Anpiel and Susanoo came running to where Tania was. When they saw that her body had recovered and that she was embracing Tul, both of them felt immense relief.
Even though she had healed, Tania’s skin still bore terrible burns, and she was completely stained with blood. Anpiel hurried toward her with the mead and poured it into her mouth. The goddess’s wounds closed at once, which left Tul utterly astonished.
“What kind of magic drink is that?!” the rabbit goddess asked, while Tania laughed quietly.
“It is medicine from the other side of the world. It is called ambrosia,” Tania replied as she let go of Tul and rose to her feet.
The rabbit goddess looked puzzled, then immediately grew excited at the thought that such marvelous medicine existed in worlds she had never seen.
“In fact, Anpiel, give her a little as well,” Tania said to the angel, who was still staring at the rabbit woman in surprise.
“Yes, certainly,” he replied, holding out the horn of mead to her. Tul took it, sniffed it first, and drank a little. At once, her wounds healed, and she jumped up excitedly as she felt herself completely restored.
“It tastes sweet and a little dizzy-making, and it heals every wound too! I want to learn more about this elixir!” she cried out in delight.
Tania watched her the way a mother might watch a joyful daughter, while Susanoo gazed at her with lovestruck eyes.
Tania then turned to Anpiel and Susanoo and asked about the state of the city.
“Thanks to the aid of this lovely maiden, we managed to destroy all the creatures that threatened us,” the eastern god replied proudly.
Outside the great pyramid, the bodies of the two enormous serpents lay on the ground, both decapitated, along with the shattered remains of the payiihsa that had attacked them.
The population, who had taken shelter with the angel’s help, was beginning to emerge and gather around the great pyramid. The soldiers as well, having completely lost their power when Tania fought Heshuka. Everyone was confused and frightened about what would happen next.
“There is a problem,” Anpiel said, looking out from the temple atop the great pyramid. “These people have been left without a ruler, and I doubt any of us intends to appoint a king or anything of the sort.”
“No, they would most likely only see us as invaders,” Tania said, sitting down on the floor. “Forgive me. I did not think about this situation when I chose to confront Heshuka.”
Shouts of protest began to rise. The gods could not simply leave the empire without a king. Anxiety began spreading through every heart.
At that moment, four gigantic birds, similar to eagles, appeared above the great pyramid. They had horns on their heads, and static electricity crackled from their bodies. Their color was dark blue, as though they had been made from living lightning. Their eyes were white, and all that electricity seemed to pour from them. At the same time, the sky darkened as though a storm were about to break. At the sight of them, the people began to tremble in fear.
“The sky darkened?” Tania asked.
“Yes, and I can also sense the presence of four very powerful beings,” Anpiel replied.
The gods moved to go outside, but at the entrance of the temple they saw a rabbit sitting there.
Oh no, not that man again, Tania thought.
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“Oh! It’s a bunny!” Tul exclaimed happily.
“To what do we owe the honor of your return, great Wenabozho?” Anpiel asked.
Tul immediately grew excited.
“Is it him?! Is he the great Buenaboso?!” she asked the others, though she could not help noticing the look of disappointment on Tania’s face.
“Indeed. I am pleased that you were finally able to recognize me so easily,” the rabbit answered, and then took on his human male form, causing Tul to stare at him with lovestruck eyes. That, in turn, made Susanoo openly jealous.
“I came personally to thank you for overthrowing this tyrant. You have no idea how much you have helped me since arriving here!” the Anishinaabe god said.
“Wait a moment. Don’t tell me you were hoping we would overthrow him so you could seize this kingdom!” Tania asked angrily.
Wenabozho burst into laughter.
“Oh, come now. It is not as though I could have known that you would end up liberating both the Iroquois and the Mississippi,” the god said with an exceedingly false smile.
“So you were manipulating us, weren’t you?” Tania asked again.
“It is not what you think,” said the rabbit god. “Truly, both kingdoms are my neighbors, and they were causing great suffering to their people. Now at last, they may become free,” Wenabozho replied in a somewhat melancholic tone.
“Free?” Anpiel asked.
The Anishinaabe god began pacing around the temple.
“These great cities, these works of civilization, may seem like a splendid idea for amassing resources and power, but they create only inequality, slavery, and tyranny,” Wenabozho said.
“I wish to give these people the chance to abandon such great cities and begin living naturally once more alongside Mother Earth,” he concluded.
The gods recalled the way the Anishinaabe lived, and they understood the god’s concern. Achieving that with a civilization already so accustomed to the luxuries of large cities would of course be difficult, but that was what he regarded as freedom.
“I understand it will not be easy, nor swift, to change such ways of thinking,” the rabbit god continued, stopping in place. “But I wish for this land to belong once more to the natural balance between humankind and its world.”
Then he looked at the gods.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It is something I had never truly considered, but it would be interesting to see,” Anpiel replied.
“As long as they stop making human sacrifices, that is enough for me,” Tania said.
“I find it hard to believe they will stop waging wars and using slaves, given human nature, but I suppose one must begin somewhere,” she added.
“One step at a time,” Wenabozho replied, and at that moment, the god knelt before them.
“P-please, don’t do that,” Tul said awkwardly.
“You have no need to do such a thing. I do not want it interpreted as though we were above you,” Tania said angrily at the gesture.
The god rose to his feet again.
“This shall remain between you and us, but it is my way of thanking a group of foreigners who had to come and solve problems that were never theirs to solve,” Wenabozho said.
“I also want you to know that you shall have my eternal gratitude,” he added.
“Was it truly not a problem you yourself could have solved?” Anpiel asked.
“No. I would not have been able to defeat either Heshuka or Sawiskera,” the god answered frankly.
Tania then remembered that Wenabozho had been able to float in the air, something she herself had managed only after partially breaking the anti-divinity chains.
Even if what he says is true, I am still certain his power is very great, the goddess thought.
“Well then, it is time for me to speak with the people of Cahokia and tell them what shall happen next,” the god said, turning to leave through the doorway.
“W-wait... Mister Buenaboso,” Tul said nervously. In her hand she held a lily, which she had taken from her bag.
“This... flower is called naab, and I wanted to... give it to you as a present,” the rabbit goddess said, stretching out her arms to offer it to the Anishinaabe god.
Wenabozho took the flower and looked at it.
“It is very beautiful, almost as beautiful as you,” the god said.
Tul let out a lovestruck sigh, while both Tania and Susanoo radiated fury at the sight.
Wenabozho then tucked the lily into Tul’s hair.
“Thank you for the gift, but it would look far better adorning your lovely face,” the god said in a flirtatious tone.
“IKARI!” Susanoo shouted furiously as flames burst from his body.
“Don’t you have an ‘urgent’ message to deliver to the people?” Tania said sourly, unable to hide how angry she was that the god was flirting with Tul.
“Do not be jealous, my beloved, and I beg your pardon for not having a flower to offer you as well,” Wenabozho replied in that same tone.
“Oh, just go already!” Tania snapped.
Anpiel stepped closer to Tania and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I did not know you were such a jealous mother,” the angel said teasingly.
Tania puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, which reminded Anpiel very much of Epona.
“Well then, wish me luck,” Wenabozho said, and left through the doorway to go speak with the people.