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** ** **

“Hey there.”

“How’s it going?” Stephan said. “I was starting to believe you just left me here to rot.”

“Why would I do that? I want control as much as you do.”

“So how are you going to get me out?”

“Patience. We’ll just give the Velakar time to properly beat Astrid and any reinforcements she calls in.”

“What if they actually subdue it?”

“It’s not possible. The creature is immortal and also intelligent. Astrid has raw power but not enough battle experience to be able to take it down. She’ll bruise it but it’ll win eventually.”

“Just do your part. There’s no point waiting.”

“It’s not as easy as you think.”

“What’s so hard in summoning a meeting of the celestials and suggesting they release me to earth to take control of the situation that Astrid obviously can not?”

“I’ll try.” Orionis said. “Just hang in there for me. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Like I could if I wanted to.”

** ** **

Matilda perched on a high tree branch, her legs swinging lazily as she watched the chaotic battle unfo