Gupta Empire

400 AD

We have moved on from Babylonia, seeing that our time there was done and they were completely safe from Deviants. The high walls that showed majesty and history were left behind as we went back onto our ship and said our goodbyes. We knew it was time, more Deviants were around the planet and we had to tend to them and the humans that were there. The Babylonians waved goodbye, some of them waving particularly to me as I smiled at them all one more time. I knew I saved most of their lives from the past fights, seeing their faces and how they were appreciating me keeping them alive. It warmed my heart a little but seeing clearly what Ajak told me some time ago.

I belonged here.

By that time, humans were evolving and adapting more and more to the planet. The Tools that we gave them helped them all advance and succeed in their lives. They were building structures, massive walls and their population growth was a sight to see. It was a lush region to be in, the massive trees that hid us away from the sun and the warmth in a skin that would bring rain later in the years helped in their growth of food and building their homes and temples.

Phastos loved showing his new inventions that would help them both in farming and communal life with one another, and we could all see how far behold the humans were in comparison to us. It would be frustrating, seeing how much they can do and how much they could learn if only we could help him. I saw it especially with Phastos and Druig at times, but Ajak was a constant reminder to us all:

"They must develop on their own. We can give them so much, but now we can see it unfold in front of our eyes,"

Since then, we gave them all baby steps, seeing their spears turn into daggers or their hands for farming turned into plows and light machinery. It was a sight to see, and in return, the humans sought after us for guidance and council. We could only do so much, and for some of it was enough to just please them and get some praise back.

One thing that developed when we were in this new home was the union of Ikaris and Sersi. We knew they were dating around each other, epically Ikaris since he would follow Sersi like a small animal. Sersi was the embodiment of good, filled with kindness and gentlest to all the humans she encountered. Ikaris loved her, and since they got together in Babylonia I knew they would have some kind of union. When we arrived in this new area, they had a ceremony together with all of us in attendance.

The ceremony itself was beautiful, flowers and incense in the air as they were sating in each other's eyes while the priest conducted the ceremony. We watched from the side, dressed in our best saris and we were all happy for the both of them. Ajak cried happy tears, seeing her "children" in the best term getting married to one another. Sersi, clad in beautiful robes that were made of her for the big day, beamed at Ikaris and watched him with such love in her eyes. She deserved this, even with Ikaris who loved her wholeheartedly too.

I stood next to my family, clad in a sari with accents of Orange that matched my uniform. I had never worn something like this before, my hair in its loose waves down my back as I watched the ceremony. I knew humans united in both ceremonies and other ways, in the way of their evolution. The others knew about it, finding it amusing from time to time in our travels as we watched our humans speak and acted to another that they were in love with. However, when it came to me and how I felt about it, there was nothing to tell.

I felt nothing when it came to those kinds of intimacy.

Maybe it was because I was an Eternal, or I had other priorities in mind. But there were times when I came women try to flaunt and be with Ikaris or even Kingo in their intimate ways. Or even men flaunting to an intimidating Thena or the gorgeous Sersi. I had it happen a few times, a man who try to swoon me to talk smoothly to me. The main reason was that I was a God in their eyes, or even I had a small sense of beauty that I knew I had. But I refused them every time, just the thought of being intimate with another person on that level made me beyond uncomfortable.

Besides I had other things to worry about.

I on the other hand was simply getting a bit more confident in how I would carry myself, still helping when it was needed and protecting those who needed the protection. Fighting Deviants for me, compared to the beginning, was becoming less stressful and more fulfilling.

My powers were evolving.

I learned how to fight with my force fields, moving them in ways that could make them become weapons themselves. Although I was never wanting to initial fight and bring pain, it was a good substitute for how I moved with my fingers and how I could bend the arcs of my force fields at will. I was also getting better at my teleportation, using it on the ship as much as I wanted and being able to get somewhere quicker than usual. I had to picture my destination in my head before I could attempt to get there within seconds.

Makkari, being the slight competitor that she was, would try and see who could get to the other side of town faster, than to the other side of the region. It helped that she would push me to try and go farther, to use more of my powers to do so. She was my best friend, and I cared for her as a sister. It made me feel a bit bad when I would still get those jealous tendencies when she would chat with Druig or when they would go off on their own adventures together during their downtime. That was another thing that was changing in me.

Druig and I were getting close as friends.

He enjoyed my time with him, the both of us talking with one another about the humans and how far they have come as a race. He would use his abilities every once in a while, mostly in Deviant battles to lure the humans away from being hurt. But he was also intelligent enough to help show them the recent invention from Phastos. He had his moments of being a stubborn younger sibling, pestering and almost taunting Phastos in how Humans were not going to accept what he made just yet. However, he was still willing to help and willing to try. I could see he was more willing to help the humans be kind to one another, to be good with each other. It was hard for them, though. We saw civil fights they had with one another and he was aching to stop them.

"Petty fighting that brings spilled blood," Druig mentioned to me one time as we were walking together in one of the smaller markets. I nodded in agreement as he went on, knowing that he was ranting and needing to let out some steam, "Why do they need to fight with each other and be…"

"Hateful?" I asked, hoping to end his question. He nodded, keeping his hands folded in front of him in hopes of not using his abilities out of anger. I sighed, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

"I know its hard," I reassured him, seeing him look head but was still looking at me, "You wish to stop them from hurting each other,"

"They get so easily angered, over nothing that is that important," Druig hummed in agreement.

"However," I gently said, "Ajak told us it was not our place. Although, I can see their anger to one another get worse as time goes on,"

Druig looked over at me as I was watching two men arguing with one another at a stall, a very heated argument that was about to be violent. I knew what it was like for Druig, not in the same manner since I couldn't read his mind or felt what they were feeling. But still, knowing from what we saw in the very beginning with what the humans were at the time, the humans were getting more restless with each other.

"Are we to blame?" I looked back at Druig as he asked this, seeing him watch the two men as well.

"What do you mean?" I had to ask him.

"I can't help but think that what we gave them, made them bitter to one another," Druig said to him, having me look from him over to the men again, seeing how it was now a shouting match. I could feel the anger boiling up, and though I knew I was by no means a mere wallflower when it came to conflict, I never liked it in general. I was more of an encourager for kindness, not an influencer for the latter.

Druig moved to walk on the other side of me, being in the middle of myself and the two arguing men as we passed them. The men briefly looked over at us, at me, and I saw the anger on their faces. I instantly looked away, but Druig glared at him with now powers involved them. They hushed their argument, moving away from us.

"They're afraid of us," I hummed, almost sounding hurt by it as I looked back at Druig, seeing his neutral face once more look ahead, "I don't wish them to be afraid of us,"

"They're more afraid of me than you," Druig reasoned, having me give him a slight shove of my shoulder.

"Of course they are, you cower at them with your eyes and that glare. You're not exactly friendly," I joked, seeing him crack a small smile at him as we turned a corner, "Give them a chance, Druig. Humans mean well and they can be kind to one another."

"Did you head that one from Ajak?" Druig asked, not wanting to sound bitter about our leader but it did come off that way. I knew he had difficulties from time to time when it came to taking orders from her, which came from Arishem. He was being held back, and it was showing in how he spoke and in how he walked. A little girl, no older than 7 years old, rushed out from one of the stalls with two pieces of bread that looked fresh from their oven and stopped in front of us.

She was a gorgeous little girl, holding it out for us with a massive grin. I melted instantly, I loved children in particular when it came to the human race. They were the definition of innocence and kindness, and I found myself playing with the children population every time we went to a new city. This one was no different.

"Here! For you!" She spoke in her language for us, which we were already fluent. I knelt in front of her, being at her level as I gently took the bread and beamed at her.

"Thank you," I replied in her language, "What is your name?"

"Neyli," She replied, having me nod my head at her.

"You are too kind, Little Neyli," I answered back to her. A voice called out to her from the stall, having me think it was her mother. Neyli waved one more time and scurried away, having me get back up on my own two feet with the two bundles of baked goods. I looked over at Druig, seeing that he watched the entire interaction from his spot and a small grin was on his face. It was one of the very rare smiles that he hardly gave, the small that he would reserve for special occasions and even high amusement moments. But we were sharing it, all over a piece of bread from a local little girl. I gave him the second baked good, seeing him still watch me as he held it in his hands.

"I see it for myself, Druig," I answered him, then leaned in to take a massive bite from the treat. He watched me, his smile never leaving him as I grinned and swallowed the warmth of the food. I motioned with my head to his own that he wasn't eating it.

"They call it 'Bread'. Phastos showed them how to make it about a month ago. Try it, you'll like it," I reassured him, seeing him look down at his bread before taking a smaller bite. I watched, seeing him think about for a moment before he hummed in agreement. It was a sight to see, having me giggle at him as he took another bite with no hesitation. A look of relief was on his face and in his stature, all from eating a small creation from humans. He glared at me from my giggle, his mouth still filled with bread and he had no remorse over it.

"Told ya," I snorted at him.

"Hey, guys! Look at what they made for us!"

We were all meeting in Phastos's lab, looking at one of his newer inventions and hearing him try to explain it to us when both Kingo and Gilgamesh walked in with their arms filled with what appeared to be figurines and idols. Immediately we all dropped our attention from Phastos to what they brought in, Phastos not being phased by it at this point and he walked over as well. He knew we meant well, but we also knew his intelligence was far different than our own.

Kingo and Gilgamesh unleaded their treasures onto a secondary table near one of the displays, the rest of the group hurrying over and looking at what they brought. Of course, I was one to take my time while I could already hear them murmuring to one another and seeing what the humans made for them.

"They made us!" Sprite said in amusement, holding a smaller figurine of herself carved from marble. Ikaris could quite proud of his own, seeing how it almost looked just like him. Sersi looked flattered, having me see it all over her eyes as her own looked gorgeous too.

"They've come a long way in developing these tools," Phastos said in a grin as he was looking at a smaller trinket that was of him. I saw Kingo give him a gin and clasp him on the shoulder,

"Good job showing him how to use those chisels," Kingo complimented him, Phastos beaming from the praise as he then looked at his own idol, "They still can't get the nose right,"

Makkari looked over at the miniature clay figuring of Druig, handing it to him and giving him a small smirk.

They made you way nicer here. She signed to him, earning a chuckle from Gilgamesh as he looked too.

"That they did," Gilgamesh said in amusement. Druig rolled his eyes and gave Makkari a short shove as I saw Kingo then take out a smaller piece, rushing over to me.

"This one they just made today, for you!" He explained, placing a rather large coin in my hand. I looked down, seeing how shiny and precise the metal coin was. There was writing on the side I was looking at, having em confused at first. It took me a moment to realize that I had to turn the coin over.

Once I did, it took my breath away.

It was a portrait of my face, looking up and the rays of the sun were right behind my head. I was astonished to see my own face there on a mere coin, how it was shiny and new from being made by mere humans. My eyes were closed on the coin, yet my hair was flowing behind me amongst the rays of the sun. They made my face perfectly: my dip of my nose, the curviness of my cheeks, and the lines on my lips. It didn't feel like I was looking at myself in a small piece of metal. I was looking at another picture.

I wasn't looking at me.

"Let me see!" Sprite said in a grin, taking my coin before I could stop her. She held it up, having it shine in the light of the room as Phastos and Sersi looked too. They also were amazed at the picture of me there. But this was feeling almost like some kind of exposure, showing a side that humans saw in me and not being able to stop it.

"Oh wow!" Phastos said in amazement as he looked at the coin, "You look beautiful!"

"How pretty!" Kingo said in a hum, in which Spite gave him an annoyed look, "Hey, at least they got her nose right!"

"They got everything right," Sprite commented, almost a bit annoyed by it. I didn't care, all I cared about was how I felt seeing that picture of me and how I felt and looked so different from it. It was a completely different person, someone who was downright beautiful. When it came to how I felt about my beauty, I considered myself a bit more humble. I never saw myself as an angel in appearance, nor did I consider myself ugly at all. Ordinary was how I felt about myself, ordinary and plan.

Not according to this coin though.

"You're the first one out of all of us to be placed on some kind of currency," Ikaris said in a hum, almost amused himself as he took the coin from Sprite and looked at it in the light. I watched him, seeing him think to himself and how he was almost calculating something in his mind. Ever since we came to this planet, I knew he was good. But something was telling me to cautious around him, the stoic way he walked and carried himself was almost intimidating.

"You should be proud," He finally said to me, his voice staying normal to me as he placed it back in my hand. I wanted to be proud that I was seen like this by mere mortals. I knew the others were proud, almost amused by it. But I couldn't, I couldn't be happy that I was seen as more than my worth. I was staring down at my coin, my face remaining calm and trying to be composed about it. However, it was starting to feel too much.

"Soteri?" I heard Gilgamesh call out to me, having me close my fingers around the coin and I looked up. The others were looking back at their trinkets, but only Gilgamesh, Druig, and Makkari were watching me. I saw Thena from the other side of the room looking to, though she was silent and analyzing me as Makkari was looking at me with worry.

What's wrong? She signed to me, her face etched with worry. Even Druig, the very present brooding force of nature had a hint of worry in his eyes. I shook my head, trying to avoid making a scene in front of them all.

"Excuse me," I muttered as I placed the coin in Gilgamesh's hand. I then walked away without saying another word, hiding my face with my chin down and walking out of the room. I turned the corner and out of the sight. I leaned against the wall and took a few deep breaths. I could still hear them talking to one another, all from my small outburst in front of them over a silly human coin.

"Is she upset over how they made her?" Phastos asked, sounding just as confused, "They did a marvelous job though!"

"You know how Soteri is," Gilgamesh reasoned with his kind voice, "She never wants to flaunt herself in front of others. Not even in front of us."

"She has no sense of pride in herself," Ikaris commented, almost sounding a bit smug himself. It was painful to hear, hearing it from another Eternal that I was flawed.

"Her pride is not flamboyant and seen consistently, Ikaris," I heard Druig comment back, his voice was cool and almost a jab back at the second in command, "Soteri is humble. Something I think we should learn and admire. Especially you,"

There was nothing else heard, having me breathe out and walk away to my room. Maybe I was overthinking it, putting too much pressure on myself. I hated that I had that second-guessing embedded in me, how it was always following me and nagging me at the back of my mind. If this is what it's going to be like for the rest of my time here on this planet, I wasn't going to be able to make it.

I walked over to my bed in my room, already having a few presents there from humans in the past. One of them was a rather large orange rug, soft to the touch and soothing to sleep in. I had some other things that were given to me like statues, pieces of jewelry, and pictures too. In comparison to the others, my room was plainer. I sat on the bed, looking at my folded hand and the ring that Makkari gave me back in Babylonia. I still wore it from time to time, a comfortable feeling and sense of reality at the same time.

"I love your room,"

I looked up, seeing none other than Thena stand in the doorway as she was looking at the small things I had everywhere, "It's nice. Kingo's room is a bit more cluttered though. Far too many things for my liking."

"He loved his presents," I hummed, not saying it as a nasty comment as she walked in and stood next to me by my bed. I sighed, leaning back a bit in my bed as she was staring down at me with her levelness of kindness and intrigue that was always on his face and in her eyes.

"There's nothing wrong with being humble about yourself," She remised me gently, sitting carefully next to me on my bed and giving me some space myself, "I find it quite admirable,"

"You do?" I asked, sounding sheepish about it, "I only see it as something in me that's…broken. That I can think better of myself,"

"We don't all think the same way," Thena reassured me as she reached over to open my hand that was close to her, I opened it willingly, seeing her place the very coin that I hate moments before back in my hand, "But the way you show your kindness and your selfless in front of the humans, that's worth more than how you think we will think of you."

I looked at the very coin again, almost seeing my portrait now in an intimate way without the rest of the Eternals looking at it too. This time it was just myself and Thena, the mere embodiment of a warrior. She grinned, placing her hand on my finger to get my attention again.

"Soreti," Her voice was soothing when she said my name, and I looked back at her and saw the gentleness in her eyes, "They see you as someone who will protect them to the ends of the earth. Your strength is solely your own, it is not mine. Nor is it Gilgamesh's strength or even Ajak's strength. But how wonderful is that then?"

I smiled at her seeing that she was telling the truth to me. She was never one to be talkative with the others, more watching from the distance but always on alert for any threat. I loved how she was already ready for a fight, yet she was cool and calm at the same time. I admired her and leaned on her when it came to wisdom since she rarely spoke. But when she did, she spoke such wisdom it was memorizing.

"Keep that strength, and let it shine on those mortals. This is what they see," She reminded me, pointing to my portrait on my coin, "I see it too. And I'm not the only one,"

I gave her a confused look as if she said something that was almost a hint. She would do that from time to time too, seeing something that none of us see and silently tell us with her subtle tones or a simple look. She knew something else, but who was I to push her on it? Thena just smiled, giving me a small wink from her before she got up from my bed and I followed suit.

"Let's see how pompous Kingo can be, shall we?" She asked, having em chuckle and follow her out of the room. I left the coin behind, no longer worrying about it anymore.

Present Day

"You have alcohol on this plane?"

"Anything and everything you would ever need, my friend!"

"How about a rum and coke?"

"Right away, ma'am!"

I was sitting at the bar of Kingo's private jet, watching as Kingo's valet, a kind human named Karun, starring making my drink in front of us. it was almost like a dream, being about 40,000 feet in the air in a private jet on our way to Australia to find Thena and Gilgamesh. The sky was open and clear, with barely any clouds as I turned on my chair to see the other two Eternals I just reunited with.

Kingo and Sprite.

Sprite looked just the same in her young body. Her vibrant red hair was short and pushed to the side, clad in her comfortable teal attire and already looking annoyed. It was good to see and hug her again, given the dire circumstances that we were in. She was living with Sersi in London for some time, telling me that Ajak wanted her to check on Sersi and she was with her ever since.

Now Kingo, he was the same and yet completely different. He was a massive Bollywood star, making moves left and right for the past 150 years. He loved being in the limelight and using his charm to get his fame. It did fit him, though I knew deep down was the kind Kingo I knew from the past. It made perfect sense he would have his jet that we were now on, most than half of us together again from being apart for so long. Karun knew about us being Eternals, he was a new ally and was filming some kind of documentary on u. I saw her as a soft individual, listening to Kingo's every work and still watching us in admiration at the same time.

Karun handed me my cocktail, having me give him a small smile and nod.

"Thank you," I thanked him, seeing him fluster a bit from the kind words I gave him.

"You're very welcome, ma'am," He replied, though I heard Kingo chuckle behind me as I looked over at him. He was sporting a vibrant purple bomber jacket, his hair styled perfectly and that infamous smile on his lips. He looked upgraded but was still the same Kingo to me.

"Karun, my friend, you are in the presence of the Great Soteri!" he said in his boisterous manner, having me see Sprite somewhat grin and almost roll her eyes from how Kingo was acting, "The Goddess of Safety and Protection! She is the embodiment of swiftness and grace!" I raised an eyebrow at him now, seeing him give me a friendly look.

"Really? Now that last part is new to me," I commented at him as we stood in front of each other in the aisle. He chuckled and shrugged.

"I made up that last part, even though it's true!" He reasoned as I grinned and took a drink from my cocktail, "But the Goddess of Safety and Protection, that's all on the Greeks."

"Adding the A to the name made it more….what's the word?" Sprite asked from her spot in her chair, looking up at me in curiosity. I thought for a moment.

"Cocky?" I asked, seeing her think to herself before she had a smug look.

"I was going to say powerful, but sure," She replied, having me chuckle as I took another drink and Kingo clasped me on the shoulder.

"Soteria has a nice ring to it," he hummed while we both walked over to the set of chairs that were next to the bar, "They made your name sound amazing, by the way."

"And you're a massive superstar in Bollywood. How is it that I can clearly picture it in my head?" I asked him coyly, the both of us sitting together in the plush chair as the jet was still streaming along in the sky. I looked up at some of the posters that were placed on the wall, seeing Kingo's face there on each other looking so suave and yet powerful at the same time.

"It's a nice life," Kingo said in a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant about it as he then grabbed his phone in his jacket pocket. He tapped it a few times and then showed me the screen as he spoke again, "I saw this pop up on my feed a few weeks ago! They found this in an excavation site out in India. Remember this?"

I peered at the digital screen, taking a moment or two before I knew what it was. I had a small grin on my face as I gently took his phone in his hands to look at it closer. It was the very coin that was given to me, all those centuries ago. It looked battered now, time took its toll on the coin with bent edges and the burnt down color. But I knew it well.

My coin.

"They dated it back to 483," Kingo explained, smiling as I was looking at the coin in admiration, "Apparently it was the last coin that is in existence. They tried to find others, but this was the only one."

"I haven't seen this coin in hundreds of years," I murmured, touching the screen almost in hopes I can touch the real coin, giving a small smile seeing it there in front of me.

"What happened to the one they gave you?" Sprite asked, walking over to look at the coin too. I shrugged at her.

"Don't know," I replied, seeing them both give me a confused look, "I held onto it, but I think I lost it right before we…..we separated."

They said nothing, almost thinking the same thing. it was a solemn note in the air now as I cleared my throat and gave the phone back to Kingo gently. He gave me a small smile, showing he understood as he then changed the subject.

"When was the last time you saw Ajak?" he asked, sounding softer and kinder than before. I thought back for a moment before answering.

"1985," I answered, "Feels like ages ago really. I went to see her on her farm, I was living in New York at the same as a nurse."

"And now how's a preschool teacher!" Sprite said to Kingo as he smiled widely at me.

"Preschool? Really?" He asked, having me grin and nod my head as I leaned back in my chair, "You always had a thing for kids."

"I love kids," I hummed, feeling lighter about the new subject at hand, "Any job I got it had to involve kids. Kids are….well, they're innocent compared to the rest. I was a pediatric nurse for a while, then I worked in Social Services for a good long time, and now I teach,"

"What a good Samaritan," Sprite commented, though I knew she meant well as she then paused before she spoke one more time, "It's weird, isn't it?"

"What is, Sprite?" Kingo asked, not understanding.

"That we're all getting back together like this. Isn't it?" She asked, having the three of us say nothing and think about it. I knew she was right, giving Ikaris and Sersi both a look too. They knew more about what happened with Ajak, they saw her body and anything. It was hard to see all of this unfolding in front of us, all of these things happening and leading us back to each other just to get to fighting again. I didn't know what kind of battle we were about to get into, but perhaps it was going to be okay with all of us together as one, as it was before.

Just with now Ajak to guide us along the way.

Australia

The first thing we saw, walking up to the small compound in the middle of the hot desert, was the bead body of a Deviant.

It already had me on the edge, seeing its lifeless form on a heap on the hot desert sand. We all looked at him, uneasiness already on our backs while Karun filmed it on his camera. I gave Sersi an uneasy look, seeing her do the same. I knew they were attacked in London, they have already seen it. But for me, it's been a long while since I have seen a Deviant.

The old memories were flooding back.

"This is the Deviant you fought in London?" Kingo asked Ikaris as they were walking in the front.

"It's different," he answered, "There must be more out there than we thought."

"How much more?" I had to ask, going back the body and closer to the building in front of us.

"We don't know," Sersi replied in a murmur. Karun rushed over to the body with his camera out and ready.

"This is a Deviant, sir?"

"Yeah," Kingo replied solemnly.

"Ah! It's a beautiful creature!"

"What, this?! What no! It's hideous! You've never had one try to bite your head off! Look...film!" Kingo commanded, Karun posting the camera at him as we were walking. I was gazing at the small shack in front of us, a little courtyard in the front that had a working oven and drapes overhead to shield from the sun, mud walls, and small knick-knacks all over the place. It was a small and quiet home, and a place I knew I could picture for Thena and Gilgamesh to hideaway.

"You're about to meet two of the greatest warriors the world has ever known! Thena: Legendary, daring, fashionable!" Kingo explained to the camera as we approached the front door. Ikaris went to pounding on the door, the rest of us standing a bit back to give space. Karun zoomed his camera right on the door itself, ready for the appearance.

"And her trusty friend, a mighty powerhouse of strength…the fierce some Gilgamesh!" Kingo introduced him, though no one was coming out of the house itself. It was a pregnant pause, almost uneventful, but the smell sound of a radio was heard in the house. Someone was indeed home.

"Gilgamesh!" Kingo called one more time. Then the doors flew open, a figure standing there in the doorway that towers over the rest of us. He, like the others, looked just the same as before. His stature was broad and built on muscle, yet his face and stare that was almost bothered.

Gilgamesh, clad in an apron that said, 'Kiss the Cook'. He looked at all of us then, finally speaking.

"What took you so long?"