Yay, finally back! School and major technical difficulties kept me from updating for a while, but I got both those issues resolved. First off, this is the sequel to Soul of Solitude, so go to the tales of Symphonia community and read that if you haven't. Also, please take time to read the print at the top of the prequel because otherwise the story will not make sense.I do not own any characters (except for the originals I actually created). All characters are part of their respective companies.

Light. If I was the epitome of anything, it was light. Perhaps it was because I had control over the element. Not only was I proficient with it, I could wield this power with both devastating and wondrous results. While it seemed like light should be my strongest element, it wasn't. In fact, I was one of few warriors who was powerful with every element but chose not to specialize in any of them. Therefore, even though my skills with light seemed like a good reason, it could not be supported.

Maybe it was because many of my unique abilities were centered on light. The way my angel wings reflected only demonstrated my point. I was the first of my kind to react in such a way, and it seemed likely I would be the only one. The way I located the dead used an astonishing amount of light, which was frightfully ironic for such a solemn ceremony. Indeed, my very method of travel was conducted through light. Right now, I floated gracefully through the air, my features invisible to all in my trans-dimensional form. However, if one looked closely, one would see a glowing orb of golden light that soared through the skies. The brilliance of the orb gave my identity away; the scene was unnatural and gold was my color. Perhaps using my trans-dimensional form was terribly dangerous; I didn't reveal myself to just anyone. Then again, it wasn't as if many people noticed me when I was moving like this; most mortals did not have that keen of an eye. Nevertheless, they still identified me by light, despite most of them never seeing the forms that symbolized it. So why was I known by that distinction?

Maybe my connection to light lay in the fact that I had the ability to sense the good and evil in the hearts of those I met. The pure souls would be shimmering with light, while the wicked would be overtaken by a cloak of darkness. The kindest of all would be carrying the brightest radiance, and reap the benefits of my graces forever. Their souls would glow and dim depending on how they lived their life and their worthiness would be determined by the time of their death. No matter how much they masked what lay within their souls, I could always sense peoples' purity, and make my judgment instantaneously. Unfortunately, while I could see the light perfectly well, few others could. Thus, many people questioned why I made my decisions. They certainly didn't see the light inside me when I was taking their loved ones and condemning them forever. Occasionally, I would decide to pass my soul reading power down to others, but these instances were few and far between.

The answer to the question seemed to be found in the most widely accepted theory. My light was not that which came from the outside, but what could be found inside my heart. The compassion and kindness that I wielded was legendary. It was so strong that even the most arrogant people in the world called me perfect. I was far from that, of course, but this comment reflected just how far my efforts extended. Whenever a cry for help sounded, I answered. Be there a person in pain, his wounds were healed by a single thought. Countless times over, my people had lost their way, and I had placed them back on the right path. From the smallest baby to the elder ready to make his final journey, they would all receive my love and attention. No doubt, I had sacrificed many of my lives (being immortal, I had more than one) to this world that I now floated below, and never once did I regret my actions.

Sacrifice.

Of course, how could I forget?

The conversation with Richter echoed in my head.

I recalled the gist of it in a single instant.

Transmigration. Did that mortal even know what the drastic maneuver entailed?

He must have, or he wouldn't have brought it up.

Earth dwellers possessing understanding of this were few and far between, so I should probably to take his word for it.

But still…

It was best I review the meaning of the word before considering my options.

When I transmigrated, my old form would be laid to rest. I would be reborn as a separate individual, with an identity apart from my own. Thankfully, unlike some of those in other skies, my species would carry over. I knew I would be reincarnated as a female of a humanoid race, but that was the extent of my knowledge. My power would be sealed away, completely changed to match the other individual, or even made obsolete. My memories would probably be hidden too. In fact, my only expectation would be to live a full and happy life. The somber mission I had now would only get in the way of that. There was a chance that the girl I would be modeled after would be nothing like me. She would be born the old-fashioned way and mostly take after her parents. While it was liable that she would share some similarities with me, she probably wouldn't be alike enough for anyone to even suspect her. Heck, she probably wouldn't even look like me. Out of all these changes, a single word slapped me in the face.

Mortal.

One life. One time. One mistake.

That was all I got.

If she died in her youth, all would be for nothing.

What skies would this girl live under; where would she go in the afterlife?

I could return to the heavens, of course, but would she just disappear?

I thought I was going to get a migraine just thinking about it.

I could pretend I would be alive afterward.

I could pretend I was still the same person.

But I knew in my heart, I would never be.

This girl would have a different name, a different world, and a different destiny awaiting her; I would truly vanish.

Such morbid thoughts sent chills down my spine; I needed to clear my head.

A trip to the mortal world seemed like just the ticket.

Of course, I wasn't doing anything different from my old habits. Other deities scoffed at me for my ways. Why dillydally around the mortal world when one could just go to the heavens directly and deliver my precious cargo?

The common answer to the question was "why not"? I had nothing to lose.

Besides, it's not like the mortals would recognize me anyway.

I generated a powerful energy that was inclined to force even the strongest into the blackness of unconsciousness. When I acted like I would typically, the energy was at full power. Even if one didn't go unconscious, there were other dangerous consequences. These consequences ranged from mild discomfort to flulike symptoms that would leave one bedridden for days. Thankfully, those who participated in ceremonies with me were given temporary immunity to this power. Since mortals changed form when they became spirits, they no longer had this problem when they died. But what about all the others? Why didn't people fall around me?

Thankfully, I had a way to get around my energy problem.

I could literally become anything I wanted, even if it meant changing gender or species. With my outside features came adjusting of my internal abilities, so I was easily able to radiate as much energy as a normal mortal woman. My combat abilities were left untouched, although I didn't dare use my supernatural powers unless I absolutely had to.

I wasn't one for lengthy explanations.

The last and most noticeable change was my name. My name among the divine and worshipers was long and complicated. It was written in a language of scriptures that barely anyone knew. The elegant marks and curves used to create the name were enough to make even the smartest scholar's head spin. Romanized, it looked even worse. To avoid such confusion, I simply went by the name Glory.

With these things in mind, I descended into the mortal world.

Then again, descended was an understatement.

Instead, I was hurtling through the universe, faster than the speed of light.

My gold light was fully extended now, and all within the course of the second.

It only heartbeat I'd gone from rapidly wandering aimlessly to pursuing some unknown entity.

I was soaring like mad as the ground became continuously closer to my location.

I almost looked like a comet, complete with a trailing tail.

Then again, maybe comet was a poor comparison.

Comets flew gracefully in the sky, making powerful arcs as they gently landed.

Furthermore, comets did not have explosive capacities, even if they were associated with flames.

I was more like a meteor, only I wasn't as clumsy.

I managed to keep my flight pattern steady but there was only so much I could remain focused on. I didn't care where I was hurtling at warp speed, so long as I somehow made it to the mortal world. I also didn't care how I looked, so I probably gave the impression of absurdity.

Of course, there was one thing I did consider.

My landing came complete with an explosion, unfortunately.

Luckily, I was careful to select the place where there was sparse vegetation and no people in my range.

With these settings, I (hopefully) wouldn't blow anything up.

I shut my eyes and braced myself for the impact. I knew I would feel no physical pain, but I would initially be confused. I would need a moment or two to collect myself and study my surroundings. Furthermore, closing my eyes prevented me from being blinded by my own spectacular power. That was a must if I hoped to get anything done afterward.

A dazzling light erupted around me as I landed with a sudden flash. The light burst as if out of nowhere, and rapidly spread to fill the entire area. It enveloped everything in incredible detail, not leaving out a single leaf. Anyone who dared crossed its path would be overwhelmed by it. Luckily, no people came this way.

Perhaps what was more astounding than the quantity and detail of the light was its sheer speed. Indeed, this was quite unlike the tranquility and peaceful aura I had exhibited before. Instead of carefully covering my place, the light charged forward recklessly. It gave the appearance of that which desperately fled from a hungry pursuer. Instead of slowly increasing, it wasted no time making sure it was noticed. The light seemed to possess some sort of anxiety, although no one could tell from who or what. One could almost say it was racing with itself. Perhaps anxiety was due to brevity. Although the entire process of entering the mortal world seemed to take hours, it was really a matter of minutes (maybe even seconds). The light suddenly dissipated and left the area as rapidly as it had come. Some of it returned to my body, but most of it stayed where it was and faded. After several moments, I opened my eyes, the process of transcending worlds complete.

The first thing I was aware of was running water. Its mighty yet undersized roar could only be that of a flowing river. Yet the sound was different, clearly not nature's cry. Rather than actually making its way peacefully, the water seemed halting and spread out.

My trans-dimensional form may have been gone, but my senses were not.

Almost instantaneously, my power of touch took over. I could automatically tell where the river was going, as each part in the winding path penetrated my body as a series of vibrations. I could feel the tiniest twists and turns, hidden to any normal man. Unfortunately, I could also feel the harrowing route that would make one's guts churn. The vibrations were so powerful, it seemed as though the body of water was much closer than it was. With these perceptions, the quiet splashing seemed like a deafening warcry. Its echoes rang in my ears until I thought I could take no more. The water might as well have been right under my feet. The river rebelled against its banks, threatening to explode with its contents. Had I not been firmly anchored in place, I might have been swept away with it.

Finally, after many minutes, a vision pierced my brain.

It immediately showed that the source of my current discomfort was not far away. For due shortly west of me was the very river I had been sensing all this time. With nothing but flat terrain to stop me, I could reach it without trouble.

I proceeded to do this by breaking into a full run. Abruptly, I reached my destination.

If I couldn't hear the river before, I could hear it now. It stretched out before me, like a long snake in the water. Older rivers looked like that, before they would eventually hold swamps in their midst. Yet I could tell this one was still young. Older rivers would be slowing down but this one showed no shortage of speed. It dashed away rapidly, the deafening roars now comparable to a child's playful laugh.

No doubt, this scenario could be possible if there was some sort of civilization nearby. Despite the fact that it probably acted as a water source for many people, the river was remarkably clean. I almost wanted to wash my face in it, but I resisted the urge. Cleansing rituals would come later.

Instead, I glanced downward to admire my reflection in the water's surface.

If that half elf had seen me now, he would not have been able to recognize me. In fact, anyone unbeknownst to my identity would never seek me out. That was the intent of my transformation. Instead of a dazzling deity, there stood a young girl that looked perfectly normal. I prayed it would remain so; using my preferred form among mortals was harder than it looked.

I still kept my golden hair, but it was noticeably shorter. Rather than beautiful locks that tumbled onto the ground, the tresses extended to the middle of my back and stayed there. I did not wear a stunning array of multiple colors. In contrast, I preferred the simple clothing of an adventurer. While it did not look like I had much protective clothing on, my divine powers made my attire much stronger than it seemed. It also made my garments extremely light weight, so I could move rapidly if I desired. The power that I expended for this task was very little, so no one would notice me. In absolute dissimilarity to my preferences before, all of my clothing was one color. It was a shade of extremely dark green; in fact, it looked almost black. My sparkling tiara and headdress were gone. Replacing them was a simple headband the same color as the rest of my clothing. This had been was situated neatly on the front of my forehead, allegedly keeping my bangs out of my eyes. Fortunately, my magic was still in place, so there wasn't really any need for that. However, it did make me look inconspicuous, which was my ultimate goal. I wore no gems or trinkets, but I still reaped the benefits they bestowed. Finally, the most dynamic change was my eye color. A set of crimson blazing eyes no longer gave me sight. On the contrary, the water was greeted by two shining dark green ones. They glimmered with knowledge and peace, but no longer contained the unsettling glare I had before.

I nodded in satisfaction.

Everything went according to plan.

Now I could concentrate on the journey of the river. The absence of another person was driving me crazy, so I decided to think out loud. As I opened my mouth, one could hear yet another change. My voice no longer echoed, but flowed smoothly at a low pitch. The tone contrasted sharply with my appearance, for it possessed a mature quality which was rather unbefitting to an average teenager. However, I knew this was not completely impossible, so I did not worry.

I began to speak, heedless of whoever would hear me.

"It seems this unnatural river could only be man-made. Since it is surprisingly clean, I suspect it provides the drinking waters to people living nearby. It is not enough to sustain a city, so I assume this the water system for a village. The bank seems wide enough for me to walk on and it leads somewhere north. No doubt, I shall find this village if I wander upstream."

My mind was almost instantly made up as I spoke it.

Being among my people would give me the chance to relax. I desperately needed that chance now. Once I had ample time to rest, I could better consider Richter's request.

I began to put my feet forward when I stopped dead in my tracks.

The temperature had dropped suddenly, as though the first snows had begun to make their descent. However, I knew it was long before that time started. Furthermore, the chilly cold often nipped at one's body. While it did cause some annoyance, after one bite, it would be gone.

Unfortunately, this sensation was much more foreboding. It hung in the air like steam. I could feel weight pressing down on the atmosphere, and I realized that there was indeed a mist drifting towards me at this very moment. The temperature dropped eerily, as though the sunny day had become full of night air. I could not see a person in front of me, but I could easily sense him or her. Only a spirit or ghost could create such feelings. Ghosts were the ones who typically did this so that they could make their presence known and frighten intruders. However, I was allowed free passage among the world of the supernatural. Those who wished to be alone often gave me verbal warning.

This was quite awkward, if nothing else.

Evil and restlessness could not be detected, so I assumed it was simply a lost spirit. After all, there were lots of skies one could go to after death, so maybe the other being had gotten confused. Then again, some would not pass beyond until they had completed a final task in the mortal world. Often times, these creatures cannot do it themselves, as their entire biological structure had been altered upon dying. In either case, I would aid the spirit in its desires. Such was my duty as the one who watched over all.

I lowered my voice, and whispered in my original tone.

"Come out and show thyself. I do not wish to hurt thee. I am aware of thy kind heart, and will guide thee to thy final resting place."

As I finished my message, I held out my hand to the sky.

I expected to feel the warmth of soul materializing in my hand, but I did not even hear the distinctive sounds associated with the act.

Instead the strange mist disappeared completely. Had my offer been rejected?

No, impossible. I could still sense another person.

"Where are you? You must still be around here."

I murmured my question so as not to disturb the other.

I got a silent answer shortly after I asked it.

However, it was something completely unexpected.

For there, standing a few feet away from me, was a young girl. She seemed to have come from out of nowhere, and could detect no trace of footsteps on the ground. Upon seeing her, I immediately did away with my previous assumption. She did not carry the shimmering body a spirit, and certainly did not radiate their energy. The girl had to have been something unnatural though; how else could she have appeared before me?

I admitted that she did not look atypical, and instantaneously perished the thought of using my formal demeanor. Such maneuvers might frighten her. I stood completely still for a few minutes, studying the visitor intently.

Confusion was written on her face, and her head was cocked to the left. She seemed more surprised to see me than I was to see her. In fact, she appeared more perplexed than anything, as the questioning look never left her face. Despite the situation, I chuckled to myself. Had I discovered her secret hideout? Maybe her little friends would come drive me away. I thrust my hand out in front of me, attempting to answer my own questions.

My powers invisibly attempted to ascertain the girl's true feelings, but for the first time, they were blocked. Typically, confusion produced such severe vertigo that even the toughest people would find their world spinning in circles. On the battlefield, attacks would be wildly aimed at whatever happened to be in sight. Some people would wander aimlessly in disoriented circles for hours. Others stood still as statues, never sure what they were supposed to do. The worst was when the mind itself went blank. A person would try to think, but could never come up with anything. Psychics who attempted to search the mind during this time would find their efforts fruitless. At this juncture, I was often found feasting on fright, as the victims had their actions taken away from them.

My powers confirmed what I already knew, yet I did not detect any of the sensations usually associated with confusion. Rather, I detected something completely unidentifiable to even my spectacular senses. I waited for a telltale sensation, but nothing came. Perhaps this wasn't even an emotion. But if it wasn't that, what was it?

I shoved my thoughts aside and withdrew my hand. I would focus on the other features of the girl.

Her eyes were a deep dark blue, widened in her present state. The girl's head boasted an ocean of dark chestnut colored curls. Unlike my long locks, it went only to her collarbone and didn't even come close to hanging in her face. She did not wear the simple clothing of a civilian, but I could tell she was not a professional soldier by any means. I thought perhaps she was a mercenary, but she seemed much too young for the job. At most, she was probably around 9 years old. Even that seemed to be a stretch. Still, she knew how to fight, as she carried a diminutive sword on a belt.

The girl looked short for someone her age, as her head barely reached my waist. Then again, I was considered extremely tall, so it might have just been the heights clashing. Studying her more intently, I figured she was probably older than what I had originally guessed. Even though her body was still young, it carried the traits of womanhood. Her chest was by no means flat, and her hips protruded awkwardly from her tiny physique. Even her face had lost its baby look as it refined itself into that of a mature adult.

As I reconsidered her age, I also reconsidered her profession. While she had no standard armor, she was wearing a battle harness that would no doubt offer some protection. Over that I could see some thick teal clothing, perfect for going outside. This clothing looked rather bulky, so I suspected she had a vest as a companion to her harness. Stealing a closer glance at her belt revealed that she carried a petite shield, though the pattern (if any) was concealed by her other attire.

I smiled.

She looked every bit a mercenary now.

Her combat outfit matched that of warriors called Sveltes. They were known for their graceful battle style and they did not carry much into combat. They could move with seemingly inhuman quickness, and were excellent as combining their attacks with others to create a powerful force. Those who saw them claimed that they were dancing instead of fighting. The ways of the Sveltes were limited to females, as only they possessed the flexibility to perform the necessary actions. However, instructors particularly enjoyed young girls, since a girl was most flexible before she hit puberty. As a rule, Sveltes carried with them small swords and shields. Luckily, some also understood how to wield supportive magic. I couldn't verify the last one, but I knew I was definitely right about all the other factors. Thankfully, this girl did not seem to see me as an enemy, for she did not draw her sword as I crept closer.

I switched into my informal voice, careful to keep it steady.

I questioned the visitor.

"What is your name?"

No answer.

The girl simply stared blankly at me, as though I had asked her if she'd seen a cow fly.

"Are you with anyone? You seem a little young for solo training."

Still no reply and another awkward stare.

I gestured with my hand and pointed with my finger.

"There is a village to north of here. Are you one of the villagers?"

The other glanced downward at the ground before responding softly.

"No."

I nodded, mostly to myself.

Finally I was getting somewhere.

At the same time, I noted how monotone and empty and her voice sounded. It seemed as though it was devoid of all emotion, almost like she had taken on a robotic tone.

Victims of certain spells did that because their mind had been put to rest. These spells turned their targets into half-asleep creatures with no will of their own or recollection of their actions. Unfortunately, I did not sense a spell, so there probably wasn't one.

I also knew that patients with certain medical issues might have their voices compromised. However, this girl appeared healthy enough, and I could usually tell if a person was sick or in need of special care.

Finally, I remembered that soldiers could act this way when on duty. I could certainly vouch for myself (as if the legends didn't do it for me). Yet, the only thing soldierly about the visitor was that she was armed.

Clearly, I was wrong on all accounts.

I gingerly took another step forward, because I had to strain my ears to hear the girl previously.

My next question would most likely be more fruitful than the last.

I took a deep breath and spoke my mind.

"All right, if you aren't from the village then where-"

I stopped in my tracks and halted mid-sentence.

My legs locked up, and I feared I would consequently lose my balance. My eyes were the size of dinner plates, and it took all my strength to keep my emotions from running wild. My face blanched a deathly ashen as I stared straight ahead. I didn't tremble, but that was a miracle. I tried to move, tried to think, tried to speak, but all I could do was focus my attention on that which had caused my distress. I couldn't believe it, but here it was, right in front of me. I cursed myself for not seeing this before when I examined the girl's spiritual energy. Almost immediately, I realized that would not have changed how I felt about it.

The girl's energy matched mine exactly.

I stood dumbfounded as I was bombarded by waves that radiated from… myself?

Everything about this girl was the twin image of me.

The energy waves profiled her personality, her favorite things, her power, her loved ones, her goals, her age, her needs, and even her appearance.

All of that was exactly the same as me.

I searched desperately, hoping to find even the tiniest of structures that differed from mine. My efforts were fruitless, and that only made me more uncomfortable.

I did not have an identical twin, and no being in the world even came close to comparing with my abilities. Sure, people had tried to replicate them, but all of these clones meant to hold the full extent of my power had died shortly after their birth. To my knowledge, there was not a single one remaining, since I had refused to give up any more of myself to a laboratory. The only other possibility was that the woman was from a previous life. Unfortunately, I had no previous lives or even future ones. I planned to make it stay that way; why bother with something that was working perfectly? Even those that had received a fraction of my power did not feel like this.

I wound up twisting my face into a grimace.

This simply could not be.

Maybe this was a dream and I would just wake up.

Perhaps I was hallucinating.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

Cautiously, I allowed myself to see again.

She was still there.

Nothing had changed.

This was real.

All the more reason to be perturbed.

I must have stood there for another half hour, not even blinking.

Countless emotions boiled up in me, and I could do nothing but keep them from erupting. I've never had such an episode before, and it was far from pleasant. Pretty much every negative emotion one could think of was ready to burst out of me. Maybe I'd just die right then and there. I couldn't take this much longer.

Along with raging emotions came possibilities. This was no dream, but how could it be real?

There was only one way to find out.

The claws of anxiety would never loosen their grip unless I pried them open.

Gingerly, I broke my moment of silence.

I spoke louder this time, and there was no denying the fact that my confusion came through in my voice.

"What are you? Who are you?" I yelled at the doppelgänger.

The confusion suddenly evaporated off the girl's face. Her cocked head returned to normal, and her expression was something unreadable. I resisted the urge to shout in horror as her beautiful blue eyes suddenly became overtaken by gray mist. This sent chills down my spine as I realized the fog was the same one that had surrounded me before. The doppelgänger's eyes were so hazy I feared she was dead. I flinched as the lifeless gaze settled on me, and I thought I was going to vomit.

Then, the girl spoke for the second time that day.

Her tone was no longer unchanging, but one that I frightfully recognized as my own.

"I am the request." She stated.

I turned my face away for one second, and in the next, the girl was gone. I had no way of knowing where she went, for black spots obscured my vision. The spots suddenly grew into an entire fog as I was completely shrouded in darkness. But rather than being empowered by blackness, I felt weakened by it. My eyes ceased to see, despite the fact that they were open.

I could feel the sweat pouring down my back, and I was certain that winter had truly started. I thought I was encased in a cloak of ice that got colder every second. The ice was still dripping frozen water, and it showed no signs of letting up.

All of a sudden, the vertigo that I had expected to experience came on at just the wrong time. My vision spun out of control, and keeping my balance was nearly impossible. I groped for something to hang onto and did not find anything. Miraculously, I did not fall.

I couldn't feel the ground anymore; I didn't even have a clue of where I was. My legs refused to move, each one feeling heavier than iron weights. Within seconds, my entire body was numb, and I wasn't even sure if I was standing anymore.

The roaring of the river faded away, bringing only an eerie silence. Ears that were sensitive enough to hear leaves falling off trees were now completely useless. I couldn't even hear my own heart beat, although I'm sure it was racing. I tried calling to someone, but it was impossible to know if my cries had been answered. At this point, I didn't even recognize my own voice.

My last thoughts were those of hopelessness, as my body immediately hit the ground.

Please read and review! I will not be starting a new part for a while, so the fan fiction archives will not be clogged up. Also, disregarding the ending scene of Valkyrie Profile 2, which characters of the series are from Coriander? Coriander features prominently in the next chapter, and I need to have a character from there. Thanks!