For the first time since Narkato, Phyrn had found the time to sit with her closest chosen. Except, this time, she felt a role reversal of sorts. She had her knees pulled up to her chest, while Livia sat beside her with her legs outstretched, leaning back on her palms to maintain balance there on the roof of Littlenest.

“I guess I never realised,” Livia mused.

“Never realised what, my dear?” Phyrn said flawlessly, her voice incapable of cracking if she forbid it.

“The… responsibilities you have. It was scary at the time; I’ve never seen you that way. But… Emerelda had it coming, I guess.”

“The burden of power is not always an easy one to bare,” Phyrn droned. Her tone picked up in vitality: “though I suspect you know that already, don’t you?”

“Yeah…” Livia sighed. “And the others are starting to notice.”

“Emilie is right, you know.”

“What?”

“You should listen to her. And to the others, whom I have no doubt share the hierophant’s opinions of you and your power. It is not something you should squander… especially not now.”

“Oh, please, Phyrn,” Livia groaned. “I don’t need this lecture again— especially not from you.”

“Why not from me?”

“Because you might actually change my mind.” She stood, shaking her head. “But I don’t want to change my mind! I don’t want to live a life that demands this heinous power… its potential for evil, for wrong—”

“Is a risk you’ll have to learn to live with!” Phyrn finished for her.

The goddess stood now as well. “Do you think I enjoyed it, Livia? Do you think I wanted to smite Emerelda? She was one of my most faithful followers… and I had to strike her down.”

“I never thought adventuring would be like this,” Livia lamented, gazing skyward. “I wanted a life of fellowship and good deeds, not… this. After Aubade, I wanted to leave all this behind— bloodshed, violence, bitter rage… but no matter how hard I run, I cannot escape the shadow cast by that terrible betrayal… and the things I had to do in response.”

Phyrn put her hand on Livia’s shoulder, and with her other hand encouraged her head to turn so that their eyes met. “Livia Sol Sasna, o’ loyal warrior of mine… listen to mine words.”

Livia felt the breath go out of her for a moment, her pupils dilating. “Yes… yes, goddess.”

“You will soon face evils far stronger than anything you have faced before; even with all the power inside you, it will be an uphill struggle. You must summon every ounce of that strength you can when the time comes. If you do not, your friends may very well die. I say this not for my sake, but for yours: do not fail to protect the last thing in your life that you hold dear. These new companions of yours are a part of your strength now… do not fail them as I failed you.”

Livia began crying. “I understand. Oh, Phyrn… I’m so afraid.”

“As am I, daughter of my world; as am I.” They embraced. “Cleanse the tarnishes on your grace-given power with love and virtue; expel this burden of sin from your soul.”

“How… how do I accomplish this?” Livia nearly raised her voice, clutching her goddess’ tunic in shaking fists.

“When the time comes, you will. As you have always believed in me, child… I will always believe in you.”

Phyrn stepped back, away from Livia. “Now then… I must return to our mission. Prepare yourself, Livia Sol Sasna, and open your heart to your fellow chosen. This battle here in Montar was nothing compared to the true test that is soon to come. I know you will do what is right.”

“Phyrn!” Livia cried, reaching out as the goddess vanished in a blink of divine light… and just for a moment - the briefest kind of moment - she wished she’d died back in Aubade.

“Livia?” that sweetest and warmest of voices pierced Livia’s grim introspection. The two last aubadeans locked eyes, and even if Livia had been able to wipe the wetness and redness from her eyes in time, she was sure that Pippy would have seen it on her soul anyway. “Livia!” she went to her with speed that almost totally disregarded her own safety and balance. “What’s wrong?”

Livia took Pippy’s hands in her own. “I was speaking with Phyrn. You just missed her.”

“What were you talking about? Did she upset you?”

Livia tittered, a thin smile flickering at the edge of her lips. “No, no… I did that to myself, as usual.”

“Well… whatever it was…” Pippy threw her arms around her, squeezing her almost painfully. “Uh… I don’t know. I’m not great with words. Hugging you felt like the right thing to do, though.”

Another tear was squeezed from Livia’s eyes. “It was. Thank you. You don’t have to say anything; just being here is enough.”

After a time of silence, Livia did finally speak her mind. “I nearly got you all killed. My selfish hesitation, my refusal to use my old powers… I nearly let that giant monster kill you all.”

Pippy backed up a bit, and cradled Livia’s face in her hands. “Hey… it wasn’t your fault. It’s not like you summoned that thing.”

“But I watched, Pippy… I watched Emilie and Krey get knocked down again and again, getting up weaker and weaker each time… I watched the life get beaten out of them, slowly, agonisingly. I watched the leader of these rangers go down like a swatted insect. I just… stood there, frozen, and watched as everyone around me was—”

“Hey!” Pippy pulled Livia’s face closer to hers, putting their foreheads together. She began hushing softly. “Come on, now… come back to me. You’re not the first person to freeze up in the middle of a battle.”

“Have you?”

“Actually… yes. But that’s a story for another day.”

“I’d like to hear it.”

“Not now; we’re focusing on you, not me. Why don’t we go back inside, warm up by the fire some more? I think there’re some leftovers in the kitchen from last night’s dinner too.” Pippy smiled, almost giggling as she continued speaking. “If there’s one thing that never fails to cheer me up at least a little, it’s food.”

Livia found it infectious, unable to resist the new, bubbling warmth in her chest. “And yet you manage to keep such a slim figure, hmm?”

“There she is!” Pippy cheered. “There’s the good-mood repartee! See? Food is already working, and you haven’t even had a bite yet. That’s the secret!”

Livia gladly let her draw her back inside, and as they settled back into the common area in the treehouse, she thought of another reply, but kept it to herself. It’s not the food that’s cheering me up, Pippy.

Nevertheless, the food was good. Mandrake salads, vargr shanks, and some other delectable morsels the origins of which, Livia decided, she’d rather not know. Especially this weird, salty sauce they’ve got… as tasty as it might be. Blue-green was not normally a very appetising colour, but the rangers had assured her that everything in their kitchen was simply the fruit of their labours to keep the jungle in balance. Livia’s stomach certainly didn’t mind, even if her mind wasn’t completely sold.

And more than that, the common living area of Littlenest was something out of her childhood dreams. The only warmth and light in the room was from the stone hearth, perfectly built into the wooden structure of the treehouse as to prevent catching the place on fire; said warmth and light were perfectly cosy. The furniture around the fireplace was probably made of wood too, but with so many layers of soft furs and fabrics, it was like resting upon a well-groomed, noble, faithful beast, almost as if the furniture itself was part of the company being shared. The trestle tables and entrance hatch were behind them, but could hardly be seen in the shadows; the spaciousness of Littlenest was almost unbelievable.

Though Livia had already gotten a decent night’s rest, she felt drowsiness set in just being here, and having a full stomach didn’t make her more alert. Even so, some part of her declined sleep’s invitation, and she remained here in this waking dream.

Once again, that feeling she had felt routinely now on her journey through Berodyl wormed its way into her heart. She’d felt it in Acrevil, in Calastre, in Aldiphor, and now here in Littlenest. Leaving this place will be difficult… but I suppose I must. Not yet, though. Not quite yet.