The Guardian Temple

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29

Ragna

A chaotic scene was laid out all around me. A massive foyer filled with bewildered soldiers, confused angels, saints and embattled priests.

The disorder was mounting steadily by the second and it was clear no one was aware of what I had accomplished.

Rage had completed the Exodus Protocol exactly as I directed, with a few minor modifications. Using the beacon I left in The Guardian Temple, all of our forces, with the exception of Esmerelda, were transported here.

Still, only myself and Sofia knew of it. Or at least, whomever answered me when I reached out for Sofia’s mind.

I took to the air, soaring over the confused rabble. I gazed down at the soldiers of Penthesil who had been saved, “Triage to those who are injured, get them someplace safe! If you’re not injured or working with the injured, get a debriefing station set someplace inside. Refer to Major Timothy Crestfall!”

That’s when a strange creature appeared before me. The voice seemed familiar, though I couldn’t place it.

The creature’s pale ceramic face was featureless, like that of a doll without any detail painted upon it. Encircling its head were a pair of halos beset with jeweled eyes. The body was completely white, wearing robes over what looked like light steel chainmail. Even the creature's legs lacked features, only a pair of pale cones descending below, feetless, ending in pointed spikes. Six wings, similar to those I had seen on Sofia, sprung from its back. But they appeared almost as if they were floating bits of stained glass representing those wings.

This bizarre creature floated towards me, its six pulsing wings lifting it towards me.

The creature fixed each of its many jeweled eyes on me as they grew red and enraged, “You do not give us orders. We shall handle the injured and those you have taken from the field of battle.” The voice it used was so familiar, though I couldn’t place it exactly. I had heard it before.

I heard a Red Niten Dragon, of sorts, call out from below, in confusion, “I do not understand… Why have we been taken to the Guardian Temple? The battle was not yet won!”

I could hear more voices and chatter all around me as the shouts of disapproval grew louder.

“Who dares rob me of my vengeance?!” A Slavic woman’s voice called out.

That same Red Niten dragon from before growled, “Of course… It would be the Daughter of the Devil to undermine us! I knew she couldn’t be trusted!”

I flinched as the words echoed through the room, and soon it seemed the majority of those below were glaring daggers towards me, if not shouting obscenities.

I narrowed my eyes on the strange creature before me, “I did what I had to in order to save St. Michael,” I hissed under my breath, “You… Whoever you are! Are not in charge here. My Son Timothy and his wife Sofia are in charge,” That’s when I realized where I had heard this voice before, when I had reached out to Sofia. This was the voice that answered me. “Where is Sofia? She is who I called out to.”

The creature’s voice now echoed only in my mind, “I am Vael, the Venom of God. The beings known as Sofia and Samael gave birth to me upon their sacrifice to open the Gates of Heaven!” Vael spat, if that were possible without lips, “A sacrifice, much like St. Michael’s and others, you have rendered worthless by your act of cowardice! So, while we regroup and determine our next course of action, I suggest you consider the damage you have done elsewhere.”

I looked down below me, my eyes finding Timothy. His familiar ice blue eyes stared up at me in contempt.

I took a deep breath, turning to Vael, “Very well, Vael. As I’m your guest, I’ll do as you ask.”

I dropped down to the ground, away from most, moving towards a staircase I saw in the distance.

If I recall correctly, that was the landing platform of the Guardian Temple. At least it was when Xyphiel and I had been here last.

As I made my way towards the staircase, a hand pulled my shoulder back, forcing me to turn on my heel.

It was Zepherina and a rage filled her eyes. Her body was covered in soot, dirt and the sweat of battle.

Seeing Zepherina fresh from the field usually made me feel a sense of pride. Now, however? It was quite the opposite.

“Mom! What have you done?!” Zepherina accused..

“Xyphiel was about to kill St. Michael!” I explained, “I couldn’t let him win,” I argued, my sanity and resolve holding up, for now.

For how much longer, I was unsure.

“And you consulted no one before you made the decision to pull everyone out?!” Zepherina snapped.

“It was that or lose everything,” I defended, “What would you have done?”

“Stayed and fought! For honor and glory!” Zepherina snapped.

“Honor and Glory mean nothing to the living, Zepherina. They are reserved for the honored and glorified dead,” I hissed back at her. “If we had remained, we’d have lost the day. But now, thanks to me, we have time to regroup,” I argued.

Zepherina’s lip rose in anger, “Thanks to you?! You only focused on one part of the battle, mother! We could have won!” Zepherina growled, lifting up her shaking hand, which had severe burns along her fingers tips.

“Zepherina!” I grabbed her hands, examining them, “What happened?!” The burns, I could identify them easily.

Mana burns.

Somehow Zepherina had singed her flesh on raw and potent mana. On what, I wasn’t sure. Was this the cost of her new form?

“It’s nothing! L It doesn’t even hurt!” Zepherina shouted as she ripped her hand from me, “I killed the Avatar of Greed! I crushed his essence with my own hands,” she boasted, flexing her fingers.

“Can you feel your fingers? Are they numb?” I frowned, “Mana burns are… potent, Zepherina. It’s not just physical damage. You could lose more than that.’

Zepherina clenched her fists, “It’s nothing!” She snapped at me. “Stop deflecting! The point is, on top of the Avatar of Greed, I felt another avatar fall! That was two out of Seven, Mom! How do you know what St. Michael would have wanted?!”

“You don’t understand what losing St. Michael would mean!” I argued, “I cannot afford to lose anyone else!”

“You cannot or we cannot?!” Zepherina snapped.

I was stunned by her response, my voice stuck in my throat.

“I thought so,” Zepherina huffed, “I brought you to the battle in the hopes that you’d turn the tide in our favor. I risked everything to bring you back! I should have known better…” Zepherina growled to herself as she turned away from me and stormed off.

Zepherina’s anger was understandable. She was still young, still full of fire and passion. Still thinking that death on the battlefield was the greatest "honor". Glory, as the young soldiers called it.

But I wouldn’t have a victory in death, that much was certain. You’re only a Hero, if you die.

But I didn’t want Glory, I’m not a hero.

I want to gaze into Xyphiel's eyes the moment he realizes he's been defeated. I need that satisfaction that I brought about his downfall.

Zepherina would understand, soon enough. I had to give her time.

I smirked to myself as I made my way to the landing platform, where there were far fewer people.

The platform was exactly as I recalled when Kriggary and I arrived all those years ago.

How long has it been? The day my brother’s faith failed.

The alabaster floor reaching out into the vastness of The Void, an intricate railing covering the edge. There, thousands of stars twinkled in the dark tapestry stretching endlessly.

I stopped at the railing to look out at the vast void of space, my eyes focusing on a specific star. Out in the distance, an almost soft lavender glows apart from the others.

“None will know of you, I promise. Not a single force of Hell or Heaven. I’ll make sure you’re protected, forever. My little dark ones,” I smiled to myself, “I’m so very proud of you.”

My mild revere was cut off by Tassel’s voice.

“Sellie!” Tassel shouted.

I turned to see Tassel storming towards me and before I could get a word in, she slammed her fist into my gut.

The strike was surprising, but not enough to wind me. I slid back, regardless, my back against the railing.

“I cannot believe you did this!” Tassel growled, “Why, Sellie?!"

“To… Save you…?” I stammered, shocked Tassel would strike me.

Tassel’s growl rose up from her chest to her throat as I looked up to her, “I didn’t need saving! I came down from Heaven, from Paradise, Sellie, to give my life and fight back the forces of Hell!” She roared, “This wasn’t supposed to be some happy reunion! I didn’t come back to fight for you! I came to fight for The Guardians!”

I closed my eyes, pretending her strike to my stomach was what was causing me discomfort, despite her words cutting deeper than any blade.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!” Tassel growled.

“...I saved Saint Michael,” I said, my resolve returning as I removed my hand from where Tassel had struck me, “and Guardians knows who else. Now, St. Michael is here and he can recover. Xyphiel had him defeated, Tass. I wasn’t going to let it end like that. I couldn’t.”

“Wait,” Tassel’s face softened, slightly, “St. Michael’s hurt?”

“Xyphiel ran him through with the Puriel blade… But now St. Michael’s here. Probably the only place he can be healed,” I hoped.

Tassel turned away quickly, “I’ll find him!”

I called out, “Wait, Tass-”

Before I could continue, Tassel stopped halfway up the steps, where Geoffrey, of all the people in the world, had met her half-way down, “You’ve done enough, Sellie,” She said as she turned to Geoffrey, “Hey Geoff, we’ll catch up later!” She said with a wide smile and a joyful hug.

The two embraced like old friends. My eyes fixed on the two as sound seemed to leave my ears.

My most hated enemy, the one who is literally the cause of all of my suffering and my best friend from back then, are friends? Does she know what he did?!

Does she know that Geoffrey destroyed Nite? That he’s the reason why we suffered so terribly?!

I must have looked shocked or bewildered as Geoffrey approached me slowly, clearing his throat as he neared, “Old friend.”

His words snapped me out of my stupor.

“How do you know her?” I hissed as I narrowed my eyes on Geoffrey, “Does she know what you did?”

“Yes,” Geoffrey stated, “She does.” He sighed, “You and I need to talk.”

“Oh, yeah we do. But not about what you think we do. What the fuck are you doing here? Didn’t you listen to me when I told you what I’d do to you if I ever saw you again?” I growled, my fists clenched, “If I remember correctly, it had something to do with me reaching down your throat and tearing out your heart.”

Geoffrey sighed, leaning against the rails and looking out at the dark sky, his gaze set ahead, “I doubt you’d go that far,” He turned to me with a grin, “You've softened up since then.”

I grabbed him firmly by his shirt and pushed him against the railing, “Many fell in the battle… If I hurled you into the void I doubt anyone would consider you anything but a casualty of war!” I threatened.

“I’m sure you could easily explain that to Tassel, yes?” Geoffrey countered with a smug grin.

Through gritted teeth I released him, turning from him and walking a few meters to his left. I leaned against the railing, taking a deep breath to settle myself. “Not like I have anything better to do… In a depressing turn of events, you’re the only one who even wants to talk to me right now.”

Geoffrey sighed, “Yeah… Well, I can understand having a burden of sin placed on your shoulders and feeling like there’s something that you need to do to make up for it.”

I scoffed, “Oh, what is it that I did that’s as bad as you’ve done? I’ve built empires with my works. I wasn’t working to serve some God blindly based on hatred.”

Geoffrey leaned next to me, looking into the void, “You created Xyphiel.”

I glared at him, my eyes narrowing as my hands clenched the stone railing.

I felt it crack under my fingers.

Geoffrey turned to me, no smile or smirk on his face now, “I didn’t say you were proud of it, nor that you meant to.”

My face felt heated as my rage nearly boiled over.

“You can’t kill him, then Tassel would be even more upset with me,” I reminded myself.

“You undermined your brother's faith at every turn, told him the Guardians weren’t there for him when he needed them, yes?” Geoffrey asked.

“I told him that when I was destroying churches who hung people for ‘Gender Crimes’,” I hissed, “People like me!”

“Those were people,” Geoffrey explained, “They aren’t their Gods, their God isn’t responsible for their misinterpreting of His word,” Geoffrey added.

“Now you sound like…” I trailed off, recalling the day I was sitting at the campfire, speaking to Kriggary as he wept at what I had done.

Meanwhile, I had just callously wiped the blood from my hands, not a shred of guilt for any one of those murderous women of God who had slain my lover.

I held no sympathy for those who feel that my entire way of life is an affront to their supposed Lord. I still do not.

“Kriggary?” Geoffrey said softly.

His name sent a shiver through me. It was only now that I could even remember my brother’s face. For a time, I had only remembered an echo of his voice. His old voice. Not the voice that came from his possessed bodies.

Even when he took his Niten form, Xyphiel sounded nothing like Kriggary.

That soft gentle voice that was almost a purr when he wanted it to be.

I was silent as I looked out into the void.

Geoffrey was right. I remembered it, even as I was strangling Xyphiel right after I had thought he killed Timothy.

I was trying to make up for what I had done. To destroy the creature I had replaced my brother with.

The creature that, now, was attempting to undo all of creation out of spite.

I turned to Geoffrey, my nerves settling slowly, though I still knew I was on a hair trigger, “You wanted to talk? Fine. Talk," I barked.

“Thank you,” Geoffrey said as he took a measured breath. This was clearly something he had rehearsed. I’d have to ask Juventas how many times he had, “Not that you ever asked, but aren't you the least bit curious what I did after I caused the destruction of Nite?”

“I was personally hopeful you had died, but yet you survived,” I growled, “Unlike many on Nite. Tassel included.”

“I saved her,” Geoffrey said flatly.

I turned to him, confused, “You… what?”

“I came back to Nite, on a shuttle, to rescue survivors. I was onboard a ship that escaped Dei alongside my uncle Erik, his wife Cleo and their son Zagreus,” Geoffrey explained.

I closed my eyes, leaning forward as the name Zagreus was spoken, “Yes. I met Zagreus later. When they later became Dionysus. It was an odd reunion.”

“Wait, where?!” Geoffrey asked, shocked.

“When I took hold of the Titans of Alexandratta with Xyphiel. The Goddess Dionysus spoke to me and called me her half-sister,” I sighed, “I thought it was a bit of an odd thing, we didn’t speak much of it. But it was only when my memories were fully recovered after Lucifer released my full potential that I put the pieces together.”

Geoffrey looked stunned, “Huh,” He shook his head, “He and Eris died, so long ago. It’s odd to hear that he has some form in the spiritual realm.”

I chuckled, “Oh, Eris too, hm? Trust me… She’s not gone anywhere.”

Geoffrey frowned, “That’s… Ominous all things considered.”

“Didn’t mean to derail you, please,” I made a circular motion with my hand to inform him to get on with his ‘talk’, “Continue.”

Geoffrey heaved a sigh and continued on, “Right, about after the event on Nite-”

“The Calamity you caused,” I interrupted, “Sorry…” I said facetiously, “You were saying?”

Geoffrey’s patience was getting worn down and I grinned at the fact I was annoying him, “Right. After that, I saved Tassel. I also saved a handful of other Niten Dragons from certain death. I tried, very hard, to mend what I had done. I knew full well nothing I said or did could have healed your pain,” Geoffrey sighed, “So, stupidly, I said nothing of my good works when we eventually met.”

I was silent as I looked out into the void, “You saved Tassel…? Where was she?”

“In a disabled shuttle, next to a Seal I know now only as the Great Seal of Solomon,” Geoffrey chuckled, “It’s where I found Saint Michael’s blade.”

I heaved a sigh, “...You were hours from possibly saving Kriggary and I. Maybe even minutes,” I turned to him, “Or joining in our grim fate.”

Geoffrey grimaced, “I don’t want to anger you again. All I can do is ask your forgiveness over what happened in the past,” he sighed, “It’s something I’ll never truly get past. Being used by him.”

I released my hands from the railing, noticing the cracks in the stone were slowly healing themselves. I clenched my fists.

“You’re asking… for forgiveness?” I chuckled, “Do you know who my father is? Or even my birth mother? Forgiveness doesn't exactly run in my family.”

I considered, again, hurling him into the vacuum of space.

I could tell Tassel he slipped or somehow just play dumb to his death.

Would he even die? I wondered.

Then again, if he didn’t, I wouldn’t want to. I wouldn’t wish that fate on anyone, having felt it myself. The silence, the fear, the shock of thinking that after life there was nothing but blackness.

I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

Maybe my worst enemy, now. Which would be Xyphiel.

Then again, he went through it with me when he was Kriggary.

I wasn’t sure if it was anger, sorrow or just emotion itself that hit me. But, my legs slipped out from under me and my head was facing the ground. My heart was in my throat and I couldn’t speak as I collapsed.

I gasped for air, taking in a sharp breath as tears ran down my face.

It was as if my body reacted before I could process the thought.

He wasn’t just dead. My brother, the kind Scribe, Priest and Sage who guided me through life had somehow become my most hated enemy.

In that dark void, I would have lost my mind if not for Kriggary’s soft voice reassuring me of our time on Nite. Telling me of mom, dad, of the events that occurred. All while I panicked and lamented over our fate.

My brother was there, his voice, calm and collected, walking me through the darkness like a torch.

How? How had my brother fallen after that? Was Geoffrey right? Was it me? Did I undermine his faith so thoroughly that I had destroyed him and in his place, Xyphiel rose?

I barely registered that someone was hugging me, holding my face tight to their chest so I could possibly save face.

What if Zepherina walked in to see me like this? Or Maddy? Worse yet, my soldiers and the officers of the Penthesilean guard?

Tinnitus quickly kicked in and I was in complete hysterics.

I don’t know how long it took me to get a hold of myself, to push myself away from whoever was hugging me and to get a controlled and steady breath of air.

“...You okay?” Geoffrey asked.

I turned to him, seeing his shirt rather soaked with my tears as I glanced up at him.

“No…” I whispered softly, still on my knees, “...I miss my brother.”

Geoffrey gave a nod, “I wish I knew him before he fell. Even as what I saw in my eyes at the time as a bloodthirsty Niten Drake, Kriggary seemed kind.”

I shook my head, “He was…” I heaved, “It’s my fault this happened," I sobbed.

Geoffrey gave a solemn nod as he slipped his armor back on, “And it’s my fault for what happened to Nite. All its inhabitants lost their first homes because of something I did.” Geoffrey clicked his breastplate on, offering me his hand, “But when I saw the damage of what I had done, I worked for centuries to make up for it.”

“I don’t think we have centuries…” I remarked.

Geoffrey chuckled, “Not with that attitude.” He flexed his fingers, offering me a hand up.

I took it, begrudgingly, and got to my feet. “So, you and Tassel puttered around on a salvaged shuttle for a long time and then what?” I asked.

“Not a salvaged shuttle,” Geoffrey chuckled, “Deepsight.”

I sighed, “Deepsight? They used that as their ark?” I smiled, “That makes sense.”

“Deepsight put most of us into a cryogenic sleep, actually,” Geoffrey explained, “We found a new world and that’s where we all formed our bonds.”

I frowned, “A new world? Wait there’s…”

“A world, thriving, with its ancestry of Niten Drakes and” Geoffrey hesitated, “Some Dei Angels,” Geoffrey said, his tone shifting.

I lifted an eyebrow, “What happened?”

“The Nite and Dei clashed,” Geoffrey heaved a sigh, “It was peaceful at first but, well… The Dei weren’t as keen on sharing resources as the Nite.”

I clenched my fist, images of enslaved Niten Dragons at the hands of Dei Angels running through my head, “When this is over, we free the Niten Drakes.”

Geoffrey shook his head, “Ragna, I can talk more on the details for you later but the end result isn’t what you think.”

“Since when do you know what I think, exactly, Geoffrey?” I growled, narrowing my eyes on him.

His face was twisted in a mix of confusion and concern, as he looked out into the distance, “Fate has paths for us to follow. New Dei is a path you didn’t go down. I know this thanks to St. Michael,” Geoffrey sighed, “And I’m not sure you want to know the end result of a choice you didn’t make.”

“I know the end result of the choices I didn’t make,” I scoffed, recalling my other self in The Tower of Pride. I sighed, shaking my head, “Just answer one question, if you’re being so mysterious about it: Are the Niten Dragons there safe?”

Geoffrey gave a somber nod, “The Niten Drakes are perfectly fine,” he turned to me, “It’s my people who lost the conflict.”

“And I need not ask who started it,” I narrowed my eyes.

Geoffrey looked away, “I don’t want to relive it. It’s over. Done. When the ‘War’, if you could even call it that, was over? That’s when Eris, Zagreus, Juventas and I left.”

“Eris must have been so pleased,” I said, shaking my head, “War means Chaos, after all. She thrives on that.”

Geoffrey now gave me a baffled expression, “You’ve never met Eris.”

I turned to Geoffrey, an exasperated look on my face.

“Then again, maybe you have,” Geoffrey said, reading my face.

“Okay, I've been waiting since forever to show up at the right moment!” Maddy’s voice came from the staircase as she skipped down, her eyes uncharacteristically blue, “How’s my timing?! Seriously, it feels like months!”

Geoffrey turned to her, his face pale, “You couldn’t be-”

“Hey Geo!” Maddy waved excitedly.

“...Oh my God it is you,” Geoffrey said, his eyes wide in a mixture of shock and horror.

“I see you’re possessing Madison, again, Eris,” I stated, “Please remember she’s just a mortal woman.”

Eris shrugged, “Oh, trust me I am never going to hurt Madison. She’s my most devout…” Eris paused, “Second most devout follower? Yeah, close second. Eurybia is definitely number one, but of course she’s my head priestess so, that’s a shoe-in!”

“I…What?! Priestess?!” Geoffrey said, eyes wide.

“You, Juventas, Eris and Zagreus, or rather, Dionysus as they prefer now,” I explained, “Are ancient beings, Geoffrey. And while you traveled throughout the galaxy in stasis, Eris here has been an ascended being, gaining followers and I’d assume assimilating Chaos.”

“Right up until the fucking Military Industrial Complex made war all predictable and boring! Stupid CIA…” Eris said with a huff, a mix of disappointment and glee in her voice. “But, Maddy helped me destabilize all that, with a bit of help from you, lil’ niece of mine!” Eris winked.

“Dare I ask how my mother is?” I asked.

Geoffrey winced, “She’s… Asleep.”

I turned to Geoffrey, “Wait, what do you mean, asleep?” I pointed to Eris, “She should be dead, like Eris here. She’s Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.”

Geoffrey paused, “I… know she went by that name, but she’s stuck in her pod on New Dei. Still sleeping. Something odd happened to it and it wouldn’t awaken her.”

Eris began to giggle then started laughing maniacally.

Geoffrey turned to Eris slowly, “...You didn’t.”

“Oh my Gods! I have been waiting to spill the tea on that one to you Geoffrey!” Eris laughed, “Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a secret? I mean, knowing when I was going to tell you did help a little, but oh man was it difficult!”

I turned to Eris, “By tampering with it, you allowed my mother to sit between life and death and rule in Sheol, didn’t you?”

Eris nodded Maddy’s head excitedly, “Yeppers! And you should thank me, by the by, cause with my assistance, we kicked Zelletia straight to Hell!”

I narrowed my eyes, “Yes… Where she became the Avatar of Envy and nearly killed me and helped Xyphiel kill my wife.”

Eris shrugged, “Worked out in the end.”

“Did it now?” I asked, a grin on my face, barely hiding my wrath as I stormed up to her.

“For me? Oh yeah,” Eris grinned even as I stormed over to her. She looked up to me, sweetly, “Something wrong?”

“I’m feeling very pent up right now and I would very much like to hit something,” I warned.

Eris pointed to her face with a wicked grin, “Maddy’s body… Remember?”

My lip curled in anger as she taunted me. “And what is it you mean, exactly, by: ‘Worked Out’? You’re not necessarily the pinnacle of joy and prosperity.”

“Oh we’re getting to the part where I can’t see what happens and it’s so exciting Sellie! You can’t imagine the burden of knowing everything for so long only for the cusp of that knowledge to be approaching faster and faster!” Eris giggled.

“Knowing… Everything?” Geoffrey asked.

“Oh! We’re close enough to the end game where me telling you doesn’t change anything,” Eris said with a wide smile, “I can see the tapestry of fate. Meaning: I see where all your threads lie and what choices lead to where,” She grinned, “It’s why I knew dying with Zagreus where I did would lead me to become the new Goddess of Chaos… Mostly by getting eaten by that Cronus fucker,” Eris winked at us.

“You… What?!” Geoffrey asked, eyes wide, “Does that mean you could have helped us save millions?!”

“Oh, yeah!” Eris giggled, “But that wouldn’t have been fun, trust me! It would have been so boring!” Eris lamented as she turned to me, “Well, boring for me, anyway.”

I narrowed my eyes, “So, you're toying with reality?”

“More like nudging the pieces around for maximum fun where I can,” Eris giggled, “Goddess stuff…” Eris’s eyes locked on mine, “You’ll get used to it, little Goddess.”

I was silent and Eris’s expression was oddly serious.

She knew, didn’t she?

Me and Eris stared down at one another, silently. Her face was firm, unmoving and calculating for a few more moments or two before she turned to Geoffrey, “Well, I gotta go before the next plot point. Anyway, I’m gonna bug Juventas some more. I’ll tell her I found you two making up,” She tittered to Geoffrey.

“Wouldn’t you know that we were making up already? Why wouldn’t you tell her earlier if you know everyone’s fate?” Geoffrey asked.

“Because how else could the readers know where my character is going to in order to establish 'Dramatic Irony' for the next chapter?” Eris said with a wicked grin, looking up and away someplace.

“What?” Geoffrey asked, confusion on his face.

“Don’t worry about it,” Eris giggled, “Tootles!” She called out as she skipped away from us.

Once she was out of earshot, I turned to Geoffrey, who still appeared frozen in place as if he had seen a ghost. “What was traveling with her like?” I questioned.

“A lot like this…” Geoffrey trailed off, his hand running through his golden hair as he processed the new information.

I nodded, “So, my biological mother’s body is someplace on this plane of existence, stuck between life and death?”

Geoffrey nodded, “It would seem so. I had met Cleo once or twice.”

“Her friend, Teryn, was quite the character,” I smiled weakly.

“Was she?” Geoffrey asked.

“Yes,” I sighed, “I hope she hasn’t seen what’s become of her husband,” I turned to Geoffrey to give him context, “Kriggary.”

Geoffrey gave a solemn nod, “I would hope that no one who knew him knew of Kriggary’s fate. But,” Geoffrey sighed, “I know Heaven can look down from above, so I’m sure all know the truth, Ragna.”

“Truth is subjective,” I said as I looked Geoffrey over, “Geoffrey…” I trailed off for a moment before I heaved a sigh. “First off: I forgive you for what you did all those years ago. It’s very clear to me that you’ve been trying to make up for those misdeeds. Sorry if I was so vicious to you when you first came to me. But, could you blame me?” I asked.

Geoffrey chuckled, “I can’t, no.”

“Secondly,” I began, “You can call me Sellenia. Only my close friends and family have that privilege. You’re the closest thing I have to family, outside of my own children.”

Geoffrey chuckled, “Well, I am your half-brother, after all.”

I smiled warmly, “Yeah,” I frowned, “What our mother must think of us, huh?”

Geoffrey sighed, “I only half know.”

“I never will,” I sighed, turning to the void again.

“Don’t say never, Sellie,” I heard a voice that caught my ear so hard it nearly tore it off. I turned to my right to spot someone on the stairs.

It was her*!*

Standing short, her blue Niten wings towering behind her, her normally calm blue eyes looking furious at Geoffrey and I.

She wore leather armor similar to Tassel’s, with some small metal shoulder and shin guards, along with a pair of pistols on either hip. Her blond hair was in a messy ponytail, her face dirtied from battle, but it was her.

It was my mother, Yuki.

I tried to speak, but Geoffrey spoke first.

“Mom!” He rushed to her, “You are here!”

She hugged Geoffrey with one hand and pushed up to kiss his cheek, “Geoff… Oh Guardians, you got taller.”

Geoffrey smiled warmly before he turned to me, “I was just talking to-”

“Sellie,” Mom said firmly.

I nodded, drying my eyes as swiftly as I could, moving towards her.

Mom looked me up and down, as if appraising me, “So… Shit Sellie, where do I even start?”

I tried to force a smile, “I… I’ve missed you.”

“My Sellie,” Mom heaved a sigh and opened her arms, “come here.”

I hugged her tightly, leaning down and burying my face into her shoulder and deeply inhaling her scent. A scent I didn’t think I would ever have smelled again, a scent I could not ever forget.

My mom. She was here.

A thought occurred, “H-how’s dad?”

Without missing a beat, she said, “Upset, but doing well. Don’t ask me ‘why? By the way, because you know damn well why. He’s upset, all things considered”

“Are you… disappointed in me?” I asked.

My mom rolled her eyes and looked me over, “Disappointed? Sellie you became a friggin’ dictator and warmonger wherever you went!” She heaved a sigh, “But… That doesn’t mean I don’t love you just… You could have done better, you know?”

I turned away.

“But I’m not here to chastise you over your past,” Mom said quickly, “Your birth-father put you through enough of that shit.”

“You saw-” I tried to say before Yuki cut me off.

“Yes,” she smiled warmly at me, “We all saw what happened in the Tower of Pride. On that day, Sellie? That day I was proud of how well you did. Pretty much from then on,” she sighed, “Granted you’ve got explaining to do with this stunt but so far I’ve been trying to run defense with Gabriel for you.”

“Gabriel?” I asked, concerned.

“They’re pissed we’re here and not on the battlefield. But that is all beside the point,” Mom said, looking around, “Now, the both of you: I have one very important question.”

I took a step back, as did Geoffrey. It felt akin to being scolded as children, but here we were.

Lined up before our mother, my half-brother Geoffrey and I.

“I see you, Sellie and I see you, Geoffrey,” she looked to my left, my heart sank as she asked her next question, “But, where the Hell is my Kriggary?”