Cyana

I looked over the city as the lights shone like the stars in the heavens, I couldn't do anything but see the progress of the city year by year. Seeing the cabins, churches being torn down for newer better buildings, to see all the dirt roads that I ran throughout my life get paved with stone. The only things that stayed the same were the heavens above and the spirit of the people. "I'm not sure what I would have done without this sight every year."

I continued to look out the window of the high rise building as the woman I was waiting for entered her own office. While I am in sprite form and don't have a physical body, I'm still able to make myself seen and heard. The woman dropped her glass of water at the sight of me. And instantly bowed her head. I could only sigh.

"Please raise your head, I'm not a fan of such actions towards me. At the end of the day even the great hero Cyana is just another Minoan." I said as to ease the tension between us.

The woman known as Pallas raised her head, but it was still clear that she was on guard similar to how a soldier would treat their superior.

"I will fully admit that I'm surprised that you are believing that the hero 400 years dead is in front of you. Why do you show no distrust? You were attacked a few days ago were you not? " I asked.

Pallas didn't answer right away. "It's because every year we have reports of people seeing you and... I remember one year as a child when I was visiting the Tomb of the Twelve Heroes, for a moment I felt as if I saw you. The posture, the face, the spirit. All of it is like how I remembered."

Small red stains started to form around Pallas's eyes. I moved closer to Pallas lowering so we are about the same height. I knew what was going to happen but I tried reaching my hand out in front of her. She tried to touch it but she phased through it as if it wasn't there.

"Sadly I can't touch anyone in this form. It would take a great deal of energy to physically touch you and I need this energy in case of an event that even the people might struggle against." I said.

"You don't need to concern yourself with us, dear hero. You have done more than enough for us Minoans, you bring us much hope, courage and peace to all of us. To everyone in Minos you and the other Eleven are truly heroes." Pallas said.

All I could do was look at her eyes and noticed something in them and his.

"For two people who said similar things about me both of your eyes tell something different." I said.

"Who might this other person be Lady Cyana?" Pallas asked me.

"It would be the boy Apollo. he said something similar a few days ago regarding me but his eyes were like someone awaiting judgment or something along those lines, but at the end of the day he didn't have the eyes of a sane person." I said.

Pallas didn't say anything but rather walked towards the window that held an amazing view of the festival below. "I find that hard to believe, out of all the members of Rhodes Island I spent most of my team enjoying his company. Rather in each conversation we had he seemed perfectly normal, actually we had a lot in common when it came to heroes."

Pallas continued to look out the window while taking a deep breath. "If you believe that he isn't sane then could that mean that I'm also not in my right mind. As I said before, both of us idolize heroes or at least look up to them. If we share similar qualities then would I also lose my sanity?"

I took a moment to think about what Pallas just said before responding. "I wasn't ever the smartest or wisest person out of the Twelve, that would squarely go to Athena. However what I sees in Apollo I don't see in you. It felt as if Apollo had come to many revelations about himself and others for better or worse." I said.

Pallas didn't say anything, only stared out the window to the busy city below.

"I leave you with two things to say. You should send a recovery team towards the mountains in the north, something landed there a while ago that should be kept under careful eyes." I started to move towards the window phasing through it. "Secondly I have complete faith that you will handle all your matters with care that is needed. After all, you are one of the head priestesses of Minos" I walked away from the building before Pallas could say anything, I'm not good with talking like this. Even with all the loose screws I'm glad Apollo was casual with me in all of our conversations..

The following morning came as Pallas, Apollo and the team he came here with were standing outside of Pallas's office. I stood to the side making sure that I wasn't visible to anyone but I wouldn't be surprised if Apollo had an inkling that I was here.

"I would like to thank you all for your efforts protecting me, I've extremely satisfied with how everything went and I hope the Twelve Heroes Festival was to your liking." Pallas said.

Everyone agreed that they enjoyed their time here all for different reasons, the majority of Rhodes Island entered their vehicle as Apollo and Pallas stood out of hearing range.

"I would like to give you something Pallas, it was a joy being here even if I ended up with some minor injuries along the way." Apollo said as he dug into his pocket and pulled out the medallion that he used to communicate with me.

"I will gladly accept the gift." Pallas said as she grabbed it from Apollo.

"Trust me when I say it holds a special surprise for you. Either way I will be seeing you another time if my work allows me." Apollo said.

"Likewise, like the Twelve Heroes bless you and all of Rhodes Island." Pallas said.

"Then I shall pray that the Buddha favors you." Apollo said as he entered the Rhodes Island vehicle.

Seeing that everything has wrapped up I start to walk towards the Tomb deciding to take the scenic route there.

The Ark

Dusk

It's been a few days since Hermes came to stay with me. I allowed the child to wander around the area nearby but I also made sure that I had one of my familiars keep an eye on her. I looked down at the canvas in my hand as there wasn't a single drop of color on it.

"Nothing is coming to mind sadly." I placed the canvas down and walked out of the pond that my feet were in as I walked towards the cabin a small bird familiar flew in front of me.

"Lady Dusk, the Sui Regulators, are here to speak with you." The bird said.

"Have they mentioned what exactly they are here to speak about?" I asked as I made my way down the path where I've had previous conversations with Yan officials.

"Such details they didn't share with me, my lady." The bird replied to me as it perched on my shoulder.

I could only sigh at the reality of the situation, I have a feeling that it is either regarding one of my siblings or that mysterious spear Hermes is in hold of. After some time I'm greeted with two officials. Both wearing an intricate uniform of red, various shades of blue along with a sword at each other's hip.

"It's a pleasure to meet with you Lady Dusk. I don't hope we are bothering you." The older one of the two is a man I'm familiar with who spoke first

"Likewise Regulator Xiao , what is the reason for your visit?" I asked.

"As always, right into business. My student and I are here because we have received word of something crashing here a few days ago. So the department sent us here to investigate.." He said.

"You believe it's connected to Sui since it was near my location?" I asked.

"That is the reasoning behind it. Now would you perhaps have any information regarding this object?" He asked.

I could only sigh. "I do have information regarding the object, but the term 'object' is no longer accurate in this case anymore." I said.

"Could you expand on that Lady Dusk."

This time it was the smaller regulator who spoke, in his hand was a small notepad. His blue hair matches nearly perfectly with the Regulator uniform.

"It would be better to show you instead." I turned around and walked back up the trail, the two regulators followed behind me. Upon reaching the cottage the small child was sitting in front of the door with the spear leaning against the wall.

"A child? I didn't believe people traveled up here besides us that often." Regulator Xiao said.

Hermes noticed us, she grabbed her spear and ran towards us.

"It's good to see you Dusk. Who are these two people?" She asked.

Before I could speak Xiao spoke up.

"We are officers from the Sui Regulators department, we are on good terms with Dusk and most of their siblings. I'm Regulator Xiao and the young boy next to me is my junior."

The smaller Regulator took a step forward. "I apologize for introducing myself early Lady Dusk, I'm Regulator Zuo."

"Hello I currently don't have a name as of now." Hermes said.

"I thought we've chosen to call you Hermes, that's the name you've gone by for the last few days." I said.

"I wanted to talk to you about that, over these last few days I've felt as if the name Hermes doesn't fit me, it felt wrong at least to use it as my first name." Hermes said.

"So what would you like to do by then?" I asked.

"I don't know, but maybe something to remind me of this forest and the one in the painting." She said,

"Then what about Lin, it is a common name in Yan. It can mean forest or woods. Lin Hermes doesn't roll off the tongue but that tends to happen when you mix foreign names with each other. " Xiao said.

"Lin Hermes... I'll accept it." She said,

"Senior Xiao you are getting distracted again." Zuo stated.

"Guess you are right. Well Lady Dusk would tell us about the child since I assume that this child is what crashed landed here?" He asked.

"The child and the spear are connected, as to how I do not know. I can confirm that the spear has nothing to do with me personally but I can't be sure this doesn't involve my other siblings. However the energy the spear gives off is abnormal. " I said.

Zuo stepped forward. "Considering the information we have, I believe it would be wise for us to take Lin to the Ministry of Rites and Sui Regulator departments. Resources there may be able to discover things we can't at the moment."

"That is an idea I approve of. Is this ok with you Lin, Dusk?" Xiao asked.

"I will leave that choice up to Lin." I said.

The Regulators looked at Lin for her answer.

"If it allows me to understand where I came from and learn what this spear means then I'll follow you wherever we have to go." She said,

"Senior Regulator Xiao and I will wait while you get ready." Zuo said.

Xiao gave off a big smile. "Glad everything is resolved smoothly and peacefully. Lin, I hope the cities of Yan treats you well it has tons of place and great food."