The last time I had been pulled into Cheroske’s realm, it had been physically. I had been floating through the astral, praying that my plan to save Ferrisdae had worked, and called out for the goddess in a way that most people would have said was rude and misguided. I wouldn’t have blamed them for saying so right to my face, either; I would have even agreed to it.

  But now it had happened twice, and that was something I was wrapping my head around.

  This visit, however, was mental. It was a subtle difference that I could only pick out due to my previous connection with Tegril. I was not in the goddess’ realm, passing through on my way back to where I belonged. Instead, my consciousness had been snatched away. Such a small amount of time was passing for my body that it might as well have been stuck in the Endless Moment itself.

  I took a breath as I fully took in the hall in front of me. Unlike before, this wasn’t the Bottom’s Up tavern that I called home. Cheroske didn’t choose the venue to soothe me in a time of stress. Instead, I found myself in her divine sanctum, the seat of her power.

  Every deity had a different one based on their divinity. Tegril’s domain was the only other one I had seen personally, and his sanctum took on the appearance of a court of law. He sat as the judge and those called would stand before him. For those who were not prepared for his justice, it could be intimidating, but to everyone else it was a promise that the god would do all he could to make things right.

  Cheroske took a different, homier approach. I stood in what looked like a cozy village hall where a mayor would speak to their people. The building was oval-shaped and made out of wood. There was a fire pit in the center along with a hole in the roof for the smoke. Several chairs had been placed along the walls with nameplates. I could read a few of them, but there weren’t any that I recognized.

  I knew what they were for, though. Paladins and priests, though given what I was here for, there would have been more of the former than the latter. I appreciated the lack of witnesses, however. Even though I was going to pledge myself to her service, I was still a very private person at my core. It was good that she knew that.

  Approaching the fire on the long, red carpet that went around the pit, I turned my attention to the only other people here. There were three seats at the head of the hall and each was occupied. The woman in the middle seat beckoned me closer. She was instantly recognizable.

  Cheroske had kept the same appearance as last time, though she was in regal raiments more fitting her position. The matronly Halfling had her dark salt and pepper hair in a tight, frizzy bun as big as her head, and her smile was dazzling. Her brown eyes told me that she expected me, and I felt my heart begin to race.

  To her right was an Orc with short black hair wearing plain brown robes. She looked like she was trying to smile, but it made her look like she didn’t want to be here. I knew that this was Fom Duro, Cheroske’s Grand Prior. She had a reputation for leaving terrible first impressions, but she was highly regarded among the religious community as someone who was reliable and kind.

  On the goddess’ left was a Human in dazzling silver armor. A thick shield leaned against his chair, matching his gear. He looked young for a Paladin Commandant, highest in the order, and I could tell he was nervous. It hadn’t been long since Doleson Buress had gained his new position, and it looked like he was still settling in.

  “You might be cutting it close, don’t you think, Badger?” Cheroske asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

  I stopped about ten feet away, but didn’t kneel. It wasn’t time. “I think so, too,” I agreed. “But I had a promise to keep and I needed to see if I could give Ferrisdae the push she needed.”

  Cheroske regarded me for a moment before her smile became a grin. “I remember your vow to your wife, yes. It was a promise made to me at the same time, so how could I miss it?”

  “What was the vow?” Doleson asked. He received a look from Fom, and his eyes widened. “Sorry, sorry. Right. We’re just here as witnesses.”

  “If Badger is willing to answer, then he may,” Cheroske stated before looking at the Orc woman. “And stop teasing poor Doleson. This is his first Ascension since his own.”

  “Maybe he shouldn’t make it so easy,” Fom sniffed. It was hard to tell, but I got the feeling that she was pleased with herself. The atmosphere here was completely different from Tegril’s courthouse. I didn’t mind it.

  While I normally would have kept this information to myself, I saw no harm in saying it. These two held the highest positions in the religion below the goddess herself. I was going to have to get used to them eventually, and I might as well start that now.

  “Please don’t tell anyone outside of the sanctum, but I was once a paladin of Tegril,” I said, standing up straight. “I had been approached and given power during a time when all I knew was daily combat necessary for the survival of my people. That is a long story that I’d rather not get into. The unexpected happened, and I fell in love with the woman I am now married to. In order to be with her, I became an oathbreaker.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Doleson looked surprised by my admission. He understood what that entailed, even if he hadn’t gone through it himself. Cheroske nodded while Fom appeared to contemplate my words.

  “My wife has been an anchor for me ever since,” I continued. “She has raised me up, kept me from going down dark paths, and was a constant companion in my bleakest days. It is not hyperbole to say that, without her, I would not be the man I am today. She was worried for me when I told her that I was sincerely thinking about joining Cheroske’s service because she had seen me back then. However, she wouldn’t stop me, and she only made me promise one thing before I accepted.”

  “What’s that?” Doleson asked, leaning forward.

  I smiled. “Like any adventurer, she had something specific in her mind,” I said. “She made me promise that, whenever I decide to make the leap into faith, I make sure of one thing: that it was a story worth telling.”

  “And what a story it is,” Cheroske laughed. “I thought you were going to call on me sooner, but I saw what you were doing with Ferrisdae. How is your body? You took a lot of damage trying to help undo that mental block she put on herself.”

  “Thank you, goddess. I can deal with it,” I answered before my smile became tighter. “The pain is harsh, but the bulk of it hasn’t caught up with me yet. I was worried about how I was going to feel after the battle before Abara pulled his latest trick.”

  Cheroske nodded before standing up. Fom followed, and Doleson scrambled to his feet last. “I know you’re not big on ceremony, Badger, and that’s why I didn’t call anyone except for Fom and Doleson as witnesses.”

  “That is very much appreciated, Cheroske,” I said with a nod.

  She walked up to me, and I stood up straighter. “One last chance, but are you absolutely sure?”

  “I’ve made my choice, and I’m fully committed,” I answered, standing up straighter. “The only thing that was lacking before was the moment.”

  “Then I’ll need your sword,” she said, almost conversationally, with a nod. My Hilt of Holding had been attached to my belt, and I pulled it free, offering it to her. The dial at the bottom clicked as she spun it, but she didn’t activate any blade in particular. “You still haven’t been able to bring yourself to fill that eighth slot yet, Badger?”

  “No,” I answered, holding back a frown.

  “Would you like me to do it for you?”

  Taking a breath, I looked at the ground. The Hilt of Holding could contain eight blades and I had seven slots filled. It was impossible to remove one under normal circumstances, but mine were anything but normal.

  A long time ago, the blade I couldn’t bring myself to replace was the Sword of Justice. It was the standard issue longsword that every paladin of Tegril possessed. It could become stronger through the divine essence of the god, and glowed when being used in a just act. A lot of situations had been reexamined simply because a Sword of Justice didn’t have its telltale glow.

  Because it was a divine item, it was taken from the Hilt of Holding when I lost my divine connection. It had been empty ever since as tribute to my past.

  But now was the time to look towards the future. “Yes, please,” I said.

  “Then we shall begin,” Cheroske stated. “After all, we have much to discuss after you have Ascended, and not much time with which to do so. Kneel before me.”

  I did as commanded, putting my head down.

  When she spoke again, power thrummed in her voice. “Badger, you come before me today to pledge yourself to my service. I have seen your deeds, how you carry yourself, and what you do for your community. Tell me your oath, and should it be deemed worthy, I will begin the ritual to share with you a sliver of my own power.”

  I placed my hand over my heart. Finding my mouth suddenly dry, I swallowed, but there was no more hesitation. I began to speak an oath straight from my heart, meant only for the goddess.

  Even though I expected for my consciousness to slam back into my body, I found myself peacefully returned instead. I felt a gentle energy flow through me. Divine energy swelled within me, filling a space that had been devoid of anything for decades now. The hand over my heart clutched my shirt as I relished the feeling of being complete once more.

  I allowed myself that moment, but only just.

  Golden light illuminated my hand and transferred back into my body. My burnt and cracked skin began to heal itself, starting with my legs first. It wasn’t like healing potions that violently stitched someone back together, but more like Moose’s magic. The pain abated before the process even began, and was soothed once it was over.

  “Badger?” Ferrisdae asked.

  “Just a moment,” I said as I continued to tug on the power inside of me. I brought my hand across my chest, and it glowed blue. When I spoke, it was in the language of the gods. “Divine Raiment.”

  My jacket and clothes took on a golden hue, shining brightly and defying the lingering lightning’s blue glow. They became harder than steel but remained just as flexible. It was a spell that lasted only a short while, but it was enough.

  Healing myself and casting the spell didn’t put a dent in the energy inside of me. As a reformed paladin, Cheroske’s divinity seemed nearly limitless. It wasn’t always going to be like this; it was a welcome gift, the same I received from Tegril so long ago. The power to do what needed to be done for as long as my vessel could hold such overwhelming energy.

  “What happened?” Ferrisdae asked. Her eyes turned purple as she tried to detect my magic, but she was forced to look away almost immediately.

  “I have entered Cheroske’s service as a paladin,” I told her as I began walking towards the Green Union building. “She was right. Dungeons are their own type of community, and I have become their Champion.”

  I thumbed the rune on my Hilt of Holding, and my new blade popped out. It was a spatha, a double edged blade nearly 30 inches long that tapered into a sharp point. It was thicker than my longswords, but easily allowed for divine energy to pass through it.

  And now I was looking forward to using my first martial art in over twenty years.