Awakes with aches.

Ow... ow... ow...

My entire body was humming with a burning sensation after what had just happened half an hour prior; the only comfort being the warmth of the woman currently sleeping in my arms. Ashes had done her best to drain me dry, resulting in one broken bed frame, a bite taken out of a pillow, and a white stain across just about everything.

Thankfully, Marrow had done more than just tell Ashes about what happened after the siren attack; teaching her the 'Dry' Utterance. In combination with her 'Repair' Utterance, she was able to put the room back to a pre-coitus state.

Now, all I could think about doing was closing my eyes, and getting some rest...

...

I open my eyes, but not to a hill adorned by green grass and a lone tree, rather, I remain within the same room; the walls and ceiling shattered, and floating in an endless space. The Seknium...

"Hello, again. How goes the breeding with the mortals?" Says the familiar voice of Mortigan, who finds her way down into the shattered room, leaping from another fractured building.

"I... were you watching me?" I ask.

"No. It was a simple guess. You're naked, sweaty, and look as though you've run from one town to the next in half a day. Good to know I'm right, as always."

I cover myself with the nearest figment of my imagination; a blanket. "Oh gods damn it..."

The Daughter of **** seats herself on a floating chunk of wall. "So, I've been given two missions. A boring droll, and a fun little visit... which do you want to hear of first?"

"You came here for idle chatter? I could be..."

"Having another nightmare instead of talking to me? Oh please. Go on, pick one."

"Fine the boring one."

"Ugh..."

Straightening out her posture, Mortigan claps twice, and produces a poof of smoke. The smoke clears, and the still image of a cocky, young male elf with black hair, and purple eyes stands now about in my room. He's dressed in as basic of equipment as I had ever seen, and has a sword strapped to his back.

"This, is Klyde. With a K, not a C. He was very clear about making that distinction."

I blink, twice; then three times. "Is this a joke?"

The God Hunter begins holding the bridge of her nose. "Sadly, no. He's another Earthling, much like you and Tomoko. My father had seen his soul as being particularly easy to study, and wished to see what effect you and Tomoko were having on this world's spiritual fabric; without killing either of you, of course. So... we have Kylde... I've been dragging him around since a day after your lot left Saltmoore. He keeps getting himself killed; which while that is part of his job, it also can be rather grating..."

"And you're telling me about him... why?"

A smile forms on Mortigan's face. "Because I've been permitted to leave him with 'trusted company' for a year or two... like say... the up and coming Emissary of our newest little family member?"

Oh no...

"And I get to visit! I'll be sure to draw out that little Godling..."

"Ok, and whats the fun news. I need levity after you just lashed my life with a new burden..."

The smile grows wider. "A new name has appeared on my list; those of whom I must hunt down and test, to see if they are worthy of godhood one day. The name..."

"... is Damian Walker."