I feel like I should clarify something. I told Dianite that I loved him, and I kept our relationship a secret for over a month. It's not because I was truly in love with the god of death and destruction, I promise. I would never stoop quite that low. Of course, there is the reason that I wanted him to trust me as much as possible, to gain an advantage in the war. But then, the reason that I was less happy to admit: I was incredibly lonely. Perhaps just the thought of being in a relationship, with someone always caring about me and comforting me in times of trouble, appealed to me more than anything else. What most of us here wanted was a sense of comfort, and I was lucky to have an opportunity to receive that.

I also had the feeling that, no matter how sincere Dianite seemed, he was also faking his love for me. Perhaps he was planning on having me betray my friends and join his side during the war. (I take great offense at the thought that he might think me so stupid as to fall for his trap and join his side.) Although it is beyond me why he would go for romance rather than close friendship.

I was sitting on the balcony of my castle one night, gazing out at the sky as the sun slipped over the horizon. The air next to me shimmered, and the devil appeared beside me. He sat next to me and reached out to hold my hand. I let him, and a sense of warmth rushed through me. It felt comforting, although it was probably because he spent so much time in the nether.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, looking into my eyes. He could always tell when I wasn't myself, and was the only one who could make me feel better.

"Not really," I answered. "The stress from... well, everything... is taking its toll on me, I suppose."

He let go of my hand to put his arm around me, and pull me closer to him. "I understand. I've known these people for quite some time, and I'm aware of how serious they are, always. It's damaging to your mental state." He shook his head in disgust. "They don't seem to realize it, because they're so damaged already."

I hadn't thought of it like that. "I guess you're right. I just wish there was a way for me to truly escape from this place. I don't want to live like this anymore. Actually, scratch that, I never did."

He looked at me thoughtfully. "Would you like me to show you a place where you can escape?"

"There's a place like that here?" I feared for his response.

A sly smile crept across his face. "It's called the nether, Jeriah. I promise that I will command all of the mobs that could possibly hurt you to respect you. My wish is their order, remember."

He's going to kill me. "I... I don't know, Dianite." What could I say to get out of this?

"Jeriah, I know you don't trust me. You think that I'm going to slay you out the second we enter the nether. Despite my constant declaration of love for you, you still think I'm faking it." The god drew his arm away, and the warmth faded away.

"I've always been taught to be paranoid," I replied sadly. "I should never trust anyone, and avoid falling into the traps set by others to harm me."

"Jeriah, listen to me. You don't have a sword anywhere near you right now. If I wanted to kill you, why wouldn't I do it now? I have the strength to, and you would be unable to fight back. Why would I bring you to the nether before slaying you?" he reasoned.

I still had a terrible, terrible feeling about this, but what convinced me was how cold I felt without Dianite's warmth. The thought of a cozy place in which I felt like I belonged appealed to me more than anything else. "I suppose I can." I stood up and started walking out of the castle, with the grinning god behind me.

Even so, I was still convinced that I was about to die. And maybe the years of being stuck here was getting to my head, but I didn't really mind that fact. One way or another, I was going to die in the Realm of Mianite. Might as well die now.

Dianite turned into spirit form for a second, then reappeared. "The priest is asleep. It's safe to enter his house and use his portal. Just hurry, and try not to make any noise." I did as I was told, and crept inside the stone wall. I quietly stepped into the purple portal and held my breath, sure that by the time I opened my eyes, I would be dead.

As you may have guessed, that's not what happened.

When I stepped out of the portal, all of the nearby mobs bowed and formed a path. I stood there for a moment in stunned silence, taking it all in. Dianite had meant what he said. He didn't bring me here to kill him after all.

"Walk this way, sir," one of the pigmen said, gesturing towards the path that he had created. I nodded in understanding, and went where he was pointing. The mobs had created a trail down a long strip of netherrack, down to the place where the magnificent Dianite temple stood.

"Come this way, Jeriah," Dianite's voice sounded from inside the temple. "No harm shall be brought to you, not while I'm in control." Excitement filling me, I began to run down the rest of the path, and into the brick castle. The flames warmed me, and I felt a sense of coziness. It was a sensation I had gone years without feeling, and I loved it.

"Hello, my lord." I greeted him as I approached his throne. He looked slightly ridiculous, a tiny person in a gigantic throne, but I knew better than to point that out to him.

"I told you that you could trust me," Dianite laughed, reaching out a hand. I grabbed it, and he pulled me up onto his throne with him. "Sit down next to me, and relax. Isn't this place beautiful? Full of warmth and power. Nothing in the other two realms could possibly equate to what's here."

"I have to admit, it's gorgeous here," I breathed, craning my neck to see every inch of the temple.

"I can give you a tour, if you like," Dianite offered. When I didn't respond, he put his arm around me. "Or we could just sit here for a bit. I know that it's a lot to take it. Overwhelming, perhaps?"

I shrugged, leaning into him and resting my head on his broad shoulder. "Slightly. I'd love a tour in a few minutes, but for now I'd just like to, as you said, relax. It's been quite a while since I've been able to do that."

Dianite smiled, leaning in to kiss me. "Whatever makes you the happiest, Jeriah."