You spoke with her?

***Boots***

Boots and Gerald walked through the entranceway of the town hall. There was a multitude of furniture, glass bottles and various other pieces of mess strewn across the threshold. There was a group of townsfolk making a start on tidying the place up a bit.

The makeshift barricades were still piled high against most of the windows. Boots was glad he hadn't made the decision to force his way in. They would definitely have incurred losses.

After stepping through the lounge like reception area they found themselves in a wide-open hall with three staircases. Two of them, positioned either side of the room, led to the floor above while the centre one led down to a door with chains fed through the handles.

Gerald stopped and motioned to the door to the right, "In there is the court, for all your judicial needs. There is a smaller one in the keep, but I've never seen it used."

"Why not?

"Well, this town was initially built with a castle in mind, but due to funding and the lordship changing hands, we settled for a keep. Now normally a town like this would be overseen by a lord, who would live in the keep and settle minor squabbles between nobles and the like."

Boots stroked his chin and waited for Gerald to finish.

"But Fenniton has no lord, or even nobles. We were left to somewhat self-regulate over the last hundred years or so. But that was not out of kindness. I believe Fenniton was deliberately left weak. We have no voice in the Kings court because we have no lord. We also have no real land rights because nobles can just come in and buy our land without consent."

Gerald sighed, "All they have to do is pay a fixed rate bond endorsed buy the crown and the transfer of deeds will be upheld by the law. It is a corrupt and awful system. They have bent the rules like this in the past to impose the harshest taxes and tithes on us, as well as conscription."

"Fenniton has been dying for a long time, it seems Pino wished to drive the last nail into our tiny coffin." Gerald finished with a deflated look.

"That, is truly deplorable." Boots said with a scowl. Clenching his fist. He felt true anger and remorse for the poor people of Fenniton. He desperately wanted to find a way to change their lives for the better.

"it's just the way things are." Gerald shook his head solemnly, "But we've given them a lot to talk about today. The Crusaders won't live this down for a long time."

A mischievous grin crept onto his face, "They will be the gossip of Raxia."

Gerald turned to the opposite door, "That is the council chamber, a meeting room basically, I believe it would suit your needs for the discussion tonight."

Boots agreed, a purpose-built meeting room would be ideal, "What is upstairs?"

"All the town records and the like. Over on the right-hand side, there is some accommodation for the council members. Nothing fancy, just some small rooms if they end up pulling an all-nighter." Gerald cleared his throat before gesturing to the chained door, down the stairs, "And that down there, might well be the last shrine to Fenix in all of Raxia."

The old man looked wistfully at the chains. As if remembering a time long passed. However, it was soon replaced with his usual scowl.

"What is the purpose of the chains?" Boots said, motioning to the large doors below them.

"Stupidity and sacrilege." Gerald said flatly, "That idiot Pino forbade the worship of the gods, creating his own religion and forcing Raxia to follow it."

Boots was puzzled by this, "Why?" he asked curiously.

Gerald held his hand up and rubbed his finger and thumb together, "Money, he saw the money the shrines and priests brought in, the offerings, all the rest. He decided it should belong to him, so now the whole country sends him tithes and taxes and all forms of gifts. Whatever he wants he takes."

Gerald's face was one of disgust. He grumpily crossed his arms and grumbled under his breath.

"The more I hear about him the more disappointed in this world I am. How did such a man come to power?

Gerald shrugged, "Born into it like the rest of them I suppose. His brother, the crown prince, died under mysterious circumstances. I'm sure you can fill in the rest.

"Hmm," Boots considered, "Well, I think those doors have been closed for long enough, don't you?"

Gerald's face cracked into a wintery smile, "I'd agree with that statement, yes.

Boots hefted his hammer over his shoulder and proceeded down the stone steps. The door was large black and ornate in design. The handles looked thick and sturdy, as did the chain.

Boots wound up for his monumental swing. Bringing his hammer in a sharp arc downwards onto the handles of the doors

'KA-TING!'

'CRUMP!'

The chain snapped easily under the mountain of pressure. Boots's hammer buried itself into the stone slab below. Shattering it immediately.

"Whoops

Gerald shook his head at him, "Be more careful you big lump!"

Boots grunted his acknowledgment. He had been expecting the handles to be smashed beyond repair. Yet they remained intact. A testament to the skill of the craftsmen who made them.

He tried the handle and pushed the door free. There was a rush of wind as he did so. This room had not been disturbed for a long time.

There were several rows of pews and a long red carpet on the floor. A layer of dust sat atop everything in the oval shaped room. At the far end was a statue, black as pitch, sat atop a small altar.

Boots strode across the threshold, leaving dusty footprints as he did so. He reached the alter and surveyed the statue.

"Nice to see you Fenix." He chuckled to himself, not really expecting an answer.

He had to admit the artist had captured her likeness rather well, the stone statue was expertly crafted, especially the eyes, the eyes almost looked…

Almost looked….alive?

"YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE!" the statue said suddenly, coming to life as if it were some monster of legend.

The great doors behind him slammed shut with ferocious force and a cyclone of dust appeared at his feet. The wind slapped and battered his senses.

Boots instinctively shielded his face with his arm as the storm weathered on. The ferociousness of it forcing him to his knees. He could barely breathe.

Eventually it petered out and Boots was left gasping on the brilliant white floor.

Hang on, brilliant white?

Boots looked around him, he felt strange. He felt smaller, weaker than he was before. Holding his paw up, he saw he'd been robbed of his thumbs!

He was back in his old body!

He appeared to be in Fenix's domain once again. Transported straight to her desk this time. Although he still hadn't been given a cushion.

Two violet eyes glared at him from across a small table.

"Ah…Fenix, so good to see you." Boots said with a gulp.

'Bop!'

Boots winced and grabbed his nose. Fenix was clearly not in a good mood. Opening his eyes he chanced another look…

'Bop!'

Ah yes, this could continue for some time.

'Bop!'

'Bop!'

'Bop!'

'Bop!'

'B-B-Bop!' She finished with her token coup-de-grace

"Why did you smash up my shrine! Why?!"

Boots squinted from behind watery eyes, "Ah, we-"

'Bop!'

"What did that poor little shrine ever do to you? You are supposed to be my messiah!"

Holding his nose more tightly, "Look I'm-"

'Bop!'

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Boots's eyes locked with her hovering paw. Silence it was then.

Fenix pouted in frustration, "I can't believe you did that Boots, that little shrine had stood there for two hundred years! It may have been on its last legs but smashing it to pieces is just so….so… barbaric! Do you hate me that much!?

Boots sat there silently.

"Well!?"

"I was ah, just excited that I had a hammer. It was really nice…so I wanted to…try it out…." Boots's answer trailed off as he looked at his lap.

He felt like a child being scolded by a parent.

He supposed he was technically.

Fenix stared at him dumbfoundedly, "You wanted to try out the hammer."

Boots nodded.

"You desolated a two-hundred-year-old shrine, to try out your new toy?"

Boots nodded into his lap again.

"Urgh, males!" she slapped the table with exasperation.

Boots flinched instinctively.

"I knew I should have turned you into a girl! Look at me!"

Boots made eye contact with the violet eyed demon obediently.

"I could still do it you know." She said as she fixed him with a chilling stare. Boots did not doubt her words. Gulping at the terrifying prospect.

There was a tense silence between them.

"I really am sorry," Boots said, ears low, "I just got carried away. I was in a new body, a new world and well. I acted irresponsibly."

He really hadn't thought about how important the shrine might have been to her. A fresh wave of guilt swept through his mind. What a horrible thing he had done.

He made a deep bow at the table, "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Fenix eventually let out a deep sigh, "I could, I suppose."

Boots looked up hopefully.

"But I'm not going to let you off that easily, Boots." Fenix said as she poured herself a cup of tea. "You owe me ten shrines."

"Ten!"

"Yes, TEN you nasty little cat!" She snapped back at him, holding her teacup menacingly.

Boots gulped again. Ten shrines was a big ask, where would he even start?

"Ok, I will get you your shrines, but I need your support."

"Aw, Boots I'll be your number one fan if you can get me ten shrines!" Fenix said, positively beaming.

"That's not what I mean, I don't know how much you know about what's going on in Fenniton. But we could use your help." Boots said with a serious expression.

The assistance of a goddess could really help them out.

"Hmmm," Fenix considered, "I get the gist of it, you've done well so far. You've still not united the felinian race. And Fenniton will most likely be destroyed in the next few weeks, so I'll give you a B for your efforts so far."

Boots's nose wrinkled slightly at his lower-than-average grade. He supposed it would take a lot to impress supreme beings such as Fenix.

"I'm not sure what else I can do. At this stage, it feels like we're in a hole that keeps getting deeper." Boots scratched his head, "I don't know if or how you can help us."

"Well Boots, what would you ask me to do? Even in my impoverished state I still have powers at my command." She held her little fist up triumphantly.

"Could you kill King Pino?"

"I could."

Boots's eyes lit up. This changes everything!

"But I won't." she said flatly.

This changes nothing!

"Why? He is a self-serving brute who has inflicted misery and suffering upon his people. He is an evil man!"

"Is he evil Boots? Have you met him? Does my young prophet judge, based on hearsay? Do you know the motivations of the man? Or even what he looks like?"

Boots opened and closed his mouth a few times, before settling on a grumpy, "No…"

"Well then I then it's hardly fair I execute him without trial. I am not defending him Boots, I am educating you. You need to find the facts out for yourself in the future. Besides, simply removing King Pino will not fix all your problems. And it will not turn you into the king I need you to be."

"I see." Boots was disappointed. But he understood, just removing one corrupt head of state would not be enough. There would be a power struggle, a rush to fill the void left in Pino's wake. What would that spell for the people?

"You must defeat him and take his place."

"But how? I have no trained armies. No wealth. No time. We have eleven days to surpass the military might of a kingdom!" Boots felt his spirit failing as the words left his mouth.

It all just seemed so hopeless.

Fenix looked at her young disciple with a hint of adoration in her eyes, "You will need allies, as many as you can find from as far as you may reach them. You have the charisma of a King, Boots. It is your strongest weapon. Nurture it. King Pino is not a popular man, there are several barriers you can erect between yourself and him."

"But we don't have time."

"I can give you time, not indefinite amounts mind you. But I can delay the retreating forces with frequent and minor misfortunes. I only ask that you encourage people to use the shrine in the town hall. It makes the whole 'interfering with the mortal realm' business a bit easier on me."

Boots felt a slight sense of relief. This was something at least, a path he could follow.

"Thank you."

"You're most welcome." Fenix said with a genuine smile, "Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

"Ah," there was something that had been playing on Boots's mind, "Why do I have a lot of knowledge about things I've never done before? Like tactics, weapons, strategies. I feel like this has something to do with my previous lives but I'm not sure how it all ties together."

"Your brain is still adapting to all of the information your previous selves have accrued, yes. It is not an instant process and you won't consciously remember every detail. There simply isn't space in a single mortal mind for all those conflicting emotions and experiences, it could really damage you. But it is all there, within you, just not, accessible."

"So, I don't have the memories, but I do have the experience?"

"That's a good way to look at it yes!" Fenix nodded encouragingly, "Go with your instincts, if you feel like something should be done a certain way then that's your previous experiences trying to help you out."

"I think I understand, thank you." Boots said, this certainly helped alleviate some of his concerns.

"Is that everything?"

"Yes, thank you, I'm ready to get back to work."

"That's the spirit!" Fenix smiled, "Feel free to pop by whenever you need help, I'll make space for you in my schedule!"

Boots smiled politely, doubting her schedule was exceptionally busy.

Fenix smiled at him one last time, then snapped her fingers.

'CRACK!'

Boots popped into existence back at the shrine. Returned to his old body it seemed.

"Urgh," Boots said looking down, she had sent him back naked, again. He didn't know if she did it on purpose or if there was no other way to do it.

But he felt like it was on purpose.

'It's definitely on purpose.' He thought internally, clenching his fist.

There was a sudden clatter of a stick hitting the floor behind him.

Boots turned around and to his horror, there was a very shocked looking Gerald, frozen in place.

His clothes!

"Gerald, wait, it's not wh-"

"You spoke with her!?" Gerald said with bewilderment.

"Wait…what?"