Morana stared at me intensely. Once more, she reached out, grabbing me, but not by the neck; instead, she did so by the head.

“This is not a burden you can carry. Even Veles, in all of his power, cannot do anything but help fend off Perun. This is my duty, my fate in the grand order of the world.”

“I know… I get that… Or well, I’m trying to.” I groaned and rubbed my head in frustration. “I keep telling myself it doesn’t have to be that way, but I don’t know what other way to do it unless I can change how you fundamentally and ontologically function.”

Maybe… Maybe I can, though? Maybe somehow, I can make a difference there. I was this Echo, this Angel. My powers had to be good for something more than just getting me hunted and killed, right?

“Do you think that if I used my powers, I could do it? That I could find a way to fix that?”

“Nay. You would have to completely recreate me for such a process. It is a part of who I am as Morana as much as your brain is part of you, as much as your heart is a part of you.”

“Maybe I can replace the brain and the heart then, give new, better organs.”

“Why do you wish to be of aid so badly? I’ve seen your path, for many seasons you’ve simply watched as others suffered and kept to yourself.”

I didn’t need some random memory flashback for that. I know very well I was kind of a prick for a while, huh, even now I kind of am still a dick.

“Yeah… I know. But it’s kind of hard to ignore everything now when it’s screaming into my ear.”

I leaned out the carved window, looking out into the Nawia. “I died like, three times out there. Each moment, I felt like I didn’t do enough, that I wasn’t enough, that what I did couldn’t ever be enough. I felt like I failed myself. That my life was nothing more than another mishap happening again and again.”

My mind went to Matthias, and how I tried to save him against the Bes as I smiled. “Then, on the third death, I managed to save someone, I managed to help someone. I felt warm, like I actually mattered. That I did something that counted, even for a bit.”

I turned to face the mirrors, all those familiar faces, silent yet staring at me, watching me.

“And now everyone up there with me is in danger, because of me, because of my nature, and whether or not they wanted it, they stayed by my side. protected me, sheltered me. I will do the same to them now, I will save them, and if I need to save and help one more person? So be it. If I have the power to consume the world, then I can have the power to help it, to help you. That’s why I’m here- Well, to clarify, I’m here because I’m trying to find ways to grow in power and help my friends, but that doesn’t mean I’m using you it just means that I only found out about your situation like a few minutes ago- I’m sorry I talk too much.”

“Your friends have mentioned that you tend to go on long and drawn-out tangents whenever you are interested in a topic.”

I gave a thumbs-up to the rest of the gang trapped in the mirrors. “Haha, that’s me.”

“How sure are you that you could be of aid to someone like me in such a manner?”

“…I’m not, I’m never sure. I will never be sure until we finally try it out. Until I finally give it my all. Until then… Wait and Hope, I’m sorry, that’s all I can give.”

“It’s more than I have ever received.”

I chuckled softly and stared up at her. Maybe it was ironic, but it made me feel warm. I finally felt like someone actually believed in me, that someone actually was counting on me. Maybe it’s because I didn’t fuck up for them yet, but it still felt nice.

“I’m glad I can give it then, truly. If I may ask, though, what do you think I can do now to help get stronger and fight back? Like, uh, Baba Roga suggested getting blessings from you guys, asking the gods for some help.”

“If you desire blessings, you must first rebuild our temples, gather us followers, and create symbols in our Name. Then my presence can be manifested to grant you these blessings you seek.”

I thought about it for a moment. Magick was all about signs and symbols. The entire practice was literally creating them to help evoke them in one way or another; it makes sense that, in a way, it would be the same for a god. But that still leaves me questioning.

“Do I not need a Name for that?

“Nay, with your standing and connection, you yourself shall become the Name. You simply need to hold onto the memory of me and build temples, shrines, statues, and even perhaps gather those to worship me.”

Oh my gods, I’m starting a cult. Well, it’s a religion but I’m not really the preaching type, who do I even preach to? Do I get the Keepers in this? Well, they’re with the Caretaker… Or are they still allied with her? Can you have conflicting religions? Man, I really did not listen in Theology class except when I saw the cool Magick part aghhhh.

“Do you have, like, any blueprint? Architectural plans? Like a layout and design?”

“Emulate my castle, what you see around you is an extension of who I am, there is no greater architectural plans than what is before you.”

Oh, cool, hopefully I can, like, memorize it or something because boy oh boy will I completely forget about it. I’m not that good at design, I just like data and looking at cool aesthetics. I really hope I could make it work.

“Huh, well, it’s a really nice place, I hope I can do it justice.”

“That is my hope as well. And when you do, then you shall be blessed, and others shall be as well. That I promise greatly.”

“Thanks, I’ll be thanking you when I shoot ice beams from my hands to freeze people.” I raised up my hands and made noises as if I were firing off energy blasts.

Then, I remembered Morana and every one of her servants, as well as the rest of the guys, were in the room, all of whom stared at me. I could even see Rodion trying not to laugh at me while Robert and Bathrolemew stared, the former with a sigh on his lips.

My cheeks turned red as I awkwardly laughed again, rubbing my head as I looked away from everyone else.

“I don’t think they would make that noise.”

Morana spoke as an icy cold wind swerved me around to face her. She then raised her hand as I did and actually shot out a blast of icicles into the air, completely peppering the wall.

I stared in awe. It was this, the transfiguration that Baba Yaga did and all the other stuff that was just incredible. Magick like this was… Magickal to put it lightly.

“Do… Do you have like a death beam?”

Morana tilted her head like a wolf and I found that incredibly adorable that I wanted to pet her before I remembered that like a wolf she could probably eat me alive.

“You know, like, whatever you used on me that instantly killed me- I assume you’re a goddess of death, and like, you can just automatically end people. Or like did you just shoot me with an ice beam?”

“I can induce death onto others with my touch and gaze. It is not a beam, it is merely my will, and in this domain, all things are being touched by me, which means even without my sight or touch, I can desire for you to end.”

‘Wow, that’s kinda hot.’

‘Who said that?!’

I turned towards the others in the mirrors as I tried to find whoever kept finding vore and death hot.

“That’s uh, good to know? Uh, will I have that?”

“Would you want it?”

I mean, it would be a great deterrent. The ultimate deterrent, in fact, but uh, I don’t really think I should be entrusted with that kind of power.

“I think I’m good with the ice powers. That would be super useful, like freezing people or making ice structures. Cause I think that would be sick as the plague.”

“Then is what I shall offer you when the time comes.”

“I look forward to it.”

“And so shall I.”

I gave a smile, maybe it was a little awkward, but I tried to put more confidence in it.

“It shall be made easier thanks in part to both you and Zmey.”

I blinked. “What did he have to do with it?”

“When he scattered you across the three worlds, he also scattered many of the souls here, causing them to return back to the world of Jawia, reincarnating many of them at once. These are old souls, none of my followers of course, since they are not part of the Smorodina, but many who could be my followers.”

I narrowed my eyes as I began to think of the implications of such a thing. “Doesn’t that mean all the other gods could have more potential followers too?”

Morana nodded at that.

“It shall be a race against time, a new age approaches for all of us.”

“Yeah… Guess uh, that’s my fault too… Don’t worry, I’ll try to make sure they’re on our side.”

“I shall hope they are, for your sake and mine.”

I chuckled and looked at the willow tree in the distance, remembering that I had to hand in the roses from Morana to Veles.

“Yeah, I really hope so too…” I stood up, straightening myself. “I'd better head back to the uh, Jawia as you call it. I can’t really be holding you up much longer, clearly you have important duties to attend to.” I said, looking at the barren throne room with only her attendants.

I waved to all of them, and they simply stared back in wonder. I turned towards the mirrors, which held my friends, associates, and some random people I don’t think I knew, waving them goodbye.

At her will, Morana waved her hand, and they all spoke out.

Andrei and Rodion gave a salute, the former adding. “Stay safe out there.” While the latter muttered out loud. “Make sure to come back here often, I’m sure she’ll want that.”

Robert waved goodbye. “Stay frosty, kid.” He chuckled at his stupid dad joke as I couldn’t help but crack a smile.

Bartholomew scoffed, but he did have at least something to say. “You’ve grown; that’s good, continue to do so.”

'Will, do big guy, will do.'

Morana glided in front of me, placing her hand right before my face, and on instinct, I leaned in and kissed it as a sign of respect.

It was like kissing pure ice, I half expected my lips to be frozen solid to her hand as my body felt this rush of despair swim through me as if I saw somebody right in front of me. Yet, with her, it felt calming in a way.”

“S-Sorry… Reflex.” I looked up, and only saw her tilt her head again in both wonder and I believe… Amusement?

“I shall hope your reflexes continue to aid you in the future, my Angel.”

“Uhhhhhhh…” Was the only noise available from my throat as I nodded along.

“Y-Yeah, you too… Goddess.” I finally managed to crank out a few words before briskly walking out of there like my life depended on it.