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FICTION

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Chapter 12 - Inner Rage

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"How much is left on this 'shift'?" Eramis half-asked half-whined, hands hurting as there were enough data for the paperwork that was only 'mercy' for someone that was going to be in charge of most people in due time.

Another ten minutes.

"This is frustrating."

It's work. You're not exactly meant to be pleased with it.

"How did Nokris even come to like this?"

He doesn't. He just knows there's purpose in this and, the faster he gets at doing a good job, the quicker he can get to do things he likes.

For as much as discipline was something Eramis believed in combat and training, she didn't have the genuine drive to be a clerk... just yet. She was stubborn about learning, but she was slowly ceding to the relentless demand and the ensuing praises for the kind of efforts she was putting through.

It is clear that, even by Eliksni standards, Eramis' father was an absolute bastard. Not only he wanted to use his daughter as a political trophy girl for his collection of power, but he even set her up to be inexperienced for the job so he could try to give her trustworthy regents.

Turns out the bastard was unfamiliar with the fact I am not someone to trifle with. Not when he went as far as suggest that 'Eramis was his daughter and thus he was the one in charge of her'. Boy, did I give him a fucking lecture on not even trying that argument with me with the kind of shitty deeds under his name.

All in all, the process was going smoothly in Riis. The various factions were slowly growing more interested to trade and share customs with the group we represented, and the next few years were going to finalize that peculiar circumstance for good.

It was as Eramis finished her chores and was off to train, that I decided to check on Hash's progress in combat. I knew she had been making some interesting progress and wanted to see for myself what she had been bragging about with her uncle.

But while I was on my way there, I got a... strange pulling sensation. Similar to something I had already felt in the past. And as I had Hash in mind, I thought it was that- a distress signal or something. Panic swelled as I went to check what it was all about and... I found myself very far from Riis and very far from known space.

I looked around, and found myself floating in the shadows. I was confused, looking around for any sign of life before leaving and-

'Are you the Flame Oracle~?' A voice called- 'Our grandfather~?'

Two voices, both feminine and yet different in tones enough to make it clear it was two instead of one. Twins. The amusement further increased by dread as I realized something was wrong. Very wrong. The lights were turned on, and I found out the source of the voices. It's been a while since I thought of seeing these two but-

'We got you, grandfather!" "Our beloved Aunt was right! It worked!"

Ir Anuk and Ir Halak, Twin Daughters to Oryx. Long worshipers of Darkness, and too deep into their devotion to their 'father'..

...No.

I tried to get out of the ship right as I caught up with what was going on- and I realized I was the only one in the cage. The real horror hit me when I couldn't leave the ship for some reasons. Then my senses caught up with the curtain of darkness was literally all around the cage. Somehow it had activated right as I had arrived there, without me noticing, and has thus constrained me in that small room.

I was... I was impressed. And then I realized the twins had spoken about an 'Aunt'. That's when rage roused up within my core

Sathona...

'Oh, that's Aunt's original name! Then we got him right, Anuk!'

'We sure did, Halak!'

'And now, we will take you back home! I am sure we will be praised for the good job-'

'Be given a epithet for our unique contribution to our family's reunion! Can you smell it, Halak? Victory is going to be great.'

'Yeah~! And I bet you have a lot to say about it, grandfather! Tell us, what do you think of our success."

'Tell us, tell us!"

...

'Ah, he is going to be a brat and not talk. I knew Grandfather could be like this but... well, he will talk once his daughters are here, right?'

'That's right!'

I ended up being quiet for more than twelve hours. Ir Halak and Ir Anuk tried to get me to talk, but nothing really came up. I was too angry to care or give a piece of mind of the situation. I waited and... patiently plotted my escape.

'Father, we got him!'

The news filled Oryx with a mixture of anticipation and unease. Sathona's plan has worked, at this point, and Oryx could tell the ship had already gotten back within Hive's space. It took the trio less than two hours to reunite and the trip to his location took even less.

Her daughters were in a rather mixed mood. Willing to accept the praises, but strangely somber. They would be keen to accept more compliments, to be washed by those into glory, yet they were upset. Angry even. Something wasn't just right about this situation and the truth lingered within words. Or lack of.

When they entered the 'Darkness Cage', the sisters were met with a familiar and nostalgic sight. It was indeed their father. He was there, in front of them. Contained, unable to escape- under their control. And Savathun was instantly delighted.

'I was right! He is now ours again! This- this is our victory, father!'

...

The silence was heavy, and one that Oryx recognized on the spot. And she didn't like it at all.

'Oh, obviously! You want to play the game of silence- to try and punish us, to be angry and petty. But you are here and that's what really matters.'

Was that truly the case? Oryx felt doubt at those world. Here father was, bound to a small room, a prisoner to them. He was 'under' them, but the reality of the situation was worse. And Savathun knew that. The silence was far worse considering this individual had, many times, told them what this meant when they were young.

There is a time when you can be angry and you need to shout. But there is also a time when you need to be so angry that you can't even bring yourself to scream.

This tenet was something Oryx unconsciously relied upon at times. She knew silence was powerful when used within the right time, and that there is nothing more damaging than a lack of word in an effort to reclaim forgiveness from someone. It was a victory, but it was so hollow within.

It felt so humiliating actually, that she spared a tense look to the floating orbs, turned around and left. Many thoughts littered her mind, and Savathun's screams as she followed after her to have her remain to press their 'advantage' fell on deaf ears.

Soon it was just Xivu Arath in that room. Her silence was one of unease and soon... she spoke.

'Father. I know you hate me and that you no longer care for us but... I have a request.' The God of War spoke, a humble tone filtering through as it was just the two of them.

A sense of nostalgia made her malleable, soft, and sentimental of the situation. She missed it, the time where she could just be a brave girl and nothing else. No more responsibilities or worries. But those were long lost times and she had to make a call.

'My children. Two daughters and a son. I taught them to fight, but I never forced them into the darkness. They know of you, of your lessons and- and they weren't given a choice. I would be foolish to say I could have prevented all of this but... I beg you. Take them with you once you leave.'

Bowing her head, she turned and started to leave-

I will do that. Don't worry.

Xivu Arath tensed up, tempted to look and thank him strongly but... she sighed. 'Thank you.'

You're welcome, Xi Ro.

The smile she had on her face was wonderful and it was sign of the deep fire stirred by the happiness she had over these words. She made no effort to mention this interaction. It wasn't a matter of greed, but one of worry. She had gotten a deal, one she knew her father was going to uphold and-

And then she will have to face the consequences of this decision. May those be the worst or... the best possible.

AN

The reason why I decided for Xi Ro to be 'redeemable' to some extent is because she didn't believe to Darkness. She was pushed into it by a matter of desperation. Sathona was the one driven by false purpose, Aurash was driven by curiosity and revenge, but Xi Ro had matured a lot because she made a lot more mistakes in her youth compared to her sisters, and learning from those mistakes gave her a taste of what it means to take big steps and the repercussions of it.

At the same time, she is aware that, albeit John's rejection of them seems absolute, that her father does hold some affection for them. It's just going to manifest only when there's an effort to take responsibility and accept the unforgivable factor of their mistake.

Also, I have been tempted for a while now, but I think that... I can actually write a book about these interactions. Like, humans, no space, and some circumstances altered to fit within a more RL context. Should I give it a shot?