Chapter 4: Arrival
๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ
-๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐-
-Intergalactic void between Sector 2813 and Sector 2814-
...
It is for hope that he rides.
He seizes the gravity well of the Big Bang itself and rides the universe. He is a ghost... A glimpse, too fast to be perceived by mortal sight. He slingshots through an expanding cosmos. Swerving through the fiery debris of time and space as they violently coalesce.
He sees a titan taking its last breath. Cursing in the language of ancient gods. It convulses. Its very entrails hardening into bizarre crystal formation.
He witnesses a new protogalaxy being born. A shattered mirror image of creation replaying the same cosmic contest over and over.
His Cosmic Awareness sees the masters of the Fourth World, flamboyant New Gods collecting mortal lives for their own vanity and entertainment. He sees many champions rise and fall in their names. He sees heroes fight tyrants. Brother fight brother. Trapped in an endless spiral of violence as old as time itself.
He speeds through the heavens past moons, planets and stars. Through the Universe, travelling on, gathering speed, further and further through the limitless void until it bursts through into another Galaxy. Again and again.
He exits hyperspace, out into the intergalactic void once more, and passes by the small vessel, as he does every day. He watches it from afar, it is still there, intact, whole. "Good." the lone cosmic wanderer thinks.
He can sense the little one's mind, even asleep and dreaming, touching his own. The little Star has always loved them, memories of soaring among the stars, surfing supernovas from exploding suns, and the sheer vastness of space in all its beauty and terror.
He gives him what he has seen during his travels, like he does every day of every year since he has met her. Since she freed him from the servitude of the Devourer of Worlds.
He promised her that he would watch over them. To be their Sentinel. Until todayโฆ
It will be their last time seeing each other before the Star Child joins the other cosmic wanderers through the cosmos.
And when the boy does, he will be there, waiting, with open arms.
He watches as the ancient derelict ship covered by a fine mist of Void-energy and lost to the blackness between galaxies for eons, finally stirs from its slumber.
...
-๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป-
...
-Startup. Power On Self Test. Loading of personality matrix.-
-It, has been, a long time.-
-Systems check... complete. All systems; restored. Ready to launch.-
-Precepts of main mission: Preserve the legacy of EL. Save lives when possible. Be just and compassionate.-
-Previous order received; 'Save my son and deliver him from evil.'-
-Last orders received; Find acceptable habitable worlds. Hide, grow, learn. Find a good and kind family.-
-Uphold the mission. Protect the host.-
-Sector 2814 within secure Phantom Drive jump range. Initialising propulsion?-
~Yes. But prioritise G-type main-sequence star systems until Lady Lara contacts us.~
-Acknowledge. Firing propulsion.-
...
-Four Terran years later-
...
-Approaching G-type main-sequence star system number 4,896,585.-
-Entering star system. Scanning for threatsโฆ No menace detected.-
-Scanning star system wide Noosphereโฆ No corruption detected, but seems muted.-
-Scanning for acceptable habitable worldsโฆ Done.-
-Are you sure this is the coordinates Lady Lara Gave you?-
~Yes. I am sure.~
-Results; One Class M; inhabited, extreme low-Gravity, one celestial body, strange...-
-Approachingโฆ Scanningโฆ Primitive Datanet detected.-
-Scanning local planetary wide Noosphereโฆ No corruption detected.-
-Advanced Esoteric shielding detected. Advanced Dimensional barriers detected.-
-Scanning Datanetโฆ Done. Downloading local planetary wide information.-
-Accessing, Processing, assimilation finished. Planet now logged as -REMNANT-.-
-Three sapient species detected, logged as; Human, a bipedal primate mammal race named "Homo sapiens". Faunus, similar to Humans, except for the fact that they share certain traits with their fauna biosphere. Amazon, a bipedal primate mammal race of mystically enhanced warrior women, similar but physically superior to both Humans and Faunus.-
-One supernatural and hostile species detected, logged as -Grimm-, Grimms seem very biodiverse, possessing a large number of Species and Sub-types. Attracted to 'negative' emotions, display no enmity towards wildlife, and only clash during territorial disputes. Sapient species are the only races they attack on sight.-
-This world seemsโฆ acceptable and sufficient enough...-
~This world species may be primitive and young, yes. But Lady Lara has been explicit on the matter. This is her choice to make. Not ours.~
-Earth would have been as good. The Kent couple were better candidates.-
~And I agree, they would have been... 'IF' Kal-El had been born looking more like a Human.~
~Also the fact that we have no idea of how artificial accelerated growth will do to him, make simple mortals a non-viable option.~
~She has other plans for the Kents. And I trust in Lady Lara's judgement.~
~... I know it is not an easy task for you, but please, be patientโฆ And Thank you.~
-Scanning for last parameters?-
~...Yes. Those Grimms do not seem that dangerous. But be ready to engage battle-mode.~
-Acknowledge.-
-... Done. Arc family located. Two mothers, one father, seven daughters.-
~Please, give me a detailed description of this household.~
-The mothers are of noble birth, Salem Arc and Circe of Aeaea, both seem to be high ranking practitioners of the magical and mystical art. High Eso signatures detected on both matriarchs.-
-The father, Nicolas Arc, is a peace keeper called a "huntsmen" of high ranking and noble birth. High Exo signature detected.-
-The daughters from oldest to youngest; Eight years old Artoria. Seven years old Saphron. Four years old Barghest.- -Four years old Mordred. Three years old Nero. Two years old Atalanta. One year old Jeanne.-
-Nicolas Arc detected with his two cousins; Taiyang Xiao Long and Glynda Goodwitch, outside his personal residence named the 'Arx lucis', and near the town of Ansel. Firing propulsion.-
-Passing by Remnant's celestial body, arrival in- Warning! Multiple gravitational anomalies detected! Warning! Multiple unknown elemental and mystical anomalies detected!-
-Warning! Fo-rward shield at 0.8%, forwa-rd integrity at 99.997%, s-ensors offl-i-ine, in-ter-nal syste-ms compromised. De-plo-yi-ng countermeasures!-
-WARNING! Losing co-nnec-tion to sh-ip liqui-d-Geo system-s.-
-This i-s-s-is- goi-n-g to be a rou-gh lan-d-i-i-ing.-
...
-Nicolas Arc-
...
As the craft enters Remnant's atmosphere.
Up until a few minutes before, it was a pleasant and sunny dayโฆ And Nicolas Arc, a man looking in his thirties with golden hair and eyes the colours of sapphire, is now tired of his younger cousins/colleagues' argument about their respective fighting styles.
Taiyang with his dark blue eyes and Glynda own bright green eyes, hidden behind her glasses, are with some light differences, as blonde as he is.
"Yes Taiyang, I know footwork is important and - no, Glynda your Semblance doesn't make it useless." Nicolas Arc says to the woman. "And please Taiyang. Put a shirt onโฆ"
"You're just jealous of my- What the hell?" Taiyang says as his eyes look up.
"What is it again this time? If this is your wife, or God forbid, Qrow, trying to go through our wards, again, Je jure devant Dieu- โฆ Well. That is no bird." A confused and wide-eyed Nicolas exclames.
"Maybe another Nevermore of your own wife, Arc?" Coolly says Glynda, until her eyes focus on what is falling from the sky. She gets up from her chair with the grace of a cat and focuses on her Aura. "It's going to hit the barriers and wards! Both of you, behind me, NOW!" The two men don't hesitate at what Glynda says, she then pushes her Semblance to its limits in a violet dome around them.
And hitting the protections of the mansion it does. Passing through them as if they aren't even there. With a catastrophic kaleidoscope of colours, the different protections collapse like a soap bubble bursting in slow motion. And the thing seems to barely decelerate, it then changes course at the last moment.
The ominous black shadow it casts quickly crosses the training grounds and with a loud whooshing and booming sound, theโฆ whatever it is, heads for the forest of the mountain four Kilometres away. The vibrations and shock waves are felt before the sound of the crash reaches them.
The three agape warriors, for a few seconds, don't dare to move, waiting for hidden enemies that are not coming. And for what felt like hours, Nicolas finally gives commands.
"Taiyang. Go find my wife and tell her what just happened. Glynda. With me." And at that they move as one.
Nicolas' face is frozen in astonishment, Glynda's eyes widen, equally amazed.
Nicolas and Glynda in total disbelief, slowly move towards the object, as if they are unconsciously drawn to it. They peer into the crater with confusion and then turn to each other for an explanation neither of them has. They simultaneously look at the "rocket" then to the sky.
"Bon Dieu... What is this?" Nicolas asks.
Before Glynda can voice her perturbed thoughts, she hears in the background the muted cry of a baby.
"Do you-" She starts, only for Nicolas to jump head first into the crater, his fatherly instincts kicking in as he rushes towards the strange object, of almost organic appearance. Nicolas arrives in front of the 'bulbous head of the rocket' from which the child's cries emanate. A sort of panel at the top of what can only be described as an "S" inside a five-sided pentagonal diamond.
โ
Glynda, still outside the crater, finds the whole situation extremely perplexing. The craft, for it was one, seems technologically advanced, but not beyond what Remnant can produce, even if only in appearance. Maybe if she saw some of its internal components...
โ
Still in the depression, Nicolas tries to find a way to open the craft, but before he can do anything, a sort of mechanical and electrical noise is heard from the rocket. The panel ejects a small piece of a faded black colour. Something that looks like a key, with the same symbol that the craft has. And like a flower, the bulbous head opens, and shows its cargo. A crying baby, and a whining wolfhound of such pure white that it hurts his eyes just to look at it. And speaking of colours, both are covered with the richest, most vibrant red fabric he's ever seen.
The baby has a kind of transparent breathing helmet, which seems to malfunction. The transparent part of the helmet, when looked at closely, looks like a kind of almost... organic membrane, whose colours look like those of a ghostly white. But what seems most concerning is that the respiratory helmet looks to be fading.
If there is one thing that is certain, it is that Nicolas Arc does not believe in chance. This type of event does not happen by coincidence. If it is not by the grace of the divine, then the only logical explanation is that someone sent them here.
But any idea of a likely scenario ends when the membrane disappears in a noise of static electricity.
What he hears are the most heartbreaking sounds that every parent dreads. These sounds, short and painful, are those of lungs unable to fill properly, a sound of utter distress. And so, Nicolas Arc, does something anyone would have found a stupid and impulsive decision. His hands reach inside the craft, and when they do, the cradle where the two little things rest, detaches itself from its base. Not about to complain, Nicolas then takes the cradle... and, strangely, nothing explodes in his face.
The dog feels like it is in pain but not by much. For now, his priority is the babe and how to aid him. He looks at the small baby wrapped in vibrant scarlet cloth who, with every breath, bursts into a coughing fit so violent that Nicholas fears that each one will be its last.
What shocks him the most is that the baby's cries are so loud that the trees lose their leaves and that the soil shakes and shudders under his feet. He pushes his Aura to undo the damages done to his own ears.
He places the cradle on the ground to examine how to reactivate the respiratory helmet. After a minute of fumbling around and seeing nothing work, Nicolas hears the child's crying start to get quieter and quieter. Not by much, but he knows what it means.
The baby, like his breath, is fading.
His wife and Circe are probably protecting their daughters. And he doesn't know if he has enough time to bring the child to them beforeโฆ
So no healing spells, no healing semblances and no doctor.
But again, Nicolas Arc is not someone who can despair over so easily. Where technology fails, the heart and soul of man will not!
He gently reaches out to wipe away the glowing blue tears that are gathering in the child's closed eye as his breath falters and now starts to only whimper between violent fits of coughing, yet even crying starts to be beyond the poor thing's power.
He gently takes the child's hands in his, pours a little strand of Aura into the baby's soul, and speaks his mantra.
"๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
What has been a strand is now a torrent. The crater is bathed in a light so pure and white, that Glynda and Nicolas are blinded for a short time.
As the light fades, Nicolas focuses on the baby's breathingโฆ
And after a little time his breathing becomes stronger and stronger. Nicolas sighs in relief. The child's Aura is unlocked, et par la grรขce divine de Dieu, does the little thing have a lot of it. The baby, and even the dog for some strange reasons, both seem to calm and enter a light sleep.
"Glynda?โฆ Glynda!" His voice becomes a harsh whisper as he is trying not to disturb the little things.
"Yes... My apologies. What can I do?" She asks him, now a little embarrassed by her own absence.
"Can you lift and carry the ship? I don't want to leave it here. And maybe it can surprise us again. And if not, at least help us to try to find where it came from." He says as he pockets the "key" and kindly lifts the cradle to his arms.
Glynda, lost for words only nods, and with an application of her semblance, gently lifts the craft.
...
-๐๐๐ก๐๐ข-
...
Salem is having a bad day.
First reason is her husband's cousins. "Well, Taiyang isโฆ bearable, even with his 'dad jokes'."
"But Nooo! That harlot has to be there too. Tall, even without those heels of hers... Sun-kissed hair and eyes the colours of jade, dressed like a dominatrix and armed with a riding crop named "The Disciplinarian" for Hecate's sake! So yes, harlot... But you know what, that's not strong enough of a wordโฆ a slut, yes a slut is better."
But beggars can't be choosers. And her husband is maybe the most powerful and gifted Aura user she has ever seen... But he is not, by far, the best of teachers. So Glynda Goodwitch it was. For Salem will have nothing but the best of the best to teach her daughtersโฆ. "Just you wait until I can sequester you inside my own dungeon, you little skankโฆ"
Fortunately, her friend and beloved, Circe, shows herself to be of considerable help to her with her young daughters, and a formidable lover in bed. Who could have known that to have another powerful and immortal witch as a friend, would have positives on both of their psyche and morals? Hecate, bless her, less than a century ago had the best of ideas, when she decided with some of the other goddesses of Olympus to move Themyscira from Terra to Remnant.
And speaking of Themyscira. Apparently it doesn't take much to make the Amazons happy. Give them a new enemy to fight, the Grimms, a new weapon to fight said enemy, Aura, and a world where over 80% of the population is female, and they start calling it a paradise.
How does Queen Hippolyta call it again? Ah yes! "A good training for when war reaches our shores."
And unlike Ozma and his current meat puppet seem to believe, she did and does not have full control over all the spawning pools nor all their Grimms. Only those she has created. The other, the more feral ones, just don't attack her and follow her orders when she is in their direct vicinity.
Sitting in Salem's private study, and drinking a herbal infusion of a mixture of flowers and berries, the two witches are peacefully talking.
"So, tell me. The imprint on Jeanne's Soul seems to hold pretty well. Do you see any kind of problems that need corrections? Or is her Soul stable enough to let the process continue on its own naturally?" The red haired witch asks her friend and lover.
"She is stable, and I don't think that any modifications will need to be done. But let's continue to monitor, I do not want another repeat to what happened to our Saphron." Salem replies with a heavy heart, remembering how in her moment of pride and hubris, the mistakes she had committed, and how she was not the one to pay for them.
...
-Cฮนษพce-
...
The shame on Circe's face is visible, she knows that she is as responsible, if not more, for what happened to their little girl. She remembers the small thing that was dying in her hands, as it came out of her mother's womb.
How many nights did she stand sentry by the child's side? How many spells, rituals and prayers had she done? Just to make sure that the little girl survived just one more night. Night after night, week after week, for monthsโฆ
She hated and still hates most men, that is no secret. But seeing so much despair, dread and fear on Nicolas' face, the Arc-angel, one of the most redoubtable and fearsome men on the side of this Sector, was a violent wake up call, and one she desperately needed. And so, she did not relent. It took time and effort, and with the help of Salem, and Nicolas' Aura and Semblance, the girl had grown strong, and is now a natural for the mystical and magical art.
At the time, feelings and emotions were only a distant echo for her. All due to the mistakes of a distant past.
Somewhere along the way, due to her wickedness, Circe had lost her very soul. Lost to a dimension of Hell. And no matter how hard she had tried, over millennia, she had never been able to regain it. She remembers the day she made the worst mistake of her life, the pact she made with one of the "good" Princes of Hell, named Morningstar, and his parting words; "It takes only one good deed to brighten a dark worldโฆ"
She never understood what this Devil actually meant. Until one night.
The ashes that were her Soul reignitedโฆ it started with an amber, and then a small flame at the centre of her being. Emotions, colours, smells and tastes became so much sharper. Waking up with a gasp that night, nested between her lovers was the only reason she didn't go insane from such an influx of- Well, everything. With Nicolas' mastery of Aura and his Semblance, he was the first to understand what was going on, and with Salem and her millennia of observation and research on the subject, she was not far behind. A few hours of the three of them talking and huggingโฆ and her sobbing like a little girl in the middle of the married couple, she felt better than ever.
Oh! How much love making did they have after that particular event?... What a good night it was.
Their love and support wasn't something she could leave unpaid. And so, for a year, she returned to Terra, or Miรฐgarรฐrโฆ Midgard, as the Asgardians call it. She searched for a way to aid Salem in her work to more easily reach the Throne of Heroes and how to better take imprints of Souls from it. Her search led her to the Einzbern Castle in Germany, in a mountain district near the Rhine. The Einzberns family is of an ancient independent magus lineage who to this day are still well known for being excellent producers of homunculus, in the Thaumaturgical School of Alchemy and healing magecraft.
But, what she really wanted was their research on what they called the "Heaven's Feel".
Before she could do anythingโฆ Like blasting their wards and walls to smithereens, she was accosted by a really, really strange couple. One man named Kiritsugu Emiya, and aโฆ Homunculus whose name was Irisviel von Einzbern. For hours they talked, and a deal was reached. Help them take control over the Einzbern castle and family, and Circe could have access to every ancient texts, books and research in the Einzbern possession.
One month later, she was back on Remnant with few artifacts for her own personal collection and so much information that it would take a human lifetime to just read through it. But Salem was ecstatic with that much knowledge from another world.
Salem's words are still echoing in her mind; "With thisโฆ No one will hurt my daughters, ever again." And here they are, after five other successful pregnancies, drinking tea and just being happy.
Until they felt it.
Dazzling and unbridled. So much power, coming from the sky. With a few applications of mystical energies and gestures from Salem, the ceiling and walls became transparent enough to see the object falling from orbit. The thing, small in size and descending like a meteor, does not seem to decelerate.
"It is going to hit the protections of the mansion." She tells Salem.
The defences just cease to exist as it finally comes into contact with them. It changes course nearly at the same time. Anything, even with best of protections, esoteric or not, making a turn so fast and sharp, should have been disintegrated by the sheer force placed on it. Ideas of inertia and momentum forgotten by the object are set aside when it hits the ground far into the forest with the strength of a small nuke.
The secondary protections, which are placed directly into the mansion, easily hold when the shock and sound wave hit them.
For a few seconds... none of them move, still feeling a little unwell from the backlash of her wards being destroyed. Salem let out a sigh of relief, her home hasn't become a smoldering craterโฆ
"Salemโฆ I can still feel whatever that was. Butโฆ" Circe's mouth moves enable to put words to what she can sense.
Sounds of footsteps are heard, and a second later Taiyang enters the room, and before any words can exit his own mouth, Salem speaks.
"I know. Go back to my daughters and let no one get near them." He only nods and leaves like the wind.
โ
Minutes later, Circe is cross legged, floating centimetres from the ground as Salem is busy repairing her wards, and stays in overwatch near her friend for whoever or whatever could threaten their home.
"Nicolas and Goodwitch are already at the object. I can senseโฆ a lifeโฆ No, two of them."
She focuses even more, and Salem can only watch the DemiTitan, daughter of Helios, as she does her best to extend her mystical senses.
"Godlings, I think? No... Ancientโฆ But so young. Salemโฆ those are younglings." Circe says as she is panting from the effort, it has been quite some time she hasn't pushed herself like that without preparation.
"One is in pain, and the other, it feels likeโฆ a flickering light, getting dimmer and dimmer, like the dying of a lone star in the darkest of nights." They look at each other, and then, out of nowhere, both are blinded and sent reeling by a wave of mystical powerโฆ Of Aura.
Both are pretty sure that every Grimms, Aura user, sorcerer and others on the face of Remnant, has now felt it.
""Nicolasโฆ"" Both witches say.
โ
When Nicolas and Glynda arrive at the mansion with the strange ship and the two alien younglings, the wards and other protections are already at full power.
The young girls are in a secure room with the maids and servants, and guarded by a certain psychopath named Tyrian Callows.
Taiyang, Glynda, Nicolas, Salem and Circe are in the family's shared workshop, around a table. The cradle and its occupants are resting on it, and both little beings seem to be so exhausted.
"His breathing seems to be a little stronger, not by much, but still better." A tired Nicolas says.
"They both seem better, but I still don't like the sounds his lungs are makingโฆ Unlocking his Aura was probably for the best." Remarks Glynda.
"Speaking of that, that's a damn lot of Aura the kid has." An ever-helpful Taiyang says, "Except for the unreflective black hair. You're sure it's not one of your, Arc?"
"... Yes. Taiyang. For the last time, I am sure." He sighs, "Can you tell me if you have ever seen such material?" Nicolas asks his wife and points to the small artefact on the table.
Salem takes in her hand the object that looks like a black key. And after a moment of examining it, shakes her head. She then gives the small black object to an... excited Circe? Circe, for her part, closes her eyes and her hands around the object, after a moment and a puzzled expression, she opens her eyes and hands again. Her eyes focus on the small thing placed in the palm of her hand, then energy starts to dance around it.
Immediately, the object is violently torn from her hand. The object, before hitting anything or anyone, stops in midair and just hovers in place before lowering itself to finally land where it was on the table, near the cradle and its cargo.
For a minute, nothing is said as a tense silence settles in.
"Circeโฆ What just happened?" Nicolas asks her.
"... I have an idea, but I know now that this- is not magic."
"Then why did it react so badly to yours? I did a scan on its composition and it didn't have that kind of reaction." A curious Salem asks her,
"Oh noโฆ That's just the thing, it did not react badly to mine. It just pushed me away when I got too deep." Circe responds excitedly...
"Well if this is not magicโฆ What is it?" An 'out of the loop' Taiyang asks.
"Technology!" an excited Circe tells them. โฆBlank stare is all she gets from him. And with a sigh she continues. "Yes, technology. You shirtless barbarianโฆ Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." She says to them and only Salem and Glynda seem to understand. "Have any one of you visited Terra before?" Circe asks the group, except Salem and Nicolas, they all respond in the negative.
"Terra which you can call Earth or Midgard, andโฆ. I feel like I am losing you." She sighs. "A century ago, as I was touring the United States. I came across a little town called Smallville, in Kansas. And near that town was a Native American tribe, the Kawatche, whose name literally means "Skinwalkers". And you know how much time I invested in the subject of Animal Metamorphosis. A tribe with the power to morph into wolves? I could not pass up the chance to learn from natural Shape-Shifters."
"I hope their tribe still exists..." When their eyes show a curious look, she answers their silent question. "The American Congress, at the time, didn't extend American citizenship to them, nor any other tribes really. So much wisdom and culture lost, in so little timeโฆ" A downcast Circe says, and with a wave of her hand, she forces herself to continue.
"The Kawatche people had claimed caves near Smallville. These caves were a series of underground caverns that were once inhabited by the Kawatche; they contained special paintings and symbols, which seemed to be a kind of alphabet, although the Kawatche had no written language. But one symbol in particular kept appearing." She takes the key back and shows them the five-sided pentagonal diamond with the "S" inside. "That very one." She tells them as she traces the detail with her finger.
"I have seen it too, even if it's a little different than this one." Salem says. "In Atlantis, China and Egypt." She whispers. "This is oldโฆ" Circe nods to her words.
"Yesโฆ But when I tried to interact with the walls of the caves with a bit of magic, the exact same thing happened. Worse... it awakened what I thought to be some sort of ghostly entity I'd never seen before. Surprised, I remember casting spell after spell, trying to destroy it... and it did absolutely nothing. It wasn't a ghost... But something close to an Elder Goddess, wearing some strange suit of armor. She was so powerful that she treated me like a child having a tantrum. Terror is too weak a word to describe what I felt that day."
"I couldn't feel any magic or 'real' mystical energy from her, only a type of psionic energy I had not felt before, and a... Void that could look back." She shivers at that particular memory. "I was paralyzed. But the only thing she did was to ask me my name. Oh, she could have taken it straight from my mind with ease. As easily as she could have crushed it." She can remember these ever changing eyesโฆ More than just oldโฆ But ancient and sorrowful. "And I did." She breathes out. "After a few minutes of her looking through me, she gave me hers, and just like that, she let me go."
"But as time went on, I asked myself; What was she? And a theory sprouted in the back of my mind. What if she was not exactly a Goddess?" She walks to the little ones. "I already knew of other worlds, of realmsโฆ And aliens. Since the Asgardians, and other species of pseudo-gods, are just that, aliens really, then why not that ghostly creature too?"
"I thinkโฆ No. I am sure that the entity I met in those caves was- is one too." She then point to the sleeping child and says, "And that this one, is a young of that particular species. Everything That I can feel within the child reminds me of what I saw and felt that day." After so long, she finally had some answersโฆ Or will, when the child grows up enough to... talk?
Salem now thinks of the implications.
"She chose youโฆ" Salem tells Circe with a pensive look. Circe gazes at the younglings.
"... Do you think so?" The red witch asks, now perturbed. Even now, she isn't the best of mothers.
"This isn't a coincidence, love." Salem responds as she looks to the cradle. Her eyes find those of Circe. "Would you mind sharing your memories with me later on? Perhaps there are some hidden details contained within your mind. If not, I would rather make sure that this being has left no trace of herself behind."
Circe nods slowly to her words. Nicolas gently grabs her hand.
"So... What was her name?" Nicolas asks Circe after kissing her temple. By the stars, she really needed this.
"Even if I could tell you her name, I wouldn't." She says, gently shaking her head as she goes deeper into his embrace.
"And why not?" Taiyang questions. She chuckles lightly.
"Because, my simple-minded Taiyang; names have powers. And to utter one of the same species as this baby, with said baby is in the room, is to ask for a catastrophe to occur." Salem replies.
"...Oh." He dumbly says.
"Yes, Oh. But I am curious, what did you mean by "if you could"?" Salem asks the other witch.
"Because, my dearest Salem, I do not think my vocal cords can possibly work that way." Circe says, smiling to her friend.
"So what about the baby and hisโฆ Dog? Wolf? It even has a resemblance to a damn cat! What is that thing?" Taiyang Asks.
"Circe? You are The expert on animal life, what can you tell us about it?" Salem curiously asks.
"... I can believe what I am going to say. But the barbarian is right."
"Oy!"
"Its features, from here, indicate that its species is specialised for hunting, guarding, even probably war too. And by the Goddesses, this is the Whitest of white and most beautiful coats of fur I have ever seen." Circe said as she marvelled at it.
"Yeah, I think all of us can agree with that. The baby's Aura is the same colour, but glowing too. I got blinded for a good minute 'cause of it!" Says Nicolas chuckling.
"Quite." Confirms Glynda.
"I have never met that kind of animal, and calling it an animal is probably insulting it. And I can feel its intelligence. It is smart, probably as much as you and me. The two only things I am sure of, is that IT is a HE, and that he is powerfully bound to the child. Probably some kind of... powerful Guardian Beast."
The people in the room spend several seconds absorbing this information.
"We could examine themโฆ But every one of my instincts are screaming at me that it is a really, really bad idea. So I am going to take a Geas, and you probably will have to do it too." Circe says, her eyes on Salem's own.
Salem, for her part, even with a slight amount of reluctance and a sigh, gives a nod to Circe.
"๐ธ, ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐,
๐๐๐ , ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐."
"๐ธ, ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,
๐๐๐ , ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐."
As the spells take hold, both witches shiver slightly.
"Nicolas, if you will." Circe, with her hand, points to the red bundle of fabric and its inhabitants.
Nicolas nods, he approaches the table and with special care, takes the younglings, draped like red mummies, from their cradle.
When nothing world ending happens, everyone present finally releases the breath they were holding, and because of it, the two little things open their eyes and gaze at the man holding them.
โ
-Nicolas-
Nicolas is paralyzed, like a moth gazing at a flame.
All of his daughters have the most beautiful eyes in the world... Even when their anger changes the colours of their features.
And those two pairs of eyes are as beautiful. But with something more, something alien and impalpable.
Somethingโฆ Ethereal.
The puppy's eyes are the colour of ice, and reflect more light than should be possible in strange patterns. They do not hold the intelligence of a simple animal, but those of someone analysing, deciding if you are a threat, those of a guardian. "Point for Circe." He ponders.
But what strikes him more, are those of the baby. For a minute he looks into them.
Drawn into the abyss of a far past. Thoughts and feelings, aliens to his own comprehension, but still very much understood. Those, are not hisโฆ but of the child. They gently caress his mind, like a distant echo lost to the wind.
"๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ซ๐."
The voice of a woman? No, a mother...
๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐, ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐. ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ฌ.
The thoughts of a father...
"๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
What the...
...
-Glynda-
...
Glynda was a little apprehensive when Nicolas took the baby and puppy in his arms. Who wouldn't be? Real aliens!
...The Amazons didn't really count, there were at least humans before being blessed by the Olympians, and Circe is Half-Titanโฆ Half-Nymphโฆ That doesn't count.
But to see true aliens for the first timeโฆ She doesn't have the words to describe what she is feeling.
And then, with a synchronisation that surprises her, they both open their eyes. Nicholas' face becomes illuminated by an ethereal blue glow that overshadows all other lights touching him, as if they don't exist.
It takes a few seconds for her brain to figure out where the bright glow is originating from. The baby's eyes... Shining like eerie and impossible stars.
"Beautiful... " The word unconsciously escapes her lips.
"Whoa." Is the less cultured response of a certain shirtless man.
Salem and Circe can only watch in awe. And not only because of the light show.
Both holding each other's hands tightly and not moving, fearing that this rare moment might disappear. Something that they have experienced only seven times before. For immortal witches that is not a lot.
The face of the man they love, who becomes a father yet again.
Even with the child's laboured breathing, the power that is emanating from it is staggering. And its eyes. "Oh, those eyes!" So magnificent things to behold, containing so much intelligence behind them.
Its gaze is still on the man holding them, its chubby little arms reach out towards Nicolas' face. Both of its wrists wear strange floating bracelets, thrice too large for it but never seem to leave the place where the retinaculum extensor is located in humans. Their colours are a splendid and prominent metallic cobalt blue and some crystalline ruby red accents of a vibrant shimmer.
And their foolish lover, Nicolas, does what every father would do. Bringing both baby and puppy closer to his face. Only for the baby to fumble with his face and the puppy to sniff his beard curiously and cautiously.
But then something that surprises both women, and probably everyone else, happens. From blacker than black, to a golden blonde, its hair changes colours. That isn't the only change, the glow from its eyes dimms to a more manageable level of brightness, and its black sclera turns to a pure white.
And the puppy just licks the nose of the stunned man in front of him.
"You're sure it's not one of yours?" Says the barbarian.
โThe witchesโ
"The baby is a boy." Salem says, "And he has a tailโฆ with no bones in it? Can you confirm? Maybe I am just tiredโฆ"
"Give me a minuteโฆ I do not think he has a heart, or its beating is too slow or does not make any sound. Did you try a detection spell for the bones?" Circe responds.
"Yes, I just did, and something is interfering with the structure of the spells I keep using."
"Mines too. It feels like โฆ"
""Nth Metal!"" They both say.
"You think it is artificially infused, or a natural mineral absorption process of his homeworld?" Salem asks.
"I will go for an artificial process, the interferences are only centered around the brain, spine, all of his central nervous system really. And the puppy didn't show that kind of resistance, and I am sure both are from the same world. And that this world is not Thanagar." Circe responds and then states to her lover.
"... Do you think his respiratory problems are due to our atmosphere, a premature birth orโฆ a defect?" A slightly concerned Salem asks.
Circe pause for a few seconds and think.
"I'll say, its atmospheric composition and pressure or he was born prematurelyโฆ But it is more than probable that it's both." She gently taps her lips. " So, show me his tail." Circe says, interested.
"Here, look. There is some kind of artificial protection at the tip. But, is the protection for or from the tail?" Salem curiously asks her.
"Hmmโฆ Probably from it. You only need to look at Tyrian to imagine why. And there, at the base, where the tail connects to the spine, look at how it twists!" She gently takes the tail between the fingers of her hands.
"This is probably some kind of muscle and nerve fibers. Its tissues are more metallic than flesh, so probably no need for bones." She gently caresses the baby skin. After observing the baby's back, she points to the base of his neck.
"And look there at the neck and spine and descending the length of the tail, a form of flexible blue bioluminescent crystalline structure, and probably connected to more than just his brain. Fascinating!" A well inspired Circe says.
"Ouch... Oh, be careful when manipulating him, his little hands are far stronger than they look. He just crushed my hand. And we- No, nononono, that's okay, I am okay. Look, just fine, see?" Salem shows her already healed hand, trying to reassure the baby before he can cry, and interestingly enough, that actually seems to work.
"What about food?" Asks a still present and very confused Nicolas.
""What?"" Both witches speak at the same time.
"You know, food? It has been two hours already. Maybe, just maybe they need to eat?" As soon as Nicholas says this, both women look mortified by that simple oversight.
Salem more than Circe, as she is still nursing her one year old Jeanne.
"I am so sorryโฆ I justโฆ I am-" Nicolas intervenes before Salem can continue.
"That's okay love. Taiyang is going to be happy to see what the puppy can eat, and Glynda is with the girl, and she... may have launched Tyrian maybe like a kilometre away, 'cause apparently, "knowing where to stab someone in the back is mandatory to little girls". But first." He approaches the changing table and kisses his two lovers.
"So, food, any ideas?" He gently asks.
"...My breasts are still lactating from Jeanne's pregnancy. And if this is not enough, I am pretty sure Circe and I can find something." Salem says as she gives one of her fingers to the baby.
"I have enough Ambrosia to feed our family for a century, and if that isn't enough, Hebe still owes me some favours." Circe reassures them.
A pleasant calmness is felt as silence sets in.
"How about we name him first?" He smiles at them.
"Well, husband, maybe it's finally your turn, after seven daughters, to name our boy." She laughs.
"Well, I was thinking aboutโฆ"
๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ
Chapter End Notes:
And for those wondering about the capacity to shapeshift; it is one of the most obscure abilities of Kal-El in the comics. Golden Age Superman could change his shape... No, I'm serious, he could alter his appearance, sculpting his features into something else.
Weird, right?