Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After what seemed like days of pacing around in Elpis, Azem was only able to find faint echoes left behind by her other self. The feelings left behind those came through so intensely that it made the woman double over in surprise. It gave her plenty to mull over considering she couldn’t get any response from her mentor, Venat about what happened in Elpis.

The holes in Emet-Selch and Hythodaleus’ memories were bothering her. Something happened here and she meant to get to the root of the issue. Venat conveniently made herself unavailable and incredibly difficult to track down, claiming she was buried in too much work for idle conversations.

Rude. But also odd for her character!

Azem plopped in the middle of a flower field with a loud combination of laugh-sigh over the thought of the terrible pun that just came to mind. Getting to the root… she did recall there being a sort of flower in her other self’s memories. An unusual flower that changed colors based on the person’s emotions.

The flower was lovely, Azem demurred to herself as she came across a patch of flowers that seemed to be confusingly changing colours based on her thoughts. She was feeling a mixture of frustration, sadness, and worry all at once. What if her beloved friends never recovered their memories…?

And why were they erased in the first place? Oh! Only if she could ask her other self about what happened but she assumed that a sort of terrible paradox would take place if the two were ever to meet. She had to make up excuses on the spot whenever a stray researcher stopped her to thank her for borrowing her familiar.

Her other self was no familiar, Azem laughed to herself. But rather, a future incarnation with thinned aether. It was almost like looking into a mirror when she thought about her other self’s appearance. Their unusual outfit which she secretly praised her other self for not wearing the terrible robes and masks! To blend in was such a crime, she cried out time and time again before having her hood pulled down her head.

Azem hated the thought of being lost in the crowd where everyone looked alike but her dear friends reminded her time and time again, they would always be able to spot her in no time at all for her color was that distinctive shade of blue. Even if it was thinned for whatever reason and they thought it odd that she asked such a specific question in the first place.

Yes, her other self must have the same colour.

And that purple scar… Azem pondered. It was so clear to her that it was no tattoo or facial painting, but a scar upon the other woman’s aether. Something deeply traumatic happened to her … and that she knew that it was in her own future yet to come.

Well, it wasn’t like she could avoid the damned prophecies she had night after night of dreaming about strange things.

“Well, then.” Azem said, knowing that she couldn’t get anywhere with her search. The researchers were iffy about letting her into the ruined building of Ktisis Hyperboreia even though Azem could perfectly well butt her way in but something told her to leave it. She was getting an unusually strong emotional response from the entrance alone. Her other self was in pain from whatever happened here.

The other woman’s pain was practically her own. Azem had backed away from the door after getting a flash of a painful vision of the other self clothed in white and dark blue armor, staggering forth on a platform and–

Azem shook her head clear, seeing that the flower before her had turned black.

“Even thinking about that vision affected the flower that much.” Azem said, touching the petals lightly. “It’s clearly a painful moment, played over and over… even in both of our heads.”

It was a face both familiar and unfamiliar to her. A face she knew too well, but it belonged to a person ruined by something. Or someone? She was frightened at the idea of trying to delve into the pain, lest she scar herself terribly.

With a huff, Azem left the facility, but not before stopping in her tracks. She felt something wrong deep underneath. Like there was some sort of underlying evil trying to make itself known. Didn’t she hear rumors of a secret place elsewhere that was supposed to be under the watch of one Bread– Lahabrea!

“I’m never going to get the names right…” She murmured to herself. “Well, at least I’m trying my best!”

No one was around to scold her for her inability to remember her co-worker’s names. Or point out that the only times she ever got the names right was when she was serious or angry.

Part of the reason why she had so many censures was not just because she dared to personally interfere with saving people’s lives, it also had to do with her misremembering her coworkers’ names.

–

“So you sensed something there?” The white haired man in equally white robes asked. “I was thinking about checking it out myself but strictly in an unofficial capacity of course.”

“I imagine you’d need to swap your mask out, El.”

Azem had snuck back into Amaurot, hoping that no one noticed her absence. She usually got sighs and glares in her particular direction. At least it was just her and El around, everyone else having gone on doing their own thing. Still, it made sense to her to prod another friend over the curious sensation she felt earlier.

It seemed that Elidibus thought the same. He made up his mind to go to Elpis already before she had a chance to say anything and Azem was fidgeting somewhat at the thought of going back there. She had a funny feeling that her other self would show up shortly… and she wasn’t quite ready to face herself(?!) just yet.

“Oh, go on ahead of me! I’ll be there shortly but do watch out for a falling star. I’m sure the star will be very helpful in your mission!”

She whispered out a silent apology for what she was about to do to her friend. Elidibus was going to get bonked in the head by the said falling star in his future to follow. Hopefully the injury wouldn’t be too serious… maybe?

In the meantime, Azem was going to be forced to fidget a lot. As much as she would have liked to peer into the Pandæmonium herself… This was going to be a time for sitting on the sidelines. At the very least, she could keep track of what her other self was doing and probably eat some tasty flavored popcorn.

Chapter Text

“Azem.”

She ignored her title, busy rummaging around in the shared domicile looking for whatever she needed for her shenanigans. Either that or a bag of unpopped flavored corn that she knew she had lying around. Where did that one go…? It was supposed to be caramel flavored and she really wanted some.

“Apollo. What are you up to.” The mildly irritated white haired ancient in dark robes called out to her, shattering her focus.

Azem was frozen in her tracks at her name. It was a name that was never said when her title was preferred instead but a certain someone was in no mood for her antics.

“Surprisingly informal today, aren’t we?”

“Only because it’s just the two of us.”

“I’m just running errands!” Azem shrugged at Emet-Selch. “Nothing to concern yourself with.”

“Why does that not reassure me in the least?”

Azem was rolling all sorts of excuses through her head. She meant to get back to Elpis to spy on the ongoing inside the spooky dungeon mystery place whatever the hell that was underneath. Emet-Selch wasn’t aware of her previous attempts at trying to find out why there was a hole in his memory.

“I promise you there are no volcanoes involved this time!”

“…”

Azem really hoped Bread didn’t have some sort of volcano stored in the dungeon. If he did, well, that explained everything and nothing at once. Her other self might be less than amused with that issue.

Emet-Selch's lower eyelid twitched. “Are you still trying to find out about the memory gaps? There’s nothing more to investigate since—“

“Hold up.” Azem interrupted. “Yes, you’re right. I couldn’t find anything.”

Boldly lying through her teeth. She did have a hint of what happened if only because of her connection to her other self. It was a pity that he held no remaining memories of ever meeting her other self because she knew he would be complaining even more than usual if he retained anything.

“What then.”

She sighed. “I promise you that I won’t misbehave.”

Not like she could say the same for her other self who, by her calculations should be on her way in about five minutes.

“Hades. I really do promise you that I’ll stay out of trouble this time!” Because her other self would be the one causing it in her stead. Ah, that was a perk of being a witness rather than the doer.

Emet-Selch rolled his eyes and laughed. “I’m holding you to it.”

—

After finally finding that damned bag and reassuring her love, Azem teleported just in time to watch her other self crash into Elidibus. If she had a sign with her, she would just hold up a solid ten for sticking the landing. Although, she did feel terribly bad for her beloved friend for the imminent headache.

“Ow.”

Azem strained her ears. There was an unspoken curse of pain as the so-called star sat up quickly. Everything matched the echo visions except the woman no longer wore the purple clothing, instead wearing shiny dark silver colored armor accessories with dark blue and golden ornaments. She was rubbing her head in pain as she stared at the young man who she managed to knock over. Thankfully, he recovered swiftly and was able to converse.

Hearing the other self refer to herself as Azem’s Familiar nearly made Azem snort with laughter. She could feel how the other woman winced internally having to say the sentence. “...well, considering I’ll be blamed anyway for whatever trouble she causes. Can’t say that I won’t be entertained at the very least. I do mean to stand witness to everything.”

Keeping her distance was difficult because Azem wanted to not arouse anyone of her presence. She needed to see with her own eyes and not depend on the echo to witness how her other self was like in battle. Some things were best witnessed in person, after all.

Catching bits of conversation was definitely interesting. “You’ve met Bread before…?” Azem said as she tilted her head. “I wonder…”

There was a bit of odd stirring in the echo of a pale skinned man wearing a strange robe with purple marking and metallic ornaments. The red mask was the same but who was that man running around with the mask? There was that same feeling of annoyance from the woman who so badly wanted to throw a stale bread roll at the Ascian.

Ascian. Not a word that Azem ever heard before. Shadowless ones, eh?

“Huh. To think that she’d feel the same way, short of wanting to throw stale bread rolls at his head. Good to know that some feelings do carry over in my next life.”

With each subsequent battle that followed, Azem had only one thought. And that thought was a single word.

Same.

And she grinned maniacally, comforted by the knowledge that her other self was capable of insane strength when pushed to the brink of emotion. She grabbed a handful of popped corn, shoveling it into her mouth, still thinking about the Ascian imagery gleaned from the echo. She did catch a glimpse of a white robed version but possessing Elidibus’ mask. There were some complicated feelings in the mix; anger and sadness.

“You’re short.” Kiandra blurted as soon as she ran out of the Walking Sands at the Ascian in white. She expected him to be tall and intimidating but he was exactly one ilm shorter and she stood there, dumbly.

At the time, that man made no motion of annoyance nor amusement. He was just there to do his duty. Kiandra stared at him, unsure what to make of the Ascian. Her hands were at her side, not reaching for her sword yet.

“Hm… what happened to you, I wonder.” Azem said. “If you’re even that same person in the vision.”

And then she ducked a single flame that shot out from the doors. Azem patted the flames out of her hair, grumbling about a fire chicken that sorely needed to be put in its place.

Meanwhile, Kiandra was busy yelling and diving out of the flame while getting singed all at the same time.

One thing added to her note, find the time to douse Bread with water for that insult.

Speaking of which, Azem snorted. She didn’t expect Lahabrea to be capable of having had a wife and a child with how cold the man was. The young keywarder’s resemblance could not be explained away otherwise as well with the blue stone containing a full glyph hanging off of his waist.

She made her way to exit the dungeon lest anyone catch her where she shouldn’t be. El did ask her to cover some of his duties, after all and she meant to get to that… um, yeah, totally.

At least there weren't any volcanoes.

–

Azem quickly teleported back, stumbling into Elidibus’ office pretending that she was sitting there the entire time covering his work duties. There was uh, quite a bit judging by the stacks on his desk of Amaurot citizens requesting communication with the Convocation.

It was when she pondered their own separate duties. While Elidibus was the balance between the citizens and the convocation, Azem herself was the voice of people from outside of the city. Those who needed help but were in no position to know how to seek the said help.

It was why the title existed. For all Azems that came before her traveled the star to take in the sights and record events but of course they always caused headaches by directly interfering. The current Azem herself had a record number of censures compared to her mentor, Venat.

For every censure, Azem would grin and say. “Worth it.” The latest censure had her munching on grapes while staring at her co-workers dead in the eyes, not even sorry for her latest action.

Yes, the delicious grapes were a guise to save people. Apollo had made her feelings clear when she took on the title, she was meant to save people and would do everything in her power to make it possible.

She supposed to a certain extent, she did manage to influence Elidibus with her feelings considering that he was running around in the dungeon with her other self and Lahabrea’s son. A rather amusing group, accomplishing so much alone.

Azem pulled a piece of paper from the pile and looked over it. “How do you even judge fairly like this? I am so terribly biased towards the common people…”

Yes, there was a purpose to the Convocation but it rankled Azem with how cold and impersonal they were if the matter didn’t involve furthering knowledge. Saving souls should be a priority, dammit.

As much as Azem herself wanted to rubber stamp all the paperwork in the citizenry’s favor (something Hythodaleus was guilty of at his job), she had a feeling that doing so would leave her friend with a massive headache. So the next best thing she did was leave some notes with suggestions. He could make fair decisions based on her notes!

Just at that moment, Lahabrea passed by in the hallway, peering into Elidibus’ office, looking somewhat startled to see Azem trying to sort the papers.

“I’m just covering for El! Don’t mind me, I’m not here!”

“And yet, you are.” He spoke coldly. “Knowing you–”

Azem interrupted. “Ye of little faith! I’m not doing all the work, I’m leaving mere suggestions to help him process his work. He can make judgements on his own or do you think him incapable?”

Lahabrea ignored the pointed barb. “You’re a bad influence, I’ve been unable to find him at all.”

“He’s on an important errand, he’ll be back shortly.”

“I see.”

He left the room quickly, making Azem wonder if he was aware of just what the hell was going on with his wonderful mystery dungeon with a split horse thing, a three headed fire chicken, and a nattily dressed man starved for Bread’s affections. Not to mention one incredibly resentful son who was trying to clean up the mess.

“Now hold on a second–” Azem said to herself.

–

Azem made her way back to Elpis, still mulling things over and left feeling as though she wanted to shake Lahabrea and scream at him for being a terrible parent. She couldn’t imagine ever treating a beloved treasure with such coldness like that! Sure, children were something in her future but that was more of a distant future, really.

And then Azem ducked behind a tree once she saw her other self speaking with Elidibus again. She was still addressing him by ‘Themis’, even though according to the echo, she was fully aware of who he was. They were discussing the oddness with another researcher talking about Pandæmonium and the messages.

Her eyebrows rose at Kiandra’s attire; bikini top, a shawl, cropped calf length pants, and sandals all in dark blue with a pair of sunglasses sitting on her head. Azem idly poked into the echo, amused by the fact that it was an outfit chosen for the summertime. Why couldn’t the citizens wear something so light and freeing? Running in robes was cumbersome especially in warmer climates.

Not to say that Azem herself didn’t find the time to slightly modify her own outfit for such a purpose. Her efforts to get the Convocation to adopt the modified fashion failed while being told that she shouldn’t try to buckle the standards. Then she called them ridiculous for upholding the standards, comfort should be important!

Her coworkers were lovely people but such terrible pain in the arse.

And then Azem was surprised like hell to discover that there was a giant green beast with a huge red rock in the middle of its forehead. Kiandra stared at it, muttering all “holy shite” with the echo letting the ancient know that there was a mildly upset soft emerald colored carbuncle running around in the Warrior of Light’s head panicking.

Then Azem stared at the giant green beast, echoing Kiandra’s words. “Holy shite.”

To nobody’s surprise, Kiandra quickly brought the beast under control before Lahabrea made himself known. Azem scrambled behind a hiding spot, nearly spilling her popped corn. How did Bread get here so fast?

Was it really that jerk? Azem thought to herself while at a safe distance. Something felt off to her as evident by him weaving trapping magicks on both Themis and Kiandra. Kiandra being who she was, was unaffected as she glared angrily at the man before her.

They were of the same mind on this matter.

“Say my name.” Themis spoke up from his prone position, looking determined.

Azem was going to tease El about that later. She could imagine him protesting loudly that he didn’t mean to sound like that. He was only trying to ascertain the identity of the man before them as the things that he spoke of rang false to El.

Easily enough answered with the arrival of yet another Bread.

She swore up and down that she was going to have to start stocking stale bread rolls. (Kiandra was thinking the same at this very moment.) Azem started scurrying farther back lest Bread find her and yell at her for being there. She mustn't accidentally out her other self for being her future incarnation.

And then Azem heard her name being spoken. She almost wanted to run away but if it wasn’t for her other self exclaiming loudly, “Oh, REALLY? Azem highly recommended me?”

Lahabrea stared at the auburn haired woman before him. “I would not give weight to her recommendation.”

Kiandra’s head snapped at the older man. She was simmering with barely hidden rage as she ground out, “Oh, who else is going to clean up your mess?”

“Now, now…” Elidibus was waving his hands, trying to calm everyone down. Eric remained astonished by it all.

More conversation followed while Azem’s ears burned from her name being mentioned while her counterpart was trying her damndest to keep a straight face. Anyone could tell the poor woman was under considerable strain with not wanting to say any more than necessary.

As an aside, she muttered to herself that only Azem could hear, something about the extent of having words with one Emet-Selch later. (“Ah, he’s still around.”)

Azem blew out a long held breath once the group left. “Holy shite.”

There were more flashes of the Warrior of Light’s encounters with Lahabrea rolling around in her head. Every single one of them in which the Ascian showed up to laugh at her before running away with Kiandra swearing she was going to kick his arse the next time she saw him. Was that Igor in one of the flashbacks too?

Just how many coworkers was she going to fight in the future? Azem wondered. All of them?

“Hmm, this seems troublesome.” Azem demurred to herself. “I’m seeing too much of my future. I’ve always said before that I couldn’t lift my hands to hurt my friends but… if I had to save the star, could I do such a thing?”

Nothing answered her, not even a stray bug or a dust mite in the dungeon. Azem wasn’t sure if there was even any dust mite in the first place.

Somewhere, Kiandra blasted at Lahabrea, calling him a terrible parent.

Azem planted her butt in the office again, pretending to look busy for the next five minutes. She needed to find a way to scrub the so-called soul binding thing from her mind. If that damn Kairos wasn’t broken, she would have used it to wipe her memory of that incident alone.

Poor Eric needed that too. Nothing like the trauma of catching your parents uh, doing something rather salacious to scar a person for life.

"I hate waiting in suspense." Azem groaned to herself. "Would I have had a chance to speak to myself…"

She had a funny feeling since the dungeon wasn't done just yet.

Chapter Text

After sitting in Elidibus’ office for what seemed like an eternity (fifteen or forty minutes?), Azem decided to get her arse back to Elpis despite the looming threat of censure hanging over her head. What’s one more to add to the current tally!?

She managed to casually stroll into the dungeons while Erichthoinos and Lahabrea were busy dealing with the cleanup. Themis– Elibidus turned to greet her.

“Er, I didn’t expect to see you so soon!”

“I needed to get away from your paperwork, apologies!”

“How bad is it…?”

Azem made gestures indicating how big the piles were and how she managed to organize them by various categories. “I left some suggestions.”

“Thank you.” Elidibus nodded. “Ah, you just missed her.”

“Damn.” Azem said.

Ericthoinos turned around, slightly startled when he looked at Azem. “Kiandra, you’re back– wait.”

“Azem.”

“Bread.”

Lahabrea stared straight down on Azem’s beaming face. “I trust everything went swimmingly with my ever oh so helpful familiar?”

“A curious familiar with a strong physical resemblance.”

“Isn’t it such a brilliant idea, though? Having copies of me be around everywhere at once, helping people out!”

“More like causing trouble–”

Azem interrupted. “I’m not the one with the happy fun murder dungeon with unusual creatures and one dead wife haunting it. And what’s with that sundering your emotions off to boot?”

“I guess you’re caught up on everything already?” Elidibus said, sweatdropping.

Lahabrea plucked a bag out from Azem’s pocket and glared at it. It was a paper bag, containing caramel flavored popped corn. “I’ve been aware of you spying on us.”

“Hey. I wanted to see how my familiar was handling things!”

Poor Erichthoinos looked baffled as hell. He was scrunching Azem’s own appearance and he didn’t know quite what to make of her. He still wanted to call her by the other woman’s name. He cleared his throat. “I uh, have heard of you. Azem?”

“Yes! I’m your jerkass father’s co-worker who keeps giving me all the censures for being too awesome.” As an aside, Azem gave Bread a side-eye. “You might want to pick up a tome on how not to suck at being a parent. Anyways, it’s nice to meet you, Eric!”

Erichthoinos was silent.

“She’s a dear friend.” Elidibus piped up. “You can rely on her.”

“Besides, it’s my mentor who is a true force of nature. I just show up when people need to be saved and I get it done.”

What a pity, Azem thought. She would have liked to meet her other self, just for a moment. To ask her how she was doing because the hints of sadness buried within the echo was bothering her. Emotions were a necessary part of life because to deny yourself the joy of living was tantamount to not living at all.

Or turning into an asshole coworker.

Azem gave Lahabrea the side eye for that whole emotion sundering nonsense. She also wondered why the hell Emet-Selch didn’t mention that bit to her. Probably assumed that it was nothing of import to tell her about.

“I do need to ask why you have such wild concepts running around in this dungeon though. I mean, that big green hairball…”

Lahabrea was already tuning out Azem’s nonsense while Elidius coughed lightly. “I don’t think he’s quite forgiven you yet.”

“I don’t think he’s even familiar with that particular concept in the first place.”

The older Ancient moved away to deal with the keywarders in an attempt to get away from Azem and her nonsense before he snapped and tried to set her on fire. Azem sighed and started heading towards the exit with Elibidus following her.

“I half wish I was at your side but seeing what she’s seen… I think it was the best choice that she went in my stead.”

“I agree, the traps were troublesome to deal with but they didn’t seem to affect her.”

“Right, because of her thinned aether.” Azem grinned.

“I find myself wanting to tell her more but that’s because sometimes I forget myself and think she’s you right next to me.” Elidibus laughed softly. “You both are the same to me but a little different? I can’t put a finger on why that is?”

“Hmm.” Azem shrugged. “For what it’s worth, El. I have always valued your friendship, now and evermore. I’m sure she does too.”

“Thank you. I’ll meet you back at the convocation?”

Azem grinned, saluting her dearest friend before returning to the surface and who should she bump into?

Kiandra let out a startled noise, having worn her purple leather outfit again. Her eyes widened in surprise, realizing that she bumped into her very own mirror image. “Holy shite…”

“Hi to you too, me.”

“I–I, what. What name am I even supposed to use?”

“I dunno, Azem, Apollo, “the love of my life who is a dearest pain in my arse”... there’s a lot of names there.”

“Hades said that, didn’t he.”

“Yep.”

“Shit. I’ve got so many questions for you.” Kiandra said, looking around. Being back in the past to where the star was whole was still giving her fuzzy feelings. “But… I don’t know where to start.”

“Then don’t bother with questions. Well, actually, I’ve got some of my own.” Azem laughed.

“Have nicknames always been a thing?” Kiandra said, counting off every single nicknames stuck in her head regarding the Ascians.

“Yep. And how’s little Hyacinth?”

“Being spoiled rotten. Though, I hate leaving her home alone, I just want to run home and apologize for being away.”

Azem grinned. “Good! I imagine things on your side should be okay now.”

“Well… about that…”

And Azem grabbed a gander at the echo vision as she raised a finger to her chin, tapping it. “You didn’t like the round two fight with El, did you?”

“N-no. I didn’t want to repeat what happened…but… I really didn’t know.”

Kiandra gulped, trying to swallow her pain but even she couldn’t hide it from her other self who sighed and nodded in acknowledgement. It didn’t need to be said but there was something reassuring that she could be honest with someone about her own feelings even if it was her other self.

“El will always be our dearest friend, no matter what disagreements we have. It’s an enduring friendship and I hope you understand that the pain lasts but a moment. The friendship will be made stronger for it.” At the dismayed look on Kiandra’s face, Azem added. “Worry not, you don’t have to say anything, I just know. I’ve dreamt about the future long before we ever met. I knew that I would change some day and things would be different.”

“And … how are you okay with that?”

“I’m okay because I’ve finally met you. You are the result of everything that will happen to me and even though I may fight against my destiny. In the end, I will be made better for it because I am you. Even though you may bear guilt, let me lighten your load.”

Azem drew Kiandra into a tight hug, letting the other woman break into sobs on her shoulder for a moment. It was what her other self needed, that assurance that she was not the monster she feared herself to be. That the nightmares could end at last.

“It’s okay to be sad. We’ll always carry the memory in our heart. For now, chin up because you’ve got some delightful stories to tell our darling treasure!”

With that, Azem let Kiandra go, watching her wipe her tears away as she entered the dungeon. The ancient sped away on the aether back to Amaurot, energized at resuming her duty. And as for her other self…

–

A curious feeling, knowing that Kiandra wasn’t the only one who bore the memories of the past now that Professor Clauiden had Erichthoinos’ memories. Even though the life experiences of his current life were dramatically different from Erichthoinos’, he did wonder if he was still himself in the end.

Something that Kiandra wondered herself but from what she understood, she basically walked the same path as Apollo once did. Only without her childhood best friends. And speaking of…

Kiandra had much to digest from her journey to finally getting the much needed reconciliation with both Azem and Elidibus. Though, she so badly wanted to tell Elidibus about who she used to be but she wondered if he already suspected. What a strange friendship, both of them missing their memories of the other.

“Our friendship was supposed to endure, wasn’t it?” Kiandra said to herself as she strode up to her house in Shirogane, her hand reaching out for the handle. “I wish I was a better friend to you.”

She remembered the warm smile on El’s face. Maybe they’d meet again someday…? Kiandra wished she knew for sure, putting her hand on her chest. Azem’s words came back to mind as she pulled the door open, returning to her loved ones.

Chapter Text

Some time later…

“Mama! Papa!” The little red-head freckled girl shouted as she pushed the front door open. She pouted, looking rather cross as she couldn’t find either of her parents in the main room.

Mayhaps they were in the basement? She distinctively recalled her father mumbling about finding something new to read and that he was not to be interrupted unless the house was on fire. The girl had a sneaking suspicion that he’d still be reading even with the fire all around him, unless it was her mother who accidentally set the fire. (In which he would just snap his fingers to douse both her and the fire.)

She stomped her feet at the top of the stairs. “Are you two actually reading?"

Then she thought about what her uncle suggested to say a certain line to get both of her parents’ undivided attention. “I’m sure I’ll be blamed for it but… hehe. Worth it.” Then her uncle seemed to remember that he had an errand and ran off in no particular direction before the girl could point out that the market was in the other direction.

At the time, the girl had no idea what her uncle meant but decided to try the line out when she stamped her foot again. “Are you two playing the evil emperor and the innocent hero game again!?”

There was an exclamation of “What?!” amongst furniture falling over and sounds of books crashing. The girl sweatdropped. What were they really doing downstairs? She stood still, slightly immobilized by fear of the unknown.

Her father dashed upstairs, looking bedraggled and out of breath. He looked less than thrilled with a scowl plastered on his face, “I’m going to have several words with Hythlodaeus.”

“How did you–”

Hades picked up his daughter. “Past experience.” He brought her into a tight hug, carrying her away from the stairs and set her down on the bench. Hyacinth pouted, still tugging on her father’s sleeve. “What is it?”

“I wanted to ask you and mama if I could invite a new friend over.”

“…” He stilled for a moment, trying to consider the request and failed to see any negatives. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt. Is he local?”

“Nay. He’s traveling with his family! I happened to meet them in the markets ‘cause I saw a bright soul.”

“Whatever could you mean by that.”

Hyacinth was tracing a finger in the air, trying out various words. “You’d have to see for yourself? It’s hard to describe, his color is strong! Also, he’s such a sweetheart! I couldn’t not be his friend!”

At that remark, Hades had an extremely puzzled expression on his face. The inherited soul sight ability was no surprise but for her to remark on something like that must mean something of particular import. She had previously commented on the differences between the intensity of her parents’ soul colours.

Kiandra came upstairs, looking more put-together than Hades was. “Eh?”

“He’s outside right now. Pray forgive me!”

“Who, what, where, when, how?” The Warrior of Light darted her head around. “What did I miss?”

“Only that it appears that our daughter has invited a friend over … and asked us for permission as an afterthought.” Hades’ lips were barely breaking out in a disbelieving smile.

Kiandra squinted at the man. “Are you suggesting that I’m a bad influence–”

“Hey! Papa! Not an afterthought!” Hyacinth pouted. “You’ll understand soon enough!”

“I yield.” Hades put his hands up in mock surrender as Hyacinth puffed her cheeks out, marching to the front door and opened it.

“I’m sorry for the wait, Timmy! My parents were busy. Please come in!”

While their daughter was speaking to the unseen guest at the door, Kiandra glared at Hades before letting out an annoyed sigh. Then as soon as the guest came into the door, both parents snapped to attention, not quite believing their eyes.

Hyacinth had her arm looped through a young boy’s own as he laughed sheepishly, waving. He had short light-colored hair but what caught Kiandra’s attention was how the child had sparkling blue eyes. Not exactly the same kind of sparkling but enough to make her pause as a dear friend came to her mind.

“Timmy… is it…?” Kiandra said slowly, sounding the name out in her head.

She heard Hades inhale sharply next to her, confirming that she wasn’t wrong with her initial impressions of this child before them. Her heart felt full, eyes threatening to spill over with tears.

“I’m glad to meet you.”

It was hard for her to think clearly, having remembered how sad her parting was with Themis. But now that he was in a brand new life with new possibilities that laid before him. However, did her daughter manage to find him out of nowhere?

“I can say the same especially since I’ve heard a lot about the famous Warrior of Light.” Timmy said in awe. “I didn’t believe Hyacinth at first. But it’s really you.”

“I don’t really brag about my mama normally! It makes her pretty shy.”

Hades was silently thankful that Hyacinth didn’t dare to remark about her father being some great sorcerer of eld but would anyone ever have believed her in the first place? He was also secretly grateful that she didn’t inherit any of his unfortunate features as he complained about that being a problem.

Kiandra would just stare at Hades before finally muttering under her breath about how she never noticed any familial resemblance, having been more interested in humiliating the Empire and getting the hell away from one deranged heir who she had little interest in fighting despite his repeated insistence on starting one.

“It feels like I’ve met your mom and dad before.” Timmy told Hyacinth as they went off to play in the yard.

Kiandra slowly staggered over to the opposite side back in the cottage, barely able to hold it together. She plopped onto the bench and took a deep breath before finally breaking down into a bawl.

“Overwhelmed?”

“Yes! I can’t believe he’s back… but of course he’s not going to remember.” Kiandra sniffed, wiping at her eyes. “The one thing I wanted most of all for him to live without stress. And now he can really do that.”

She was thinking back to her fragmented Apollo memories and what she could remember the time before the Sundering. Ardbert carried those memories with his soul and once those were returned, it left her with sleepless nights and a lot of questions before she was able to puzzle it out.

How Azem fought against the idea of Elidibus becoming Zodiark’s heart because she feared that she would lose her friend if they carried out the spell. She had called it reckless and dangerous. She said there was a better way to save the star and she was going to find it.

She would not let the convocation hold her back.

Then her mind wandered away from the Apollo memories back to when she met Themis in person for the first time by the way of crashing into his head with hers. Her first thought when she sat up so quickly was to nearly exclaim out his title.

The memories of her misadventures with Themis felt as fresh as yesterday despite it having been several years in the past for her.

“Something amiss?” Hades asked as he took his seat next to Kiandra.

“Just thinking back to that time with the dungeon several years ago.” Kiandra spoke quietly, leaning into Hades’ chest. “That was not a great time for me.”

“Hmm. I do distinctly recall you fuming in the yard, throwing the practice dummy around and cursing Athena for a good long while.”

“The fact that there was such an unfeeling person running amok back then…”

Kiandra was forced to reevaluate the Ancients and Ascians as whole when compared to the likes of Athena. (Not the first time she had to reevaluate everything she knew over the course of her journey.) And she was loath to admit to anyone with how she felt bad for Bread for being so bloody clueless about his wife.

If anything could piss the Warrior of Light off, it would be the idea of a parent being terrible to their child. Being a parent meant that you were the child’s protector as well as a nurturer, helping them reach their fullest potential.

Instead, Athena saw Ericinthos as a tool and limited his potential as means to ends for her own selfish purposes.

And that was something Kiandra didn’t understand. Compared to her sundered self, Ancients were already the closest thing to a god and even … what would a god be like compared to the Ancients?

That was for the best because she stopped Athena; the woman wouldn’t have pondered the answers, instead choosing to rewrite the world according to her will. And Kiandra was never going to let that happen as long as she was beholden to her duty.

She had a very good track record of dispatching people who attempted god-hood in whatever fashion and thrashed them soundly for it.

“I think the society as a whole was broken.” Kiandra grumbled. “Unwilling to admit anything was wrong nor seeking help.”

“I admit fault with viewing things through rosy-coloured fog. My perspective has aligned closer to yours that I do finally see the errors…”

“Interesting that it took you that long.”

“I had to regain my lost memories and be released from the tempering.”

They hadn’t discussed much on the subject of tempering amongst the Ancients. The majority of them were tempered by Zodiark although Kiandra wondered if grief was a large part of the tempering. As opposed to Athena being tempered by the black auracite into becoming her worst self while the survivors that went on to become Ascians because they were motivated by their grief.

“What is it?” Hades asked, stroking her head softly.

“A lot of thoughts. Too many questions to try to word. All a matter of perspective and hindsight. I’m not the same person I was before.”

“We’ve all changed. And we will still continue to grow and change as you’ve shown me time and time again.”

Kiandra smiled slightly. “My only sorrow is that I wasn’t able to tell the others who I used to be.”

“I think they’ve known all this time, especially since there’s only one of you.” He grumbled. “Who else could be a joy and a horror in the same package.”

“Hades, you arse.”

He laughed loudly at the scowl on Kiandra’s face. She sighed and grinned slightly knowing that he wasn’t wrong. Even in a different lifetime with different experiences and environment, at the heart of it all— Kiandra was nearly indistinguishable from Apollo.

They both went outside, the two children still playing in the yard. Kiandra was still smiling as she thought to herself. May your new life be ever brighter than your last one was. May you find new adventures and new friendships, Themis.