Chapter Text
"Fine. You may take her."
Those five simple words were all Wander needed for tears of happiness to replace the grieving ones, as she fell on her knees in front of Death, a certain weight lifted from her shoulders. There were so many things she wanted to say, yet none she could bring out.
Morgannan looked down at the tiefling's shivering form. Usually not one to feel pity, it was highly uncommon to find anything other than apathy on the goddess' face, though it seemed the loving pirate had nonetheless been able to bring out something else.
"Her soul will be waiting for you by the riverside."
Wander felt as though she was about to faint from excitement, relief and eternal gratitude, having to restrain herself from hugging the deity for her charity, when Morgannan continued.
"However, Jorrunn, you must now listen closely to me. No one comes back from being dead - or in your case, nobody takes someone back - without a last proof of virtue and worth."
Morgannan pointed towards the riverside where Wander spotted the spirit of Verna sitting, her back turned to her, looking over towards the island on the lake.
"You must prove to me, young fighter, that this is an act of pure love, and not selfish longing."
"How do I do that?" Wander asked, imagining the many ways already to show the halfling how true her feelings were. She could try to find flowers in this otherwise dead field. Or perhaps a serenade would do? Maybe it was wanted for her to pass the river instead of Verna, or perhaps it was a deal Morgannan was after.
Whatever task it is, Wander knew she'd do it. Anything to save her lover, even if it meant sacrificing herself.
"You are not to look at her," Morgannan then spoke, her empty sockets for eyes suddenly turning to Wander. "Not after I walked you to her for her to follow, not when you walk her back to the light. You will not see her face. You will not make eye contact. You will not turn around."
Wander's eyes widened in confusion at the task. That was it? That was how she'd prove her apparent true love to the psychopomp?
"I shall send you through the Caves of Silence: there where the water falls louder than a mortal voice. She will follow behind you, and you will not turn around. Once you do, Jorrunn, you have lost her forever. Is that clear?"
Wander, still thinking not much of it, and overwon by an almost foolish hope and overconfidence, nodded with a bright smile, saluting her childishly. To not turn around... She already heard Troth's hesitance in the back of her mind, encouraging her not to fall into whatever trap death had set for her. To turn around and let Verna rest, so she wouldn't get harmed in the process, as that was undeniably the case here. *"Think about it, Wander. Even Ing turned out to be two-faced. Do you really want to risk it?"*
Zyx' words accompanied his, the eladrin clearly having no understanding of love. *"She's a god, Wander. You really think she's to be trusted?"*
However, on the other side of the argument, stood Xenon and Velverosa, who both understood her situation. And if Wander had not already been dead set on reviving her lover, she would've been conflicted by this duality in her mind. Thankfully, her heart led her away from the doubt, as the world got dark and she grew blind, led towards the Caves of Silence, where she awaited the sign.