Weeks later

“I bid you welcome Hela!” Persephone stated from her throne, “Thank you Persephone! I hope I don’t cause too much trouble for you!” “No of course not, I wanted you to live here we brought Damian home. However, Loki wouldn’t permit it!” “Well thank you! It’s a shame about Damian!” she nodded before sighing spoke, “Yes but he did the right thing! That reminds me, where’s our new Isu friend? Senua!” “She’s with Damian. He’s trying to help her control the voices, he’s also giving her tips for fighting in the future, she’s quite fond of him, I have never seen him throw me away for another woman. It’s a shame she wouldn’t let go of Dillion!” she nodded before seeing Keira walk in with Gratian spoke, “Keira, nice of you to join us; everything well?” she nodded before clutching her arm spoke, “Yes, sorry if I have caused you any trouble, it’s just...” “Enough of this regret, I won’t have none of this. My grandson needs my care and our teaching. Damian will survive, he always does!” she nodded before covering her sadness that he was gone spoke, “Gratian keeps asking, where is Damian?” “No one knows where he is living but he is currently in the training yard with Senua, trying to help silence the voices in their heads and basic sword drills, she was interesting in fulfilling bounties like he is but I doubt it. Has he seen Triss yet?” “Not yet!” Keira confessed annoyed before stating, “Whatever happens, I just hope he doesn’t go back to her!” “He was happy with her...” Persephone pointed out she nodded but defensively spoke, “Then she hurt him!” Persephone sighed before smiling at Gratian commented, “I just hope he will be happy in the end!”

“Better Senua!” “And I thought I was already good!” she chuckled still getting used to the darkened lines on her body, “You are but with Isu comes more power, **** and strength combined with the quicker pace and agility. You must adapt to this and then you will be able to enhance your abilities. You will also learn how to wield every main weapon we own. The long sword, short sword, Crossbow, bow, axe, battleaxe, mace, grand sword, spear, staff all these and more. It will take time but eventually you will be as good as Ares himself, he taught me and I’ll teach you!” she nodded before asking, “Just a question... why are our lines black and everyone else’s gold?” “That’s because we are dead but still work as if we were alive. Thánatos, me, Hela, Nyx and now you are the only ones, we are unique like this!” “I suppose that makes me special then!” “I suppose you could see it like that! Now in regards to your earlier question, the voices... they will always be there but you can switch off from them, you can block them with training and time. It took me centuries but eventually I got the darkness to work for me, act as my advisor or aid; inform me of what’s coming around the corner or behind me. I could also help you learn to block the voices so what is left is purely a small murmur in the back of your head!” she nodded before sheathing her sword spoke, “I thank you for today’s training session, may I walk home with you?” “Alas, I have to see someone about a job; if it’s not too suicidal, you can come with me if you like?” “Thank you! I look forward to the news!” I nodded before turning back spoke, “Oh and your armour, Hephaestus said give him a week and he will have it ready. Isu combined with your heritage, I also added to your chestplate images depicting your story!” “Thank you Damian!” I smiled being met by her arms wanting to hug before turning away I sighed to myself, “Okay Triss... what do you want?”

*knock* *knock* “Come in Damian, I know it’s you from the knock!” her sweet voice cried out from behind the door. I ventured in and closing the door behind me smiled seeing her in that dress that I first met her in, the figure emphasising red Satin dress and her around neck lay her ever familiar pendent, “My eyes are up here you know!” she smirked, “You know me... you are tiny, it feels like no matter how I look at you I see all of you in one glance. When I see your head I also see your feet and so on... I was actually thinking how good that dress still looks on you!” “Well thank you Damian! I appreciate, at least you noticed compared to my other date... Adonis!” “You went out with Adonis?” I queried, “Now don’t get mad at me...” “I am not mad but you should have asked me, I could have told you that he is no good. Aphrodite is the one he loves; you were just his time waster. It would have saved you time!” “And how could I phrase it? ‘Oh by the way I am seeing Adonis, is he a good person or not?’ like you would answer that” “You could have asked, ‘Do I know anything about Adonis? He seems pretty sweet’ or something like that. But enough of that; you have places to go and all that” “I don’t, like I said I just came back... Come and sit, I have some wine somewhere!”

I looked around before obliging sighed sitting down on the floor so when she used a stool she would be in my eye-line, “So this is your home?” I asked looking around again to see it was nothing more than a shabby hut with the old book and primitive fire, the furniture was old and by the look of the kitchen area; food was scarce, “Yes unfortunately. Well I was lucky to be in a castle or two in my lifetime, but times change and I am not exactly popular here” I nodded before shrugging spoke, “Well neither am I. Defrocked, alone and my son’s mother hating me!” she smiled before handing me the ale spoke, “So that’s why I see you with that other Isu, in the training fields” “No, that’s just Senua. A trainee bounty hunter, wants to be like me. Also like me she suffers from the same problem!” “Yes I heard about that, I even had Persephone at my door asking for any help I could give. My suggestions were not exactly appreciated by her!” I nodded before asking, “So what happened to you?” “Me and Geralt tried again but he spent soo much time away, it wasn’t until recently I found out why... damn Daenerys” “I’m sorry about that, how long were they...” “Several months apparently” I nodded before asking, “You want me to beat him to **** is that it?” “Yes but as you can see I can’t offer much, apart for this dress and maybe some other sellable’s!” I got up before looking out of the window spoke, “How about this being one last favour. I couldn’t see you losing that dress. It suits you!” “I can’t not pay you and the other option should be only a last resort!” I nodded before sighing spoke, “Have it on the house, this is something I always wanted to do!” she shook her head before getting up spoke, “Please, we can sort something out, how about I get changed and we discuss it on the way back to town? Just wait there!” I nodded before sitting back down continued to drink from the bottle.

“So he left you for a blonde? That’s new!” I joked nudging at her misfortune to distract me from my own as we walked through the market place, “You can’t say much... you and Keira...” I nodded before sighing responded with, “I don’t know. I understand she wants Gratian to see a different side of me that isn’t always killing. A side that isn’t evil, so he can learn from that and see he doesn’t have to be like me but she wanted me to help Senua and kill every person in Helheim to rid “the evil” and destroy the system all to show “not everything has a price” and to show I have a “heart” I destroyed a whole functioning organisation for her and she still hates me.” “She just doesn’t understand everything has an role and that’s for a reason. What she wanted is selfish and what you did is selfless. It’s wrong she put you in that position!” I sighed before stating, “Then it’s just this “So what are we” she knows I can’t marry her!” “You can’t marry her? Why?” “I am no longer an person by any gods recognition. A Isu has a role that must be filled if a Isu is defrocked every privilege is removed, I shouldn’t even be allowed to buy house; that’s why I gave Keira the coin because she is a category B citizen; a human. I can’t marry, own a house, I can’t even own a horse! The problem is... Philippa doesn’t like anyone but me so they had a choice either return her or kill her. If they killed her, I would kill them; so on principle returned her!” “Does she know?” “I have told her many times that I have no rights, surely she would understand that I can’t!” “Maybe you should spell it out!” she joked before hearing my response of, “I understand why, hell you would become Abigail if you don’t have an positive influence!” “Abigail... your daughter? She tried to kill me, she believed I was the reason for your “destruction” I nodded before responding with, “It’s weird, Hela said something prior to that and it got under my skin, something that never usually happens!” “What was it?” “She said ‘you are virtually a human wannabe, you have them as lover, you dress like one and you even took one of their names. Zantano-Thánatos is dead and this Damian is all that’s left. The true Zantano died after the battle against the Wild Hunt!’ and I don’t know, it got me thinking of my previous self, I wish I still had that respect; now I don’t even know what I am. I just keep wondering around on the realms, trying to earn some money. I used to have an purpose now I am just there doing whatever that is irrelevant!” “Don’t talk silly! You still have a purpose. Maybe not on the grand scales of Isu plans but locally!” she spoke pulling my arm before patting my arm spoke, “To everyone who knows you. You still have a role and who knows maybe it your greater purpose is right around the corner!” I nodded before returning the grip spoke, “Thank you Triss. No matter what anyone says about you; you always talked sense!” she smiled before frowning heard, “So this is where you are!!”

We looked back and seeing the source of the voice stopped to face the now angry Keira, “So the rumours are true! The duo back together is it? Or is it just a quick roll in the hay?” she snapped pointed at our arms interlocked, “I was just holding his arm... Keira. I was informing him about the job I require and we were discussing payment value!” “I bet you it involves a bed and romantic night?” “No! I was going to sell my expensive dresses but he refused to accept it” “Oh yeah why? Did you have something else in mind?” Keira stabbed, “No, she is still one of my few friends and I hate Geralt to; so beating him down into a broken mess is something I would enjoy!” “I highly doubt it!” I sighed before shaking my head snapped, “There’s no point in even talking; you doubt every word I say!” I turned away before walking away Keira cried out, “I may be pregnant again!” I stopped before asking, “How sure?” “It’s just like the last time; but I got to wait a few weeks before Asclepius can test me” I nodded before turning around Triss interrupted to reassure Keira, “Congratulations you two and don’t worry Keira; after this job I won’t be in the way anymore!” Keira nodded before pulling my arm to lure me away from her snapped freeing it from her grip, “No. You are my friend Triss and I won’t stop talking to you just because Keira can’t contain her jealousy. Furthermore, as my friend the job WILL be free!” Keira spat at us with anger imagining her own sick reasoning before spilling it spoke, “I see it all now. You knew she was single, here and looking for you; probably even knew she was longing for your touch and you thought you would swoop her off her ‘perfect little feet.’ That’s why you won’t marry me!” “I can’t marry you or anyone for legitimate reasons!” she refused to listen instead she protested but it was Triss who spoke trying to make her listen, “Listen to him, please! I was the one who encouraged him to tell you the story!” “I see it now, you and him or is it he is already married to Hela or maybe it’s his grandmother!” I sighed before trudging off snapped, “Never mind! You can’t stop ignorance!”

Keira glared at Triss shocked by Damian’s departure, he usually took the insults but this time he simply walked off towards Senua’s house, “Why are you still here?” Keira yelled but calmly Triss simply spoke, “Because you are going to listen to me. He can’t marry you, me, Persephone or even Hela because he has been defrocked. All rights as an Isu citizen is gone... he can’t own a house, not even meant to own an horse and definitely can’t marry. You’re lucky that the Gratian was actually recognised for existing in the first place and if you don’t believe me check their library or ask any Isu you see. Until he earns is prestige and role back he is nothing. So stop thinking about yourself or your suspicions and think maybe he is telling the truth for once. Anyway, I’ll talk to him when he comes back!” “Where’s he going?” “He has a job in the underworld for Hades. Senua is still learning so this is a training exercise! Who knows maybe he won’t come back and you won’t have to worry about coming up with more toxic lies! Good day Keira!”