The feast held in Selene's honor did not bother Waverly at all. She was quite satisfied that Cassiope now knew who she really was but the revelation only prompted the flower spirit to bombard her with very strange, very annoying questions.

"Have you slept ontop of the moon before?"

"No." Waverly moaned in reply to the thousandth question as she trekked back to camp with Cassiope jumping, floating and bopping behind and around her.

"Have you met your mother?"

"Yes. I have."

"What is she like?" Cassiope gushed.

"Really nice." Waverly said and passed under an elm tree. Cassiope floated right through it but the host tree spirit came out looking quite offended by her unexpected intrusion.

"Is moon dust a real thing?"

"Yes."

Cassiope gasped. "Do you have some?"

"No."

"But why?"

"I don't know. My mother has it, i do not."

"Does your mother visit you?"

Waverly hesitated. "Yes."

"Can i see her?"

"You cannot."

"Why?"

Waverly scoffed exasperatingly and briefly halted. "Because you just can't, Cassiope. Even if she were here right now, you would not be able to see her unless she wills you to."

Cassiope wore a sad look. "Does she hate me?"

"No." Waverly answered with an alarmed expression. It was obvious she had hurt Cassiope's feelings. "I meant that she doesn't always want to be seen because people do not like her that much."

Cassiope's sad look dissolved and was replaced by a curious one. "People do not like Selene? Why? She is nice, is she not?"

Waverly climbed up the steps to her front door and pushed it open. "She is nice but it's complicated. A long story."

"Tell it to me." Cassiope demanded with a wide grin.

"I can't. I am still very weak."

Cassiope retreated at last. "Oh, oh yes. You did a lot of writing yesterday so you need to rest a little bit more."

Waverly sat on her bed and spread her legs out eyeing her broken bathroom door. "I just need to regain my strength. My entire system is still on fire."

An impatient knock made Waverly turn. She urged Cassiope to open the door and in came Phyllis, Regent, Grace and Ceylon. Some of them looked wide-eyed and the others look excited.

"Is it true?" Phyllis shrieked and flung herself next to Waverly. The bed reacted to her weight and shrunk down.

"Hello." Waverly waved to them then turned to Phyllis. "Is what true?"

"That last night someone put those glowing symbols in every single house to chase away the Incubuses." Regent said. His gaze was unbelievably sharp.

"And that it was you."

Waverly felt her face stiffen with an uncomfortable cold. "What?"

"Don't lie to us." Ceylon said sharply then his face and voice softened at once. "We're your friends, aren't we?"

Phyllis gently grabbed Waverly's shoulder and turned her so they came face to face. She spoke in a gentle tone. "Is it true? Did you really do that? Is your mother really Selene?"

Waverly's throat constricted as she stared into Phyllis's expectant eyes and that of all her friends.

"Where did you hear that?" She asked.

"Those nosey spirits have been spreading gossip about it." Grace offered. "I told them to shut it until wese heard it straight from youse first."

Waverly stole an inconspicuous glance at Cassiope who seemed to have melted into herself whilst nervously biting her lip. It was a marvel that the flower spirit had found the time to spread the news so fast but then again, it was impossible for nature spirits to keep secrets. It made Waverly wonder just how many people had heard the so-called rumor. Her insides squirmed uncomfortably.

"I. . ." She began, testing her arsenal of words. She wanted to fabricate a story but a part of her felt very exhausted with making up lies. She was tired of hiding who she was. Whatever would happen, should happen. Besides, she had stomached the worst of situations before.

"Yes, i did them. It was me." She sighed in defeat.

A bout of gasps filled the room and Waverly did not know exactly how to translate the feelings they represented.

"Really?" Regent asked with a stunned look on his face. "I was kinda hoping it was just gossip."

"It is not gossip." Waverly shook her head dejectedly. She looked up meekly. "Do you all hate me now?"

"Hate you?" Phyllis asked, bewildered.

"We do not hate youse. Why would youse think that?" Grace said.

"Because i'm. . ." Waverly began.

"Zanaan." Regent completed then broke into a short laugh. "You're still living in the past if you think that we hate god's blood."

"Listen," Phyllis began. She also had a soft smile on her face. "People who hate your kind either have some personal feud with them or are really jealous of them. We're neither. It's really exciting and an honor to know that we've had a daughter of Selene among us for almost a year."

"We're sorry if we made you feel like you didn't belong with us at some point." Ceylon said.

"Youse the only one that made herse feel that way." Grace suddenly fired.

"Me?" Ceylon asked disbelievingly. "I did nothing."

"Exactly." Grace retorted. "Youse done nothing to be herse good friend."

"Alright. It's alright." Waverly said, feeling a bit relieved. "I am only very glad that you're all okay."

Phyllis gave Waverly a small hug. "We are glad that you're okay too. You saved a large number of us last night. The dark army has obviously upped their game and if you weren't here, our race would've been completely obliterated in one night along with all those innocent refugees who found safety with us. The thought alone is soul jarring and negatively stunning."

Regent came to sit on Waverly's other side. He looked tired. "They now come in great numbers all at once in different parts of the realm. They are hoping to crush our defenses totally. Sir Chedor told me they have even opted to using all kinds of magical means. That boy, the one who broke the border - he's long reversed the curse Juniper placed on the earth."

Grace frowned. "I wonder how hese so powerful. I wonder who hese is because hese only showed up twice now but hese done so much disaster both times. I am sure hese probably their leader."

Waverly gulped nervously. "What are the plans now?"

"Sir Chedor says our King is planning an assault. A great one." Regent explained.

"What kind of assault?" She asked with a frown.

"He has sent out spies to find out where the enemy camp is. It's difficult because they keep moving but the spies came back with the discovery that the enemy camp isn't just one. There are hundreds of them but the biggest one is not so far off."

"They have camped just across the sea within Arwen." Ceylon offered.

"What about Lord Edsel?" Waverly asked.

Phyllis sadly shook her head. "Didn't you notice? The bridge of Bridge is gone now which means we're on our own. If Arwen has been overtaken, then that means Edsel has left it for good and a playground for the enemy."

"But why would he do that?" Waverly thought out loud. She wondered if the god had been compromised.

"We don't know and we don't have the time to ponder it." Regent replied. "The assault is going to be like none other because our King himself and the other kings would be coming with us."

Waverly raised a questioning eyebrow then recalled Juniper's instructions the day she had eavesdropped. "I think that is a great idea."

Phyllis shifted uneasily then lowered her voice. "We're gonna need all of our skills and all the help we can get. I think that boy is the dark army's secret weapon and they keep using him to disorient us when we least expect it."

"What are you saying?" Waverly asked with narrowed eyes.

"She's saying that you could be our secret weapon too, if you want to." Ceylon contributed. "I mean, you're obviously stronger than the rest of us, no debate about that. We're all gonna fight yes, but we need you to back us up extra."

"Extra?"

Regent grinned. "Yeah, extra. You could do some. . ." He imitated sea waves with his hands.

"Shese not a witch, Regent." Grace corrected with a roll of her eyes then knelt down on one knee and rested her elbow against it. She stared at Waverly straight in the eyes.

"Do youse think that youse could take down that boy if wese find him? If youse do that, wese have a better fighting chance."

Waverly felt her chest rise in panic. "By take him down, you mean. . . kill him?"

Grace nodded. "Yes. Hese very dangerous."

Waverly stood up quickly, her body trembling slightly. She would never dream of hurting Judson - ever.

"No. I-I-I don't think that i can. I mean, you said it yourself right. . . hese very dangerous. I can't do it."

Ceylon laughed in delight. "She sounded just like you right there."

Phyllis threw him a warning look and he kept shut. "Waverly, we're not trying to make you do more than you can. We just wanna know. That boy is really dangerous. Who knows what he might do next after the Incubuses?"

"Why do you think he was responsible for those?" Waverly asked even though she knew the answer to her own question. Summoning a million Incubuses would be to Oculmus like scooping up water with one hand. He was the Father of Nys after all, the Lord of Darkness and all the other evil related titles he held.

"The dark army are not only greater in number but in power as well." Phyllis continued. "I can assure you that they have some gods on their side. Since we don't have any gods, we can only turn to you."

"Yes." Cassiope agreed, speaking for the first time. She floated forward. "I know friend Waverly is good and she is strong. She is young but better than any Human i have met and i have not met a lot of Humans except for the old lady who camps near the waterfall because she says the rest of the realm is too noisy."

Grace's face contorted with mild confusion and she took a threatening step toward Cassiope. "What is youse saying, flower girl?"

Cassiope floated back. She looked like she had been poked in the eye with a stick. Grace's voice made her tremble slightly.

"It's alright, Cassiope." Waverly comforted with a small grin. "Just tell us what you're trying to say."

Cassiope pushed back the white flower on her head into place as it had begun to slip forward. "I am saying that you can do something to help us overtake those bad people, you can. They send Incubuses to kill people in their sleep - you can send something to them to scare them too."

Regent's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness, she's right." Then his face went serious. "Do you think you could do something like that?"

Waverly wore a look of uncertainty. "I don't know. I. . . i don't think there's an army of good Incubuses anywhere."

Phyllis looked to be very deep in thought with her eyes fixed on the wooden floorboard. "Good Incubuses." She muttered, then snapped a finger. "Of course."

"You have an idea." Ceylon stated easily as if he knew Phyllis's mind.

Phyllis turned to Waverly. "Waverly, do you know who Hephus is?"

Waverly nodded. "Of course i do. He used to be the god of nightmares then he became the god of good dreams and. . ." As she spoke, she realized the suggestion Phyllis was about to make and her eyes widened.

"Do you mean-"

Phyllis smiled. "Yes. That is exactly what i mean."

Grace chuckled nervously. "Uh, can youse tell me what youse mean? I don't understand."

"We're going to send woolgather to the dark army." Phyllis grinned but in a wicked way. Waverly thought it was the evilest grin that ever graced her friend's face.

"Woolgather?" Cassiope asked. "How ever will we find that much sheep?"

The group burst into small laughter.

As the day dragged into afternoon, Phyllis stayed with Waverly to plot how and when they would execute their plan. The pair went out for a stroll and wherever they passed, Waverly noticed that people would occasionally throw reverential looks her way. She pointed this out to Phyllis.

"We told you rumor has been spreading, didn't we?" Phyllis asked with a light chuckle. "Although it is only within the army, and a lot of them don't believe it still because they think that you're way too small to have done a thing of such magnitude."

Waverly scoffed. For a moment, she desired more than anything to gather the entire army, tell them all that she had faced from the beginning and watch their eyes pop out of their sockets.

"Seems that way." She muttered instead.

"I personally think courage is not of age or size nor race but of true spirits. And you have proven that. I'm sure there's a lot of other good things you've done in the background that we don't know about."

Waverly gave a modest shrug. "There's not much."

Phyllis laughed. "Really? I saw you on that day, you know."

Waverly halted, unsure of the day Phyllis had somehow witnessed without her knowledge.

"What day?"

Phyllis halted as well. She looked quite solemn. "The day Havilah died, just before she did. You dragged all the injured away from the battlefield when the rest of us were too occupied, ignoring them."

Waverly silently exhaled in relief. "I only did my duty then."

"No, you did a great kindness. More people would have died on that day if it weren't for you."

"And yet i could not save my own friend's life." Waverly said bitterly.

Phyllis grabbed her shoulders. "Hey, you're not the only who was thinking that. Every one of us has carried that thought with us, wishing we could've done more or acted quickly but it wasn't meant to be. I'm sure Havilah is happy in Steppe now and i'm sure that's where she's gone."

Waverly nodded gratefully. She had shouldered the blame for Havilah's death for so long that it became a familiar weight until Phyllis had broken it to pieces and taken a portion. It made her feel better and lighter.

"Now, let us go over the plan one more time." Phyllis offered.

Waverly nodded in agreement. "Okay."

Just then, a familiar creature bounded toward them. A lion with golden brown mane. Waverly recognized it immediately. When it came closer, it bowed low.

"Greetings, ladies." It said.

Phyllis glanced at Waverly. "Hello, Ananim."

Waverly also glanced at Phyllis. "You know his name?"

"We're in the same camp, duh." Phyllis replied.

Ananim bowed again. "Forgive me for interrupting your stroll and discussion but i just wanted to gaze upon the mighty Slayer of Gruggun."

Waverly's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Phyllis had a look on her face that was of both amusement and suspicion. "Ananim, what is it that you're talking about?"

The lion shook its mane. "Well, my lady Phyllis, in case you have not heard yet, the young Human warrior next to you is the talk of every camp all across the realm. Some Human folk from a place called RenderMore who claims to have traveled from his home before the attacks began and was unfortunate to never reach his town because of it, has told many tales about a certain "Waverly" who by her cunning and simple trickery ended the terror of a mountain spirit, a powerful giant named Gruggun who had been terrorising his townsfolk for over eighty years."

Waverly felt her mouth go dry. She was absolutely unprepared for this phase of her life. Lord Desi had told her beforehand that her deeds would spread and stories would travel about everything she had done in the Trials.

Phyllis chuckled although it showed in her eyes that she had instantly believed what the lion said. "Are you sure this is the same Waverly he spoke about?"

Ananim nodded and the hairs around his head rippled like waves. "The Human's description of his young hero fits perfectly with the young lady's features and if that is not enough, he carries a sketch of her with him."

Phyllis turned to Waverly, her lips partly hanging open. "Is it true?"

Waverly sighed. "Yes, it is. But i had a lot of help from the men there."

Phyllis looked as though she would explode into purple dust. "How on earth have you been quiet about this? What else have you done that you haven't told us about?"

Waverly turned to Ananim. "I must apologize about our last encounter. I was only bothered by the unfairness you showed that Dwarf. I've known them to be a kind people."

Ananim bowed low again and did not raise his head as he spoke. "It is i who should apologize, my lady. I acted out of sheer spite and jealousy as i should have not. I am ashamed to stand before a great warrior such as you."

Phyllis looked lost but kept silent.

"I would rather you made friends with that Dwarf and be kind to anyone who comes your way." Waverly said.

"I have heard you and i will do as you say, my lady. Have a good afternoon."

Ananim strolled away with that.

"To think i thought you an innocent little rookie the first time you walked into our room." Phyllis said in awe.

Waverly chuckled. "I was."

"You killed a mountain spirit. . .  what else have you killed, huh?"

"Bugs, ants, spiders - by spiders, i mean Epeiras. An entire army of them on the bridge of Bridge. I have also faced an Eliaen, a Mantin. . ."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, you've faced an Eliaen?"

"Gave me a wicked scratch on my back, do you want to see?"

Phyllis placed both hands on her purple hair as though she was unable to contain the excitement she felt. "Yes."

That evening, Waverly's friends gathered in her room and she told them as much as she could about her adventures and answered as many questions as they had to ask.

"What i want to know is that," Ceylon interrupted. "Have you met any gods?"

Waverly pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment. "Yes. I have."

"No!" Grace breathed. "I thought the gods no longer show themselves."

"Well," Waverly interjected. "I only saw a few and mostly the unhappy ones, like Lord Desi for example."

"He's grumpy?" Regent asked. "Huhn, for a god of success you'd think he'll be cheerful all the time."

"So how did you come to Alpgeton and besides, why were you going on all of these adventures on your own?" Ceylon asked.

Waverly's eyes dropped. She suddenly did not feel like talking anymore. She missed Judson and whenever she remembered all they had gone through together, it made her feel so many emotions at once that she could not contain. It felt like air had been restricted from her chest.

"Waverly?" Phyllis called calmly. She leaned against the table next to Ceylon.

"I think i should. . ." Waverly gestured toward the door and walked toward it. Everyone stared at her as she ventured outside.

When she stepped out, she found a small crowd of Hammits, Humans and Elves gathered on her doorstep. She halted in shock.

"Hail, young Zanaan." A Hammit said.

"Good evening, Waverly." A familiar voice greeted. It was Rubick, the Neon Stallion.

"Hello and good evening, Rubick." She greeted then glanced around. "What is going on?"

"These folks heard about your great deed last night with chasing away the Incubuses and the wonderful battle between you and Gruggun. They have come to look upon you and say their greetings." Rubick explained, though his voice had a hint of apology as if he had not wanted to bother her at all.

"Oh."

Just then, the door behind Waverly opened and her friends walked out.

"Wow, looks like youse have got an audience." Grace exclaimed.

Phyllis stepped forward. "Um, everyone, if you would be kind as to disperse. My friend has had such a long day and it would be cruel if we do not let her rest. Chasing away Nightmares isn't a trifle task."

"But she was about to leave her room. We are not disturbing." A Human said. He was one of the refugees who had seemingly joined up in the army.

"Youse do not understand plain English, do you?" Grace barked, stepping forward. "Hada hannés." (Go away)

The small crowd scattered immediately - Elves first.

"Thank you, Grace." Waverly said.

"Youse can go for a stroll now. I'll come if youse want no one to disturb youse." Grace offered.

"You know what, i just want to rest a while. I am very tired." Waverly said.

"We're sorry we bothered you this long." Regent apologized.

Waverly waved her hand. "You did not bother me at all. It felt like we were roommates again."

In pairs, the group left until Waverly was all by herself. She stared for long at the spot where they had stood. It was overwhelming that nearly everyone now knew who she was and had accepted her nonetheless. In fact, they found her very fascinating and special. It was a strange feeling but Waverly secretly liked it.

She suddenly remembered that she had not seen the brothers since the Incubus event when she had woken up in Dermot's bed. She still had his hunting cloak and he was yet to come and retrieve it. She wondered what kept them so busy but then remembered that they had both joined the higher ranking army. They would be with the King plotting an assault.

She washed and had a small meal as her appetite had previously vanished after she conjured the lunoglyphs. She still felt pain, especially in her neck and eyes. The symbols seemed to have cast an unnatural weight that refused to leave her. The lingering heaviness on her eyelids made her feel sleepy.

Waverly wished her mother would come so she could ask her why the symbols made her feel the way she did. As she got into bed that night, she thought of everything that happened and the great number of people that lost their lives.

Day of the Incubuses.

Waverly thought was what she would call that day. She was very thankful that all her friends were safe and accounted for and that they still loved her despite her identity as god's blood, especially Diarmaid whose mother had been murdered by a Zanaan. She had initially thought he would find it the hardest to accept her but he had done so without any conditions.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately but it did not take long before her eyes snapped open again. Her body went completely still when she suddenly heard breathing as of that of an animal that had run for a long time. At first, she thought it was Borzoi that had found her way into the room but it was unlikely as her door was locked.

She carefully turned her gaze sideways and found something perched on the ground like a ball of fur. Waverly blinked the sleep out of her eyes for a better look.

The fur was silver.

She sat up immediately and kicked back her covers then climbed out of bed. The animal seemed to have no head nor a tail and even as it breathed in tiny pants, Waverly could hear it loud and clear. In fact, it progressively grew stronger that the ground began to vibrate under her feet. She wondered how such a small animal could have such a powerful heartbeat.

She knelt cautiously in front of the silvery ball of fur and reached for it. As soon as her fingers made contact, the animal lifted its head and hastily stood upright.

Waverly shuffled back with a yelp then recognized the animal at once.

"Chestnut." She exclaimed, puzzled at the sight of the pup sized wolf. Although still a measure wider than a dog's young, he was small enough to fit into Waverly's arms when he ran up to her.

She laughed as he nudged her playfully in every part of her arm. "You remember me."

Chestnut gave a small howl and began to run in circles around her. His eyes were bigger as a result of his unusual size but it made him even more adorable. Waverly picked him up with effort and stroked his silver fur.

"How have you become so small now?" She inquired, lifting the wolf to her eye level. Her hands sagged as he was incredibly heavy.

"Did mother send you to me or did you get lost?"

"I sent him."

Waverly lifted her eyes and found Selene - although only an apparition of her - standing in the rays of moonlight that filtered into the room.

She let Chestnut down and rose. The look on her mother's face was one of worry and very much unlike the cheerful, loving expression the goddess usually had on.

"Why is he smaller, mother?" Waverly asked, going closer to the illusion of Selene.

"My wolves can change size at will and at command. He is only this way because you would have been frightened had you woken up to see a fully grown wolf in your bedroom."

Waverly nodded in agreement. Chestnut ran to her then subsequently spotted Selene within the moon rays. He gave a short loud sound and ran to the illusion but only passed through it. She thought he had attempted to give the goddess a hug.

"Why did you send him?"

"You will need him more in these times than i do. It was only logical that he was the one to come seeing as he took a quick liking to you the last time you met. He will serve you for as long as you have him. Do not bother about feeding or bathing him, Chestnut will take care of himself. Sometimes he will go missing but that is his intention, so do not worry. He will always find you again."

Waverly looked down at the wolf who now sat on his heels staring up at her with big blue eyes.

"Thank you, mother." Waverly said.

"Waverly," Selene began again. Her face was unreadable as the light seemed to bend and ripple around her form. "You must be on alert and you have to be strong. The time for feasting and resting has come to an end. The war will be more extreme and very strict, people will die in great numbers, the earth will bleed. Your friends were right. On the battlefield you will need your godly strength even more than before."

"But it weakens me." Waverly complained. She wanted to mention the lunoglyphs but it seemed there was no time for that anymore. It was only a whit in comparison to the kind of things she was truly capable of.

"Because you are new to it. You must train your body to endure the strain and your mind to absorb the weight. You are master of your abilities and not the other way around."

"I hear you, mother."

"I must go now. I hope Chestnut will be of great help and of great company. I fear we will not speak again for the longest time yet."

Waverly felt saddened by those words but she did not show it. She had ultimately learned to live without HalfHyde for almost a year and the only thing she would dearly miss about Selene was her advice and the atmosphere of familiarity she brought with her that made Waverly feel like she had never been alone all those years.

"This is farewell then." Waverly said with a tone of finality.

Selene nodded. "Be safe, daughter. Farewell."

The illusion melted back to normal so that it was nothing more than rays of the moon. Waverly sat down on her bed with her legs crisscrossed. Chestnut came up to her and snuggled into the gap between her thighs.

"I guess from now on you are a big part of my adventures." She said stroking the soft fur on Chestnut's head.

"Welcome aboard." She muttered and pulled the covers over herself while Chestnut quietly laid down close to her head.