Chapter Thirty: Transcendence

Darkness. She stood in a lonely abyss of unknown shadows surrounding her. The air was pungent with a stale aroma. Moments passed as Raven attempted to acknowledge some familiarity amongst her surroundings. Unfortunately, it was too dark to see anything. Yet, she was still able to see her own figure. Raven examined her body to discover that her injuries from the battle had disappeared. This was extremely unsettling. She began to ponder if she was dead from all of her injuries, and had traveled to the realm of purgatory. Sighing, Raven had lost all hope, but neglected to notice the fluttering noise quickly approaching her.

The woman looked up to see a white light looming towards her. She was not certain if the light was hostile or welcoming. As it approached closer, Raven noticed that the light was illuminating from a white dove. The bird slowed its flight towards the woman, and idled in front of her. Raven examined the dove in awe recalling she had encountered this dove before.

Was she really dead since she was approached by this visitor?

Raven raised her hand for the dove to perch, but the bird retreated away from her and flew into the abyss behind her. She assumed this was a statement to follow the bird. The woman was not certain where the dove would lead her, but it was better than standing in the darkness in a disordered state. Keeping a steady pace, she followed the white dove blindly hoping for some answers. Right as she was thinking this, light slowly illuminated in front of her where the dove led. The light continued to grow as she loomed towards it.

Suddenly, the dove burst into the light and Raven was engulfed within it. Blinded, Raven covered her eyes until she heard a voice beckon her name. Attempting to open her eyes, the light was unbearably bright to adjust to her pupils.

The void was surely gone, instead, Raven stood in front of a grand monastery. Her eyes widened when she realized where she was. The monastery stood before her in all its extravagance, just as the last time she had remembered it. Yet, memories of fire and death crossed her mind as she took a step away from the monastery.

She recognized where she was. Raven stood in front of the place where she was raised; Azarath. Over a decade had passed since she last stood in Azarath, but when she left, it was in a blaze of fire. Yet, here the monastery stood in all its glory. The white marble gleamed in the sunlight, and green vines wrapped around the pillars along the entrance. The air no longer had a stale aroma like the dark abyss, but it was filled with the scent of jasmine and cherry blossoms. She looked across the skyline only to see feathery clouds dancing along the highest points of the mountains. Taking a deep breath, fond memories of the monastery crossed her thoughts, until the fluttering of the dove appeared behind her.

Raven whipped around expecting to see the white dove, but instead a white hooded figure stood before her. From what she could tell, the figure was feminine due to its stature, and the delicate hands crossed below her abdomen. The figure's head was tilting down, only showing remnants of her jet-black hair. Raven's heart stopped for a moment, and a lump appeared in her throat. The woman knew that she was surely dead since this familiar hooded figure stood before her. Swallowing her fear, she spoke towards the figure.

"A-Arella?" Raven studdered. Slowly, the hooded figure lifted her head revealing her beautiful features. The woman's face was thin but soft. Her hair was medium length that shined in the sunlight. Yet her eyes, displayed a deep hazel that memorized the half-demon before her. A small smile appeared from the woman and she finally opened her lips to speak.

"Yes, it is I, my child." Her soft soothing voice echoed.

Raven took a step forward to examine the woman before her. From what she could see, this was surely her mother; however, her body was intact. The last time she had seen her mother, her body was in an unrecognizable state. Raven extended her hand and touched the woman's black hair affirming that this woman was real. Surprised, Raven recoiled her hand. Her jaw dropped slight like she had seen a ghost.

"What's happened to me?" Raven asked to her mother. "Mother, am I dead?"

The woman continued her soft smile towards her daughter, "No, my child, you are not deceased. Though, I still am."

"Then what am I doing here? Is this just an illusion? I thought Trigon had destroyed Azarath." Raven began to choke on her words. "I thought he had killed you."

"Ay, my child. You are correct." She replied but the smile disappeared from her face. "Azarath had met its demise under the attack of Trigon, and my life did end under Trigon's hands."

Raven was confused from the entire situation. If her deceased mother stood before her, and Raven was not dead, what was happening? Taking a deep breath Raven asked, "Then what am I doing here?"

The woman stared at her daughter contemplating how to explain the situation as clearly as she could. She only had a short amount of time before Raven returned. "Listen my child. We do not have that much time. I apologize for not explaining in full detail how you got here, but I can surely tell you why." Arella stepped forward closer to her daughter. Her eyes pierced in Raven's soul. Her eyes were stunning, but soft at the same time. Just as she remembered when she closed them before her death. "As you may know my child, Azarath was destroyed when Trigon attacked to retrieve you. All of its citizens, even the monks, met their death by the attack. You are the sole survivor of Azarath."

Raven nodded slowly attempting not to remember that day filled with death and destruction. The lump appeared in Raven's throat trying to pull back tears.

"As the sole survivor of Azarath, you still carry the power of the city within your soul." Raven's mother said.

Raven's eyes shot open in shock. "What do you mean? How do I hold the city within my soul."

A soft chuckle escaped her mother's mouth. "My child, you have always had the heart of Azarath within your soul. Before their demise, the monks were instructed to inform you, but they waited too long, and it was too late. It has always been there since the day you were born into this world. The love for you people, the monks, the monastery, and me flow within your soul and make your power great."

"But mother, I do not think you understand," Raven objected, "I am part demon. How could the city of demon hunters accept me and give me this power that you speak of?"

The woman placed her delicate hands on the shoulder of her daughter. "You must also realize that you are human as well. You may have demon blood coursing through your veins, but your pure soul has opened a gateway to this power I am about to unlock for you."

Raven raised an eyebrow, "But many of the people of Azarath despised my existence being part demon, bit primarily the offspring of Trigon the Terrible."

Arella shook her head. "Nay, you must understand that the people of Azarath were only concerned of your immense power and that you would neglect it. Yet, with the council of monks, they decided that when the time was right, they would ultimately give you the power."

"What do you mean by the power you are about to unlock in me?" Raven asked.

The mother replied, "The monks had discuses this time and time again, but there is no technical term for it. The power you hold is the love of Azarath, and the people who used to live there. The souls of citizens of Azarath had bestowed this gift onto you. You have yet to unlock this power before, but now that you have accepted certain affairs in your life, I shall grant you the key to this power."

"Certain things in my life?" Raven raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, my child," Raven's mother softly said, "You accepted friendship in your life with your team and most importantly, have accepted love in your life with Garfield Logan."

Raven strained her eyes and furrowed her eyebrow. "How do you know about Garfield?"

Retracing her arm from her daughter, the woman smiled revealing her white teeth. "I know because I have been with you all of your life. My child, now that you have this knowledge, I must bid you goodbye."

Arella slowly stepped back. "Mother?" Raven asked.

"Remember the love you have for your team, Azarath, and for that man named Garfield Logan." The white robbed woman said. "For this love will save your life, and others around you. Take heed to my advice, my dear daughter. For when you awake, your life will be in peril."

Suddenly, the white figured disappeared into the light. Raven stood alone across a sea of clouds. She closed her eyes taking in the sunlight until the fluttering of a bird interrupted her pseaceful moment.

Then she opened her eyes.