We all started out and as the morning continued everyone’s riding got noticeably smoother. Nora and I stayed in our party, so we can keep talking without anyone over hearing. We reached an open area by the river and took all the Taraven to the water in small groups. Nora and I grab some lunch after getting a hunch of meat for our mounts. We eat while watching our mounts rip off chunks of meat and swallow them whole. When we finish eating everyone stretches. Then we saddle the Taraven and continue our trip to Fairun. The ride is uneventful, but we continue to keep our eye open for any monsters. About an hour before dark we arrive at our camp site, which is under a circle of large oak trees near a stream where we water the Taraven before we settle in for the night. Each of the Taraven gets another hunch of meat for dinner. Nora and I are on second watch, so we both try to get some sleep before our watch. I fall asleep watching Vera rise wondering if Vera is watching us from up in the heavens.

“Of course, I am.” I hear as I turn and realize I am standing in a cozy study. The room is full of the smells of old paper and ink as I turn to Vera who is rising from behind an elegantly carved desk.

“Please have a seat.” She says gesturing to the chair next to me.

“Where are we?” I ask as I take a seat in the comfortable leather chair.

“You are in a dream and I am just sharing it for a time. Don’t you recognize this place?”

I look around and sudden I do recognize it. “This is uncle Martin’s den.”

“That’s right.” She says with a smile taking a seat again behind the desk.

“Not that I don’t appreciate a Goddess taking the time to say hi, but I imagine there is more to this meeting?”

Vera laughs saying. “You are right. With your completion of part of the quest to find Poth I find that I can give you some information that may be helpful, but I still can’t help you.”

I sit there puzzled. “Do gods take a class in confusing mortals?”

Vera laughs again. “Not exactly. The System will prevent me from helping or giving you any information that directly relates to your quest. However, I was thinking as a reward I could show you a story.”

“A story about what?”

“Well it is a story from about one hundred years ago that takes place in the same church you were in. This story would take the place of the last of the three dreams Reborn receive. Would you like to see it?”

I am sure it must be important or she wouldn’t be going to this much trouble. “Ok. You’ve got my interest.”

“Excellent.” She says as the room seem to fill with fog and shadow before I hear the sounds of fighting. Suddenly I am in the middle of it.

Daniel barely managed to parry the demon’s claws with his shield before executing flame sweep, which cleaved the demon’s chest open, exposing its heart to the holy flame where it turned to dust. There was a momentary lull around him as he turned and saw Garth take a blow meant for Poth. The blow from the Fire Gods hammer drove Garth through the right corner of the First Church and out the other side. Poth screamed as his spear flared with a brilliant light as he managed to hit his father’s shoulder despite his father immense speed.

I thought of the Deck of Fate and as I brought it to mind. I have twenty faith point left in the deck and as I watch Poth fighting his father I know he is out matched. The priests and paladins are still fighting, but there are far too few left. As I consider the Deck only the strongest demons of the final Tier stored in the Deck would have any chance against the God of Fire. Since I am the owner of the deck I can summon them as will spending faith points to do so. I summoned forth four of the most powerful demons: Ralth Demon Lord of Shadows, Salazar Demon Lord of Pain, Crackos Demon Lord of the Veil, and Mathias Demon Lord of Fire. As poured from the Deck in clouds of smoke and fire I saw Poth struck with his father’s hammer driving him through the front wall of the church into the interior.

“We need to stop him.” I said to the four demons as they looked at me like I was crazy.

“This is outside of our power.”

“Well we must do something to help Garth and Poth.” I say. I see Garth has sat up and looks dazzled, but this has caught his father’s attention who turns from entering the gaping hole in the church to gather flame around his hammer as he faces Garth.

“If you can’t stop him then distract him to give them a chance.”

“Very well Champion.” Mathias says. “Crackos veil us and we all strike together. Hit his right leg at the back of the knee.”

All the demon’s nod and with a gesture from Crackos they all vanish.

I pull out my most precious potion and an amulet I won from Vera herself when I defended the Empire against the Rift Devil’s three decades ago. I turn to watch and wait for my time to strike.

The God of Fire raises his Hammer high just as Garth starts to pull himself to his feet, but before the God of Fire can strike there is a flash of light and shadows that strikes the back of the God’s leg causing it to buckle. The blast from his hammer levels the right side of the church instead of Garth. The God is not down for long as he sweeps his hammer through the four demons before they can move away causing them all to shatter and dissipate. I feel the Gods attention turn to me as the summoner. I drink my potion in one gulp and wrap the amulets chain around my wrist as the God gestures at me and torrent of fire pours over me as I activate my skill divine might and block it with my hammer. The flames seem to last forever but it is only ten seconds. The divine flame parts around my hammer which is now glowing white hot as I drop it on the ground. The Gods eyes widen in surprise as he sees me still standing. The Potion of Infinite Might live up to it name as it enhances my next spell to the level where I can even block a Gods blow.

I pull my sword from my inventory and active every skill that is not on cool down, Haste, Quick Step, Lightning Lunge, Phantom Walk, and Winds Embrace as my stamina plummets. As I move the battlefield becomes oddly quiet as everything else seems to grind to a halt as I speed toward the God. However, the God seems hardly slowed as he ready’s another blast of fire. When I see his hand wrapped in flames I activate the amulet praying it live up to what I was told. “In Vera’s name I smite you.” I say as my body is enveloped in crimson light and the God turns his hammer to try to block the blow that I deliver. My sword shatters but knocks the God back hard enough to plow a furrow in the ground over 100 yards long. I collapse as all my stats drop to three from using the amulet. I can barely turn my head as I see Garth stumble to his feet and Poth stagger from the maw in the front of the church.

I feel hope stir. We may have a chance, but then a blast of fire explodes from the God as his hammer flies back into his hands and the dents and scars on his armor heal. He stands and clutches the hammer in both hands as he blocks a bolt of fire from Garth’s sword and light from Poth’s Spear. The God’s hammer then hits the ground with such force my body is throw into the air. The shock wave crushes Garth and smashes Poth back into the church collapsing the roof on him this time.

Tears fill my eyes as heavy footsteps approach. “You worm, you thought to strike a god? I will take the Deck of Fate from your dead body and make sure your soul suffers for eternity.”

I start laughing as the God draws back momentary in surprise. “You will not have me. I call upon the System to witness. I sacrifice my soul for the Twin Gods, let the Deck of Fate be hidden from all.”

A blue ball of light appears speaking. “So, witnessed.” As the man named Daniel the III, Holder of the Light and Champion of the Twin Gods vanished in a clap of thunder.

“No!!!” screamed the God of Fire.

As suddenly as it started I was back in the Study.

“I hope the tale was informative.” Vera said with a sad smile.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Well it is time for you to wake up.” Vera says as the study seems to tremble and I open my eyes to Nora shaking me awake for our watch. I shiver as I get out of my bedroll and take my place behind a large tree that gives me a good view of the approach through the trees. Nora takes a position on the opposite side of camp facing toward the road where there is more natural light from the small green moon.