As it turns out this would not be difficult. Just after sunrise the next morning there was a banging on the front door. Saiyi having gotten use to sleeping in a bit, woke and stalked over to the door. Her father had evidently left early to attend to town matters. Saiyi tucked her amulet into her night gown and opened the door slowly.
"Saiyi!" A tall skinny and relatively dark skinned young woman rushed through the door, throwing herself at Saiyi. Saiyi could barely register what was happening before Zeeri tackled her. Both woman were now frantically greeting, hugging, and bonding. Wep emerged from the room, he had managed to get pants on but not much else. Zeeri stopped mid sentence, gawking at the dark man in the doorway.
"Zee, this is Wep."
"You have a boy?"
"Officially no. Unofficially yes. Isn't he gorgeous?"
"He is, but… but… Where the hell were you Saiyi? Your father told us you had been chosen to go to the islands."
Saiyi realised that the people of her town did not have the understanding she had now. She took her friend by the shoulders and took a step back. Unceremoniously, she drew her amulet out.
"I think what he said Zee, is that I was Chosen."
The dark girl's eyes went wide. For a moment or two she froze. Then abruptly she prostrated herself before Saiyi.
"Goddess. I apologise for my behaviour. Please forgive me, I knew not what I did."
Saiyi rolled her eyes and picked her friend up from the ground. Zeeri still refused to make eye contact.
"Zee?" The other woman stood still.
"Zeeri." Nothing
"Zeeri, will you please look at me. I don't want make you." This triggered something in the tall woman.
"Ha, you and what army blondie." She poked at Saiyi staring her in the eyes. Then froze again.
"Zee, it's me. Don't be a bitch okay?"
Zeeri seemed to relax. She looked Saiyi over a few times.
"So, you became a God?"
"In a sense yes."
"And you got a boy?"
"Not officially."
"Mother Goddess! Here I thought you had been taken for some boring Tabake training. Some people have all the luck."
"I missed you too." They embraced and held each other for a while. Afterward it was Zeeri's turn to hear Saiyi's tale. She left some bits out she told her father. She also added back some bits that she dared not tell her father, which had her friend blushing. Wep had gone out to explore earlier. He had never seen a Shadow Dweller town before and was curious to see it all. This left the ladies to catch up freely. Finally as evening drew near, Sailus returned home.
"Zeeri. How nice to see you. Will you be staying for dinner?"
"Evening sir. I should probably get back. My mom will wonder why I wasn't at the field today."
"I think a visit from a Goddess is a decent excuse."
"I will be sure to tell her you said so sir."
The skinny woman stood to leave. She hugged her best friend and made plans to catch up more the next day. On her way out Sailus stopped Zeeri.
"Did you tell her?" He whispered
"No sir. I haven't had the heart yet."
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow." Zeeri left heavy hearted. She had been dreading what had to come next.
The following morning Saiyi and Wep met Zeeri at the fields where they used to work. Zeeri had since moved on to be a council clerk. This was most prestigious. Saiyi waved merrily, yet Zee seemed to be less excitable.
"Morning Zee!"
"Good morning miss Zeeri."
Zeeri's greeting was less than enthusiastic.
"Hey Zee, what's up?"
"Let's take a walk." Zeeri suggested. They walked on wordlessly. After a few minutes of walking Zeeri pointed to a section of the wall. Her eyes welled up with tears.
"That's where he was. He had snuck out to see some girl."
"Are you talking about Dortesh? I thought we were on our way to see him."
"You can visit him. He's in the Shadow Fields."
The Shadow Fields are what Saiyi's town called the cemetery. The bodies were laid out, wrapped in material. This encouraged mushroom growth and the spores would continue on to feed the people of the town. In a way it was every person's last act of helping the community. It took some time to sink in for the young Goddess.
"How?" Saiyi's voice was low and unsteady.
"The bombs planted by the Sand Eaters. He had been standing right next to one when it went off."
Saiyi was at a loss. She had been so excited to complete her training and visit her friends that she never once considered how they had been affected by the raid that day. Tears ran down her face. Her teeth clenched and her knuckles popped with anger at the rebels. Unconsciously power ran from her into the ground. The amulet glowed bright red, shining through her shirt. Zeeri took a few steps back, terrified by the reaction in her friend. The ground beneath the Chosen's feet cracked and dirt drifted up as if carried by a breeze. A warmth grasped Saiyi's hand. She shot an enraged look down. It was Wep, he held her hand calmly staring off into the wastes beyond the wall. Patiently biding his time next to the love of his life. Her rage subsided into sadness. She had drifted up off the ground without paying attention. She landed with a sob. Wep turned to her and put his hand on her face. He held her close and she pulled Zeeri closer also. There the three stood mourning the loss of Dortesh.
After lunch the mood had brightened a bit. Wep was happily enjoying some algae water while Saiyi made fresh water for Zeeri and herself.
"So this is weird huh?" Zee volunteered
"It's like a bizarre dream. I keep expecting to wake up." The young Goddess admitted.
"What's it like? The power?"
"It crept up on me. Besides I spend a lot of time around Shi. She's far more advanced than I."
"Wait. Shi? As in Shiwa the Healer?"
"Yes. I know. You would like her. She's a riot."
"Shiwa, Goddess of Hagoa… Is funny?" The tall girl laughed at the absurdity of it all.
"I guess it's a lot to take in for you also."
"I'm just glad it didn't turn you into a snobby tit."
"As far as you know peasant."
"Oh I'm sorry your vaginus." Zee got up and gave a mock bow. "How may I serve your deflating ego?"
Saiyi nearly choked on her water laughing. She stood and gave a mock wave to the masses in the town below.
The remainder of Saiyi's visit settled quickly into a similar routine as it was before she left. On the fourth day she had been asked to address the Town council, but kept it short. She found it quite hilarious to see the mighty council walk on egg shells around her. Most of the town did not know about her ascension, which is how she preferred it. The last day she spent with her father, Zeeri and Wep having what constitutes a feast in the town. Her father made sure to stock Wep's bag with as much shroom bread as was reasonable. They hugged and dotted over each other, then it was finally time for the two islanders to depart.
"I'll be back soon daddy." Saiyi said, keeping tears back with a smile.
"You are both welcome anytime." Sailus handled the situation much the same. He clasped Wep's arm in a firm shake, with an approving nod. The two walked to the edge of the town and with a kiss they lifted off and sped off into the wasteland sky. They had technically left a day early and Saiyi had a surprise in store. A few hours into their flight she turned South-West. Wep followed not having studied navigation as she had. She led them to a ruined city and stopped hovering mid-air. Wep stopped, gawking at the sights.
"You always say you want to see a ruin. We have some time to spare."
Wep's expression brightened as he flew down like a little boy to fulfill a lifelong dream. They spent their day of freedom taking in the sights and making love beneath the city sky as it were. They spent the night next to a fire among the monuments of an age past. Saiyi's heart felt full. She had achieved what she had set out to do months ago and more. For the first time since that fateful night of the raid, through all her struggles and apprehensions, Saiyi finally felt like a true Chosen. A Goddess made flesh. She knew all too well that she remained essentially human. But now she had the power to keep those safe that mattered to her most.