Lethys glared defiantly at the new goddess, but she did not waver. She knew already that she was the most powerful entity on the island… and, from what he could gather from her mind, she was a smooth talker. She immediately shut her thoughts off, as if a steel wall had appeared between her mind and the rest of the world…

“I will be back, goddess…” Lethys spat at the ground beneath their feet.

Authenti slapped him. Hard.

“Don’t spit. It’s unbecoming to a god of high standards.”

“How dare you-“

She slapped him again.

“And do not think you’re clever. I feel like I am dealing with a schoolchild. Flee to your own lands, Lethys, and do not bother me again unless your manners have returned to you.” She narrowed her eyes, having taken on a humanoid form once more. Lethys took one last hateful glance at her face, and returned to his temple.

Khazar hesitated. He hated to think what would happen if he got on her bad side-

“Don’t worry, Khazar. Nothing you do will make me hate you. I’ve already decided you need my help more than I previously realised, and this alone makes me want to ally with you permanently.” She held out a hand.

Realising she’d read his mind, Khazar did his best not to show fear. He shook her hand firmly and excused himself. “I apologise, but I must rest. I am afraid the day has taken its toll on me.”

“Go ahead. Just try not to let your mind slip like that again – it was all to easy to read your thoughts, and I worry Lethys may try it.”

Khazar left her swiftly and entered his temple. She watched him go, then turned to observe Lethys’ lands from the border of Khazar’s influence. Good; she could tell from here that the god was terrible at capturing villages. She returned to her own village, took the next village over with her signature lightning technique, and celebrated with them long into the night.

Morning. Authenti watched the sun rise, humming a desolate-sounding tune to herself. She still couldn’t believe how much she wanted to aid Khazar. She never felt this way to others, especially other gods. Speaking of other gods, was she the only female in Eden? It really seemed that way. It could possibly explain the way that all the gods reacted to her existence, anyway. Everyone gave her weird looks. Ah, well – that was just how she liked it. Being an ordinary god, or even an ordinary person, was well beyond her idea of fun.

She grinned as she realised how much her thoughts sounded like she was a flirt. She shook her head and drifted back over the sea towards land. She ended up by Khazar’s villages, and what she saw there disgusted her.

“Lethys! Get away from there!” she snarled, her symbol shining brightly in anger. Lethys saw her and tried to hide his fear, but she cast lightning directly at him and he fled immediately.

Khazar appeared behind her, sighing tiredly. “It’s the same every day… I wonder how long I will be able to resist.”

“Don’t say that,” Authenti snapped. “Thinking that way is one step short of genuinely believing you aren’t going to last long. Now tell me; how long, exactly, have you been here?”

Khazar withdrew a little at this somehow personal question. “I – I don’t recall…”

“I’m guessing longer than I’ve been in existence.”

“Much longer, I’m afraid…”

“And you survived this long? Clearly that means you’re good for something. Now busy yourself with your villages, and I’ll deal with that fool Lethys.”

Khazar was worried – naturally. If Lethys called Nemesis for help… or even if the goddess took on more than she could manage without Nemesis showing up…

“Again. You need to work harder at keeping your thoughts to yourself.” With that, the goddess tossed her hair behind her and set off for Lethys’ temple.

“Be careful,” Khazar whispered into the breeze. He wondered if he’d offended her – but she hadn’t looked remotely put out. She even looked slightly amused by his worrying – maybe she would be easier to understand if he spent some time… well, not thinking about her.