And as soon as she turned her back on you, you felt a cold, familiar chill start to wash over you. The shadows in the room lengthened, and everyone's voices were reduced to barely noticeable background noise. You knew this feeling well. And if Mercy’s trembling was anything to go by, so did she.

“Fine words, my Hunter's Moon. You grow more eloquent by the day.”

His voice was verbose and soothing. His words, though brief, reverberated with your very soul.

You slowly glanced up, and the sight of a long, ivory beak pointed down at you was almost too much. He appeared in many forms, but this one was your favorite.

His skull, hands and ribs were the only parts of him that were visible. The rest was wreathed in radiant light. The light flowed off of him, and if you looked closely enough, you'd find that Khonshu was quite literally robed within that light. They shone off of him like gentle moonbeams.

He was back! He really came back! You were so worried that he-

“I have been watching over you, my child. My chest swells with pride at the sight of your growth.”

You bowed your head, your heart practically overflowing as the weight of his words sank in.

“You honor me, Great Protector.” you said.

The sound of creaking bones told you that Khonshu was in the process of turning his head.

“And I hear that you and Mercy have formed a pact.” he observed. “Mm. This pleases me. I suspect that the two of you will have much to learn from the other.”

There was another, briefer creaking sound. A nod, you thought.

Mercy was practically quivering from being acknowledged by him. It was starting to feel a little ticklish, but you tried your best to refrain from squirming.

“I shall raise and protect her like my own, Lord Khonshu.”

“I am sure you will.” he assured you. “I shudder to imagine the terrible things you might accomplish through your combined strength.”

“Hopefully not too terrible…” you muttered, earning you an unpleasant squeeze from Mercy. “Cut that out.”

“Your tolerance for pain is baffling, child. Do you truly feel nothing?” she asked, sounding both exasperated and concerned at the same time.

“Of course I can still feel things. My pain-sense is just a little dull.” you replied. A frown formed on your face as soon as you registered what she just did. “Were you just trying to hurt me?”

“Unsuccessfully, it would seem. ‘A little dull’. Ha!” she scoffed, muttering that last part under her breath.

“The time for bickering has passed,” Khonshu intervened. “And the time for monumental opportunity has arrived.”

The two of you stiffened, and immediately gave the moon god your full attention. When he was sure that he had it, he moved on.

“This land reeks with the stench of death. It is an undeniable, cloying thing. And it threatens to swallow this entire city whole.”

(Cont.)