Chapter 31: Athanasia P4
~31.4~
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"Huh?" Athanasia was taken aback. Her brothers were hiding behind her.
"I can hear even the most insincere prayers from anywhere in the world. Be it on the other side of the planet, across the galaxy, or from an entirely separate realm. The distance does not matter. I still hear them." Kye spoke without breaking eye contact and without lowering her hand. "You are different."
"W-what?" The princess's eyes widened.
"You prayed just moments ago. 'Goddess Elysia, please save my brothers! Even if I must die here, please let them live! They're still children! They deserve the chance to grow up!" As Kye recited Athanasia's prayer, the princess slowly fell to her knees. 'Is Atlantis being punished for becoming complacent? Please exclude my brothers from this punishment! They have no part in the sins of the antiquated leaders!' And you are right. They deserve a chance to grow up. I have come to answer your prayer."
"I... I..." The blonde princess couldn't form words.
Kye kneeled down in front of her. "I heard your prayer from the distant past, and I have come from a not-as-distant future to answer it. But my help does not come free."
"Goddess..."
"You have both ambition and an unyielding desire to improve."
"... y-you came..."
Kye smiled and nodded. "Yes, but we don't have much time."
Athanasia grimaced. "The asteroids..." She looked around at her brothers and retainers, then back at Kye. "One of them is going to impact this island. The scientists said this island would be safe, but I looked over their data myself. I think they were just being optimistic or trying to give false hope. The data didn't look right."
Kye shook her head. "This island will be impacted in less than two minutes. You were right to prepare a barrier, but it's nowhere near powerful enough. With more time, you could probably pull it off, but time is too short."
"Yes..." Athanasia held back her tears and turned to her brothers. "It's okay, Arte, Alex. The goddess has come to save you."
"Not just them," Kye said. "You as well." She looked around. "Where is Andromeda? She was supposed to be on this island."
Ninety seconds left...
"She left to go to another island. She wanted to try saving as many as she could."
Kye looked down. "I see. I really can't save anyone other than the lot of you, then. History cannot change."
"What do you mean?"
Kye shook her head. "Andromeda's remains were found after this disaster ceased, but yours were not. No traces whatsoever. You might blame the asteroid for removing all traces, but that's not possible. Your mana is too strong. Your body at least would have survived the impact, even if it killed you. But, there was nothing."
Sixty seconds.
Kye shook her head. "There's no time for more details. Something bothers me, though. This is a natural disaster... or so it seems. I question that now. You mentioned 'punishment', and I didn't think anything of it until I arrived here. I sense a powerful mana signature coming from space. I worry now that this is no natural disaster, rather one made by man."
Their eyes widened. "What?" "How could that be possible?" "Nobody can do that!"
Kye shook her head. "I am not a god. I am immortal, and have lived a very long life, but I am functionally the same as you. The only real difference is that I do not age. Another like me could do this."
Thirty seconds.
"What are you saying?"
Kye turned and looked up at the sky. The asteroid was coming for them.
"There's no time." She teleported the entire group to the time portal. "Go. This leads to safety." Kye clenched her fist. "It seems I'll have to take the long way back." She sighed and took off.
Though I must be careful what I do. I must only act if something happens that goes against history. Good, they're through the portal. Wait... Why?
Kye was already high in the sky when the asteroid slammed into the island. The destruction was horrific. The island broke apart and rained more destruction onto the surface. The wind and shockwaves from the impact were incredible, but Kye was safe, protected by her aura of silvery white aether.
WHY?
One other person soon appeared from the direction of where the island had been, covered in blue aether. Kye's eyes widened. Athanasia was still there, but the portal was gone. "WHY? Why did you stay?"
"You said you would have to take the long way back. I..." Athanasia shook her head. "I would stay and help. And... keep you company. I... would not wish loneliness on anyone."
Kye sighed, but just having Athanasia survive was good enough. She could still return to the present, though it would take a while. "You don't know me, Athanasia, yet you are willingly staying here... to keep me company?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yes. I believe in you, Godd..." She shook her head. "You said you are not a god. So then... Lady Elysia?"
Kye giggled. "You may call me by any name. I am living a mortal life as Kye Akari. You can call me just Elysia or Kye. Either is fine. No need for titles or other nonsense."
"I see." Athanasia smiled. "Elysia, then."
"And there are eight more very familiar mana signatures coming toward us from the same direction. It looks like they jumped through the portal at the last second."
"Shi-chan!" came Alethea's voice as the pink-haired girl flew up to them. With her were Sanae and Joey. Kaede was with Alethea in weapon form. Not far behind them were Liliana, Aliana, and Rei. Sora was with Rei in weapon form.
"What are you all thinking? You're supposed to be on the other side."
"What are you thinking?" Sanae shot back. "You are supposed to be back on the other side now, too. What is going on?"
Joey took Sanae's hand and aimed it at the sky. "That way."
"What the hell?" Sanae bolted toward the source of the mana in space.
"I better go with her," Alethea said. "Athanasia, it's great to meet you! Mom told me a lot about you!"
"Your mom told you about me?" She was confused.
"Sorry, let's exchange greetings later, okay?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
Alethea bolted off and everyone else except Kye and Athanasia followed her.
Athanasia turned her head and looked past Kye at the huge asteroid headed for the main island. "What can we do?"
Kye glanced in the same direction. "For that one? Nothing. Athanasios and his parents will give their lives to protect the capital from the last asteroid. Your mother and aunts will survive, as well as everyone else in the capital. The disaster is done after that. But... the mana in space is powerful. I mean to investigate and put a stop to this if it is indeed not natural."
"What? That isn't the last asteroid! There are many more!"
Kye's eyes widened. "What?"
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Revision: 2024-10-1