The guild was supposed to hold. Not only because of the fact that if it did not, then all would be lost. But also because of the fact that the kobolds simply didn't have enough time to mine all the mana stones.
Nikola knew that. Knew that he had money to spare. But the problem was that he could get a mana stone deal when and where he wanted because, apparently, he sold his mana stones for peanuts.
"There was no way you could have known," Dimitri told him as he patted him on the back. "We were new to this world. There was simply nothing to hint at the fact that we were underselling."
Nikola nodded, but his bottom lip didn't leave its position between his teeth.
He looked at the progress report again. The kobolds had hit a dead end. Solid rock with no mineral deposits.
Nikola hoped that this didn't mean what he thought it meant.
"If we can't mine the mana stones," Nikola finally said, as he looked Dimitri in the eyes. The man's red orbs were looking at him with a softness Nikola wasn't sure he deserved.
"If the mine doesn't give us more mana stones, then I guess we will just have to make a new one. Do you still have the rune?"
Dimitri didn't know his way around runes. But what he did know, however, was that runes given by a deity were better than any other runes.
And he knew to value that.
"I do. But last time Tangra gave me the mana," which brought a new set of problems, Nikola thought.
Only for Dimitri to nod.
"What if you take some of the Leshy's mana this time? Power it up so?"
"But…! The Leshy is a nature spirit, not a deity!" Nikola protested. "Surely, I would need the blessing of a deity?"
Dimitri shook his head.
"Leshys are deities, Niki. From a time when there was more than one pantheon in the sky. Try it. Just go to sleep and then speak with the Leshy! Who knows, maybe he can help?"
Nikola nodded. He leaned on Dimitri, taking hold of his hand.
"And if I don't wake?" The brunette asked as he closed his eyes.
"I will follow you where you have gone, dearest. Not even death can do us part."
Nikola nodded, drifting off to sleep. Hoping that he could wake up to see his children one more time.
****
It was just as he had feared.
Instead of a forest, there were endless grass fields. The yurt was where Nikola remembered it. Perched amidst the grass.
But this time, there was a black horse with dark eyes tied before it.
He took a step back when a hand poked out of the yurt and waved him over.
Could Tangra kill him in his sleep?
Then a head poked out. The demon had a bright smile on his face. He beckoned him closer again.
"You know, I don't bite. And even if I did, I wouldn't have given you such a warning," which sounded ok to Nikola. He began to walk towards the yurt. Making his way through the tall green grass.
When he reached the yurt, its flap opened so he could go inside.
Nikola sat on a cushion opposite the deity. Refusing to so much as look at the food and drinks piled between them.
"Now, I know what you are thinking: Tangra is to blame! He is sending the necromancers! Tangra is evil! Tangra has to be stopped!"
Nikola didn't dare make a sound. He knew that the deity was going to use just about everything it could to get him to either come to its side or die screaming.
"But let me tell you something: the only necromancer I have ever accepted in my services was Bleda. And he is now firmly in your camp. But the necromancers have to go. On that much, I agree."
"How am I supposed to believe you?" Nikola asked as he finally allowed himself to relax. "You are a demon, and…"
"Now, hold your horses," Tangra said, his blue eyes shining. "I am not a demon. Just because the deaf one decided to take the entire world for himself, that doesn't make me a demon!"
Nikola bowed his head. He was ready for the insult to wear off.
"I have some worshipers in this new world. I feel better," Tangra continued, as he helped himself to a golden goblet. Nikola blinked as another goblet came flying at him.
He had to take hold of it before it crashed in his face.
"And I would like to protect my new worshipers. So, here's the deal," gone were the pleasantries. Nikola knew that the deity would ask him to pay up a price now. "I will give you the means to expand your mine. A rune, to be exact. But you will promise that you won't undermine my operation in this magical new world. One misstep from you, and I will take away your children, I swear it!"
Nikola's eyes snapped at the deity. He could barely believe what he had heard.
"But they are just babies!" he protested. "They haven't done anything to anyone!"
"Yes, babies. Necromancers. Tickling time bombs," Tangra said, then drank his goblet dry in a couple of gulps. "But I am trying to believe in your parenting strategies. So much so that I am willing to give you a chance to raise them. Here, the rune. Now go back to the world of the living and leave me to my meal!"
If all the other times being brought out of Tangra's real was like a gentle fall on a featherbed, then this time Nikola felt so, as if he had been kicked out by a horse.
Still, when he woke, he had a rune in his hand. A rune that came with a mission.
His eyes landed on the stroller, where Timmy, Vera, and Rocky were still sleeping.
Tony chirped from his right, flying over and landing on his shoulder.
Nikola looked at the phoenix, then all the other people gathered in the training hall.
It was now or never.
Even if the decision felt like ashes in his mouth.