Vilia may be famous for its cobblestone roads and ancient yet stylish architecture, but it is also known for its cathedrals. Like the one in Saria, the cathedrals here rise up like ancient beings touching the clouds. Back when Halo Island was yet to be discovered, people still worshiped the goddess through traditional song and dance. Although practices like that have long died out, the cathedrals have stayed as iconic sites for tourists to visit.

"Let's head to the most famous one," Princess suggests. "It's right by the main government building."

We follow Princess' lead. Mist attracts stares as always, but the light of his presence dims in comparison to the news about Nathaniel. Apparently, people have found out that it was the brother god's doing. People whisper rumors of his name, and I feel his presence tug on me like a latch around my heart. I distract myself from that image and from the sickness by thinking about my night with Juno.

Cheer up, Hope, Mist tells me. I have a feeling that things will turn around very soon. You know what they say. Dragons are bringers of good fortune.

"I didn't know that saying..." I say weakly.

The famous cathedral rises up like a tower, piercing the sky with its biggest spire and the main icon of the goddess, an ancient tree. We enter through the gates, and I lose myself in the wonder of the artwork in the opening hall. So many oil paintings and sculptures that try to capture the likeness of the goddess, comparing her beauty to things of nature.

The cathedrals in Vilia are usually filled to the brim, as Princess often remarks. But today, it echoes with silence as we take our steps through the artwork of the main chapel. Only a few stand at the front of the altar, raising their hands. Someone cries out for the goddess to save them—to save us. Once the shock wears off from Nathaniel's death, the cathedral will be crowded with people asking the goddess to bring justice. To restore peace in Blossom World during the turmoil.

"We can talk in one of the private rooms," Princess says.

Mists waddles his way into one of the rooms, declaring it empty. Usually, people use these rooms for study of the goddess, or for discussing the ancient myths of Blossom World, including the times when the goddess used to walk among the earth.

The room feels much like a library, with shelves of manuscripts and candles that have been unlit for a while. It holds a table with six chairs, and we take the side nearest to the closed door, looking out the window to the sunlit Vilia and its government offices.

Mist tries to clamber up to the chair. He falls down, almost breaking the chair in two. He looks at me apologetically. Sorry, Hope.

"It's okay," I say, trying to smile. It hasn't left me that Mist is still only a few months old. He needs my support during this time, even though he knows so much thanks to his roots.

"We should figure some things out," Avery says. "Like what exactly should be our next move."

"How about lying low?" Princess suggests, although I can tell her suggestion lacks conviction.

Juno tsks and all but slams his fists on the table. "We can't do that. Hope knows something that no one else does. The essence of the brother god. We can use that to our advantage to join the hunt."

"That doesn't change how we're sorely unprepared," Avery says. "We barely know four skills each, with the exception of Hope who knows six. But even so, the brother god can use that against him. We don't know the extent of how much he can take from us."

How much he can take from us. I gulp, trying not to dwell on those very words, even as their reality threatens to choke me.

Mist closes his eyes, using all of his willpower to speak into all our minds at once. I can tell by the way my party members give him their attention. Why are you doubting my abilities? I can not only fight against the brother god, but I can be the key to winning. Didn't you hear that dragons are not under the same rules? The brother god can't take my soul!

"That's great, Mist," Juno says, rubbing a hand against his tanned neck. "But I really think that the brother god will fight you with his powers."

Mist silently seethes at Juno, even as I motion at him to calm down. Mist looks like he wants to blast fire against the brother god at this very instant. I have a semblance of fear and respect for the little beast. Even as he tries to climb the chair again, when the tip of his wing gets stuck in the chair's backing.

"Mist..." I say.

I look up at the same time the window almost shatters, blown by a strong gust of wind. I look around at my party members. Is Vilia known for heavy winds during winter?

I gasp as a little shimmer of gold and silver appears at the sixth chair. I blink once. Twice. I doubt my eyes. Even as the gasps of my party members confirm that I'm not seeing things. Even Mist lets out a little yelp.

"Nathaniel?" I say.

There's no doubt that the elderly mage instructor sits on the chair, semi translucent in his magician's robes, still holding onto his staff. No sign of the blood, or the incision on his neck. In fact, he looks healthy despite his ghostly qualities.

"But—" Juno says, putting his hands out in a "stop" motion. "Ghosts only appear when monsters kill you."

"Right," Nathaniel says, sounding somber. "But it appears that this brother god has monsterly qualities. Are you all familiar with the rules of ghost hood?"

I try to swallow and fail to alleviate my dry mouth. But I nod anyway. A ghost can stay in Blossom World for a year before heading to the afterlife. They can travel Blossom World freely, but they cannot fight monsters nor physically touch living humans.

"Yes," I say. "But why did you appear to us?"

Nathaniel glances at me with his knowing eyes, as if remembering the day I asked for his blessing so long ago. "I sensed your presence when the brother god killed me, Hope. I figured that I should visit you."

I almost faint, but I hold myself together by gripping the edge of the table. "So you must know that I have a tie to him."

"Yes," Nathaniel says. "I also sensed that he has part of your soul."

Silence. I think Princess might want to squeal several more times.

"Most of the rules of ghost hood still apply to me," Nathaniel says. "However, I have more power than the usual ghost. Therefore, I can aid you in your fight against the brother god. And all the monsters that come in the way."

"Us?" Avery says.

"Yes," Nathaniel confirms. "Hope has a tie to him. Therefore, it will lead us to expose the brother god's weakness. I assume you've already talked about Miria."

The four of us nod, and Mist tries to smile up at the mage instructor, as if showing off his dragon-ness to the former most powerful mage.

"Miria is where the goddess' essence lives. In turn, the brother god's essence also lives there. When his existence was confirmed, our allies in Miria visited the site of the goddess' defeat. They found traces of the brother god there. Not in the same location, but tracing to a separate dungeon in Miria.

"Do you remember the tales? Miria held countless wars against the goddess. They thought she was indestructible, until they discovered the heart of the continent. There, the goddess took almost a human form. She still was almost impossible to beat, but there was a chance to take her heart. It was at that place where she eventually split into the four avatars.

"I believe that the brother god might also split apart. Hopefully without sinister consequence."

I take in Nathaniel's words, still shocked at how his hazy form shifts in the light. Ghosts rarely reveal themselves to the living, but when they do, they have unfinished business. I can tell that Nathaniel is hard on himself, for allowing the brother god to take his life. And he wants his own revenge. Or maybe not revenge, but the surety that Blossom World will be left in peace when his year is up.

"Do you really think we have a chance?" I ask Nathaniel.

He answers immediately. "Yes, if we band together. The other instructors will meet us in Miria. We have a good chance, and even more so if Hope leads us to him. Right where he's most vulnerable."

I think about the deal in the sauna, how that may have destroyed me, but it also led me to this moment, this opportunity with Nathaniel and my party. I can't let them down any longer. I can't let down Mist.

"We will give you our answer soon," Avery says.

"How about we... meet you at the airships?" Princess says. "If we do end up following you to Miria."

"I will see you there at nightfall," Nathaniel says. And then, his form disappears. The only evidence he was here is a slight waver in the air, and his voice echoing in my skull. Reminding me of my mistake, but also a chance to redeem myself.

"I think we're pretty certain already," Juno says. "But if any of you changes your mind, bring it up before sunset."

"Should we walk back to my house?" Princess suggests.

"Your mom and brother will try to talk you out of it," Avery says. "Tell you that it's too dangerous."

"Then we'll gather supplies?" I say. "Everything we might need. Since most of our things are back in Callena, we'll need some clothes and maybe some food."

"I'll get food!" Princess says. "You know I'm fabulous at picking out the most amazing deals."

"I'll buy some clothing for us," Avery says. "Maybe you guys can get some potions and new weapons? Aren't you a prince, Juno? You can afford a few mythic weapons and maybe enchantment stones too."

"Good idea," Juno says, looking sheepish. I guess we both carried a secret for far too long.

Princess and Avery disappear out of the cathedral, leaving me and Juno to wander together. I think about the adventure that awaits us in Miria. "We really might all die. All that training, just to be slashed apart by the brother god."

"Hey!" Juno says. "Don't think like that. We have Nathaniel to help us, and don't forget Mist too."

That's right, Mr. Juno! Mist tells me. I give him a smile and nod when he asks to take a flight around the city, for anything amiss or signs of the brother god. My heart hurts at his unwavering loyalty, even after I gave away part of myself without his permission.

As we make our way to the nearest potion and weapon store, Juno and I pass another famous Vilia attraction. A hall, which holds banquets for the richest and most powerful in the city. Juno tugs my arm in.

"We have time," he tells me. "Before we have to set off."

I sense the husky tone in his voice, the desire there. I gulp and stay quiet as we make our way into the banquet hall, empty except for the golden and silver gilded furnishings. I point into an empty room, and we close the door behind us. It looks like a planning room, or somewhere to hold meetings.

"If we might die," Juno says. "Maybe we should take care of ourselves first."

I find his lips, clasping my arms around him fully. I breathe in his scent, finding comfort in the softness of his tan skin, the way his dark hair cascades down my forehead and tickles my cheek. He matches every blow with one of his own. Our clothes come off almost automatically, as if we're following some obscene tradition.

Even though we don't have much time, we make love on the floor of the Vilia banquet room. He lets me change positions with him after he finishes in me, leaving me breathless and entirely needy. Too vulnerable, yet the way I always wanted to look in front of Juno.

I cry out just like him when I enter him for the first time. He glares at me with pleasure, squinting his eyes shut when we kiss, when we move against each other. I realize that Juno is everything. He is what I wanted when I lied alone in my village. He is what I wanted the first time I set eyes on him.

Spent, we quickly clean up and wash ourselves in the adjacent bathroom. Juno giggles and presses his lips into my hair. "I didn't know you had that in you," he says.

Blushing, I say, "Had what?"

He just stays silent and kisses me again, this time against my neck.

Still breathing irregularly, I make my way to the potion shop with Juno. We buy enough health and mana potions to feed an army, everything that we can stuff into a hefty backpack that I both buy and carry.

Afterwards, Juno produces a hidden stash of gold in his pack. He buys mythic weapons for himself, Avery, and Princess. Along with enchantment stones to try our luck. Once we make our way back to the airship terminal, Mist meets us with a turkey drumstick that he stole from an unexpecting tourist. He shares it with us, and then as the sun begins to creep toward the horizon, we meet up with Avery and Princess.

It looks like we have decided. In silence, I share a nod with my party members. We make our way to buy tickets to Miria.

At this moment, I stuff away my need and desire for Juno. I know that I am living on borrowed time, and eventually he will have to return to the Golden City. I need to focus on solely what will save me—what will save Blossom World too.

And that's slaying the brother god.

Nathaniel appears in front of us after we buy tickets, as we board the airship to Miria. Like he told us before, there are several advanced parties making their way to the oldest and most renowned continent. We follow the ghost of the instructor into one of the cabins. When we tell him about our run-in with the Winged Jaw, he simply says, "I will be able to Blast apart a monster like that, no problem."

It seems that even in ghosthood, Nathaniel has control of all his skills. I turn to my party members and watch as they hold their new mythic weapons.

I try for a smile. "Let's hope the enchantment stones work?" 

Things are looking up for Hope! Let's cheer him on for this adventure to Miria. What do you think they'll find on the continent? I know there will be new monsters involved. Nathaniel the ghost has joined the party! I love how Mist was trying to smile up at him. That dragon knows a good ally.