"Here, let me," Raha passed the taller Miqo'te and opened the front door of the house. Holding them, he moved aside when Erebus – in complete control of Rahm's body – turned sideways and carefully passed the threshold making sure to secure his charge against any accidental hit. Shtola (or Nemesis?) in the blonde's arms didn't stir, remaining unconscious while Raha closed the door behind Erebus and sighed softly. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, then steeled his spine and purposefully smiled when Erebus looked back and frowned stopping in the middle of the foyer.

"You look pale, Raha," he said warily and the redhead shook his head, then passed the taller Seeker and motioned for him to follow toward the staircase leading to the second floor of the massive mansion.

"I'm just tired," he tossed over his shoulder heading up, hoping his smile was reassuring enough to cover the lie. He was more than tired, obviously, but also determined not to cause their guest any unnecessary guilt or worry. "It's been a very long day, Erebus."

Most of which we spent expending aether, Damon groused in the back of his head and Raha resisted nodding in agreement. He stopped at the second floor and patiently waited until the blonde caught up to him. Once it all calms down I do plan to demand recompense, just so you know.

Yeah, yeah, he sighed in answer internally, with effort of not rolling his eyes. You don't need to pose, Damon. Admitting you were worried for them takes nothing away from your snobbish image.

Insolent brat, the Ancient huffed, then paused and his resounding sigh filled Raha's head momentarily. I am ALMOST grateful for those spikes, Raha. Vast as our stores of aether are, I don't know if we would be able to remain standing without them. Dealing with Senri's outburst, then fixing the mess in Sharlayan… Well, I don't believe I could take over our body right now even if I would be inclined to do so, my boy. I feel weak like a newborn kit, as you would say. I do, however, have to remain awake to maintain your connection to the Tower, so if possible try to avoid expanding ANY more of aether, hm?

I'll do my best, he grimaced involuntarily and waved his hand when Erebus joined him, arching blonde eyebrows in question. "Damon's tired, so I might be forced to stay in Eorzea a tad longer than anticipated."

"Ah," the Ancient in Rahm's skin smiled apologetically. "And with Senri going through something similar, it's hardly optimal… I am sorry, Raha, to you both. And yet I can't say I regret that you reacted so swiftly," his arms noticeably tightened around unconscious woman and Raha smiled softly, then turned and headed toward one of the guest rooms. He didn't turn to check if Erebus was following, but startled when one of the doors along the corridor opened and another blonde nearly walked right into him.

"Heavens, Raha… What are you doing home?" T'rhasa – Rhasa, as he was now allowed to call her – stopped and he dainty hand shot toward her heart. "Did something…" she seemingly noticed his entourage and her dark, navy-blue eyes widened as her beautiful face paled. "Oh, what happened? Is she alright?" the blonde rushed past him with usual energy and Raha sighed, turning and smiling involuntarily while much shorter woman put a distinctively intimidated expression on Erebus's face.

A very few among Senri's friends would dare to go against Rhasa Mali once the gorgeous blonde put her mind to something, and neither Erebus nor his host were except from that. Rahm once told him that Rhasa reminded him of his own mother, while Erebus admitted to having some interesting – as he called it – interactions with Rhasa's Ancient incarnation back in the day. And only after that remark – which initially confused Raha – Damon admitted to him that Senri's mother was – back in their time – Ares's mother, Cassiopeia. Who's temperament was apparently quite legendary among those who knew her… which didn't actually surprise him as much as it probably should.

With innate sense of balance she imbued in his beast and freed from her self-imposed obligations to the tribe she spend most of her life with, in last two years Rhasa fully embraced the idea of 'mothering' a wide range of their family. He did wonder at times if it had something to do with her Ancient, but even Hades – who had little patience for most mortals – seemed both drawn to and yet subdued near the tiny blonde. Which made for a curious study, considering neither of them was informed about their connection. To Raha's knowledge Damon knew all of the Ancient incarnations of their friends and family, but both he and Ares carefully refrained from discussing that with them.

Again, it's dangerous to think of that world as anything but dead, Raha, his Ancient muttered, slurring delicately. If some wake, like Erebus and Nemesis, we would welcome them, but otherwise it's like stirring the ashes.

He nodded, then moved and touched Rhasa's shoulder to make the blonde look toward him instead of unconscious Shtola. Or Nemesis, as he wasn't precisely clear which of them was currently in charge. Like Damon, Nemesis secured her host's soul as soon as she realized that something about the elements was off but the backlash still rendered both unconscious – apparently scaring both Erebus and Rahm enough that they unleashed Abyss upon whole of Old Sharlayan and surrounding it radius. And considering how weak Damon sounded after containing it and forcing Erebus to stop it, he was involuntarily awed. Especially after Damon admitted that he needed to drain a vast store of aether contained in Crystal Tower to restore Erebus's reserves and address Rahm's aetheric misbalance.

I suppose it's one of those rare times I'm grateful for my Allagan heritage, he thought, smiling soothingly toward Rhasa's worried frown.

"They're asleep," he assured, motioning toward the white-haired Seeker in Erebus's embrace. "There's been… an issue with aether we needed to comeback to help them with, Mom, but they just need to sleep it off now. It was serious enough that it might take a few days, though," he edged carefully and wasn't that surprised when her navy eyes shot toward Shtola, then narrowed at him suspiciously.

"Issue with aether?" she repeated, folding her arms over her breasts and lightly tapping her foot. "In her state? Isn't that far worse than 'serious'?"

Raha winced, then sent Erebus an apologetic smile. To his knowledge a very few knew about Shtola's blessed state yet – and he wasn't sure how Rhasa did.

"It's okay, Raha," the Ancient in Rahm's skin chuckled, inclining his head toward the other blonde respectfully. "And I assure you, Rhasa, I have an unyielding trust toward both Damon's and Nemesis's skills. Shtola thought it prudent to request advice from a more experienced female," he added toward Raha's questioning look and grinned when the redhead blinked, then gasped, honestly tempted to slam his hand over his eyes.

Rhasa giggled at his expanse and noticeably relaxed, motioning toward them to follow when she turned and opened the nearest door. Raha moved away to let Erebus pass, then headed inside behind them, soon watching Rahm's Ancient delicately lower the sleeping woman to a massive bed covered in blue silks. He smiled involuntarily when the other blonde rushed in as soon as Shtola was down, busying herself with wrapping these silks around her and placing her hand over the white-haired Seeker's forehead.

"Father? You're back?" hesitant voice behind him had Raha turn and look with a smile toward two teenagers hovering at the threshold.

"For a bit," he said toward Nico's worried frown, then inclined his head into a welcome at the other teen. "Nero, like always, lovely to see you."

"Ah, thank you, sir," the dark-haired boy grinned toothily, resting his arm over Nico's shoulders and waving his tail with genuine enthusiasm. "Nico said you might be gone for a few moons, but I'm glad it's not the case."

Nero Veena, boy raised in a village at the edge of Black Shroud, was – how Raha liked to imagine – how his Senri would be if not for his misfortune in being born in a tribe. He met the teenager accidentally in Old Gridania last Valentione's and despite the hitch caused by Rahm's prank he didn't predict, the boy and his by now lovely mate, Sava, became quite a fixture in their household. When Nero followed up on Raha's invitation a few days after their encounter bringing along a very cherry and cute blonde 'thankful' for Raha assistance in Nero's gift for her, the boy hit it off instantly with Nico.

While two years older than their adopted son, Nico later admitted to sharing Raha's notion – that Nero reminded him of Senri's behavior too much not to endear him to the boy. Not to mention that they meshed well with their personalities – Nico being the serious and introverted teen to Nero's abundance of energy and optimism. With his younger nephew, Navi, trailing after the older boys nearly reverently and Sava, on the other hand, instantly taking to Senri's and Raha's young sister and niece, Ralla and Nari, their presence whenever they visited caused a welcomed type of chaos.

"I still might, though," he admitted and grinned when the boys' expressions fell. "Don't worry, I'm kidding. We did plan to visit whenever allowed, boys," normally with their access to Ancient-like teleportation, crossing space was none issue. Only Raha and Senri – due to their symbiotic relationship with their passengers – were limited to the it spanning the Source and the First Reflection. Other Ancient members of their family – Hades, Hythlodaeus, Themis and Venat – could travel further across the Rift. And did, quite often, too – making them determined to finalize their gate to others Reflections.

"Is aunt Shtola sick?" Nico asked with a frown, looking around him, then meeting Raha's gaze.

"Was, sort of," he admitted, then sighed and looked both boys over carefully. "Tell me, none of you felt off lately?"

"Um, no?" Nero shook his head, then nearly comically worried expression bloomed over his quite handsome face. "But is the baby alright?"

"Does everyone here know?" Raha snorted with the rhetorical question, chuckling when both boys flushed darkly.

"I mean… I guess?" Nico shrugged, then exchanged brief look with his best friend.

"Ralla overheard her mom talking about it with Miss Y'shtola," Nero chuckled sheepishly. "She told Nari and Sava 'in secret' and… it went from there. Everyone's pretty excited about it," he admitted with a toothy grin.

"So long it doesn't leave this house," Raha shook his head, then turned and met Erebus's arched stare. "You had to know this wouldn't remain secret," he deadpanned and shook his head again.

"We didn't assume it would," Erebus chuckled, sitting at the edge of the bed and taking hold of Shtola's hand. "She just doesn't wish to be… fawned over. Gods know, Rahm's doing enough of that as it is."

"I imagine," he said, then turned and looked at boys again, motioning for both to move away from the door. "Let's leave them to rest," he added, joining them on the corridor before turning and looking inside again. "I'll be in my office of you need anything. Do let me know when she – either or both – wake up?"

"Of course… and, again, thank you," Erebus answered while Rhasa squeezed his shoulder, then hastily joined them, leaving the couple to their rest.

"Don't mention it," Raha smiled, then silently closed the door and exhaled deeply.

"You look pale," Rhasa scowled, touching his forehead and Raha allowed it, smiling weakly.

"I'm tired, nothing more," he assured, then took hold of her hand and tugged the female away from the door and closer to the stairs. "I know it's sudden, Mom, but could you look after them?" he lowered his voice, pretty sure that Erebus's hearing was at least as sharp as his own and Senri's. "Damon did his best, but do let us know if there's anything unusual happening with either them or the baby?"

"Of course," her navy gaze sharpened immediately with a determination typical to his lover and Raha smiled with relief. All things considered, neither he nor his passenger had any experience with pregnancy – Rhasa had plenty of. Not only because she had five kits on total, but she did admit on occasion to help other females back in the tribe through it more than once. Absurd as it sounded looking at her, according to what he heard, just recently Rhasa celebrated becoming grandmother for the seventh time – despite being only in her forties.

Life in a tribe is very different, I suppose. I have no love for Senri's older sisters, considering they refuse to have any sort of relationship with him, but form what I gather each by now have at least two kits, Damon's voice grew sharper with disdain and Raha grimaced involuntarily. They knew year after leaving the tribe for the sake of her youngest daughter and to reconnect with her only son, Rhasa dared to return to their tribe just to visit with her older offspring. Hythlodaeus, who easily accommodated her wish for assistance with travel, later relayed in detail the encounter to his husband – with Hades inevitably repeating that tale to his Father. Apparently while Senri's older sisters – all three of them – were pleased to see their mother unharmed, they didn't spare Rhasa chiding for her brave decision. And when they grew interested in their younger brother only after hearing of Senri's fame… Neither of them was impressed. Especially once Rhasa seemed genuinely hurt after that but stubbornly hid her thoughts behind the mask of cheer – something far too familiar for Raha to witness.

I do sometimes wish she was born somewhere else, not for the first time he shared that sentiment with his Ancient and Damon hummed in agreement. He kept that thought from his expression, though, while he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss on the blonde's cheek.

"What's that for?" she asked, laughing as her face delicately flushed.

"For being the best mother I know," he replied honestly. Then, startled when boys he nearly forgot were behind him, both cheered in agreement.

"Sorry," Nico flustered at his arched stare, then shrugged helplessly when Nero laughed at his expanse. "But it's true. I don't remember my mother, but…" he trailed off, smiling at the female shyly.

"Gods, you'll make me blush," Rhasa groaned, then shooed the teens toward the stairs. "Off you go. Set up the table for dinner and call the girls to help me in the kitchen."

"Yes, ma'am!" Nero saluted playfully, then steered Nico toward the ground level of the house around them.

Raha smiled as he watched them leave, skipping the steps, but he flinched when Rhasa wrapped her hands around his bicep.

"You're going to stay, Raha?" she asked, pulling him behind the boys. He allowed it since the office he shared with Damon was on the underground level of the mansion. "And where's my boy?"

"He's… Well, I had to leave him on a ship heading to Tural, but I think he's outside the Source now," that's how it felt for him anyway. Damon guessed that that was probably Hades's idea and more than agreed with it being the best course of action – even if the separation made their task in Sharlayan more difficult. And was likely why Damon what that exhausted – missing the aether provided by his Bond to Ares. That's why they were forced to use the Tower – which, on the other hand, will likely further delay their plans for it.

Not necessarily, Damon groused tiredly. Keeping you connected to it feeds it those spikes of elemental aether, so it should quickly restore what I used to combat the pressure of the Abyss, Raha. It's just exhausting to maintain. It's a blessing that you're far more aligned to the light than any of the other elements.

Due to my stay in the First? He asked, involuntarily intrigued.

Possibly? Or that's just your natural alignment, like Rahm's to darkness and Senri's to ice, Damon chuckled weakly, then sighed. I do, however, hope Ares's back before I pass out, boy. I rather don't like the idea of leaving you vulnerable despite here being much closer to the Tower.

I won't use any aether until they're back, he promised, frowning with worry. Not as much for himself, but for his passenger. Admitting that was enough for a statement of how exhausted Damon had to really be – considering how smug he usually was about his capabilities.

"I'll be in the office," he smiled, paring with Rhasa on the ground floor.

"Alright," she frowned, watching his expression with narrowed eyes. "I'll have one of the boys bring you dinner when it's ready. Briefly, as he passed through, Themis said that he, Hades, and Hythlodaeus won't be joining us today, so I suppose that whatever mess you're dealing with is of the serious variety… but I'm sure you'll tell me all about it once it passes?" she pronounced, and Raha chuckled sheepishly, inclining his head.

"Of course. Thank you, Mom," he replied gratefully. She nodded briskly and then tapped her finger against his cheek.

"Rest a bit, my boys, both of you," she groused, then shooed him toward the other set of stairs. Then she walked off toward the kitchen, leaving him staring after her with another smile.

He also didn't remember his mother, but in the two years since he met her, Rhasa came to be for him a glowing standard of what a mother should be. Especially once his older sister, Jalla, who was six when their mother was murdered, admitted once that the warm care Senri's mother surrendered them with reminded her of theirs. He sighed, shook his head, and then headed toward his office, somehow already feeling much lighter.

She does remind me of Cassiopeia, Damon sighed wistfully once he entered the room and closed the door. He hummed curiously while crossing the space and pulling the chair back from the massive desk made of dark red wood. A perfect replica of his previous desk in Rising Stones – torn apart by Senri when his lover briefly couldn't remember him. She was far more caring of me than my own parents ever were. It baffled me and… scared me. Or so do Ares's memories suggested.

Raha winced involuntarily, sitting down heavily, then leaned back against the backrest of the chair and closed his eyes. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that this Damon wasn't precisely the same one who, for more than a century, inhibited his body without letting him , who was far more confident, smug, and excelled at his ability to read others… this new, still recovering Damon sometimes struggled with.

Damon paid the highest price for saving them – that being the lion's share of his soul and memories – and his recovery heavily rested on others' memories of his personality and life.

Why did it scare you? He asked carefully.

The idea was too… alien, I think. And perhaps made it a stark reminder that those who should care for me… didn't. I have much clearer – my own – memories of those who sired me, Raha, and I was nothing but a project for them. And a flawed one, to be sure, his tone grew snide, perhaps to cover old hurt. Far from it. I had no more appreciation for them than they did for my so-called failures, my boy. That being – obviously – my temperament. From Ares's recall, I know they cut their ties with me permanently once my relationship with him became well-known around Amarout. In shame, apparently, and thinking it'll make me 'regain my senses.' What my predecessor wasn't aware of, funnily enough, was that apparently Cassiopeia took offense to that and paid them a visit.

Huh? He hummed, smiling involuntarily when Damon's tone lightened with a familiar note of humor.

She was a fierce spirit, not unlike Rhasa is, my boy. And had very stern ideas about my parents… lacks. While our people considered Ares 'wild,' his attitude had nothing on his mother when she was riled up, Damon chuckled fondly, then sighed. Apparently, Nyx had to pacify his wife after she quite literally insisted on dragging my mother by her hair to my office to apologize… I'm glad he did since I hardly imagine the cringe of witnessing that.

Raha snorted, soon sniggering as he tried to imagine that – especially after all he had heard about their Ancient's stiff society.

Do you suppose he's somewhere out there? He asked after a moment.

Nyx? Or his reincarnation, to be precise? Damon guessed, then sighed again. I don't know, Raha. Considering their Bond, I find it strange that they didn't meet by now. Ares mentioned feeling his father when he freed Venat, so I can only assume that he somehow chose not to be reborn and instead remained in the aetherial sea to watch over his sister. Reasonably or not, when alive, he felt very indebted to Venat, as she did to him – both unaware that his innate gift was partially to blame for their undeniable bond. That's why I hesitate to ask her the same question I did the Scions, though.

About immortality? He asked.

Mhmm. Perhaps he's waiting for her in there so they can meet in another life. I know how it sounds, Damon chuckled at himself, then sighed again. Ares may joke I'm a sap when it comes to those things, but I would feel terrible if I repaid their care by permanently separating their souls.

I see, Raha frowned, then exhaled deeply and rubbed his face. Gods, I'm tired.

Take a nap, boy; I'll wake you when they bring dinner. You'll need your strength, Damon pressed, and he nodded, if reluctantly. He relaxed in the seat as much as it allowed, then focused on counting his breaths.

He was out before he realized he was falling asleep.

"Too late," Hythlodaeus muttered sadly, leaning over the battered crib. He felt like weeping, delicately touching the delicate cheek.

And admittedly, he nearly jumped back in fright when the eyes in the small face snapped open – far too bright and intelligent for a year-old infant – and focused on his face.

"I don't know what happened," the elderly female behind him lamented when Hyth's jaw dropped. "He was always such a sweet and calm child, this one. He started crying at dawn, and before I knew he went stiff and cold…"

"What's his name?" he heard Venat ask the female calmly from far away, but he was unable to move, staring into the familiar pair of blue eyes.

"Don't have one," the elderly nurse replied. "It's bad luck to name little ones. Scares the potential parents away sometimes. This one was here a moon at most, but he was so malnourished when we found him that we weren't thinking of putting him up for adoption for another moon or so. Then this…" the headmistress of the orphanage at the edge of the wastes in Mercydia sounded genuinely remorseful when Hythlodaeus cleared his throat and straightened to look at his companion. Venat, dressed like a Mercydian medic – an excuse they used to enter the building after picking up the spike of ice aether in the vicinity – smiled with sympathy at the female but reacted swiftly when he motioned toward her.

"We should take him to examine what caused the.. death," he said out loud, to cover her surprised gasp but didn't miss the way her whole being stilled or the tears that sprang in her eyes – brighter but nearly identical to the boy's.

"Y-Yes," she murmured, adjusting swiftly to use her body to keep the woman from seeing the infant's open eyes. Hythlodaeus nodded to himself, then moved back and took hold of the woman's arm, pulling her out of the room

"He was such a sweet boy," the elderly Keeper sighed, and he unconsciously nodded in agreement while letting his mind run ahead.

He wasn't yet sure, but he saw those blue eyes far too many times not to recognize them. And heard enough from both Ares and Damon – not to mention Venat – about from who did Azem inherited them. The issue was that he was quite certain that his initial guess was correct, and when he leaned over the crib, the tiny Keeper of the Moon was dead. His soul was torn by the elements before their arrival.

Did that wake his Ancient, then leave him in the body alone once the boy's soul passed?

He didn't doubt that Venat would use the privacy he provided to cast the Ward, securing the body, but what did it mean in this case? Immortal born mortal, missing the host?

He shook his head, smiled at the woman, and focused on steering her toward her office – eager to take over the custody of the 'deceased.'

Hythlodaeus figured that they'd have time to figure out the details later… or so he hoped, praying involuntarily that he wasn't wrong.