The priest of the Schor arrived once more to help Phoenix to her feet and guide her to yet another temple. This one was more curved and reminiscent of the Taj Mahal, with intricate carvings of fantastical pces engraved into the marble exterior. She paused at the front door that would most likely lead her to yet another divine being and gnced at Lester with pleading eyes.

  He chuckled and patted her shoulder consolingly, “Last one,” he reassured, then opened the door and nudged her inside.

  “Welcome, wanderer.”

  Phoenix was greeted by a dark-skinned woman with emerald hair and dressed in a dark green cloak with a nautical compass star embzoned over the left side of the chest with what seemed like simple traveling clothes underneath. The woman had long tapered ears simir to the cinderen, but she was noticeably missing the other species’ indicators of fiery eyes and va-like markings, so it was obvious that she was something different.

  “I am Kyleen Lastrand, a Priestess of the Traveler. It’s an honor to meet you in person,” the new stranger said with a rexed smile.

  “Priestess Lastrand is originally from the elven nation of Serenydi to the east of Tulim,” Lester interjected as if in answer to her silent musings.

  The elf smiled and nodded in affirmation, “Indeed. I have traveled far and wide, and my journey has brought me here to guide you to my deity and offer my assistance should you accept their favor.”

  Phoenix winced slightly, “So Traveler wants to get all handsy, too?”

  Kyleen ughed brightly, “I’ll leave that for the Traveler to expin. Follow me, please.”

  As the priestess turned to lead the way, Phoenix gave Lester one st look, who nodded reassurance, then reluctantly followed after her newest guide.

  The first floor of this particur temple tower seemed like a war room with framed maps covering every wall and rge tables spyed out as three-dimensional models of various pces. If she ever wanted to pn a journey to anywhere, this was the pce she would want to stop by first.

  She knew that, eventually, she would need to pn exactly that in order to accomplish her divine task. However, based on what both Paul and Schor had told her earlier, she wouldn’t need to worry about doing that for quite a while as they prepared to bunker down for the impending blood moon, and she focused on getting stronger.

  The thought finally formed a question that had been brewing in the back of her mind, and she voiced a question to the priestess, wondering what information the elf might be privy to, “Warrior mentioned that this blood moon would be the worst one in history, why does he think that?”

  Kyleen seemed to hesitate but continued walking and answered, “I would not dare to presume the reasoning of a god, especially one that does not whisper to me, but it has become increasingly known around the world that one of our own has Fallen by betraying us to assist the invading Soul Reapers.”

  “One of our own?” she repeated in question.

  “A god that’s represented within the Delegation of Radiance. The Purifier, god of cleansing, has called upon his followers to assist the Soul Reapers in not only destroying our Reality Rifts,” the priestess expined cautiously, “But also in performing forbidden rituals to extend the length of the blood moon in an effort to both thin out resisting forces and cause more deaths.”

  “That’s horrible,” Phoenix whispered back. Then she paused a moment before adding awkwardly, “Paul said he was a former Padin of the Purifier…”

  Kyleen nodded, “Yes, he was quite the talk of the city a few years back when his journey brought him home and his path forked,” the elf said, then gnced back at her before continuing, “I’m not sure if it’s my pce to expin that particur situation.”

  “I would rather not say something careless to him, especially if we’re going to have to fight his former church,” Phoenix pointed out, hoping not to have to make her mentor uncomfortable by asking him these questions directly. However, she had a feeling that she would want the story from him either way, so she amended her request, “Actually, never mind. You’re right. I should hear it from him and get his side of the story first. I owe him that much.”

  The priestess nodded in understanding and returned to the story, “Anyways, the rituals that managed to go off have basically caused Krafti to… Are you familiar with how our moons behave?” the elf questioned, and Phoenix reminded herself that Kyleen wasn’t a priestess of Schor.

  She nodded in return, and the woman continued, “Well, it basically seems to have substantially increased its maximum mana threshold and absorption. This, in turn, seems to be causing the event to arrive about a year ter than normal, and it’s building up an even more massive amount of mana that will take longer to expunge. In effect, instead of a single month of blood moon levels of monster spawns, experts are estimating about ten months.”

  Phoenix bnched, “Ten months of people being crammed together in the city as the world outside gets destroyed by monsters?”

  “It is an understatement to say it will be a difficult journey for everyone,” the priestess said forlornly, then gave her a sad smile, “It will take everyone’s effort to find the path to victory.”

  Phoenix had barely noticed the other floors they passed by on their way up the tower as she worried about the upcoming struggles the whole world would be facing soon. When they arrived at the top floor, she almost cried at the sight of another glowing deity that she was sure would cause her more pain in the end.

  Her curiosity was slightly piqued, though, as she couldn’t tell if this one was a god or a goddess. Perhaps it was the lithe features of the elven species they portrayed, with teal instead of green hair like the priestess, but there weren’t any strong sex characteristics on dispy for her to assume with. She tried to steel her nerves as Kyleen gestured for her to continue on. Phoenix cautiously walked forward, stopping a few meters away to give a respectful bow.

  The deity smiled gently and said in an androgynous voice, “Welcome, young wanderer. You have journeyed far to arrive here. Not many traverse the cosmos before arriving within my awareness.”

  “Not all of it was by choice,” she shyly admitted, “I am grateful for the experience, though,” she added and paused, distracted by the view she suddenly noticed. The temple walls were missing on this uppermost floor, being open to the air, and a chill breeze grazed across her skin, ruffling her hair.

  Phoenix shivered slightly as the tickle of the light wind across her flesh caused goosebumps. She took in the view of the temple district from above with its colorful collection of towers and was in awe at the sight she’d never even seen in pictures before. The three she had visited were some of the tallest, but one stood taller still. A grand golden castle tower that seemed topped with a crown glimmered in the dull daylight, and even from this distance, she could see giant gemstones embedded into the elegant engravings covering its exterior.

  She wondered which god exactly it belonged to and figured that if she had to gamble, her bet would be on the god of money or monarchs, maybe both.

  “I believe you know why I had my disciple bring you to me,” the Traveler said with a look of amusement, interrupting her introspection.

  “Ah, yes,” Phoenix replied with terrible eloquence, “Well, kinda? Schor and Warrior gave me skill– I mean, Knowledge Tomes, to help in my quest for Hero and Rebel.”

  The genderless deity smiled once more and stated, “Yes, I requested your presence to also offer my favor and fix a fault within you.”

  Phoenix’s face scrunched up in confusion, frustration, and a bit of offense. She knew that she had many faults, but she wanted to fix them herself now, not have some divine entity tinker around with how she was.

  Laughter interrupted her internal monologue, “Do not make such a face, young wanderer. It is not a personal failing of yours,” the deity assured. Then they appeared again only a foot from her, and she reflexively pced both her hands over her soul mark, fearing the pain and fatigue.

  More ughter filled the room at her reaction, and Traveler said reassuringly, “I see my siblings have caused you a bit of trauma there. Conjure your [Guide Book],” they commanded. Like it had a mind of its own, the book appeared without her prompting as though it was happy to assist the deity.

  Traveler lifted a hand to touch the open pages.

  “Wait!” Phoenix shouted as she reached out and snagged the book, pulling the open pages close to her chest. “Please,” she begged the slightly surprised deity, “Please… not another quest. I– I don’t think I could handle more responsibility… I’m already pretty overwhelmed right now.”

  Even more ughter came from the Traveler’s lips as they responded, “My dear wanderer, do not fret so much. I only wish to improve upon it, that it may help guide you better in your travels.”

  New Quest: Path of the Traveler

  The deity Traveler has offered to alter your talent and grant their divine mark.

  Objective: Gain Traveler’s mark of favor and upgrade your [Guide Book].

  Reward: Uncommon maps.

  The Wayfarer gave a weary sigh at the words scrawled upon the pages in front of her and silently nodded her consent. Then, the deity reached forward and pced their hand on the book, causing it to glow for a moment.

  Your Natural Talent, [Guide Book], has been updated.

  [Guide Book] can now dispy maps and images.

  Phoenix gnced up into the deity’s face, gd that it wasn’t another quest, but her heart sank a moment ter when Traveler gave her a mischievous smirk, and their hand passed through the book to set a single finger upon the center of her chest.

  Quest: Path of the Traveler

  Objective Complete: Gained Traveler’s Soul Mark and upgraded your [Guide Book].

  Objective Reward:

  [Maps of Tulim] has been added to your collection.

  Completion Reward:

  20 [Crystal Mana Bits] have been added to your collection.

  To her credit, she didn’t fall this time. Phoenix wondered if she was strangely getting accustomed to the overwhelming pain of a knife slicing through her heart and piercing her soul. While she didn’t colpse, every muscle in her body was trembling fiercely, and she felt as though she was paralyzed in pce.

  “I will not keep you from your rest any longer. Safe travels, Chosen One,” Traveler said in a slight tease before vanishing.

  Kyleen returned to her side, slipping an arm around her waist and lifting her arm over the elf’s slim shoulders in an effort to help her move.

  “No more gods, right?” Phoenix blearily asked.

  The priestess gave her a pitiful smile and nodded, “No more gods. At least for today. Let’s get you back downstairs to Priest Ravone and back to your mentor.”

  “How do you know Paul’s my mentor?” she asked, trying to distract herself from the residual pain.

  “As a priestess, my deity has a direct connection to me. They impart information as they deem necessary through whispers in my mind. I just received my own quest to return you to him.”

  “Isn’t that kinda cheating? Why doesn’t everyone just become a follower of Schor so they can know everything?” she inquired, half-contempting doing that herself.

  Kyleen ughed, “Many followers of Schor hope to do exactly that. But even she is limited in what information she can dole out. Plus, it costs the gods a bit of their Aetherius whenever they directly act in the world, so they don’t do things without reason.”

  “Aetherius?”

  “Simply a name we use for the power they gain and spend. It’s more concise than using ambiguous terms like ‘divinity’ or ‘power’ even though that’s what it amounts to.”

  “Are they the kind of gods that are worship-powered?”

  “Something like that,” the priestess admitted, “People generate Aetherius by their actions and devotion to them, and in return, the gods can use that Aetherius to grant blessings, titles, or powers, spawn specific Aspects or Spirit Gems, perform miracles, and ideally help make the world a bit better.”

  “So they need people to act as their agents?”

  “For most things, yes. What you witnessed when meeting each of them was a magically constructed projection. Even maintaining something like that costs them a trickle of Aetherius, though the cost is less in certain pces like their sanctuaries.”

  “Huh,” Phoenix grunted, “That’s an interesting little tidbit. Does that mean if the gods do visit you in, let’s say, a random meadow in the middle of nowhere, then they must really think you’re worth it?”

  The priestess ughed once more, “You are worth it, Phoenix Fraser.”

  “I sure hope you’re right. Otherwise, I’m starting to think Hero and Rebel made a crappy choice on what to waste their Aetherius on.”

  “It’s not a waste,” Kyleen said resolutely, “It put you on the path here.”