The farewell to the village and the fire of redemption

With renewed strength and full of hunger, Mortis made his way to the inn to check on Helga and get something to eat. When Mortis arrived at the border of the town, he ran into the arms of angry villagers who held him and also Helga partly responsible for what had happened. Before the situation could escalate, the village elder stepped up with other villagers and calmed the angry people. They took Mortis under their protection and accompanied him to the inn to learn more about his experiences and his transformation.

Even though Mortis spoke in normal language, everyone listened intently. His presence caused excitement in the inn, especially among the people his age and also among the opposite sex, who were charmed by his new appearance. However, there were also suspicious people who were looking for faults and wanted to chalk something up to him. Mortis did not let this bother him; his only thought was for his hungry stomach. If he had to tell the townspeople here what had happened, he would. At the inn, the village elder ordered the best food for himself and Mortis, and they shared a table while the other guests kept some distance, but still listened curiously. The village elder began to pepper Mortis with questions, for it was inconceivable to him and the others how an ugly cripple who was barely considered human could suddenly become such a handsome man, and in such a short time that they had not seen each other. Mortis smiled outwardly and told how he had been endowed with potions through fame and success on the battlefield. Then he told about the events on the battlefield and how he had to face Skeletto and other undead together with the other citizens. The crowd, and especially the village elder, listened intently as Mortis described his adventure. But the village elder noticed something, even after the battle Mortis could have come home sooner. So he asked about that too and wanted to know why it wasn't happening so quickly. Mortis told about his battles against bandits after his awakening and about the blessing he had received. He could not reveal, of course, that he was going up against the current God of Death and remodeling his graveyards for a new goddess.

Even though Mortis spoke in normal language, everyone listened intently because he had already made history in this village. If he really was what he claimed to be, it caused excitement in the inn. Slowly it got louder, and more and more people shouted questions at Mortis, wanting to know what he knew about them and if he could prove that he really was who he claimed to be. So Mortis stood up and told what he knew about some people. He also didn't leave out who was cheating whom or revealing little secrets, which the people present didn't like at all. But since he was a cripple, they had never thought about what all he had overheard, and it was a lot. After a short while, the inn became noisier and noisier, couples were arguing and families were almost breaking up. The village elder didn't like it, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. After all, he knew that Mortis was venting in this way and enjoyed taking revenge on those around him. But when Mortis realized it was getting to be too much and he was done eating, he headed off to Helga's to give her a ride. After all, he was planning to leave the village soon. So he went with her to his house, where the Puck was sitting in the kitchen, stuffing his stomach.

Puck was excited and anxious to see what Mortis was up to. To his surprise, Mortis took straw and combustible furniture and put them in a pile, preferably under the table where his deceased family members lay. "What are you doing?" asked the Puck. "I'm giving my family a royal funeral and burning everything here. This will set you free, just like me," Mortis replied. "But you'll take the child with you, won't you?" asked the Puck. "Of course I'm taking her with me. After all, I am her husband, even if it is not wanted. I'm going to fulfill my mother's last wish and find out what she meant by Helga only wanting to save herself," Mortis explained. "You seem to be in a hurry. Even though it's dark out, wouldn't you rather start what you're doing tomorrow?" asked the Puck. "No, I wouldn't. All those memories that these walls hold will end today, freeing me from my past as Mortis. But you are Mortis," the Puck replied, confused. "I am, and yet I am not yet. But that will end now. So, nature spirit, find a home where you are well and can live peacefully. Our journey together ends here."

Mortis took a torch and lit it, igniting anything easily flammable. Then he lifted Helga over his shoulder, went to the door and threw the torch on the straw under the table where the bodies lay. "My job is done, Mortis. Rest in peace," he said. He then turned and left the village at nightfall.