Madrin remembered Gethe's parting gift before being defeated. The human warrior knew something was wrong when the demon punched him in his left pectoral muscle. He felt like his heart had somehow been crushed in his chest. The fighter barely kept his body moving as the damage took effect, but he killed the bastard anyway. When he kissed Wish he was glad she didn't seem to notice his condition. Her exhaustion was likely the cause, however not having additional worries was best for the fae woman.

Two paths were before him, he could leap off the cliff into the darkest reaches of the afterlife or follow the road that went somewhere beyond his sight. The sky above him was dark yet held light with no discernible source. Madrin had been debating with himself for hours about where he deserved to go. Up until he fell under Gethe's three layered control the Lord Commander of Eiler had never taken a life that didn't deserve death. He could deal with the Aliscowri, male dead seed and Corporin slayings, but the Almeddans were just fulfilling their duties. The three cannibals had been their prisoners before the battle in the crystal grove, by his reports anyway. Dela seemed to have some redeemable qualities in his short time with her. However, he hadn't spent enough time with the dead seed to be sure she could be capable of good.

This was why he couldn't bring himself to make a decision. He had violated his promise to himself by falling under the sway of his father's patron. He wasn't sure if he deserved peace or punishment. He would miss his family and Wish, but Elysia's power called him onward. Suddenly, he felt warm breath on his neck.

"So are you just giving up now boy, I thought you were made of stronger stuff than this." Madrin turned and took in a black furred wolf the size of a warhorse. He had heard stories of the god of his old clan. The tribal warrior didn't think another deity could reach him in Aleris. "This is the only place I can speak to you since magic is not one of your gifts. Answer me Madrin, are you a coward now?"

Madrin stood in awe of the founder of his ancient tribe for a few moments. Then her heard the question that stirred his rage. "I'm no coward Kir I respect fear, but don't let it rule me! Why are you here I doubt it's just to hurl insults at me."

The large wolf's laughter rung in Madrin's ears before it spoke again. "That's the spirit boy, your eyes finally show signs of strength again. I ask you did you chose to kill the Almeddans yourself?"

"No of course not, they weren't harming anyone." Reason finally shocked him out of his depression as he realized the truth. "I guess that means I should take the road to Elysia's loving embrace." He turned to the road and started to walk leaving the wolf god behind.

Kir leaped in front of him and growled at Madrin. "This way is the easiest one true. However, your forgetting the other way you can go." The celestial beast looked up and indicated the mountain side above. "To live on is the hardest route, yet there are many that pray for you to survive even now."

The human smiled as he looked up the unfathomable height above him. "If you know anything about me, you must realize I rarely take the easy way." Madrin started climbing the rock face, confident in his ability to see his loved ones in the living world once more. The wolf god vanished as his descendant scaled the mountainside. Kir needed to rest great evil could come again at any time.