The Creator talked to Homeward and Apricorn first. Telling them the best route to take back and what to leave behind. He told them what to do the moment they entered the city.
Then He paused for them to repeat back the instructions and show that they had understood.
Homeward and Apricorn looked at Shigure and me with a confused, conflicted expression.
"Perry, you and Junichi will have to make a decision during this last war of the Blue Gulf. The war is going to devastate the area. Even the creatures living here will be unable to live. The area guardians are already working to move all those under their protection as far away as they can get. The tribes will be no more, just as the tribal judges have long gone. I have only managed to save your two lines of judges because your great grandmasters heard my voice and obeyed me. In this war, you are all going to be betrayed by your own people. Therefore, before the end, I will give you a choice. You may remain and fight and perish with your people, or you may leave and start anew somewhere else. I am sending you back now to fight, in order to give all my people time to evacuate and to give those remaining a choice. What do you choose?"
Junichi? Perry? Those were Shigure and Homeward's real names? Cool. I had been hoping to learn their real names.
Both men took sharp intakes of breath and exchanged glances, looking hesitant and unsure.
"Creator Father," I spoke up, "is there any way the city and the tribes can be saved? Is it possible that you can, for our sake, intervene? Is the destruction of the city and Land already a fixed event?"
The Creator looked over at me with something like pity and sadness in his eyes.
"If you are able to persuade all the tribes to repent and turn from their evil ways, then I will be able to spare them," He told me after a long, heavy moment. "If not, those who will hear you should leave. As for the city, I recommend you encourage as many of the people who will listen to you to evacuate as possible. Your City Council has already collaborated with your overseas enemies to perform wickedness upon wickedness. In this battle, both their nation and your city will be destroyed. The old guardians of this land will be no more. The blood of the innocents cry out to me for justice day and night. The Land is no longer able to contain the weight of all the sin and the number has reached the need for judgment to fall. This city shall not be rebuilt. I sent my people to warn them long ago but they did not listen. I sent the judges, but after a few generations, the tribe of judges grew tired of doing what was good and right. They perverted my words and led the tribes to do even more wicked things, killing those who remained true to me. Therefore they and the land I gave them was destroyed. Now, the cup of wrath built up for the city and tribes is overflowing. They shall be destroyed."
"I thought that the weight of the sins of the tribes would be greater than those of the city," I muttered. "I thought that the city being civilised with all those laws and rules would be better."
"There is much you don't know and have never seen," Shigure touched my head with a sigh. "I knew this was coming but I didn't expect it to have arrived now during our time."
"What if I can't persuade the tribes?" I asked the Creator Father, tugging at his sleeve.
"Then once you have left the area, they will be destroyed," the Creator Father said. "You have seen what they do and have done with your own eyes. You, of all people know better than anyone just what evil deeds they have committed. I cannot allow this taint to spread. It is the same for the city. Where there is a cancerous tumour, it must be cut out."
I sat back on my seat and almost fell off it when I forgot there was no backrest on the stool. A gentle hand stopped me and I looked back to see my primary guardian spirit smiling at me. I nodded at him and he stepped back to blend back into the surroundings.
"April, may I presume that you will follow your husband?" the Creator turned His gaze to Apricorn, reminding me of my school teacher's original name, April Knight.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Apricorn bowed her head, "unless he chooses to die with the city."
"Very well," the Creator inclined His head to her. "Rest assured that the safety of you and the little one has been secured. Once your work in the city is done, the two of you shall evacuate to the land that I will send you to, if this is what you choose."
"Majesty," Homeward said and hesitated.
"Speak," the Creator looked at Homeward directly.
"What about them?" Homeward looked at Shigure and me.
"It is good to care for your friends," the Creator acknowledged, "but in this case, son, I would ask you to focus on what you will need to do. When you return to the city, you and your wife must pack again and ready for an immediate departure, awaiting the moment I give you the word. The betrayal will come swiftly and if you do not listen to me, your wife and child will leave without you, and it may be many years before you reunite. As for your friends, I have other work for them to do. If they do well, they may even go ahead of you, so you need not fear for them. Your own troubles are sufficient for you."
"Yes, Majesty," Homeward said, taking a long and slow deep breath, not looking at Shigure or me again. "I understand. I will leave with my family when the time comes."
I didn't want to admit it, but this was all ringing alarm bells in my head. Did this mean that Shigure and I would potentially die?
"Then go, return with your team to the city with as much speed as is safe. If anyone refuses to listen to you, leave them behind. You do not have the time to tarry. Do not wait for Junichi and Harmony either. I will take care of their transport," the Creator waved a hand.
Homeward bowed down on the ground, while Apricorn bowed on the chair, while holding little Lutz.
The Creator reached out a hand to touch Lutz's head.
"Don't be afraid of what's to come, little one. I will be with you. Be patient with your parents. All will be well."
Lutz reached out to the Creator with a smile and held onto His hand, babbling in baby language.
The Creator smiled and nodded.
"Go," the Creator said. Both Homeward and Apricorn disappeared with baby Lutz.
Shigure and I were left alone with the Creator. There was a long silence and I nervously sought Shigure's hand. He gave my hand a light squeeze with a sweaty palm.
This reminded me of all the times I had gotten in trouble with my superiors and had to stand in their office awaiting discipline.