The illogical thing to do

Renee ran outside, leaving the ice giants and the confused crowd that had gathered behind. Outside, she saw clouds rapidly forming; a strange roar seemed to be approaching. A few drops fell on the street, spaced out, seemingly harmless.

"Moradin," the redhead said to her patron. "Talk to me, what happens now?"

Moradin didn't answer.

"Mory! This is serious. Did what he said affect you that much?"

"I can save you, Renee..." Moradin said. "I can use my power to delay the storm just long enough for you to be safe. Just long enough so that..."

"NO!" she interrupted. "You can't let this happen again. We know where Poketnaru is, you can defeat him, can't you?"

"I can... And maybe I know how to do it permanently."

"See? Then let's do it!"

Morandin hesitated.

"Is it worth it? Is the human world worth saving a second time?"

"What kind of question is that, Moradin?" Renee replied, annoyed.

"I gave the humans a second chance... I love them, but... look what they've done... again..."

This instability caused Moradin to finally leave Renee's body. She felt a strange emptiness in her chest, not because of his departure, but because she felt the pain he was feeling at that moment, the doubt about what would actually be the right thing to do. Moradin manifested again as a tall man with a full beard and hair, holding his pickaxe and wearing simple work clothes, emanating rays as he did so. The few people who passed by were astonished by the sudden appearance of that being.

Renee looked at Moradin, but he kept his eyes downcast, his posture was sad, his breathing was that of a disappointed father. She felt it like no one else.

With one hand she held Moradin's shoulder, with the other she wiped away a small tear that ran down his face.

"Hey," she said, now with her voice, not just in her spirit, "I know how disappointed you've been. But remember, there are many like me. There's nothing about me that makes me particular or special, and yet, you felt I could be better, that I could understand the ideals you hold. You are a god of protection, a good god, and I know it's hard for you that the human world is the antithesis of that, but I ask you, however illogical it may seem, to have some faith in us. I can't ask you to logically conclude that the world should be saved, but I still feel you and I still feel your heart, and like you, I am wounded, but I still feel there is something to fight for, even if it's the unrealistic, stubborn, and rigid conviction that even if humans deserve the end, they still have small sparks of goodness that can become flames. So I ask you, Moradin... Would you take that leap of faith for my world? For the world "From a mere... shell?"

Moradin placed his hand heavily on her shoulder, now looking firmly at her face.

"Renee..." he said. "I want you to know that all the rational paths I lay out at this moment go against the decision I'm about to make. But you're right about one thing... I am a god of protection. I am THE god of protection. And if I don't try to protect the world from a daughter, then I will be going against my nature."

Renee was elated, but she couldn't deny that the word "Daughter" caught her off guard; she felt a strange, but warm and definitely welcome feeling in her chest.

At that moment the rain began to intensify, and before they could take any action, they saw the giants leave the building and run towards the first people they saw on the street, attacking them.

"What are they doing?" Renee asked.

"They will attack people before the rain becomes critical, while Poketnaru prepares the ground by enveloping the entire world in clouds, they will begin attacking and killing whoever they can to keep potential defenders occupied," Moradin said.

"And how do we deal with that AND with Poketnaru at the same time?"

"Renee... You've grown much stronger while you've been with me, more than you can imagine. I would like to be with you on this exact same mission forever, but not only do I think it's safer to be alone while I fight Poketnaru one last time, I also think there's only one person at this moment capable of stopping the giants."

Renee froze; deep down she knew what those words meant. Moradin detached a piece of the ground and raised it, throwing it at Orel, knocking him down.

"This will help you," the god said. "I appoint you as guardian of these people and bless you with my authority. It was a great honor to fight with you."

"Don't you dare." Renee said, "Don't you dare speak as if this is the last time we see each other. You won't get rid of me so easily."

Moradin held Renee's hand firmly, both smiling at each other with a strange sadness in their hearts. Moradin stepped back and, launching himself into the air, took flight towards the heavens and Poketnaru.

Renee stood still for a moment, still processing that Moradin seemed more serious than he should be.

The sound of a rock being pushed behind her brought her back to reality; the giants had managed to pull Orel from under the rock that the god of mines and storms had thrown to delay them.

"My turn..." Renee thought.