Chapter 56

Wil stood in the ruins of Aachen, his heart filled with sorrow as he looked at the fallen city. He had brought many of the sacrificed dead back to life, but he could hear their piteous wails. Their home was gone, their lives ruined by the Night’s events.

Even now, he could see them picking amongst the remnants, looking for cherished items. Several had even tried to start clearing away the debris, to prepare for rebuilding, but had given up. This was the second time the city had been destroyed, and Wil feared it would be the last.

He felt a connection to this place, one nearly as strong as with Brookmoor. It had been due to his time here that he had become the person he was always meant to be. Through the trials he had endured within its walls, he had been reforged, set on a path to godhood.

Wil couldn’t let it end here. He had more than enough magic, taken from Tabitha and the rift, to work another miracle.

He gathered his mana around him, a wind began to stir. Above, the White Moon glowed brightly, nearly matching the light of the Sun. Wil thrust his hand into the soil, reaching out with tendrils of divine magic. He intended to reforge Aachen, as he had once been reforged here.

The ground rumbled, the survivors fleeing as the massive rifts in the earth slowly closed. The ocean, filling the massive crater in the center of the city, would become a new port. He reinforced the shoreline, covering the soft earth there with rocks and stone.

From deep beneath the earth, he gathered distinct, white marble. Shaping it with his magic, the stone thrust from the ground, forming buildings. Neat and orderly, he wrapped them in half circles around the new port, raising the ground so everywhere would have a view of the ocean that their city thrived on.

Beautiful structure twinkled in the light, following elegant streets and large market squares, where the people could gather and trade. To protect it, he recreated the original walls, but rather than austere grey, they were glittering white, carved with reliefs, telling the history of the city.

Great ships, heading out to sea, brave warriors fighting the undead, even the attack by the fiends and devils, he recreated them all in art, so the citizens would never forget.

At the end, he pulled more stone, piercing the center of the ocean until a shining white pillar rose from the Azure Sea. At the top was his symbol, the white disk that represented his Moon. He wanted everyone to know that Aachen was under his protection. He would not allow it to fall for a third time.

Slowly standing, he assessed his work. Satisfied, he waved his hand, his magic teleporting the masses that had fled its construction into the newly built city. He watched them as the stood in awe at the rebuilt Aachen. A number of them noticed his symbol in the port. They bowed and worshipped his divinity.

From that day forth, Aachen was known as the trade hub of Illyria, the divine city of the White Moon.

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The day was ending, Secundus hung low on the horizon. Her brother, Primaris, was preparing to rise when Wil returned to Brookmoor. His White Moon was fading into the sky, gradually disappearing as the suns took control of the heavens above.

He was tied to a cycle now, one that had existed for millennia. The twins ruled the days, but once a month, for 7 nights, he would guard the heavens. He now knew that there were threats all around them, both beyond their realm, but also inside of it.

The Elder Dragons slumbered, for now, but they could rise at any moment, their enmity with the gods only on a temporary truce. He had seen what they were capable of, and why he needed to be on guard for their awakening.

Archdevils, Demons, Outsiders, even other gods, ones in their realm and those belonging to other worlds, all were new dangers he only recently became acquainted with.

With a weary sigh, Wil appeared in Brookmoor, his divine light coalescing in the garden that his mother had once planted. He had tried looking for her spirit, after he revived Mara and the others, but he couldn’t find her. It was likely she had already moved on, the cycle of reincarnation carrying her to a new life, one either in their realm, or the multitude of others.

Still, even though he couldn’t find her, he was content. He could still enjoy her presence, here in her garden. He breathed in the smell of roses, his mother’s favorite. With a small part of his power, he ensured that they would always bloom, resisting drought and turmoil for many years to come.

His heart was calm, contentment radiated throughout his soul. The world was once again as it should be, his debt to it for the part he played in the destruction and death, repaid in full. But with his new power, came more responsibilities than ever. He couldn’t abandon his new role, there was no one else capable of watching over the world during the Night.

“I expected you back hours ago, Junior.” Garman called out. The large man was walking down the pathway from the manor house. Thankfully, the view of the Gardens was blocked by the foliage from the main house, granting them some privacy.

Kellerman and Greaves were with him, the trio had been discussing something, when they noticed Wil. Grinning Garman charged forward, intent on giving his friend a friendly slap on the back, when the young man’s appearance stopped them in their tracks.

Wil looked like he always had, a handsome man in his mid twenties. Dressed in pristine white robes, he looked untouched by the world around him. It was the etherealness of him, and the utter lack of any mana they could sense, that screamed to them that something was different.

He smiled sadly as he watched their response. He knew this was going to be hard, both on him to explain, and for his friends to accept. But it was a price he paid to keep them safe, and it was one he would pay again without hesitation.

Wil stepped forward, his presence unconsciously filling the three men with awe. They could sense some of the Divinity within him, his connection to the White Moon. Even with their Ranks, they couldn’t help but fight an urge to flee when confronted by a god.

“I was delayed, setting some things right. I’m glad the three of you are here, there’s some things I wanted to give each of you.” Wil said. He stopped in front of Garman, looking up at his large friend. They had been through so much, from Aachen to sailing the Azure Sea.

“Garman. I’m happy that you were stuck with me in Aachen. I likely wouldn’t have survived there without you. I want you to know that if you ever need me, for anything at all, I’ll be there for you. Here.” Wil said, lifting Garman’s big hand, palm up, and placing a small object in the center. It was a gold coin.

Garman lifted it up, observing the coin. On one side, a perfect circle had been carved into it, the Symbol of Secundus. On the other, a silver disk with a simple sword in the center had been engraved into the coin. He looked up in confusion at Wil.

“I carried a similar coin for most of our adventures. It kept me safe. This one will protect you, and your family, from the Night.” Wil explained.

“I don’t recognize this god.” Garman asked, tapping the silver disk with his finger. Wil laughed, and it seemed he radiated with light.

“Of course you do!” Wil said simply, patting Garman on the arm, before moving over to Kellerman.

“I’ll be counting on you to keep my brother, and his family, safe from harm. Here, you’ll need this more than me.” Wil said, holding out his two hands.

In a flash of light, The Dragon’s Tooth appeared in his palms. Handing it over, Kellerman felt the weight and the mana contained within the blade. He had seen it before when Wil was at the estate. It was a weapon worthy of a demigod.

“I can’t accept this. I can barely even lift it!” Kellerman exclaimed, holding out the sword for Wil to take back.

“You’ll grow into it.” Wil replied, giving the man a wink and a nod, before moving over to Greaves.

“I don’t need anything, Wil. It’s enough that I got to see the man you are today. I’m proud of you.” Greaves said. He had watched over Wil since he was a baby, and, in some ways, had been a better father than his own. When Wil’s mother had died, it had been Greaves who guided him.

“Thank you for everything, Greaves. But the gift I have for you is something that you can’t refuse, at least not to me. Only the Emperor can accept your denial of the position he has in mind.

“What position?” Greaves asked, confused by the statement.

“Margaret and her mother have been stripped of their title, and their lands. The Empire is in need of a new Baron, one that will be just and fair. I’ve…nudged him in the right direction for a candidate. Congratulations, Baron Greaves.” Wil said.