Second World

Several players moved away. Most were from the three races whose countries were nearby, but a decent number stayed.

While waiting, Jack asked the natives who were Talia's faction members, "In Euphosine's dimension, I only see Aglea and her. Were you all imprisoned?"

The one whom Talia had called Thella answered, "In a way… Yes, we are imprisoned."

"They were the baby dolls we have been fighting," Freddie said. He and the others came to Jack's side.

Winson added, "We have run out to this garden after that crazy light explosion. After the big earthquake, those inert happy dolls crumbled by themselves. In their places, these natives appeared."

"Euphosine did that to punish us," Thella said. "We refused to participate in organizing her wicked game, so she trapped us inside her tethered puppet. We were forced to stay still and attack intruders if one ever appeared. We can't live, but we also can't die…"

"Euphosine even used our followers in such a cruel way…" Talia shook her head in sadness.

"Okay, two minutes are up. Do it, Talia," Jack said.

Talia nodded. Her hands again danced in the air. The air around them started to shimmer. The landscape outside the garden turned blurry. Some players thought it was their eyes. They scrubbed the eyes, but the scene remained.

Once the blurriness was gone, the landscape outside was completely different. The tall trees that were characteristic of the Shylvan region were gone. Around them was a hilly landscape with sparse trees. The sky was clear above.

"Where are we?" Jack asked Talia.

"We are in Palgrost, but we are deep in the wilderness. You have to be careful not to venture too far. The monsters around here are high in level, that's how we secluded ourselves," Talia answered, but he then added. "However, I think you will be fine against those monsters."

After defeating Euphosine, Jack's levels increased. Winson and the others had gone too far so they didn't receive the exp points. The exp points were divided only between Jack, Therras, and Grace.

Jack and Grace leveled up three times. Each of Jack's classes went up one level. Therras leveled up two times. All of Jack's classes were now level 74. Grace and Therras were level 75.

Jack also received a notification that his quest, Help Talia Escape, was completed. He received 8,000,000 exp, 100 gold coins, and 10,000 mana cores. He remembered the description said an additional reward was possible, but he received no other reward.

The exp points let his Time Sage level up another time. It was level 75 now.

Jack opened his map. They were indeed in Palgrost. He was in an area he hadn't visited before, so his map was mostly grey all around, but the description on his map indicated he was in the Republic of Palgrost.

He looked at the players who had decided to not leave and feel pity for them. They would have difficulty leaving this area considering their levels were still low. They were mostly players who were still halfway through the training in Euphosine's nursery hall.

"What are you going to do now?" Jack asked Talia. "Will you rebuild this base?"

Talia shook her head. "This place is already too damaged. We will move away and find someplace else to settle."

Talia might have said that, but from her sad expression, Jack understood the reason might probably be because the memory of this place was too painful. She lost both her sisters here, not in a peaceful way. She probably wanted to forget all of this and start fresh.

Jack empathized with her feeling, but he didn't know what to say to console her. He was just about to wish her luck when he thought of something.

"Talia, since you are looking for somewhere to settle. How about Themisphere?" Jack asked. "From my getup, I think you can guess I am that country's king. I can help you build a base for your faction in one of my cities."

"Themisphere…? I don't know. We aren't sure about the hustle and bustle of a city…" Talia said.

'Peniel, can a wonder be built in a village or town?' Jack asked via his mind. If it could, he would offer Talia to relocate to one of Themisphere's towns or villages instead. Those settlements would be less hectic.

'No. A settlement needs to be at least a metropolis to build a Wonder Building,' Peniel answered.

Since this option was out, he tried a different approach.

"I don't think it is safe for your faction to be out in the open," Jack said. "I believe you have lost quite many members since the incident with Euphosine started, am I right?"

Talia didn't deny that. Many members left the faction even before Euphosine found the Divine Heritage. Their faction was only a fraction of its former self.

"Some bad people might come to try to steal your faction's legacy. I believe you store lots of treasure in there." Jack was familiar with the faction's legacy because Paytowin also had one. "It will be safer if you stay inside one of my cities."

"How can we know if you are not the one coveting it?" One of the natives said. "You outworlders are all greedy lot."

"Stop it, Axxo! You are being impolite," Talia chided. "He saved my life during the battle with Euphosine. He had the chance to do what he came here for but he chose to let it go to save me instead. Other outworlders might be greedy but not him. I believe in him! I trust he harbors no thought about stealing our treasures."

Axxo lowered her head from the scolding.

"But what use is there to rebuild our faction?" Another native beside Talia, whose name was Carpi, said. "Before we were imprisoned inside those happy dolls, Lady Euphosine told us the Goddess Joy no longer exists. What is the use for our faction if we have no more Goddess to worship?"

"You shouldn't despair like that," Jack said. "Your Goddess might be gone for now, but she can return."

Talia and the other natives turned to Jack. "Mister Storm, please don't joke about this issue."

"I am not," Jack said, giving them a serious face. "That divine heritage. It is the essence of your Goddess. I believe you felt her presence when you are near it, didn't you?" Jack asked Talia.

Talia didn't deny the statement.

Jack continued. "Your Goddess' essence within the divine heritage will continue to grow as long as people are worshipping her. When her essence grows strong enough, she will return."

"Is that true?" Carpi asked. Hope was on her face.

"But… The divine heritage had been taken, right?" Axxo asked.

"Then we should get it back!" Thella exclaimed.

'Either that or after Master uses the divine heritage,' Jack thought. Once that happened, another divine heritage would reappear inside the altar of its corresponding divine faction, ready to grow through the worship of its followers again.

Before leaving for Themisphere, Jack had made a stop to visit the newly built Sanctuary for Courage in Therimdell. From inside the altar, Pallas and Mihos sensed the faint presence of their God. After Fear used the divine heritage to craft the Godkiller, the God of Courage's essence was freed. When Jack built the Sanctuary for Courage, it finally had a place to nest and thus formed another Divine Heritage within the altar.

This discovery had given Pallas and his brethren great elation. They were so happy that they seemed to forget about their hatred for the Council of Phobos. Their main objective was now keeping the divine heritage safe at any cost rather than seeking revenge.

Jack told Talia and the others about all this. After the story, Jack saw their eyes were filled with hope.