Alright, this first part doesn't have a lot of Marthlington, but you'll get your fill in part 2, promise. ;3 So this one-shot of sorts is set in a universe/timeline where the heroes and friends return to the Realm of Mianite when they come out of the void. This is based off of TL's storyline. I'm not sure if I'll write more from this particular universe, but we shall see. Hope you all enjoy a bit of wizardly angst. :)

*Waglington's POV*

Almost a whole month had passed after we'd arrived back home when a summons came from the Board of Directors at Laenadur. I quickly scrawled a note for Martha and left it on the door to Fyre HQ in case she came looking for me while I was gone. I frowned as I realized how unlikely that was. She hadn't come to see me at all this last week, and the tower had felt far too large and empty without her bright presence. She's probably up to her ears in goddess business, I concluded. Dianite and she were in quite the odd position, being outliers in a world that already had gods—including their own version of Dianite.

Wondering how negotiations were going, Memento and I teleported to the college in Laenadur. I hadn't been to the wizard city frequently even before we left the dimension. I usually let my brothers go while I stayed wherever our home was at the time to continue my research. I had helped build this place more than a century ago, and I smiled seeing that the buildings still looked like new and had even been added to. The other wizards had taken good care of the place. What had started as a sparsely populated refuge from the war had become a sprawling metropolis packed full of wizards and wizard families seeking community and isolation from the mortals that still feared them. Those who were honest admitted they feared the mortals too.

Memento scented the air and padded forward with me as we walked up the steps of the college's administration building. There was no town hall in Laenadur, and the Board of Directors had taken to meeting in an upper room here. I remembered the way from the last time I'd been here. They had tried to convince me to take a seat on their Board. I had politely declined. So, what do they want with you now? Memento asked. They've left you alone since the war ended.

I'm not sure. Maybe they've had word from my brothers, I answered uncertainly. I knew my brothers could take care of themselves, and I had been struggling not to worry that they had run into trouble. After all when I followed them to Ruxomar I came out months behind when I only left hours later. Or maybe they have a question about my report on Ruxomar.

I didn't have time for further consideration. The trip to the meeting room was a quick one, and the mahogany doors were open. The Board was waiting for me. I got the distinct impression that they had already been here awhile. They all turned to acknowledge me as I entered, some with curiosity showing in their eyes as they studied me, some with warm familiarity—these I had worked with when first establishing the city and its protection spells—and others with guarded detachment bordering on disdain. All of them spared a quick look at Memento as he walked proudly beside me. I could almost smell the fear and challenge in their attitude before Memento told me it was there.

I took the seat they had left open for me, and I uncomfortably noted that it had been Donella's. My familiar more blatantly expressed his displeasure at the Board's insensitivity. Memento let out a low growl; thankfully, no one appeared to hear it. I nudged Memento gently with my foot as I sat down. Careful, friend. Let's hear what this is about.

Fine, Memento said, laying down under my chair. But I am a hunter. I do not appreciate me or mine being stalked.

"Good day, all. What can I do for you?" I asked, faking an oblivious grin.

"First, let us say it is great to have you back in the Realm. When Rythian told us you didn't arrive in Ruxomar with your brothers, we feared the worst." The sorcerer sitting next to me said, clearly preempting what the Head of the Board had wanted to start with. There were murmurs of agreement from those who had greeted me courteously.

The Board Head—Trey—stood to forestall further interruptions and offered me a forced smile. "Yes, it is good to see you and your companions so...well." Memento's hackles rose a little, and I felt his tail lash against my leg.

"First, this World Historian you mentioned, you said he was connected to The Shadows. Are you certain?" Okay, now I knew the source of most of the fear and agitation in the room. The idea that this world's enemy was not only alive and active, but more powerful than ever was a disturbing thought to say the least.

I relaxed somewhat and answered truthfully, "Yes, he claimed so himself, and he knew of Death and used dark magic. As much as I'd love to believe it, I don't think one goddess blessed arrow really killed him, and he doesn't strike me as the type to accept defeat graciously."

"So, we should prepare for more trouble," The sorcerer beside me concluded, a dark look in his eyes. "I suppose we should have known, given the incident with the champions." Grim nods were the only answer to this statement.

"We will send search parties out to look for devices like the Amniosis machine you described; we'll also search the archives for useful information. I vaguely recall a few commanders from that time kept records," Trey said. "We also had a few questions regarding your report and this new goddess, Martha, who returned with you. Rhianna is the most knowledgeable in that area."

Oh, I had a bad feeling about where this was going. "Alright, what can I clear up?"

Here a different wizard stood to speak, and Trey took his seat. I recognized this wizened old wizardess, Rhianna, as one of the city's preeminent historians. She adjusted a pair of spectacles on the bridge of her nose and scanned the page she held before her. Her voice quavered slightly, but had not lost any of the strength it must have held in her youth. "You wrote that you witnessed this woman become a full goddess. How is this possible? None of our histories point to gods having such an origin from mortals. If making a new god were so easy, surely they would have replenished their numbers after the slaughter of the Shadows' War."

Several of the gathered wizards muttered under their breath reflexively, "And may it never happen again." It was not as often taught, but wizards had fought in that war too, engaging much of Death's army while the gods battled The Shadows. That was the only time wizards had fought alongside the gods and their champions in recorded history—until the events listed in my report.

"Ah, yes. The gods in Ruxomar were more relaxed in their dealings with mortals, to the point that one of them—the late Lady Ianite—even married."

"Yes, yes. We'd heard as much from Rythian," Trey said impatiently.

I ignored him. "She and her husband had two children—demigods if you will. Martha is one of these. That's why she was able to achieve goddesshood. It wasn't easy for her, I might add. She had several failed attempts before succeeding."

Rhianna had initiated a scribing spell while I spoke and reviewed what was written. She seemed satisfied with my report. "Thank you," She said with a smile before sitting down, still musing over some implication or other of what I'd said.

Just when I started to think the danger was past, another spellcaster asked from their seat, "Who is Martha's champion?"

I froze. "Her champion?" I asked, surprised that my voice remained level. I barely noticed the glare Rhianna and Trey both sent the impertinent wizard across the table.

"Yes," The spellcaster said. "From what we've seen, she's strong enough that she must have one."

They spied on her! I stared at the Board member in shock. Only Memento was aware of my outrage that they dared use a scrying spell to invade Martha's privacy. I should have known they would try. The other gods would see something like that a mile away, but I'd made pretty clear how non-threatening and inexperienced Martha was in my report. I had hoped the wizards would be less afraid of her that way. She'd caused enough of a stir by introducing herself as the goddess of magic. I guess I did too good a job, I thought ruefully. I carefully weighed my answer. "I'll have to ask next time I see her."

There was no point denying that we were friends. I didn't know how long their scrying had been going on, but I was suddenly glad I'd been so cautious with how I acted around Martha. Memento, remind me to set up some extra repulsion spells when we get home or an alarm system at least.

The older wizards knew what a goddess without a champion looked like; they had seen how Ianite had been almost helpless when Dianite captured her centuries ago. I never wanted to see Martha in a position like that, and not just because I would be dead.

Trey stood, taking control of the meeting once more. "Regardless, we need to figure out how to deal with these gods. There are five of them now, and Donella is gone." It was widely believed that whatever Donella had done to beat Mianite was the main reason this peace had lasted. (I was willing to bet I knew what that something was.) She'd stood as a constant reminder that gods were not invincible. "Any insight you may have would be valued, Waglington." I nodded my agreement to remain, and talk turned to precautions and contingencies we could make in case Donella's treaty was one day broken. Suggestions were passed around the table, and I wondered if they hoped I might act as their new defender.

I hate to disappoint them, Memento said, words dripping in sarcasm. But you're committed elsewhere.

Too true, I replied, leaning down to pet his head. We'll have to find an inconspicuous way to warn Martha to be careful not to rock the boat. These wizards see her as a potential threat. I doubt they would make a first move while the treaty stands, but there is always the chance that someone will do something stupid.

Memento sent me a sense of agreement. They wait to see if this new creature in their jungle will steal their prey or if she hunts differently. When he sensed my confusion, he clarified. Jaguars hunt on the jungle floor and take down large prey. No self-respecting ocelot hunts there, except to retrieve something fallen. My kind hunt small creatures in the trees. So we and the jaguars can have overlapping territories and not see each other as threats.

I wondered which the wizards saw themselves as. Likely the jaguars, the unquestioned rulers of magic. I couldn't quite suppress a grin at how their world must have been off balanced to realize that they were in fact the smaller hunters and Martha the jaguar.

Eventually the conversation began circling back on itself. We had run out of ideas for the time being. Irritation borne of stress made its way into Trey's voice as he stood, "We'll adjourn for the day. I think we would all benefit from time apart to marshal our thoughts. If the treaty falls through in the next few days, so be it! At least Ianite isn't likely to start a war, but now we have to deal with Dianite's alternate and this upstart 'goddess of magic'."

I immediately bristled at his derisive tone. When others around the table mirrored this attitude, I rose to defend her. "Hey now! Martha is anything but arrogant. She's aware of her limitations and won't press the issue with people who don't want to follow her. She is the most accepting person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She could have had anyone she wanted for a champion, and she asked a powerless wizard! She was even engaged to a Dianitee and didn't ask him to change sides, for athar's sake!" If that didn't scream "accepting" and "worthy of respect", then I didn't know what did.

The gathered wizards and sorcerers gawked at me. Trey had an odd mixture of disgust and triumph on his face. It took me a moment to realize why, and when I did, I cursed my temper. Oh, I'd really done it now.

"So the cat is out of the bag!" Trey said, standing up straighter in attempt to tower over me. He had a few inches on me, but he was hardly as intimidating as the judgmental looks I was now receiving. Memento growled audibly at Trey's choice of words and hopped up onto my abandoned chair to better glare at what was looking more and more like a room full of enemies rather than friends.

Rhianna's look was not unkind as she studied me again, squinting slightly. I wondered if those eyes saw more than she let on. "So you are her champion...or something more?"

I blushed furiously under the safety of my hood and dark skin. However, my voice betrayed my heart when I objected, "What?! No, I'm just her champion!"

Another wizard spoke over top of me, "Impossible! We all know what toll the athar takes." We looked at each other when we finished.

There was silence for a moment, and I could almost hear the gears turning in all their heads. Why would I protest so vehemently if there wasn't something there? Conversely, how could I love someone while the athar was bound to me? They wondered. The silence was broken by a youthful laugh. I turned to see the sorcerer beside me—Seto, was it?—shaking his head. "Donella finally found a way to limit the athar's hold, didn't she? Centuries late, but she was persistent."

That revelation stunned most of the wizards, but it seemed to shake Trey from his frozen surprise. "Not only do you betray your own kind, but you fall in love with a goddess?!" He accused.

"I haven't betrayed anybody!" I retorted. "I am as much a wizard as I ever was, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Martha." I could still feel the difference where that cursed blade had sliced through my left side, though Martha had acted quick enough that there wasn't even a scar.

"Not a traitor? How can you claim that? You're a follower now," Trey countered. Turning to stomp from the room, he threw one last barb at me, "I had Mianitee friends before the war, Waglington. They all chose their god when push came to shove."

One by one, the other Board members rose and exited the room quietly until Seto alone remained. He sighed. "They don't all hate you. They're afraid of you being turned against them. They know how powerful you are." I nodded understanding, saddened that—now fully able to appreciate friendships—my wizard associates had turned their backs on me so quickly. "It would probably be best if you stayed away for a while."

I let out a shaky breath. "Come on, Memento. It seems we're not welcome here." Before Seto could insist that wasn't what he meant, we teleported home.