Chapter 156

Chapter 156

The door opened, gray light spilling into my mindscape, and Ekwin stepped out. He wore the exact same tailored suit as last time. The world resumed moving when he talked. Shadehki, you know you are not allowed to rummage through my followers minds. Did you think I would not notice.

I thought the mark was mistaken, Shadehki responded. Never seen a Lich serve the balance.

Do you know me to make mistakes? Ekwin asked, his tone neither angry nor happy, it just was.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

No, Gray One, Shadehki responded, her tone admitting her wrong.

You know I hate that name. Makes me sound so old, Ekwins was pained.

But you are old, older than old, Shadehki said.

I did my best to school my features. Ekwin glared at me. I tried harder.

Shadi, I am not moving in on your territory with him. In fact, if you want to work with him, you might be able to reestablishes yourself some. He just tried to give me a death alter.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Damiens steel grip on my arm and Ilore slapping a hand over my mouth stopped me.

Lich, Shadehki snapped. Are you stupid? Giving the gray one a death alter would not work, it would poison.

No way. It would not, Ekwin protested.

Do not listen, he is old. Then to my shock, Shadehki made a gesture, her hand circling around her ear saying he was off a little. When Ekwin looked back at them they stopped. I saw the suspicious glare. Follow raven to get priest take alter.

You mean the raven on my arm, and not Raven the werecat my friend, I asked, Ilore having removed her hand.

Yes, the raven god agreed.

I nodded. If Im going to now be working with you, you should get to my vampire, Vito. He told me he was creating a high death priest. It would be nice if the one he manages to create also follows you, it will simplify my life. Shadehki nodded and disappeared as abruptly as they appeared.

Good call, Ekwin said. They will be easier to work with than some of the other death gods since they are more of a balanced focus death god. He nodded at Damien. Good to see you again, Damien, we should catch up sometime. He stepped through his door, and disappeared.

That just became a little bit more important, I said.

Yeah, Damien shrugged. Normally its not an issue unless youre a priest, but then again, you want them to come in.

I really do need to go, but I have one other question. I didnt like that I had been pulled into the mindscape just standing out in the open. I dont suppose theres any way I could give the altar to you?

Damien opened his mouth to respond right away, but then closed it and thought. I was just gonna tell you no, but thats not explicitly true. You would basically have to resurrect me. Which, resurrecting a god is in some ways easier than a normal mortal, but in every other way far harder.

What makes it easier? I asked. What would it take?

Its easier, because its possible, Damien explained. Resurrecting a mortal after they have been dead more than a week is impossible. Longer than an hour is almost impossible for anyone under the level of 300. Thats because the kernel of their soul has moved on by that point, and youre trying to pull it back from what comes next. The exception for that rule are souls that are in some kind of limbo who have not moved on.

Like you in the mindscape? I asked. Can I resurrect you because you are a mental assistant?

Well yes, actually, Damien agreed, a glint I almost missed in his eyes. Gods are not immortal. When they die, the kernel of their soul does move on. There are ways to pull that back even if theyd been dead for a long time, simply because that soul was so intrinsically bound in the world in which they were. But being a mental assistant means the kernel of our souls doesnt really move on, its in a kind of limbo.

Thats why you became an assistant, I stated.

No. Damien shook his head. I became an assistant because Ive always liked teaching, I didnt know it was possible to do that until I had already been an assistant for a long time.

Then, what would it take? I asked.

I appreciate why youre asking. Damien closed his eyes. But its not something that you can do, or even necessarily should do. I gave him a questioning look, figuring he would want to come back. Me coming back to the material world would be monumental and incredibly disruptive. My power is gone, but as you can tell, many remember me. Im not even sure if I would survive, and then it would be a giant waste of resources for me just to end up back here.

I see. So only bring you back if I can do it in a place where you can build power and protect yourself.

Sure. Damien was clearly doubtful. I will get you an abbreviated list of the most important and hardest to get things.

You never know, it could happen. I began to leave the mindscape. Good luck with Ilore.

You know, it might be simpler to bring me back to the material world than it would be for me to fix that, Damien grumbled.