The only sound present within the small bathroom was the dripping of the tap, the droplets hitting the water with a soft plip and creating ripples across the surface which would collide against the one laying in the tub. Not even the sigh Alys released broke the silence as she rested with folded arms on the edge of the tub, her attention elsewhere than the daylight which shimmered in through the small window she gazed upon.
The events of the day before were still rummaging through her head. When Joris left earlier this morning before the rising of the sun, she toyed with the thought to ask him about a book containing forbidden knowledge, the one Aurora mentioned when she brought up her father's concerns about the Eliatropes. Yet she swallowed down the words and kissed him goodbye with the promise to see him later this day, not daring to face what may be truth… or, as she stubbornly told herself, not feeling ready to discuss the rumors with him… or this book.
Should she ask the king of Osamodas? Aurora did say he seemed spooked by what he learned from the book so would it be wise to bring it up to him? She shook her head. Aurora told her this in confidence to find some relief in the worry about her father. If Alys were to bring it up to him, he would ask who or what Alys' source of information was… Aurora might not be the easiest to interact with but Alys didn't want to cause her any trouble either; she couldn't possibly tell him his own daughter gossiped about something she wasn't supposed to know about.
No, what she needed was to get her hands on this book, or any copies if they existed. If the rumors about the Gods shunning hers are spreading through the Council of Twelve, it was only a matter of time before too much damage was done. She needs to find out the truth… but where to start?
There were several places she could look for a book similar to the one the Osamodian king may have read, mostly libraries. It was years ago Joris boasted about the Bontarian library towards her but his boasting was definitely not overdone or misplaced. Each time she visited it these past few years, she was always impressed by its sheer size and how many books it held and often spent many hours among the bookshelves to get lost in scriptures and books about widely ranging subjects.
Aside from the massive library, there was the Bontarian Archive, which was far less public with extending the knowledge it contained within its walls. The Archives' Huppermages and scholars were protective of every single page in their possession, studying and protecting the ancient tomes and scrolls. If any forbidden knowledge within a book was somewhere to be found, it had to be there. It was indeed lucky she has friends working at the Archives, friends she can rely on to help her with her inquiries about her Goddess or a mysterious book. She was certain Geraint would be eager to assist her in her search, as he always was.
This time all her senses focused on the small window, the morning light beckoning her to get ready for the day ahead. There was much to be done if she was truly going to pursue these rumors to either stomp them out or verify them, something she needed to do as a representative of her people to assure their future in this world. It was time for the truth about the Goddess of the Eliatropes, the real truth.
This was a temple, or so others tried to convince her. A small pathetic little temple on the very outskirts of everything, or so it felt as this place seemed endless with no borders, no ends or beginnings. The temple had no splendor, no traps, no games, no hidden rooms, no feline-inspired statues, murals or trinkets littering the walls or floor. It wasn't spacy but it was clean without much clutter, a minimalist's wet dream.
Some say the temple is hers and hers alone because all the divine children have one but she was in denial. She had been for all these many years. The same old tune about her not having divine blood was one she would repeat time and time again. No divine blood, no temple. That was her reasoning but because it was said to be her little corner in this dreadful dimension, she also claimed it as her own. This was her home in a place she despised but tolerated, a little place she could retreat in and find some solace.
She was alone in her temple and this dimension for countless years and she preferred it, though that changed when she was brought a gift from the past*, a past she tried to forget. The gift consisted of two beings she once upon a time considered friends, two Shushus imprisoned inside gauntlets someone she adored used to wear. Soon enough her centuries-long loneliness was saved by melancholy as melancholy stayed her hand from throwing the two old demonic companions out of the dimension she swore to protect. While she couldn't bear being reminded of what she once left behind, she was unable to turn her back on the Shushus.
Those who reunited her with the Shushus were wise enough to not tread near her temple and to leave her be, the contact she had with the two Ecaflip demigods hardly worthy of note as it was little to none. It was exceedingly rare for her to receive visitors and it was why it was a surprise to see a long shadow cast across the floor from the entrance of the temple, a figure lingering on the top of the few steps one needed to scale to enter. The pastel yellow light from outside shone against the visitor's back and concealed their features in a darkened silhouette but it wasn't difficult to guess who dared to enter her home, though she didn't recognize him at first.
"You have grown," Fayme said after turning her glare away from the visitor and focused on the pillar opposite of the one she sat against, a crinkle present across her snout," how many years has it been since last you spouted nonsense at me*, Ush?"
The pointy-eared silhouette let out a chuckle to accompany his hidden smirk before he shrugged," a few years, around five perhaps. Not that it matters around here, does it?"
"So you're no longer a ten-year-old child pretending to be an intelligent teenager? You're an actual hormonal obnoxious teen now?" She didn't sound amused and neither did she hold a smile. The Ecaflipette's ears were folded back to mimic her narrowed eyes, her amber colored gaze continuing to rest on the dry stone surface of the pillar. "Is it hormones which brought you to my scratching post, or do you have a proper reason to show your ugly chin here?"
Ush tutted in an overdone way, though he stayed where he was. "So hostile," he fakely pouted as he stroked his insulted chin, the young demigod indeed having grown since last he called on Fayme's assistance. She wasn't wrong; he was a teenager but only physically. His mind was far older, and so was his soul, but they were unfortunately tied to a mortal body which was only immortal thanks to the nine lives Ecaflippian demigods are blessed with. "I have something far more interesting than hormones on my mind. Care to listen?"
Fayme scowled with an audible sigh. "Don't you have any siblings left you can bother instead, or did you do them all in by now?"
"Those who survived me aren't worth my time anymore," Ush said as he crouched down to sit on his ankles, his eyes staying on the one-armed Ecaflip," besides, I haven't assassinated any of our half brothers and sisters for quite some time. I have different ambitions now, less brutal ones… in a way." He grinned with a curling tail as he watched her, the twitching of her eyes when he spoke of them being family and sharing blood proof he hit a nerve. She always was easy to tease. "You seem less lonely than last time we talked. Did you finally hook up with someone?"
She slowly turned her head to look at him in disbelief after hearing his question. "Did you really just change the subject to get under my fur?"
"On the contrary, little sister. I came here to see if you finally accepted the truth behind your little ordeal. Your new company might just be the answer to my wonder."
The look of suspicion engraved itself on her face before she slid off the elevated platform with a litheness and poise a Sram or Eniripsa would be envious of, the famous feline grace accompanying her every move. She didn't close the distance between them, at least not yet as she was cautious, before a different voice cut into the conversation and tilted the tense atmosphere.
"Ooh, you're in for it now, kid. She's got her game face on."
"Yeah! You wanna know about her hook? Then she's gonna show you the hook she's got! With a fist. A strong left fist right in your ugly chin. Not her right fist though, she ain't got one, as you can see."
The snerk which escaped Ush after he hid his amused grin behind a paw only made Fayme's mood more sour before she deeply inhaled to keep her calm, the two voices which sounded from behind her shushing each other after picking up on her annoyance. "Well, isn't that something," Ush grinned as he stroked his snout and rested his chin in his paw," after all these centuries of being a hermit, you now have your own personal cheerleaders."
"And damn good ones too," one of the two voices agreed, causing the black furred visitor to snicker.
Fayme shot a glare towards the two leather gauntlets laying beside the pillar she sat by moments ago, silencing them though she knew it wouldn't last; they had always been chatterboxes. She reached for them to pick them up and tuck them behind the sash tied around her waist, considerate enough to face them forward so they could see what was going on. The sparkle in their eyes was enough of a sign they were happy to be included in the ongoings, their mood not matching hers as a storm kept brewing in her amber colored eyes.
Ush seemed pleasantly surprised to see the two Shushus in Fayme's presence, his ears perked in interest. "And here I thought you were pro-Ecaflip and didn't tolerate anything else in this place. No matter, it makes no difference. In fact…" He followed Fayme example by standing up, though was daring enough to finally cross the threshold and venture further into the small temple. "Why won't you tell me who you are, boys, and how you know my lovely sister?" he asked while ignoring Fayme's quiet growling.
"We ain't saying squat to you, pal."
"Grax's right," the left-handed gauntlet said," Purr told us enough about you after those feline oldtimers reunited us. After all these years of being cooped up in some dusty basement, we won't let anyone get between us and this girl right here. We owe it to her girl, our girl. Damn, I miss our girl…"
The right-handed gauntlet rolled his eye," Frax, you moron. I just told him we weren't going to say anything and you go blabbering about Cherry and Purr like it's his business. It ain't, so shut up about us being old pals of Purr's."
The two Ecaflips exchanged a look after listening to the ramblings of the Shushus before Ush said with some sarcasm," you must so love these two."
"She adores us! Not that she will ever admit it but that's how she is. Always has been."
"You don't say."
Fayme laid her paw over the gauntlets to prevent them from saying anything more after Ush sounded far too intrigued by what was shared, not liking his prying. "Enough," she calmly stated before she straightened her back to stand taller than the demigod after he took a stance before her, the look in her eyes harsh," your little visit is over."
"Aww, don't be that way, "Purr"." The mock lay thick over Ush's voice though he changed his tune a little to not overstay his welcome when the mocking of her nickname was met with bared fangs and a hiss. "As a guardian of this dimension, you should hear me out," he said to explain his reason and began to wander a little to not stick close to Fayme, acting far too casual as he turned his back on her without much care or worry," because it is your future I'd like to discuss."
"I am not joining that cult of yours."
Ush eyed a piece of loose silk which was tied around the pillar he approached before he lightly pawed at it like it was the most intriguing object in the Krosmoz, seeming to not have listened though he responded with a slow nodding. "I know, I know," he mumbled while continuing to paw the fabric," but think, Fayme. When was the last time you've seen Ecaflip or he spoke to you, directly?"
Her silence told him enough.
"So many haven't seen their parents for a long time. A very long time." The tone of his voice grew darker and more serious as he spoke, the silk no longer holding his attention. There was resentment and disappointment in his words when he continued to speak," the Gods are ignoring the pleas of their beloved mortal followers and have done so for centuries. Even their own children, loved or forgotten, the children they placed below the mortals. What have we ever done to be treated lesser than those gullible mortals?"
Fayme averted her gaze after hearing the hurt in Ush's voice. He held resentment towards his father for as long as she knew him, centuries of feeling ignored and rejected while a lucky few of his other siblings managed to get in their father's good graces. It was resentment which fueled Ush to execute brethren and kin alike if they weren't on his side and wholeheartedly supported God Ecaflip, and it was the same resentment which made him approach her time and time again in the hopes to find a like-minded soul.
"And then, after all these years… they abandon us," Ush continued, his anger beginning to show," they hid away in a place nobody but themselves can go, leaving their children to clean up their mess. Me… you. Look at you." He gestured with a paw at her. "After all these years, you are still doing his job. And has he ever thanked you for it?" He answered for her before she could. "No."
She clicked her tongue in objection, no matter that he spoke true. Her task was fairly simple; look after Ecaflip's divine dimension as an appointed guardian and protect the home of the god himself, his many children and any worthy followers. Yet Ecaflip hardly showed his pride or a sense of gratitude for her devotion and she often questioned her position. She truly despised it but never wavered in upholding what she promised to do. With reason…
"Aren't you sick of it? Don't you ever wonder why he did this to you?"
Rain. Strange that Ush's urging and repetitive questions reminded her of the sound, smell, and feeling of rain. Was she starting to crack after these years of resistance? Did the reunion with Grax and Frax affect her centuries-long denial? Was she finally growing exhausted? Her stern expression softened ever so slightly when faded imagery from a distant past rose from the darkness, the fight to keep up appearances pausing.
It rained that day in more ways than one. Her crying face was one she couldn't forget no matter how hard Fayme tried, neither could she forget the red color of blood which stained the street and her own fur. The desperate screams and pleas to not leave her still startle her awake to this very day. She didn't just lose her arm during that rainy day on which she died. She lost her too, the one person she loved more than herself.
"You do, don't you?"
His question pulled her from the memories she pushed back more often than not, the demigod having picked up on her silence and distracted gaze. She looked down at the Shushus to try and regain her focus, but the gauntlets were heavily tied to the memories of the Iop she adored. They were hers… Wherever Cherelle went, so did the Shushus. The trio was inseparable and therefore a part of the relationship Fayme had with the female Iop. Lovers to the very end…
She never wanted this. They were just minding their own business with no intention of playing hero. Bonta had enough people to deal with a rampant and bloodthirsty monster, so why didn't they? Why was she forced her hand to get involved and stop that beast, all to save her sweet innocent ginger-haired girl? She was no hero. She was a cat burglar, someone who broke the law for the thrill and excitement rather than survival. She was famous and had a following, admirers who loved to hear about her exploits or broadcasted her little thieving adventures on the jellyvision. She was no role model, no respectable being. So why was she the one to face the monster and die to it?
There was an audience when she lay there in the arms of her lover, onlookers who were either curious as to what happened or had watched the fight from a safe distance. Why didn't any of them take her place to fight that thing? Why didn't anyone come to her aid? Did they honestly believe she could do it on her own? Cowards.
Even him, the damn feline said to be her father. He was there. Even with four arms and divine powers, he didn't intervene. Instead, he approached her dying spirit after the fight was done and offered a deal while she was torn up by the grief of being ripped away from her love.
"Get out of my temple."
Her voice was as cold as ice, the memories Ush unintentionally brought up having soured any chances to keep things civil. She was tired of it, yes. Tired of being questioned and questioning everything and everyone around her. Every time Ush came knocking, it ended in extended claws, bared fangs and fur flying. Every time he had to rant about Ecaflip and the wringer he pulled her through. Why can't he leave her be? Why can't anything in this godforsaken place give her peace?
The tearing of cloth sounded when Ush tore through the decorative silk he stood by, his golden eyes narrowed to horizontal slits. He stood straight and somewhat stiff, the rejection not suiting him and he wasn't afraid to show it either. "No."
His single worded stubbornness did not go over well and neither did the small shadows which appeared in the temple's entrance and archways, the change in the situation making Fayme's neck fur stand up. Many felines crowded the open spaces which let through the pastel yellow light, their quiet meows buzzing through the air while they waited for any sign from the one they loyally followed.
"You dare," she asked with a rough voice after all exits of her temple were blocked off by Ush's entourage of bow meows," in my sanctuary?!"
Ush's expression lost the edge of disappointment after he heard her question before he said a little too calmly for her taste," if that is what it takes."
"Put me on! Put me on!" The frantic and excited urging of Frax soon echoed through the small space, the thick tension in the air hinting at a fight the left-handed Shushu glove was eager to be a part of. He giggled like a happy schoolgirl when Fayme obliged and stuck her only hand into the glove before biting into the thick rim to tug the leather more firmly around her fingers, her glare pinned on Ush while he watched with an equally matching look.
A fight was inevitable now.
The gauntlet was rather large at first but it adjusted to the size of her paw once she flexed her fingers, soon donning the Shushu weapon as if she had done it before. She spat to the side after releasing the edge of the glove and clenched her clad paw into a fist, the Shushu held within activating and springing forth three silver spikes which adorned the back like a sharp knucklebuster.
She said nothing more, no warnings or threats, as she leaped at Ush and swung her arm at him to vent her anger and make him leave. She was fast and nimble, as expected with all the training she put herself through, but Ush was still able to dodge the incoming attack with ease. Frax's spikes bit into the bare stone of the wall rather than Ush's chest, making it splinter and crack before it crumbled and sprawled across the floor. The light from outside soon fell through the opening and highlighted the rising dust which swirled when Fayme spun around to keep pursuing Ush, the damage dealt to her home not stopping her.
Ush didn't counterattack and simply kept avoiding her punches, kicks, swipes, and swings while jumping, sprinting and spinning away from her, moving like liquid and almost anticipating her every move. Every missed attack was in his advantage, for Fayme was starting to lose her temper while the Shushus grew impatient. "I'll make you see the truth, Fayme," he said after he ducked to dodge another punch, his chin almost touching the floor while he kept his arms folded behind his arched back and his legs bent," I won't blindside you like our father has done. Like he did to all our brothers and sisters."
He had changed. She could see it even through the red curtain of anger which lay over her mind. He was still full of himself, there was no denying it, but he was more composed in comparison to last she saw him. Perhaps it was because he physically grew up and was no longer stuck in the body of a child but Fayme knew this was different. What did he find during his absence from Ecaflipus? What replaced the boredom which drove him before?
"Grab him by the scruff!"
Grax's instruction sounded stupid but it was what Fayme did after she closed the distance between herself and Ush. He dove under the leg she kicked upwards to avoid the heel of her foot but he didn't account for how quickly she spun and reached for him with her only arm. The pulling on his tail made him yowl in surprise and stumble before she released the long black tail and grabbed the back of his robes to yank him backward, throwing him off balance. He loudly grunted when she thrust her knee into his gut after she pulled at him and made him buckle, the Shushus' victorious cackling following.
"That's our girl!"
"Use me! Use me!" Frax's frantic shouting didn't get muffled when Fayme shifted her hold on Ush and took on Grax's suggestion to go for the Ecaflip's scruff, acting swift to not give him the chance to slip away. The thick leather of the glove prevented the use of her claws but the grip she had on the back of Ush's neck was unnaturally strong thanks to the Shushu imprisoned within. She turned on a foot to swing the Ecaflip around before she simply let go and sent him in the direction of one of the open archways, the demigod knocking over a few of the observing bow meows who were too slow to react and sending them flying with him.
The drop down was far but he and the few unfortunate felines who fell off the edge of the temple landed somewhat gracefully on the floating cat statues and stepping stones littering the sky of Ecaflipus, their fall broken by sheer luck and the myth cats land on their feet.
Ush cast a quick glance around and examined himself with patting paws across his chest and stomach, looking befuddled by what had happened. "Well then," he muttered while he adjusted his robes and rolled his shoulders, the attempt to regain his composure broken by what he saw overhead to moment he glanced upwards to the floating temple.
His ears folded back and his eyes grew in startle when Fayme jumped after him without hesitation or fear, making the far leap down to where she had thrown him. And she wasn't alone; a long string of bow meows followed after her with angry growls and meows, the small creatures pouring out of every opening of the small temple to chase after the one who attacked their master.
He cursed under his breath before he jumped to safety to avoid the onslaught of felines which crashed down onto the statue like a black waterfall and caused it to topple over and drop down due to the sudden and growing weight, the echoing meows of dismay filling the air after many bow meows fell helplessly into the foggy abyss below.
That was close.
Ush peered over the edge of the large stone he managed to seek refuge on before he flinched when Fayme suddenly dropped down beside him without making a sound, soon meeting her hateful gaze. "You are right, "big brother"... I do wonder," she said with detest as she slowly curled her fingers and formed a fist, the eye on the back of the gauntlet she wore narrowed with an invisible grin," I wonder why you keep harassing me and singing the same tune about your father, as if it would change my mind or pity you. You never say anything useful."
"And you never listen. You are so deep in denial that you can't see what is real anymore. Ecaflip is using you and you are letting him like the weak coward you are. You think my words are nothing but lies? Heh…" He smirked after regaining his cockiness with the small step he took back," I will show you the real lie behind whatever promise he made to you before he threw you in here." He wasn't intimidated by the baring of her fangs and neither by the gruff urgings of the right-handed glove tucked away behind Fayme's sash.
"Just slam Frax in that stupid face of his, break his nose and get this yammering over with. The kid is starting to get on my nerves."
"Yes, you do that," Ush muttered as he crossed his arms before his chest and a grin spread across his snout, standing confident. He didn't move a muscle when Fayme shifted the weight on her feet and pulled her arm back to deliver him another punch, until the light from above got blocked like a cloud moving in front of the sun. He looked up to gaze upon the wave of bow meows which sprung up from the surrounding levitating rocks and statues, the flashing of claws and teeth shimmering amidst the black mass.
The tips of the sharp knucklebuster scraped through the fur and whiskers of his snout but didn't nick his skin, the reach of the punch too short as Fayme got overwhelmed by the feline army which pounced at her. They pinned her down against the surface of the rock she and Ush were on, the total weight of the uncountable felines immobilizing and overpowering her. Even the Shushus' protests and swearing got drowned out by all the frantic meowing, the tables having turned.
Ush watched Fayme try and claw herself free from the mob of felines before he said while knowing she wouldn't fully listen in her current state," I know our father locked you in this dimension with the lie you cannot leave and I know you hate him for it. I'll be honest, though, I don't know how he did it and how he convinced you of staying here, but it doesn't matter. I'll be the one to set you free, whether you like it or not."
He reached into his robes before taking out something small, the shine of gold between two of his fingers catching the attention from several of the bow meows. The wild movements settled ever so slightly and gave Fayme a little breathing space to realize what was happening, her attempts to get free not wavering when she glared at what Ush was holding.
A golden kibble, a divine key which allowed God Ecaflip's offspring to enter or leave Ecaflipus through a portable portal. She didn't understand at first why Ush was holding it up as if it needed to be admired by her until the scheming and foreboding look on his face gave away what he was planning. He was going to use it… to set her free.
"No! You can't-!" He shrugged with an uncaring smile at her warning before he chucked the small golden nugget towards her and the bow meows which kept her pinned down, the small thing clattering and bouncing across the ground. She watched it come closer with eyes as large and round as platters, fear striking her heart and making her panic. "Ush!"
The ground opened up beneath her and the pile of bow meows after the kibble shaped nugget made its final bounce, causing everyone to drop into the swirling vortex of the portal. Fayme flailed in a desperate attempt to grab hold of something to save herself from falling but she couldn't reach the edge of the hole.
"NO!"
The spinning pastel colors of the vortex blinded her as she spiraled out of control into the very depths of Ush's portal, her high pitched screaming tainted with terror. The Shushus' shouting to get herself together fell on deaf ears, the fall through the portal feeling like an eternity until solid ground brought a stop to it.
The landing knocked the air out of her with a painful shock and made everything go black, the thought that it was the end booming in her head until she snapped her eyes open with a sharp anxious gasp. She scrambled and flailed to get on her feet but only managed to prop herself up on her hand and knees, her back arched high as she wheezed. Her eyes shot around in panic, her mind unable to make sense of what she was seeing and feeling. Bow meows scattered into the surrounding tall grass after Fayme barely recovered from the forced journey, her thoughts in disarray and her senses jumbled.
She… She didn't disappear? She's still alive?
The sky. The grass. The smells. Everything was a merciless, a blinding and painful explosion for her senses, body and mind alike. It shook her with a terrorizing fear she hadn't experienced before, the overwhelmness sending her reeling. Her fingers sunk in the soil while her back arched further in fright, her fur raised and her eyes bulging.
The world around her was alive. She felt the natural passing of time and how gravity rooted her, the fluctuating wind which carried scents she hadn't smelled in a very long time. This wasn't what Ecaflip said would happen if she was to leave Ecaflipus. This wasn't death. This wasn't Incarnam or the void. This was the World of Twelve, a place she once lived in and made a living out of robbing others. A place she left behind for the sake of preserving her love.
Her fur remained raised and her ears flat as she slowly rose to a standing and took in the surroundings, her heart racing along with her breath. There was a city in the distance, along with a few smaller settlements amidst the green hills of the plains. She knew this place… She swallowed down the clump present in her throat after believing she recognized where she had ended up and took a wobbly step forward, then another and another before she slowly began to run through the grass, her eyes set on the distant horizon.
"Where are you going?" The voice coming from the leather gauntlet hanging from her waist sounded confused but worried, the trip through the portal having subdued the two Shushus but not as bad as it had done to Fayme. "Hey, Purr, where are you going?" Grax repeated when there was no answer, the slugging running becoming faster and more desperate but determined.
"Astrub, Bonta, either," she said out of breath, a hauntingly scared tone making her voice shake," I need to-"
"She isn't there, Fayme," Grax cut in," Cherelle left this world a very long time ago, we told you this."
The Shushu's words made her slow in her running until she came to a slouched halt, her lower lip quivering as she stared ahead of her. Her eyes became watery with tears, every inhale of air becoming shorter and shorter until she lost the fight against the agonizing sadness… and rage.
The bastard told her he'd make certain Cherelle's soul would be in good hands after her passing, that he would grant her eternal luck and happiness, no matter that she was an Iop. The catch, however, was the price to make it a reality. As long as Fayme stayed in Ecaflipus and served him loyally, Cherelle's soul would only know happiness. If not… if she was to leave and break the deal made… both their souls would disperse and be erased from existence. Yet here she was, breathing, thinking, living.
The fucker lied.
"Ecaflip," she snarled with bared fangs, the burning hatred and anger she felt towards her God making her spit and fume.
After all this time. She believed him in her grief, she wanted nothing more than to spare her sweet Iop the pain of losing her and live with a broken heart. She accepted that shitty bargain and was given another chance at living… away from Cherelle. The thought Cherry would be happy for the rest of eternity was the price she was willing to pay, but the longer she stayed in Ecaflipus, the more the hints to her having been deceived started to surface.
She was unaware of her divine blood before she died. God Ecaflip never made mention of it but it started to become obvious that he wasn't the one who resurrected her to keep up his end of the deal. It was the divine trump card of nine lives which did it and that truth was a hard pill to swallow. It was then the denial started and made her despise the dimension she swore to protect, yet she never dared to find out if it was true, afraid she would make her sweetheart suffer. So she endured and ignored… until now.
Fayme almost broke her neck with how fast she snapped her head around to react to the rustling grass behind her, finding Ush walking up to her as he juggled his golden kibble in his paw. He looked sympathetic as he approached her and wasn't scared off by her anger-filled posture and glare as he stepped up beside her, saying quietly," it pains me to see you like this, but you deserved to know the truth behind the bargain you struck with our father."
"I didn't ask you to."
"You didn't, no," he agreed as he caught the kibble and tucked it away in his robes," but it was the right thing to do. Besides, you have no idea how frustrating it was to watch you be used like that by him. And for so long."
The passage of time in Ecaflipus was nonexistent and made it difficult to guess for how long she was shackled to the deal struck but she knew Ush was correct by saying it was long. That truth only made her more bitter than she already was and he easily picked up on it.
"Will you hear me out now, and listen to what I have to say?"
She didn't vocally answer him, but the slow perking of her ears and the sideways glance she gave him was enough of a sign she wouldn't push him away. His risky wager to forcefully make her see the truth had paid off, luckily. It could have gone terribly wrong. He only had guesses to go off on, guesses and assumptions about Fayme's history with God Ecaflip and why she did what she did. It wasn't too difficult to fill the blanks but there were still a few pieces of the puzzle missing.
He nodded in approval before he glanced at the two Shushu possessed gloves, expecting them to add their two cents but they were quiet and glaring at him. It seemed they shared her anger towards the situation. Good… "During your absence from the World of Twelve, the Gods allowed it to fall into decay. After their battle against Ogrest, the Gods retreated and left their followers to fend for themselves, ignoring their prayers. As you know, mortals can be ignorant. Many of them have no idea they are sending prayers to a fallen apart pantheon. And don't get me started on how the Gods treated their own children even before their disappearance. Then again…" He looked at her to read her reaction," you experienced our father's cold and selfish shoulder firsthand."
Fayme didn't interject, agreeing for once.
"Many of these forgotten and mistreated children are trying to make a difference. We have a vision which is beneficial to all, even the mortals. We want to set things right, give this world and every soul willing to worship a better life, a life everyone is deserving of. A life where nobody is ignored by their parents, even their Gods. And we are getting close to making our vision a reality. I, for one, want to start with you. When I become the new God of the Ecaflips, I will give you your arm back. I will release you from the bounds our father lay on you with his disgusting lies and let you be free. That is… if you'll join me."
Fayme scoffed to express her disbelief. "You are going to replace Ecaflip?"
"Yes, I am. Are you with me, sister?"
His confidence was strong as he held his paw out to her, the small grin he carried not malicious in tone. Her amber-colored gaze flickered between his eyes and held-out paw, the seething anger she felt towards the one she once upon a time worshipped ebbing away with every thought she considered and rolled around. She took a deep breath when she made up her mind before she tightly clasped his paw and held it, giving him a nod.
"For once, I am."
To be continued.
*: See the Guardian: Reunion short story
*: See Loyalties, chapter 6