Part 2

Six months after Sirene's death, a meeting was being held in the Inn. Vordea, Agbus, Vaust, Sargon, and surprisingly enough Zalas too, were present.

"Is she still out there?" Sargon asked.

Vaust nodded. "She hasn't moved in six months. If I didn't know better, I'd say she's in mourning."

"I visited her once. She seemed okay... for Eigengrau." Vordea said, laying in one of the lounge chairs. "She didn't even acknowledge me. I think she's having a debate."

"A debate? With who?" Agbus asked. "Wait, don't tell me..."

"Herself. Eigengrau the Goddess and Sirene the Mortal are having a screaming match inside her head." Vordea answered. "Like when I talk with my tentacles."

"Should we do anything for her?" Zalas said. "She's been standing out there in the snow, in the rain, the poor girl."

"Until the deadlock is resolved I don't think we can even move her, Zalas." Vordea replied, shaking her head.

"Has her continued presence caused any problems for you, Vaust?" Agbus asked, holding his hands inside the sleeves of his robes.

"Sirene was smart to have a public death, Agbus. Her funeral was the most well attended event I've ever had, and Eigengrau's statue impersonation in the graveyard is being attributed to it." Vaust answered, polishing off another beer. "Still, when Eigengrau eventually does wake up, we need to be ready."

"Ready for what?" Eigengrau asked, walking through the front door.

Eigengrau looked like a mix between Sirene and Eigengrau, with dark grey robes, short raven black hair, but normal eyes instead of black globes. She was still leaving frost where she walked, but she was wearing shoes.

"Done thinking?" Vordea asked with a smirk.

"Not yet. But a compromise was reached."

The meeting resumed with Eigengrau present for the first time in six months, and lasted the rest of the night. In the morning, at the end of the meeting, Eigengrau pulled aside Vaust.

"They built a statue of her." Eigengrau stated to Vaust. He nodded.

"Several of the craftsmen insisted. To the greatest mage who ever lived. They want to build proper headstones for her parents as well, but only you and her know their names." Vaust answered.

Eigengrau was somehow not surprised by this. Sirene really left her mark on the world in her long life. She was violent, rash, and very aggressive, but so many people considered her an acquaintance, if not a friend.

"Knowledge can be found in the most unlikely of places, Old man." Eigengrau said with a slight smile. "Tell them to check the underside of the headstones."

"I'll miss her, you know. She was a fixture here, every year since I opened." Vaust said, with a sad look on his face. "It just won't be the same."

"Then here is a gift. Her birthday is the 13th of Vakop. Perhaps a small celebration?" Eigengrau suggested with a wink.

"Come on Eigen, let's go!" Vordea shouted, slapping Eigengrau on the back. "We got a lot to talk about!"

Vaust nodded and shooed Eigengrau away. Vordea practically dragged Eigengrau out of the front door, talking excitedly about all sorts of subjects, leaving Vaust alone with Sargon and Zalas.

"The Apprentice. Never cared for her much, but she never committed unjust acts." Sargon said, weighing in. "Heard she started helping you in the final hundred years."

"Her zest for life was empty, you know." Zalas said, shaking his head. "She was desperately trying to find purpose in a life she was never meant to have. I spoke with her a lot. She attempted suicide at least 400 times, you know."

Vause and Sargon didn't say anything, but Vaust looked sad at this revelation.

"But as Eigengrau can tell you, divine souls have to be collected. She couldn't die. She was so tragically broken, but always put on a brave face. I'm glad her struggle is at an end." Zalas said, looking solemn. "Here's to Sirene of Isca, may she have found peace at last."