“Did something happen?” Xanadu, who was awake and looking around, asked. “I feel a lot better now. In fact, I think I can get up and run for a few kilometres or something.”

“Nice to know that,” Isabelle replied, “but you should continue to regain your strength first.”

Gaius nodded. “We’ll get you more meat from now on. Build up those muscles!”

“And start posing in front of a mirror?” Isabelle asked, a teasing smile on her face.

“We promised not to talk about that, right?” Gaius sulked for a moment. “Anyway, something really big happened. Like, really big.”

“I could feel it earlier, but I was too tired to think about it,” Xanadu replied. “So, what did you do? What happened afterwards?”

“Why do you assume that it was me?” Gaius asked. “What, am I a troublemaker in your eyes or something? We’re in the North, and Pinnacle Kolya is the premier troublemaker of the world.”

“So you weren’t involved this time?” Xanadu asked, a grin on her face, one that was mirrored by Isabelle.

Gaius hung his head. “No, I was.”

“See? Why are you complaining about that, then?” Xanadu laughed, slapping her bed twice. “So, what did you do?”

“Oh, we — that is, the Pinnacle, the rulers of the Western Holdings, a few great gods — lured the Human God over and killed him,” Gaius replied. “In my defence, I had absolutely no fricking clue that Kolya was planning to attack the Human God at all; I was dragged into the battle for no reason.”

“But you were the one who killed him,” Isabelle added, a smile on her face. “Godslayer Gaius…doesn’t it have a nice ring to it?”

“Didn’t Thasvia already explain why the circumstances around this battle were so special?” Gaius replied. “Please stop giving me weirder and weirder titles. I’m perfectly happy to be Bystander A, thank you very much.”

“That’s not up to me,” Isabelle replied. “Have you forgotten about the Conferment Committee? The one that gave you the moniker of ‘Lost Star’? They’re probably trying to come up with a better name now.”

Gaius decided to stop thinking about it and changed the subject. “Feeling better now?”

Xanadu nodded. “Ever since this afternoon. I really might be able to live a normal life after all. It’s just that…”

“Just that?”

“My friends who were with me never lived to see this day,” Xanadu replied. “We had something like a game going, you know? After we killed the last — or what we thought as the last — Constellation, we came to an agreement to pool our energy together, and give it to someone.”

“That someone was you, right?”

Xanadu nodded. “I got lucky. Or was it unlucky? I’m not sure which is better at times. At that time, we had already pooled our energy together into a small clump, and then Demigod Altan forced the clump into me. If I knew back then…”

“Sometimes, it’s not dying that’s hard,” Gaius murmured. “It’s the prospect of watching everyone you care for die. Watching the act of someone dying is painful enough, but when that someone is close to you, it’s nothing short of torture.”

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” Xanadu replied. “They fled in different directions. They probably didn’t want to see anyone die before them, and nor did they want the others to see them dying.”

Gaius couldn’t quite imagine the emotional baggage Xanadu carried when she met up with Kolya and the others to talk about the Demon Sovereign. What was Xanadu feeling at that point, when she recounted everything that had and will happen?

Xanadu took a deep breath. “I’ll like some peace and quiet. I’m sorry. This topic got me a bit emotional.”

Isabelle’s soft hands fell on Gaius’ shoulders and began to steer him out. “We’ll come bring some dinner later. Rest well. Anytime you need to talk, we’ll always be there for you.”

“Thank you.”

Gaius didn’t resist as Isabelle steered him out of Xanadu’s room and into their own. The silence held for a few seconds, before the two of them broke it together.

“At the end of—”

“What happened—”

The two paused, but before Isabelle could say anything, Gaius made his move and pulled her down onto the bed. “You speak first.”

Her face flushed slightly, and she moved to a sitting position. “I just wanted to ask why the Human God chased you and you alone. Is it really as what Thasvia said?”

“Definitely not,” Gaius replied. “I believe he could sense my link to the Crying Abyss. In fact, from how he was targeting me when we were in the East, I think he’s able to sense my…unique qualities. Apparently, I was chosen by the Abyss from the moment I arrived here, and the Human God wanted to devour me or something to take over that quality.”

“Devour you?”

“That’s what he said.” Gaius rolled around on the double bed. “A fortunate by-product was that he probably lost control from the shock of being ambushed and my presence, so he turned into that…”

“Monster,” Isabelle supplied helpfully.

“That’s a good word.” Gaius closed his eyes for a moment. “So, what did you want to bring up earlier?”

Gaius pondered on his words for a moment. “When the Human God died, he entrusted both power and a request to me. A request that is, if I’m not wrong, related to the Crying Abyss.”

“What request is it?”

“He asked me to seek out his familiar spirits and save them,” Gaius replied. “It probably means to put an end to them if nothing else works, but it’s possible that I might be able to prevent the Abyss from eroding their wills.”

“No…is what I’d say, but you probably won’t listen. Or even if you did, you’ll probably feel troubled.”

“It was a trade of sorts, after all.” Gaius shook his head. “And besides, if I don’t do it now, and something happens to innocents, I’ll probably blame myself for a long time.”

“Yeah, you’re an idiot.”

“Hey!”

“I’ll only agree if I can come with you.” Isabelle raised a hand before Gaius could say anything. “We’re in this together. What you’re doing might be something I need to do in the future, so I won’t accept no for an answer.”

Gaius brooded over her words, but he wasn’t quite sure how he should reply. Her words always had this uncanny ability to touch his heart, however, something he couldn’t quite vocalise to Isabelle.

“Besides,” said Isabelle, “we haven’t had a…honeymoon yet.”

He froze and looked at her. Isabelle’s face was pink, and at that sight, whatever worries that had Gaius simply vanished. Pulling her close, Gaius blocked the door with some qi and held her tight. There was quite some time before dinner, and she was simply too…adorable.

Other thoughts could wait.