Chapter. 22

On the roof of the den Lance and Alisa laid down his god arcs as the future Gods Eater watched them from afar. "Magnus, Tricia." The two familiars appeared before their warrior. "Can you two help with something?"

Tricia gazed at Alisa's god arc. "About time you called for us, glad to see you're not one to keep power to yourself."

"Can you get Alisa's familiar to come out?"

"I can, Magnus would you?"

"Sure thing."

Over with the future Gods Eaters Torri pulled on the sleeve of her older self. "Why's daddy talking to himself?"

"He's not Torri, he's talking to his friends."

"I don't see anyone."

"They're invisible."

Magnus stood over Alisa's god arc with his hands on his hips. Lance crossed his arms and looked to Tricia. "So how-"

Magnus then swung is leg back and kicked Alisa's god arc. "Hey buddy, get up! It's half past noon, get you life together!"

The god arc glowed brightly enough to blind everyone. When the light died down Lance lowered his arms to see someone standing over the god arc. It was a woman in a black and gold dress, with long deep blue hair.

"Are you seeing this Aly?"

Alisa didn't answer, she slowly walked towards the woman. "Hello, are you..."

The woman turned to Alisa and gazed at her with amethyst eyes. They widened as the woman quelled as she tackled Alisa. "I'm out! I'm out! I'm really out!"

Alisa struggled to keep her balance until Lance held her steady. "Looks like you met your familiar."

"Yes..." Alisa stood up and pushed the woman off of her. "Who are you?"

"You don't know!" The woman stepped back and crossed her arms.

"How could I? This is the first..." Alisa raised her hand to her forehead. "Isn't this the first time we met?"

The woman tilted her head with a smile. "Remember now?"

Alisa removed her hand and pointed at the woman. "Aleeza. It's Aleeza."

The woman clapped her hands and hugged Alisa. "Yes! You remember!"

"That was fast." Commented Lance.

"And you!" Aleeza let go of Alisa and stomped in front of Lance. "You're the one would came into my arc! I couldn't reach Alisa because of you!"

Lance stepped back with his hands up. "Okay look, I'm sorry but it was the only way I could stay alive."

"I'll bet you sicko!"

"How am I the bad guy?"

Aleeza held her arms and shivered. "I feel so violated."

"I said sorry. I really didn't know what would happen."

"I bet you didn't." Snickered Tricia.

"No comment peanut gallery!"

"Who are they?" Alisa pointed to Lance's familiars.

"Yes well. These are my familiars. That's Tricia."

"Hello, glad to finally met you." Tricia took Alisa's hand and shook it.

"And this is Magnus."

"Hello." Magnus held out his right hand.

Alisa looked down at the clawed hand then to his arm. "What happened to you?"

Magnus smiled as his held up his arm. "Oh this, I've always had it. I'm not like other god arc familiars. I was grown, not made."

"I thank you both, for protecting my Lan."

"We do what we can, though he doesn't make it easy." Said Tricia.

Lance placed his hands on his hips and shacks his head. "You say that as if that's my fault. Like I can know what out of control beast will try to destroy the world next."

"Dad!" Shouted Vale.

Lance took a breath and clapped his hands. "Right then. Aly now that you've met your familiar it's up to you to grow a partnership with her. Think you can handle it?"

"I will Lan." Alisa glanced to Aleeza then back to Lance. "Thank you, for getting me this far."

"Anything for Aly."

"Just kiss her you blockhead!" Aleeza puffed out her cheeks as she pouted.

"I don't need you to tell me! Besides, you just ruined the moment. I'll leave you to it Aly." Lance quickly kissed Alisa's forehead and went to his kids. his familiars returning to their god arcs.

"What was that about?" Asked Vale.

"Nothing you need to think about. Now, what do we do?"

"First we need to know what triggered your blood rage in the beginning." Said Leo. "What were you thinking about?"

"Lance folded his arms and closed his eyes. "It was when I saw the nova for the first time, everyone was down, injured from it. I, I just saw red from that point. It felt like I wasn't even in control of myself. That I was just watching my body move."

"Do you still feel that way?" Asked Torri.

"I still can't control it. When it comes out, how it works."

"Can you go back to that moment? When you first used blood art." Lance sighed as me tried to remember. "Think back on it. Remember everything you can. Every last detail."

Lance saw the snow temple when he fought the nova, where his friends were beaten by it. Seeing them like this was making Lance feel hopeless, then feel anger rise within. The fight with the nova played across his mind. Each blow, each hit, the pain, the sounds. Small sparks of gold and black gathered around Lance's back, forming wings.

"Daddy!" Lance opened his eyes to Torri's voice and the sparks faded.

"What happened?"

"You were doing fine until the little one got scared."

Lance noticed Torri hiding behind her older selves leg. "It's okay Torri, there's nothing to be afraid of." Lance held his hand out and Torri moved away. "Do you not like the wings?"

"They look scary. Daddy is scary."

"It's okay little one." Torri kneels down and places her hand on the girl's head. "You love your daddy?"

"Yes."

"Do you know that daddy loves you?"

"Yes."

Torri smiles warmly. "Do you know that daddy protects you?" The younger Torri nods. "To protect you daddy needs to be scary to keep the scary monsters away from you." The older Torri steps aside and gently pushes her younger self to Lance. "It's okay, see? When you're safe daddy isn't scary, is he?"

Lance held out his hand as the small singularity walks towards him. Lance put his arms around her and hugs Torri lightly. "I'm okay Torri."

"I love you daddy!"

Lance smiles as he held her. "Me too."

On the other side of the roof Alisa and Aleeza watched everything that happened. Aleeza bummed Alisa's side with her elbow. "So what do you think?"

"Think what?"

"He makes a good father, don't you think?"

"Yes he does..." Alisa sighed and hung her head.

Aleeza smiled and patted Alisa on the back. "Cheer up! You'll be a good mom!"

Alisa looked to the family with a look of determination. "I want to protect them. To stand beside Lance, not behind him."

"He's your sword. Then you wish to be his shield?" Aleeza smiles. "Then that will be your blood art. Take your god arc." Alisa picked up her god arc as Aleeza faded into the weapon. "When arc and eater act as one, the power of blood is unleashed. Now use your power, show me your will to protect that which you hold dear!"

"Luminous guard!" Alisa activated her arc's shield, the shield glowed and orbs of amber light floated off then moved to everyone on the roof. Light formed around each Gods Eater to create a barrier on them. Alisa found it hard to breath and sank to one knee.

"Aly!" Everyone ran to Alisa's side, Lance stood beside Alisa and leaned closer to examine her face. "Aly, what do you fell right now?"

"She's just winded. It happens when a Gods Eater uses blood art for the first time." Aleeza explained.

"I know that. Still though." Lance looked at his arms and to find the amber light was still on him. "This is amazing Aly! You know blood art!"

Alisa put her arm over Lance's shoulders as he helped her stand, she looked to everyone around her and smiled. "Thank you. All of you."

Vale waved his hand. "You don't need to thank us mom. It's what a family does, right?"

Leo grinned as he folded his arms. "For once I agree with you Vale."

Torri held her hand to her heart as she saw Alisa smile. "This is what I want to protect. To carry to the future."

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