Arnei half glared at her father as he sat opposite her in the hover craft. The middle aged man had his antlers gilded and diamond tipped to signal his status as crowns weren’t really needed when one had antlers. He gaze drifted from the window to her glare and he scoffed.

“Are you still mad Arneiarel’ishmarkonen? Please do remember I am the emperor.” He half drawled, using her full name in half a drawl yet still in that musical tone only their species was capable of producing.

“of course I’m mad dad! I told you I was granted that archway by a literal god made of stars calling itself the god of death and creation! I even shared my memory of the damn being!” She growled as she opened her arms in helplessness.

“And what did you do with it?! You put it up in a museum like some trophy from the final destruction of the maelstrom.” She ended with an almost disgusted snarl.

“And you wanted to put it up in the garden with a grand path formed by nature to our backyard.” He responded simply. “I’m not going to put that large of a security risk in mere walking distance from my own backyard.”

“Well…” Arnei half sighed half shrugged in helplessness. “We could have had a manor made on one of the uninhabited islands?” She tried to compromise.

She grew annoyed at the amused twinkling that grew in his eyes at her compromise. “Well then while we put that together the archway will remain in the museum.” He acquiesced. “Still why name it ‘The pathway to the beyond’ it sounds so... pretentious.” He then asked with a final little jab.

She winched. “Yeah I’m not the best at naming things.” She grumbled. “You saw where that Archway lead to though didn’t you? Through the memories I shared with you?” She asked hesitantly and the concerned look of wonder came over her father again as he clearly replayed the memory again.

“Y-yes… I guess the beyond is a fitting name for that place.” He whispered before he gave her another concerned look. One she knew was one of wanting to know what she was holding back. All she’d shared was the realm she’d spoken to the god in and how he looked. The barest minimum she knew she could get away with. Something she hadn’t known the god had allowed her until she’d heard the whisper come from the Archway as she’d agonized over what she should tell her father on the way back from the maelstrom.

She wouldn’t share anything else, only that smooth otherworldly tenor of the gods voice and how he looked along with the barren majesty of his realm would be shared. She’d forcibly cleansed the memories she’d unwittingly gotten a glimpse of that belonged to the god itself. She didn’t want the temptation or the knowledge those memories brought with them. She was deathly afraid of the cost of going against what the god had declared he’d do if she did share and she wasn’t taking any chances. The price was simply far to high.

The two fell into a silence, the emperor in comfortable silence while she was deep in heavy thoughts as she was reminded of Mors. Only coming to when they parked at the private landing platform of the museum. A grand public showing to unveil the otherworldly piece.

She was still grumbling a little under her breath as they stood at the backstage of the show platform of the piece in the centre of the grand hall filled with other pieces thought to be of extra dimensional or interstellar origins.

As she took a quick peek at the audience her nervousness over the event skyrocketed at the clear sight of cultists. Then as she noted which cult it was and she breathed a sigh of relief. Some cults were tolerated due to what they provided the galactic community but there was one that was revered for its search for truth and knowledge of the beyond shared freely in a coherent and well defined scientific manner.

Thought to be a religious order of scientists of near every type coming together to share and pool their knowledge to achieve their goal of the search for truth. Known as the Children of [The Eidolon of the beyond].

The name had begun to resonate more with her after her meeting with Mors. Like her subconscious was making some connection that her mind just wasn’t able to comprehend and it was driving her mad trying to figure it out. She’d hesitated going to the cult’s headquarters in the planetary capital mostly due to how they’d come about the clearest and most detailed data of an otherworldly celestial bodies short forming and subsequent end.

Her gaze also went to see a few of the reporters allowed in due to upstanding and honest reputations. They made her a little nervous but it was a type she was used to, given her status, then there were a few of the general public allowed in and finally seeing the security team made her jitters begin to calm.

She did her best work behind closed doors outside the public eye, an eye which made her just uncomfortable to be seen by. Her mind was brought back when her father placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring nod. Then they made their way on to the stage to calm yet eager applause.

Her father stepped up and began to tell the “harrowing” journey that his daughter and the scions undertook into the very heart of the maelstrom’s haven to save prisoners taken by the malicious madmen. Resulting in the cleansing and destruction of the malignant stellar body that allowed the galaxy at large to breathe out a breath they hadn’t even known they had been holding in.

“And so only two artefacts were deemed harmless enough to recover. One claimed by the honourable Scions of house Augustdall and the other by my daughter. So it is with great pride and pleasure to unveil.” He boomed jovially as he moved to the string to pull the curtain back pausing with that ease of a well practised statesman before pulling them back.

“The fabled ‘Pathway to the beyond’!” His voice boomed as the archway was revealed, and even she breathed in a gasp of awe. The former dull grey spiralling rune covered obelisks bending to create the archway had changed.

Now it was made of a deep black purple dinted obsidian exquisitely carved into scales reminiscent of a Razor serpents scales were two tails arched out of the floor to come together in an arch. Around the two tail tips was another serpent coiled. What amazed her wasn’t the soft veins of silver and gold softly, somehow, glowing in an otherworldly manner but the intricate texture that somehow blended the scales with a feathery texture at just a look.

“You Blasphemous HeatheNS!” A screech echoed out in the silent chamber as a member from the audience pushed himself out of the crowd holding up a clear explosive.

Arnei swallowed at the sight. She remembered the look of those robes that the madman revealed from under a cloak. Last time it had also been a madman, though that one had been brandishing an infant in his hands. She’d thought the Angels of the Ancients had been eradicated with the destruction of the Maelstrom.

The man panted as his eyes wandered wildly while he brandished his clear dead man switch at the carefully probing security team. Then he made his way closer and closer to the stage as he kept the team at bay, spouting some of his cult’s chants as he did.

When he was almost on top of the stage he screeched at the gathered audience. “You dare take trophies from the corpse of us angles! Well then die for it!” He let go of the switch and the captive audience gasped before silently staring at the switch as it kept being held down and floated over to the emperors hands.

“You done?” He said in a charming manner before one of the security team took a shot at the madman. The corpse fell limp and harmless in front of everyone, a burning hole in his forehead.

The audience clapped and cheered when they were over the shock before slowly petering out as they stared at the electricity crawling up the archway and arching across the inside of it. It was slow at first and then it all converged together in the middle and the shattering echo of crystalline class drifted through the air as the kaleidoscopic gate opened.

They all stood there in silence, all frozen stiff until out stepped Mors himself. Arnei gasped and marvelled at the change in appearance he’d gone through. Dressed in clearly perfectly tailored and fitted clothing as if made for him, to give him a suave gentlemanly appearance. His glowing ringed and triangle centred black eyes still twinkling with that same amusement at the world around him as she’d seen before.

“Well… I wasn’t expecting a reception when I arrived but… I can’t say it isn’t an interesting way to come back.” The smooth yet pleasant otherworldly tenor of his mental voice filled the air as he looked around and took a few more steps into the chamber. His hands behind his back as he made his way past the stage to hover down from the large step down from it, his path taking him right to the Children of the Eidolon.

“Albert… How was the nova?” He asked, projecting his mind out to all who were around him and the cultist flinched as if slapped.

“W-who are you?” The man, Albert apparently, that Mors was staring at asked in the heavy silence that ruled the chamber after Mors's appearance.

Mors let out a mental chuckle of clear good-natured amusement at the question before he answered. “Considering you claim to be my children I’d thought you’d recognize me.” He said in a friendly almost off handed manner as he turned and locked eyes with her.

Once more she felt her spine stiffen as it had last time. One of the knights had described the feeling as a deer caught in the headlights of a tiger growl powered car. Whatever that meant but the mental image he’d shared made it feel fitting somehow.

“Ah So this is the gate to your end of the galaxy.” Mors said emanating a mental smile as he simply walked on air over to her and standing before her.

Her father finally came to out of the daze that everyone seemed under and tried to inter pose himself between Mors and her, only to stop as she snapped out her arm to stop him. “I-It is a pleasure to meet you again as well, Lord Mors.” She spoke aloud starting hesitantly but the weirdly approachable manner that emanated from the being in front of her started to put her slightly more at ease. At least enough to speak with more confidence. She was speaking to a god after all.

Mors’s eyes twinkled joyfully before he directed his gaze at the archway. “Like the change?” He asked and she turned to see the Archway again and then looking back at him. He radiated eager curiosity and she almost giggled at the strangeness of the being.

“I have to say it is a far more beautiful piece of art now than it was before.” She answered back and out of the corner of her eye she noted the cult in hurried and very hushed whispers. The people looking nearly frantic.

“Is it true?” She then asked.

“Is what true, my dear?” He responded smoothly.

“Are you the god they worship?” She asked clearly out loud for all the audience to hear and she heard the collective sucking in of breath at the question and what it declared.

“I am.” Mors replied simply before turning to the slack jawed cultists staring in awe. “I am a being I suspect has been around for an exceedingly long time and yet only recently born but I hold several titles. [The Eidolon of the Beyond] is one of them.”

He spoke clearly to the cultists. “At my birth I saw through the eyes of Kithillian, his last moments as the star went nova. That is how I know of you as I was born in a realm beyond this mundane one.”

A stir went through the cultists at the revelation and Arnei could do nothing but stare at Mors. As the hushed whispers of the chamber began to rise. She could feel how much vaster the beings mind had grown since they last saw one another after she’d regained her senses. It had only been half a year since then, it was a terrifying growth rate if he truly had been just an infant when they met.

Her father cleared his throat and spoke, clearly hesitantly, when Mors had turned to stare at him and the whispers had died down. “Might I offer you the hospitality of our empire by extending the use of one of our summer villas upon the isles of this paradise-classed world for you to stay while you... visit?” He asked as delicately as she'd ever seen the man speak.

Mors’s emanated delight before telepathically responding. “I would be a poor guest to deny such hospitality, your majesty. Though I do hope to impose a bit as I would like to bring my new pet along if that is all right?” He spoke politely and in an acknowledging manner of her fathers authority which she was sure he was loving for the potential gain from his show of hospitality. Once he got over the moment that was.

“P-Pet?” Her father hesitated a bit as the mention of a pet had clearly thrown him for a further loop.

“Well yes, as many other gods have their guard hounds, I have my little Kori. She's still just a pup though.” Mors chuckled as he gestured to the gate, with its portal still open.

Out of it slipped something she had a hard time to comprehend for a while. It appeared as if it was a smoky shadow in the form of some four-legged canid creature. Only the bony spine that breached the shadowy smoke that covered its skin ending in three lashing tails, the six red glowing reptilian slitted eyes taking in the world around it and the large talon clawed paws that left resounding taps of claws on stone ringing through the silent chamber. Pieces that were clearly seen through the smoky black covering the creature.

The creature just seemed wrong and clearly not belonging to this world at all. Rather a nightmare made manifest in a hellish hound. She shared her fathers reaction of swallowing loudly at the sight as the creature slinked along until it came to a stop at Mors’s feet.

It’s eerie six eyes every so often blinking out of sync as they wandered around the area and she could see the general unease the public audience was having at the sight of the god and his pet.

Many already fidgeting and averting their eyes. Mors appeared to pick up on it as well and spoke up. “Your majesty, might I perhaps suggest we take this to a more private venue? Lunch perhaps? We can discuss and go over the finer details and get to know one another?” He spoke and she noted her father glancing over at the slowly growing disappointed look on the cultist behind Mors, some looking a little hurt by perceived disregard.

“I want the order to come to terms and digest this event without my presence there. Exposure must be controlled lest we end up with a gathering of madmen. I will meet you in time.” He turned and spoke to the cult and they all appeared to understand then.

Arnei figured it was simply their strange version of reasoned fanaticism that made the cult what it was today. What followed passed by in a blur until she came to once more in the hovercraft again, Mors having been granted his own following behind them as they made their way to the sequestered summer villa. A villa quickly chosen and was rapidly being made ready for their arrival.

“That…. That was utterly terrifying.” Her father breathed out almost in a nervous giggle, looking more haggard than she'd ever remembered seeing the man. Much like how she’d been for a long time after meeting Mors last time. Though she’d gotten a less charming side than he'd displayed now. The very thought of when she saw the being rip someone's heart out with his bare hand would do that to someone after all.

She simply smirked at her haggard father and shared the memory of seeing Mors kill the cult leader which made any colour left in his face drain away. “Yeah… I can see your hesitation now.” He muttered as he ran his hand over his face.

“So what do we do?” He asked her, his eyes searching.

“Well you are the emperor aren’t you?” She answered with a teasing smile. Something about Mors's visit making her mischievous.

-

I stared at the tablet before my eyes as I sat in an honest to goodness flying limousine. The comfort and tasteful designs of the craft told me that this was a race that revered nature and beauty of the natural world. Though it wasn’t anything like I’d seen of the rare elven buildings and pieces I’d seen before. No matter what anyone said there was an inherent arrogance to elves that often made them embellish things to a more fantastical degree.

These people on the other hand clearly revelled in the beauty of the natural world and worked their society into harmony with nature. Very much in line with some of those utopian versions I’d seen of earth in their media only on a more… pleasing to observe and see scale. I somehow got the idea that they'd moved more destructive factories and the like off-world to help reduce pollution on their worlds.

Kori lay with her head on my thigh as she let her displeasure be known for not getting to eat the dead body that had been lying on the floor back at the museum. I already knew I was much too rusty when it came to interactions with others and I had to start acting with more care.

This train of thought was exactly why I was staring at the tablet before me.

[Choose the following traits to spend your racial trait point on.]

[Shapeshifter]

[Maddening sustainability]

I was rather annoyed [Esoteric Knowledge] didn’t really tell me what these two traits did with any real detail but while the first was rather self-explanatory the other though left me at a pause.

Deciding on the [Shapeshifter] in the end. I chose it and spent the point.

My skin crawled, bubbled and boiled as I shook in transformative agony as I felt my very being change once more. This system seemed sadistic in it’s application of new things added to my status if every single change brought with it such pain. Or was it because I was Eldritch in origin and thus there were compatibility issues?

When the shaking subsided I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt the ability germinate and share it’s capabilities with me. I knew I had seven forms locked in my ability to shape shift but surprising there was a caveat that brought the total up to fourteen forms due to my dual nature. Each form a different side of opposing aspects, the same form just different genders or interconnected aspects.

For now I had two forms to choose from, a mortal form and the Autarch. The Autarch, of course shared it’s slot with the Mingshe as both were different sides of the same whole being. The mortal form was much easier as it simply was either to appear as male or female.

I tried to turn into my male mortal form and found I changed to appear much like I’d appeared as Vlad. Pale skin on a wiry yet built body, my ears stayed the same as those I had as the Autarch now just not looking like they were made of stars. Long black hair reaching down to bellow my shoulders and sharp almost claw like finger nails tipping sturdy and long fingers.

I ran my fingers along my smooth cheeks and with a bit of concentration I felt the short full duck-tail beard form. I chuckled as I ran my fingers along the thin yet covering beard now on my face. I had control over hair colour, length and what it covered but the overall look I didn't, I'd be stuck with the elven appearance as my mortal form. I hoped this would at least make it easier to make the mortals more at ease around me.

The unease they’d radiated was… distracting to say the least, part of me feeling like a predator before sheep willingly leaping into my jaws. Perhaps there was something about my Eldritch nature that fed or felt like emotions such as terror, fear and unease was like a spice to a meal.

I noticed the six-eyed stare directed at me and I looked down and smiled with my lips at Kori. Reaching over to scratch behind her ears, I halted when a spark leapt between my fingers and Kori. The pup whimpered, then she too changed as I watched with wonder.

“Well aren’t you full of surprises little Kori.” I happily said to the slightly too large Doberman puppy that now lay next to me panting happily. Emanating pride.

[Your Familiar, the Tartan Hound Kori, has been imbued with a minor level of your trait [Shapeshifter] granting her the ability to appear as a mortal hound and hide in plain sight.]

The notification explained it to me but it was still a pleasant surprise. “Good girl.” I couldn't help but praise her as I gave her more scratches and pets. It did make me wonder what I’d be granting or as the tablet had said imbuing my familiars with. What different abilities they might gain from the simple virtue of being bonded and connected to me. Did this effect just Kori since she was next to me when I got the trait or would it be retroactive when I summoned more familiars? The questions rattled around in my mind as I absently petted Kori during the remainder of the ride.

When the craft came to a halt I looked out the window and saw the emperor and the princess, formerly Deer girl as I still hadn’t gotten her name yet, frantically speak to people that came to greet them. They all froze when I opened the craft’s door and stepped out with a mischievous smile on my lips, seeing the dumbfounded looks of father and daughter had me chuckling out loud.

“What? You expect me to walk around looking like I did all the time? Come now, how can I enjoy what you mortals have made without at least trying to blend in a little?” I teased the two as I made my way to them, the girl flinching at the happy yips Kori let out as she walked next to me. She was such an obedient pup, all I’d had to do was send her the image of staying at me side and so she did without complaint.

I did feel through our connection that she was practically vibrating with curiosity and wanted to bound off to explore. I decided to let her go off on her own but to stay within sight at all times and to follow after me. All I got was the happiest little bark before she bound away to explore.

“M-Mors h-how?” The princess asked, clearly shocked at the change of appearance but also recognizing the form.

I raised an eyebrow in amusement at her reaction and pointed at the bounding away pup. “You’d rather we look like we did?” I asked with a smirk and she vehemently shook her head in denial.

“See? It’s much easier to speak to one another when I don’t look like some wound in reality.” I laughed while thoroughly enjoying the confused and suddenly anxious gazes the staff was switching between the royals and myself.

“S-So what should we call you now?” The emperor asked as he hesitantly gestured for us to walk with him.

“You can call me mr Alta’farud… at least in this form.” I replied looking down at myself with one eye narrowing a little in thought before I dismissed my thoughts on the matter.

“This form?” The emperor asked, clearly curious and slowly getting over his unease after my change of appearance.

“Yes.. I have many.” I replied simply before noting Kori sniffing around the area and I leaned towards one of the servants. “Excuse me, could I perhaps bother you to prepare some meat for my hound? She’s yet to eat today and she is famished.” The woman stared at me before glancing at her emperor and then running off to comply after his nod of acceptance.

“What is your hound?” The princess asked me then as she saw Kori curiously following after the maid when I telepathically told her the maid would give her some meat to eat.

“A Tartan hound.” I said and seeing her confused look I elaborated a little. “Her species is from a realm called Tartarus situated between the infernal realms and the plains beyond.”

She stared at me with clear incomprehension and I simply chuckled. “The material realm as this is called isn’t the only realm out there princess.” I said teasingly at her which made her cheeks flush.

“So you’re actually a god?” The emperor finally asked and I laughed heartily at the question.

“I am an infant elder god.” I laughed but seeing and feeling the question about to slip from his lips I continued. “I told your daughter one of my aspects, that of Mors. He represents death and creation. My other half Kainaat on the other hand represents life and oblivion. The young scion you were saving will meet her when I get around to visiting him.” I said directing the last bit at the princess who now just looked confused.

“Her?” She blurted.

“I am a dual being, man can create but doesn’t have the ability to create life so the aspect of life has more often than not always manifested in goddesses as a result. At least as far as I can tell at least. My experience of the myriad different realms and worlds is... limited at the moment.” I responded and saw her jaw go slack.

I ‘d yet to make a mental image of Kainaat’s form in my head but I already knew it would be a blend of Thennele the druid and Nabathi the witch’s appearances. The titan Arguran however didn’t really have an appearance close enough to have been blended with Vlad’s appearance. Robert and my past as a human however… well sufficed to say they were dead and buried as far as I was concerned and wouldn’t ever be honoured like I would the four I now considered to be the origins of my aspects. Those first two had been the slag, burned away in my rebirth, leaving only bitter memories and hard learned lessons in trust in their wake.

“C-can I see?” The princess then asked a bit sheepishly and I laughed as I reached my hand towards her.

She flinched but then blushed when I teasingly ruffled her hair. “You’ll have to meet Kainaat when I’m near the Scion I’m afraid. You are stuck with this aspect while I’m in your corner of the galaxy.”

“Are you going to be meeting with the Augustdall Scions soon?” The emperor asked and I hummed a little in thought at the question.

“No… not at this time. I’ve yet to… fully put down the foundations of my domain so I’m more interested in gathering the few raw materials I might need and simply to look around. I have to wait for a while as I gather the power needed to finish what I’ve started.” I replied seeing really no need to lie or keep the reason for being here a secret.

Before the Emperor could speak again I allowed the blue electricity of quintessence run up my raised up hand which shut him up. “I’m telling you this because there isn’t a thing alive in this universe that can stop me. I’m here as a visitor, I have little interest in living up to one of my titles as [Father Death].”

My words made his eyes shake as I felt his mind working at a rapid face. I simply smiled kindly at him. “I’d rather be your guest than your enemy. Wouldn’t you agree?” I then said, holding back the chuckle I wanted to let out at his almost frantic nod.

What followed was a simple yet nervous brunch were we simply engaged in polite small talk. Kori devouring almost enough meat to recreate a bull in the corner to the amazed eyes of the staff. We then retired to the garden where Kori went nuts sniffing everything and clearly loving exploring the curated outdoors.

We spoke about what they would provide me with and what funds they’d put aside as allowance for me to use while I stayed in their empire and explored the regions of space around them. I in turn gave Arnei, as her nickname was apparently, a promise to come to my domain to see it once I’d finished setting up the foundations of it. I also put on my mental list to craft something fantastical for Emperor Ymir’ishlamair as a gift of gratitude for what was clearly a gracious host. He left shortly after the fine details had been delivered and ironed out, while a nervous Arnei stayed as a sort of intermediary between me and Ymir.

“So you can actually create life?” She asked me eagerly. Her original fear and unease apparently melting away with my more mortal guise and the pleasant company we’d shared so far.

“I can but…” I paused and then reached out to rip a small tear into reality to let her get a glimpse of Ktep as it was now. “As you can see it isn’t really ready for life just yet.”

She stared in wonder into the tear for the few moments it was open as reality itself healed the tear over by itself. I knew I didn’t really need to put on much of an air with this girl. Given what she’d managed to somehow glimpse of my own memories as they’d blended and refined themselves within my evolving form and mind at the time.

She was still terrified of Kori which upset the puppy a bit, most likely Kori picked up the growing fondness I had of Arnei. Though she got quite a bit of excess petting and scratches from the staff that instantly fell in love with her mortal form and happy barking antics in the garden behind the manor.

The manor shared elements I’d describe as clearly inspired by Ancient Greek and Roman buildings. With columns and marble artistry blended with natural and carefully grown flora that brought about a beautiful style of both ancient and modern type of manor.

“Will you have angels?” Arnei asked into the comfortable silence that had descended as I simply watched a happy time in the childhood of my hound play out before me.

I was a bit surprised at the question but I made sure to give it a serious consideration. “I don’t know, if I’m being honest. As I’ve told you I can create sentient life and I have seven races to choose from but…” I paused as I spoke, frowning a little.

“You won’t know until you create them?” She asked.

“Sharp.” I smiled at her. “Yes... essentially. Though if they are anything like Sas’seshkaneth’s angels…” I paused to chuckle before finishing my idle thought aloud.

“Then they’ll be nothing you’d expect while looking similar to what you’d expect. Maybe I’ll get some looking like those described by the humans biblical texts for my angels? Hah! Wouldn’t that be interesting.”

“Sas’sss...seshhhkanith?” Arnei tried, butchering the name and pronunciation of the name.

“A Spider goddess and weaver of the strings of fate.” I replied and saw her eyes go wide with avaricious curiosity and interest. I just huffed a little in amusement at the look. “In a twisted sort of way she is both my murderer and foster mother. I think I’m doomed to have rather strange relationships with other divinity considering my current track record.”

“Is she… like you?” She asked then tentatively, most likely noticing the slight turn of my mood.

“She’s an elder god like me yes, much, much older though and currently she doesn’t enjoy the same freedom to travel as I do.” I said softly as my complicated feelings towards Sas’seshkaneth came to the forefront of my mind.

Kori plodded up to me and raised up to put her front paws on my knees and yipped happily at me. Feelings of affection rolling off of her towards me. “I know girl.” I half whispered as I scratched the eager pup behind her ear. Her eyes half rolling up in clear pleasure from the show of affection.

“What sort of god are you?” Arnei suddenly asked me and as I turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow until I finally figured out what she meant.

“I’m a Mingshe.” I replied and seeing the confused look I exhaled in a half-hearted laugh. “A snake with four wings.” I elaborated but wasn’t going to tell nor show much more.

I slowly stood and cracked my neck with a tired exhale. “Can I bother you to show me to my room? I’d like to rest for the remainder of the day.”

“Certainly… would you like to schedule a meeting with your high priest for tomorrow?” She then asked as she went over a personal tablet computer the size of a smart phone, just somehow psionically controlled.

“Hmm, yes I believe I should. I was pleasantly surprised to find I had a following in this universe and that they hadn’t yet fallen to the usual trappings of religion.” I said as Kori trotted proudly along next to me. Looking like a child pretending to be the ferocious a guard of her parent, at least to me.

“Usual trappings?” Arnei asked.

I smiled and decided to tell her of all the horrific things I’d read and seen done in the name of religion from my time on earth and as Robert. I saw her face grow pale and she looked horrified that such things had been perpetrated.

It left her looking deep in thought as I entered the large bedroom, clearly intended for royalty, visiting or otherwise. I bid her a pleasant remainder of the day before closing the door after me.

With a wide yawn I ended up falling onto the bed as exhaustion reared it’s annoying head. The last I felt was Kori managing to pull the sheets over me and snuggle into me to share the sheets as she too went to sleep. Happy, fully fed and content.