I shut the door behind Jyne and gesture to the table. She doesn't sit immediately.
Instead, she stands in the middle of my cabin, taking in the simple furniture, the walls, the window—then her gaze stops at the stove and refrigerator in the kitchen. Her expression shifts into something complicated, like she's seeing too much at once.
I set out a pitcher of water and two cups. One for me. One for her. She takes the cup, holds it in both hands, and drinks. Her hands are shaking slightly.
Donny is tucked into the corner, but he's not braced for an attack anymore. He's just… watching. I glance at him. He gives a small, cautious churr—less tense, more curious.
I turn back to Jyne.
[Wright] "So… how've you been?"
Jyne pauses, then meets my eyes.
[Jyne] "I've been… busy."
[Wright] "Yeah? Busy how?"
Her expression hardens.
[Jyne] "The world is unstable."
[Wright] "Unstable?"
Jyne's gaze sharpens.
[Jyne] "The human kingdom near this forest is collapsing."
My stomach drops.
[Wright] "Wait. What?"
Jyne takes a breath, voice steady, almost tired.
[Jyne] "You're living on the border between a human kingdom and the demon lord's territory."
[Wright] "Border?"
Jyne's eyes narrow.
[Jyne] "Yes. And they are at war with each other."
I shake my head, trying to process it.
[Wright] "War?"
Jyne's expression darkens.
[Jyne] "Yes. The humans are invading. Well… trying to invade. They've been at it for years."
I stare at her, dumbfounded.
[Wright] "Years? Why?"
Jyne nods.
[Jyne] "The king is foolish. The nobles are corrupt. The people are suffering."
For the first time, I see exhaustion in her eyes.
[Jyne] "They think my blessing means they're chosen. They've mistaken my mercy for divine favor."
I swallow.
[Wright] "So you're saying…"
Jyne interrupts, voice sharp.
[Jyne] "I'm saying they're doomed. I've been granting blessings to a few good-hearted ones, hoping they can turn things around. But they're easily led astray by those in power. Now the kingdom is collapsing because they built everything on a lie."
Donny shifts in the corner. His shell scrapes softly against the floor as he moves closer—slowly, cautiously. He's listening. Worried.
[Wright] "So the kingdom is arrogant and corrupt."
Jyne's expression darkens further.
[Jyne] "Yes."
[Wright] "And yet you still help them."
Jyne's voice quiets.
[Jyne] "Because if I don't, many will die."
I stare at her for a long moment.
[Jyne] "Every time I stabilize them, they grow more arrogant. At this point, it might be better if I just let them collapse on their own."
The silence that follows feels heavy. Then Jyne glances toward the bathroom door. Her eyes widen slightly.
[Jyne] "Your house is… absurd."
[Wright] "Thank you." I grin.
Her gaze lingers on the structure for a moment, then shifts back to me.
[Jyne] "I don't want to talk about this anymore," she says suddenly. "I'm getting agitated."
I raise an eyebrow.
[Wright] "You don't like talking about your own failure?"
Jyne's eyes narrow.
[Jyne] "Don't mock me."
I put my hands up.
[Wright] "Okay, okay."
I step toward her and gesture toward the hallway.
[Wright] "Let me show you around. It'll take your mind off things."
Jyne looks at me suspiciously.
[Jyne] "Why? I can't stay for long. I have a ton of work to do."
[Wright] "We haven't seen each other in a while, so I want to chat. Plus, you need to relax."
[Jyne] "Relax."
[Wright] "Yeah." I nod.
She looks at me like I'm insane. Then she slowly nods.
[Jyne] "Fine. Show me."
I lead her through the house. We pass the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom. Jyne's eyes scan everything with a mixture of disbelief and awe.
Donny follows behind us, keeping a careful distance. He's not comfortable with the goddess in the house, but he's also not stupid enough to leave. We enter the bathroom.
I stand in front of the toilet and gesture proudly.
[Wright] "Behold. The pinnacle of human comfort."
Jyne stares.
A modern Japanese-style toilet. An opulence that's out of place in a log cabin—or anywhere else in this world, for that matter.
Jyne's eyes widen. Not at the toilet, but at the bathtub next to it.
The tub is simple, but clean. A faucet, for hot or cold. The room is bright. The smell of soap and herbs lingers in the air. She takes a step closer.
[Jyne] "This… this is… amazing."
I stand there, crestfallen as the toilet is ignored. Some people just don't get how awesome this thing is.
Jyne's gaze drops to the tub, and for a moment she looks like she might cry. I blink.
[Wright] "Uh… are you okay?"
Jyne's eyes snap back to mine.
[Jyne] "I have not bathed properly in… in centuries."
[Wright] "Centuries?"
Jyne nods.
[Jyne] "My duties. My responsibilities. The world. I've never had the time."
[Wright] "You're telling me you've been… not bathing, for centuries?"
Jyne's expression darkens.
[Jyne] "I am a goddess. My body doesn't need the same care as mortals."
[Wright] "But you still want to."
Jyne's eyes soften. She says quietly.
[Jyne] "Yes. I want to."
I step closer and place a hand on the tub's edge.
[Wright] "Then take one. You deserve it."
Jyne's eyes flick to me.
[Jyne] "I shouldn't."
[Wright] "Why not?"
[Jyne] "I have too much to do."
[Wright] "Work will always be there. It shouldn't be an excuse for not taking time to take care of yourself. You need to relax sometime and recharge, don't you know?"
I pause, then add, softer.
[Wright] "Especially if you're a god. Your actions have consequences that affect all of creation. You have to be at your best, or else you'll make mistakes that could lead to annihilation."
Jyne looks at me, slightly embarrassed.
[Jyne] "You always… make things feel like a lesson. You always make me feel like I'm learning."
I blink.
[Wright] "That's because you are."
Jyne's lips twitch.
[Jyne] "Don't make it sound like a compliment."
[Wright] "It is."
Jyne's eyes narrow, but she doesn't argue. She steps closer to the tub. Her hands hover over the faucet as she turns on the hot water. Then she closes her eyes.
For the first time, she looks… human.
Not because she is. But because she's allowing herself to feel something other than duty. I watch her. An idyllic scene of a goddess enjoying a mortal pleasure.
[Wright] "Go ahead. Take a bath. I still need to gather food for lunch. I'll head out with Donny, so take your time and enjoy."
Jyne opens her eyes. She looks at me, and for a moment she seems unsure.
Then she nods once.
[Jyne] "Thank you."
[Wright] "Well then, I'll leave you to it. Also, stay for lunch. I want to hear more about what's going on in this world."
I turn and leave the bathroom. Donny and I head outside and start walking into the forest.
[Wright] "Let's get something good to serve to Jyne once she gets out."
[Wright] "We should also pick up some seeds from the fruits and vegetables we tried yesterday. We can start planting them after lunch."
Donny lets out a soft churr behind me, as if he agrees.
And somewhere in the bathroom, the goddess who has worked for a century straight to maintain balance in the world is finally letting herself breathe.