Questions and Answers

Nissa had done it, she had finally been able to get Halvor to agree to speak with her. The place she had in mind for the conversation wouldn't be far, and hopefully Fenrir would assist her in her efforts to gain information.

Attempting to sort her questions in order of importance, a loose strand of her dark blue hair whipped across her face due to a passing gust of wind.

'Bleh.' She internally moaned as she tucked the stray hair back into her pony tail.

Taking note of its color she was struck with a thought. In the history of her world, a majority of the great historical figures had orthodox colored hair: Blue, purple, and even orange. It was said that they were "Blessed from the Goddess" and their deeds would mark great change or unprecedented prosperity. Nissa still had her doubts as to the golden age that she had been born to inaugurate, but she would keep her self loathing quiet for the moment.

Her two faithful guards posted themselves on either side of the archway as she pushed the familiar door open, showing the silent room she had visited weeks prior.

"We can speak in here, or in the terrace through the back door." Nissa said as she gestured towards the small door located opposite of the main door they had come through.

Halvor seemed to have an internal debate for a moment as his eyes studied the chamber. His face then grew into a puzzled frown as he looked at Fenrir having a silent telepathic conversation with the wolf. Nissa was familiar enough with the talkative beast to see Fenrir in a similar state of puzzlement. Her thoughts raced as she thought they were also sensing the same echoes of that primal magic. Even though the heart was missing, she could still feel a kind of phantom pulse in its absence.

"You feel it too, don't you Halvor?" She cautiously asked as his eyes quickly latched onto her own gaze in bafflement which then settled into curiosity despite his apathetic emotions. He hummed as he slowly moved his gaze back to the center of the room before replying.

"...If Galea had spoken to you, it makes sense for you to be able to sense it, but first ... you said you had questions for me."

He stated before moving towards one of the benches just to sit down on it.

"Yes, she did speak to me and its what she told me that I wish to talk to you about. When Galea visited me she gifted me her Binding and asked that I save this world, and... and save someone called Kai."

Halvor's apathetic face didn't change a bit as if silently asking 'And?' so she continued.

"Ever since that day, I have been fighting for this world, and looking for Kai, but every effort to find him has resulted in nothing. My question is: Will you help me look for, and find, him?"

Nissa kept the story of her reincarnation out of her explanation, as she had with basically everyone. Her close family and friends knew, and were sworn to secrecy, but she didn't see the relevance to share it with Halvor... at least for now.

He didn't answer her, but chose to silently lean back until he folded his arms and pondered her request. Halvor seemed to take his time answering as silence overtook the room punctuated occasionally by Fenrir's panting as he lay beside Nissa. She idly scratched the wolf's ears waiting to see what Halvor would say.

"... I will not guarantee I can find this "Kai", but in my efforts I shall do as you ask and look for him. It's not the first time Galea has done this. " He ending ambiguously, refusing to elaborate further.

The weight on her shoulders somewhat lifted thanks to his promise of help. Nissa would, of course, continue her own search, but now she didn't feel so alone in it. She pressed on as she asked her next question "What are you planning next for me and my people?"

Halvor didn't take long to respond this time as he answered "For now? Nothing... Continue to recover your strength, but in the future the next 'part of the plan' would be to assist me in securing the Anchor of your World."

"Anchor?" Nissa asked. Was he referring to the Heart?

"Yes... Its a source of magic that the Alnill and Emer use to stabilize their gates until they are permanently opened." Nissa was trying to figure out what he meant by anchor, to only get blown away into confusion as he continued to talk about gates and odd names. Her confused look caused him to have a moment of realization as he explained.

"..Oh! Thats the names of the two Enemies. The specific enemy you have been fighting, are called the Emer. As for the Anchor, it would be best if you reached out to any contact you have of the Khazji or Phelori."

Nissa was completely lost now.

"Boss, I think she needs the full explanation." Fenrir, bless his heart, was able to see how the information completely overwhelmed her and came to her aid.

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Nissa mulled over the new information she had just received.

Halvor explained how her world and many others were connected together in a space called the God Realm. Outside of its vast borders were two hostile civilizations, the Emer and the Alnill that were determined to conqueror its territory. What was happening on her planet was being repeated across many other worlds in the God Realm. There were even worlds that were being simultaneously invaded by both Emer and Alnill forces!

Nissa almost had a heart attack at that revelation, before Halvor explained that the two forces were fatally hostile to each other despite their eagerness to attack the God Realm.

Halvor didn't go into more detail about that inter-world conflict, but Nissa was able to detect deep strands of guilt and loss before they were buried beneath his apathy. He concluded by pointing out that both the Khazji and Phelori were two small groups of people who were essentially outcasts from their perspective faction.

The Khazji from the Alnill and the Phelori from the Emer. Back at the beginning of the God Realm they found refuge here and the Gods allowed them to stay to act as silent caretakers of their worlds.

He finished by saying usually at least one of the two knew where the Anchor would be located. With that he then told her to search her people for those who knew about their whereabouts.

Nissa knew first hand the destruction that the Emer brought to her world the first time, and yet to think of it happening on an galactic scale made her feel hopelessly small. It was that thought that made her look at Halvor and ponder.

'Is that why he's apathetic to everything?'