The Achievement Junkie

"Revive Skaryn?!"

Lunara's shout filled the room, expressing what most of the other gods felt, as well as Jack's wives.

"Really?! We're going to bring him back?!" Moranti asked, excitement oozing from his smile and stare.

"I agree."

As Sterfen seconded Jack's new goal, Lunara was the first to question, "What do you mean by that? Isn't he--"

"He's my older brother, Luna. Skaryn was never kicked out of the family, unlike Halmut, and Skaryn respected the neutral gods more than anyone," stated Sterfen, getting most of those present to nod in agreement. "Sure, Skaryn's a bit unconventional at times but he's a good guy."

"Now you tell me?" Jack asked sarcastically.

Shrugging, Sterfen continued, "You've already talked with Daruun so I'm assuming you agreed to his proposal, right?"

While everyone else was confused about the question, Jack nodded.

"In that case, I don't need to hide my true feelings about Skaryn any longer. Moranti, Choron, would agree that Skaryn's reappearance would be a good thing right now?"

Choron answered first, "I don't see why it wouldn't be. So long as Skaryn agrees to join our side and stand with us in Trodar, then I don't see why he would cause chaos."

"And what if Skaryn joining us causes the world to question our motives?" asked Lunara.

"Luna, please don't hold Skaryn accountable for what his subordinate gods have done, at least not fully." Sterfen reached out and cupped his hands around his wife's face. "He tried to offer as much freedom as possible while using contacts to counter Halmut's actions. It would lead to some abusing that freedom but it wasn't his fault that some of the gods seeking freedom would be cold to the world. Unlike Daruun, Skaryn can't see into the future and instead follows his gut."

Touched by her husband's passion for the subject, Lunara calmly asked, "Why do you trust him so much?"

"Because Skaryn tutored me a lot growing up. He's the one who taught me how to become an assassin. Without him and his encouragement, there's a chance that I wouldn't be with you today."

All ears were finely tuned to the conversation between the husband and wife. Such information was mind-blowing and completely unexpected.

"Wh-what do you mean?" asked Lunara, feeling pained at the thought of not being with her long-time husband.

Sterfen replied, "Skaryn taught me how to be an assassin and helped me level up in secret so that the other gods wouldn't bother me. And when I met you, he was the one who assured me that pursuing a hydra for a wife was a great thing. He's also the one who kept Halmut off my back after killing so many of his demigods."

"That…"

Lunara was speechless. She didn't know what to say. For countless years, she was always forced to see Skaryn as the ultimate enemy. Though she knew Sterfen's opinion on Skaryn was neutral, she never anticipated that Skaryn and her husband were so close.

"How did you two meet without me knowing?" Moranti asked with a curious smile.

Glancing back to the others in the room, Sterfen quickly added, "Who said I'd share my life story?"

"Come on, Sterfen! You can--"

"Maybe in the future, but for now you only need to know that I fully support Skaryn's return," insisted Sterfen. "Perhaps if he was revived at an earlier time, things wouldn't work out well. But now that his faction has been consumed by Halmut, things will be different. Also, I'd love to see how Halmut handles the public backlash."

"Oh, I'd love to see his face!" laughed Moranti.

Lost, Jack asked, "What do you mean? It would make things harder, but why would it--"

"Halmut has publicly announced that Skaryn will never again be a threat to Kartonia and that he's dealt with him," explained Sterfen. "Should Skaryn return with his full strength, there's no telling how the people will react, especially after Skaryn partners with us."

"Oh… Then now sounds like the best time to me!" Jack laughed along with Moranti.

Seeing some unease on Lunara's face, Sterfen stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead. "Do you trust me?"

"Always," Lunara answered immediately.

"Then trust me now. Skaryn's unsealing will change everything, cementing Halmut's demise as imminent and unavoidable."

At the same time, Sterfen sent Jack a mental message, 'You know about the void, right?'

'Yeah.'

'Then you know about Halmut's involvement with Gem Inc and Jewel?'

'And how they're the ones that enabled Halmut to defeat Skaryn?' added Jack.

'You're taking the lead from now on. I'll help, but I'm proud to let my son take the reigns and fulfill the purpose of Kartonia's creation,' stated Sterfen. 'You should think about whether you want to inform everyone or not. Ask your grandfather for his advice about that too.'

'I'll definitely do that. Thanks, Dad.'

'Anytime, Son.'

"Oooohh, I can't wait to see him! Once he makes a pact with Jack, I can't wait to see him use my bloodline and snuff out Halmut's life!"

Moranti's excited shouts were the next thing that Jack heard, getting Jack and everyone else to chuckle. There was some more banter from Choron as well and a couple of questions from the others, but Jack was distracted again by a mental message.

'We should discuss finding the key tomorrow in private. I know where it is.'

Glancing at Eedaj, Jack replied, 'So do I. With Kylon, right?'

'Yes, but we should be careful in how we retrieve that key,' replied Eedaj. 'I'll explain everything tomorrow morning.'

As Jack and Eedaj wrapped up their speedy conversation, Eliza spoke up, "Then what happened with Halmut? Don't tell me you actually beat him?!"

"Eedaj, would you mind explaining how that went?" Moranti asked, throwing an arm around Jack. "Jack and I need to go get treated before the banquet starts."

"Sure. That much I can handle."

The two men left the room as Eedaj began explaining his side of the story. Once they were in the hallway and all alone, Moranti cast silence and made sure the sphere following their walking pace. With a started smile, Moranti asked, "Jack, what level are you?"