Ianite POV-

The place they were in was very peculiar and familiar.

It was a place he didn't men to spawn them in, yet there they were.

Back when his home was still intact many centuries ago, it was surrounded by red tulips their father had planted when he flourished the land. His mother had been very fond of them, to her they were a symbol of love between her and Botan.

Though beautiful, they brought back painful memories.

A cold night. Tulips bathed in blood. A short scream and a final smile.

Jordan's presence meant that his father most likely parished, washing the dark memories away.

There she was, her smile speaking a hundred words. Both of them were unsure on what to do next, all they could sense was relief in the air. Just as he took a step forward to greet her, Jordan began to speak.

"I'm sorry..." she said softly

What could she be sorry for? It was Ianite that was sorry for her having to deal with his father. It was something that he hadn't expected to hear. He stood in place and looked around in confusion, searching for an answer, until words came to mind.

"What for? I wasn't able to help you fight against my father, that was something no mortal should have dealt with." He said.

"That's not what I meant. Mianite said you knew about the war but that you didn't know I was pretending. I know he cleared that up with you but I just wanted to apologize for fake leaving your side."she said, wiping a tear away from her face.

He felt horrid for making her cry, but he was still curious as to what had happened.

"Worry not, that is all in the past now. If you don't mind me asking, how did it all turn out? I see you are well."

She stopped to gather her thoughts, thinking back on what had happened. Maybe it was a hard memory to look back on and he had brought it up so causally.

She got closer to him, taking slow steady steps. About a foot away from him, Jordan stopped and smiled at her god.

"Well, it's a funny story actually. I shot your brothers and then stabbed your father."

...

There were no words to express the confusion and slight amazement that he felt at this moment. Ianite staggered back and looked at her light brown eyes closely. This young woman had attacked three gods and was here to tell the tale, a woman who he had perceived to be sweet as sugar.

"You killed them all?" is all Ianite could muster out of his mouth.

"No! Of course not! I fake shot your brothers to be able to kill your father. Oh man... I'm horrible. You must hate me right now, I mean, I pretty much attacked your family. Your dad was not a good guy so I did what seemed best, but your brothers are fine, though I haven't seen them in while...sorry I'm ranting again." She said flustered, quickly hiding her face with her palms

Ianite just laughed.

"You managed to trick the ultimate trickster and shoot two gods. My lady, I believe you have surpassed the abilities of everyone in this world."

Ianite gently began pushingher hands always from her face, revealing her brightly flushed cheeks.

She looked for any signs of anger or displeasure, but he knew she would find neither. He was proud of the warrior she had become. If anything, it would have been astonishing to see Dianite be shot by a human.

Her smile finally returned and her shoulders dropped with relief.

"So, you're not mad at me?" She asked softly

"Not in the slightest. You truly are amazing, but don't apologize for saving billions of lives. It is us who owe you and should be apologizing. My father was a very complicated man, thought there was once good in him, unfortunately time made him cruel. You made the right call"

"Yeah, he was kinda..ya know. I just want you to know that I didn't do this for Dianite or the world, I did it for you. The Shadows wanted to kill you, and even though it killed me to deny my loyalty to you, you were never far from my thoughts my lord." She said

"I'm sorry, that sounded really cheesy." She said as she paced back and forth in panic

The woman who had bested the god's was somehow incredibly flustered around him now, seemed like her kindness and gentle personality were not washed away by his father.

"I'm glad all was resolved. Tell me, how is your life now? I assume all has gone back to its chaotic order."

"Pretty much, anywhere with Tom will always be chaotic order. I'm just glad to see you again!"

Next thing he knew, his champion was embracing him like she hadn't seen him in centuries. Ianite unsure what to do just stood there like a tree. He couldn't even recall the last time he had a hug, it had become a foreign action to him.

Once he processed it was his beloved champion whom was embracing him, all doubts and confusion faded away. He embraced her back as best as he could.

Jordan was very petite, she had to stand on her toes just to reach his neck, and he had to bend down to return the hug. Nevertheless, it was comfortable, felt right even.

Minutes or even hours may have passed, finally Jordan broke the hug but didn't back away. She was happy, smiling at him, then panic crossed her face once more.

"Oh! I'm sorry! Is it ok to hug a god, was that allowed? If it was disrespectful in any way I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened, I was just so happy you didnt hate me and then it was just a reflex."

Before she could push away of their more spaced out embrace Ianite held her in place.

"It's quite alright. Just haven't had a hug in centuries, caught me off guard"

"You haven't? That's a long time...but don't worry, I'll help you make up for lost time. After all everyone needs a hug from time to time, at least that's what Tom says" Jordan said laughing.

"The Dianitee? He is a very peculiar man indeed. Are you guys close friends?"

"Yeah. We are all we have. Tucker and Sonja are always out doing their thing and the rest of the residents of the island keep to themselves so we hang out quite often"

Though he was a follower of his brother, Tom seemed to have a less polluted heart. Still, he was a man to keep tabs on, he could betray her at any given time if Dinate comanded it. Though he wants to warn his champion, he couldn't bring himself to erase her smile with worries.

"At least you're not alone. You both seem like a good duel in battle, it seems there is a lot of that recently as well." He said instead.

Both he and Jordan let go of the embrace and sat down on the grass, staring at the horizon in front of them instead.

"Haha. I guess. We've had purges to keep from having wars, to keep you healthy actually."

"The priest has always been fond of controlled fighting, I presume it was his idea?"

"Yeah. To be honest, it helps train us, specially now that Champwan joined us, he's a badass!" Jordan said in a less than happy tone.

"He has always been better than most because of all the time he has on his hands, just like his father before him. If I were you, it would be wise to have him as an ally, though he's not much of a people person."

"I've noticed, he barely talks to us! Ianite, I wanted to ask, how is Miante? I haven't seen him in a while. Is he ok?"she said avoiding eye contact, instead she began fidgeting with the grass with a sad look on her face.

"I wouldn't know, haven't seen him myself. Have you heard from Dianite by any chance? I haven't seen my brother in a while as well." Ianite said clutching his fists at the though of his brother.

"None of us have, but Dinate told us that we have to go to the nether tomorrow for a surprise so we're kinda freaking out. We weren't allowed in the nether for a long time because of whatever he has been planning."

"Whatever it is I advice you proceed with caution. Dianite is a fan of vile tricks, always has been."

"Couldn't agree more. Oh! Speaking of your brothers! Miante gave me this necklace a while back" she said as she pulled it out of her shirt. "He told me it was your mother's and that it had meaning" Jordan explained, handing it over to him.

It had been a long time since he had seen it. He recalled seeing it hanging from his morther's neck everyday, she never took it off.

Now his brother had entrusted Jordan with it, it was very unexpected to say the least. But he could see why, though one may deny it, all three of them had grown very fond of her. All in similar ways.

He handed it back to her, and for a moment, he saw his mother's smile reflected in hers. The same kindness and joy.

"I wanted to know what the bracelet you gave me means. Miante said it was important."

"Indeed it does. It's not easy to explain its meaning, unlike that necklace, this wasn't enchanted by wizards. This was one of the first and most complex spells I ever learned, the last my mother taught me." He grabbed on to the necklace once more and carefully began to click it back into place.

"Its a part of me in a way to say the least, its made of void magic, very hard to contain. The void is a dimension of its own used for transportation mostly. But it represents peace within time, in it you can rest your mind as I have done multiple times. Taking refuge in the end to reach the void for peace is something I've done in times of great sorrow."

Once the necklace was in place he picked a tulip from the ground next to him and handed it over to his champion.

"I know that this world can be chaotic and reckless, I wanted you to have a portion of that peace I escape to. I gave it to my mother in the hopes that it could calm her down in times of stress, and it worked. Although, I also though this may help you feel closer to home."

She stared at the necklace in amazement. Then laughed to herself.

" I always thought that the god's would be cold and distant as I had seen back home. I thought you wouldn't care about much but bringing balance. Thank you...this all means a lot, perhaps one day I can provide you with some peace as well. I'm gonna do everything I can to save you from Dianite, maybe that can bring you peace without the help of the void for once" Jordan said.

The dream land he had spawned had turned into night time, bringing a pleasant breeze. It wasn't until Jordan has stopped speaking that Ianite noticed she was trying to keep herself warm. He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around his champion instinctively. She had spawned here with a light purple dress and it wasn't until that instant that he noticed it, and it was beautiful, but not adequate for this weather. Instead he replaced it with the outfit she was currently wearing in the overworld with a simple thought.

"Thank you! But that was a really narly dress, my mother would have loved it. Gotta say though, I'm never gonna get used to this dream magic stuff. " She said hugging the jacket closer.

"It's one of the abilities that come with controlling the void, my father taught me how to dreamscape when I was just a boy. I used to mess with my brothers a lot." He said in between laughter.

"Your father said he could control the void, but I assumed he was just bluffing. So did you both have the same powers then?"

"Yes. I inherited his powers of the void and the control of the end from my mother. My mother derived from a family of gods that had powers of dimensions, but she gave up her goddess status to have children long before I was born. Oddly enough, me and my brothers still inherited those powers."

"That's so narbuckle! I'd never hear any of that before! So what did she control when she was a goddess?" Jordan asked curiously

"A dimension called the twilight forest. She filled it with flora and powerful beings to rule it peacefully, beings that cared about the world's environment as much as she did. It's a lovely place, but ever since she passed away, this world no longer has contact with it unfortunately."

"I would have loved to see it. Maybe once we kick Dianite's butt we can try to find a way to reach it."

"Your optimism is very admirable, perhaps one day we shall."

Suddenly the sky turned bright red and Tom's voice rang across the land. It would seem that the time had come to wake up, but neither of them wanted to leave. They ignored it for a while until Tom began screaming at a pitch so high it seemed unreachable by humans.

"Well, so much for a calm nights sleep. Guess it's time for me to wake up and slap him for waking me up from this. Will I see you again tomorrow?" She asked giving the jacket back but holding on to the tulip.

"Perhaps. It's uncertain how events will unfold, but if Dinate doesn't interfere I will see you again. Claire..."

She stopped midstep and looked back shocked.

"Thank you for everything my lady" he finally said after a moments pause. He wanted to say more, something more important, just didn't know what it was.

"My lady....you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that. Goodnight m'lord" she said as she faded away from the dream.

Ianite woke up back in his cell. It was still dark and empty, there was still blood all over the place and he was still painfully chained, yet he fell back asleep in peace.