Iztris was almost beginning to wonder how this nation was still standing. They didn’t believe it deservedto fall, per se, so perhaps it was just some kind of bitterness due to their homeland falling after Elsyn declared they wished to fight against humanity. Cheryn seemed to prioritize a peaceful front—even to their own citizens. They wondered how the resulting lack of communication hadn’t caused more lives lost.

In the afternoon while Alyson and Jacob once again attempted to forget the loss of life, Iztris went to visit the gods. Assuming the heirs wouldn’t miss them, they went ahead and left as soon as the noble was done asking them after Elsyn; they usually waited until night, but considering that the heirs wanted to ignore the troubling things, they likely wouldn’t want Iztris around to remind them.

The gods greeted them with relative indifference, if they greeted them at all. Iztris offered a report when a majority of gods were paying attention. “We’ll be going back to the palace,” Iztris said to end it off. “Although, if I had to guess, I would say that more lives have been lost than what I’ve seen.”

“A reasonable assumption,” one god said.

Iztris understood that, if the god had continued, it would be an admittance of being weak—although Iztris had followed them for centuries, they still preferred to hide their lack of omniscience and true power. If only they could hide their bickering, and Iztris wouldn’t dread coming back. They didn’t expect them to admit that they didn’t have any say of life or death.

“That’s all I came for,” Iztris declared when no other god made an input. They bowed, but before they left one of the gods spoke.

“Servant Iztris.” They offered their attention by glancing at the direction of the voice, and the god continued. “Make note of the time of the mortal realm. It can take several weeks to travel south across the sea.”

Iztris bowed again. “Thank you.”

They left that realm and returned to the place of mortals. Iztris opted to look around the town, wishing that they were a common enough sight that they could pretend to be someone else. Considering that they were in a town where a noble lived, they should appear as a servant—if the gods decided to comment on anything, it would be why they chose not to look like they were in their position. They could handle a less fanciful outfit, but even the duller one had too much flourishes. Elsyn liked it, but never had much chances to wear it; Iztris just felt like it limited movement.

Iztris walked around the town, generally keeping to themself. They didn’t talk to anyone and no one talked to them. When they found a good spot to sit down, they decided to wait there until the next morning (time passed at the same rate in both realms—Iztris returned around sundown, if only because of interruptions and the wait to be recognized).

Their thoughts kept them occupied. It was spring when they came; they’ve spent enough time that it was summertime now. So…

Ah. Iztris remembered the importance of the time. It was selfish, but perhaps they could make a short trip to visit—even if no one would be there.

The rest of the night was spent by Iztris trying to only recall the fond things—it was harder than usual after being reminded of something that had so much mixed feelings attached to it. They closed their eyes at some point—it made the memories feel more like dreams and it helped pass the time.

Iztris wasn’t completely aware that it was morning until someone poked them very, very, very gently. That person turned out to be Jacob when Iztris opened their eyes, and the prince almost looked hesitant to have done anything. Iztris stood up and brushed themself off.

“I didn’t wake you up or something, did I?” Jacob asked.

“I can’t sleep,” Iztris replied simply. “It may have looked like I was asleep, but I am literally incapable of actually sleeping.”

“Your grumpiness seems to be contrary to that,” Alyson noted with a little chuckle. “Or maybe that’s just your personality?”

Iztris just frowned in response, fully aware that all it did was get another chuckle out of both heirs. With a sigh, they said, “Regardless, are you both ready to leave?”

“Yeah,” Jacob said. “Are we heading back to the capital?”

“You will be,” Iztris replied with a nod. “I can come with you there, but I would like to visit Letrela.”

“Shouldn’t we come with you?” Alyson asked.

“It’s just a personal matter,” Iztris said. “There’s no need for you to come; until we hear otherwise, there’s nothing saying that Elsyn would be there. Even if they are, given how you treat deaths in the past, witnessing them doesn’t seem to be the best course of action. You’re more likely to be the last person to see someone before they die in Letrela than you are here.”

There was a little bit of silence, then Alyson said, “We should probably come anyway, shouldn’t we? Just in case?”

Jacob seemed to agree. Iztris didn’t want to, but they sighed. “I can consider it, but until I say otherwise it will just be me.”

That seemed to satisfy them and they both nodded. With that being said, they all left the town to go back to Cheryn’s capital.