As the Villagers conversed with their Goddess, the Grey Ghost, and his four awakened vestiges worked to restore the Village Gate as they talked.
"Seem Jesse and I got a few upgrades." Said Lemuel tossing a rope over to Jay Zeamer.
"I'd have to say so. Seems using such a large-scale attack drains my body's energy in the world." The Ghost had been making sure the gate's frame was in good shape before they mounted the gates.
"So... I know I'm not to all this... but are we gonna gloss over the fact you said, and I quote, "It just may be that taking over this world... doesn't sound like such a bad.", or what?" McClusky's question had everyone pause a moment then resumed working.
"What's there to discuss?", asked Jay Zeamer, "Besides, not like he's wrong. Just look at what we've accomplished so far. This village will never have a finer gate nor will those Holy Crusaders come back here seeking to cause trouble."
McClusky nodded while Jesse Brown chimed in. "Look, we all kind of saw this coming. No offense to you, McClusky, but Lemuel and I have been with the Ghost the longest out of us four. If you really itching to know why we agree, ask John Henry when he comes to."
As the five worked, the Priestess approached them. "Pardon me... but which one of you is the Grey Ghost?" Jay and Jesse point to the Ghost installing the gateposts just ahead of them. "That's him, ma'am.", Said Lemuel, "Try not to sneak up on him. He's focused at the moment."
As the Priestess made her way over, her Knight followed behind her. "Excuse me, Grey Ghost, was it?"
Grey turns around and sets his tools down. "Ah, you're the Priestess who's responsible for summoning me. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
She looks down timidly before replying. "Well, you see, the villagers asked me to ask you your intentions here... Are you going to enslave us?"
Grey's star-spangled eyes widen at the question as Lemuel and McClusky try to keep from laughing. Grey adjusts his glasses and shoots a glare at the two "balls of laughter". "No, not at all madam priestess. I have no intentions of such notions. After all, I too serve Shiva." Grey reaches over and tosses the Knight an apple. "Need to keep your strength up. Can't defend this fine lady here on an empty stomach."
The Knight catches the apple. "Yes, of course. One more thing, Sir Grey."
Grey looks back over to him. "Yes?" The Knight takes a deep breath and bows. "Thank you, for saving my lady... I MEAN OUR LADY!" He blushes still facing the ground. Grey covers his mouth, so as not to laugh at the young Knight's words.
"It wasn't much trouble, just some depleted bodily energy. That's all."
The Knight looks up, "It means the world to the villagers and myself! I must repay you somehow!" Grey sighs and walks over to him, the now parted SR-71 mask resting on either side of his cheeks. "Tell you what. Teach me about this world, as I am extremely unfamiliar with your customs, currency, and parts of culture. However, this will be done after I finish up here and speak to Shiva, deal?"
The auburn-haired Knight grins. "It's a deal, Sir Grey!" To which Grey shakes his head. "I am neither your lord nor your god. Sir is a bit too formal, so just call me Grey or Grey Ghost from now on, okay?" Grey extends his hand to the Knight.
The Knight shakes his hand with a smile. "Alright, Grey it is! Oh! I am Jasper of Lorelei! The Priestess is Emilee, Priestess of Shiva!" As Jasper smiled, Grey studied him a bit, remembering his friend from College back in his old life.
"Grey? Sir.. I mean, Grey Ghost? Are you okay? You're stare is a bit intense."
Grey snaps out of his thoughts. "I apologize. It's just, you remind me of someone I used to know is all." Grey could've easily mistaken this Jasper for the one he knew. Everything from the auburn hair, freckles lit by the sun, blue and eye mixed eyes... A tear ran down Grey's cheek causing the Knight to panic.
"Woah, hey, I'm sorry, I didn't..."
Grey's hand softly landed on the Knight's head. "Never apologize for something like that. You have the look of someone I once knew, someone kind and always doing their best, even on days it was heard." Grey ruffled his auburn hair. "So do your best to follow in his footsteps... I'll be counting on you, Jasper of Lorelei Village." Grey smiled as he walked away from his work to speak to the Goddess. As he approached, Priestess Emilee called out to the villagers. "HE'S NOT HERE TO ENSLAVE US!"
They sighed a breath of relief as Grey spoke with the Goddess. "Thanks for the surge in power."
She giggled and sat on a stone in the meadow the villagers maintained in her honor. "You are welcome, dearest Grey." She paused for a moment then looked at Grey. "So what do you think of Lorelei Village?"
Grey cleaned the lens of his glasses and then put them back on before answering. "It's a quaint little village, not forgetting to mention how that Knight, Jasper..."
"Looks and sounds like the friend you once had?" Shiva grinned with a smirk. "I carried his tender soul here, so in a way, that is him, just as is Emilee. However, they don't know you, at least not in this life. Consider it, a fresh start to a friendship that will surely become something of envy." She glanced over to Grey, who was looking at them.
"They're... the same souls?" Tears fell from his dully hued eyes. "I wasn't swift enough to save them... not in the slightest. I should've..."
Shiva slapped him across the cheek, leaving Grey stunned. "You did above and beyond that which your former form was capable of. Their words to you before I brought them here, "Don't forget to take care of yourself." So don't think anything more of that past. It's gone and no longer exists."
Grey whipped his tears. "Thank you, Shiva."
The wind of the breeze swirled into the meadow as the Goddess seemed to grow dimmer. "It would seem unless the Temple's seal is broken, I can not stay for much longer."
"Temple seal?" As Grey turned toward Shiva, she began to vanish into a whirlwind of magenta and golden flower petals. "Go to the temple, ask to speak to me and I shall return... Goodbye, for now, Grey."
As she vanishes into the petals, Grey opens his hand to catch one golden and one magenta petal each. "You should know, Shiva... I hate saying goodbye."