Main Scenario

013.5

Chapter 5

Interlude: Divine Assembly


In which we listen in on a conversation between two sisters and what Minerva's true plans for the warriors of Cosmos.


A Goddess, although powerful, is not, no, cannot be omniscient. Not when she shares her powers with her divine family, and especially so when even the Fates and possibly even Cronos does not see all the threads of time, all of the roads and outcomes that the future may take. So it was with Cosmos, and so it is with her 'sister' Minerva. This new situation that Minerva has unwittingly unfolded with her actions is an alarming gamble with the very fabric of the reality in her jurisdiction in an alarming state of crisis that has her quite agitated, even though she and her sister Cosmos are seated in the most beautiful and calming room of the King Zeus' best mansion atop the Mount Olympus. Much to Minerva's consternation however Cosmos takes the tense ambience with a tranquil countenance that makes her nervous pacing on the marbled floor of the lounge seem totally uncouth in comparison. She couldn't help but take out her frustrations at Cosmos because of this.

"How can you be so calm Cosmos, when it is your vassal that is in danger here? Do you not care for them?"
"It is not because of apathy that I can be so calm sister."
"Then what?"
"It is because I have complete faith in her that I can watch with composure the unfolding events before us."
"Faith? In a mortal? Such weak vassals that could be injured and destroyed so easily that you place such fidelity to?"
"It is precisely because they are mortal that they are so strong."
"What?"

Cosmos put down the tea cup she was sipping from onto the white tabletop as she stared out the window of the castle grounds, the ghosts and memories of an era long past flashing before her very eyes.

"Their lives pass by in the blink of an eye and because of this they experience life and the world in a way that we can only imagine. Their foreshortened lives have given them a unique experience in creation that cannot be surpassed by any other creature in the universe. It drives them to follow their passions to such lengths that in some ways they could make the most randy satyrs feel exhaustion."
"In bed or out of it?"
"Both. Mortals have some…creative ways of procreating, as I'm sure that Venus herself can tell you."
"If she would ever leave the bedchambers of her numerous lovers then mayhap she would."

Cosmos decided to ignore the grumbling way that Minerva spoke of Venus'…conquests, knowing quite well the antagonism between the two sister-Goddesses and kept speaking as though she never spoke.

"Lightning is special, she is one of my more experienced warriors and I have all certainty that not only will she carry out your mission but do so with much aplomb."
"Hmph. That's if she does not kill him herself."
"Yes, there is that."

Minerva finally stopped her pacing and sat down next to her sister sipping tea in comfortable silence.

"Minerva?"
"Hmm?"
"I have been meaning to ask…"
"Yes?"
"Why choose Lightning for this?"
"Because the only other of your vassals that I have taken a fancy to has been sent to another timeline entirely."
"And whom have you chosen?"
"I believe you know him as Kain Highwind."
"My dragoon knight?"
"Yes and the only one that I believe to be well suited to the task at hand."
"Why?"
"He is the only one with garments that would have allow him to masquerade well enough to accomplish my assignment."
"But why send Lightning to Venice then in that case? Prishe would have fitted in much easier with her clothes than Lightning."
"Her pointed ears and rough way of speaking would make her stand out in ways that her costume could not account for. Lightning at least follows some of the customs of the time, even if finding warrior women in this point of humanity's history is rare indeed."
"Has any other of my warriors have caught your attention, august sister of mine?"
"No, few of your other warriors would have been able to conform in my dominion as well as these two will."

Cosmos was silent for a little while before opening her mouth to ask other questions that have been clamouring in her mind since the beginning of this incident.

"Will not your demesne suffer for all this? Multidimensional travel for mortals can be quite dangerous, not to mention the gateway that you leave open for the other villains who may have animosity for Lightning."
"I have made sure that there are no open gateways to my demesne Cosmos, and as for any villain that may wish your Lightning harm I believe she has taken care of them for us."
"If you believe it to be wise…"
"I do."
"Then I have no more inquiries to make of you."

On the table that their tea set was on a golden sphere rested and glowed in the silence that reigned once they finished talking before growing dim and settling down.