"You cannot mean to slay Rona. She is a goddess Brigid. This is her domain" he said. "And that is why she must be met. Surely you do not think the matter of your children is over? If anything, she will demand to know who is powerful enough to slay her Slaugh" she said. Duncan was forced to agree about that. "Well you will need a guide" he said. "I do not. I can see the Iron Mountain from here. You will stay" she said. "I most assuredly will not!" he yelled. <p>"YOU WILL DO AS I SAY!" she yelled as magic slowly ebbed from her body. Duncan was taken aback by her tone. "Where I go there is no place for a man no bigger than my thumb. You are no soldier, and this is battle" she said coldly. "And what does a priestess know of battle?" he asked. "I am a priestess yes, but I am of the Isle as well. I am descended from warriors that pushed back the mightiest empire of my world. I hold God in my heart but the fury of ages within my soul" she replied. Duncan was forced to remember he knew her all of two and a half days. There were sides of her he didn't know of. "I'll see you off" he muttered. Brigid nodded and walked to the center of town. The 40 children were loaded into cart beds and tied fast to the cages. Their legs and feet dangled out. One by one, Brigid tied all four cages to her waist. "Tis a long journey" Duncan said. "20 miles by the look of things" she said. "I wish you well" he said stoical. Brigid gave a slight nod and began walking. She held back her tears as she went.</p><p>Duncan's village was the most distant from the mountain with the other four closer to it with a span of five miles each. Brigid walked in silence thankful the soft grass didn't hurt her bare feet. As she walked, her stomach growled. With eating only berries, nuts, and grains is morning, her body wanted some real calories. The children whimpered as they knew she was hungry. A small girl cried. Brigid paused, took her cart off her waist, and looked upon her. "Is something the matter little one?" she asked. "Please don't eat us" she cried softly. "I don't eat children. Naughty children maybe but not cute adorable ones. I do not lie when I say I will take you back to your homes" she said. They were not entirely convinced. They did see her free other children but all alone on the prairie. That and surely she ate meat as they did. As there were no chickens with them, then the only other source of meat would be them. Brigid placed the cart back on her hip and began walking again but this time singing.</p><p>The children calmed hearing her voice as song was not a thing in their lives. Fascinated by her voice, they did not cry or whimper anymore. She came to the first village in her travel and of course everyone screamed in terror. But when she placed the cart of young teenage kids before them, they were astounded. Parents hugged them tightly and the kids told them of what they had seen. Brigid told them not to bow before her. Her gentleness and humility mind blowing. The young men bid her to stay and rest, but she could not. She did leave them with giant berries to feast on.</p><p>It played out three more times, but this time Brigid did stay to rest. All done children back where they belonged, she felt more at ease but was still wary of what lie before her. Now closer to the mountain, Brigid noticed a curious thing. There was a thin line of forest, and human scaled forest lining the mountain. It was the first sight she had seen of anything naturally her scale in the world other than Arwen of course. It was nearly midday, but the people readily feasted around her. A young woman with child attended her. "If you will not celebrate with us, at least partake" she said presenting a cart with cooked chicken and two tiny barrels of wine. "It is not much..."</p><p>"It is more than enough" Brigid said using magic to enlarge the small strip of chicken to something that would satisfy her hunger. The woman cringed as Brigid tore into it. "Sorry. I have had no meat in days" she said. "Apparently. So, the rumors of giants not eating our kind is untrue" she said. "No, just me it seems. I have seen what takes place in the mountain and I have come to end it" Brigid said. The woman had heard as much from the children but did not believe it until it was said by the giantess herself. Brigid finished her chicken and lowered her hand to the ground. "Climb into it. I have questions" she said softly. The woman timidly did after taking her sandals off. She was amazed how soft and warm her giant hand was. The soles of her tiny feet could feel the fine ridges and swirls in her flesh. Brigid lifted her up a ways. </p><p>"What can you tell me of that forest yonder?" she asked. "It is a place of death. Many years ago, my father and a neighbor went there to retrieve the kids stolen just after a tribute. His niece among them. As they neared, it was it was clear the forest was not for our kind. The trees towered into the sky, even the grass taller than they. Fruits hung from branches that could feed us for months if not years. But the most daunting sight was the insect life. They pressed on until my father's friend was caught in a spider web. He tried hacking away at it with his sickle until the owner of the web appeared. The man screamed as the spider sank its fangs into him. Then his body went slack. My father said he could hear the creature drink the fluids out of his friend as she still lived. My father ran for his life. He fought like a madman against mosquitoes and dragonflies as big as he running the entire way. By the time her returned, he was not my father anymore. He was a solemn she'll never to smile, laugh, or even cry again. It did not steal his life, but it did steal his soul" she finished. </p><p>"No animals? No magics?" Brigid asked. The woman shook her head. It was clear the forest was some kind of natural barrier against them. If that was true, then Rona was not invincible. Invincible people have nothing to fear. "Then I should be fine then" Brigid said. "I envy you. With your size, skill, beauty, and bravery you are glorious" the young woman said softly. "I am far from glorious. If anything, I envy you" Brigid said. "I am a small homely thing. What is there to envy?" she asked. Brigid pulled up her little dress with her fingertip and let the bunched-up part rest exposing her pregnant belly. Brigid gently rubbed it with the tip of her finger. "This I envy. You are to be a mother" she said. "Are you barren?" the young woman asked tapping the fingernail of the giantess. "No, I am not barren. At least I don't think I am. The original sin comes each month like all women" she said. "Then you prefer women?" she asked. "No. I prefer men" she replied. "Forgive my questions. They as I am curious" the young woman said to her. "I do not mind. It makes me feel better just to talk. Oh! I felt movement!" Brigid said feeling her baby kick under her finger. </p><p>"Aye. Tis a feisty one. Why do this Brigid?" the woman asked. "Why not?" Brigid replied. The woman chuckled and then laughed. "A woman with your power with no vices or faults?" the woman laughed. "I have faults. There are times I do too much and times I do too little. I inconvenience others with my choices and as a vice...I have found I enjoy little people pampering my feet" Brigid blushed. "Then we shall see to your needs! Men! Rub the feet of this woman hence!" the woman yelled clapping. "No. As much as I would enjoy that. I must continue. Time is not on my side" Brigid said placing her back on the ground. Brigid stood up, picked up her sword and began walking once more. "If only we could follow" a man said. "Wish we could do more for her" another said. "If you wish to do something, prepare for her victorious return. Or prepare a memorial if she is not" she replied. </p><p>Brigid walked for just over an hour to the forest. The moment her bare soles touched the soil, she could sense the abundance of life energy in it. She could feel it as the dirt got between her toes. "10...no 100 times as much here" she muttered observing the trees and vegetation. It was breathtaking to her. Mighty oaks and slender apple trees, wild berries, and fresh onions. It was as if the Garden of Eden was there. But Brigid was not fooled. She could see and hear the insects around her. Venomous centipedes, spiders, wasps, and god knows what lurked above and below. Just to be sure, she protected herself with a barrier. A centipede landed on her shoulder only to be burned away. Spiders biting her ankles and toes to be scorched. "A forest of death indeed" she muttered as she continued. And eventually she came to the mouth of the cave. The cave where Rona resided. </p><p>Brigid walked inside and shivered as the cold stone chilled her dirty soles. There was no sound other that the pitter patter of her feet. Brigid felt fear once more looking at the sheer size of the cave. The roof 400 ft. high and at least 700 feet wide. Torches with blue flames lit the interior. Brigid wondered how big Rona truly was to live in such a place. She walked further and could see a chamber to the left and right. This she recognized form reading Arwen. The right kept the tributes. The left she did not know. The cave kept going so she continued. She could see two glowing lights up ahead and as she approached...</p><p>"So, you are the one intruding in my affairs" a voice said. Torches burst into life revealing a sight Brigid would never forget. There on a throne of black rock sat Rona. Naked and easily towering over Brigid, she looked down with a sneer revealing gleaming yellow teeth. Her hair the color of burnt brass. Her skin like sandalwood. And her eyes glowing like embers. The eyes Brigid had seen moments before in the darkness. "And you must be the monster using children to empower the land" Brigid said pointing her sword at her. "Monster? I saved them. You think all this comes free? This land was as fallow as an old woman's pussy when we came! This was necessary!" Rona yelled. "This is necromancy and that never leads to good. I have come to end this tribute system" Brigid said. Rona stood up. Brigid nearly fell backwards seeing her at her full height. The Formoriean was easily 225 ft. tall. "So this is how they feel" Brigid muttered thinking of how Duncan and the others take in her height. </p><p>"You? I sense magics in you, but you are no match for me tiny one" Rona said. "And yet I bested your Slaugh with little effort" Brigid boasted. "I can easily make more" Rona said to her. "I doubt it. You are a collector and collectors do not give up their prizes so easily. Surrender and we can end this suffering of so many" Brigid said. Rona pointed her finger at her before unleashing a bolt of lightning. There was a small explosion. Brigid blew away the dust showing she was unharmed. "You honestly didn't think that would do anything did you?" Brigid told her. Rona collected even more lightning in the palm of her hand before casting it down. The blast echoed throughout the cave. "Still smiling?" Rona chucked as the smoke didn't immediately clear. A beam of light shot through the smoke burning a hole through the shoulder of the giantess. Brigid stepped forth. "As if I would smile in the face of this madness" Brigid hissed. "Fire haired bitch! How did you even end up in my realm?!" Rona yelled trying to heal the gaping wound in her shoulder. "I... brought her here" a voice said emerging from the left chamber. </p><p>"Darkness Night?! What did you say?!" Rona howled. "Brought...her here. Too much death. Too much..." the half-naked man struggled to say. "After all I gave you. Your size. Your very life! This is how you repay me?! With deceit and thievery of my power?!" Rona yelled moving after than Brigid expected. She grabbed the man from the floor and squeezed him. There was a loud crack and the man screamed in pain. "Let him go! Brigid yelled firing off another beam of light. Rona did not underestimate her this time and deflected the shot. The man vomited blood before Rona roughly tossed him aside. He landed with a thud and did not move. "As for you" she growled at the small girl. The skin of the giantess glowed red as her magics hardened her from attacks. She raised her dirt stained sole over Brigid. In a panic, Brigid fried off three light magic attacks only to see them harmlessly impact her skin. "Deflect this!" Rona yelled laughing as she slammed her foot down as hard as she could. </p><p>Brigid was not turned to mush as Rona had expected as she threw up a barrier at the last moment. Her giant sole eclipsing her entire body easily as Brigid knelt struggling to maintain her defense. Her defense however was literally cracking under hundreds of tons of pressure. "Delaying the inevitable? Just relent. It will be over before you even feel pain" Rona said coldly. Brigid concentrated her symbology into one powerful strike and aimed it straight up. "NEVER!" Brigid yelled releasing the spell. Rona let out a screech as a cross shaped beam of light burned right through her giant sole and out the top of her foot. Rona fell back immediately giving Brigid a moment to rest. "Normal magic won't harm her now but symbology will" she thought. As the giantess reeled in pain on the ground, Brigid went on the offensive. She summoned gale force winds to gather the iron ore dust on the ground and walls. Once gathered, she cast it all over the giantess. Her skin immediately stopped glowing red. "You think this iron will save you?!" Rona howled through the still steady winds. "Maybe when I do this" Brigid replied firing off an intense bolt of fire right into the iron dust cloud. </p><p>*BOOOOM*</p><p>The iron dust had not only dampened her magics but set up a catastrophic chance of dust detonation. The blast knocked Brigid right off her feet for her to land nearly 30 ft. back. Her ears ringing, her vision blurry, she could barely see the writhing burning form of Rona. But when it seemed she had won; a burst of intense magic snuffed the fire. Rona, badly burned but healing at an insane pace began to stand. "Making me squander my collected magics. For that...for that I'll take payment from your very soul" she growled walking to Brigid. Brigid staggered to her feet. She could barely keep balance from the concussion. Rona snatched Brigid right off her feet. Brigid felt her fist contracting squeezing the air out of her lungs. She feared she would be crushed like the young man Darkest Night. She raised her sword to hack Rona's giant fingers only for the giantess to grab the small blade with the fingers of her free hand. The iron blade burned her skin on contact. "Cold iron will not save you any longer" she said coldly snapping the blade leaving a broken metal stump at the hilt. Rona tossed away the rest. "You should know it takes days, weeks sometimes to extract a soul. You will be digested constantly as I feed on your mortal and spiritual essence until there is nothing left of you. Not even bones!" Rona laughed. She opened her mouth and pushed Brigid in. </p><p>Brigid slid onto her wet moist tongue still holding her broken sword. The mouth snapped shut encasing her in damp smelly darkness. Her bare feet could find no purchase to stop her movement as Rona titled her head back. She could feel the giantess tasting her. Could feel her saliva itching her skin. And then, she entered her throat. Brigid nearly had her ribs broke as powerful throat muscles squeezed her down into the pit of her stomach. True to form, she never let go of her sword even as she landed in a pool of bile and stomach acid. Pitch black with only the sound of her monstrous heart beating, Brigid could not sense anything else. The soles of her feet felt the rippled flesh of her stomach. Her lungs struggled for oxygen. She thought her life over and she prepared herself to meet God. "My soul...if she devours it...I won't see paradise" she realized. Brigid broke into sheer terror and panic hacking at the stomach walls with her broken blade only to feel the mucus lining protecting it. Worse yet she could feel her skin beginning to tingle. She thought of the people in her life she would not see again. People she would not see in heaven. "Mother, father, the king" </p><p>And as she prayed for a miracle, she remembered something. "All magics come from within. The spirt, the soul, the essence of what we are. However, because our soul is never at peace, we can only manage what we perceive. We are limited to our own flaws, our mortal understanding of things" her Druid master once said to her. "But what if there was a way to overcome that. What if we combined our magics with a higher order than ourselves? Something that transcended mortal understanding?" Brigid asked kicking her childish feet in the water. "Then maybe magic would transcend the laws of man. Transcend into the realm of legend and lore. The realm of miracles" he replied.</p><p>"The realm of miracles" Brigid whispered. Brigid turned her sword onto herself. And slammed the broken jagged blade into her stomach. She nearly screamed in pain and felt her warm blood running onto her hands. "The lord is my shepherd. I shall not want!" she yelled focusing her will, her very soul into her symbology. "He makeith me lie down in green pastures" she said letting go using her free hands to focus the array in them. "He leadeth me besides the still waters" she said as the sword began to oddly force itself deeper and deeper into her stomach disappearing. Brigid fell to her knees. "HE RESTORITH MY SOUL!" she yelled as power welled up within her. The hilt of the sword began to exit her stomach and she took hold. "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" she said weakly holding the sword in her hand. She squinted as the newly soul forged sword filled the stomach with light. It was no longer a cobbled together blade but a gleaming weapon of symbology. Golden hilt with ivory. The blade metal unnatural as it seemed gold Latin was etched in it. Brigid crossed herself astounded at what she had made and then her wound was gone. Taking the sword in both hands, she reared back, concentrated her power, and let loose a slash of holy magics.</p><p>Rona, sitting on her throne sucking her teeth still enjoying the literal flavor of her false victory found her stomach slashed open. She howled in pain falling off her throne. Brigid landed on the floor and looked dead at the giantess. "Impossible..." Rona muttered trying to heal only to find her magics doing nothing for the wound. Brigid calmly walked right up to her. Rona fired off bolts of lightning only to see them easily deflected away. Even the large attack that gave Brigid paused before smacked away with her sword like nothing. "This ends old murderous one" Brigid said. Rona focused her flame magics in her very mouth and spat them. A torrent of flame hot enough to melt stone raced towards her. Brigid ran at full speed right into it and held her sword firm deflecting the planes in two directions. She leaped so hard her ankles broke. Soaring into the air, Brigid landed just below the chin of the giantess and jammed her sword as deep as she could. Rona gurgled flames for a moment.</p><p>Brigid focused her magics one final time into an almighty burst of holy magic making a construct of light shoot forth. The form of a cross burned clean through her neck decapitating her. Rona fell to the floor, her head rolling to her side. Brigid walked to her face and looked dead into her ember glowing eyes as they faded. "I... just did what we agreed. Should I have let them die?" Rona skied with her dying breath. "...that is for God to decide. Not you" Brigid replied coldly. Those ember eyes went dead cold and Rona was no more. Almost as soon as that occurred, a greenish hue enveloped her body. It built in intensity before a colossal burst of pure raw life magic radiated out. When it was gone, Rona's body turned into dust. "All that magic she had hoarded, released in an instant. How many souls did it take for it to be that intense?" Brigid wondered. "She...gone?" Darkest Night asked. Brigid was shocked he was still alive. As she approached him, it did not seem he was long for that world. "Yes, she's gone" she replied. He smiled. "Saved magic for 10 years. Bring you here. Prayer answered" he coughed. "Easy. Let me..."</p><p>He swatted her hand away and coughed more blood. "Dying. They need your strength more" he said pointing to the left chamber. "They? They who?" she asked. "Go. See. See why I bring you. Help them! Hel..." he said before falling silent. His breath still. Eyes frozen in death. Brigid closed them for him and crossed herself as she made a quick prayer. Brigid walked to the left chamber not knowing what she would find. From Arwen's memories, they were held in the right chamber not the left. She had not seen what the left one held or possibly she had but blocked it from memory. Brigid entered the chamber and there was a room to the left and right of a stairway. Simple bedding and chamber pots. No doubt the living quarters of Rona's emissaries. But there was a light coming from down the staircase. Brigid walked down the massive staircase for a full three minutes. She happened onto a room and the horrifying full truth what Rona had been doing would come to light. Brigid gasped in shock as tears fell from her eyes.</p><p>"Hell is too good for you" Brigid cursed Rona's soul. She had happened on a room of similar size and shape of the throne room above and what lay inside were hundreds of children of varying ages. Tiny beds for each one laid out in rows. Tables with simple foods and water and along the walls were chamber pots. Brigid stepped closer and expected them to scream or at least whimper as a giantess coated in blood and bile stood before them. Nothing. They did look but nothing else. Brigid bent down to get a closer look at them. Some as young as infants being held by teenage mothers. Teens heavy with child. Not one looked over the age of 20. Inwardly curious, she plucked up a random one, a teenage boy around 15. Astonishingly, she took off his clothing as soon as she placed him in her hand. Brigid quickly put him down. She chose another, a young girl and she grabbed her dress and Brigid recoiled. "What in the fresh hell is...oh no. Lord don't say this is so" she begged crying.</p><p>Brigid recalled that Arwen observed the girls becoming pregnant, taken away when it came time to give birth, and then return without the infant. She had grimly assumed Rina disposed of it but that was not true. "Livestock. They're all livestock. And the Tributes, they were a source of fresh blood for breeding" she muttered. When the shock had worn off, Brigid went to counting them. In all, 312 children and young adults lived, ate, slept, shitted, and bred in this room. Never seeing the light of day. They had been conditioned from birth to be obedient and give themselves up to be eaten. Brigid sat there trying to come to terms with such a gruesome discovery. Brigid had been told this was going on for centuries but even so there should've been more children here, thousands more easily even factoring in infant mortality and disease. Her upbringing included a study of mathematics, and she concluded that Rona must've eaten someone each week for a very long time. Mostly likely the oldest among them. "Darkest Night. He must've been a father and some of them here are his children. That's why..." she muttered. Brigid willed her sword to enter her body before beginning what needed to be done. "Look at me!" she yelled down at them. They did.</p><p>"Follow me" she commanded. They did until they reached the staircase. Their conditioning conflicted with her order and them not to leave. Brigid looked around and found a small box full of dried food. She emptied it and placed it in front of the children. Holding her hands out, she concentrated and shrunk the children to the size of ants. It was the first time Brigid had even tried using shrinking magic on a person. Carefully, very carefully, she placed all 312 of them into the box and began her walk out of the cave by the time she had left it, the sun hung low in the sky. She purposely left the top of the box open for them to see the sky. They were all dazzled beyond belief at the slight. Brigid began her walk back. </p><p>They children looked at the forest puzzled. Their addled minds couldn't perceive what it was. But as she walked, more and more began to show emotion. Brigid made it back to the last village she had been in the dead of night. They held torches as if expecting her or something else to arrive. When she had they rejoiced but stopped immediately after Brigid placed the box down and revealed what was inside. "Hundreds of them just waiting to be eaten. Your land was made fertile with their souls" Brigid said before sitting down. "And they are this small because..." someone asked. "They would not leave otherwise. Conditioned from birth to give their lives. They are the offspring of the tributes" she replied. "Offspring? Then that means..."</p><p>"Some are no doubt your grandchildren or maybe great grandchildren. As to which ones I do not know" she replied. "Can you make them bigger?" the pregnant one from earlier asked. ".... yeah. Just take out as many as you can take care of. By the lord I'm speaking as if they are puppies or kittens" Brigid sighed. One by one, a villager took a child from the box once everyone had a shrunken child, Brigid regrew them. "Let us clean you. You are to miraculous to be covered in filth" the pregnant woman said. Brigid was too tired to be modest any longer and took off her clothing. She laid on the ground as the villagers grabbed a wet cloth and went to scrubbing the filth for her body. Brigid was too shaken to care about tiny men and women cleaning her thighs and crotch. The women made sure the men did not take that job. They granted their giantess that much and tried their best not to arouse her. Brigid whimpered as even their delicate graces did make her cum. "Do not be embarrassed. You are a woman" the pregnant woman assured her wiping the juices off her hands. The men had at first were aroused seeing her nakedness but seeing her pitiful expression felt very sorry for her. They did tease her erect nipples or the crack of her ass. They washed her as one would family.</p><p>The last one had finished cleaning between her last toe and bid her goodnight. "You look better" the woman said still around. "You should rest. You have to be exhausted" Brigid said. "I say the same for you" she said. "They are very pretty but they are not mine" Brigid said softly looking at the stars. The woman climbed onto her belly. "Aye they are. That one there my father named me for. Cera" she said pointing to it. Brigid petted her little belly. "How will we care for so many? The land was stingy already with harvests" Cera asked. "Not anymore. Rona had been hoarding life magics to extend her life. When she died, she released it all at once. I expect you will see changes very soon" Brigid said. "May I rest here?" Cera asked. "...you may" Brigid replied softly.</p><p>In the morning, Brigid found her dress to be clean again. Who had not washed her body had washed her dress and left it to dry in the night. She put her dress back on and picked up her box. "Will you return?" Cera asked. "I do not know" she replied. "In either event, I shall name my child after you" Cera said. "What if it's a boy?" she asked. "Then he will have to live with a girl's name" Cera chuckled. Brigid laughed and bid her goodbye.</p><p>Brigid visited the other villages repeating the task of giving the children out. Each time to the same solemn effect. Eventfully, she made her way back to Duncan. She placed the box of children down as he stood before her. Duncan said nothing and run to hug her toes. He kissed her big toe weeping. She sat and held him to her cheek crying. Of course, he and the others demanded to know what has occurred especially with her in the possession of shrunken children. When they were told, they were aghast. "312 you say?" Duncan asked. "Aye. There is I think 50 or so left here" she replied. Villagers took a child or two and gave them to be regrown. Having spent so much magic, Brigid rested with Duncan at her side.</p><p>As the days passed, what Brigid predicted came true, the grass was much greener, the air cleaner, and oddly enough, the appearance of birds. "It barely looks the same. The soil is so rich its almost black. Brigid, while this is a great thing, wouldn't it eventually die without her necromancy?" Duncan asked. "There was a lot of magic in her Duncan. Your land will remain fertile for centuries but even so I can feel a change. When I first came here I could sense magic all around. Weak, broken, faded like a flickering flame on a candle. But now, slowly, ever so slowly, it's begun to heal. Yesterday, I walked to the edge of the fertile lands and found they had expanded a meter. Your land is like a suture treating a gaping wound. It's very possible that many years from now the entire land will be whole once more. The fact that even after centuries of mixing blood you still have magic is proof that this land still holds promise" she told him. "You should save some of that hope for yourself. I can tell you're not happy here" he said sitting down. </p><p>"It's a wondrous place with cute, loving little people but it's not home. The Lochs sparkle in the dawn. The spring moss so soft under your bare feet. The beauty of falling snow. The merciful king who took me in. That is home. That is my Isle" she muttered. "You can make another home here. Can you not shrink like you shrunk the children?" he asked. "Aye I could" she said holding her hand out. She concentrated but instead of shrinking, a small crack in reality appeared. "Was that supposed to happen?" he asked. "Nae. I was dead center of a magic explosion. It has still left me...unbalanced. It takes great control to shrink anything. It was a small miracle I shrunk those kids earlier" she said looking closer at the crack. "My home. I can see the castle through it!" she yelled. "You can go home?" he asked. "Aye. Now that I know how the spell feels" she said. "Then I guess this is goodbye?" he asked softly. She did not respond. Her lip trembled at the thought of leaving him. There was a whiff of smoke that drifted by her nose making her sneeze. She looked over to where it had come from. "The kiln. With so many children now, we need more pots and plates" he said smiling a little. Brigid stared at it for a moment and then the magic rich dirt. It was then she decided to do something very forbidden...</p><p>"There is a way for us to both get what we want. I need that kiln and your help" she said. "For what purpose?" he asked. "I need to make something forbidden by my master's teachings" she replied. Brigid scooted closer to the kiln and began scrounging up dirt. Hand me water. Buckets of water" she said. Duncan went back and forth from the well and under her direction, poured water over the small mound of dirt she had made. Brigid scooped it up and began kneading it into mud. Once she was satisfied with its consistency, she used her fingers to begin to mold something. "Brigid. This thing you're making gives me the creeps" he said. "As it should. There is reason it is forbidden. What I am making is dangerous" she replied. She bit her finger and let fall a few drops of blood and gave it a moment to soak into the fresh clay. "What is this thing called?" he asked. "A homunculus" she replied infusing it with magic. Under her direction, she had Duncan place it in the kiln to bake and mature. </p><p>By dusk, she had him take it out. With a gentle tap of her finger, the outer shell crumbled and revealed a perfect tiny replica of Brigid. "By the gods. In every detail right down to the toenails" he gasped. "You should step back Duncan" she said. "Why? How could something so lovely be dangerous?" he chuckled looking at its naked body. An arm shot up. Her hand gripped Duncan's throat and began to choke him. "No! I am what you want!" Brigid yelled. The copy looked at the giantess and let go of him before climbing out of her shell. "That's right. You can smell it can't you? My soul. You need my soul to be fully realized. Well, I have my own desires" Brigid dais reaching into her body. With great pain, she extracted a part of her very soul. She held out her hand. The copy climbed into her palm and quickly devoured the spark of life. The copy cried out as it began to grow. Brigid dragged her out of the village to spare it from damage. Once she had stopped yelling, there were two giantesses before them. </p><p>"Two of them? Two?!" one yelled astonished. Brigid looked at her copy as she did the same. "You're me?" Brigid asked wary. "Aye. In form, spirit, and memory" she replied. "Brigid. What's the point of making two of you?" Duncan asked. "Don't you see? This way I can go home and another I can...become your bride" she replied softly. "But which one?" he asked confused. "Me. I can feel inside me" the other replied. "Aye" Brigid said quietly. Brigid gave her the sword she carried in her soul. "Where I am going, what I have chosen for myself I will not need it..." </p><p>"Mary. After the Virgin Mother" the clone finished. "A good choice in name" Brigid said. She had Mary clutch the sword and when ownership was transferred, the sword lost its elegant blade. It was back to have the same broken one. "Fear not. Your soul will forge a new one when the need arises" Brigid said. Brigid opened a crack in reality. "I must go. Already the power needed to open it this much is waning" she said. "Wait!" Duncan yelled. Brigid looked back to see them erecting a cross. "In your honor we will live our lives with mercy and grace in our hearts. We do not know much of anything of your God but if he has you as a worshipper, he must be worthy. Maybe we will see you again one day?" he asked smiling. Brigid wiped a tear away. "He does work in mysterious ways" she grinned. Brigid stepped rough the crack in reality and departed the realm. </p><p>She emerged in almost the exact place she had entered Tir Na Oog days before. It was nighttime, the familiar chill touched her skin. The cold damp earth under her bare feet. Brigid walked back to the castle. As one would imagine, she caused quite a stir being missing for days. The King asked where she had been as he sent out soldiers to look for her. Worried so much, he himself led the search. Her reply as to where she had been was "a calling by our lord and savior". Safe and chaste, he did not press the matter. Her handmaidens asked her what her answer meant. "Spreading the word of God, ending suffering and evil, and hoping I would see you once more" she replied. Brigid cared for her handmaidens very much so her answer as vague it might be, was enough to still their worried hearts. Not much later, she used her gifts and faith to founded this monastery" the Abbess said to Faith and Selah.</p><p>"That's a pretty story but if the sword was left there, then how does mom have it now? And why did she turn into a big dog?" Selah asked. "I have not finished the story yet little one" the Abbess said.</p><p>January 25, 525 CE</p><p>Brigid lay resting in her bed. The years had finally caught up to her. At a ripe age of 71 years, her time on earth grew short and she knew it. Darlugdach, her most trusted and favored pupil prayed before the cross for her abbess leaving Brigid alone in the room. She had accomplished her dreams of founding a monastery, spreading the gospel, and helping those that needed it most. She smiled contently thinking of the mute daughters able to speak because of her, the women caught between lust and belief. The men impoverished physically but great in wealth spiritually. However, her thoughts returned to her time with Duncan and her copy Mary. As if answering her questions, a familiar crack appeared on her nightstand and through it came out a tiny young woman. "I bid you good tidings Brigid of Kildare" she said bowing before the old giantess. "I take it you come from Tir Na Oog?" Brigid asked. "Aye I do" she replied making her way onto the bed.</p><p>"By any chance you know of Duncan and Mary of the village South?" Brigid asked. "That is why I have come" she replied. "I'll will has not befallen them has it *cough cough*" Brigid asked coughing roughly and painfully. "No. The opposite. In the years you have been gone, the land has healed immensely, the population greatly risen, and your teachings have spread to every village" she replied. Brigid smiled. "Forgive me but it was so long ago. In the years the came I have not seen or heard from anyone" Brigid said. "It took this long before someone could harness enough magic to come here. It is as big as you once said it is" the young woman smiled looking around. "More so. Tell me. What became of Duncan and Mary?" Brigid asked timidly. "Duncan still tills the land with his many children and grandchildren" she replied. "They had children?!" Brigid asked excited. "Yes. Eight children and 25 grandchildren" she replied. "Twenty...five grandchildren?" Brigid blushed. "Aye. Mary was very vocal about them giving her many grandchildren. It made her very happy" she replied. "You speak of her in past tense" Brigid said softly. "Aye. She is why I came here"</p><p>"Yesterday. Mary died but before she died, she told me to come here and give you a most precious gift. She said it was to "repay a blessing" the young woman said. The young woman held out her hand revealing a tiny sparkling of light. "Is that..."</p><p>"It is but so much more. Precious enough she only entrusted me, her eldest grandchild with it" she replied. "Oh! You...you are her...my...." Brigid said weeping. Her old withered hand plucked the girl up and brought her to her face. Her tired old eyes focused on the girl. She appeared to be about 25 years of age with dusty red hair. Her finger traced her form right down to her sandaled feet which she inspected. "You have your grandmothers' toes" Brigid chuckled. "Among other things. Brigid, squeeze the gift she gave you" she said. Brigid squeezed it between her fingers and the old woman gasped as Mary's memories collected over the decades filled her heart. The young woman sat patiently watching the ordeal. Brigid saw a wedding. The birth of their first child. Her first day breastfeeding her. Her first steps, words, the birth of other children. Years upon years of memories warming her heart until the very end. The end of Mary's life. She knew it would come and did not wish for her gift to fade with her. She removed it from her body and handed it to the young woman. The young woman Brigid now knew as Bellany.</p><p>"Thank you. Thank you so much. You can tell your grandfather the gift was well received" Brigid said. "No, there was one other thing. I am to give you this. There is no need for it anymore back home" Bellany said summoning the sword that brought peace and freedom to her land. I am to stay with you until the very end" she said. Brigid nodded quietly. Bellany remained hidden for the next few days. "My time grows near, but my visions have told me a man will come today that needs a blessing" Brigid said to Bellany. "Someone does come" Bellany said looking out the window from her windowsill perch. Soon, the man knocked on her bedchamber door. "Enter good sir" she said. "Apologies abbess but I am in need of your miracles" the young man said. Brigid bade him to sit on the stool near her bed. "I belong to an order that hunts down foreign gods that would do pious Christians harm" he said. "Campioné. I've heard of you" Brigid said. "Indeed. I am Arthurus Alligarus of Rome and my family has hunted them for nearly 200 years. Now, I fear we can no longer do so. A god from the Nubian continent has massacred an Ethiopian mission and all attempts to destroy him have failed" he explained. "So, you seek power" Brigid said. "...yes" he replied softly. "Destruction is not a blessing Roman" she torted.</p><p>"Aye it is not but the suffering must end. That is why I came so far" he replied. "To you, what is a sword? To end your foes? What drives you Roman?" she asked. The young man sat quietly. "What drives me is to end suffering. I am a humble man. A God-fearing man and even if some are heathens, they do not deserve slavery and butchery. Jesus did not stutter when he said to love one another and surely did not say "unless they are Christian" he replied. Brigid cocked an eyebrow. "That is...an interesting view. It runs counter to the Vatican" she said. The man looked worried. "A belief I share too" she whispered grinning. "Arthurus, kneel before me and receive a blessing" she said. The young man did, and Brigid summoned the sword. The man nearly fell backwards seeing symbology very different from his. "You know of this magic?" he asked. "I discovered it on my own. Now, Arthurus Alligarus, I hereby give you my sword" she said. The sword glowed for a moment.</p><p>"Thank you but...the sword is broken" he said. "Give it a moment" she said smiling. Just as she said that, the sword lifted up and embedded itself in his chest. The man gasped in shock as the sword disappeared into his body. "Now summon it forth!" she yelled. The young man did and found the sword whole. Its blade etched with Latin different from what was when Brigid had it. It did not have the groove of a broadsword anymore but of a fine ancient Roman gladius. "The blade is a reflection of your soul. You take great pride in Rome it seems" she said. Brigid coughed blood. "I have texted you too much" he said worried. Brigid shook her head. "What is the name of this sword?" he asked. Brigid blinked as she had never thought of one. She looked at the gift given by Bellany hidden under her pillow. "Before you depart. Are you a father?" she asked. "I am. It is the suffering of children that bothers me most of all. It is why I do what I do. Not out of family or of the faith but to make the world safer for my son if I am to be honest" he replied. Brigid nodded and picked the sword from his hand. It reverted to its broken state.</p><p>Brigid placed the gift on the hilt and magically fused it into the sword. "Now you can wield it as not a man but as a father. It will respond to your wishes and desires. Take heed Arthurus, it is not a weapon to be trifled with as it will expose weakness" she said. "How so?" he asked confused. "It has a heart" she replied smiling. He nodded. "I know what to call it now. Last Stigmata. The end and beginning of faith" he said. "A fine name indeed" she said. Arthurus look his leave. "Was that wise Brigid? That was a cherished thing. Both cherished" Bellany said coming out from under the bed. "Aye they were but cherished things are not to be hoarded, they are to be shared. Now excuse me. I have three letters to write. Very important letters" she said grinning.</p><p>February 1, 525 CE</p><p>Brigid lay dying in her bed. The end has come. In her room was her pupil Darlugdach and Bellany who was hidden. "Darlugdach, my beautiful girl, I entrust a secret to you. Bellany, please show yourself" she said. Bellany walked out from underneath the bed startling the girl. "Do not be afraid. She is my family, and she holds a treasured secret. I trust you to keep it" Brigid said. Bellany explained the most she could to ease the giantess' mind. "The legends are true?" the young woman asked. "They are. She is proof that the land exists. Now as I go to meet the Lord, I leave to you the truth in order protect them from those that do not understand" Brigid said gasping for every breath. "I... I understand" Darlugdach said. Brigid nodded and smiled one final time before closing her eyes and leaving this world for the next. Bellany fell to her knees and wept bitterly. Darlugdach picked her up and cuddled her as they cried over their loss. The next morning, they both looked out the window as monks dug a grave. "I do not know what to do next. She was my teacher but now they say I should take her place. I'm not ready for that" Darlugdach said.</p><p>"You will be. If she was your teacher, then I know you are ready" Bellany said. "Are you to go back home now she has passed?" Darlugdach asked solemnly. She could see the giantess grip her crucifix. "I was going to, but I see that maybe I'm needed here more" Bellany replied. Bellany used her magic to grow to human size. "Whew. Not easy keeping this form but I have reason to practice it" she said holding Darlugdach's hand. "Come. Her farewell gathering is in the abbey" Darlugdach said leading her to it" the Abbess said.</p><p>"So Brigid's soul is in the sword? That's why it transforms?" Faith asked. The Abbess smiled and touched the hilt revealing the answer. "Mary's gift was not just her soul" the replied. "A soul gem!" Faith said. "Look closer" the abbess said. Faith looked closer and squinted before looking at the Abbess astounded. "What is it mom?" Selah asked. "The gem. It's nothing like I've ever seen before. It the shape of a human heart. A crystallized human heart" Faith said. "Aye. Mary had become a patron saint of children and parents after saving so many of them from the clutches of Rona. So many prayed to her, so many entrusted their love to her it transformed her very soul into this. Faith, the reason you transformed into a "big dog" as your daughter says is because you prayed for the strength to save her. Last Stigmata chooses its owner based on what's in their hearts. And the heart of a parent is mighty indeed. Every owner imparts part of themselves onto that crystal heart. Their hopes, dreams, wishes, and prayers. It is not to be feared" the Abbess said. Faith was very quiet.</p><p>"I feel like a fool to be afraid of something with such a beautiful past" Faith muttered. "Don't be. None of start off knowing the answers to everything. Without doubt there can be no faith" the abbess said smiling. "It must've been hard for you Bellany to make that choice" Faith said. "...you can see me?" The Abbess asked. "Yeah. The barrier was a clue. No ordinary arcane can do that. But the dead giveaway is the glamor on yourself" Faith said. The abbess smiled and released the spell reveling a young woman. "Whoa" Selah said. "I do know why I ended up with immortality but when I did I formed the Order of St. Brigid to pass on her hidden truth. I teach it to an abbess in training, fake my death when the time comes and then return to be the next abbess in training. An Order of master and pupil" she said smiling.</p><p>Bellany looked at the clock. I will be needed for evening prayer. I wish we could speak more. I have many questions for you" she said. "I can stay in town longer" Faith said. "No, you are needed elsewhere, and you have the answers you seek. Farewell, Faith and Selah McCormick. May god order your steps in his word" she said opening the door. Faith and Selah left. "She looked sad mom" Selah said getting comfortable in the cup holder of the car. "Yeah I picked up on that too. Probably memories of people long dead" she replied. "You're powerful right? Why aren't you immortal?" she asked. "Who said I want to?" Faith said starting the car and leaving.</p><p>The next day...</p><p>Bellany sipped her morning tea and held the second ancient letter. "To be opened the morning after the first one" it said on the cover. Bellany broke the old wax seal and read it. Her face went pale and her hand trembled. "...alright" she whispered. Bellany waited patiently at the archway until she saw whom she was waiting for. She was unnerved at how unassuming she looked. Black hair, light colored skin, bright red dress, and heels to match. She stood there looking dead at Bellany with one hand in the shoulder of a teenage boy dressed in private school uniform. The woman gently tapped the barrier. "Release it or he dies" she hissed. "There is no need to threaten his life Lilith. I am prepared to let you enter" Bellany said. Bellany dropped the holy barrier protecting the monastery. Lilith smiled as magic shrank the boy where he stood. She picked him up from the ground and shoved him into her cleavage. "Insurance" she told her. Bellany bid her to enter. Bellany wisely cleared the vestibule as the infamous woman entered. The basins of holy water for parishioners boiled being in her presence. </p><p>"Ask you questions" Bellany said. "You knew I was coming and did not flee?" Lilith asked. "It was foretold long ago" Bellany replied. Lilith smiled briefly. "So Faith paid a visit. Is she still set on killing gods and goddesses?" Lilith asked. "She wavered. She wavers no longer. She is the one that will slay your evil kind" Bellany replied. Lilith laughed. "Evil? Evil is a god creating me to be a slave for a man. Evil is kicking me out of paradise for standing up for myself" Lilith said. "Evil is laying in the bed of lucifer and vowing to murder innocent children. You are no victim first woman" Bellany said. "Agree to disagree" Lilith said coldly waving her hand. A shadow raced from her body gripping Bellany's throat. "No screams?" Lilith said before releasing her. "You wish for me to make noise?"</p><p>"The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone, in the ranks of death you'll find him. His father's sword he hath girded on, and his wild harp slung behind him"</p><p>"Stop singing" Lilith spat. "Land of song cried the warrior bard, should tho' all the world betrays thee. One sword at least they rights shall guard. One faithful harp shall praise thee!" Bellany sang at the top of her voice. "ENOUGH!" Lilith yelled blasting her with an unholy magic shattering her glamor and growth spell. Bellany dazed, used the last of her strength to open a crack in reality and slipped the third and final letter through it. "I got what I need from you" she hissed raising her shoe over her. Bellany crossed herself as it came crashing down ending her very long life. Once Lilith was content wish crushing her to paste, she looked at the cross. "Soon, with Faith's help, we will have words you and I" she hissed before incinerating what was left of Bellany with hellfire. Lilith left and as she made it outside, she paused. She glanced down at the boy. She pulled him free of her sweaty cleavage. "Hmm. Guess I didn't need you after all. Although, I am what I am" she grinned putting him back in. </p><p>Two days later...</p><p>Selah sat on the sofa playing with her phone when something caught her attention. She opened the link. After reading it, she rushed outside to where Faith stood overlooking the city. "I'm impressed at how much good you've all done in such a short amount of time. Please tell the girls I'm very proud of them" Faith said talking to Skylar. Skylar nodded. "Mom! You have to see this!" Selah yelled running up to her. "Selah slow down! Watch where you're stepping!" Faith said as Selah's giant feet nearly crushed Skylar. "Sorry Sky. Still getting used to...never mind that mom! Read this!" Selah said pushing her phone into Faith's hand. Faith read the page title. "Missing person's bulletin issued for Bell Gregory after beloved Abbes of Kildare Monastery goes missing" </p><p>"She wouldn't just leave. It meant everything to her" Faith muttered. Her fist clenched. Selah cringed as her phone was broken in half by her strength. "Lilith. She did this because we visited her!" Faith yelled as lightning thundered overhead. The winds howled. "I need to find more. More deities! More power!" Faith screamed. "I...I... can help with that" Skylar meekly said. The winds died down. "What did you say?" Faith asked. "Our father.... I mean Odin had many clients. There was one in particular he said was a god" she replied. "And where would I find this god?" Faith asked roughly. </p><p>"Japan" Skylar replied. </p><p></p>