Chapter 656: Closing Curtains (1/2)
”I needed this,” her stormy cries cleaned, ”-being acknowledged is one thing, I heard my father say he was proud. The weight on my shoulders is gone, I can finally move on, turn the page as a newly established goddess.”
”The way you phrased it… feels like a promotion.”
”I guess,” she chuckled, ”-what about you, Igna, I've born my heart out.”
”I suppose I have a few questions. What of the allegiance, what about Lucifer, what's going to happen moving forward?”
”Simple answer,” said she,”-I'll be crowned Empress of Alphia soon. Lucifer left in the most turbulent time of my life. I guess I'll return to where I was, orphaned?”
”Quit the drama,” returned Igna, ”-go back to Hidros and make amends with Julius and the others. Spend a few days with family, tis simple.”
”No, not right now,” her eyes strained, ”-Igna, I've decided to side with thee. I know I've done more harm than good, but I know you understand,” her smile tenderly matched the innocent tilt of the head, ”-don't you, little cousin.”
”I do, and a bit too much I'd say,” he paused and wondered toward yonder. ”-Big sister, I think we might be in for a long battle,” then and there, a whisper spoke from the Shadow, ”-Hades will only be strengthened from today onwards. The prior attack was but a preview; how do I put the differences in proportion… imagine the Shadow Realm but stronger and viler as in, the residents must abide by the ultimate rule of survival, the strong win, and the weak lose. Don't forget, Hades is a high-tier god on par with Zeus. On that note, Gophy out… wait, I forgot, the real attack will begin in a few weeks, the portal is still unstable, bye.”
'… seriously, she dares warn me after creating said mess.'
”Igna, you well?” asked Eira.
”I think so,” he stood, ”-Big sister, I think we ought to take a trip back home. We have about a week before things turn for the worse. Best make amends.”
”You referring to Hades' portal?” her free hair swayed; the temperature dropped.
”Yes, I am,” he exhaled.
”Deal,” said she, ”-I'll go back and apologize. Let's figure out the rulership in Arda.” The return felt easier and more relaxed, in more ways than one, Eira brought a sense of relief and refreshment to the mundane life. 'She's neutral, we won against the invasion. The way she speaks and acts, I wonder if she purposefully allied to Lucifer as a spy. She willingly voiced her concerns and departed, the battle of Arda was hard… but not complicated. Did she…' he gulped; '-did she spearhead the downfall of the church from within the church?' a scan of her sleeping openly gave no clues, '-knowing her, knowing she grew up idolizing one of the shrewdest men in the world, tis not out of the plausible motives. Playing cat and mouse with gods and demons, you're truly my heir, aren't you?' The drive continued. A step to reflect on her journey showed a lot of similarities. An infant brought up on a battlefield, she joined the academy, won the inter-magical tournament, fought her way up, and became a researcher for the university at Rotherham. Thus arrived the marriage proposal from Alphia, one of which turned to regret. She became heir to a god, killed her father, fell into despair, and rose to be the devil's advocate. She stood as the villain and guided the people around her to do her bidding, the ends justify the means. Lastly, attained godhood, the ultimate accomplishment. Eira, no matter the names she took or pain endured, stayed true to her father's words. The fruit of her labor? A strong position as an individual, and the powers to one day, stand on equal terms to her idol, not that it mattered. Later said night, the household would depart for Hidros save Éclair, who would assist the demons.
Simultaneously, Asmodeus and Kul worked heartily at the red-light district. A signature lighting style bathed the street orange, busy businessmen ambled, barely able to walk, along the linear path.
Remember the ladies who aided after Esvalo's unjust attack? Turns out, the heaviness of despair befell the brothel where she worked. Out of the very luminant array of dubious buildings and activities, a singular remained dim. Make no mistake, the place had guests who drank – the exception was the ladies of the night, none worked. Most, dressed in very befitting clothes and dignified mannerisms were currently at a nearby hospice. Kul and Asmodeus separated.
Tied between a very shabbily ordered arrangement of buildings towards the south, laid the beforementioned hospice. Unlike the grander and heavily equipped central hospital, said hospice didn't compare. Familiarity didn't stop, the nurse was one easily recognized for she worked alongside the doctor charged in checking the ladies. The narrow doorway gave in to a small and clean environment. Never mind the haunted look outside, the inside seemed to bear a sliver of credibility. The slow-paced Kul shuffled behind the crowd of worried ladies, the same nurse, crude and blatant, bore a softer expression. She guided the masses to a room upstairs, whereby laid a heavily injured patient.
”A moment please,” whispered the nurse, ”-you're Kul I presume?” the manlier choice of outfits was apparent in of itself.
”Yes,” she replied and moved to a corner, ”-something the matter?”
”I'm sure you've heard of what happened,” they spoke in a lower tone.
”Rough customer?”
”No, far worst. We know the culprit, he's the heir to the Patek Dynasty. For the longest time, there wasn't any report of his appearance here, however, his back and my sisters are worried.”
'Her sister?' thought Kul, '-was she also an ex-worker?'
”-I have to warn thee, don't harm the man, even if he does injure one of your ladies. I hate myself saying this, anytime he hurts, the money spends for the recovery elapses his rough treatment. Don't be mistaken, the amount sent is nothing to him, basically, hush money.”
”Therefore, we should allow him to assault our comrades? Listen, lady nurse. I, personally, could not care if the man is powerful or not. The Raven's live by a certain set of morals, most important being, hurt one of us, and tis payback.” Annoyed at the acceptance, the shuffle back to the crowded room felt heavy. Burnt marks on her neck, the body wrapped in a bandage, a swollen face, and a patch over her left eye, '-bastard,' the fist clenched.
”Kul,” lifeless eyes pained to the doorway, ”-come in, why are you outside?”
”Angel,” she approached, ”-I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you,” warmly gripping her palms, ”-I heard from my girls you helped.”
”Don't worry,” said she, ”-us girls have to bound and stay strong. Sticks can be broken on their lonesome, however, tie them in a bundle, and they become indestructible. Please,” she painfully rose a grin, ”-don't do anything stupid. I'll be back on my feet soon.”
”The hell not,” briskly shoving the doctor aside, ”-give me a moment,” a darkish vortex hurled three vibrantly red-potions, ”-open up, stupid.”
”It's fine,” her head slowly shook.