“Congratulations on winning your second trial, Pyra Noirix,” the Mother Goddess spoke in a soft yet commanding tone. She inclined her head slightly, adding, “Tell me the answer you seek.”
Standing proud before the towering Origin Pillars, Noirix, exuding strength, declared, “I want to know how to restore the Phoenix clan’s glory across the empires!”
“Hmm…” The Mother Goddess’s expression flickered with something unreadable as she replied, “Upon the death of Pyra Raven… your Phoenix race will once more blaze across the worlds.”
Noirix’s eyes widened in shock. “W-Wait, what do you mean—” Before she could finish, the world spun, and she was abruptly cast out from the Origin Pillar chamber.
Determined, Noirix fought through next trial, clawing her way to victory again. With a heart heavy but unyielding, she once more confronted the Mother Goddess.
“Congratulations on winning your third trial, Pyra Noirix,” the Mother Goddess intoned, her gaze as enigmatic as before. “Now, tell me the answer you seek.”
Noirix took a steadying breath, barely containing the tremor in her voice. “Please… tell me why my sister has to die. Is there truly no other way? Can I save her?”
“That’s a lot of question…”
“Please…” Noirix kneeled as she begged for answer.
The goddess looked at her with something bordering pity, perhaps even respect, “Since you are the first to succeed twice in succession, I will answer.
Pyra Raven must perish to bring about ‘The Beginning’. Her death is destined, and through it, the Phoenix race shall rise anew to rule the skies.”
Noirix’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Why… why her?”
The Mother Goddess’s gaze hardened slightly. “Because soon… she will awaken her true bloodline.”
Noirix felt a chill seize her. ‘Awaken? What is she talking about?’ But aloud, she asked, “Isn’t there any way to prevent my sister’s death? Is it truly unavoidable?”
“….”
A silence fell over them, vast and suffocating.
“P-Please…” Noirix’s voice broke, and she sank to her knees. “She’s all I have. She’s been through so much… Please, Goddess, I’ll give anything.”
The Mother Goddess regarded her with a solemn gaze, “To think, my once-prideful children have come to this… Sigh… But as I said, her death is inevitable.” She paused, seeing Noirix beggin her, a dark glint appearing in her eyes. “However, in one timeline, you could delay your sister’s death… by activating the Ebon Pillar of Eternal Rite before she does.”
A spark of hope lit Noirix’s face. “H-How…?”
“For that, you must sacrifice yourself.”
Noirix felt the blood drain from her face.
“What? Didn’t you say you’d give anything?” The Mother Goddess’s voice turned almost sinister.
…..
…
Present
A heavy silence hung between Aether and Thalia as the memories lingered. Aether, lost in thought, finally broke the silence, his voice rough. “So… you sacrificed yourself on that stone slab?”
Thalia nodded, her face unreadable.
“What about the monster… the elephant creature?” Aether asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “How did you get past it?”
Thalia tilted her head in surprise. “How do you know about that?”
Without another word, Aether rose and extended his hand to her. “Come with me. There’s something I need to show you.”
“Hm?” Thalia hesitated, curious but wary. “Where are we going?” Before she could react, Aether pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
“H-Hey! What do you think you’re—” Her cheeks flushed red as she struggled, but suddenly the world shifted, and she found herself standing in a familiar cavern, a circular stone slab surrounded by twisting roots beneath its.
“What is happening here? And where is that monster?” Thalia asked, wide-eyed with surprise.
Aether gave her a small smirk. “Well, I killed it.”
Thalia gaped. “W-What? How in the world did yo—”
“Hold your questions for now.” Aether’s expression turned serious as he watched her. “First, I need you to tell me exactly what happened here.”
[+400 AP]
Thalia pouted slightly.
Aether asked, “Tell me what exactly happened here?”
Thalia sighed, realizing he wasn’t going to let her avoid it. “Fine. When I arrived, the elephant was lying there, still as stone, almost like it was asleep.”
“Asleep?” Aether frowned, his eyes narrowing. “You mean it wasn’t pacing around the stone slab?”
Thalia shook her head, her tone indifferent. “Nope. It was just… lying there. I walked toward the slab, lay down, and right when I did, it lunged at me with its tusks. And well…” She shrugged, as if this were an everyday memory. “That’s it. I died.”
She looked at him, her nonchalant expression slipping just a bit.
“Did the stone rotate like this back then?” Aether asked, his gaze fixed on the slowly turning slab.
“Nope,” Thalia replied.
Aether’s frown deepened, ‘So, it’s like there’s a requirements for activating this… like the altar where Ether was almost sacrificed by that old hag,’ he mused.
Thalia’s eyes lingered on the slab with a slight tremor. ‘Something’s about to happen… And Raven… she’s not ready for this,’ she thought, her teeth sinking into her lip. Then, out of nowhere, a memory sparked.
“Wait. I remember something. Just before I died, I noticed something odd about the monster. It had only one eye, and it glowed with rainbow colors—like the Arcane Cards the Chosen Ones have,” Thalia said, her voice laced with urgency.
Aether raised an eyebrow. “Only one eye?”
At that, two crystals appeared in his hand, glimmering under the dim light.
“That’s it!” Thalia nodded, “One of those crystals… it looked just like that.”
Aether examined the crystals more closely.
Aether continued to inspect the two crystals he had retrieved from the Araknis after the killing him.
Both lacked the signature stars inside that were typically found in Arcane Crystals from snake monsters he had encountered before.
One crystal was fresh and new, while the other appeared dull, worn with age.
“Looks like this crystal was created recently…” Aether mumbled, his voice laced with curiosity. He carefully placed the crystal under a magnifying lens, examining it with precision.
Thalia watched him, her eyebrows lifting. “Do you always have these gadgets?” Her gaze wandered, noticing signs of destruction around them.
‘Must’ve been some battle… Tch, and I missed it,’ she thought, clicking her tongue in irritation.
Just then, Aether froze, his eyes widening as he spotted tiny words etched onto the crystal. He whispered, “Kennedy…”
Thalia’s mouth fell open. “Wait, that pervy professor was the creator?”
Aether shook his head, trying to process it. ‘No… that creature I fought was way beyond anything Kennedy could’ve possibly created.’ His suspicions growing, he took up the other old crystal, placing it under the microscope.
Thalia leaned in, intrigued. “Find anything?”
“Nothing,” he muttered, disappointed. “I thought whoever created this would’ve signed it, like Kennedy did.”
Thalia rolled her eyes. “Seriously? That thing was massive. If I’d made it, I’d have etched my name all over its body—not on some crystal that nobody would notice.”
Aether blinked, looking at her in surprise. “You’re a genius, Thalia!”
[+500 AP]
Thalia blushed slightly, a playful grin spreading on her face. “Oh, Well, Duh! What did you expect?” Then, turning serious, she added, “But don’t you dare tell Raven about my… situation. I need to protect her from the shadows—mmmph!”
Thalia’s words were cut short as Aether’s lips met hers in a sudden, firm kiss. Her mind blanked, too stunned to react, and before she could gather her thoughts, they were already back in the castle, standing before Raven and her mother.
Both women flinched, their eyes wide at Aether and Thalia’s sudden appearance.
Without missing a beat,
“I found your sister. Please welcome your long-lost sibling, Pyra Noirix,” gesturing towards a bewildered Thalia.
“H-Huh?” Raven stammered, her confusion evident.
Thalia’s mind was still reeling, processing what had just happened, her heart racing.
Aether gave a satisfied nod and, with a wicked smirk, said, “With this you don’t need to drag more chapters….. for any kind of character growth! May you rest in peace, shameless phoenix!” before vanishing.
The Orange haired woman whispered, “N-Noirix?”
Thalia flinched, eyes widening as the reality of Aether’s actions sank in, “F-FUCK!! FUCK YOU, AETHER!!!” she shouted, shaking with fury.
500(600(650)…) PS=1(1(1)…)Ex/ 50(100(120)..) GT=1(2(2)…)Ex
