Chapter Text
“I think it's time.” Nom’s voice filled with grief, “I love you guys. I haven't said it enough”
“I love you too,” Katie and Scott both quietly responded. 4C bowed his head.
Nom stood at the edge of the cliff watching the ocean. He made the choice of his fate, letting his bark-like skin start to crumble. He breathed a last breath, the salty ocean air tickling his nose, and Scott’s fragrance of flower drifting on the wind. He turned back to his friends, “It isn't goodbye forever.” As soon as the words left his mouth, his body gave into the creaking corrupting it, turning into a pile of dust and ash.
Once his body crumbled, his sight stood where he was. He spectated as his friends sobbed, his chest aching with guilt and the residing feeling of resin clumping in his lungs. He moved higher, just managing to hear his friends before he climbed out of earshot.
“Why does this just feel like a loss?” Scott’s voice was thick with emotion.
Katie answered, “Because it is. It’s a really big one”
Nom attempted to make himself move lower, to keep listening to them, to answer them, but found he couldn’t control his movement in this incorporeal state, nor could he make a sound. He continued to fly upwards, still watching his family below him as he passed through the clouds.
The ground eventually fell out of his gaze as he moved up. The orange painted sky faded to black as the sun set. After what seemed to be hours, he stopped ascending. He looked around at the empty sky surrounding him, wondering if this was his freedom or punishment. He soon got an answer, although not a clear one.
“Nominal…” A deep voice echoed, “Your time is not up yet.”
The voice circulated around him, never coming from one point. It picked at a recent memory in Nom’s mind.
Another lighter and ethereal voice joined in, ”We have a reward for you, another deal, if you will.”
His thoughts raced at this, A deal? I can’t do that, the last deal I made is what got me here in the first place. I won’t take it.
“Hmmm…” A third voice mused, this one smooth with a cutting undertone, “That is true, but we believe you have earned this, even if it comes with a price.”
The first voice returned, “You have finally upheld an oath, Nominal. And you have done so honorably and truthfully. You have redeemed yourself.”
What? Nom thought.
“For doing so, we offer an out from Lady Death’s domain. Another chance at life, if you will.”
With that mention of Sausage’s patron, Nom put the pieces together. Voices with no visible source, the ability to grant another life, and the voice that had said he had redeemed itself seeming vaguely familiar.
You’re the Knight God, He guessed.
The lightest voice spoke again, presumably the Mage Goddess, “One of yours finally has some brains, Knight.” She teased gently.
The Knight God ignored his associate and continued on, “We will return you to the kingdoms, fully healthy and repaired, to be with the people again.”
Go back to the kingdoms? Nom wondered, What’s the catch then? There must be some sort of price.
“Oh, there is.” The smooth voice, the Rogue God, answered, “We do not have the ability to interact with your world on a physical level. So we ask for a conduit.”
A what? He worried.
“Yes,” The Mage Goddess confirmed, “If we return you to your home, we will be able to use your body. You will still be conscious, and able to move on your own if none of us wish to… use you in that moment.”
Nom’s head spun with thoughts, I want to see them again… but I can’t make another deal… I can make up for my mistakes… but I already said goodbye… I wouldn’t be fully myself again… Would they know what to do… I already hurt them once by taking that deal… I can’t do it again…
He tried to speak for the first time since he entered the void, calling out to the gods, “I can’t take this deal. I’ve made that mistake once and I won’t do it again.”
There was a moment of tense silence, then the Rogue God scoffed, “Hmph. I’m afraid we cannot accept that answer.”
“What…? Wait, no, no, you said I had a choice!” Nom yelled.
“Choices are not always ours to make, young knight.” The Mage Goddess explained, “I’m afraid the Rogue is correct, this one has been made for you. I’m sorry if it is not your preferred answer.“
“Go on, champion, conduit, renewed knight. We will give you time to explain to your friends.” The disembodied voice of the Knight God ended.
A gust of wind blew, and Nom’s vision blacked. He wasn’t unconscious, just unseeing, blind. He could feel something forming around where he was, encasing him.
I’m… going back? To Blue? How will I explain to them what just happened? Will I even be able to if the gods can, can… control me? The Mage goddess said I would still be conscious? Does that mean I can speak? Or see? What would they want to do with me? They said they needed a physical conduit, whatever that means…
I’m seeing them again… They thought I was gone. I thought I was gone. Katie… Scott… 4C… They’ll all be there, right?
As Nom’s thoughts were whirling like a tornado, he could sense whatever was around him started to take shape. It was a familiar one. His own, before he had taken the Crea-king’s deal.