Miraculous God of Gold

Last night, the Allied Army and demi-humans honored their dead with a glorious feast. Names of the deceased were spoken out loud. And cups were raised for each name.

However, one name was conspicuously not read aloud. Sage Thaddeus refused to have Will's names read aloud.

He knew Will would return, even if from the depth of Tartarus because he had faith his disciple would return.

And if faith wasn't enough, he would save his disciple, as Will saved him.

That evening after the feast ended, Sage Ming cast [Gate] to Tirana. He knew if Will was here, he'd drop off the good news to his Editor-in-Chief Diego.

Sage Ming knew how much Will loved his business and did not want the business to suffer in his absence.

The streets of Tirana were dark, except for the candles in the streetlights that were dimly burning.

The old Sage beat harshly against the newspaper door. Just before the door was about to collapse from his strength, Diego opened the door.

Sage Ming woke Diego from his sleep. Diego expected his boss had come to deliver some important news.

"Good evening, Sage Ming?" Diego said curiously. "Where is Boss Will?"

"He is currently busy, away on business. He asked me to drop this off," Sage Ming lied.

Diego took the article written by Sage Ming. He knew Will's handwriting.

The more he read the article the more fantastical it felt. Two gods fought. The golden god killed Thanatos at the cost of his own life.

"Sage Ming, I must ask is this real? Even Crown Prince Lukas' speech seems a bit embellished?" Diego wondered.

"You dare call me a liar," Sage Ming said using his aura to crush Diego's throat.

"Stop it! You're still emotional over Will's death!" Archimedes yelled telepathically.

Sage Ming released his aura as Diego fell to his knees and gasped for air.

"Sage Ming, I apologize, I meant no disrespect," Diego begged for mercy.

"Every word is true, I swear it!" Sage Ming said grouchily, before casting [Gate] and leaving Tirana. It was time to visit Elizabeth.

Diego was happy to see the temperamental Sage leave. He'd heard stories about Sage Ming, none flattering, and he was grateful to escape alive.

Sage Ming entered the Will's Gadreel manor. From the hallway, he could hear Elizabeth' crying in the lady's drawing room.

He knocked on the door and a surprised Henrietta, at once led him to a chair.

Elizabeth's makeup ran down her cheek. She was distraught. Sage Ming could tell she had been crying for hours.

"Tell me, what happened to Will?" she demanded.

Sage Ming recounted the story from Will's strange goodbye to his fight with Thanatos.

"You said, he became a god. And he killed Thanatos but died in the blast. Thank you, I feel better knowing," Elizabeth said as she stopped crying.

Sage Ming explained his belief that Will would return.

"If he returns it's because there's more coin to earn," she laughed.

"Ha-ha, no doubt he had grand plans for after the war," Sage Ming laughed.

"Or he'll come back for his vault," Elizabeth added hysterically.

"He may also return to collect the debt owed to him by these sovereigns," Sage Ming joked.

"I—I don't know how to tell the children that their father's dead?" Elizabeth said sadly.

"I am here for you. Please let me assist you, as you and Will have assisted me. I owe you both a life debt," Sage Ming informed her.

"You owe us nothing, Will helped you because he loves and admired you. Although he'll never admit it out loud. Men are strange that way. But he's always looked up to you.

That evening Sage Ming and Nisha comforted Elizabeth.

In the morning, James and Helen came over for breakfast as usual. James brought a copy of the Tirana Times and Fermion Guardian, per his norm. He'd bring his copy so he wouldn't have to share it with Will.

Upon arrival, they were surprised to see Sage Ming eating breakfast.

"Is it all true? It's the only thing people are talking about," James said sitting down.

In the morning, Fermion and the world were shocked to read about the battle between gods, the war's grand finale.

People were less shocked to learn, King Roland and other sovereigns hid the fact the war was not over until Thanatos was beaten.

And officially, yesterday marked the official end of the Third Schism.

The fractured world rejoiced in unison. Fermion rejoiced that its victorious warriors would be returning home within a month.

The new article was written in such a way, people could only idolize their golden gold savior. People rejoiced the gods were real and lorded over humanity unseen.

In Thaddeus' feature, he identified the golden god, as the minor God Plutus.

Temples were built in the god's honor and the name Plutus was memorialized.

As he was the grandson of Gaia and Aether, both churches commissioned golden statues of Plutus to stand in their churches.

Elizabeth likewise commissioned a bronze statue of Plutus to stand in the Citadel of Demeter. Soon the statues of Gaia, Demeter, Persephone, and Plutus would stand adjacent, like a family.

"Yes," Sage Ming said casually.

"I can't believe the gods existed. I mean I believed they exist. But to see two gods battling, how incredible," he said in amazement.

"I guess this means Will shall be returning for good. It shall be nice to see him routinely again," said Helen happily sipping her tea.

"I regret to inform you, Will is currently missing. He and Nisha went out to kill a particularly strong demon general.

He disappeared after killing the demon. But, the squad returned safely. He is presumed missing. Search and rescue teams should be out now as we speak!" Sage Ming lied.

Helen dropped the tea cup and on impact with the table, it broke. She looked horror-stricken, and sick simultaneously.

"Will's missing?" she repeated, as a maid gave her a new tea cup and filled it with tea.

Tears flooded her eyes and sped down her cheeks. The old woman cried tears of sadness.

"Yes, but I believe he'll return," Sage Ming smiled, doing his best to reassure her.

"If my son is missing, what the hell are you doing here enjoying his hospitality? Shouldn't you be out there looking for him too? Didn't my son risk his life to save yours, and you repay his kindness by idling about like an oaf?" Helen said standing up and throwing her new cup of tea at Sage Ming's face.

Helen's words stung him more than the hot tea on his face. Her words cut him and made him feel sad and angry.

He wanted to tell her the truth, just to retaliate. But, Will hid his divinity even from his mother. It wasn't his place to tell anyone Will's secret identity.

"Don't get angry, that's our disciple's mother. Yes, she overreacted. She's scared and lashed out. I'm sure she'll be embarrassed by her actions once she calms down," Archimedes said.

"I apologize. I shall return to the frontlines immediately," Sage Ming said, bowing respectfully to James and Helen before disappearing.

"Are you crazy? You just threatened a sage! The man could kill you as easily as snapping a twig," James warned her.

"Mother, you should apologize. He only came here to help. He loves Will," Elizabeth added.

"If he doesn't bring my son home, I shall lead an army myself!" Helen said with a harrumph, as the made filled her teacup a third time.

Back at the former capital, Sage Ming saw the soldiers digging and building a 6-meter tall stone obelisk, with a golden pyramid cap, at the crater's epicenter.

The sides of the obelisk told the story of the golden god's triumphant victory over Thanatos.

The golden monument was constructed in a day and protected by a mantle array.

After it was built the soldiers offer up a brief prayer of thanks and gratitude.