Victoire still could not believe her eyes.

Many months had passed since the devastating Titan Incursion that nearly wiped Verglane off the map. She had lost many good people that day, from comrades-in-arms to soldiers and citizens of Narc who had the misfortune of being caught in the hydraslime's path. Part of her had mourned their losses, even accepted it.

So when a certain werewolf returned from the dead at the feet of her god's Altar, she could hardly suppress the emotions swelling up within her. Part of her had feared that too much time had passed for her god to save him, or that the magic would go awry.

It had taken a Titan to slay him, after all.

"Why the long face, Victoire?" Goreville teased her, as if they had met the day prior with no issues. "Have you seen a ghost?"

"Only you would quip at a time like this," Victoire replied with a warm smile. She wasn't one to cry tears of joy, but she might have had she not seen Bernard precede him.

Viviane, for her part, did shed a tear and hugged Goreville with all of her strength. The werewolf looked terribly uncomfortable, but returned the gesture nonetheless. The archer had been part of his party during the Incursion, and had witnessed Whiro murder him where he stood. She had carried some guilt over it since.

Victoire had the feeling these 'days of rebirth' might become a common celebration over time. Most Champions present in Orestown—a few like Slimon and General Peridot had already returned to Verglane or Pitsfire to attend other duties—attended Goreville's return alongside scores of locals and soldiers amazed by their new god's wonders. Their joy was palpable and most welcome after so many harrowing days.

"Welcome back, Sir Goreville," Rickart said after Viviane let go of Goreville's neck. The werelion then offered the Torc of Grand-Loup back to its rightful owner. "It will please me to see it around your neck again."

"I'm sure it looked better on you, Rickart," Goreville replied upon putting the torc back on his neck. Victoire could have sworn the artifact briefly glimmered for an instant upon touching the werewolf's fur, but it might have been her imagination. "What happened to Grudu? He was next to me when–" Goreville's expression darkened upon seeing his allies' scowl. "Ah, I see."

"Worry not," Lord Wepwawet said, his spirit manifesting among them in glowing light. "He, too, shall return in due time."

Namely, he will return last, Victoire thought. Their god could only revive one soul per day at present, so it would take him over a week to bring back all of his fallen Champions and thus they had to prioritize. They sorely needed experienced leaders like Wintresse, Lord Raymond, or Rapoleon to stabilize the border; skills which Grudu lacked in spite of his strength.

"If I may ask, Lord Goreville, how did you experience death?" Sultana Alexandrite asked with no tact whatsoever. "How would you describe the afterlife?"

Goreville suddenly seemed to notice her in the crowd of Champions, and blinked a few times upon doing so. "What is a magmorian doing here?"

"Oh, yes, I believe you died while our nations were still in conflict… which suggests you could not observe the world of the living in your deceased state."

"Wait, how long was I out?"

"A full season," Victoire replied, much to Goreville's shock. "We're allied with Lavaland now."

"I… I see." Goreville took a moment to digest the information. "I have… I have some catching up to do."

"Take your time to adjust, Goreville," Lord Wepwawet said. "Much has happened during your departure. You may spend the day resting in order to figure things out."

Goreville shook his head. "Forgive me, Lord Wepwawet, but I think I have already spent too long resting. I would rather get back to work."

"Death seemed to have eased you up a bit," Victoire noted, before quickly clearing her throat. "Sorry, that was insensitive of me."

"No, no, you are right." Goreville looked at his hands like a pup examining his claws for the first time. "It still feels surreal to be back. I always knew death wasn't quite the end, but I never imagined…" Goreville bowed to his god. "I am truly thankful for the honor of serving you again in my second life."

"It is your service and loyalty that honor me, Goreville," Lord Wepwawet replied kindly. His Champion accepted the praise with a deep bow and nod.

Victoire and the others quickly briefed Goreville on what he had missed in the past few months. The werewolf took the news that Lavaland had lost its goddess and now embraced Wepwawet's faith surprisingly well—likely due to his own unshakable belief in his own god's superiority. He didn't seem bothered by the idea of working with former enemies either. As far as he was concerned, they were all one pack now.

"Three gods allied against Lord Wepwawet, and we still repelled them anyway?" Goreville laughed heartily. "Ah! I wish I could have participated! I feel like a warrior who has slept through a great battle!"

"You were dead, Goreville," Victoire replied with a smile. "I doubt your ancestors will fault you for missing out."

Goreville took it in stride. "Well, I suppose I at least returned before the demons' inevitable betrayal. There is no way they won't turn on us once they've conquered Valentine."

"That might take years, but it is a possibility we will have to prepare for," Sultana Alexandrite confirmed. "Our misplaced trust in former allies cost us much. I will not have my naivety lead to the death of more honored Champions such as yourself."

"I must say, death wasn't so bad. It felt like I was… dreaming?" Goreville scratched the back of his head. "I was aware that time passed somehow, but I couldn't see or hear anything. I didn't care either. My soul was simply at peace."

"But it was a pleasant experience, yes?"

"Yes, without a doubt. It was bliss from start to finish."

Alexandrite nodded at Goreville's sincerity and seemed almost relieved. Victoire could guess why. It was difficult for the analytical and scientifically-minded to visualize death and the end of consciousness, because they struggled to understand what they could not experience. The Fire Sultana had probably faced similar anxieties with the demise of her father and sister, so having someone provide a personal report of the afterlife likely helped ease her mind. As much as she would rather see her family again, knowing that they were 'happy' in death brought her closure.

"In any case, it seems like there's work for us to do," Goreville said before turning to his god. "How may I serve you best, Lord Wepwawet?"

"First, we must send a delegation to claim the fourth and final Lavaland Altar on our western border with the Zoramesh Empire," Lord Wepwawet decided. "Once this is done, I will have both reconnected the country's teleportation network and increased the flow of mana I can draw upon. This will, in turn, allow me to provide more magical assistance toward fortifying our borders."

"I have already ordered General Peridot to proceed with Pitsfire's reconstruction," Alexandrite said. "Our engineers are strengthening Orestown's fortifications as well. Our neighbors will never walk easily into Lavaland again, that I can assure you."

"I do not think Valentine will try to attack us again for a very long time," Victoire pointed out. "Even if they manage to repel the Zoramesh army, it will take them time to marshal up another invasion. Surprise was the only reason this one managed to advance so far. We have months to prepare, likely years."

"Which brings us to my main issue: how to finance all these fortifications and defensive measures." Lady Alexandrite joined her fingers together. "Valentine was both our largest export market alongside Stalheim, and the main artery linking us to eastern markets like Timberan and Mortis. On top of the financial losses, many of our workers perished in the line of military service. We are facing a crisis when our needs have never been greater."

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"Your land has strengths it does not exploit," Lord Wepwawet pointed out. "Jasper confirmed to me that the climate is the main reason why Lavaland is so underpopulated, in spite of the ash-rich soil being suitable for agriculture. The dry wind and harsh sun simply kill most crops."

"Weather we can now tame with our terraformers," Victoire guessed. "We could cool down the air around Orestown and Pitsfire to encourage agriculture and immigration."

"I have no objection to this," Alexandrite said. "My magmorians are mostly subterranean, and my kobold subjects can still thrive in a cooler climate. More cities and people will, in turn, help us enrich our homeland… so long as they do not bring foreign spies into their midst."

"We need trading agreements." Lord Wepwawet nodded to himself and then began to assign roles to everyone. "I will recall Mistouffe to assist the Fire Sultana in negotiating such treaties with Lady Satine and other friendly nations' ambassadors. Goreville, I will have you return home to oversee weapon shipments to the Wyld and assist with their anti-pirate efforts. The more we keep Valentine's allies busy, the fewer threats they can send our way."

Soon, nearly every Champion received a task to fulfill. With the threat of Valentine dealt with in the short term, they could finally put their energies towards strengthening their nations and improving the lives of their citizens. They could finally think about how to build rather than destroy, which pleased Victoire immensely.

However, one Champion didn't receive any precise directions: Victoire herself. She could already guess what her god had in mind when he asked her to stay with him after dismissing everyone else.

"We need to talk about Filou," Victoire said the moment they had privacy.

"Yes." Her god's spirit invited her to sit on a stone bench near his Altar with him. It wasn't as comfortable as their lookout in Narc, but it would do. "He's safely making his way to the old capital of Saguenay for now, and I've been looking into ways to send reinforcements his way."

"And I'll be among them?" On one hand, it relieved Victoire that she would see her squire again. On the other hand, she could only think of one reason why her god would need to send her to Valentine rather than more infiltration-minded Champions. "You want to open the royal vault beneath the city."

"Not immediately, but yes. Whatever your ancestors hid in that place interests multiple parties, including the lunarians. I strongly suspect they helped inflame tensions with Lavaland in the hopes of capturing you during the confusion."

And if the enemy wanted something, they had to deny it to them, though she could see the obvious issue with it all. "It's a risky plan," Victoire replied. "Valentine probably has the vault surrounded. Opening it myself might deliver its contents to them on a silver platter."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take," Lord Wepwawet replied with a grim expression. "I fear it is only a matter of time before someone finds a way to open the vault without you, especially with other gods backing these efforts. No lock is impregnable, especially one made by mortals. I would rather that we claim or destroy what we find rather than see it fall into our enemies' hands."

"We are planning a heist." Victoire smiled at the bitter irony. She had wanted nothing to do with her ancestors' legacy, and now she would have to sneak into her lost homeland to recover it. "I wouldn't say this is the best task for a knight."

"Hence why I will have Rapoleon and Renarde handle the preparations alongside Filou as soon as I revive the former." Her god crossed his arms. "Considering the risks involved, I will only send you later once we have finished setting up a spy ring in Valentine and prepared an operation. You'll assist Alexandrite and Mistouffe in their negotiations with our less aggressive neighbors for now. The wider our web of alliances, the more secure our borders."

Victoire nodded and looked up at the sky. Though the threat of Valentine had been dealt with for now, weakness invited attacks and might encourage others to take a shot at their lands. There was so much more work to do until they could truly call Lavaland a safe place to live.

She hoped her squire would have an easier time on his side.

It pleased Wepwawet to have time to prepare for the future rather than having to deal with one emergency after another.

Things were going well so far. As it turned out, checking the souls of the Champions who had died fighting during the Titan Incursion—Goreville, Grudu, Raymond, Cynisca, and Sagesse—confirmed that they had the potential to undergo a Rank-Up. Wepwawet guessed that the Elphion System provided an automatic experience boost to all participants who endured beyond death.

With the border now secured and Insupportable pacified by Bernard, Wepwawet had summoned Castle Neigebleue back to Verglane so that it could grow more monsters thanks to a renewed flow of mana. The success of the mimic carriages had convinced him to experiment a bit with the creatures that the dungeon could produce. Breeding beasts capable of thriving in Lavaland's climate or purifying Whiro's poisonous marshes would help put the land to work.

Wepwawet's next steps would revolve around securing his borders and strengthening his alliances. With Valentine closing access to southeastern trade, Stalheim, Kathay, Zoramesh, and Megaloria were his next best options. He had already arranged a meeting with Ganesha to both begin a Miracle trade and recruit giant mercenary companies to bolster Lavaland's defenses.

I've dealt with the swords and shields, but the daggers will come out now, Wepwawet thought. The current chaos represented a fertile ground for lunarian infiltration. They would have to be on the lookout for spies. I'll have my Crafters investigate a way to identify parasites, or at least smoke them out. They should be able to figure something out.

Wepwawet turned his attention to Filou next and found him in the woods south of Valentine. The squire was busy reading a poster while sitting on the branch of a tree, with a hood hiding his ears and a wendighorn providing all the food he could need. The wererabbit could easily be mistaken for a human child or vagabond from afar.

Wepwawet observed the world through his eyes. The poster Filou was examining resembled a bounty notice of some kind, representing a wererabbit with a sword, which Wepwawet assumed resembled his Champion… very badly. Whoever drew that crap had the eyes' shape wrong, showed him carrying a claymore rather than a scimitar, and gave him blue fur of all things. The wanted poster promised a sizable reward to anyone who could report any intel on him, and a bigger one if they could capture him alive.

"Is that your bounty notice?" Wepwawet mused in his Champion's mind, his words nearly causing him to fall out of his tree.

"Your Godliness, you startled me!" Filou cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Y-yes, I st—borrowed it from a village nearby."

"They didn't waste any time." Wepwawet had hoped to trick Epona into believing he had recalled Filou from Valentine, but it seemed his fellow deity had taken measures to cover her bases. At least Valentine's authorities insisted that they wanted Filou alive rather than dead, so he shouldn't be in lethal danger even if he was discovered. "Are wererabbits common around these parts?"

"I'm afraid not," Filou conceded with a sigh. "I've only seen humans and the occasional elves on the road. I've only visited villages at night to avoid being seen."

How annoying. If wererabbits were rare and the posters widespread, then anyone catching sight of Filou would likely put two and two together on the spot despite the inaccurate description. It wouldn't take Epona long to realize what he was up to if she learned of his presence near Saguenay.

"Perhaps I should recall you after the reinforcements arrive," Wepwawet mumbled. "Viviane would have an easier time blending in, and Renarde can shapeshift."

"W-wait, I've had an idea, Your Godliness!" Filou shouted while going through some of the other posters he had. "Look!"

The bounty notice showed a drawn picture of a faceless hooded figure with a bow and a summary description.

The Hood

Wanted dead or alive for theft, arson, highway robbery, abduction and ransoming of elected officials, conspiracy, anarchism, and sedition.

5,000 silver coins for capture or positive proof of death.

Immediately contact the Republican Watch if sighted.

Five thousand silver coins was quite a princely sum, especially for someone with absolutely no physical description whatsoever. The bounty only assumed that this Hood was a human male of average height with a green hood and little else. This figure was apparently the leader of a band of outlaws operating near Saguenay, the Free Brotherhood.

"Conspiracy and sedition?" Wepwawet immediately caught on to his Champion's plan. "Ah, I see. This is a politically motivated criminal."

"I think so, Your Godliness. I've heard locals talk about this Hood. His group only attacks tax collectors, priests, or rich merchants." Filou's eyes brimmed with admiration. "They even give some of the money back to the poor for justice's sake!"

Or to buy their assistance, Wepwawet thought. The wise outlaw bought the common man's sympathy so they would be more likely to look the other way and not report on them. But the fact remains they're hostile to Valentine's current government, which could make them potential allies…

"I can track them, Your Godliness," Filou insisted. "My ears can pick up anyone traveling through these woods. I'm sure they'll help us if we ask."

Wepwawet pondered the proposal. He had to admit Filou's plan sounded promising. Outlaws like this Free Brotherhood were natural enemies of local governments, and this Hood must have had some skill to avoid capture for so long. Allying with his group would not only give Wepwawet an ear on the ground, but also cause trouble for Epona behind her lines.

"Very well," Wepwawet decided. "Try to establish contact with this Free Brotherhood if you can. I will rank you up to increase your odds."

"Thank you, Your Godliness," Filou said with relief. "I won't betray your trust!"

"I know," Wepwawet reassured his Champion before blessing him with his light.

Filou, Brave Heart, has ranked up in Squire! +3 STR, +3 VIT, +3 AGI, +SKI, +3 MAG, +3 INT, +3 CHA, +3 LCK! He has earned the Warrior Training II Perk!

Warrior Training II: All melee Weapon Artifacts equipped inflict +3 Damage. This replaces Warrior Training I.

Your Squire is on the verge of a Class Promotion.

Wepwawet had heard of this rare phenomenon where a weak Class would often evolve into a stronger one. This dramatically boosted a Champion's Perks and stats. Part of why he had delayed Filou's rank-up was to confirm if his recent acts of bravery would trigger it. Filou had yet to reach this stage, but the mere fact that the System commented on it was an encouraging sign.

True knighthood might be just around the corner.

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