The fire made the shadows of the two beside the fire basin sway. The nun lowered her head, her silver blindfold "watching" the flames as she recounted those ancient secrets:
"Though it was an evil god, the Bone King was a relatively important deity among the gods of death. Legend has it that it guarded the gate leading to the great mausoleum of the ancient First God of Death."
Fortunately, this world had no legend of the "Three Gods of Death," or Shade would have had to worry whether the departed evil gods might revive through their descendants slaughtering one another. This world did, however, have the Three Evil Ocean Gods.
"The Ancient God of Death presided over death and termination, while that God of Graves guarded the dead. So it must be very powerful, right?"
Shade asked again, somewhat worried. Sister Devlin nodded gently.
"I also know something about the Gravestone Wasteland you mentioned. It is the destination of cowards unwilling to face death. Before the Ancient Gods departed, it was a gateway to the Quiet Waters we have both seen, a door standing between life and death.
"But after the Ancient Gods departed, the God of Graves changed its mind and turned that place into its own domain."
Her clasped right hand, hanging before her, extended forward. Her palm hovered downward above the hilt of the Ashes Greatsword. The flames licking the greatsword surged higher, enveloping the nun's hand as well.
"There must still be a passage there leading to True Death, but it has been concealed by the god. As for the passage to the World of the Living, come find me again before your next departure."
Shade nodded softly, understanding that Sister Devlin was also trying to find a way.
"Then what about Sister Belen? Although