Walter lay on the bed, searching his mind for something, anything, that would let him explain without blowing his cover.

Nothing came to mind.

Davy was going to yell at him for this, wasn’t he?

The two men sat in the infirmary, Gom staring at Flipper while Walter stared at the ceiling. Finally, Walter broke the silence.

“You wouldn’t believe the truth,” the god said.

Gom raised an eyebrow. “I’ve seen a lot in my time as a guardsman, you know.”

“But you haven’t seen me,” Walter answered, sitting up.

Gom rocked back from his seat, surprised that Walter could move. “Hold on. Your neck…”

Walter lifted a hand and felt where the stab wound had pierced him. All he felt was smooth skin. Nothing marred the skin. No scars, bruises, or blemishes.

“No one heals that fast,” Gom said.

Walter stepped out of bed. “Apparently, I do.”

Gom stood as well. “You didn’t know?”

“I don’t make a habit of getting stabbed,” Walter said.

“I just—I don’t,” Gom started.

Walter stepped as far away from the guardsman as he could. “Look. Just use your Sight. You’d use it once I explained things, anyway. So might as well jump to it.”

“I’ve used it already,” Gom said.

“Not recently,” Walter sighed. “Look. Just do it already. The sooner I get this over with the quicker I can get out of here.”

The guardsman relented, using the Sight once again to scan Walter. He instantly fell backward, toppling the chair behind him.

Walter winced. “Sorry.”

“Y-you. You’re—” Gom started.

Walter rocked back and forth on his heels, waiting for the guardsman to collect himself. The god doubted he’d ever get used to the reactions people had when they saw his divine person. Though, Walter thought, it was better than his divine presence turning mortals to ash.

Gom pointed at Walter.

“Yep,” Walter answered awkwardly.

“You’re a God,” Gom finally spat out.

“Yeah…” Walter answered. “Don’t tell anyone?”

“Death,” The guardsman blubbered.

Walter continued to rock back and forth. “Yeeeeep. God of Death. That’s me. I collect souls and send them to the cycle.”

Gom scrambled backward. “I’m not ready to die!”

Walter rolled his eyes, the awkwardness leaving him. “Oh come on if I wanted you dead I had plenty of opportunities. No, I’m here for someone else.”

Flipper squeaked.

Walter looked down to see his companion pointing with his namesake. The god turned to see a soul floating in the doorway.

“That one,” Walter pointed.

The god reached out, attempting to grab the stray soul. It spun away from him, moving to stand beside Gom.

“Oh, come one,” Walter complained. “Can you not make this hard? My day hasn’t exactly been the greatest.”

“Wh-what?” Gom sputtered.

“The soul I’m here to collect is hovering near you,” Walter said. “Once I get it, I’m out of your hair and you can go back to guarding the coronation. I can be a bad dream or something.”

“I cannot leave just yet,” A resonant voice said.

Gom jumped at the noise, again knocking the chair. “Who said that?”

“The soul did,” Walter said. “And now I think I know why Flipper couldn’t collect you. You’re Garegom, aren’t you?”

“That I am,” the soul answered.

Walter watched as the glowing orb of divine energy floated toward a nearby torch hanging from the wall. It moved inside the torch, effortlessly possessing the tool. A moment later the pitch ignited, forming into a crackling bird of fire.

The bird folded a wing inward as it took a bow. “An honor to meet you, Death.”

“Yeah, likewise,” Walter answered. “But if you don’t mind, I really need you to come with me. Flipper has to get back to collecting and I still need to expand my domain.”

“Ah, if only it were so simple,” Garegom mourned. “I would love for nothing more than to follow you toward the next cycle, but I cannot leave my legacy at a time like this.”

Gom finally collected enough courage to speak. “Your majesty!”

The guardsman bowed, conjuring his sword of water and laying it flat on the ground in front of him.

The bird of fire waved a wing. “Dispense with formalities. I have need of you, Gom.”

“I live to serve,” the guardsman said.

Walter groaned, the stress of the day catching up to him. “Did you not hear me? You can’t stay here. You should know as well as any what happens if a soul of your power lingers. I’ve experienced one daemon, and she was a fisherwoman. I do not want to see what a daemon emperor could do.”

Gom leaped between Walter and his emperor. “If my lord must stay, then I will not let you take him.”

“Be still, Gom,” the emperor said. “Death has a point.”

The bird of flame looked Walter in the eye. “Do not worry, for I only need to stay a moment. Once my legacy is crowned, he will be safe. Until then, he will require me to keep him safe.”

Gom’s eyes flashed in panic. “The prince is in danger?”

The emperor’s apparition nodded. “After my passing, the consort’s spies had learned the Vicious Pantheon had dispatched their hands to our lands. He set to work against them, but the Hands hold power direct from the Pantheon’s gods. My consort, despite his efforts, could not locate the Hands. However, I had planned for these eventualities and used much of my power to bless the Emperor’s crown. Once my legacy wears it, the powers within will activate, and all my citizens who came to watch the coronation will divest a fraction of their energy, granting the new emperor protection until he surpasses me. But until then, I must keep my legacy safe.”