Chapter. 8

Everyone went silent at Torri's reveal. Lance looked around the room then spoke to break the silence. "What do you mean by that?"

"This is a very long story."

"We have time."

"Yes father." Torri shook her hands and placed them on her lap. "My earliest memory is roaming the city. I was alone, scared, until father and mother found me. They were very kind and though me many things. Until the monster appeared, the second nova, the creature I was apart of."

"That would explain how you were so unstable." Said Paylor as he looked over his data.

"I don't know how it truly happened. When the nova was found the first unit went to engage, but they couldn't stop it. Father never came back, mother told me that he gave his life to stall it and let the others." Torri glanced to Alisa. "Mother never smiled after that day."

Alisa looked at Lance who held her hand. With the thought of losing him again Alisa need to ask. "What can you tell us about this nova?"

"It looks like a vajra, but white with it's head a bright pink."

"That doesn't sound so scary." Snicked Kota.

"Which is more humiliating, being pink, or being killed by something that's pink?" Kota sat down to give some thought. "Torri have you seen this nova?"

"Yes, but..." Torri clinched her fists as her body shook. "It calls to me, it wants to be whole again. The nova wants to find it's missing pieces and anything that will raise it's power so it will go to the moon and reclaim it's full body and finish what it started, eating the world."

"Torri?" Lance and Alisa stood up and kneeled at Torri's side as she was crying.

"Everyone fought it but were killed or hurt badly. Even the hunters tried but all failed. After that, the far east was quarantined, no one could get out or get in and help. So much death, the den was destroyed we, we hide in the unfinished mobile base called the cradle. We move all over the far east to stay away from it."

"That's horrible."

Torri sniffed and held her head. "It calls to me in my dreams. It wants me to make it whole."

"What are these dreams like?"

"I'm in a space of nothing with a nova, the one with two parts. I fight and beat it but it gets back up-"

"And each time you beat it gets up stronger until you can't hurt it anymore."

"Yes, how do you know?"

Lance placed his hand on her's. "I've been having the same dreams."

"Interesting." Paylor stopped typing and stood up. "Lance can you still sense life?"

"Yes, with a mile of me."

"Do you remember when you got that power?"

"When I resonated with Shio... who became apart of the nova!"

"And then a piece of Torri became apart of you when she was unstable as well as on Alisa. It's a long shot but maybe you two could hurt this nova-"

Lance shot up to his feet. "There's a prithvi mata outside the wall!"

The door slid open as Tsubaki entered. "Lance we have a, situation."

"Just never ends. What's up, is it the aragami?"

"No. There's someone from the hunter unit who wishes to speak with you, she what's to meet you outside the protective wall."

"Why?"

"She just said she has a 'friend' that's not welcomed in the den."

"I'll go." Lance stood up and turned to Paylor and Soma. "You two find this nova. When you do, we'll do the rest."

"Father, let me go too!" Torri stood up and jumped to her father's side.

"Then come on then. Aly, you coming?" Alisa stood up and fallowed her boyfriend. "Torri, I'd like to ask you something."

"Yes mother?"

"How did you grow to be, as you are?"

Torri pressed the call button for the lift. "After father died I wanted to protect what was left. Aragami's bodies can be changed as the cells can detach and reattach. I asked doctor Paylor to change my body so I could fight."

"How was it?"

"It was... painful. Many sleepless nights in pain, injections that makes me feel like I was being ripped apart."

Alisa looked away. "I'm sorry to ask."

"It's fine mother. I don't regret it one bit it means I can fight, and see you smile again."

"They'll all smile again Torri." The lifted opened and lance stepped aside. "After you ladies."

"Thank you father."

"How was Ren in your time?"

"We grow up together. He called me big sis." Torri smiled warmly at the memory. "He was so full of hope, believing that we could save the present. I don't know what's happened to him."

"Maybe it's not the same Ren. Maybe when Ren changed the past he make a new future but the Ren you know isn't here."

"Then where is he?"

"That's something we'll need to find out." The lift opened and the three stepped out in the god arc maintenance bay, exiting the den the family walked through the outer ghetto to the main gate.

...

At the gate there were two women talking. One of them had long black hair and red eye, she wore a red medic outfit with a light blue scythe God Arc in hand. Next to her was another a female with light blonde hair, and amber eyes. She also wore a medic outfit, colored white.

The blonde woman saw Lance and the others and pointed to them, making the second one turn to them. The black haired woman waved then ran to them. "Hello!"

"Hello." Lance held out his hand. "I'm Lance. This is Alisa and Torri." the black haired woman leaned closer to Lance's face. "What?"

"You're eyes. You have a gentle heart with the eyes of a beast. Pride, hope, rage. A dangerous combination."

"Okay...?" Lance stepped back and glanced to Alisa and Torri.

The women laughed. "He bought it! He really bought it!" Said the blonde woman.

"Bought what?"

Hearing Lance's question the two stopped. "He can see me?"

"Of course, why?" Lance crossed his arms and leaned back. "Wait, are you a familiar?"

The blonde woman grins then fades away. The black haired woman stabs her god arc scythe blade into the ground then rubbed hands together. "You're an interesting one. Fresh start, I'm Raven Rani. You met my familiar Snow. I'm a rep from the hunter unit."

"Pleasure to meet you." The two shook hands and a reasonation began. Lance saw several images flash in his mind, he stepped back and dropped his arcs to hold his head. "What was... why are you here?"

Raven covered half her face. "What are you? No human can have feel like this."

Lance shook his head. "What do you mean? Why are you here?"

"The hunter unit offered you a place in our ranks but haven't hear anything back. I'm here to see what's the hold up and answer any questions you have." Raven looked over Lance. "I must say you're not what I was expecting. The tail is a nice touch."

"Fully functional." Lance waved his tail around. "What were you expecting?"

Raven looked at her hands. "After what I just felt, I don't really know."

"What did you feel?"

"There's a demon inside you. It's strength, how are you keeping it down?"

"It's... come out a few times. Anyway, I haven't given the offer much thought. I've got a lot on my plate right now." Everyone heard a loud roar from the other side of the gate. "And right now a Prithvi Mata to deal with."

"You mean Eve?" Raven opened the gate, revealing the aragami.

Alisa and Torri jumped back as Lance stepped closer. "Lan!"

"Father!"

Raven spun to Torri. "Father?"

Lance connected his god arcs and held out his hand. "Lan!" Alisa ran a few steps and Raven held out her arm to stop her.

"It's okay. Eve won't hurt him."

"Eve?" Alisa watched Lance place his free hand on the aragami's nose. The beast make a small pour and pressed its head against Lance. The Gods Eater turned to Raven. "We need really to talk."

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