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Chapter Text

“Thus concludes this morning’s sermon. Have a wonderful day, beloved Followers!

-Thank you, Leader!”

As the followers of the Red Crown left the temple, the Lamb kept studying the tome laying on the altar. They turned around to meet the faces of Witness Malphas and Narinder, standing behind in silence, as always.

“My Lamb, began the cat, may I ask what are you doing?

-Ah, nothing special, Nari, weren’t you supposed to spend time with your siblings today?

-Sozonius took Shamura to study the parchments he gathered in Silk Cradle. And I do not wish to stay with the three fools I call brothers and sister.

-Ah, still struggling to let go of your eldest, I see, mumbled the Lamb. How about you, Malphas? What brings you there?

-I am merely doing my duty as a Witness, my Lord, answered the sheep, bowing. Although, may I be allowed to ask what are you searching for in that tome of yours?”

The Lamb scratched their neck with a smile:

“I am doing some research about the Old Gods. The Gods of opulence in Midas’ cave, for example, are still a mystery to me… Are they even Gods?

-Lamb, we already talked about this, sighed Narinder. Upon ascension, a God becomes...

-a concept, I know, completed the Lamb. But why am I still a tangible being why they are not? If they were to die, would someone take their place? Just like the Mush-

-Phtisis and Tabes have been taken care of, firmly cut Narinder. You replaced them. You replaced Chaos, Famine, Pestilence and War, and that is without forgetting Death.

-I just wish to make sure my flock is safe…

-I know. However, you have said yourself you would not become like the Bishops of the Old Faith, and yet I witness you adopting the same strategies as we did: killing all Divine remnants in your way.”

The Lamb hit their head on the altar in frustration:

“Why is all of this so hard?”

Malphas intervened:

“Perhaps taking a breath of fresh air would help you feel better?”

***

“Well, I do not feel better.”

Winter had just ended, and the tender sun of spring was starting to shine again. Critters came out of hiding, and flowers bloomed back on the Cult grounds. Narinder saw Pom and Kallamar play Knucklebones a few meters away.

“I think you are so used to conflict peace disturbs you, remarked Narinder, looking at his brother. Believe me, I understand such feeling.

-And how do you deal with that? Inquired the Lamb. When you Five slayed the last God standing, what did you do next?

-Why, they partied!”

Astaroth had come from behind the bench the trio was sat on, a wide smile on her face.

“What-how…?

-Remember I am still Kallamar’s ears, little Lamb. After they defeated Beburos, they partied for fifty years!

-That I remember, somberly said Narinder.

-You do not sound so happy about that…

-Why, yes! A party, for the Old Faith, meant sacrifices. Sacrifices meant more work for me. In reality, only the four of them had the chance to be merry.

-Liar, whispered Malphas, loud enough for everyone to hear

-By all means, ô Witness of the Red Crown, do enlighten me on how that period was joyful for us!

-Oh, you truly do not recall? One day Shamura organized a fight pit. Understand, Lamb, that unlike you, they never spared anyone. It was always a fight to the Death. Now, one the Followers lost, and was sent to Narinder’s domain. However…

-Ah, yes, I remember, cut Narinder. A bull. I was terribly tired that day, and had asked him if he wanted to live forever. “Why not”, he had told me. I sent him back to the realm of the living with a golden skull necklace.

-Wait, I thought Cimeries was the first Follower you ever resurrected, said Astaroth. I was there, I have seen it!

-Ah, there is a slight nuance, précised the cat, closing his eyes. When a soul dies, they present themselves to me. In theory, I let them pass on to the next life without further ado. This bull, I simply… refused the entry. Resurrection, however, is equivalent to me retracting from that laissez-passer.

-Why can’t I decide that? Exclaimed the Lamb. My Followers always die when I least expect i-

-Patience, my Lord, cut Malphas. Narinder had thousands of years to get ahold of his powers.”

The Lamb sighed: how long has it been since they became the last God of these Lands?

Right, they were not. They morphed the Red Crown back into the grimoire containing the list of every relic they gathered.

“Mmh… in link with money, I have the pouch of the Kephomite, and Laplace’s coin. Does that ring a bell to anyone here?

-That makes no sense, thought Astaroth out loud. Laplace never had a coin, he had a dice!

-Gods can have different items of values, remarked Narinder, raising an eyebrow.

-Yes, but I knew Laplace, Kallamar had infiltrated his ranks for a long time before slaying him. And never did we find a coin of the sort!

-Very well, I trust you, answered the Lamb, moving their hooves to calm the Witness down. How about the Kephomite?”

Malphas, Astaroth and Narinder shook their heads.

“Well, the next step is obvious,…”

They turned their head to the Knucklebones table.

***

“The Kephomite, Lamb? No, I have never heard of such name. Now go away, you are making me lose the game!”

Kallamar sighed: he had rolled another one.

“Ha! I win! Exclaimed his opponent, raising three of her four arms in victory.

-Could you at least tell me where are your siblings?

-Well, Heket is waiting for Narinder to cook with her, as he said he would (he looked at the cat, eyes full of judgment), and Leshy must be by the field. As for Shamura, I think the answer is already obvious. Hey, don’t go away you, I want a rematch!

-With what gold, Kallamar? Signed Pom, juggling a small bag with a hand. See you at lunch!”

The squid deeply sighed:

“I worked under literal Fortune, why does this happen to me?”

Chapter Text

“Truly nothing? Not even tied to Khnoum?”

Heket shook her head once again, irritated at her little brother’s terrible slowness. With a knife, she pointed at the cauliflower he had barely begun to dice.

“Mmh.”

They continued working in silence.

***

“Leshy? Are you there?”

The worm emerged from the ground, mere centimeters away from the Lamb. Wiping the mud from his bandage (and splashing it onto the Leader), the worm grinned:

“I am not; this is why I shall take the message in his place!

-Very funny. I was wondering if you knew about a god Chemach called the Kephomite?

-Do you mean the Anchorite?

-No, the relic is a purple pouch…

-Strange, Shamura never told me of a God with such artifact close to them… perhaps that coward Midas holds more answers than me.

-You must be right. Well, good afternoon, Leshy.”

The Lamb smiled as the worm dug back into the earth on his way to plant seeds. They turned around, only to meet the four eyes of Shamura fixated on them.

“Lamb…

-Oh, Shamura! I was going to see you. Do you need me for anything?

-Be still. Listen. Do you see it? Do you feel it? Calling to your from the unknown.

Reaching

Writhing

CORRUPTION.”

They sounded like someone else. Someone the Lamb never knew, but had no desire to meet.

“It seeps through the cracks. It seeks you. Reach into the shadows. To what might have been.”

The old Bishop stared at the void before their legs flinched, and their skull would have been injured once again if it weren’t for the Red Crown, morphed into a hand, catching them.

"Shamura! Are you alright?

-…Oh, good morning… Lamb…Wish… see me?”

With the help of the floating hand, they stood back up, confused.

“It was nothing, Shamura. How about you go eat some lunch?”

***

"What are the plans for today, my Lamb? Inquired Narinder, eating, for once, with good appetite.

-Prepare Dess and Allocer’s expedition to retrieve that poor soul from Anchor’Deep. Then, I suppose I will check on the egg.

-Mmh. Isn’t that dangerous with Gods still roaming around?

-Kallamar told me the strongest God they could meet here was almost as much of a coward as he was.

-Ha! Glad to see he admits it.

-Narinder, he always did."

The cat lost his grin and kept eating in silence

***

Night was beginning to fall when Dess and Witness Allocer were ready to leave for Anchor’Deep. The Lamb had made sure to give Shamura’s old Witness a missionary necklace, as Dess already had one, and they did not want them to end up in the claws of some predator they forgot about.

"And if you cross a God…

-We ignore them. Yes, my Lord, cut Dess. If the being had a mushroom on their head, we ignore them, this must be the twentieth time you tell us.

-I am serious about it, Dess! I do not want to reproduce the disaster with Tursas…

-No one will, affirmed Allocer.

-I will do some of the road with you, I have to see Midas anyways, said the Lamb, avoiding their disciples’ stares.

-Oh, what a chance, sarcastically answered Dess, squinting their eyes at their God."

The Leader did not say another word, and led the way with a hoof.

Anchor’Deep was beautiful during the day, as Kallamar liked to brag, but the night was nothing comparable: The glowing algae and jellyfish reflected on the calm waters, and unlike the echoing clicking claws of Silk Cradle, the noises of the sea were white and soothing. Dess almost caught themselves falling asleep to the sounds, but quickly opened their eyes wide upon seeing the Lamb staring at them.

"According to our contact, the heretic camp should be right behind this skeleton, whispered Dess, pointing at a gigantic cranium and readying their sword. You ready, Allocer?"

The spider nodded, while the Lamb discreetly glanced behind the skull. Dess grabbed their shoulder:

"My Lord, with all due respect, please leave it to us.

-Ah, my apologies, it’s just… you grow up so fast, Dess…"

The Leader tipped their toes to press his forehead against the deer’s, who offered one of their rare smiles.

”We will not fail, my Lord”

And without another word, they drew their weapon, Allocer by their side. Closing their eyes, the Lamb tried to ignore the feeling of worry rising in their chest.

They had done this before, they would be fine.

But ever since Shamura’s healing and Tursas’ attack, they were worried for the first child to ever be born in the Cult. What did the Goddess make them go through?

“It is nothing worth your worry”, had told Dess,

But reading their thoughts had made the Lamb understand they were lying.

“Faceless…my own… I forgot.”

They shook their head, trying to chase the thought away; the night would soon be at its darkest hour, and they needed to reach Midas’ cave

They walked through the kelp, when a fluttering of wings caught their attention. Haro landed a few meters away from them, next to a broken statue of Kallamar.

“Gods fall and Gods rise for each plane of existence. The Infant God, in their darkest hour, needs naught of eyes to see, but the looming shadow of Death to lead a flock into the light. The Kephomite is a decoy, and just as his coin, Laplace shall show another side of his.

-What does this mea-“

But already, Haro flew away into the night.

Even after slaying the Bishops, the Lamb had no idea if Haro could be considered an ally. Sure, they did warn the Lamb of potential dangers, as well as the Bishops’ weaknesses, but he never elaborated on anything, instead choosing to observe in indifference. Was he trying to emulate Clauneck and Kuudai, thinking it would grant him the same immortality?

The young God of Death thought of the owl’s sayings. “The looming shadow of Death to lead a flock into the light”

They needed to visit Purgatory.

Chapter Text

“Foolish heretics! Lord Kallamar shall inflict the most pestilential disease ever known to-

-Yeah yeah, spare us the big talk, cut Dess, impaling the heretic. Urgh, Pom will have trouble washing that, they added, looking at their bloody tunic.

-Why do you think heretics are dressed in black, said Allocer, looking at the fireball they sent burn a tent nearby.

-I…never thought about it.

-Many things you have yet to learn.”

They rummaged through the camp; not many heretics were hiding there, but all tents had a certain amount of distance between them; probably to avoid contaminating each other. Finally, they heard a cry from one of them. Allocer tore the fabric apart to reveal a young, yellow caterpillar.

“Please, spare me…

-Going after children, huh? Truly low from the Old Faith.

-Do not look at me like that. I merely Witnessed

-And it’s already a crime in my eyes. But anyways, what’s your name, kid?

-Please, spare me…”

Her eyes were shut tight, and the disciples had no idea how to make her open them.

“She is in shock, said Allocer. Let us stay here for a moment.”

***

The Lamb was waiting outside the well leading to Purgatory. They should have jumped, but they had remembered Narinder’s sayings: Gods and mortals were equal in Death.

What if they crossed Tursas again? They stood no chance alone.

“Ah, but she ought to fight thee in thine own grounds, infant God”

The Leader turned around: the Mystic Seller was contemplating the well by their side.

“Tell me, divine merchant, have you ever exchanged with a being we call the Kephomite?

-Naught in this reality, they shrugged.

-What do you mean?

-Knowledge has a price, infant God.”

With a sigh, the Lamb called a Godly tear: one that Kallamar had wept during his time stuck between Life and Death.

“Thou are naught the only Crown Bearer, promised to liberate One Waiting below. I have seen all realities, all slaughter and Bishops fall and rise once again.

-Do you mean… outside the Lands of the Old Faith?”

The Mystic Seller nodded.

“And the only way for thee to discover those is to become the true master of these lands. Many Gods Phtisis and Tabes resurrected, many Gods still roam free in thy realm. However, thou are not alone…Find them, they who know of the Kephomite. Thou shall find them in Purgatory.”

The Lamb deeply inhaled, and, holding their breath, jumped into the well.

***

“Please spare me…”

Dess was staring at the caterpillar sat in the waiting room of the Healing Bay, their eyes full of anger. Allocer was busy checking her vitals, with unusual ease for a child: it was as if she would have obeyed to anything if it meant being spared.

“That’s it, said Dess. I’m calling Astaroth.

-It would be useless.

-Why? Doesn’t she always claim to know more about disease than literal Pestilence?

-Only time can cure such disorder.

-We should organize guards, to show her we won’t leave her alone, proposed Dess.

-Or she might leave.

-I was going to say she might panic, but that is also a reasonable concern.”

The two stared in silence at the young caterpillar: they had had to carry her all the way to the Cult, as she was unable to walk. Fortunately, no heretics, and no Gods had disturbed their journey.

“Maybe, we should have let her die, murmured Allocer, low enough so that only Dess could hear.

-No, it is the Lamb’s orders, and we ought to follow them.

-There is no one to take care of her.

-There is the whole cult.”

Allocer stayed silent. Shamura always liked to consider their cult an army. But to the Lamb, their Followers were one big family. Despite the years passing, they had trouble differentiating the two, especially considering the firstborn of the Cult was a missionary.

“Where is she going to sleep?

-By the Lamb, Allocer, I didn’t expect you to be the kind caring about children!”

The spider shrugged:

“Shamura always made sure the children attained adulthood.”

Dess stayed silent; they knew why the Bishop would do that. Both kept observing the caterpillar, who was starting to fall asleep on her chair

“Please…spare…

-Alright, let’s get you to bed.”

***

Purgatory was unusually quiet, thought the Lamb as they traversed the white clouds. They wondered if Azriel would come pay them a visit, but after a few minutes of walking, their realm offered them a completely new sight: in front of them stood an altar surrounded by ichor, the same they had built back at the Cult. Only, instead of a Lamb, the delicately carved stone depicted a goat, eyes purple.

They approached the statue: the Goat had a Crown as well, only with a glowing purple eye. Was that the Red Crown? The eye did not have the same crimson glow, but it looked nothing like Shamura’s Crown…

“You called?”

The Lamb turned around, their heart nearly jumping out of their chest: A purple Crown between their curled horns, there stood the Goat depicted by the altar.

Noticing the Lamb’ surprise, they let a hearty laugh out:

“Why the long face, my friend?

-I-hem-what?”

The Goat laughed once again:

“I am coming to you, not because you have need of me, but someone else does. Here, let me show you.”

Without waiting, the Goat grabbed the Lamb by their hoof, and directed themselves towards a hill formed by the clouds

Was that Narinder they saw chained once again? No, this was not a cat, but a gigantic brown rat, with skeletal arms. As they observed him, the Lamb almost seemed to recognize him.

In front of the deity stood an owl, a Crown seemingly made out of paper on their brow.

“They’ve been coming back and forth for a while now, observe.”

Despite the distance, the Lamb could hear the rat’s voice:

“Vessel, do you not worship me?

-Of course I worship you my Lord, it is simply…

-You keep coming back, as if the taste of Death was sweet to you. Perhaps I should lay your species at rest once and for all…

-Wait!”

The Lamb had crossed the cloudy hill, and found themselves between the owl and the rat. The Goat, still hidden, hit their head.

The rat tilted their head, making his chains click:

“Interesting, another bearer. Although that Crown of yours reminds me of that cat I had sent after the Bishops…

-Please spare them, begged the Lamb. They are the promised liberator, and simply need more time…

-And how did you gather such knowledge, little Lamb?”

The Leader looked carefully at the rat’s face: they realized he was missing an eye.

“Because I was once in their place, Ratau.”

Chapter Text

The rat frowned upon hearing his name:

“How dare you… How do you even…

-I do not understand myself, admitted the Lamb, but I know you.”

Ratau approached his head, and attentively looked at the Lamb with his valid eye, while the owl behind did not dare to move. After a moment, Ratau raised his chin back with a frown:

“And I do not. I ignore how you managed to enter the Gateway, but go away, Lamb. This is far beyond you.”

The Bearer of the Red Crown readied their sword, but the Goat, steadily jumping from behind the cloudy hill, placed themselves between the Deities:

“No need for conflict, everyone! Here, I propose a deal: The Lamb helps the… hem… Owl free yourself from your chains, while you allow us access to your realm!”

The Lamb widened their eyes:

“What? But this realm is mine!

-Why, of course!”

The Goat pulled the Lamb by the collar, and spoke low enough for only they could understand:

“Do you not understand, Lamb? You are facing another reality!

-Indeed, I do not, whispered back the Lamb.

-Look, my version of the One Who Waits was a spider, yours is a cat, I believe. Well this one is a rat!

-Then if this is not our reality, what are we doing here?

-I have no idea. But given the context, it seems Death is where all realities converge.

-Then how did Narinder not notice anything?

-How about you two share your mumblings, cut Ratau. Unless of course, you wish to face my Wrath.

-Oh, surely it is something to bestow, said the Goat with a dexterous bow. But we only wish to help you, ô Deity of Death!”

The Lamb did not dare to say anything; certainly, they could have faced Ratau, but they understood the Goat was trying to save their lives.

The rat seemed to consider his options:

“Fine, he finally said, I shall send the Lamb and the Owl back to the realm of the living, but the Goat shall stay by my side.

-I have a cult to take care of though! Exclaimed the Lamb, thinking about the new Follower Dess and Allocer must have retrieved by now.

-If you are truly allies, then the Goat shall take care of it, said Ratau, waving an arm.”

The Lamb bit the inside of their cheeks: the Goat did save them, but what if their intentions were darker? Not to mention the cultist would not recognize them as their Leader…

“Tell me Lamb, is Shamura at your cult?

-Hem, yes?

-They shall recognize me, don’t worry about that.

-I doubt it, Goat, if like me you lack a name, answered the Lamb. They had an important injury on their cranium and-“

But the Lamb did not get the time to finish that the Goat disappeared into a puddle of ichor, sprinkled with purple eyes. Ratau clasped his hands together:

“Bringing you two in the world of the living is going to ask me much more energy than usual. So Lamb, you have to promise me you will help set me free.

-I promise, solemnly declared the Lamb.

-Very well.”

The Owl and the Lamb then disappeared under the sea of clouds.

***

The Sun was rising, but Dess and Allocer had not dared to sleep. The caterpillar was only beginning to truly close her eyes when Vephar came in:

“By the Lamb, she exclaimed upon seeing the trio. Have you not slept at all?

-Quiet, murmured Dess, the bags under their eyes as purple as Shamura. We only got her to sleep.”

Allocer nodded before the deer fully collapsed on the floor, passed out.

“I can take it from here, proposed Vephar.

-No. If she sees someone else, she might get even more anxious.”

Vephar stayed silent, choosing to observe the small bug, when an idea came to her mind.

“I’ll come back. You three wait here.”

***

The Owl and the Lamb woke up at the center of a large pentagram, similar to the one the Lamb had int their Cult; the only difference was the white light it emitted instead of the usual crimson one.

“Tell me, Lamb, began the Owl where do you come from?

-Oh, even I am not sure where exactly I landed, admitted the Lamb. Are we in the Lands of the Old Faith?

-Indeed, and my master gave me the task to slay the four Bishops of the Old Faith, only Bishop Shrumy had been giving me some trouble; I keep dying…

-Wait, did you say Shrumy? But you are supposed to slay Shamura!

-Shamura? Narinder’s sibling? Why would I kill my most formidable Mikado adversary! Really…Lamb? Is everything alright?”

The Lamb had their mouth opened, yet not a single sound came out of it. What was going on? Had their reality been just a bad dream?

They took the Owl by their shoulders:

“Bring me to them.”

***

Ratau -or rather Narinder’s- hut was the same as always, with its familiar smell of moss and wood, which reassured the Lamb a little. The Owl knocked on the door, and the vision shook them to their core:

The Lamb had never seen Leshy with his eye. Or rather his eyes? It seemed like he had four of them, green, the sclera white like mortals, but not quite like their followers. The same could be said for the rest of the Bishops; Kallamar’s ears, like the rest of his body, were ornated with numerous pieces of jewelry, while Shamura was draped in a delicate shawl of silk, their fifth eye looking at the Lamb. As for Heket, the major difference with the Bishop of Famine was how… relaxed she looked. Her yellow scarf was loosely tied around her neck, and she was busy counting coins on the Mikado table.

“Hey, it’s the Owl! She exclaimed, and the Lamb couldn’t repress a gasp upon hearing how deep and vibrant her voice was. Who did you bring with you?”

Shamura let out a gentle gasp upon seeing the Red Crown. They approached as quietly as they could with their four legs:

“You do not… belong there Lamb, do you?

-What do you mean, Mura? Inquired Kallamar, and the Lamb was surprised by how melodious his voice was when he could hear himself.”

But the spider did not get the time to explain themselves as a black cat, third eye scarred, entered the room.

Chapter Text

“You ought to have a good reason to interrupt my work, millipede.

-Patience, Leshy, reassured Vephar, guiding the worm to the Healing Bay. It is for the best!

-Pah! The best for the Lamb and their…”

The old Bishop of Chaos stopped when Vephar opened the door.

“I smell young blood.

-Exactly.”

Dess and Allocer were sat on chairs, deeply asleep on each other's shoulder. But the caterpillar was beginning to wake up and shake her every limb. Leshy, without any help, approached:

“Greetings, caterpillar. As it is what you are, if I am not mistaken.

-Please spare me…

-Oh, but no one can harm you here. Look, I cannot even see you! Said the worm, moving his hand in front of his bandage.”

The caterpillar was now intrigued; except for the color, that being in front of her looked a lot like her. Did he know that? Of course not, he said he couldn’t see her.

“You… look like me, she began with a smile

-I do?”

She laughed: he was sincere!

Vephar smiled from behind the counter: despite being the youngest, Leshy resembled Shamura more and more every day.

“My name is Leshy. What is yours?”

She stared at the void, as if where instead of thoughts, only fog was there; a feeling Leshy recognized all too well.

“Take your time, dear.

-I…”

She then burst into tears, to Leshy’s dismay.

“Oh, come on! I was sure I could-

-It’s okay, Leshy, cut Vephar, gently wiping the tears and snout off of the caterpillar’s face with a handkerchief. How about you come later and…

-No! I will not leave her until we have her name!”

The exclamation woke Dess and Allocer up, who were surprised to find the old worm of Havoc in the room.

***

“… And this is how I found myself by your side, finished retelling the Lamb, managing to retrieve a Mikado, to Kallamar’s despair.

-Ah, I see, said Shamura, a claw resting on their chin. All realities find their one and only truth in Death.

-I wonder if there are any other vessels of the Crown, commented Leshy as he marked the Lamb’s victory on the blackboard.

-I am sure we are a strong, united family in every universe, added Narinder with a smile.”

The Lamb audibly gulped; not only was this Narinder very wrong, but he sounded so much like “their” Ratau it gave them shivers. Ignoring the knot in their stomach, they gathered the coins Kallamar reluctantly put on the table.

“Are those… made out of menticide mushrooms?

-Why, yes, said the squid, raising an eyebrow. What is it made of in your Lands?

-Gold, it’s much more solid!

-But Midas is going to eat it, remarked the Owl.

-What?”

After an hour of explanations, the Lamb understood that in this worlds, Sozo was the master of gold, while Midas was the mycologist. The Owl, who had won a game against Shamura, raised their wings in victory:

“I win once again! Lamb, how about we head back to my Cult?

-Why not, I would love to see it properly!

-And I am coming with you, added Narinder.”

As the Owl reached the pentagram, Narinder held the Lamb by a hoof.

“How about we talk for a bit?”

The night was clear and luminous, thanks to the full Moon shining in the sky. Narinder sat down and stared at the sky:

“Tell me, Lamb… if Midas is Sozo, and Sozo is Midas, who am I in your universe? Is my family… okay?”

The Lamb sighed:

“I doubt you wish for the answer.

-Please.”

The Lamb marked a moment of silence, their eyes on the stars, before answering:

“You are The One who Waits.”

The cat pulled himself back from the God, a look of horror on his face. With a trembling voice, he found the courage to continue:

“And my siblings…

-Are the Bishops of the Old Faith, yes. Leshy lost his eye, Heket her throat…

-Kallamar his ears and Shamura their mind, completed Narinder.

-Indeed.

-The Owl already defeated three of the four Bishops. Are we all dead, back to your home?”

The cat had no hint of anger in his voice, but his two valid eyes were staring at the Lamb full of sadness.

“It is more complicated than that. You Five were stuck in Purgatory, and I brought you to my Cult.

-Were they… angry at me?

-Angry is an understatement, chuckled the Lamb. But in the end, you managed to reconciliate.”

Narinder stared back at the sky, a smile forming on his lips:

“Despite the realities, we are not so different, I suppose…”

***

“Leshy, my love…

-Not now Andre, cut the worm. She is going to tell us her name soon.

-That I… do not doubt, said the yellow cat, having as much context as someone could not have any. But there is a goat outside, and they say they wish to see you…

-A goat?”

Leshy tried to dash outside the Healing Bay, only to run headfirst into the wall, pulling the caterpillar from what looked like a secondary state. She shook her head and tried to accompany Leshy, only to be stopped by Vephar:

“You should stay here, sweetie.

-Leshy… Leshy…

-He will come back, don’t worry.”

But the caterpillar started to cry and scream, and did not stop until Leshy picked her up to the best he could, helped by Andre:

“Here is your Leshy, sighed the cat with a tired smile. Now, can you go see what that goat wants from us?

-I cannot exactly see, Andre, innocently smiled Leshy

-You know what I mean!”

And without further ceremony, the yellow cat shoved his partner outside.

Chapter Text

The rest of the ex-Bishops of the Old Faith were already gathered around the newcomer, Kallamar clutching Shamura’s claw like his life depended on it. As for the spider, they stayed immobile as the Goat intensely stared into their eyes.

“What is all the fuss about, dear siblings? Asked Leshy as Andre met the Goat’s eyes. Oh, I smell… a Deity.

-Indeed, Leshy, answered the Crown Bearer with a smile. I am the Goat, Last God in the Lands of the Old Faith, or at least mine. I suppose you Five were the Bishops of the Old Faith as well?

-How do you know that much, Goat? Signed Heket, placing herself in front of Shamura.”

The spider took a few steps forwards

“Reality… crossed and woven…

-Oh, my Shamura, it seems you were the one condemned to think no evil in this Universe…

-What do you mean by “this universe”? Asked Kallamar, looking at his sister’s hands. Do we… exist outside the Lands of the Old Faith?

-I do not trust them, signed Heket.

-I… do… ah.”

Shamura rubbed their head, and before any of their siblings could react, the Goat took them by their claw:

"Do you have a Healing Bay?"

Heket and Narinder accompanied the duo, leaving Kallamar, Leshy, and the little caterpillar alone. The squid tried to smile at the child, only for her to bury her head into Leshy’s arms.

***

“There you go, Shamura, soothed Vephar, giving her old God a camelia infusion.

-Thank you…

-Should we warn Sozonius?

-No need, Vephar, said Narinder for his sister. Poor man will worry even more than usual.”

The Goat’s stare hardened a little upon hearing the name. The cat immediately noticed it:

“What is it, Goat? Are you upset our Shamura has a husband?

-Brother, what are you doing?

-Oh, nothing Heket. It is simply… If the Lamb is married to the One Who Waits, and The Goat has the purple Crown…”

He did not finish his sentence, instead choosing to smile. Then it ticked in Heket's mind.

Oh.

Oh.

“It is not the same Shamura, coldly signed Heket, pressing a protective hand on their sibling’s shoulder.

-It is…Fine…, whispered Shamura.

-I know, I know! But my Shamura looks so much like yours it is… jarring. They are the one who taught me what there was to know about this whole “jumping between dimensions”. Here, they even said this belonged to your universe…”

They pulled a few brown feathers from their purple fleece, which Heket immediately took. After a few seconds, she recognized where it came from:

“…Haro…

-Really? How did Haro’s feathers even end up in your reality?

-Shammy....(Narinder and Heket gave them a cold stare) Shamura told me that sometimes realities crossed between each other, especially with Chemach’s madness.”

The quartet stayed silent. The question that burned the Goat’s lips, “why did this Shamura not say anything” was obvious. They stared at their head, perhaps a little too long because Narinder clasped his hands together:

“Very well. If you truly are sent by the Lamb, we ought to show you how things work in their Cult. Come along, Goat, as Shamura needs a little rest for now.”

***

“Leshy, I doubt this is the right thing to do with a child…”

The couple of farmers had finished planting all seeds for the season. With some hope, no birds would come and eat them; but ever since Leshy participated in field work, they seemed to sense his formerly divine presence.

And there was the ex-God. Burrowed under the earth, with a baby caterpillar right by his side in the same situation, grinning to her antennae.

“You should join us, Andre, the earth is especially soft this time of the year!

-Leshy, I am a cat…

-And I used to be the God of Chaos. Now get down there and make one with the Earth.”

Andre sighed, when he saw a Goat he had never seen before, closely followed by Narinder, approach them.

“And this is the farm, précised Narinder with a deep sigh, his eyes rolling as much as a stone on a hill. This is Andre, I do not present you Leshy… Leshy? What are you doing with this child?

-She only feels safe with him, said Andre, visibly tired. Every single follower tried to pry her from his hands, and… how about you look for yourself.

Narinder gently lifted the caterpillar (she was light enough to not hurt his arms), away from the earth, and she immediately started screaming and moving her every limb. Too tired to deal with this, Narinder put her back in the hole Leshy had buried her in.

"It shall be my first decision as the temporary Leader of this Cult then! I order you two to take care of the young caterpillar. What’s her name?”

Andre looked at his partner, who couldn’t return the gesture. As for the child, she opened her mouth:

“I forgot.”

Her lips started to tremble, and Leshy buried her back in the ground.

“Goat, if you truly come in the name of that foolish Lamb, there are two things you will need to do.

-Which are?

-First: you allow me to name the child.

-Very well! Choose a name then, and tell it to me. What is the second thing?”

The worm cracked his knuckles:

“The Lamb defeated each of us. If you truly deserve such place of power, you must do it as well.

-Leshy, I doubt-“

But Andre did not get the time to finish as the worm burrowed underground, leaving a trail of spikes the Goat easily avoided. When he emerged from the ground, they immediately morphed their Crown into black gauntlets, grabbed Leshy’s neck and pinned him to the ground. The caterpillar was once again on the verge of tears, but Andre gently pulled her into his arms:

“It’s okay sweetie. See? Leshy is fine.”

Indeed: both opponents were laughing on the ground, the worm covered in dirt

“Really, Lesh? I beat your oldest sibling with their mind whole, you did not stand a single chance!

-I must admit it was … foolish on my part. But I still do not trust you.”

Leshy calmed his laughter and stood up, Andre lending him the young caterpillar.

“I ignore if this is the case in your world, but we had a fungal problem here, one that kept resurrecting old Gods. While we managed to eliminate the root of the problem, with a bad play on words, some Deities are still roaming free. The Lamb was going to help with it before they left.

-Are there many Gods left, my mossy friend?”

Leshy hugged the caterpillar tighter:

“There is one particularly dangerous, and this is the one I shall name this child after. Her name is Eris.”

Chapter Text

The Owl's cult was not so different from the Lamb’s. They advanced towards the Temple when the Lamb nearly fell in shock:

“Oh, greetings Leader! Is that a new Follower?”

Was that… a sheep? Yes, her wool was as white as theirs, and she looked like somebody they once knew. But who…

“It is a help from the One Who Waits, answered the Owl, look at their Crown.

-Oh! My apologies for thinking you as such, lovely Lamb…

-Ah, it is nothing, only managed to mumble the bearer of the Red Crown before sitting down on the first bench they saw.

-Pana, could you please…

-Oh, of course Leader, my apologies, she said, bowing and taking a few steps away before turning her back on the duo.

-Is everything okay, Lamb?

-Ah, I do not know for you, but all sheep and Lambs have been…”

The Leader drew a hoof across their neck. The Owl nodded in understanding:

“They did it for the Owls here too. I am the last one standing.”

The bearer of the Origami Crown sighed and looked away. The Lamb wanted to say something, but what can one even say in such circumstances? They looked around and found a white temple a dozen of meters away.

“How about you let me see the best of what your Cult has to offer? I am sure Ratau is wrong, saying you are not worthy of your Crown.

-Did… your deity say that to you as well?

-Oh, many times! Kallam- the Bishop of Pestilence was said to be a coward, and yet I cannot count how many times he sent me to my patron!

-You can say Narinder, it is fine, said the Owl with a sad smile. I heard your discussion, as the Crown warned me you were left behind. It must be strange for you, to have the one you considered mortal enemies together at the same table…”

They stayed silent. A few Followers stopped to look at their Leader, as well as the Lamb, before walking away for bed. The Lamb finally stood up and lent the Owl a hoof:

“Come along now, tomorrow is going to be a long day.

-Oh, right! I do not even know where you can sleep, nor…

-I can sleep on the ground just fine, reassured the Lamb. Now, all you have to do is get proper rest, and show Shrumy what we are made of!

-Yeah!”

The Owl raised a wing in the air; although a little hesitantly, the spirit was there. Good, thought the Lamb as their new friend showed them a soft patch of grass for them to sleep on.

But as they fell asleep, they wondered about Shrumy, Shamura, and most importantly themselves: were they able to travel between realities solely thanks to their Crown, or was it something else entirely? Could they bring that Pana to their own… no, this would not be right.

***

The night had been rougher than expected, and the Lamb woke up to sore joints. They opened their eyes, the Owl nowhere to be seen. Strange, they thought.

They found them perched on a high branch, where they would have been able to see the entirety of the Cult ground if they were not deeply asleep.

“Owl?

-AH! Ah, my apologies, Lamb, I overslept…”

They flew towards the Lamb, not trying to repress the yawn that came over them.

“So, what is the program today? Inquired the Lamb

-I am going to do the sermon, in five little minutes…”

The Owl yawned again, and the Lamb couldn’t help but sigh; but they were in their place once, and compassion was key (a key Narinder unfortunately never understood):

“I think you should take the time to properly wake up instead. Then, we will do the sermon.

-Fine…”

The Owl stretched their wings and lazily directed themselves towards the temple, their Crown morphing into a white tome floating under their eyes.

The Lamb entered the building along with them; except for the white color and green stained glass, the temple was the same as theirs, with the warm wooden floor and scene at the very end of it. The Owl climbed up the stairs:

“I think you should stay by my side, Lamb, so that all Followers of the Crown can see you.

-Your Followers, Owl.”

The bearer of the Paper Crown shrugged, and started ringing the bells of the temple. Soon enough, a small crowd gathered: the number of Followers was small, probably a sign the last Bishop standing had turned some against the Owl.

“Siblings of the true Faith! They exclaimed in a trembling voice. Rejoice, for today we are breaking our days of mourning: the One who Waits had blessed us with help, the help of a Lamb from beyond this reality!

-How do we know we can trust him, Leader? Interrupted a sea louse the Lamb was shocked to recognize as Plimbo.

-Lamb, if you wish to demonstrate your power…

The Lamb bowed their head and approached the altar. Then, the Crown morphed into a gust of wind, a warm and calming breeze every follower felt near.

“I understand your concerns, but I solely wish for the blessed Owl to succeed in their path of liberating the One Who Waits, as I was once in their shoes before. So hurray, friends, hurray for the blessed Owl who built this Cult with their bare wings!

-Hurray! Chanted the Followers.

-If you have any concern or request you would normally address your Leader, please do not hesitate to come to me, continued the Lamb with a warm smile.

-Thus concludes this morning sermon. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

-Thank you, Leader!”

As the crowd dispersed, the Lamb noticed the Owl breathing heavily, their body only standing thanks to their wings on the altar.

“Are you alright, Owl?

-Ha… I…

-Look at me, breathe in…”

The Lamb deeply inhaled, inciting the Owl to do the same.

“… And breathe out”

They repeated the operation a few times, until the Owl looked calm enough to stand on their own.

“Apologies, Lamb, you should not have to witness that…

-Nonsense, everyone should have help for this, Crown Bearer or not! Tell me, is it the sermon that put you in that state?

-Yes. Speaking in public, no matter what Narinder tells me, has never been my forte. It’s… complicated.”

The Owl climbed down the stairs, followed by the Lamb.

“Have you thought about building a confessional? I know some of my Followers prefer the intimacy.

-That is… a good idea Lamb, thank you. I will build that right away!

-But we were supposed to-“

But the Owl was already away. The Lamb barely had the time to take a few steps that they were surrounded by followers:

“Lamb, could you please help me?

-I love Pana, but she won’t even notice me!

-I always wanted to eat poop!”

They sighed: some things never changed…

Chapter Text

The Goat, followed by Heket and Narinder, were travelling through Darkwood in search of Eris. Leshy had to stay behind to take care of the child, helped by Shamura, while Kallamar was, apparently, tangled in a very big project with Pom (truth is, he was too much of a coward to face the Goddess).

“Now that I think of it, do you happen to know about a God once called the Kephomite, Goat? Inquired Narinder,  avoiding a branch above his head.

-I do not. But Midas told me about old Gods once populating my Lands, so perhaps the Kephomite was one of them...

-Shamura did not tell you about how they vanquished every God roaming free around these lands? Signed Heket, translated by Narinder.

-Ah, it seems there is a confusion, Lady Heket. The instigator of the Old Faith in my world is Kallamar!”

The siblings almost choked on their spit: Kallamar?

“How did that even happen?

-He said he did not remember. I am surprised you recall those times yourself.

-For how long have your Bishops been mortal exactly? Asked Heket.

-Not a long time, maybe that is why. But-“

The Goat was cut short by Narinder grabbing their fleece and hiding them behind a bush: from there, they could see a vulture easily towering them by a few meters.

***

“Eris!”

Leshy and Andre had been sitting down for an hour, both spoon in hand, desperately trying to feed the little caterpillar on the baby chair. But she refused to open her mouth, no matter what they told her; Shamura and Sozonius had tried as well, only to realize how tiring the task was, and were taking a nap on the couple’s sofa.

“I can see your bones from how skinny you are! Said Andre

-Technically, you can always see them, remarked Leshy, she has an exoskeleton.

-Do not encourage her.”

Andre approached once again his spoon, only for Eris to hit it in a metallic tinting and a giggle.

“I know some of my Followers respected their fast even after being captured. Perhaps this is her case?

-But she is just a child…

-A child who can walk and talk. I am surprised she behaves so immaturely regarding food…”

Andre and Leshy stayed up, facing the caterpillar on her highchair, Leshy had given her the spoon in hopes she could eat alone. Not hearing a single noise convinced Andre and him to join Shamura and Sozonius on the couch, the yellow cat keeping an eye on her. By the time she ate the spoonful, Leshy had fallen asleep, his head resting on Shamura.

***

“I smell divine flesh.”

The thought tinted in the Goat’s mind like a bell of impending doom. Of course, they had beaten the Bishops of the Old Faith, but this was oh so different: that Goddess was not merely old, she was ancient. Narinder confirmed their fears:

“You felt her call too, I suppose. Eris, goddess of discord. It took four of us to defeat her; however, if you managed to bring down Shamura with their mind whole, this should be a piece of cake for you.

-I suppose so, whispered the Goat, their eyes not leaving the vulture.”

Heket readied her fists, while Narinder focused on the ground in case he needed to call his chains.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Inquired the Goat, drawing their hatchet.

-As if we were going up against her in that state, signed Heket. You shall go first, and we will cover you.”

With a sigh, the Goat morphed their Crown into an axe and jumped out of the bush. The siblings exchanged glances: the group would not play the card of discretion.

The Crown bearer had barely set foot on the ground that the vulture turned around:

“At last you show yourself, false idol.

-Not very courteous of you to refer to me as such, Lady of Discord, smiled the Goat. I see your divinity has been lost to time. How about you join me?”

The vulture let out a cruel laugh, resonating so loud it froze even Narinder’s blood.

“I propose a counteroffer, Goat. You offer you puny life as a sacrifice to me, so I can gain back the entirety of my divinity.

-Alas, I am afraid it is not something I can choose, chuckled the Goat, swinging their axe like a pendulum.”

Narinder and Heket did not need to exchange a look: both came from the left to push the Goat, who would have been impaled by Eris’ beak if not for them.

“What did Leshy even have in mind? Exclaimed Narinder as he barely avoided another attack from the Goddess.

-How about you attack instead of speaking, Narinder?”

The Goat rushed to a tree near the vulture and, using their axe as a climbing tool, approached her head. They did not get the time to attack the mushroom on her head that Eris flapped her wings, knocking the trio out. The Crown Bearer barely opened their eyes that their head felt like marmalade: were they… walking on the sky? Why was the ground up? They saw Eris approaching the siblings, and tried to reach her themselves, only to feel their legs go backwards, and their head get dizzier.

The vulture let a cruel laugh out:

“Try and defy this, Goat!”

They tried to look to their left, only to feel their head going right: The Goat guessed Narinder was in the same situation by the way he clenched his head and did not dare to move. Another question though, was why Eris stayed immobile, a vicious smile formed on her beak.

The flaw of a God is always pride, Shamura once told them, after they defeated them, and had to decide whether to spare them or not.

Now, it is your choice to decide whether or not that flaw is fatal or not.

I trust you, my love.

The Goat let their hands loose, which made them tighten their grip. Then, ordering their nerves to go backwards, the witnessed their legs dash towards Eris.

Chapter Text

The Confessional had been built in less time than the Lamb expected. The Owl, covered in dust wood, beamed as they laid their eyes upon the building:

"What do you think, Lamb? It even has a perfect replica of the origami Crown carved on it!

-I thought we were supposed to confront Bishop Shrumy…"

The Owl hit their head:

"Of course, what did I have in mind? To Silk Cradle, my friend!"

And without another word, they flew away. The bearer of the Red Crown let a sigh out, smiling: were they like that back then?

"No doubt you were, Lamb."

They turned around: Narinder, cane in hand, smiled at them. How did he even get there? The cat seemed to read their mind, because they answered once again:

"We felines have our ways, he chuckled.

-Narinder! Are you not playing Knucklebones with your siblings today?"

His face sobered.

"Chemach drew your cards today. She saw betrayal, and a sister’s final stand…

-Aren’t I supposed to do so myself?

-It seems my Fate is tied to you. Not this version of me, of course, he added upon seeing the Lamb’s cheeks get redder. Tell me, Lamb, if I was ready to slaughter my own kin in the name of power, would you?

-Of course not! Why even ask me…

-Sometimes choices have to be made. The Owl… they had to make them, and no doubt those were as harsh as the ones you had to do. I simply came here to wish you good luck, Lamb."

He shook their hoof; it was strange to see the black paw wrapping it intact, for once.

"Thank you, Narinder."

A warm, although sad smile formed on the cat’s lips, and the Lamb left for Silk Cradle.

***

"There you are Lamb! Did Narinder hold you up again?

-You may say that... Now, did you manage to completely break the Shrumy's Seal?

-The door at the Temple? Not exactly, there is one Heretic I still need to beat…"

While they were talking, the Cradle was quiet. Too quiet, thought the Lamb, but the Owl did not seem to mind as they stepped on various arachnids with their sturdy claws.

"Be careful, Lamb, there should be a group of heretics nearb-

-Death to the false Idol!"

The Owl did not get the time to avoid the attack: a dagger plunged itself in their right wing, while the Lamb pushed the heretic aside as violently as their little hooves could. Wincing in pain, the brown bird morphed the Origami Crown into a translucent spear, while the Lamb readied their usual sword.

A trio of heretics jumped from the opaque web on the cave’s ceiling, as well as a ginormous fanged turtle ready to tear them to pieces.

"Since when do turtles live in Silk Cradle?!

-What does it matter, heretic of the Red Crown? For your insolence, you shall die!"

The Lamb rolled their eyes before plunging their sword into the heretic’s heart, who fell to the stoned ground of the cave. The Lamb would have had no trouble with the other two, if it weren’t for the Owl clenching their wing in pain: they would need protection.

"Surrender now, Lamb!"

They pushed the Owl aside, where a blade almost impaled them. Taking their spear with their valid wing, they barely managed to pierce the ear of the rabbit heretic, whose hood had fallen off.

"What is your wish, Owl? To offer me earrings, along with your puny life?"

But the rabbit’s eyes went almost white as their pupils shrunk and fell on the ground too: the Lamb had made another victim. The last heretic standing took a step back, now much less confident:

"Two against one, how unfair and expected from the false idol, they muttered.

-Lamb, let me handle it."

Without waiting for an answer, the Owl threw their weapon at the hooded figure, the blade whistling in the still wind before the sound of shattered bones and splattered brain broke the silence.

"Ha, I told you… argh…

-Let’s get somewhere safe, said the Lamb, taking their injured wing on their shoulders

-The Fox must be near."

The Lamb’s blood froze: the Fox? No, they thought,their heart going back to a normal rate, they needed to think straight: he probably fulfilled a different role in this reality. They understood whose once the duo reached a colorful caravan with the main interested, busy smoking a wooden pipe:

"Ah, greetings, Owl, is this a friend of yours? Great power they have, oh, my heart can sense it!"

Without another word, the Fox entered the caravan and almost immediately returned with two fuming cups of tea. He sat on the ground and kept smoking:

"Tell me, Lamb, where do you come from? So similar to the Owl you are, yet such power should not be within this realm twice.

-Oh, I come from far beyond it, let us just say so, said the Lamb with a smile, rubbing their neck. I am merely here to help the Owl in their quest of defeating the Bishops, as usual!

-Usual? By the One Who Waits, you must have seen more than the Witnesses themselves! But perhaps now is not the right time to talk about it… You must continue your journey.

-Indeed, intervened the Owl. Thank you for the drink, Fox!"

He waved as they left the small clearance.

***

"We have been walking for hours now, are you sure this is the right way?

-I usually fly, retorted the Owl, but between you and my wing… not that I blame you, of course!"

The Lamb addressed them a reassuring smile, when they felt something they thought they would never feel again.

The presence of a Bishop of the Old Faith.

Grabbed by their Crown, they felt their vision fade, their movements become stiffer, and could only guess the Owl was under the same spell.

"Hmf. Another Crown Bearer. Narinder’s sibling once told us about them, however why they choose to manifest themselves only now is a mystery to me. No matter. War knows exactly where to strike."

Without another whisper, Shrumy melted into the black portal typical to even the Lamb’s Bishops. The Crown bearers fell back down.

"Ah, nothing happened this time, said the Owl, wiping the sweat on their brow. Lamb? Oh no…"

Their weak smile immediately disappeared: hypnotized, a sword in hand, stood the sheep Pana.

Chapter Text

The white void. The one they thought was only for the chained Gods of beyond. Why were they there? What did they do to deserve this?

***

The Goat raised their axe and lodged it into Eris’ skull, the mushroom on her head flying away. They felt the spell go away as ground and sky took back their original place.

"Narinder? Heket? Where are you?

-We are fine, Goat, said the cat, massing his head."

Heket spun around for a few more seconds before the Goat took a better look at Eris: the few feather she had left flew away from her disheveled wings.

"How will I prove to your siblings I have slain her?

-Leshy, Kallamar and Shamura would trust their little sister with their lives, précised Narinder, slightly sour, there will be no problem on that side.

-No, this is not enough… Ah, let met get one of these!"

The Goat grabbed a flying feather and crushed it into their closed hooves. Narinder and Heket expected no more than dust once they opened them back, but were surprised to find instead a rope and a pearl attached to it

"Here we go! A brand new relic for me!

-How did you even-

-Kallamar taught me, cut the Goat. He had to find a plan to lock Shamura away, and that involved divine materials.

-We knew that already, signed Heket, sighing. However, I thought only the power of at least two Major Crowns could turn divine material into a relic…

-Nonsense, only one is enough! Did the Lamb never do that?

-No, they always called Chemach to do so; had they known, we would have been spared much trouble in the past…"

As they walked back to the Cult, Narinder explained how the Lamb had to resort to the bluebird’s help to make a relic out of the Mushroom; the situation had been so desperate Sozonius’ life had to be put on the line.

"Oh, I ignored the Mushroom was an entity in itself… You see, back home, the master of the spore grotto is another ant, what was their name, again…? Laplace."

Narinder turned his head, eyes wide, while Heket simply shrugged as she looked at him: at that point, what was even normal anymore?

But she knew why Laplace in particular shocked him. He was the first God he and Kallamar ever slayed as siblings.

***

The new Bishops of Death and Pestilence were walking outside the temple of the God of magnetism: the Red Crown was only starting to attune with its young bearer, but proved itself, as ironically as it could be, to be deadly in his hands.

Speaking of the bearer, Narinder was holding his new scythe, a gift from the blacksmith of Fate, brother of the cartomancer. Kallamar did not know exactly why he insisted upon giving him the weapon, but Narinder had seemed to accept after one of the mysterious sayings the birds of Fate were known for:

"You already took a life with those claws of yours. One of such grandeur, such heart, it is now enough for them."

The squid had yet to decipher the words. Perhaps he had spoken of the previous bearer of the Red Crown? Nevertheless, Narinder had shivered at the sentence, and had humbly accepted the scythe.

They were about to reach Silk Cradle when the cat slowed in his tracks, his face somber.

"What is it, Narinder?

-Brother, I must admit something…"

Kallamar stopped in his tracks and turned around: Narinder often did not dare to walk at the same level as his siblings.

"When I guided Laplace to his last repose, he told me the dice whispered our Fate. That it was drawn in blood, and that I was doomed to betray you…"

Kallamar raised an eyebrow, no hint of his usual worry on his face:

"Well, do you believe his ridiculous predictions?

-I… do not know.

-Only a weak God lets himself get played by his adversaries. Are you weak, Narinder?

-No, of course not!"

The older brother nodded:

"It is settled then. No betrayal shall come upon our way."

***

 "Narinder?"

The Goat stared at the siblings, concerned. The toad shook her head, silently injecting them to go forwards

"We should do that more often, murmured Narinder, slaying Old Gods.

-If you wish to be torn into pieces, be my guest, signed his sister, rolling her eyes."

They barely had the time to reach the Cult that the earth burst open, revealing Leshy, the young Eris glued to his neck:

"Ah, you did it, Goat! I knew I could trust you. No, in fact I did not, he added after a second of reflection. Pah! No matter. Eris, say thank you to the Goat."

The caterpillar buried her head in Leshy’s back, as silent as a tomb.

"My, We are making progress; you did not even weep! This is something we have to tell Andre…"

Without any more ceremony, the worm dug back into the Earth, leaving the Goat slightly disoriented.

"Does your version of Leshy not act like this? Inquired Narinder.

-He is way angrier and remorseful, just like you seem to be Lady Heket…"

The toad did not react further: there would have been a time where she would have fought the Goat over this, but it was now behind her, which the rest of the Cult was thankful for.

"Well, Goat, said Narinder, stretching his arms, if you do not have use of us anymore, I ask to be freed from duty. I am curious to see what my sister will cook tonight.

-As if I would do anything after what we have been through!"

Narinder took a false air of offense as both siblings left the Goat, alone with their thoughts.

Seeing them Five like this meant that perhaps, back home, there was hope for their Shamura to mend things with their siblings…

Chapter Text

The Lamb did not dare to move. Pana was advancing slowly, but it was only a matter of time before she cut them both into pieces. Deeply inhaling and trying to ignore the pain in their wing, the Owl took the Lamb between their claws and flew away, on an abandoned but sturdy web lodged between two stalagmites.

“Lamb! Lamb, can you hear me?”

The Lamb’s lips were trembling, and when the Owl put a wing on their shoulders, they broke down in tears.

“Pana… she looks like, like…”

They did not manage to finish their sentence, and only found the strength to hiccup as the Owl vainly tried to soothe them with their valid wing.

“I understand, Lamb. Believe me…”

Without a warning, the Lamb pulled the Owl into a tight hug, their sobs seeming to calm down after long, agonizing minutes during which the Owl could not help but fear heretics might find them. The bearer of the Red Crown sniffled before looking around, realizing where they were.

“How…

-My wings have known worse… Come on now, let’-“

The web was not as sturdy as the Owl thought; in a violent crack, it broke down, leaving the Lamb fall to their demise, if it weren’t for the other Crown Bearer’s claws.

“Are you alright? They can be pretty sharp…

-Believe me, there is worse than you, smiled the Lamb, eyes red.”

Both finally reached the ground, where, fortunately, no arachnids nor reptilian waited for them. The Lamb dusted their fleece while looking around:

“Strange, despite being in another reality, Silk Cradle looks all too familiar…

-I think some familiarity will not be too much for you, Lamb, smiled the Owl. Wait…”

They clenched the Lamb’s shoulders, eyes illuminated:

“If this is the same Silk Cradle, you must know how to access the Temple!

-Of course! Why did we not think of it sooner?”

The duo had not noticed how loud they were before a bestial screech made its way into their ears. This time whispering, the Lamb continued:

“Follow me.”

They crouched behind the stalagmites and, soon enough, reached the entrance of the temple, guarded by none other than… the axolotl of the Lighthouse, horribly deformed by the power given by the Bishop.

“Lamb, whispered the Owl, you do not seem as confident anymore, is everything alright?”

The sea creature did not wait to rush towards the duo, his four legs galloping on the paved floor of the Temple. Both easily avoided them, but he did not wait to come back to the charge, this time fireballs surrounding his whole body.

“If you had told me one day I’d fight him…

-Lamb, watch out!”

The Owl glided in front of the Lamb, taking a fireball in their place. The flames died quickly on their feathers, but the Axolotl did not lose focus: pushing the bearer of the Origami Crown aside, he swiped the Lamb off of their feet with a quick slash of his tail. The Lamb barely had the time to stand back up that they saw the Owl in a critical position, ready to act as dinner for their foe. They closed their eyes and, rubbing their hooves together, let a bright flame fly above their head.

Hypnotized by the ball of fire, the Lighthouse keeper stood there, as still as stone. Seizing the moment, the Owl’s spear cleanly traversed his skull, leaving right at its side a few moments later a frail and intimidated silhouette.

“We will deal with you back at the Cult, said the Owl as they opened what the Lamb recognized as a Follower’s portal. Lamb, are you alright?”

With great effort, the bearer of the Red Crown threw the flame away, letting it die out near a column.

“I did not even know I could do that… Usually, the flames go towards whoever heretic is nearest…

-I can’t even master spells yet, said the Owl in a weak voice. The One Who Waits had refused to gift me The curse of Turua until I beat Bop!

-Wait… Turua you say?”

The Lamb clapped their hooves and tentacles started to surround the Owl. They called them back just as quickly:

“Does you spell look like this as well?

-Yes, but I thought… oh, it must not be important…”

The Lamb and the Owl looked at the Seal blocking the center of Shrumy’s temple: the next time they would come here, it would be to break Ratau’s final chain.

***

As the duo arrived at the Cult of the Owl, they found themselves surrounded by praying and dancing Followers, certainly to aid them however they could. Once the Owl blessed a few of them, the crowd scattered and all went back to their regular activities.

“Thank you, Lamb! Without you, I don’t know how I would have managed to beat the axolotl…

-Oh please, you did practically everything. Speaking of which…”

The Lamb looked at the minor pentagram, where the now ex-heretic was sitting, praying for mercy.

“What is your name, axolotl? Inquired the Owl, trying to be intimidating, in vain: their head buried in their shoulders conveyed everything but the regal of a Cult Leader.

-Me? Lord Shrumy does not give us names, blessed Owl.

-How about… Candela? Intervened the Lamb. Shamura once told me of a God of Light they had slain with this name.

-Do you like the name, axolotl?

-Yes! Oh, thank you, praise the Lamb! Praise the Owl!”

With the power of their Crown, the Owl draped Candela in a white tunic, and silently indicated the altar to pray. Once he was gone, the Owl sighed:

“Pana…

-I know, said the Lamb, trying to ignore the growing pit in their stomach. The quicker you accept it, the easier it will be.

-Was everything so hard for you? Tell me, is it really worth the trouble?

-It is still hard for me, I suppose, although things got easier once the Bishops were gone. As for your second question, I cannot answer it; for me, it was, but for you? You have yet to discover it. But if it was all in vain, you would not be here today, Owl, would you?”

They rubbed their injured wing:

“I guess you’re right…”

Chapter Text

“Kephomite… Kephomite…”

The Goat was going through the now numerous books of the library in search of anything regarding the pouch the Lamb left them, in vain.

“Hem, excuse me? Called an old, kind voice, could you put the books on the tray once you are done with them instead of on the floor? It would- oh.”

Sozonius stared at the Goat, slightly shorter than him despite his slouching. He picked up the books before leaving.

“Sozo, wait!”

The ant froze in place:

“No one had called me that since a long time. Or called him that? It is rather ambiguous…

-Ah, my apologies, ant, you are simply called that way back… in my reality.”

The Goat explained how they met the Lamb in Purgatory, and was now temporarily in charge of a cult other than theirs. They, of course, avoided to mention Shamura was the heretic Bishop back home, and had the same kind of relationship the Lamb had with Narinder.

“This is fascinating, admitted Sozonius. I wonder if the kinds of fungi are the same than in our reality… I am not sure I really wish to know if that Mushroom exists though, he added, a little sour.”

Judging by the Goat rubbing their neck, Sozonius concluded it must have been the case. By the Lamb, was a poor soul doomed to his fate in every reality? He shook the thought away.

“Are you searching for something in particular, rummaging through the library like a wild heretic?

-Indeed, my insectoid friend! Have you heard of a being called the Kephomite? It seems none of the Bishops ever faced them…

-Mmh… Perhaps Shamura did though, mumbled Sozonius. But they do have a lot of memory issues, you know? Oh, but…”

Sozonius’ eyes lit up, and ran as fast as he could to a small building adjoint to the library, a rather recent addition if the Goat had to guess. Soon enough, the ant came back with scrolls so ancient it felt as if they would turn to dust at any moment. Carefully, heà unrolled one of them:

“Shamura… they recorded each fight they ever had. Every God they faced has their name marked forever. That is, until one of these scrolls falls into the jaws of moths or other creatures…”

The Goat examined the first lines:

CANDELA

Or THE OLD LIGHT

She claimed herself the guardian of the Sun. Lies, of course: Lord Helios was the true master, and she was merely his servant. But I would need more power to vanquish him. Waiting for that day, I defied Candela to a duel; a duel to the Death. Although I have never seen him, the God of the End must certainly loathe me for giving them the harsh work of guiding numerous Deities to their realm. Oh well, if my memory is exact, Death is the Red Crown, and I shall find them soon enough.

I allowed myself this tangent, for the simple reason the fight against the Old Light had been ridiculously easy: her beams of light were deadly, but not as much as my claws; her head quite literally fell into them, stained once again by the black blood of Gods as Helios now had to face his divine task alone.

“Did you find anything? Inquired Sozonius.

-There is something I do not understand though, wondered the Goat out loud. If they beat Helios, who became the next God of the Sun? Correct me if I am wrong, but our dear star is still bright in the sky!

-Ah, that is but the work of the God of Death. Did you not notice how Chaos, Famine, Pestilence, and War are now under the Lamb’s control? How Death is probably under your command as of now?

-Are the Lamb and I… simply the Gods of everything in our respective realities?

-That is our hypothesis, Shammy and I. Every single aspect of these Lands are modeled after these Five Crowns; too much Sun makes plants wither, so it belongs to Famine.

-It can’t be that easy…

- Sometimes things are easier than what we think. The Lamb wanted to live, and they simply… did!”

The Goat seemed to humor the thought for a moment.

“Let us come back to the Kephomite, shall we? They must be linked to one of the Major Crowns, if they exist! I need to ask the Owl about this…”

Sozonius started to stroke his beard, lost in thought. The Goat noticed it after a few moment inside their head themselves:

“What is it, doctor?

-There is the Lamb, you, and the Owl. What if… there were others? For example, a universe where Leshy or Heket are the instigator behind the Old Faith? One where I… I-

-Where you never touched it, is that what you mean, doctor Sozonius? Believe me, even if this is the only reality where you fell under the Mushroom’s influence, lingering on it is not good. I may not know your story, but I know Shamura’s, they said, pointing at their Crown. And if there is hope for them, there is certainly hope for you to one day accept what happened.”

The ant stayed silent, avoiding the Goat’s gaze. It must still be a sensitive topic for him, thought the bearer of the Purple Crown, especially considering he was now mortal, and had little time left to make peace with his past. They did not add anything.

“Regardless, continued the doctor, if none of them know about the Kephomite, then it can only mean one thing…”

The Goat and Sozonius concluded at the same time:

“We need to add another Crown Bearer in the equation!”

Chapter Text

“Leader! Pana is gone!”

"Leader, Pana went through a portal and disappeared. Did you do that?”

“Hem…”

Surrounded by their demanding Followers, the Owl started hyperventilating again, and the Lamb could not bring themselves to answer. Pana was gone, the first one of their kind they have seen since a very long time…

The Owl flew at the top of the white temple before speaking:

"Siblings of the true Faith! We, uh… Bishop Shrumy took Pana from us. But rest assured, my vengeance will be terrible!"

At first shocked, the crowd then collectively raised their fist, chanting for their Leader:

"Justice! Justice for Pana! Praise the Owl!"

Without another word, the bearer of the Origami Crown descended from the belfry and secluded themselves in the temple, closely followed by the Lamb.

"Owl?"

They were at the altar, shaking from every limb.

“Pana…

-I know, said the Lamb, sitting at the end of the stairs. Believe me, I know.

-You seem to have lived it all, didn’t you, Lamb? In a way, I wish I had your experience…

-My experience without the suffering coming along with it, I suppose.”

There was no judgment in their voice, which allowed the Owl to nod.

“Lamb, how long have you been the vessel of the Red Crown? Did Narinder not take back what was rightfully his?

-…Shrumy told you what will happen when you free the One Who Waits, right?

-Sometimes I do want to be free of this burden, and join back my family in the afterlife…. Is that so selfish?

-Of course not. I just thought... well, let’s just say, I found another family within my Cult. I was sure you felt that way when you cried Pana…”

With a gentle hoof on their shoulder, the Lamb gave the Owl an empathetic smile before leaving.

***

Why them? Why were They alone in that white void? From afar, They could hear the rattling of chains, but much more scarce than before. Why weren’t They shackled? Probably because They could not leave anyways. They prepared themselves to close Their eyes when four silhouettes came forwards:

"Another Crown Bearer. Although, I doubt this one would be after us. What do thou think, sister?"

The tallest one, a purple pseudoscorpion, seemed to consider Them, her neck tilted at their eye level.

"They have Beburos’ face. They could effectively be a dangerous foe to avenge our unjust deaths.

-Little one, said the one who remarked them first, a lady crow with three eyes, the two not on her forehead sewn close ,do thou accept a partnership to leave this wretched place?

-All we need in exchange is the head of someone. A Lamb, to be exact.

-And if the Bishops of the Old Faith could pay too, it would be nice, murmured a grey donkey.

-At least spare Heket!

-SILENCE! Hollered the pseudoscorpion. Little one, accept our offer, and thou shall be free."

They considered the option for a moment. Then, in lieu of a hand, they shook the Goddess’ claw with Their tail.

***

The Sun was rising upon the Cult of the Owl. Its Followers had kindly made a moss bed for the Lamb, and they were now, more than ever, ready to face Shrumy (Although, hearing the name of an old friend as the Bishop of War in this world was quite strange).

"Ready, Lamb?"

The Owl’s voice nearly made them jump out of their bed. Their Crown morphed into the now familiar spear, they looked more ready than the Lamb had ever seen them.

"Let’s avenge Pana", they firmly assured, taking the wing the Owl was holding in the air.

***

"Why did you need us, Goat? Said Eligos, staring at Heket, visibly unhappy to be woken up in the dead of the night.

-I found the answer, Lady Heket! About the Kephomite."

The ex-Bishops of the Old Faith raised their eyebrows as one. Even Leshy’s consternation could be guessed from under his bandage.

"And? Said the worm. We managed to get Eris to sleep, and it is a miracle she did not wake up upon hearing the creaking of Andre’s door!

-Of course Leshy, hem… Regardless! My dear Shamura, were you aware of different realities before?

-…Forgot…

-Urgh, all of this is useless, complained Kallamar, yawning. Booyabess and Astaroth will have to look after the egg tomorrow, and I hoped to-

-We get it, Kallamar, grumbled Narinder, slapping a paw on his mouth. Regardless, although it could indeed help the Lamb put Midas in place, the matter is not exactly urgent.

-This is where you are wrong, Narinder! If the pouch of the Kephomite somehow managed to end up in your reality, it can only mean one thing…

-Crown Bearer… needs us, completed Shamura, now more awake than ever.

-Exactly. We need to see if another God has been freed from their chains and if not, help the Bearer so they can help us with the Kephomite in return!

-That makes sense, remarked Kallamar. But don’t you think this could have waited for tomorrow?!

-Not so loud, you are going to wake Eris! Screeched Leshy. But going back to the point; Goat, the Lamb found you and the Owl (was it an Owl?) by sheer dumb luck; how can you be so sure we will find the Bearer in-

-Ouroboros. The snake eating itself.

-Shamura, what are you talking about?"

The eldest was now looking in the vague, seemingly terrified by what they were seeing. They pointed at the Goat.

-Four becomes Five. Balance broken once, balance broken twice. First time is for Space, second one for Time.

They grow tired

EXHAUSTED

Just as corruption called the Lamb, Tiredness shall call the Goat. Four corners you have blocked yourself in."

The spider blinked a few times before falling to their knees. Heket and Kallamar caught their head just in time, a few centimeters above the floor.

"I shall…meditate your sayings, Shamura; but for now, I suppose Kallamar is right, and it is better for you five to go back to bed…"

As the siblings left, the Goat wrote down what they could remember from the eldest’s sayings: fortunately, they were used to the enigmatic sermons; after all, this was how they had found the Lamb.

Chapter Text

“He of Havoc, He of hunger. He of Blight and He of Might. Five becomes… nothing. Come and meet your Fate, Lamb and Owl.”

The bearer of the Red Crown witnessed once again the transformation from Bishop to eldritch horror ready to end their lives, at the cost of their clarity of mind (not that Shrumy had it in the first place, with the injury attributed to Shamura back in the Lamb's reality).

“Owl, remember, he is War, which means…”

They did not get the time to finish: the gigantic turtle with now six black eyes rushed towards them, his steps so violent it kept breaking the tiled floor of the Temple. The Lamb pushed the Owl with their shoulder, sparring Shrumy’s attack with their sword.

“…he will not leave us.

-I have the advantage, exclaimed the Owl, flying away from the attack.”

They quickly swallowed their words as smaller turtles started to fall from the ceiling. Barely avoiding them, they threw their spear at the Bishop, hitting them right in their head. In an ear-piercing roar, Shrumy turned his head towards his aggressor and, raising his neck, closed his jaws on where the Owl was flying a second ago.

“Keep distracting him, yelled the Lamb as they readied a spell in their hooves.

-Not that I really have a choice!”

More turtles came from the ceiling. The Owl called back their spear and started to slaughter them mid-air, allowing the Lamb to only have to deal with the Bishop.

The Lamb’s eyes went red, and rows of tentacles pierced the earth, lacerating Shrumy’s legs and immobilizing him. The Owl did not wait: they dashed towards his head and effectively traversed his skull clean.

The turtle fell on the ground, his flesh decaying at an unnatural rate until all was left was a palpitating heart on a pile of rotten tissue.

The duo was breathing heavily. They sat on the floor for a few moments before the Owl spoke again:

“Ratau is waiting for me. Stay here, Lamb.”

They grabbed the heart (not without a slight expression of disgust on their face), and walked through the now broken seal.

***

“Shrumy was weak, not wise. His vision was too small to contain the multitudes of one such as I. The time has come to free me. You shall have the honor of returning the Origami Crown to its true bearer. I admit, although reluctantly, that you have worn it almost as well as myself.

Your appetite for death is something I can admire, Vessel. But the Crown is mine, and none - NONE - are worthy. None other than I. You shall lay down your life and return to me what is mine. After millennia, all may bask in my glory once more. But it cannot be done here. The final gate awaits. Hurry now, the time is at hand."

***

“Leader, is everything alright?”

The Owl had stayed silent for hours now. They were sitting on the bench near the Temple, fidgeting with a loose brown feather. The Lamb, who had to travel back through Silk Cradle by foot, finally arrived and immediately understood.

“He is asking you to return the Crown, isn’t he?”

The Owl silently nodded, tears starting to form in their eyes.

“Lamb, they began, voice trembling, what did you do when you had to make the choice? Shrumy… he asked me what I did all of this for; and today, I doubt it is for Ratau.

-It is a deeply personal choice, I am sure some other Crown bearers accepted or will accept to lay off their lives. But me? I refused. I refused for my flock, I refused because I knew Narinder would make my Followers them join me, had I submitted to him. Many Gods will tell you your Followers give you strength, and this is true; but not in the way you think…

-But Ratau…

-You defeated Four Gods, Owl, the Four Gods that managed to stop your Lord. Ratau will be a piece of cake!

-I just... need some time…

-Of course.”

The Lamb stood back up as the Sun was starting to set. Laying down in their mossy couch, they wondered with a grimace if Ratau would end up having the same relationship with the Owl as they did with Narinder.

***

“Very well, my acquaintances of the Old Faith! Who is ready for a little trip to Purgatory?

-Why are we doing all of this again? Asked Kallamar to Heket (he had tried to whisper, only to fail miserably and yell so loud his voice echoed within the Temple).

-To find the Kephomite and put an end to Midas’ reign of terror! He is still somehow stealing gold from me every time I go on crusades…

-It is true we need to strengthen our position…

-Though, could Leshy really not give Eris to Andre today? Inquired Narinder, pointing at the caterpillar lodged in a piece of fabric attached on his youngest brother's shoulder.

-Nonsense brother! It will be good enrichment for her!

-Even we know you should not bring a child to Purgatory, signed Heket, pinching her nose bridge.

-I am not leaving without her! She had a rough night and needs her…”

Leshy did not need eyes to know everyone was staring at him as he came to the dauting realization.

“Excuse me for a moment...”

And without a word, Leshy walked out of the Temple.

“Leshy...

-Leave it to me, Goat, cut Narinder”

***

“Now, what is wrong, Leshy the dad?

-Do not call me that.”

The worm was sitting on the ground, as usual when he was upset. Narinder stood still, looking at Eris who had fallen asleep.

“Why does it upset you so much?

-Get lost, Narinder, you would not understand!”

The brothers stayed silent for a moment. Finally, Leshy heard Narinder leaving him alone with Eris.

“Oh, you poor thing… mumbled the worm, to have me as a, a…

-A what, my dear?”

He recognized Andre’s voice: Narinder had brought him, and, after a second of reflection, decided to leave the couple alone. Andre sat down:

“You know, I think you made a great dad so far!

-Pah! Empty flattery was how mortals tried to gain my favors, I can recognize it, Andre.

-I do mean it though, said the yellow cat, gently patting the caterpillar’s head. I think some of Shamura’s principles rubbed off of you!”

Faced with Leshy’s silence, Andre continued:

“We both know your past, Leshy. But if anything, it gives us the opportunity to start over, with knowledge no one else except us had the privilege to have!

-What kind of G… what kind of parent would I be if I am constantly scared? It is senseless.

-Oh, and does the great Leshy think I am completely serene about all of this?

-Of course! You are the most stable and capable person I know! And do not expect those compliments more often, added the worm.”

The yellow cat chuckled:

“Oh, Leshy, of course I am scared! But what kind of parent wouldn’t be? Now, I must admit I have my doubts about sending her to Purgatory, but if she is with you, then I have no worries.”

Once again, Andre and Leshy sat in silence, with only birds as company.

Andre had called himself a parent… did he really see himself as such? If he was able to, surely Leshy could…

After a moment, the worm sighed before standing up.

“Andre, guide me back to the Temple. Eris and I have a Kephomite to find!”

Chapter Text

“Lamb, Lamb!”

The Owl was running towards the bearer of the Red Crown, the red triangle on their Crown shining more than ever.

"This is the moment. I feel it in my bones."

The Lamb nodded and, without a word, stood up and accompanied the Owl to the now broken seal standing in front of Purgatory. They entered into a dark corridor, filled with more or less broken statues of Ratau, in all his glory. Finally, they reached for a slightly lighter chamber with a pool at its middle, a pentagram inside of it. The Lamb and the Owl approached the middle and, closing their eyes, called the Owl’s Followers. The last thing the Lamb saw was the circle of dancing mortals before getting absorbed into a beam of light.

***

And once again, the Lamb walked towards the One Who Waits. Once again, they heard the same words, and again, the Lamb saw themselves, only this time through the Owl, having to make the daunting choice of having to die or live and fight the consequences.

"Vessel, I relinquish you from your service to the Origami Crown. Return it to me, and embrace the end that awaits. With this last sacrifice of my most devoted Follower, I will be freed. Finally... I will be FREE! Approach, vessel, and lay your life down at my feet."

The Owl did not look at the Lamb when they approached Ratau’s feet, clenching the Crown in their wings. How long did they think of it? Perhaps not too long, as the One Who Waits understood they needed time.

The Lamb knew they would have given up their Divine status and laid down their life if it were not for the raspy voice hollering in the distance:

"THERE THEY ARE!

-No…"

A purple pseudoscorpion dashed towards the Lamb, who barely avoided her attack.

Maybe I can beat her alone”, thought the Lamb, but that thought quickly vanished as Khnoum, Seetla and Alkonost (as well as a… Serpent?) slowly approached.

“Lamb! Exclaimed Khnoum. Let us leave this wretched place. If not to take back our status, at least to experience the delights of Life once again!

-You have to let go, you four!

-What in my name is going on? Snapped Ratau.”

For all answer, Tursas cut the rat’s last chains as if it were spider silk. The Serpent, as well as all four previous Crown bearers ran to the Lamb, fangs and claws out.

This is it, thought the Lamb. They were going to die, and spend eternity in Purgatory; what Narinder had wished for him during that final fight. They closed their eyes, and hoped it would be quick…

***

“Lamb! Help me!”

When they opened their eyes back, they found themselves in an orb of translucent paper, the Owl by their side, desperately trying to maintain it. Not waiting, the Lamb morphed the Red Crown into the same protection while Tursas tried in vain to break it:

“You did it! You used a spell!

-Let’s celebrate this later, shall we? We are two against five, potentially six. There is rationally no way we can get out of this.

-And how about eight against six?

-Goat!”

The bearer of the Purple Crown raised their hatchet, the Five ex Bishops of the Old Faith by their side. Did Leshy bring a baby caterpillar as well?

"Ha! Pathetic, chuckled Seetla. Do thou really think you can defeat us? We are Gods!

-They did do it though, whispered Khnoum.

-But now we have a Crown Bearer by our side! Behold, so called Bishops, the bearer of the Crown of Nine Lives in their own reality, the Serpent!

The concerned advanced towards the Goat’s group, slithering between each Bishop with disdain. They stopped at Narinder, their eyes wide:

-You? But I thought…

-Realities only converge in Death, Serpent.

-No matter, Narinder, that Lamb here shall learn what my Wrath means!"

They turned in a second and plunged their fangs in the Owl’s protection, effectively breaking it. Not waiting for any signal, the ex-Bishops directed claw and weapons at their back, only to be stopped by Alkonost’s winds: forming a circle around the three Crown Bearers, there was no way around it.

“It now unfolds between the three of them, said the Goat, clenching their hatchet.”

***

Time seemed to have stopped within the circle the group formed around the Owl, the Lamb and the Serpent. Not that they were not fighting between each other with all their might, as the Crown Bearers could still hear the clinking of metal and feel the fire of spells while the confronted each other. But deep down, the Lamb was confident their friends and lover could get out of this victorious, especially in Purgatory.

Finally, it was the Serpent who spoke:

“We meet at last, Lamb.

-Who are you?

-Ah! You do not know of me, but Lady Tursas told me about you. An uncaring, cold individual, willing to do anything to reign as sole God of their lands.

-Lies, Serpent, hissed the Owl. The Lamb is kinder and more forgiving than you will ever be!”

They morphed the origami Crown into their spear as the Serpent swept them under their claws. Without waiting, the Lamb stabbed the green scales, drawing blood.

-I ignore what Tursas told you, but she is a usurper, yet another God that fell to the hands of the Bishops. Surely you must know about such story; it repeated itself with the Goat and the Owl.

The Serpent clenched the Lamb’s legs with their tail:

“It had been decades, perhaps centuries, since I do not have a world anymore. It has been destroyed by the battle between She Who Waits and I, and here I lied in this cruel void until Four generous souls came to my aid.

-And we are sorry for that.”

It was the Owl who spoke. They dropped their spear, their eyes looking at the ground in shame.

-We.. I should have been quicker. You have suffered the same fate as us, have you not? Had we known…

They fell to their knees:

“I truly am incapable, aren’t I…”

Chapter Text

The bearer of the Crown of Nine Lives approached their head to the Owl’s.

“Worry not, feathered comrade. I am only here for the Lamb.

-Why? Managed to articulate the Owl through their knotted throat

-It is merely a debt for what we have done for them”

It was Seetla who had spoken next. The Lamb couldn’t repress a gasp as they saw Narinder on the ground, blood staining the white clouds around him; only the soft breathing indicated he was still alive. The Lamb looked up, and chose their words carefully:

“And what exactly did you do?

-They freed me! Exclaimed the Serpent. They promised me another reality, one that would not get destroyed like mine!

-Really? And how exactly did you intend to do so, Seetla?”

The Donkey bit her lip, as silent as a tomb, while the Serpent slowly turned their head around, eyes more aggressive each second passing. Finally, it was Tursas who interevened, freed from the old Bishops’ grip:

“Wh…Why, with thy sacrifice, Lamb! A God as strong as thee shall surely lead us out of Purgatory!

-Wait, began the Serpent. This was not how you explained it to me! You said you would free me!

-And this is what we are going to do, reassured Khnoum, coming from behind and holding Heket in his giant claw. But everything alas, has a cost.

-… You Four are here for a reason, aren’t you? Where is the Fifth ancient bearer?"

Seetla, Khnoum and Tursas stayed silent. Even Leshy, Kallamar, Shamura and the Goat stopped their battle with Ratau and Alkonost.

“ANSWER!”

The word echoed throughout Purgatory, forcing everyone to stop their fight. Heket seized the opportunity to free herself from Khnoum’s grip. After minutes, perhaps hours of silence, Tursas opened her mouth:

“If thou are not with us, Serpent, thou are against us. This is my final warning.

-Warning heeded”

The Owl could not help but admire their bravery as they morphed the Crown of Nine Lives into a hammer they held between their fangs.

It all happened in a second: The Serpent jumped in the air, crashing their hammer into Tursas’ skull, while The Lamb, the Goat and the Owl each took on Seetla, Khnoum and Alkonost. As for the old Bishops, they all joined together to prevent Ratau from intervening; even Eris hit the rat with her little fists.

"When will you make peace with the fact you are dead? Yelled the Lamb.

-When thou will! We know thou were supposed to perish as well!" Hissed Alkonost as Khnoum fell to the Owl’s spear.

The Lamb jumped high in the air and plunged their sword into Seetla’s chest, while the Goat ended the Bird of Misorder.

But instead of ending up as corpses, Four little silhouettes in threadbare robes appeared under the quartet’s eyes. Shamura turned around.

“Ending a God… Purgatory… come back…mortals.

-ENOUGH! Hollered Ratau. Vessel, you have long overstayed your welcome in the realm of the living. Lay down your life and…"

He did not get the time to finish his sentence: Eris, biting his ankle, dealt the final blow, forcing him to join the newfound mortals.

“Ha! I knew I was right to take her, exclaimed Leshy, hugging the caterpillar tighter.

-Ah, thou four have supplanted us, as the Lamb did with my beloved and her siblings, huffed Khnoum. Perhaps it is but the natural order of things for these Lands to remain Godless, if not for thee.

-What shall thou do? Asked Tursas. Be vengeful deities or merciful cowards?”

The Lamb stared at Narinder: despite a deep gash on his cheek, he nodded, as if to tell the Lamb the choice was theirs.

“Let us think about it, said the Serpent.”

They pulled the Goat, the Owl and the Lamb in a circle before whispering:

“What shall we do now?

-I say we slaughter them, casually said the Goat. They did try to kill the Lamb numerous times, after all.

-But so did the Bishops, remarked the Lamb. Do they not deserve a second chance as well?

-Maybe each of us could take one home? Proposed the Owl.

-I do not have a home anymore.

-You could come with me, I am sure it will be great, and…"

The Owl was slightly blushing, and turned their head away from the Serpent. The Goat and the Lamb exchanged knowing stares before the bearer of the Red Crown spoke again:

-Each of us takes one home, except for the Owl and the Serpent who will take two, as well as Ratau. Is that good?

-I suppose so…”

The Crown Bearers broke the circle before the Serpents cleared their throat:

“For your betrayal, you shall live. This is including you as well, ô One Who Waits.

-Ah, weakness. I see you vessels are all the same, with your-

The Owl opened a pentagram, swallowing Ratau, Alkonost and Khnoum. The Lamb and the Goat then banished Tursas and Seetla respectively. After a moment of silence, Kallamar approached the Lamb, trying to be discreet, in vain:

"Ahem, Lamb? The Goat brought us here, but I believe this is where you must part ways, with you back to our side…

-Eris needs to go home too, added Leshy, as the caterpillar was starting to cry."

The Goat and the Lamb stared at each other:

"This is not a true goodbye, is it, my wooly fellow?

-Of course not. If I need you, believe that I will call!

-Farewell then! My task is done, I took care of your Cult, and the One Who Waits is free. Goodbye, everyone!"

The Goat, not waiting, disappeared into a puddle of ichor. The Lamb glanced at the Bishops: as they had all guessed, fighting in Purgatory was a lot easier, and the siblings only had superficial wounds, except for Leshy who somehow managed to lay unscathed. They then turned to the Owl:

"Will you be fine without me?

- They have to, said the Serpent with a smile. I shall help them.

-Wait! Exclaimed Leshy. Serpent, do you happen to know of a being called the…

- Kephomite? I do. I found their archives, carved in stone, before my world was destroyed… It is said they were the last to fall by the hands of the Bishops.

-Which means they have no link to the Gods of opulence, signed Heket with a sigh.

-The what?”

The Lamb started to relate how they found the Goat in the first place, only to join the Owl in a quest ô so similar to theirs. Once they were done, the Serpent’s eyes were wide.

"What?

-We do not understand it fully either, said Narinder, but all you ought to know is that…

-We are here. You will never be alone again, smiled the Owl."

Chapter Text

The Serpent went back to the Owl’s reality, and was delighted to finally take care of a Cult after eons in the void. Even Ratau, Khnoum and Alkonost’ dissidence did not deter them; in fact, it was almost exciting. With time, the two Crown Bearers grew closer, and both wondered one night if a ring could be put on feathers or a tail.

The Goat came back to their reality, jumping in Shamura’s four arms as soon they saw them. They told the stories of Eris the God and Eris, daughter of a God, the Cult of the Lamb, and how Ancient Gods came at their throat, refusing to let go of their divine status. Their spouse nodded all along.

"I do not understand though, signed Leshy, who was mute in this reality. How can a dimension be destroyed? More so, how can a single person survive?

- For now, the mystery stays whole. But if I learned anything from all of this, it is that Crown Bearers are stronger than what I expected. Which means I can impose more work on you without you complaining!

-Oh come on!"

But the frowns soon turned into laughter as all celebrated their Leader’s return.

***

The Lamb’s group emerged from Purgatory, exhausted. Narinder looked particularly somber, and the Lamb quickly understood why:

"You would have liked to see him, did you not?

-Hmm."

Kallamar was the first to run to Booyabess and Astaroth, closely followed by an Andre worried sick about Leshy and Eris:

"By the Lamb, is she okay?

-Yes, I was with dad!"

Leshy could not exchange glances with his partner, but a tear of joy slowly started to leak out of his bandages.

Shamura searched for Sozonius, in vain.

“Looking for someone, my love?”

The ant had come from behind, smiling before getting caught in an embrace so strong it was a miracle none of his ribs broke. The Lamb’s heart was warming at the sight of the touching meetings when Allocer arrived at their side:

-Lamb, I think you should go see the egg. It hatched.

Of course! With all that had happened, they had completely forgotten about it. Did the Goat take care of it? The Witness seemed to have read their mind:

-The offspring is safe and sound. In fact, I think the Crown Bearer had a role in the… species the baby is.

Curious, the Lamb followed Allocer to the nursery before gasping, tears starting to form in their eyes.

As white as snow, sleeping in a small bed, laid a lamb.

THE END