AN: This should be the second to the last batch post here on ffnet.

Ahri II

The change in my lifestyle was astounding. Instead of feeling the eternal pangs of hunger, my body and my soul is fueled directly by Rin's blinding light, a soul forged from the sun itself feeding the empty void that I once was. Instead of hiding who I am to avoid the scrutiny of humans, I now present my tails and ears to the world, content that I have found my place in this world. Instead of avoiding getting close to the frailer species, I have found myself wondering if what I felt for these strays that Rin picked up was akin to how my parents felt when they were still with me.

Instead of wallowing in my frustrating search for the past, I find myself looking forward to the future.

The future apparently involved being accosted by a band of burly men and women a few miles south of the port city of Kalamanda.

"Leave, False Gods. The Rakkor have no need of the divine." The leader, a muscular male, clad in almost nothing, wielding a shield and a spear of considerable magical power demanded. I narrowed my eyes. The tension between both our groups suffocated the area.

The warriors behind the spearman didn't have armor either, or even thick clothes, trusting in the durability of their own muscle and the skill they derived from what must have been rigorous training. Rin merely watched them, looking as relaxed as a mountain of scale and muscle could be. Sivir stood beside him, her crossblade, enchanted by magics even older than myself, held deceptively loose in her hand.

Unfortunately, the other members of our small party were not as confident in facing their fellow humans as Rin and his apprentice was. I could see Zaifa fidgeting with the knife in hand, Taliyah looking hesitantly at Rin's back and the younger children hanging back with wide eyes.

The spearman's eyes, barely visible through the darkness of his helm, turned towards the children for a second before returning to Rin.

Then, they exploded into action, an ancient spear meeting curved blades, an unspoken agreement that this was a duel between champions, the Rakkor warriors and the rest of our band uninvolved in the conflict. I felt a flicker of worry for the wellbeing of my other half but it soon disappeared.

While Rin was a scholar at heart, a keeper of knowledge and a storyteller, the ferocity and primal instinct of the one known as Renekton was still embedded deep within his Ascended form. The challenging roar that erupted from his maw made even the experienced warriors following the spearman back away, his ferocious blows hammering into his opponent's circular shield with savage glee.

The spear flashed past the shield, a blurred motion that would have been invisible to human eyes. Rin spun, a violent whirlwind that knocked both spear and shield off course.

"Alligator Punch!"

I could see the way the warrior's eyes flashed towards my soulmate's claws. Rin's massive foot struck the warrior's torso, sending him careening backwards.

"That wasn't even a punch!" Sivir complained. I giggled. It was mostly an ingrained reflex in her by now, to react in such a way whenever my soulmate did something she found stupid.

In a show of pure skill, the warrior regained his footing in a split second, planted his right foot in solidly in the ground and delivered a flurry of spear thrusts, each one within a second of its predecessor, and each one aimed at a lethal point.

Rin, now a whirling dervish of blades, claws and teeth deflected all of them before roaring in the warrior's face.

"NICO!"

The warrior, unperturbed raised his shield to cover his torso.

"NICO!"

The feral swipe swatted the shield away and the warrior attempted to force Rin back with the tip of his spear.

"KNEE!"

A massive reptilians knee crashed into the warrior's face, denting his helm and sending him tumbling backwards. I could see the blood spilling out of the helm's opening. Despite the blood now dripping down his neck and torso, the warrior remained unfazed, still brandishing his spear and shield defiantly.

Rin cracked his neck, a habit he inherited from his time in the other world.

"Are you ready to talk peacefully now, Atreus?"

The warrior growled, spitting out a glob of blood at the ground.

"Atreus is no more, False God. I am Pantheon, now and forever."

Rin roared in laughter, the sound seemingly banishing the fear in our companions.

"Pantheon was Divine, slain by a cursed blade. Atreus remains a mortal, and it is by mortal hands that the fate of mortals will be shaped."

The warrior, and the warriors behind him, appeared confused at my soulmate's words.

"Strange words, for one of the Divine."

The hole that opened up in the space between them halted the conversation.

"Moon moon, can we play hide and boop soo- Sand Puppy!" Rin roared in laughter as... Something hugged his face. The regal woman that appeared with it smiled fondly.

The warrior - Atreus - roared in challenge.

"Celestials! Your meddling in mortal affairs ends here!"

"The Book of Revelations is clear." Rin spoke up from where the... thing was clambering up and down his back. "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Atreus turned to Rin, his posture radiating confusion.

"Mortal and Divine must work together if the day of death is to be avoided."

I shuddered, the memory of the prophecy - the 'trailer' that I gleaned from Rin's soul, the prophecy of the Ruined King, still fresh in my mind. Atreus lowered his spear, only slightly, and gestured for Rin to continue.

"Sand Puppy?" The thing in the form of a prepubescent girl piped up from where she was sitting on Rin's snout. "Are you why I'm here?"

I didn't know what she meant, but the lady that was with her looked surprised. Rin and the girl stared at each other for a few seconds before Rin grinned, causing Atreus and his warriors to raise their weapons warily.

"Tell me, Zoe, have you ever heard of our Lady and Savior, Nanoha Takamichi?"

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Historical Quote II

"And so the council of four convened. The Twilight Herald gave us her blessing, the blessing of the stars. The Aspect of the Moon gave a vow, that the Lunari would heed the call when the time comes. The Champion of Mortals, Atreus who once was Pantheon, rallied the Rakkor in our name. And Renekton, Lord Senpai of the Puella Magi, gave us his teachings, his wisdom, his guidance and his leadership. Also the cute skirts."

Luxanna Crownguard, Star Guardian of Illumination