Aknon's POV

I felt like a fool once more as I stared with an open mouth at the place where a deity now stood, or at least the visage of a deity. They were tall and had long black hair which was shaved on one side. Their eyes were dark, and they were taller and more muscular than me. They looked like a true orc warrior. I had no doubt in my mind that this was the likeness of Buruh, but I wasn't sure if they were here in any kind of physical way.

"I seek a way to save my sibling," I said slowly. My mind wasn't working, like it had some kind of spell put on it. I knew that I was just in shock and confused, but I also felt like I wasn't in the right place. Something about them calling me an outsider amongst outsiders had really dug into my heart.

"I'm aware of your sibling's situation," Buruh said, which caused hope and fear to spike within me. "But I cannot aid you directly. I have a similar issue of my own to deal with."

I blinked several times like an idiot. "You-you do?" I didn't quite understand what they meant. How could a deity have a similar issue to me, when they had great powers? I was missing my sibling, after they were kidnapped., How could a deity be trying to solve a kidnapping when they have so many resources at their disposal?

"I can sense your disbelief," they said with a sigh and a slight groan of frustration.

I felt a rush of panic. "Please don't take it as an insult," I said quickly. I didn't quite know how to address them. I wasn't particularly devoted to any deity, besides maybe Odon, so I wasn't sure how they preferred to be regarded. "I am just quite surprised that you're in a similar situation. It is always assumed that the deities can do anything."

"We can do anything," Buruh commented, still seemingly a little insulted. "However, that is useless when you do not know what to do." I disliked how much that made sense.

"Understandable." I didn't know what else to say, and I wanted to rip my hair out at how familiar this feeling was getting. "Is there any aid you can provide? Even if it's not direct, it would be greatly appreciated." It sounded so simple and obvious.

"I can advise you to stop searching for information and use the facts that you know," Buruh said ominously. "Use your weapons, don't forget about them in the face of battle, even if your opponent doesn't have one." They seemed to be thinking as they raised a hand to their chin. "You wasted your time in coming here, you should go back to your sister and work your way up to finding Acer." They looked me in the eyes as my heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach. "Acer will be fine without you."

And then I was alone once more.

I took a deep breath and let out a short yell. It was rare that I let my anger take hold of me, but I had to in this situation. I had come here, even facing jail for some strange and unjust reason, only to hear that I should go back. Acer didn't need me; they didn't need anything. I was worried sick about my sibling but turns out they'd be fine without any help.

Mesh came charging forward. "Where?" He had his fists raised, ready to defeat any foes which might have caused my yell.

I shook my head. "Nowhere," I replied in a voice which sounded strangely emotional for me. "Nothing, nothing at all." I turned to him, and my expression must've given my feelings away.

"Nothing?" Mesh repeated after me, slowly lowering his hands, suddenly looking comparable to a teddy bear. "Oh." He waited a few seconds before rushing forward and encasing me in a hug.

I felt like my insides were going to move outside due to the strength of his hold. "Mesh." I had struggled to get his name out. "It's fine." I didn't even believe my own words as I tried to shake my head.

"It's not. Mesh is sorry about nothing."

I knew it came from a genuine place, and that he didn't mean for it to be taken as it sounded, but I couldn't help but laugh a little. The laugh sounded broken and hopeless, but it was true. "I know you are Mesh."

He set me down on my feet after a while, causing me to stumble back. "You contacted deity, yes?" He looked towards the blade and the platform.

I nodded, realising that he couldn't really gather what had happened from my use of 'nothing'. "They came, said that they're struggling with a similar issue, and then told me that I should go back to Sarphi."

"Back?" Mesh seemed surprised. "What about Acer?"

I shook my head. "Apparently they'll be able to deal with things on their own." I clenched my hands into fists. "I don't even know what 'things' are, I don't know what's happening to them and I'm terrified that I'm being lied to."

"Buruh wouldn't lie," Mesh insisted. "Acer will be okay."

I nodded a little, before making a noise of unsureness. "I might've worded myself wrong," I began to say hesitantly. "I meant to say that maybe their perspective may be different to that of a human experience, you know? What is alright for a deity might not be alright for a human."

"You're not human," Mesh pointed out in a very blunt voice.

I flinched and nodded. "Right, I know. I just meant as whatever we are. Deities might not have the same perspectives as my siblings and me. We might have different constitutions and limits."

"Yes, that's obvious." Mesh's bluntness was digging too close to my heart, which was already raw from my meeting with Buruh. "But that might also mean that whatever you are is more powerful than humans. Maybe Buruh is right, and Acer is fine."

"If they were fine, they'd be here." I sighed and looked down at my feet, which were stomping in the ground angrily. "Onyx would be able to find them. I'd be able to find out where they are. They, Buruh, told me something, they told me to stop looking for information, use what I know." I felt like I knew nothing. "They said I wasted my time in coming here, quite literally. I can't comprehend that because it took so long to get here, and so much effort." I felt like I was breaking down.

"Didn't waste time," Mesh disagreed and patted my shoulder. "We learned, got information. We also had some good times travelling, and Mesh found his family."

I hesitated at that before nodding. I couldn't blame him for seeing this in a good light, he was happy now. He had found somewhere he fit in, and I didn't want to pull him down with the new information I received which made my heart ache. "Yeah, that's true." I cleared my throat and nodded. "You found your family. But I'm sure that you could've done it without me."

Mesh shook his head. "Don't think so." He became even more serious, and somewhat sad. "I needed someone to take me out, I couldn't go by myself."

I was silent for a moment as I examined his face in the limited light. I always thought that he wanted someone to be with him to protect him and fight alongside him if anything attacked, but now I realised I was very wrong. It had seemed wrong in the past, but I hadn't put much thought into it, I hadn't wanted to put much thought into it. If I had, then I might've turned around. Turning around would've meant giving up on Acer. "Why?"

"Was stuck, people wanted Mesh there." He shrugged his shoulders a little. By now, we were very close to the rest of the orc camp, and I figured that Grolen had retired for the night. "Was too comfortable there."

Something didn't make sense to me. "But, that didn't seem like a place an orc would be comfortable," I commented causally. "I know that all orcs are different, just like all humans and all elves are. But it didn't seem much like you when we were back there." I hadn't spent much time with him in the wandering village, but I could see a massive difference in him the further we got away.

"It's not." Mesh stopped walking as he glanced around the tents, a smile on his face. "This is where Mesh belongs, with brothers and sisters. We fight and hunt and learn. Village life isn't for Mesh. But Mesh couldn't leave by himself. I was too scared that I wouldn't find the village again."

I shifted from foot to foot, glancing at the tents myself. "But my siblings and I found it again." I knew it wasn't fair, since Dwi probably had something to do with it.

Mesh was quiet for a moment. "Don't know if lucky or not. Village has perks, good for human society." He looked back at me. "Aknon trying to find it again?"

I nodded my head. "I have to." I inhaled deeply, the smell of fire and the forest filling my mind. "I have to go and see how Prin and Sarphi are doing. I have to try and follow Buruh's advice."