The underground temple’s depths were cold, dark and winding. And the lost God who ruled it was angry. Even dormant Gods held some power and influence over the mortal world and Gargantuanatia had sent that energy into the minds of the creatures that resided within its domain.

So, Tyna pushed forward, leaving the Dangerbear where she found it for the time being, commanding it to stay. She pushed forth, facing the wild, mindless monsters that were weak to Gargantuanatia’s influence. She progressed deeper into the hallways and passed through ice-cold stone doorways that hadn’t been opened since Gods-know-when, being attacked by all sorts of monstrous things. Goblins that drooled and foamed at the lips. Slimes that wriggled and leapt with reckless abandon. Strange, deformed bat-looking things that had two heads, each mouth gnashing and desperate to taste her flesh.

She cut them all down with ease, having retrieved her enchanted swords. Though she didn’t even need the magic they held to take them down. Her blade of ice was useful in a pinch. Her left-handed blade was of much greater power… a sharp sword used for normal combat with a deep mystical power that was only to be used at times of great desperation. If she hadn’t lost it during her fight with the Dangerbear she probably would have used it.

But for the sake of her goals, it’s good that she did not.

In the end, Gargantuanatia was desperate to stop her but no matter how much power he had over minds, these brains and bodies were weak to her blades. And in time she came across a hallway that was significantly lavish and decorated with carved storytelling upon the walls. Her boots left blood in their wake upon the old rugs and stone and her torch revealed the path, so narrow and long leading to a red door that stood very much out of place... seemingly illuminating on its own. There were no torches visible. Purely something supernatural.

She gripped her torch tighter, preparing herself for whatever awaited her next. She had come so far and faced death already within a temple that should have been relatively easy to traverse, even when it came to challenging the Divine. Whatever awaited her could either be easy to face or something that would take advantage of her already-weakened state.

Tyna reached the door and placed her palm upon it. It was of a material unknown, strange and sleek. She pressed harder, preparing herself. All she had was the magic left within her swords and her remaining physical strength. All she needed was the book - A tome detailing the old religion of Gargantuanatia. And then all she needed to do was leave this place.

She opened the door. It was heavy and it grinded against the floor loudly. Forebodingly. A gust of wind made her squint, a force of cold shadows escaping into the light of her aura. When all fell still and silent once more she saw the brightness of her sought-for treasure within the distant darkness. The book was golden upon a pedestal, just waiting to be taken up into her arms. But Tyna had been too much and knew better. She had plundered more dangerous temples and dungeons than this. And though this temple belonged to a dormant, weak God it had given her greater challenges than she ever faced. So she knew this was too good to be true.

“Listen,” she said aloud, her voice blaring in her own ears from the crushing silence. “This is probably a trap, right? Some monsters waiting in here for me? Perhaps the doors will lock behind me once I enter? Why don’t we just make this easy on both of us, Garg – just let me take the book and attain some of your magical prowess and we can both be on our way. I’d like to get a meal or something while I figure out how to kill you."

No response from the God. She tapped her foot and stretched out her muscles.

“So you’re choosing the difficult route. Alright then.” She gathered her courage and pushed herself to bleed with confidence and fearlessness. But she was certainly feeling weak and nervous about her safety. If some other giant beast or huge threat lingered in here, she would surely… surely…

No. No, she could not afford to think in such ways. This was the final stretch. There was a shallow puddle of magic within her still. There was magic still within her blades. And she still had her own strength. Her own unstoppable durable strength. That's what she had to believe. Whatever awaited her, if anything, would not survive the power of her will.

She entered the room and embraced the unknown.

The door closed behind her, heavy and loud. Her torch went out. All that could be seen was the glowing book, a beacon of power in the face of her weakness. But the rest was as if all else had vanished. As she stepped forward it felt as though even the floor was falling away from her. It was still there but it soon felt like she was walking on clouds.

Each step brought dizziness. A pause. Then another step brought stillness. Because if she were to continue, she would have collapsed.

Oh, you foolish mortal… The voice of Gargantuanatia spoke to her at last. His whispers were confident. A little more direct than before. I will commend your strength… But nothing but failure comes to mortals who confront the Divine…

Tyna did all she could to keep approaching the pedestal, the light in the heavy dark. But the shadows thickened. It became cold. The darkness touched her and pushed down on her shoulders more and more. Sickness came to her stomach and throat. Her brain felt foggy.

“Illusions can’t stop me,” she said, not sure if she even believed it. “Transmutation magic is what I do best.”

Perhaps it was before… but in your exhausted state… you will not overcome my influence…

As he spoke, the pedestal vanished and Tyna found herself breathing in the darkness, like it was swamp water. It didn’t make her choke but it weighed her down from the inside.

Only the Divine deserves transmutation… I take what exists and shift its form… into something massive… something more powerful than before… the shadows are now mountains on top of you...

Tyna fell to her knees and summoned her reserves of magic but failed. She tried to push past the illusion… but perhaps this was no illusion. Perhaps this God was truly able to influence reality to such an extent that this was actually happening. The darkness was coming alive. And it was drowning her.

You will fall… this is your new home… if you will not worship me as your God… then you will remain here… in a hell of your own making… or perhaps a heavenly dream...

Tyna tried opening her eyes but now it was impossible to know if they were open or not. There was nothing to see. And nothing to feel.

She drowned into a dark sea of memory.

Tyna is a teenager once again, lost in her path. She lives in a small town, so far away from the Tyna she grew up to be.

Young Tyna has not met her mentor yet. The woman who someday shows her how to fight and creates in her a desire to slay Gods. Right now she is weak in body, in mind and in voice. She is surrounded by the Gods. The people she has known all her life guides her into worship, into recovering from the behaviors that have kept her down all her life. Her parents take her by the hand and bring her to the town’s temple to give worship and offering to Satarian, the God of Abundance. Her friends plan to meet her there. And Tyna is ready to change.

Young Tyna has suffered for years, from behaviors that shame her deeply. She has lost herself. The Gods give her hope. So many of them, looking to care for the people of the land. Gods to create abundance, like the one who watches over her and her people. Gods that can bring strength and focus of mind. Gods that can bring love.

Tyna shivers within the shadows, remembering her old self. No… that’s not her anymore… but… but what if it is…?

What if everything she thought her life was... was a lie...?

Young Tyna is with her friends after her first time joining in with worship she had always resisted. She feels on top of the world, like she can really become someone better. Her friends explore the surrounding woods with her. Valeri is a girl with a kind smile who helps her learn more about the Godly life and how to be a proper believer. Stendan is an aloof jokester who makes everyone laugh, filling Tyna with joy and happy tears.

All is well beneath the crushing weight of shame of the past the shadow brings. This is the life with the Gods, a life Tyna once lived. Tyna resists the fear of the shadow, drawing back, back into her memory, living there once again, forgetting Gargantuanatia, forgetting where she was, forgetting the darkness that is slowly consuming her.

Eventually Tyna forgets her present self completely and slips into pleasant memories where life with the Gods was good, years in the past that feel like the present, as if it had always existed. She lives in her hometown, with good friends and a loving family, no longer alone.

All is well in her life… thought there was a bad dream she just woke up from. She wanted to kill the Gods. What a ridiculous nightmare. Why would she want to do such a thing?

She gets out of bed and prays to Satarian for her blasphemous dreams.

It will be time to go to the Temple soon and worship, after all.