Chapter 19: The Goddess of War P5
~19.5~
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"Kye?" Allison said. "Are you okay?"
She didn't say anything. She frantically looked around, trying to see the marble world again, but it was gone.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Luma asked as she approached. "You look like-"
Allison also approached and took a close look at her eyes. "Seems normal now. What was that? Your eyes glazed over and you just floated in place."
"I..."
"Was it a vision?" Luma asked, and Kye slowly nodded. "What did you see this time?" Luma glanced at Allison. "Go fight. I've got her." Allison nodded and flew off toward the monster. "Kye, what was it?"
"I..." She felt a tear in each eye. "I..."
"It's okay. Take it slow."
"L-Luma, what... what kind of life did I leave behind?"
"Huh?" Luma was taken aback by the desperation in Kye's eyes.
"Before I transmigrated. When I was Elysia, and only Elysia. Before my first reincarnation. What did I leave behind?"
Luma's eyes narrowed as she listened to Kye's question. "Why are you asking? What did you see?"
"It was a memory. A very old memory from before any of us were fully grown. I saw myself fighting Master Seris. I think it was an exam."
"Oh, my..."
"You were there. Maya, Elias, Katriel... many of us were there. One big class! We were physically thirteen. I... what Allison said triggered it, I think."
"Which?"
"Do you remember the phrase Master Seris said to me that time? It felt like something she would say often, but I don't know... that's the only memory I have of her right now."
"You must mean 'Sometimes, you should rely on your mentor.'"
"Yeah. When Allison said that, it was like Master Seris was saying it." Kye looked over at the battlefield to find Allison. She knew why the memory triggered, but she didn't know much about Seris, other than hearing those words felt so familiar. She even felt a tear in each eye. "Why do I feel this way about her?"
"Allison?"
"Yes! Tell me! Why am I crying over her?! What happened? A falling out? A battle? Forced separation?"
Luma sighed and averted her eyes. "I'm sorry. I can't say. We can talk more about this after the battle. I can't tell you anything about your life back then without risking your seal."
Kye nodded and tried to suppress her tears. "Okay."
"You've been through a lot these past few weeks, and... this is the last thing you need right now, honestly. Kye hon, go back to the Void. Go stay with your kids while we take care of this. I'll run defense for Allison. Trust us. That thing is very powerful, but either Allison or I can handle it."
"No. That monster has so much mana. I-"
Luma patted Kye's head. "It's okay. Allison alone can handle this thing. With Radiance and her weapon, she can fight that thing just fine. And even if she couldn't handle it alone, I'm here. Kye hon, I've been in this world for a couple hundred thousand years with my full memories. I have the experience of an Athas immortal and the time it takes to build ourselves up to use that experience."
Kye's eyes were full of questions, and Luma understood what she wanted to ask.
The black-haired girl giggled. "It's funny. Despite me being your secretary or your royal guard, you were always more powerful. But now, I can fulfill my role as your guard knight when you genuinely need it." She smiled and her eyes began to glow as she released her Radiance. A twenty point star diagram appeared in her eyes. She held her blade to the sky and shouted, "Lucrezia, it's time! <<Awaken>>! Our lady requires our power!"
The power Luma released was far beyond what Kye imagined. She knew Luma had ample time to grow her power, but not to the degree comparable to what only Allison had attained. Her eyes widened as the awakening kicked in. Not only was Luma's power that great, but her weapon partner was no less incredible.
For a moment, a short, black-haired girl appeared to greet Kye. "My lady, please leave this to us. We shall prevail."
Kye smiled and patted the girl's head. "Thank you, Lux." The girl smiled and vanished, returning her consciousness to the blade in Luma's hand.
"Go be with your kids. We'll be fine. Trust me as I trust you."
She hesitated, but nodded and said, "Thanks," before teleporting.
Luma smiled and headed for the battle. She caught up to Allison and filled her in on what Kye was doing.
"Is she alright?"
"She's fine. I think this was a big moment for her. She went back to the void."
"I see." A slight smile appeared on Allison's face. "Then the only thing now is to make good on her trust in us."
"Yes."
"And with you here, I can fight without worrying about everyone else." Allison held her hand out forward and a katana appeared.
Luma smirked. "Pulling out all the stops, I see."
Allison smirked in return. "As if you're one to talk. You already awakened Lucretia."
"Heh."
"I haven't had the occasion to let loose in a while. I might actually enjoy this." Allison grabbed the katana and drew a vertical circle around her. Several afterimages were left behind that quickly solidified into real weapons and floated in place. She held the original forward and said, "Seijin Shichi, <<Awaken>>!"
*****
Meanwhile, Kye returned to the Void. Alethea, Adele, and Michelle were already there, and Hannah had already taken everyone inside the palace. The Evans family and Gustav were sitting in the drawing room under Hannah's supervision. The children had gone to the portal room to wait for their parents to return. Rei jumped into Kye's arms as soon as they stepped through the door.
"Hi, sweetie." Kye held the girl tightly, tears flowing freely. "I'm so sorry I let this happen to you. I promise it'll never happen again."
"Mommy, I'm okay!"
"I love you, Rei."
The girl was beaming with excitement in her mother's arms, while her mother only cried with joy.
"Me too, Rei! I love you very much!" Alethea added, standing behind them.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Rei!" Adele said.
"We love you so much!" Michelle added.
"I promise you, Rei sweetie, I PROMISE! I'll protect you no matter what happens. Mommy will protect you, and make you strong!" When she said "strong", golden light burst forth from her and engulfed Rei, absorbing into her. The others looked on in awe, except for Joey.
Joey was excited, cheering, "Sister is like us now!" and hugged Rei from behind. She released a gentle stream of silvery white aether around her mother and sister, helping direct the golden light.
Kye examined the young girl closely once the light was gone. She couldn't sense anything wrong, but something felt different. She looked around and saw everyone else clapping, but she wasn't sure what had just happened. "Huh?"
"Momma! Sister is like us now!"
She blinked. "Like us?"
"Your soul is lighter! You are no longer carrying the Radiance of Light! You've passed it on to Rei! She's like us now! She's immortal! She's momma's first!"
"Uh..."
Joey beamed at her mother. Everyone else smiled but stayed quiet. Joey pointed at Kye. "Momma is Eve's first." Then she pointed at Rei. "Sister is momma's first."
Kye's expression changed from one of confusion to one of pure shock. As she looked around, everyone nodded to her. "I... what?"
Joey nodded. "Yes! Sister is immortal! Momma's love for her is so great that it matched Eve's love for us!" Joey held out her hand and a small wakizashi appeared. "Sister, hold this! Sit down and close your eyes! Think of me."
"Joey, are you-?"
"It's okay, momma. I'm just helping sister understand."
"I'd like to understand, too."
Rei, meanwhile, was very confused. She had no idea what was going on. She had just been virtually assaulted by golden light, then Joey's words confused her even more. "What?"
*****
Revision: 2024-7-18