Trial One~Time368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32X0emmo2u
Through the dense darkness, Illya had managed to call upon the corrupted shi within Henaer and steadily began using them to replace the pure shi that was taken from her. Upon doing so, Henaer's own void began to turn on her and because she had absorbed Illya into herself, the process was now reversed. As the corrupted shi became Illya's own and attacked Henaer, Illya began to reabsorb Henaer's power, making that too her own until her power was replenished to the point where she could destroy Henaer from the inside out.
Henaer wailed in agony. "AAHHG! What...what do you think you're doing!"
"Stopping you." Echoed Illya's voice.
"Why do you fight me! Have you forgotten what you went through? They made you what you are! Think of all that time you spent suffering! You would never have to feel that pain if you would just embrace the darkness within you!"
"...you're right. My bones are stained with sin, scorched from fires, broken by betrayals, cold in loneliness, soaked in blood and still I keep on fighting. You're absolutely right. I've suffered for so long. Just as your grudge against my father has festered for all this time, but I've worked far too hard to claw myself out of the pathetic hell hole I was thrown into. If only you could see what these many years of hatred has done to you. Then maybe you would understand why this so called "happiness" you wish to force upon the world is but another product of your disdain for father's creation. You said it yourself remember? That you would destroy that which he holds dear?"
Henaer clutched her head. Illya's voice seemed to grow louder as she gained power and it rang loud and clear in her ears.
"I AM NOT THE ENEMY ILLYA! ALL I WANT IS TO RECTIFY THE WRONGS HE'S COMMITTED AGAINST THIS WORLD!"
"How? By erasing the life he worked so hard to create and replacing it with your mark of destruction? It seems to me all you can see is the blind resentment you have in your heart."
"YOU CAN'T MEAN TO TELL ME YOU DON'T FEEL THE SAME! WHERE WAS HE WHEN YOU WERE BEGGING FOR A SAVOIR? WHERE WAS HE WHEN YOU WERE BEING TORTURED? WHAT KIND OF FATHER LEAVES HIS DAUGHTER TO BE FORSAKEN LIKE THAT!"
A long, brooding silence filled Henaer's mind. It was soon replaced with a light chuckle.
"I asked him those exact questions when we first met. Of course, you've hit the nail on the head yet again. I do feel the same way. I longed for belonging. All I wanted was the affection from my family, from my mother and father, from my brother...something I never had, but I worked hard. I forged a path for myself and I gained a larger family then I could have ever imagined I would have. All while you sat lamenting in your sorrow. Tell me aunty...why were you angry with father?"
Henaer's mind seemed to be breaking down with her body. As she writhed in agony, she recalled a long forgotten memory. One where she and her beloved elder brother sat in a field of flowers and he read to her the meaning of each and every one. Such a sweet memory in her time of anguish brought tears to her eyes.
"I was...I was supposed to be his little sister...yet he locked me away...no...he threw me away like it was nothing."
"...I may not be very close with father...but that doesn't sound like the type of man he is. Everything I've learned about him tells me that everything he did in life was for those he considered family. So what really happened Henaer..."
Another recollection. This time of the face Salem made when he sealed her away...he was crying. Torn apart by what he needed to do to stop his rampant little sister. Upon realizing this, Henaer began to sob. Her body began to fall apart as the void broke through it and the sobs soon faded into the wind, almost as if it were getting further and further away. When her body finally broke down into dust all of her power seemed to recoil and burst out all at once, sending huge waves of energy outward. If it were not for the barrier, Sora and the others would have been obliterated like the monsters outside.
Henaer had been consumed by her own void, her power, absorbed by Illya. Yet her remaining shi found a way to leave Illya with some parting words before they were destroyed.
"Funny...all these years of bitterness...so, so much time spent like that...had completely distorted the truth. I was so caught up in vengeance that I...had forgotten the admiration I had for my brother...I'm ashamed to have acted so childishly...but I can think of no better way to die than at the hands of his daughter. Quite fitting wouldn't you say?"
She laughed meekly. Her voice was no longer desperate and angry. It was calm and serene. Like she had realized her mistake and though it was too late, she was at peace with those final memories. Illya didn't respond. She didn't need to and with those final words, Henaer's remaining shi dissolved into the nothingness.
When the blast of magical energy subsided and the smoke cleared, Illya's naked body had replaced Henaer's. Illya had various markings on her body reminiscent of that of Henaer's, due to her absorbing all of Henaer's power. The markings glowed profusely as the magic surged through her viens. Illya's weak body fell to the ground, only to be scooped up by Callisto, who had come running the second the coast was clear. He tore off his cloak and wrapped it around her. Callisto cradled his wife gently as she struggled to keep her eyes opened.
The priestesses let down the barrier. Keeping it up against the continuous attacks and that intense blast took a toll on them and drained them exponentially. Abaddon and Ventus stayed to take care of them while the others rushed to Illya's side. Solace knelt down next to her and Callisto and brushed some hair out if her face.
"How is she?" It was the first time he spoke since his arrival. His voice was smooth and deep and full of worry.
"Weak. We'll have the court physician look at her when we get back," replied Callisto.
Now that the chaos was over, Tekina had some time to clearly think and asses things. She observed Solace's care in the way he approached Illya and spoke about her.
"I've been wondering for a while...are you two related?" She asked, gesturing to Illya.
Solace diverted his attention from Illya for a brief moment. "I'm her cousin." He stated before continuing to fuss over her.
Now that she thought about it, Tekina did remember reading about him one of the books pertaining to Aruma An. She concluded that he must be the eldest son of the first Prince, Salem's brother.
Erebus stepped through a portal carrying an unconscious Ein. "I went in after them. Looks like he took one hard hit from Henaer...I can restore most of the land. Henaer...is gone now so the responsibility falls to me to watch over the void." He sighed, thinking of all the extra work he had now.
Unbeknownst to the group, a figure in the shadows watched them intently. A mysterious man raised his cloak and vanished into the air.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
A few weeks had past since Illya was brought home and told by the court physician that her shi would need to be purified with spring water from Aruma An, which Tobi offered to get. The difference in his trip this time was that instead of going to the mysterious statue-whom no longer housed its captive, Illya opened a portal for him when he got what was needed. The Princes were praised by Illya and Callisto for their valiant efforts in protecting the village. The monsters in the village seemed to vanish along with Henaer the moment she was defeated. The capital was rebuilt and with the help of Ein and Illya, Erebus was able to reconstruct the void. Now that he was it's proprietor, he wanted it to feel more homely.
The villagers were back to their normal day to day lives and everything seemed to return to the way it was. Something Illya prided herself in was her country's ability to not only adapt but get things done. Something that would have taken months was done in the span of a few weeks. Illya never expected to face Henaer in such a manner, or perhaps she did but never acknowledged that it would happen. Nevertheless, her encounter with the Goddess of Darkness served to reaffirm her choices in the life she'd come to live. The past is to be learned from and the future is yet to be seen but the time spent in the present is what mattered when it came down to it. The experience was written down as yet another wild adventure of the many yet to come.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakcUcwOrS0
Closing yet another book, a man ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He got up from his chair and threw on his jacket. Turning the doorknob to his room, a sly smile graced his lips. "Looks like it's time to pay her a little visit."
Trial One-Time 368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIkNfsQRPy
END368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtrK37dDmz
