Nier POV

I began seeing more of my memories. Everything that Elias said. My sister. Nemesis. Pandora. My genocide on the Olympians. The only difference between my memories and Elias' story is that there were two swords that were given to me. Swords made by the smithing god, Hephaestus. Soon I found myself on top of a mountain after I proclaimed my name. A ghostly figure appeared and approached me.

Damocles: What do you want, Athena?

Athena: You did very well, Damocles. The gods are now dead. Save for some who decided to leave while they could. Still, I wonder how you were able to kill them at such a level. Usually, the pantheon is far greater than one man. Yet you have slayed them all.

Damocles: I was granted this power to kill them.

Athena: Yet each god you killed, you grew stronger and stronger. You didn't even need the Eleusinian Stone to do this. Was it the box perhaps?

Damocles: The box? The one Pandora opened? All that was inside it was the evils of the world and they went into the gods.

Athena: All except one. When the box was made, I summoned the strongest power in the world to seal with the Evils. Unless... The power you took from the box was mine. From it, you gained the strength that many of the Olympians couldn't destroy. A strength great enough to overcome Fear. Locked deep inside of you Damocles, is Hope. It seems to be buried, trapped by your guilt and the failures of your past. When Olympus fell, it must have finally been revealed. You must have allowed something to awaken it. What was it, Damocles?

I then remember when a girl was about to die, but she said to me something with determination.

???: Hope is what makes us strong. It's why we're here. It is what we fight with when all else is lost.

Athena: What was it, Damocles?

Damocles: All I remember is what I have lost.

Athena: That is why you should give me the power. I understand it's true meaning and where it belongs. I trust you to do the right thing, Damocles.

Damocles: This power does not belong to you. Nor me. Nor anyone... Except them.

I grab a large blade that is the one I took from the Gods. I swing it up before grabbing it by the blade and impale in into my torso.

Athena: You fool! What have you done?!

I begin floating and a beam of light shoots out of me and into the sky. Soon it disperses across the world and I fall onto the ground. I close my eyes as I saw a vision of my sister before dying.

I open my eyes again and look around to see that I'm still in the bedroom.

Nier: *Sigh*

Kaine: You have nightmares as well?

Nier: Yeah.

Kaine: Well I'm going to head outside to get my shit together. Want to join me?

Nier: Sure.

Mimir: Okay, you two have fun.

I look at Mimir with Kaine. To our surprise, he's still awake.

Nier: Mimir?

Kaine: You're still not tired?

Mimir: I think it's part of the reanimation spell. I don't really need to sleep. Don't worry, I've just been keeping myself busy with counting whatever bird sits in front of the window. You two get what you need out of your system.

I get out of bed and go outside with Kaine. We climb up to the roof of Elias' house and see the moon shining over us. I find this moment really sweet because we aren't moving or fighting any monsters, Elves, Demons, or Gods. Only the sounds of the wind blowing through the trees and crickets chirping.

Nier: Is it stupid that I'm enjoying not doing anything at the moment?

Kaine: Nope, I totally get ya. We've been moving and fighting like Hell ever since we meet.

Nier: Yeah. And it was nice to have a good meal after all that traveling. Even you have to admit it. You had three servings.

Kaine: It was pretty delicious. And it was nice to be in okay company.

Nier: Glad you don't see us as your enemies Kaine. Not yet at least.

Kaine: Thanks. But there's something I've been thinking about.

Nier: You're going be be heading in a different direction than us.

Kaine: Was it that obvious?

Nier: Well, me and Yonah's journey won't have a constant amount of demons for you to kill.

Kaine: It's not that. For real. There's just some things I need to be on my own for a bit.

Nier: Then do it.

Kaine: You sure?

Nier: I doubt this'll be the last time we see each other. So do what you need to do.

Kaine: Thanks, Nier. Don't worry. I'll try to not make it too long before we see each other again. After all, what would you do without me?

Nier: Careful, you sound like you enjoyed out company.

Kaine: Well, hanging out with people who aren't a bunch of assholes is a pretty nice feeling. The only one who made me feel safe was my grandmother. Though I still had to grow up since her days of fighting were long gone despite her spirit.

Nier: A loving family member can make a huge difference. You want me to keep talking with you, or would you like a small break from the conversation until next time?

Kaine: Until next time. Thank you for the talk.

Nier: Any time, Kaine.

We get off the roof and go back to the bedroom to get more rest. When morning comes, Elias makes us breakfast and we all eat together. Yonah wanted to do something to repay him for everything, so I went with her outside. Yonah then goes to a tree and speaks in incantation.

Yonah: (Ancient Language)

Yonah casts a spell on the tree and does the same for more trees around the house and fields.

Elias then goes out and walks toward us.

Elias: That was Giant Magic, wasn't it? You're pretty talented, Yonah.

Yonah: Thanks. This should form a protective stave around your house. Hopefully this will keep monsters and the Demons.

Elias: You didn't need to do this.

Yonah: I still wanted to. As thanks for letting us stay the night here.

Elias: Well, I guess I have to accept it. Thank you.

Kaine comes out with Mimir.

Kaine: I think this is yours.

Mimir: You're leaving already?

Kaine: Just for a little bit. I need to get my shit together

Yonah: We understand.

Mimir: Aye.

Elias: Take this then.

Elias hands Kaine a piece of paper that turns out to be a map.

Elias: It's what I mapped of Midgard. I'm sure that any changes shouldn't be too different from the map.

Kaine: You okay with giving me this?

Elias: I have spares. It's nothing really. Just take care of yourself and make sure you get plenty of food and sleep.

Kaine: Thanks.

Kaine waves to us and we wave back as she walks away.

Nier: Does she need the boat?

Elias: No, there's a path that can lead back to where you three possibly came from. It's long but should be safe from the monsters roaming about. Here's one for you three.

Elias hands us a map as well.

Elias: Be careful. Your journey will get mor dangerous from here on out.

Nier: We know. Thank you Elias.

Yonah: Thank you.

Elias: Take care. And Mimir, I'd like to hear the stories you have should you all ever come back again.

Mimir: It'd be my pleasure.

Yonah and I head to the docks as Elias waves us bye. The three of us head back to the boat and I begin rowing us down the river we took to the Chisel.

Nier: Mimir, what was the chisel we're looking for again?

Mimir: I'm glad you asked actually. I have just the story for you... There was a Giant once named Thamur -- A very giant Giant -- who, despite his mountainous size, was without a question the greatest stonemason this world had ever seen. Proud Thamur hoped to one day pass his vast knowledge onto his son, but young Hrimthur had the heart of a warrior. Perhaps the father had too much fear of him, or the son too little... either way, a quarrel of their spiraled out of control, and the overworked stone mason - bonk! - struck his son. Hrimthur ran off into the night. Feeling shame and regret, Thamur chased after his son, but in his emotional state, soon found himself wandering Midgard, lost and alone. Sadly, he caught the eye of the one person he didn't want to meet alone at night.

Nier: Thor.

Yonah held her head in pain.

Nier: Yonah?! What's wrong?!

Yonah: It's Bell. He's in Midgard.

Nier: What?! How?!

Yonah: I don't know, but he's in trouble.

Mimir: I'm guessing he ran into the Midgard's more dangerous inhabitants. But no way we'll be able to get to him on time.

Yonah then pulls out two stones with small runes on them.

Mimir: By the gods, you have warp stones.

Yonah: Mom gave them to me. She said these could be uses to get us to a location and then back to where we came from. But it can only be used once before it needs to recharge. And it can't go between realms.

Nier: Okay, we help him them get back here. Just let me tie this thing.

I wrap a rope along a stone and made sure that it can't slip off and cause the boat to float.

Nier: We don't end up in the boat in a bad situation. Oh, one more thing. I grab Mimir's and wrap him in cloth.

Mimir: Severed, reanimated heads aren't a thing where he's from.

Yonah: Nope

After Mimir is thoroughly wrapped, I nod to Yonah and she says an incantation to where Bell is. When we get there, we hear fighting and soon an explosion.

Yonah: Bell!

We pick up the pace and see Bell fighting a troll that has one of its horns broken and smoking. It roars and something falls off of it.

Nier: Bell?! What the Hel are you doing here?!

Bell: I'll tell you about that later until after I survive.

Yonah summons her bow and fires at the troll. I rush toward it and pull out both my swords to slash at it. Bell then gets up and attacks as well. However, his knife doesn't do much damage against the Troll for some reason. Yonah then throws her axe and it hits the troll's head enough to cause it to be in further pain. I run up with my blades slashing along its back before jumping up and putting them away. As I fall, I grab the Axe's hand and pull the Troll down before swinging the axe and decapitating it.

Bell: Woah.

I pull the axe out and toss it back to Yonah.

Bell: I didn't know both could do all that.

Yonah: Neither did we until a while ago.

Nier: Bell, what are you doing here? How did you get here?

Bell: I ran into Lord Hermes and he said that he had a dagger he wanted to give you, but was to busy. Then he gave me a relic that he said could bring me to whoever I felt a close connection to.

Yonah: Aw, you have a close connection with us?

Bell: yes, but he also said teleportation wasn't exact. And before I knew it, I was fighting that thing and ended up using the dagger, which for some reason exploded.

The dagger exploded? Why? Was Hermes trying to kill me? Why would he? Did he knew I was a god before I did?

Bell: Also, where the heck is here? It's cold.

Nier: Long story. You should head back.

Bell: I will, but can I ask you something?

Nier: What?

Bell: Can you tell me your past? Same for Yonah. You don't have to if you don't want to. Just curious.

I look at Yonah and we nod.

Nier: Fine

Yonah: But only if you tell us yours after that.

Bell: Deal.

We sit down and tell Bell about how we lived in a cabin in the woods. We also tell him about how we encountered Demons before we went to Orario. Bell was surprised, but when we told him about how our family was, he smiled. We just leave out the parts where both our parents are now dead.

Bell: Wow, you two have been through a lot.

Nier: Yeah.

Yonah: But we're still together.

Bell: And I like that. Now it's my turn. Before I came to Orario, I was living in a village as a farmer with my grandpa. He told me all these kinds of stories about heroes and gave me books about them as well. He then told me that I could be a hero and help many people. He also said that getting a pretty girl to be impressed by me would be a happy bonus. But I was more into helping people. Turns out I needed help and got swept of my feet when Aiz Wallenstein saved me.

Nier: So, where's your grandpa?

Bell: He... He died. Monsters got to him. After that, I decided to head for Orario since I couldn't stay in the village much longer now that he's gone. I tried getting into several known Familias, but I wasn't impressive enough and got kicked out of every one of them. I was about to give up on attempt 50, but that's when I met Hestia and we formed the Hestia Familia. Then two weeks later, you two joined as well.

Nier: Glad to hear that you still found a way to keep moving forward.

Bell: Same. Well, I should get back.

Nier: Bell, You can tell Hermes that I got the dagger. No need to tell him about the whole troll thing.

Bell: Sure thing. Take care you two.

Yonah: You as well.

Bell then pulls out his knife and swings it, which forms a tear of sorts. He waves bye to us and goes through the tear, which closes immediately. I grab the cloth and  unwrap Mimir.

Mimir: That Hermes fellow in the other world. He there's no way he couldn't have know the knife was explosive. You better be careful should you return to that one.

Nier: We know.

I put Mimir back on my belt and Yonah warps us back to the boat. I untie it from the rock and continue rowing through the river.