The Beginning

Selena stared at Gawain for a long time, as if trying to see through this "Outworld Wanderer" from an unknown realm, wrapped in a human shell.

But she could see nothing through him.

Because she was merely a visual illusion projected here after Gawain had voluntarily opened part of his surface consciousness. She could only see what Gawain wanted her to see and hear what he wanted her to hear, just like the Sleeper Cult's current predicament:

They had no choice and were at another's mercy. Even if they spoke of "terms" now, it could do little more than express an attitude.

The Outworld Wanderer had promised that he would not walk the path of the gods in the future, and promised that if he ever broke faith, the alliance would be void. Yet Selena herself knew that no one could bear witness to such a verbal promise—not humans, nor gods.

All she and her compatriots could trust was the Outworld Wanderer's personal reputation.

Gawain did not know exactly what Selena was thinking, but he could roughly guess. After a somewhat oppressive moment of silence, he shook his head. "You don't need to be so wary of me. You're all far too tense. I may come from a place you don't understand, from a race you don't understand, but on this journey, I am merely an ordinary traveler.

"I wish to cooperate with you because I believe the Upper Narrator is a threat, and your Sleeper Cult... is still worth lending a hand to, more or less.

"So relax. Treat this as cooperation between people, and you'll feel much less tense."

At that point, he deliberately paused for a moment before adding as if casually, "Besides, you came to see me in person today. Other than delivering this message, you