[Keeno POV]

Time passed slowly as we made our way across Falheim.  Each of us took turns telling stories about things.  Fia talked about several of her adventures.  Ama spoke about funny things she’s seen mortals do, and I spoke about more mythology that I knew.  When we weren’t doing this, it was due to us passing through a town.  Every town we passed through, I noticed something.  The presence of knights or other military personnel increased.

 

“I get that this place is isolationist, you’ve both told me that much, but isn’t this a bit much?” (Keeno)

 

{Keeno, this place will kill anyone that tries to leave.  It’s been like this so long that there are some people that don’t even know other countries exist.}

 

“…But, and I am by no means very knowledgeable out stuff like this, but I just can’t figure out how being like this is sustainable.  All it’ll take is one plague or war and the country is ruined beyond repair.” (Keeno)

 

“War is one thing, but there is no reason to worry about things like plagues or natural disasters.” (Fia)

 

“Eh?  That shouldn’t be possib…magic?” (Keeno)

 

{More complicated than that.}

 

“Rasu, care to tell her the story?  Or at least a simplified version of it?” (Fia)

 

{Might as well.  But first, the main reason for no plagues and natural disasters is the Dead Zones.}

 

“I’ve heard the two of you mention that a few times, but I never found a good way to ask about it.” (Keeno)

 

{They are eight places around the world where I placed artifacts of Divinity to help purify souls and keep undead from overrunning the world.  See, a long time ago the world went through something the God of Chaos calls a Fiend Season.  Foregoing the explanation of that for all of that later, it’s a time where creatures of unspeakable horror spawn and their sole purpose is to destroy the world.  Seeing as the world was still young at that point and gods and goddesses were still being born regularly, the world was unstable.  The God of Chaos gave me and a few others permission to descend and finish off the Fiends and their King.  But it was only after a large amount of mortals died.  Since there wasn’t and still technically isn’t a God of Death, it was left up to me and the Death Spirits to keep the souls of the dead moving in the natural cycle.  So I got further permission to set up Dead Zones where all the mortals that died then and all the way to now are sent.}

 

“This allows the Death Spirits to judge the souls and Rasu can purify them.” (Fia)

 

{Yes, but it is a slow process.  Especially since mortals have this weird obsession with dying in droves all the time, and for increasingly stupid reasons.  Anyway, until now it’s been slow, but our work is able to keep ahead of the death rate.  Without you ascending, Keeno, we should be to the point where the Dead Zones can be removed in a short 10,000 years.  Naturally, you ascending at some point in these 10,000 years and the work will speed up tremendously.  But I’m not saying to rush.}

 

“I see…And I’m guessing some people believe that ruling a place with a Dead Zone gives them some kind of divine right?” (Keeno)

 

{Unfortunately.  We gods don’t care who rules where as long as they aren’t destroying the world.  But they get so arrogant and read too much into things that it can be annoying to watch them.  The amount of times I’ve seen mortals claim that I blessed them or that they call their kings my partner or that their rulers are me in mortal form is rather infuriating.}

 

“…” (Keeno)

 

“Calm down Keeno.  There is no one alive like that currently.” (Fia)

 

{Fia is right.  The last time something like that happened was 100,000 years ago.  Since then, people have been more obsessed with the moons or stars.}

 

“Fine, but I reserve the right to smite anyone that thinks of my Ama like that in the future.” (Keeno)

 

“You’ll be in the same boat, miss Kitsune of the Blue Sun.” (Fia)

 

{Don’t worry, I’ll smite the people that think of my Keeno that way.}

 

“*Sigh*  Guess all I can do is pray for the souls of those people.” (Fia)

 

“Why, it would still be us dealing with them.” (Keeno)

 

“…Oh yeah.  Guess they really are screwed.  Oh well.” (Fia)

 

{Hehehe.  But back to the topic again.  The rulers of this country, thinking that they are divinely ordained, have grown addicted to the feeling of control they have over the citizens of the country.  They revel in the fact that keeping the people ignorant of the outside world makes them see the rulers as gods or at the very least Apostles.}

 

“*Sigh* I guess people don’t change, no matter the world.  But it makes sense.  People don’t like giving up things that give them comfort or makes them feel superior.  This just gives me all the more reason to want out of here all the sooner.” (Keeno)

 

“Understandable.  Speaking of which, we’re a few days ride from where we need to abandon the carriage.” (Fia)

 

“Finally.” (Keeno)

 

After that conversation, not much else happened.  A few more days passed and Fia and I were hiding in a shallow forest.  Looking out of it, we could see a stretch of empty land and a fortress.  If you squinted, you could see two more fortresses on the horizon.

 

“This is the land bridge connecting Falheim to the rest of the continent.  There are three forts that watch over the border and they are responsible for making sure nobody enters or leaves.  Regular patrols by heavily armored knights.  Not easy for normal people to do anything.” (Fia)

 

“Then how are we going to get by them?” (Keeno)

 

“We’re not normal people.” (Fia)

 

“Then what is the plan?” (Keeno)

 

“I’m going to carry you and run as fast as I can.  But I’m going to need your help with the setup.  If we did what I just said by itself, we’d make it, but we’d end up being chased afterward, or at least there is a possibility of that happening.  Keeno, I need you to produce more heat than you have before.  After that I can manipulate the heat to make patrolling knights pass out and mirages for those watching from the forts.” (Fia)

 

“I’d love to do that, but I can’t consciously make more heat yet.” (Keeno)

 

“Don’t worry, we have a way to help with that as well.” (Fia)

 

She picked me up in a princess carry.

 

“Rasu, you’re up.” (Fia)

 

{Keeeeeeennnnoooooooo.}

 

I started to get a bad feeling when Ama used a very sweet voice and made it sound like she was whispering directly in my ear.

 

{You know how I’ve been watching over you, right?}

 

“Y-yes.” (Keeno)

 

{Every day and night, during most of your activities.  For example, your practice writing the letters of this world.}

 

My bad feeling grew worse and I could feel my face start burning.  The surrounding temperature was also rising at a rapid pace.

 

{My favorite line was: “Amaterasu, my love for you burns so bright it could light up the darkest abyss for all eternity.”}

 

My head exploded in embarrassment.  If I could see in third person, I guarantee I’d see smoke coming from my head.  It was a miracle that the surroundings didn’t catch fire due to the heat.

 

“Good going Rasu.” (Fia)

 

On Fia’s back two flaming wings sprouted, and she took a sprinting stance.  A second later the world around me started to blur.

 

[Border Guard POV]

 

It was yet another boring day of watching over the edge of the world.  I never understood why we needed to do this, but it’s what my father and his father did, so I followed along.  It started out normal, but around noon it started to get really hot, like summer came early.  As the heat increased, my glorious mustache started to itch.  I then thought I saw a flash in a nearby forest, but when I rubbed my eyes, nothing was there.

 

“Hey Helgi, it’s gotten real…OI HELGI, YOUR MUSTACHE IS ON FIRE!”

 

“WHAT!?”

 

I started to panic until another one of my guardmates threw a bucket of water in my face.  When I got a brief look at my reflection in a puddle before it evaporated, my immaculate mustache was burnt to cinders.  I fell to my knees.

 

[Keeno POV]

 

After about an hour of running, Fia started to slow down.  We very easily made it past the forts and saw only one group of knights who fainted the second we passed by them.  When Fia finally came to a stop and put me down, we both started to laugh.

 

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!  Fia, that was so much fun!” (Keeno)

 

“I know right.  I haven’t been able to run like that in a long time.” (Fia)

 

“But now I’m curious.  Couldn’t you have just flown us out of the country?” (Keeno)

 

“It wouldn’t be very discreet.  I mean, it’d be hard to miss a giant burning bird in the sky, wouldn’t it?” (Fia)

 

“I don’t know, people hardly ever look up, so I’d give it a 50/50 chance.” (Keeno)

 

{Pffft.}

 

“Ama, we need to have a word as well.”

 

{Keeno, wait, before-}

 

“NO!  You will forget every single one of those embarrassing poems and songs I wrote!” (Keeno)

 

“They were cute though.  You have a real talent for poetry, Keeno.” (Fia)

 

“You know about them too!?” (Keeno)

 

{Naturally.  I told Fia everything.}

 

“…” (Keeno)

 

“How about we keep moving?  If something catches fire here, those guards might come and investigate.” (Fia)

 

“Where even are we?” (Keeno)

 

{Thank goodness she accepts changes in topic quickly.}

 

“I heard that, and we will continue this later, but making sure we’re completely safe comes first.” (Keeno)

 

“We’re in a No-man’s-land between Falheim and Nidavellir.” (Fia)

 

“Dwarves?” (Keeno)

 

“It’s largely known as a dwarf country, yes.  How did you know?” (Fia)

 

“It’s another name for the Realm of the Dwarves from my old world.” (Keeno)

 

“That’s interesting.  Anyway, we get there first and then we find use a Gate to Solheim.  There we can relax for a bit.” (Fia)

 

“Then let’s go.  Lead the way, Fia.” (Keeno)

 

“Hehe.  Onward!” (Fia)

 

{Hooray!}

 

Chaos Realm:

Luna: I don’t know if I should be offended by some of the things said here.

Tamamo: Same.  I feel that moon and stars bit was aimed at us.

How could it be?  You two are not known in that world in any capacity.  Also, Luna, that thing in your tail has split into two.  Mind letting one live here?

Luna: Sure, I guess.

*Payto pulls out an orb and the entity in Luna’s tail flies over and latched onto it*

MOFU!

*The Mofu latched onto the orb*

Order: Cute.  Maybe Astraea can raise it?

That was the goal.

Luna: Speaking of Astraea, where is she?

Order: Taking a nap with Evelyn.  They should be waking up soon.

Tamamo: Fun.  It’s always a pleasure to see Astraea and Evelyn.

Luna: Yep.