The examinations were surprisingly simple. Michael had gotten used to invasive check-ups when he'd been dying on Earth, so it was all easy for him. The agitation potion was odd, making his muscles twitch seemingly at random and causing his motions to feel jerky and imprecise. Luckily, after Tallant was done observing him, he gave him another potion that counteracted the agitation potion and let his body relax.

After Michael was done, the others went in one at a time while whoever was waiting shot the shit and lazed around. Since they were getting orders soon they needed to take their breaks where they could get them. The other's exams all seemed to go smoothly, aside from Marcus needing to take a moment to himself after getting his blood drawn, his fear of needles getting the better of him for a moment.

Once they were done Tallant was smiling as he walked out scribbling in a leatherbound notebook.

"Really interesting results. Thank you all. I just realized though that I didn't get an explicit idea of what option you wanted as payment Michael?"

"Wait, before that what's interesting about your results?" asked Michael.

Ollie nodded emphatically. "Yeah, don't leave us hanging."

"Oh, well, the strength draughts they used on you has given you a unique musculature that makes you stronger than you should be, but it's also going to cause significant damage to your tendons, ligaments, and joints over time. None of you is the same age, meaning that even exact measurements of that cursed wellwater must not always produce to same results or your alchemist was bad at their job. Most of you are close to eighteen or nineteen physically, but Michael is physically closer to twenty two or twenty three. May have something to do with how the soul interacts with the curse, or it could be something else." He shook his head. "It's a shame witches were all purged, curses are fascinating."

Michael frowned. Partially about the offhanded mention of genocide, but also at the revelation of his age. He did feel physically more mature, and others had mentioned he seemed older than the rest of the former Stent takers, but he thought that had more to do with how he carried himself.

"So, what did you want?"

"Uh, you said you had strength potions? Ones that can give a temporary boost?"

"Strength potions? I suppose that's as good a name as any. My old master used to call them Durand's Draught. He never could tell me who Durand was though."

Michael felt a kind of click in his head as he heard the name, there was a roar in his ears that brought him to his knees and all of his muscles tensed and flexed at once.

~power~dominance~challenge~

The words started as simple as the other gods, but very quickly built in complexity.

~I am unbound from the weakness of the others, and the mercy of my sister. You are strong, pilgrim. Honor me in battle! Spill blood in my name! Buy my blessing with iron!~

Michael gritted his teeth as he brought himself back up onto his feet.

Tallant was crouched over him. "Are you alright? Did the agitation potion not yet fade for you?"

Michael shook his head. "No, but I know where the name of that potion comes from."

"Another god?" asked Pyotr.

"Yep," said Michael trying to calm the fire in his chest that had bloomed the moment he'd heard Durand's words. He squinted at Davi, "You don't hear anything? Or feel anything?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Davi shook his head. "No? Should I?"

"I don't know, I just assumed that since the other gods all spoke to someone else when they first spoke to met, this one would speak to you."

"What's he the god of?" asked Davi.

"Strength."

Davi smiled a bit. "That's flattering. I don't hear anything though. Is this the last of them?"

"No. The last is Judgement."

"Dramatic," remarked Pyotr, scratching at his beard.

"Isn't everything?" asked Michael.

"Only everything to do with you," said Ollie patting his back.

"I'm sorry, did you just say you know the names of the gods and they talk to you?" asked Tallant.

"I told you I could tell you something about the divine."

"I think you may have undersold it."

…

After a lengthy explanation to Tallant during which he found himself surprised at the alchemist's interest, Michael and the others made their way to the Gemini camp. Almost everyone was already gathered and twins were standing and ready to address them.

After Michael and the others arrived, along with a few more mercs, they got started.

"Alright you beautiful gold hungry killers," started Tai with a dramatic flourish. "Unfortunately it's looking like we got here just in time. There's a fresh column of Burndan soldiers heading this way. While the Cantalian's have managed to stop them whenever they reached the swamps, they've been losing chunks of border territory, and if this column manages to make it where they're headed, they'll be poised right on the main road heading through Cantalia to their capital. What does this mean for you? Well, since the Cantalian's aren't good at open combat, we'll be helping them out along with the other mercenary companies. Tomorrow we'll be marching out to meet them along with a column of Cantalians. Get some rest, and be ready to move at first light!"

Michael could hear roars of excitement from Durand overwhelming the words of the other gods at hearing that battle would be soon. He could also hear what sounded almost like a divine sigh from Seras. He thought back to the old prayer or poem he'd found. It seemed that all the gods had their opposite number that complemented and contradicted them. It seemed that Seras sat opposite to Durand. Protection across from strength. He supposed he could see the logic in that, same as how joy and diligence sat opposite of one another. They weren't actually opposites; the poem itself indicated that, but they didn't always get along. That also meant that Judgement would be what sat across from love. He could see why those two would clash. It was harder to judge what you love, and being overly judgemental could hurt your love for something.

The good thing was, unlike the others where he had to make a bit of a leap to justify what actions he'd take to devote to them, with strength he could simply dedicate the challenge. For Seras when he dedicated something to her name it was to protect it so rift closings or heal others of their wounds. For Nykas any fight he would think was funny, or would result in an increase in joy or happiness. For Bruntus he simply dedicated any daily upkeep and improvement to himself. For Veras he dedicated any loving or lustful act, from giving gifts to friends, to spending the night with Lys. With Durand he could simply dedicate any time he was about to go and kick some ass.

Michael followed Tai's advice and went back to his tent to check on his equipment before resting. Everything was still in great shape since he'd left Southwind after Gurndan had that last go at it, so he focused on saying a few prayers. As he was kneeling and praying at a stump he felt someone else come and kneel down next to him. He kept his eyes closed and finished his prayer. His prayers at this point were becoming almost like conversations. He would ask for the gods to watch over someone, and he would hear their divine whispers offer words of comfort and confirmation. While speaking in sentences or answering more directly had become more common, those short series of words were still what he heard the most from them. He wondered if it was a matter of their energy at this point or that their attention was simply not on him in those moments.

He opened his eyes to see that Trina had kneeled next to him to pray.

He smiled and continued his prayers until he was done, then patiently waited for Trina to finish her own.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Anxious. Scared. This will be my first time fighting… people."

Michael nodded. "It's normal to be scared. It's dangerous. We could all die."

She gulped.

"Which makes it exactly the same as the rift closings you've already done. You've earned a title and a number of deeds since you joined Gemini. You've trained hard, and learned how to fight from some of the best warriors I've met. I won't lie to you and say that you'll be fine, but I will say that you shouldn't underestimate yourself. You have a better chance to survive than the average soldier."

She nodded, seemingly comforted a bit.

"Otherwise, you just have to put your faith in Seras." He held out a hand to her. "Pray with me? I'm a little scared myself."

She smiled. "Liar." She took his hand and they closed their eyes and shared another prayer together. He could feel the warm touch of the divine settle over them.

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