Chương 101: Chapter 100 - Head of Guard

Atzi let her worries regarding the Saintess fade as she wandered back to Hemm's inn. When she got in, she immediately explained that she'd managed to rescue two of the Saintess's priests.

"What happened to the rest?" asked Hemm, worriedly.

"Um. They're still being kept there, bringing her wine and stuff." Atzi scratched the back of her head.

"I asked if she could let Shanon go, but she said I should take two other priests instead."

"The Serpent wouldn't allow you to take Shanon?!"

"No, no, Shanon said that. She said she couldn't leave while there were others stuck there, basically." Hemm calmed down and nodded.

"She has a kind heart. I know it was much to ask of you, Atzi. But thank you."

"It was nothing." Atzi laughed, smiling.

"Okay, it was kinda scary asking the Serpent anything."

"What do you plan to do now?"

"I dunno. I might be able to get some gems if I had gold, probably can't get any though. I guess I'll enjoy life and take it easy?"

"Of course, don't push yourself too hard. Let me know if you need anything I could help with. It will be a while before dinner is ready, though."

"Well, if you ever wanna take a trip around the city, I could make that happen."

"Maybe you could take Mala? Let her walk around." Atzi was silent for a moment, before saying, "Oh, sure, yeah if she wants to go anywhere."

"I'll go ask her." Hemm headed into the back. Atzi sighed. Never should have saved you, kid. You were meant to make her fall for me, not get in the way. -"Keep her safe!" Hemm shouted as Atzi led Mala out of the building.

"I will!" After Hemm was out of earshot, Mala made a noise of dismissal.

"What could happen out here?" Atzi nodded.

"There's no-one on the streets, yeah. Just guards, and they can't even arrest me! It's great. Hey, I know an empty mansion. You wanna see inside one?"

"What?! Yes!" Atzi brought her right along into the rich district. Walking right in, prophet's privilege, and heading to V's place. When they got inside, Mala immediately sprinted around, running her hands over everything and laughing.

"Wow! It's bigger than the inn!" she shouted.

"Yeah, this is V's place, they bailed when the war happened. I snuck 'em out of the city."

"Wait, V? The crime lord?" Mala asked.

"I've heard stories. You knew them?"

"Yeah, we still talked, I did some jobs for them recently. Finally talking to me again after the bank stuff. I heard the name, but I had no idea they were one of my old crew."

"The people you robbed the bank with?"

"Uh-huh. It was me, V, Cory- well, a bunch of us. Uh, don't tell Hemm I tried to rob a bank." Mala squinted.

"Okay." Then she ran around again, before bounding through a door.

"This bathroom is so fancy!"

"The whole place is. Just don't mess around with the cabinets or anything, V had a bunch of magic cast on the place. Dunno if anything's trapped. Anything valuable, they took when they fled. Well, really valuable. Furniture must be worth a ton."

"So who owns it now?" Mala dug through a bookcase, looking for things that weren't books.

"No-one, I guess. Maybe I own it, finder's keepers." Mala turned toward her, eyes sparkling. Together, they raided leftover food from the pantries, and hung out on the fancy sofa as Atzi regaled her with tales about the old days with V and Cory, when things had been going well.

"Then Aelia- ah fuck." Atzi suddenly remembered the demon's sweeping blade. She awkwardly added, "Shit, I forgot she bit it."

"Was she nice?" Mala asked.

"Oh, she hated my guts for the bank job. But, you know, she was professional. Didn't make it too obvious. Shit, I need to tell someone about her, I didn't expect to come back to the city and find everything so different."

"What about Cory? Did you ever tell her about your crush?" Atzi coughed out some food.

"I didn't say I had a crush! Is it that obvious?"

"Yes." Atzi groaned.

"She's taken, and she left the city. And the place she's staying in, they kill anyone trying to get in. I wish I was joking."

"Oh. Like the" - Mala looked deep in concentration "-place? The place south? I forget what it was called."

"Nah, it's on the same island as Hasen, everyone there's an animal-person. Like, cats and fish and moths and stuff."

"Animal people?" Mala asked.

"Yeah. Like a person but with animal parts. Fur and ears and a cat tail and stuff. Or gills and fins."

"Or a lizard tail?"

"That's just a Pomarian, that's normal. I've got a lizard tail!" Mala laughed. Atzi grumbled.

"They've got all kinds there, it's crazy. Not like I can get in, though. Maybe if I figured out some way to visit diplomatically?"

"Why not just say you're the prophet of the Saintess? She's important, right?"

"Yeah, but they just send someone outside to talk to me. Actually getting in is like, they're super, super paranoid."

"Why?"

"Cause they're at war with Hasen."

"Why?"

"Uh, so basically, Hasen started when a bunch of people from Mediolanum went to that island, and the Pangaeans already lived there. So they started taking their land and killing them, and that started the whole war. At least, that's how I heard it, it's been going for so long it's not like anyone's still around from then. And their god might just be lying."

"Oh." Mala was silent for a moment. Then she added, "Sounds complicated."

"Yeah. I wanna help them out for Cory and all but I can't do anything right now."

"A lot of stuff you need to do, huh?"

"Yeah, but not much I can get on with right now. I can't just pester the Serpent every day about the priest stuff, she'll eat me! I need to catch her in a good mood and figure out an angle to get a few more."

"When I was way younger sometimes other kids would bully me and take the food I begged, but then other, even bigger kids would beat them up and give me my food back. Maybe you could find a bigger god?"

"There's the Ancestor I guess, but that would definitely completely piss her off. Right now I can do stuff because she just thinks it's funny and lets me get away with anything. That'd change pretty fast. What am I gonna do, hide in the Ancestor's temple all day? There was the Demon but I think they'll eat me too for siding with her before." Atzi groaned. Mala shrugged awkwardly.

"Please don't get eaten or beat up."

"I'm doing my best every day not to. I'm a master of it now." They continued talking for a little bit until the sun started dipping in the sky. Atzi found she really enjoyed talking about the old days with someone who wasn't trying to put her down for it. When Mala started looking sleepy, Atzi brought her back to the inn, passing her over to Hemm. Then she headed out again, intent on finding Fence. Only, before she made it any distance at all, a guard stopped her.

"Prophet," he greeted, politely. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Oh, hey." Atzi waved.

"What's up?"

"The Serpent is asking for you." What does she want?

"Okay, I'll head right over." - When Atzi arrived, the Prophet of the Serpent looked more tired than ever. Like a dead man walking. He opened an inner door for Atzi, half leaning against the door itself, supporting himself with the handle.

"You okay?" Atzi asked. This guy has it so rough. Glad that's not me. Then she realized she felt the way he looked pretty often. Even with everything that had happened so far, was this loop actually her most enjoyable one yet? Andrew stated, "I haven't slept in two days."

"Shit. She really has you running ragged. Did you tell her you need to sleep?"

"Yesterday I passed out while grabbing her food. Her response was to-" He was suddenly silent. Then he said, as though it was obviously a lie, "throw me into a pool of freezing water." And what actually happened was worse than that? Wow.

"That's rough."

"Please, from one prophet to another, convince her that you need me for long enough that I can get real sleep. Make sure you emphasize that part. Real sleep." Atzi wondered what that was about. But she had no reason to say no.

"Okay." When she reached the Serpent herself, all three of her selves were busy eating a feast. Apparently her favorite activity.

"You needed me for something?" Atzi asked.

"My head of guard!" one of the Serpents spoke without swallowing.

"I was thinking about lifting the lockdown. It's so much more boring here without all the people in the streets. But I don't want to deal with all the chaos that's bound to happen once I do. Unless it's the fun kind. So, take care of that for me."

"How do I do that?" Atzi asked. The Serpent shrugged.

"I dunno. Guard stuff. Figure it out."

"Can I borrow your prophet for the night?" The Serpent scoffed.

"You'd be wasting your time. He won't even have sex with me!"

"Not like that. Anyway, wouldn't you eat him afterwards?"

"Naturally."

"Maybe he's too concerned the next prophet would be worse. Do you go through prophets quickly usually?"

"Oh, I used to. He's my longest lasting one. Loyal for twenty years. Most of them beg me to eat them way before now." Atzi thought to herself that it was strange how, though she was still scared of her, she could chat casually with such a demented god. Maybe we have a lot in common.

"Wow. Anyway, can I borrow him for the night? And, will you let him get 'real sleep' so he can actually help?" The Serpent smirked, as if there was a joke involved.

"Fine. Just get the lockdown lifted." Atzi headed out, grabbing Andrew with her. Once they were out of the temple, she said, "I freed you for a night, come on, let's make it quick so you can go sleep. You need a place?" He asked, with a pained expression on his face, "Why is she currently bombarding me with mental images of you in a half-undressed guard uniform?"

"Because she made me head of the guard." Atzi frowned.

"You see whatever she's imagining? All the time?"

"No." Andrew shook her head.

"Just what she wants me to." He grimaced.

"That's a little easier at least. Anyway, you want a place to sleep, there's the inn I stay at. It's got rooms." - Andrew greeted Hemm with "I have been offered lodging for the night," sat in a chair, and immediately passed out.

"That's the prophet of the Serpent," Hemm observed.

"Yeah. He's the most overworked guy in the city right now. He just needs one night away from her to sleep. Oh, by the way, I'm in charge of lifting the lockdown." Hemm blinked.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I think. The Serpent gave me this." She showed off her head of guard badge.

"Why?" Hemm asked, confused.

"The last one, uh, retired suddenly." Hemm's face went pale.

"Oh." Atzi's eyes widened.

"I'm beginning to realise that I'm the closest thing she has to a friend. The other gods probably don't like her much."

"Do you?"

"I think she's a pretty awful person, but she is fun to hang out with. I mean, I knew people like that before." Hemm gave her a strange look.

"Why not hang around people who are fun and not awful?"

"I dunno, sometimes people like that are more fun. You musta known some people like that, right? Even if you know you're not meant to, it's still fun to be around them?"

"I mean, there's a difference between people who are awful and people I 'shouldn't' be around. My mom hated me being around certain people, but they were good people."

"Oh. Yeah, I get that. My mom didn't really care who I hung out with, though, just mad at me for everything else. But hey, I'll show her," Atzi added.

"My mom's a marshmaster. Said I didn't have the talent for it, not worth teaching. I'll show her as soon as I get some gems," she grumbled. Suddenly, the entire building shook. Andrew awoke with a shout.

"What?!"

"What's happening?" Atzi and Hemm asked at the same time. Andrew wordlessly rushed outside, his previous fatigue forgotten. Atzi followed after him. What she saw drained all the energy from her. All along the street, skeletal limbs were emerging from the ground. The dead, breaking through stone, crawled up by the hundreds. Screams echoed across the street as people fled from their homes. Atzi recoiled as she realized the Empire was dying again. It had just taken longer.

In the distance, the giant form of the Serpent rampaged through the streets, smashing apart skeletons, buildings, and people alike.

"No! No!" Atzi screamed. Andrew chanted quick words, and light flashed from the sky, scattering bones. It didn't matter, as more only tore themselves from the stone. Atzi stomped and gnashed her teeth.

"The gate wasn't sealed right! Those fucking stupid gods!"

"Atzi, what do we do?!" Hemm ran out, Mala grabbing onto her side. More light flashed in front of Andrew as he tried to keep the dead away. Atzi didn't have an answer. There was no answer. The loop was over. Just when she'd been getting used to living life, they were all dead. How did she tell Hemm that?

"Atzi!" Hemm grabbed Atzi by the shoulders and looked desperately into her eyes.

"Please! What do we do?!"

"We- we could-" Would magic help here? How would it even help? The university couldn't stop this. Malus couldn't stop this. Nothing can stop it.

"How fast can you run? Can you fight? Can you avoid them?"

"Fast! Barely! I hope so!"

"I'm fast!" Mala added.

"We need to get out of the city. Cthargictha is safe. That's the only way of surviving this. We have to run. Now." Just then, a skeletal hand reached towards them. Atzi pulled out her dagger and slashed it off in a panic.

"Start running!" The three made a break for it, trying to duck around the skeletal hordes. Hemm had already picked up Mala despite the girl's protests, hugging her close. Atzi did her best to lead them through the safest way she could see, towards the city's southern gate. Others running towards the same way were ruthlessly pulled down, joining the dead. There were so many dead, and the road was in ruins, but if they could just get to the gate- Then there was a momentous crash from right in front of them.

Bones and dust flew out in a massive cloud, washing over Atzi, before revealing a wall of shining yellow scales. Atzi looked up at the towering Serpent in front of her.

"This is the end," said the Serpent, each word booming out from her massive jaw.

"And you made a promise." Poison dripped from her fangs. Atzi looked down.

"I know." She motioned to Hemm and Mala.

"Can you make sure they get out alright? Getting killed by the undead, it's a really awful way to go. I know."

"No. Even I might not make it." And then a gigantic fang pierced through Atzi's skull. === Atzi floated in the space between lives.

"Here I thought she was about to drag me back to the temple and all." She rubbed her head.

"At least it was quick this time."

"Atzi." Atzi looked up at the Saintess floating before her. They hadn't talked in a while, even when Atzi had called out to her. The goddess had a serious expression. Atzi hesitantly asked, "Yeah?"

"Why is sex so desirable that some would sacrifice their lives for it, even if dying is the worst?" If there was a ground, Atzi would have fallen over. She recovered from her surprise.

"Do you feel it when I do it? Or do you just see and hear it?"

"I usually go to sleep when you do. I don't know why, but it felt wrong to intrude." Atzi sighed in relief.

"Yeah, it kinda would be. Basically, it feels great and most people get a compulsion to wanna do it that gets worse over time and sometimes they make really bad decisions because of it."

"Do you?" Atzi thought about doing it in public just because someone had suggested it to her.

"Ssssometimes."

"Why do it, if it is bad?"

"Oh. Well, it feels amazing in the moment. And sometimes I just really really wanna and don't think about the consequences, I guess. The loops are kinda screwing with me I think, consequences don't really matter as much. Someone sees me doing something stupid, they'll just forget next time, so it's like it never happened. So I don't worry about what'll happen as much."

"But you still worry about them? Like when you were radiating sadness after all those people died." Atzi scratched her head.

"Well, I mean, I'm not a monster. Of course I'd feel bad seeing that."

"So you feeling bad is a quality of yourself, and not the world?"

"Yeah, I guess. I don't think someone like V or Fence would give a shit if they saw that. But someone like Hemm or Jem would be really upset, way more than me." The Saintess was quiet for a moment. Then she asked, "So, because I don't feel bad, that's because that's the way I am?" Atzi thought a little.

"All you remember is what's happened since this started, right?"

"Yes. There are bits and pieces of other things, but vague. Distant. Not memories."

"You've never seen anyone die for real." After she said it, she realized how weird that must be.

"Every time someone dies, you know they'll be fine later. But if we get out of this, it'll be different. Everyone that dies is really dead, for good. I get sad cause I'm still thinking like that, 'cause that's where I lived most of my life, and maybe you don't get sad 'cause you've never had that?"

"Maybe." The Saintess seemed to consider something.

"It'd be kinda bad if you kept feeling like that after it's all done, but it's not like we can fix that right now." The Saintess looked at Atzi with a serious expression again.

"Why do you want to return to your old life? Of consequences?"

"I- I dunno, actually. Well, it kinda sucks that everything good also goes away. I had a mansion, I was head of the guards somehow, I was super important - now I'm gonna wake up and that's all gone!"

"Can't you get it back?" Atzi blinked.

"Oh, yeah, I could. Well, dying all the time is kinda shitty too. But if I could stay alive for way longer…" Atzi thought. Is it actually bad to live like this? Isn't this great, if I learn how to stop dying so early? Just stop the undead properly and don't go on suspicious expeditions to the sea. Or do, but tell them to avoid the sea monster. The Saintess added, "I have known no life but this, but it makes me wonder if a life of consequences would be better at all."

"Maybe this is better, I dunno." Atzi shrugged.

"It's pretty freeing. I'd never say do even half the things I do if I didn't know I could get away with it." As the Saintess faded away, signalling the start of the next loop, Atzi thought about how much she had ended up liking her most recent life. All she had to do was not die, and she could do anything she wanted.

"Out! Out!"