and myself have decided that we shall join with her and become a pantheon of darkness, death, destruction, and all other horrors.’

‘And what is it you want from me?’ Hallvard asked. His troubled eyes narrowed and guarded.

‘We want you to join with us, or at the very least denounce Aggard. I shall depart for now, but I would like your answer soon. What happens next depends upon you.’

‘Klarric, wait.’ Hallvard called out to me before I could depart. ‘You are not an evil person. I can tell that all of this troubles you. I can also tell you have secrets which you cannot share. There is also much more about this situation which I know you cannot talk about, why I don’t know.

‘I also know Alis, yes she hated how she was treated, but she was not one for revenge.’ He hung his head. ‘Damn, I don’t know what I am trying to say. Still, I can tell that this is important. I cannot fully fathom why Pleistos is so dangerous, but it is clear to me you believe he is.

‘So, Klarric, I put my faith in you.’ He shuffled around to face me. ‘Whatever you so desire, then so I will act.’

He bowed his head to me and put his fist against his chest. I could feel his resolve and faith as his devotion forged a link with me.

‘Thank you, faithful servant. Make your way to Netherfane Fort. Here is a key to a mana boat which will appear sometime soon in Aggard’s Well’s Harbour.’ I handed him a black orb, which looked small in his hands.

‘Before you depart, make sure that every faithful member of Aggard’s Order wears this insignia.’ I handed him a black metal plate with two white crossed keys. ‘It belongs to myself and Alis’ and it is under this banner which we will destroy the world.’

He bowed to me once more in due reverence. ‘Understood, My Lord, I will join with you under this banner.’