text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, serious, grimdark, fantasy]
  
  Year 45
  
  In all the years you served the Empire, you always felt like you were being held back in some way; lack of supplies, lack of equipment, ungrateful rioting peasants, or incompetent commanding officers. In most cases it was never a failing on your part.
  
  For the past few years, you've come to appreciate no longer having any of those limitations. In Nalin everyone more or less works for the greater good of the country. In fact it could be argued that this is more the case here than it ever was in the Empire, at least as far as you saw. Brenda eventually declared the biggest town (Now a city) Dalt to be the capital and moved there to better manage things. You of course are head of the army and remained at Fort Glory.
  
  Despite her initial inexperience at running a nation, Brenda has proven to do a fair job at it. Hand picking town mayors and other bureaucratic types to help run things certainly helps. What also helps is Nalin is a much smaller nation than the Empire was. The long arm of the army doesn't need to go far to catch someone doing something against the law.
  
  Your intimidating reputation as head of the army obviously keeps people in line as well. Still, it isn't complete fear; they know you'll also keep them safe. When Usksha raiders started gathering around the southern borders again, you made sure to strike at them before they could attack any of the southern towns. You wish you could just go into the Usksha Desert and wipe them all out, but you know you just don't have the resources for such a thing. Still, you did find a temporary solution in the form of an equally old annoyance. The kobold tribes who eventually realized that continuing to fight against you would result in genocide, agreed to relocate to the edges of the southern Nalin border where they would help defend it. This has worked out quite well. The harsh terrain conditions closer to the desert as well as the occasional Usksha raids keep the kobold population down as well as aid as a front line defense without having to waste valuable troops.
  
  For the most part everything has been running quite well, perhaps a little too well to the point where you get a little bored, but you don't even mind that now. You're just glad to be part of a nation that isn't crippled by corruption.
  
  "This is the last remnant of the true Empire." You sometimes think.
  
  Of course a certain person might disagree with that thought, namely Edgar.
  
  Edgar hasn't contacted you or Brenda. Brenda wonders if it's because he considers you both traitors for seceding from the Empire, and while that sounds like Edgar, you suspect it's more because he's been very busy. Ever since the Empire fell, Edgar has been busily trying to unite all the new "eternals" under his command and his results are quite surprising. He's not only managed to do it, but he's forged his own nation calling it the Eternal Dominion. He claims it is the successor to the Empire and as general he has vowed to reunite all the old lands by any means. So far he's had varying success, but he's doing well under the circumstances. He's also created a strict hierarchy system where Eternals are considered to be the superior ruling class and everyone else is below them. You aren't exactly sure what to make of this ideology.
  
  Assuming he's successful, you know it's only going to be a matter of time before Edgar comes marching an army from the north. Brenda has the same concerns and lately a majority of the military has been stationed on the northern borders. You just aren't sure it'll be enough. Brenda wonders if an alliance would be best, but the only other major power in the region is the Felkan Kingdom, and you're not exactly sure if they would even be in a position to help, let alone willing to help. The enemy of my enemy isn't always your friend.
  
  This ties in with the other matter that has come up is expansion. Nalin has had a steadily growing population for quite some time and since the south is hostile desert, the western side of Nalin is covered by an equally imposing mountain range and to the north is old empire lands suffering from destroyed infrastructure and near anarchy, the only logical conclusion is to the east.
  
  Slowly over time Brenda has encouraged Nalin citizens to systematically settle the eastern wilderness. The Empire for some reason never colonized this territory. It probably was marked, but just never exploited due to other more pressing matters. In any case, things have gone more or less peacefully as there have been no encounters with any hostile natives and it has proven to be great farming land. While things are peaceful there now, there's no telling what could happen later and due to all the troops on the northern border, the eastern territory has a minimum number of soldiers there. Right now you and Brenda are discussing on how to best to maximize your defenses.
  
  "Have you sent envoys to Edgar? Is it possible that he wouldn't be a problem in the future?" you ask Brenda.
  "I actually have a couple times over the years and none of them ever returned. Which is why I'm convinced he's pissed at us."
  "Hmm, well guess we better up keep the defenses on the northern borders then. Still, my own reports say he's still nowhere near us. He's been trying to tame the core region of the old Empire as well as maintain order in places he's already conquered. There is the option to take redeploy some of the troops to the east."
  "But of course that would weaken us in the north."
  "Well yes, but if you're really worried about the east, then that's all I can suggest other than conscription."
  "Yeah, thought about that, and I'm not exactly keen on that idea. The people have been happy for quite awhile. We start conscripting like the Empire did, they might not be as happy." Brenda says
  "They'll be even less happy, if Edgar comes barging down here declaring them all inferior while letting his Eternal troops run amok."
  "You wouldn't allow that to happen." Brenda says.
  "Well I certainly would try my best to not let it happen, but let's just say I'm not as certain about things as I once was, there is always the chance things can go horribly wrong."
  "Yeah, I understand that. (Sigh) Well, I suppose we can restart conscription. It's not going to be popular, but I think if we stress how much of a threat Edgar potentially is, we'll prevent the civil unrest. I'll get my civilian advisors to start spinning the propaganda. I'll leave it up to you how you want to deploy the troops; I think it would be best to put most of the conscripts on the east though, as I think we'll need most of the experienced troops on the northern borders."
  "I'll certainly consider all the options. I guess I'll get to it then and leave you to your work as well." You say and are about to leave when Brenda calls out to you.
  "Hey, I know you're very duty bound anyway, but I just want to say, I'm glad you're here to help me."
  "Well I'm happy to help, but I'm sure you'd do just as well without me here."
  "Perhaps, but it's sort of comforting to have another Eternal around to talk to. I just feel like we connect a lot better you know?"
  "Yes, I do agree. We do share a bond that most others will never know."
  
  Brenda goes to hug you and you're a little unsure of how to react at first, but you hug her back. Before you leave Brenda asks you one more question.
  
  "Do you think Edgar's ideology for his nation is correct? Do you think Eternals are superior to everyone else?"
  
  You think about the question for a moment, then answer.
  
  "I think Edgar thinks it is correct. In one aspect, I agree with it, I mean look at the pair of us. We're both in the highest positions of power and people seem to be accepting of it. However, from my own experiences with the new Eternals I'm not actually convinced that THEY are superior to the average human except in combat and sadism which I suppose are good enough to instill fear into the masses."
  "Heh, but isn't that what we do?"
  "Of course, but we do it because we know it's necessary to maintain order. The new Eternals engage in pointless cruelty because they enjoy it. They're no better than svelks in that regard. They're so eager to move on to next atrocity that they let their emotions cloud their purity of battle. I believe this is a weakness on their part and that is why I do not consider them superior."
  
  Brenda smiles a bit at your answer.
  
  "The Empire really should've made you a general straight out of training. I'm certain you would've single handedly saved it."
  "I don't know. Perhaps it was beyond saving by that time. If you'll excuse me..." you say and leave Brenda's office.
  
  As you leave the capital building, you think back on how you left the Empire. While you're satisfied with your decision, part of you does wonder IF you could've done anything. Not just at that time, but before then. Is there another decision you could've made that would've prevented the situation you're in now?
  
  After a brief run down in your mind of endless possibilities you quickly dismiss such thoughts as a fool's game. You were right, the Empire was beyond any help you could've provided. Nalin is your concern now and you need to make the decisions to how to best protect it starting with deciding where to send the conscripts when Brenda enacts her decree.
  
  > send them to the east
  If the Eternal Dominion ever does decide to attack, it'll be better if your best soldiers are already assigned to the northern borders rather than having to scramble to pull them back from the east. You also figure the conscripts can put in their time exploring the eastern wilderness along with defending the few settlements you currently have there right now.
  
  When Brenda enacts conscription there is a lot of grumbling as was expected, but nothing more. Many of the conscripts are just glad you aren't assigning them to the northern borders after hearing all the scary things about Edgar and his "baby eating" army. They won't just be there without any supervision either, as you'll still have a few veteran officers overseeing the situation.
  
  Months pass a life goes on as usual, and you begin to get reports on the eastern wilderness. Most of the scouts say that there is evidence of other denizens living further east. In fact there seems to be a small tribal war going on between four separate groups. Two of those are human barbarian tribes, one them is elven, but much wilder than what you know of them and the last one is a race you're not familiar with called the Slin. They're apparently reptilian in nature though, similar to the kobolds, but much larger and meaner.
  
  All of them save for one of the human tribes have been hostile to your scouts. Your scouts report that most attacks were accompanied by slurs and curses against the Empire. Even the Slin have been reported to utter a few recognizable insults in their strange reptilian tongue.
  
  You can only guess that all of these folks at one time came in contact with the Empire and it wasn't a good experience. Makes sense they would mistake you for Empire troops as well considering that all your troops are either still wearing the same armor or very similar armor. Some of the veteran officers are even still wearing the same insignias. Sort of like you do actually.
  
  You're very disappointed by the reports you've been getting on the various skirmishes your soldiers have had. Most of them involve heavy losses or in some cases outright defeats! Most of the conscripts apparently just aren't cut out to handle these savages, they're still too green and they also lack the desire to fight in the first place.
  
  The problem is worse than just losing soldiers though. Most of these were young males and females, sons and daughter taken from their homes that didn't want to be soldiers in the first place. Predictably there is peasant backlash from this.
  
  Not willing to risk any more soldiers, you immediately order a halt to the scouting and make the decision that you're going to have to go oversee things personally. Normally you wouldn't mind this since you were getting bored lately, but you don't like the circumstances to why you have to do it.
  
  Brenda certainly hopes you can fix things, because while keeping the peasants in line through force is a time-honored tradition, it isn't really helping things right now. You can't afford to have a full-scale revolt over this. What you'd like to do is wipe out every single one of those tribes as soon as possible before they can unite against you, but you know you can't really do that without either toughening up the conscripts or taking your vets off the northern borders and since that really isn't an option, you're going to have to toughen up the recruits.
  
  The first thing you do is gather all your officers assigned there and reprimand them, stating if they were doing their job properly, you wouldn't have to come here and do it for them. You might've even had some of them executed for incompetence, but you really can't afford to lose anyone right now.
  
  Second of all you have a new camp built near one the eastern Nalin villages. This is where all the soldiers are going to be housed and training until further notice. Soldier rotations to be stationed at the few eastern settlements will be implemented. But most importantly a whole new training schedule is going to be put into action. You need to get these folks to start thinking the right way. It is your hope that in a couple of months, they start shaping up into the solider you need them to be.
  
  The first few weeks go pretty horrible. Your rigorous and harsh training causes some of the conscripts to go from low morale to suicidal. After three deaths, one of your officers claims you're pushing them too hard and you're going to have to ease up.
  
  "Captain Talger isn't it?" you ask.
  "Yes sir."
  "You did serve under the Empire didn't you?"
  "Yes sir, for many years until we...uh seceded."
  "You remember what the punishment was for questioning a superior's decisions?"
  "...yes...yes I do sir." He says in a very worried tone.
  
  After a moment of silence, you tell him to follow you outside to the training grounds.
  
  You and Captain Talger walk to the middle of the grounds where several people are training, if they aren't you tell one of your other officers to call everyone to the grounds immediately. When everyone arrives, you address the crowd.
  
  "It has come to my attention that I may be training you lot too hard. This has been told to me, by Captain Talger here and he may have a point."
  
  Talger looks slightly surprised to hear you say that, he also relaxes a little.
  
  "I understand that many of you do not want to be here. I also understand that many of you are not naturally killers. Few are. Most of you would just like to go back home and live nice little safe lives. And contrary to popular belief, I actually can understand that as well."
  
  You walk over to a nearby weapon rack and examine a few swords, taking one of fairly good quality. You begin to speak again.
  
  "However, that's not going to happen." You say and throw the sword to the ground near Captain Talger's feet.
  
  "Captain pick up the sword."
  "Sir?"
  "I SAID PICK UP THE SWORD!" you shout.
  
  Talger immediately picks up the sword. You see him tremble a little, but manages to keep it together. The crowd looks on anxious to see what will happen next.
  
  "Good, now attack me." You say and draw your own blade.
  
  Talger nearly speaks, but stops himself. He realizes he doesn't really have any options in this. He closes his eyes for a brief moment presumably to calm himself and then approaches you.
  
  He attacks you with some skill and nearly manages to hit you, but ultimately you are the superior warrior and you stop holding back. You manage to smash his face with the pommel of your own sword. His nose nearly explodes into a mass of blood, but before he falls, you grab his sword arm and break it, causing him to drop his weapon and cry out before tumbling to the ground.
  
  You kick the sword away and address the crowd again.
  
  "You see this? This man knew he was facing potential death and he did not run away. He faced it like a soldier and tried to do his best. He showed true dedication. You all should be so brave. That's all I'm asking, it is not such a difficult lesson to learn."
  
  You look down at Captain Talger who is trying hard not to scream out in any more pain and is having a hard time breath due to his bloody nose.
  
  "However, this man also spoke out against me...Captain Talger are you ready for your sentence?"
  "...(wheeze)...argh....(wheeze)...I...acce...(wheeze) accept..."
  "Your life will serve as a lesson to the rest, you will have an honorable burial." You quietly say and bring your sword down on his chest killing him instantly.
  
  The crowd remains silent as you draw out your sword from Talger's body.
  
  "Learn from this man's bravery and dedication...but also learn from his mistakes. DO NOT FUCK WITH ME! You all WILL become proper soldiers and you WILL serve Nalin with nothing less than your best! If you do not, none of you will leave here alive. For anyone thinking about suicide I suggest you just come down here now and let me kill you so I'm not wasting my time training you fucking grub worms! Oh and in case you all want to get cute and unite by walking down here together as a group, I suggest that you don't if you value your lives, because I have no problem killing every last one of you by myself if I have to! I've destroyed entire villages of werewolves including their young, it'll take me even less time to lay waste to you pathetic shitheads."
  
  You continue your rant.
  
  "Let me make this clear you maggots, we have enemies to the east of us, that won't fucking hesitate to rip your guts out and eat them. Do you really think if you all just go back home they're going to leave you alone? No, they're going to eventually advance westward and invade all those nice little peaceful homes you all so desperately want to go back to. You want a nice safe home, well you're going to need to earn your keep and fight for it. You either die in here or die out there; it's your choice. The big difference is out there you have a chance against those fucking savages. In here with me? You've got none. So I suggest you all start getting your shit together now, I don't want to repeat this lesson again."
  
  You take you leave and head back to your office, leaving everyone to ponder your words.
  
  A few days later there is an improvement in performance. Still a few suicides here and even some training deaths, but its just the weak being culled from the heard as usual.
  
  > Continue
  Year 48
  
  "We can't take anymore forces off the northern borders you know that!" Brenda says.
  "I know that better than anyone, but we're making progress against those barbarians in the east. I just need a company..."
  "And I said no! Look I know you're mainly in charge of all the military stuff here, but you remember that I'm the one that's in charge of the entire country! In fact I was running this area quite fine until you came along and started gradually changing things! Now I got a war in the east, peasant uprisings, a potential aggressor up north and a troop shortage that can't possibly deal with all these problems! I'm beginning to wonder if you didn't create all this chaos just to relive your Empire days again..."
  "Hey! I'm done nothing but try to protect this nation and build it up! And I think my success in the east has proven that!"
  "Look, I know you've done your part, and I hate to sound like an old Empire bureaucrat, but we can't spare anymore soldiers for the eastern provinces. Can't you make due with what you have?"
  "Believe me, I would if could. Molding the conscripts into proper soldiers took longer than expected and even after I was successful, a small portion of them died in the process. Then I had hoped to get the one tribe that wasn't initially hostile to us to ally with us as a useful diversion, but due to our initial losses against the other three tribes, the savages assumed we were too weak to make an alliance with and began attacking us too. I still think we would've been okay though if they had all stayed fragmented. After we wiped out the Belkaz Tribe for their poor judgment, the other three tribes formed a truce and united under one banner. It's made fighting them a lot more difficult especially since they know every inch of the land better and they outnumber us. The only good thing is they haven't really launched any effective counter attacks on our settlements so far, but they have been getting better at it."
  
  Brenda rubs a hand over her face before speaking again.
  
  "You can't just build up the defenses on the villages and maintain a solid defense?"
  "Well that's sort of where we're at right now, and that's the problem. The elves are no problem; the other tribe of humans isn't either. It's those Slin that are causing the most grief. They can replace their losses a lot quicker, or at least they must mature much quicker. In fact I've noticed a disturbing tactic by them, if they can call it that. Namely whenever there is a group attack by the three tribes, the Slin will deliberately hold back and the first to retreat when the battle starts to swing the wrong way. I see larger groups of them all the time yet they're taking the least amount of losses from their side. At this point, I'm even wondering if there is an "alliance" so much as the Slin eventually enslaved the two remaining tribes and is using them to weaken us, while they continue to breed more lizards. If that is the case, we could be overrun even if we adopt siege mentality."
  "So what is it that you want to do exactly?"
  "We know where the Slin home is at. I want to launch a full assault on it. I figure if we at least take them out, the other two tribes will be easy, they may even surrender, not that it'll do them any good..."
  "Right and I imagine that you want to lead this attack personally."
  "Of course."
  "Uh huh, and don't you think it's very dangerous to go rushing into the heart of enemy territory outnumbered and undermanned like you are?"
  "Well I wouldn't do it without the soldiers."
  "Right, and that's why you aren't doing it at all. Look, even I gave you the men you require, you'd have to promise me that you wouldn't let a single one get killed, and you and I both know that's not going to happen. The other thing is, I can't really afford to potentially lose you either."
  "Brenda, have you so little faith in me? I've been in more dangerous situations than this! One time in Rask I..."
  "Yes, yes, I know all your deeds and they're all very impressive, but you're not in your twenties anymore and we don't have the soldiers! I'm sorry, but we're dealing with multiple problems right now and I need every capable commander possible even the stubborn ones like yourself. Now that's it, and I don't want to hear anymore about this!"
  
  Brenda's remark dismissing your accomplishments and implying that you're no longer in your prime is incredibly insulting and you lose your composure. It doesn't help that you're already frustrated with how the eastern campaign has been playing out. You grab one side of her desk and flip it over. This noise causes two guards rush in, but they're a little unsure of how to react given that it's you. Brenda leaps back and puts her hand on her weapon, instinctively you put your own hand on your weapon as well.
  
  "Have you lost your mind?!" she says.
  "No, my mind is quite clear, it's you who has lost their mind if you think I'm going to just let you forget all the shit I've done, and let you just dismiss it like that! How soon you forget that I used to lead you into battle against kobolds and uskshas. I've been risking my life for years, what the hell have you been doing except stagnating here behind a desk much like this entire area would've been until I came along. I gave you a fucking purpose when the Empire fell!"
  
  You soon find that Brenda is every bit as mad at you as you are with her.
  
  "Yeah? Well maybe I didn't fucking want it in the first place! You...you know what? If you want to take control, you go right ahead, because I'm done with it! Done! I'm leaving this shit behind."
  
  Brenda walks past you, without fear and out the door. Her guards try to address her, but she pulls away and continues to walk, leaving you in her messy office. You're still angry, so you don't really believe she's serious, however you ARE going to take those soldiers like you planned.
  
  A couple days pass and you're about to make your way back to the east when you receive word that Brenda has completely disappeared. She can't be found at all. You can't believe that she would really abandon all this just because of an argument and part of you is a little concerned. You wonder if you should set aside your mission for a moment to find her.
  
  However, if she really is gone, then you'll be head of Nalin by default, while this is somewhat appealing to you, it also means you have to deal with all the stuff that Brenda usually took care of, namely all the unfun stuff that doesn't involve killing and battle.
  
  > go look for Brenda
  You and her have been through too much to let this end like this, you don't like it, but you decide to put off your mission. You tell the company commander to proceed to the destination and just help with the defenses until you return. You then inform Brenda's advisors to take care of things while you personally search for her. They tell you that soldiers are already looking for her, but you say they aren't doing a good enough job.
  
  You follow some leads based on previous reports, and while nobody else seems to be able to find Brenda, you're a little more skilled in finding a fellow Eternal. Your tracking eventually leads further south into the kobold reservations. For some reason nobody thought to question these scaly bastards who turn out to be pretty helpful, though it's probably because they're very scared of you. They tell you they saw the "Eternal lady in charge of everything" walking by herself heading even further south towards the Usksha Desert. They think she's going there to kill all the uskshas by herself, now they think you're going to help her and seem pretty optimistic that the pair of you will eliminate the usksha forever.
  
  Brenda may be an Eternal, you still never pegged her as the sort to deliberately kill herself through battle. This can't all be because of an argument. You quickly make your way to the last known direction that the kobolds saw her heading in. After a day of non-stop riding, you see her standing at the edge of the Usksha Desert. It's obvious she hear you, but she continues to look out across the endless sand.
  
  "I thought you'd be on your way to wage war on those barbarians in the east by now." She says as you get off your horse.
  "Brenda, this is silly and not like you. Come on back to where you belong." You demand.
  
  Brenda laughs at this statement.
  
  "You think you can order me around like a common soldier? Fuck you! You aren't my commanding officer and haven't been in years. I'm my own person and I'll do whatever the hell I want!"
  "And what do you want?"
  "What I want? I want my husband back and that's impossible."
  "So...you blame me for his death? Is that it?"
  
  Brenda shakes her head in exasperation.
  
  "No, no, no! This isn't even about you! This is about me! It wasn't until our argument, that I finally realized I've just been living a parody of life. The Empire is gone, my husband is gone. What the hell is my purpose for living anymore? I've just been running Nalin all these years, because quite frankly I don't know what the hell to do with myself. You think I really care about any of that? No. That's why I can leave it all behind, just like that."
  "Brenda, something must've kept you going, if you only just recently came to this conclusion."
  "Yeah, and that something were delusions. When you first came back, it was a nice. I knew we hadn't seen each other in years, and I knew you were the same rigid emotionless golem you've been since we were young, but you were like a solid anchor in what was a sea of uncertainty during those dark days of the Empire's fall. I had nobody else I could relate to, but we still had a bond of sorts. So I latched on to you and decided to go along with your ideas and it was comforting...for a while. Then as the years went by, I started to get bored, then dissatisfied. When the little war in the east began and problems began to crop up and headache after headache started, I seriously started questioning what I'm doing."
  "Okay...so you're bored by the administrative duties..."
  "I wish it was just that, but I don't think you still understand. Let me see if I can explain it better."
  
  Brenda approaches you and sits down on the ground. You do likewise, but you're still alert about possible wandering usksha raiders who could ride by. Brenda comments on this.
  
  "See, look at you. Here we are just talking and you're probably expecting to do battle with some wandering uskshas. That's what gets you going. I know the fall of the Empire had to be pretty hard for you, seeing a system which you believed in fall apart and dissolve before your eyes. Even though you eventually knew it was all built on lies, a piece of you was still gone forever. However, I don't think it was your true love. It might've been your first, but not your true love. Battle, war, killing. That is your passion. That's your true love. As strange as that may be to some, I understand it."
  
  Brenda's somehow words ring true with you. You still aren't quite sure on all this love stuff, but you're listening.
  
  "The Empire was my first love as well. It probably was for all of us Eternals, but Roldan was my true love. I'm not getting him back, and I don't even have the Empire to fall back on. I don't know, perhaps by falling in love with Roldan, it weakened me as an Eternal and I should be stronger. I'm convinced it weakened Roldan."
  "We've been making progress in making Nalin similar to the Empire. It could even be better or greater if we work at it." You say, unsure of how to react to her Roldan comments.
  "Yes, I know that's what you've been trying to do and for a while that's what I thought might help me as well, but it's not. Also, like I said, you at least can keep yourself happy for your love of battle. Nalin won't replace the Empire, and even if it could, it won't make any difference. It would be if I tried to replace Roldan with another...it won't make me happier."
  
  The way Brenda looks at you with that last statement implying that maybe she feels something for you.
  
  "Brenda, are you developing feelings for me?" you ask and she just smiles.
  "As I've always said, I've always liked your directness. Let's just say I might've, but I came to my senses. And that isn't an insult towards you; it's just not meant to be for me. Okay, I think I've wasted enough time." She says and stands up. She begins to walk towards the desert.
  
  "Hey wait!" you call out.
  "Goodbye, I'm sure you'll make an excellent emperor for Nalin, or whatever you decide to call yourself."
  
  You grab Brenda's shoulder.
  
  "So this is it? You going to just commit suicide by walking into the desert?"
  "I assume the uskshas will overwhelm me before the heat gets me, and why are you trying to stop me. I would've thought you of all people would've approved of dying in battle."
  "I would, but it just doesn't make sense here! I mean you still have purpose! You're still fully capable and healthy enough to accomplish many things!"
  "Perhaps, but the thrill of living is gone and I'm not waiting any longer to see if it comes back. Now I'm heading into that desert and you can't stop me, well you could, but that would no doubt have the same result I'm looking for."
  
  You let Brenda go and stand in silence for a moment. You think about your own goals and your own past briefly. Brenda is right about several things concerning your personality and your motivations, but she doesn't know everything. You run up next to her as she makes her first steps into the desert.
  
  "What're you doing?" she asks.
  "I'm joining you. I figure you could use the help."
  "...I don't believe you. I'm trying to end my life with dignity and on my own terms and you're going to get in the way of that?"
  "Who said I was stopping you? I'm just traveling with you, I don't have some magical ability to stop the usksha from attacking. And who said I was doing this all for you? My true love is battle remember? Fighting an endless amount of usksha in a hostile environment? Sounds like a challenge worthy of a warrior of my stature."
  "But...you can't just throw away your life like this!"
  "Who said I was? I fully intend on making it to the other end of the desert long after you've died." You remark.
  
  Brenda begins to get annoyed.
  
  "What?! Look I know I'm out of practice, but I'm not going to die that quickly! I'm still a fucking Eternal you know!"
  "Yes, I do know and that's why I'm coming with you. You made a lot of good points about me, but one you forgot is that I'm not quite the emotionless golem you make me out to be. My time with you has reminded me of that bond I used to have with all of you before we all got separated. We're Eternals, and I'm not going to leave you. Now if that means we die together in this desert, then so be it. BUT I want to propose something."
  "Oh? What's that?"
  "If we do manage to get to the other side of this desert, you need to abandon your death wish."
  
  Brenda chuckles a bit.
  
  "Okay, I guess that's fair. Hell, if we make it through I might just have to re-evaluate my fleeting feelings for you."
  
  You don't answer her on that comment; you just keep an eye out for potential danger. The heat isn't a problem right now since it's getting dark, which is at least one good thing. As you continue to walk Brenda begins to speak again.
  
  "So what makes you think there IS another side to this desert? Not like it's ever been explored before. For all you know it's just endless desert" Brenda asks.
  "Oh I dunno. I just have a hunch. It has to end somewhere. Besides I'm curious now. I once briefly considered leading troops into here before, when we were first assigned to deal with the usksha."
  "Really? What stopped you?"
  "The fact that Edgar was screaming in my ear about it meant it was bound to be a bad idea. Common sense mostly. Strange that I had more of it back then, than I do right now."
  "There's still time for you to turn back."
  "What and run Nalin by myself? Not for me. I'd likely end up executing the entire nation. I wasn't meant to rule...shh hear that?"
  "Yeah, sounds like those lizards that the usksha like to ride. They'll be here soon. Just like old times eh?"
  "Like I never left."
  "I...I'm glad you're here with me." Brenda says looking at you.
  
  You look at her and nod.
  
  "Me too Brenda. Me too."
  
  The pair of you soon engage the usksha in battle, just one of many during your time in the desert.
  
  Many believe you both died in the desert eventually succumbing to the heat and your wounds. The kobolds still tell an interesting story of how you both died, but then became vengeful spirits that continue to stalk the usksha to this day.
  
  A few believe you managed to make it through and made a new life with each other in a far away land.
  
  What ultimately happened to you and Brenda is unknown and lost to time.