"Me?"
I ask, confused. The man nods, his expression unchanging.
"I don't know if I can handle it, last time I held it, I felt like I was going to die."
"That was most likely from the enormous strain of having to maintain an energy field the size of a planet."
The man responds quickly, changing his attention to Nevereth.
"If you can't do it, then how about him? His energy feels just as thick as yours."
Nevereth slowly stands up, laying Ayvex to the side gently.
"The reason you couldn't hold the barrier was most likely due to not having all of our power. Even now, your strength from me, Zero, and Xa'gorthep is being split. Xa still has his main body, Zero split his power between Azeroth and you. And I gave you a little bit of my magical gift, but nowhere near all of it. It would take too long to go back to Xa, but Azeroth and I should be able to give up the power we have. It should be enough for you manage the barrier."
As Nevereth finishes talking, someone else walks in through the front of the tent. He throws his head back, running his fingers through his messy, medium length, pink hair. He has on a jacket of sorts, strange emblems sewn into the front. He leans forward slightly, looking at all of us.
"Man, I was waiting for one of them to freak out, but these guys are super calm. I don't even think I was this calm when I found out that there existed more life beyond my world. But I'm more impressed by their ability to discuss what's happened to them, and not feel panicked or stressed. This is a weird bunch, huh?"
I quickly look to him, confused.
"How can you tell if we're stressed or not?"
The blonde man sighs and gives a vexed look to the pink haired guy. Before the blonde guy can speak up, the other man does.
"I can easily read people. I can do way more than that, but gotta go. Don't wanna die, y'know?"
He quickly winks and turns to leave. Passed him, I can see several other people peeking in. As they see me looking, they quickly pull their heads back. The blonde man sighs deeply, then closes his eyes. He seems lost in thought. I turn to Nevereth and Azeroth, trying to get back on track.
"As confusing as this situation is, I also understand the urgency of it. I need to maintain the barrier. No one else can."
Azeroth quickly interjects, pointing to the blonde man.
"He seems to be able to maintain the barrier, why can't he just keep it under control?"
Before we can try to answer his question, the man answers it himself.
"It isn't my job to protect this world, not when there does exist someone here perfectly capable of doing it themselves. It was out of gratitude for allowing us in that I even took it from you, allowing you to rest. Don't consider my thanks to be a handout. Our mission is to take Everia, and form relations with this world."
I nod, understanding what he means. It's not an outsider's job to save a world they know nothing about.
"I understand. Azeroth, Nevereth, please give me the power you still possess."
Nevereth nods and steps closer, but Azeroth stands sill. He watches, hesitant. From outside, we hear the pink haired guy shout.
"Now he's stressed!"
The blonde guy shakes his head.
"No sense of professionalism with him."
I turn my attention back to Azeroth.
"It's okay, I'll be fine."
"I know, I don't doubt you'll be fine. But I've had to say goodbye three times! I'd think it would get easier, but it's gotten harder each time. Don't we have any other options?"
Before I can answer, the blonde guy does.
"There are two options. One, someone takes control of the barrier and life goes on as usual. Two, the barrier goes unchecked and the world is shredded. If you went with option two, I would call for backup to assist in evacuation efforts for the planet. But everything you've ever come to know would be gone. There would be no trace of this world ever existing."
I turn to Azeroth.
"I know this world hasn't been the nicest to us, and we haven't had the smoothest ride. But there are families that gave everything for what they have here. There are children whose parents died to secure what they have now, I can't just let all their efforts go to waste. I'm sorry, but I will maintain the barrier."
Azeroth lowers his head, nodding understandingly. He extends his hand, ready to give up the power he inherited. Nevereth also extends his hand. I stare at their hands for a moment, then take them both. I feel the power slowly transfer to me. Nevereth speaks up.
"To think, that the person the other version of me chose as his vessel, turned out to truly be my successor."
We stare at each other for a moment before he continues.
"I'm sorry for what I put you through. In my haste, I failed to see that my double was unstable. I'm afraid, I unintentionally caused more harm than good. But maybe you can fix that. Try to make this world a better place while sitting on the throne, if possible."
I nod, answering quickly.
"I'll try, but not sure what all I'll be able to do while keeping the barrier up."
I turn to Azeroth, his power quickly leaving him. He sniffles, clearly upset. I don't know what to say, if there even is anything I could say to make him feel better. He rubs his eyes with his free hand and speaks up.
"It's kind of funny, how far I came alone. How I used to think I would be able to survive on my own forever. But now, I don't want to. I don't want to be alone anymore."
Nevereth speaks up.
"You won't be alone. Blankk is still alive, just injured. I saw them take him to a different tent."