Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43 l
Chapter 44 l Chapter 45 l Chapter 46 l Chapter 47

Zepherina

It’s been very hard to keep my thoughts straight, lately.

It’s why I was meditating in the basement of the Capitol building.

I’ve been reading through my own journal entries because I feel like these days it’s more consistent than my own memories. That is why I started taking the notes, after all.

But, even if the journal is a disorganized string of ramblings, it is slightly better than my own head, sometimes.

What prompted all of these thoughts? Oh, right. Everyone is waking up. The last one seemed to be Demond.

I know that’s both good and bad.

When the battle had been finished, and we had our moment of victory, I was shocked when my Mom appeared.

Standing there with her bident, a bizarre look on her face as she looked at us. Sorrow, mourning and expectation.

I thought I was going to just get a pat on the back and my hair ruffled as she congratulated us on our victory.

I recalled falling to the ground, my strength draining from me. My body became younger, shrinking. I saw the towering column of light behind Mom. I thought I was dying along with the world.

I mean, I was, sort of. But remade, not dying.

Once I saw the light rush towards me, my next memory was waking up in bed in my 8-year-old body and talk about being shocked.

I was a kid again!

Mom and Momma came by and explained what was happening to me and I was pretty pissed.

I remembered everything, I didn’t have a ‘predesigned’ life, as Mom called it. I was just starting over again, from 8-years old.

Lucilia, on the other-hand, was aged up.

She was four years old.

Okay, maybe not the biggest age up, but that’s where we started.

Ragna, my Mom, said the Guardians gave Her a task. She was to shepard all the damned souls of Hell towards redemption.

In exchange, She was going to have time to raise us together, as a family.

To accommodate this, She went backwards in time to rearrange some events.

For me, it was going through some of the worst parts of my life all over again.

Theodora? She still died. I was just as enraged, maybe more-so, but I was much less brutal than I was before.

I knew what I was doing, where I was going and the end goal.

Ragna said that those who were felled, good or bad, would all get another chance soon - so that I shouldn’t care about casualties.

I’m unsure if her Godhood has made Her more, or less empathetic, but that comment alone was fairly horrifying.

Penthesil still became the global power.  We consolidated almost everyone and everything, except for China, Russia and Pakistan.

A New Iron Curtain was established for the most part for those states, at least until the Demonic Incursion came along.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

The awakening of those in the Guardian Temple was something Mom told me about.

Wait, now that she’s God, is that ‘Foretold’?  Ugh…

Anyway: People waking up means that the forces of Hell are now consolidated.

Those who remained in Hell, the Lords of Hell and Avatars of Sin? They were told that they had to stay their hand until everyone who was part of the final battle had awakened.

So far, most of them are now awake.

Demond and Rasper were the most recent to awaken. That leaves only Timothy and Sofia… I hope they stay the way they are. That way the devastated forces of Hell wouldn’t be trying anything until Timothy and Sofia remember.

Besides the whole “Hell’s leaders can’t do anything” aspect, Timothy is dating Sofia, and starting to experience a normal life. To some, that sounds boring, but for me it’s such an exciting idea.

I wonder, briefly, what it would be like to have that. To just be normal.

I mean, okay fine, Timothy isn’t normal per-say.

Timothy is still heir to the seat of the Metatron, but he has the luxury of waiting for our Mother Rachel to grow old and pass on before he needs to worry about that.

For all we know, he could have a kid with Sofia by then and pass that burden to the next generation.

As I thought about this, I flexed my hand, slowly removing my gauntlet.

My palm still bore the Seal of the Scribe Lord, or the Seal of Solomon. Whatever you’d want to call it, there it was.

Etched ominously into my palm, like a brand, taunting me.

It’s why I couldn’t be the leader of Penthesil after the Demonic Wars finally ended. I knew I’d give that up to Lucilia thanks to meeting myself in the Tower of Mourning, but now I knew why I had to give it up.

It’s my job to protect the world. To be its defender, not its leader.

A title that comes with great personal risk and a gnawing temptation of power.

I closed my fist.

Kriggary was the first Scribe Lord and he became Xyphiel. It wasn’t instant, it was slow and gradual.

I looked up to the massive seal that lay dormant under the statue that was all that remained of Kriggary Misho.

It was quiet here and I seemed to be the only one who could enter this section of the Capitol building. It was a sanctuary where I could reflect in private, a luxury these days.

Lucilia can’t see it and she can’t see down here. She says I ‘Disappear’ whenever I enter the Sanctuary, like the Guardian Temple.

Within the Sanctuary and the Guardian Temple, Lucilia can’t see. Lucilia complained of this to me once, or let it slip, that even with our mother Rachel’s help, she couldn’t see.

Personally, I think this has to do with Vael. Vael’s not too keen on technology, and despite Lucilia’s best efforts, all attempts to open communications between The Guardian Temple and Penthesil always failed.

Well, failed or resulted in stern warnings from Vael to the tune of: “Only the worthy or lost may enter the Temple. To permit those whom are not chosen to seek those who are within, is heresy.”

The only exception seems to be my mother.  Rachel, of course, would never be one to give up her nanities. Even when taking on the role of Metatron, she said that they would enhance her abilities.

Mom even tried to convince her, giving her a couple of years with us as a family before, finally, the injury came that would lead to our momma having the Nanite procedure.

While she was certainly more humble than I recalled, she was still Momma. Queen Rachel Hyppolite of Penthesil.

Granted, Momma wasn’t brutal like she was in my previous memories. She never killed anyone and the law that anyone could challenge the Queen for her throne with a battle to the death was never made real.

The Queen of Penthesil had real respect, thanks to our grandmother. I still never got to meet her, by the way.

It’s said Ragna came much sooner in this version of reality, and so Ragna became Empress of Penthesil, even before I was born.

Still, an assassination attempt is what started the whole war with Penthesil and the rest of the world proper.

There were certain events Mom told me I could not change. Theodora had earned her place in the Ageian Fields, because of that, her death couldn’t be undone. It sucked, but… I knew when she was going to leave.

I made the most of the time I could with her.

You’d think that would make things easier, right? No. Not in the least.

I think that’s why I got as angry as I did.

Knowing that in death I’d never get to see Theodora again, that she’d be beyond my reach forever.

My mom, as a note, was very helpful in this. For her, she’s lost countless friends and those she’d considered family, some who she’d never see again.

Even now, as the stand-in for the Guardians, or God.

I slowly stood up, looking at Kriggary, “Time to get going. I’ll stop by to visit again soon.” I whispered softly.

I was unsure if the statue could hear me. If there really was anything left of Kriggary. Did that tiny sliver of him that I pulled from Xyphiel burn away when he made the Seal?

I couldn’t be sure.

Whether the warm peace I felt here was just my own emotions or if it stemmed from Kriggary, I wasn’t sure.

Personally, I didn’t need to know.

I turned and made my way up the stairs.

“I should have known you would be down there,” Lucilia’s voice echoed in my mind.

“It’s either there, or the Temple, little sister,” I responded.

“We are speaking prior to this event, yes? I’d hope I could get your attention, at least for that long,” Lucilia complained.

I sighed.

Lucilia was every bit my sister, in that she was the full fledged daughter of Ragna and Rachel.

So, every personality trait I found insufferable in my parents, plus insecurities of a young adult, had been rolled into one.

It didn’t help that, despite growing up with her as a child, I still had my adult mindset and memories.

The age gap was pretty clear, is my point. “I am very confident you can handle this, because I know you. I’m on my way, of course. No reason to panic.”

“I am not panicking!” Lucilia countered, clearly panicking.

This was going to be Lucilia’s first time addressing the nation and the first day I would announce the end of Martial Law and the beginning of Lucilia’s administration.

Despite everything she had, she was nervous.

“Are you in your small quarters?” I asked. That would be the small container that Lucilia would rest in to perform her simulcasts, as I called them.

Our mother Rachel had told Lucilia about the dangers of replicating herself, so the chamber’s main point was just to allow Lucilia to have her consciousness reaching out to multiple places at the same time.

Well, to us it seemed that way. For Lucilia, with a brain mixed with nanties that had grown with her, and were beyond anything even my Mom Ragna could cook up, it was just her doing a lot of tasks all at once.

“…Yes,” Lucilia admitted.

By the time she had done-so, I had reached Lucilia’s room and found her in the large cylinder.

The front was a frosted glass, the rest all brushed steel reaching from the floor to the ceiling at a very slight angle.

“Mind coming out?” I asked.

Lucilia’s cylinder opened with a hiss, a flood of fog which cascaded across the floor and multiple LEDs, beeps and hydraulics powering down.

“I don’t see why I cannot just do the announcement from here,” Lucilia’s voice called out as she stepped gingerly out from the vessel.

Lucilia was barefoot, though her body was covered in a form fitting bodysuit from her ankles up to her neck.

Her shoulders and arms were bare, Lucilia’s black wings slipped out, glinting with an iridescent shimmer as her long red hair swung down around her face.

I smiled at her as her violet eyes shifted from the swirling, crawling set of nanites to what some would consider normal iris’s.

“Welcome back to the real world there, Neo,” I chuckled.

Lucilia rolled her eyes, “What is with you and classic movies?”

My eye twitched slightly as she jabbed at my age, “Some things are timeless, Lucilia.”

“Yes yes, Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis,” Lucilia said facetiously, walking towards her closet, “What’s the proper attire?”

I smiled, “Whatever you think is proper, you’re going to be Empress.”

She fretted near the closet as she went through her options, “What did Mom wear when She was Empress?”

“Times change, huh?” I chuckled.

Lucilia glared at me, arms crossed, “You’re the one insisting I do this in person! I could just do it remotely,” she scoffed as she turned to the closet, “Like I always do.”

“Oh calm down,” I walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, “Pretty sure Mom wore whatever She wanted,” I grinned a bit, recalling some of Mom’s flashier outfits. The armor paying homage to Alexander the Great was always a favorite of mine.

“You are maddeningly unhelpful,” Lucilia griped, “You’re supposed to be my big sister… I could use some sisterly advice!”

“Now who’s quoting old movies?” I snickered as I  walked over to her and hugged her, “Settle down.”

Lucilia froze for a second, sighed and hugged me back.

“That’s my advice,” I said, smiling at the much shorter Lucilia. She took after my mother Rachel, heightwise.

Lucilia rested her head on my shoulder, “…Okay, so, I’m not panicking but I am nervous.”

“Explain the difference?” I asked, smiling down at her.

Lucilia rubbed her exposed bicep and looked to the floor, “…I’m not afraid. Does that make sense? I’m not scared but I’m… worried? Excited? I don’t know how to explain it.”

“You just never expect it to really happen, couldn’t imagine it even though we planned for it for years and now that it’s happening you’re feeling a bit anxious, that’s all,” I said, trying not to diminish Lucilia’s misgivings.

Lucilia was normally very analytical. I mean, why wouldn’t she be? She’s got advanced cybernetics.

She told me once that I had a cold or something because she detected a ‘biological virus incursion attempt’. Then spent the entire day ‘reinforcing’ her immune system.

Seeing this much raw emotion from Lucilia was rare.

“But I knew this was happening! Why is it right now, mere hours before we go out there, that I am so… flustered?!” Lucilia complained.

I laughed, “Because you’re not a machine?”

Lucilia looked up at me, her eyes shifting to their nanite infused state, “Really?”

“Yes, really. You aren’t. You have some machines in you, but that’s not what defines you,” I smiled, “It refines you, slightly.”

Lucilia closed her eyes, opening them again to appear normal, “…Thank you.”

“Anytime. Now get dressed, okay?” I grinned at her.

“Okay,” Lucilia sighed, turning to her wardrobe, “One crisis at a time…”

“And do not simulate the effects your outfits will have on specific demographics,” I advised her, “Just wear what you want.”

Lucilia nodded, her eyes scanning the wardrobe meticulously, likely against my suggestions.

…

I stood at the Capitol’s massive balcony, before a massive crowd of reporters and citizens of the Empire.

Mothers, daughters, citizens and soldiers all.

I cleared my throat, “It’s been several years since the demonic incursion and I know that we all lost a lot. But I’m proud to say, with the efforts of our esteemed soldiers, the cooperation of our religious leaders, and the diligence of every citizen of the Empire, we can finally declare the war against the demonic forces, over!”

The crowd reacted, cheering, flashing photos as the cameras rolled. I simply smiled.

“As the war is over, so is the Martial Law I imposed, under authority of my Mom, Empress Ranga, forever Her soul rests in power,” I said, giving the crowd a moment to pause.

I could hear a large portion of the crowd repeat, ‘May Her soul rest in power.’

Much like the ‘Amen’ of the Empire now. I’d be concerned if not for the fact that, well, Mom was basically God now.

“With the end of Martial Law, comes the return of your local elections and the restoration of statehood for many of the Empire’s Nation States,” I stated concisely. The authority in my tone was firm and I was keeping myself as calm as I could.

I was getting increasingly excited because I had rehearsed this a million times in front of the mirror.

I was about to pull the rug out from the entire population and it was going to be epic. “I am sure all of you expected this announcement. I would also like to announce that I am abdicating my rightful claim as Empress to the Penthesilian Empire’s throne.”

There was a long deafening silence. After what felt like forever, growing slowly at first as a murmur and escalating into a roar, the crowd began to roil into a fervor. Yet more cameras flashed, the reporters were all looking back and forth from their notes, staring at me in shock and confusion, as they were forced to draw up questions on the fly.

After a few moments I lifted up my hand to compel the crowd to silence.

“I am a General and I plan to remain one henceforth. As such, I do not believe my time as the leader of our armed forces will translate properly to managing the Nation States in peacetime,” I explained, my eyes looking out to the crowd.

The shock on everyone’s face was an odd sort of satisfaction and I realized why Mom always liked her big flashy announcements.

They were fun.

“That is why,” I continued, “from this day forward, Princess Lucilia Hyppolite, my sister, will be crowned as your new Empress of the Penthesilian Empire.”

Oh man, did they start to panic and freak out!

Everyone knew I would announce the end of Marital Law, yes. They were also expecting me to take on the official role of Empress.

No one expected me to give up my power.

I turned to let Lucilia take the podium.

To her credit, she had put on something that was similar to what Mom would wear, but her own style none-the-less.

The armor was light, just a pair of plate shoulder guards. Her coat had five huge brass buttons closing over her left side, starting from the left shoulder and ending in the middle. Mom liked those asymmetrical looks for some reason. The fabric was heavy wool, a dark royal blue hue, along with a simple short collar.

A small silver chain ran from her breast pocket to the central seam of the coat, hooking just under the third button. Slacks and thigh-high boots seemed to be the normal sort of thing to wear around Penthesil and Lucilia was no exception.

On her head was an ornate, but thin, crown. Platinum with a smattering of crowned jewels, a tanzanite gem at the center.

Lucilia walked up to me, as she made her way towards the podium.

I hugged her and whispered into her ear, “You got this.”

Lucilia hugged back. After the embrace, she held me at arms length and locked her eyes on me. She gave me a firm nod and a slight smile, before she moved to the podium herself to address the masses.

“My people, thank you,” Lucilia announced to the crowd.

Many clapped and shouted, but Lucilia continued to speak over them.

“I know that maybe I am new to you. Apart from my relationship to my sister General Zepherina Hyppolite.You know her great work protecting this grand Empire, and our entire world, but little of me. I want to express that General Zepherina will continue to protect us all, that I will be here to manage your matters of state. I will facilitate the elections of your local representatives, the formations of your parliaments and senates, as well as hear all of your wants and desires. I will work to show you all why it is that my sister has chosen me for this all-important role. I promise you that, under my leadership, we shall all find prosperity and peace.”

There was uproarious applause and I smiled as Lucilia gave her first public address.

I heard a door close behind me and turned to see the Guardian Temple door just standing there.

It was far back from the podium and the balcony where none from the ground could see it. I slowly walked towards it and reached for the heavy handle.

I opened it and stepped inside, finding Vael waiting in the threshold of the foyer for me.

“Greetings, Scribe Lord,” Vael chimed.

I closed the door behind me, “Vael? Did you summon me?”

“Indirectly, yes I have,” Vael informed.

“Who told you to summon me? There’s an extremely important event occurring,” I quipped.

In a contest of ‘who’s the more logical automaton’ I sometimes wondered who would win between Lucilia and Vael.

Both were young, both were highly intelligent, though Vael did often have a stoicism to them that was beyond most.

“Again, no direct order came to summon you and your sister. I made this decision because it was the most likely desire of our Lord,” Vael said, “And to expedite the current visitation, before it causes further complications.”

I was about to say something before I saw Mom walking out with my mother, heading from the Guardian Chambers.

“Mom?!” I shouted, rushing towards Ragna.

Mom smiled and opened her arms to me.

I hugged her tight, squeezing her firmly as I pushed my face into her shoulder, “How long are you here for?!”

“As long as I can manage…” Mom chuckled as she held me.

“Preferably a shorter duration.Your power has grown considerably, My Goddess, and even the confines of the Temple struggle to contain your awesome power,” Vael said, bowing their head, the many eyes on their crows closed in reverence.

Ragna seemed agitated and snapped her fingers, a pulse of power surrounding Vael for a moment, “I trust that’s sufficient to prevent any damage, yes?”

Vael opened their many eyes, now glowing with newfound energy, “It will suffice for the time being, My Goddess. I shall ensure the Guardian Temple is properly fortified to withstand your might.”

With that, Vael vanished.

“Vael summoned you, didn’t she?” Ragna asked.

“Seems so,” I smiled, “I’m glad she did. How long have you-”

“Just a day,” my mother, Rachel sighed, “So far, anyway.”She glanced around, “Where is your sister?”

“Giving her coronation speech,” I said with a smile.

“Ah,” Rachel said, surprisingly indifferent, “I do hope Vael left the door accessible for your sister as well.”

A few short moments later I heard soft footsteps, “Mom, Mother?!” Lucilia shouted, rushing to Rachel and hugging her tight, “Oh, it’s a little reunion!”

Rachel looked at Lucilia with a small smile, “I heard you just gave a speech…” She looked Lucilia over with a wry grin, “Is that what you wore to address the people?”

Lucilia took a step back and blushed, “Y-Yes.”

Ragna smiled wide, “It’s lovely.”

Rachel, for her part, seemed a bit more reserved, “I do agree… Lucilia, sweetie, I have a few things to talk to you about.  Come, let’s leave Ragna and Zepherina to catch up for a bit.”

Lucilia looked longingly at Ragna.

“Go, I promise we’ll have time together, little one,” Ragna said with a warm smile.

Lucilia beamed and nodded, following Rachel into the Guardian Temple Chambers.

I turned to Ragna, “What was that about?”

“Your mother likely wants to discuss some statehood with your sister,” Ragna smiled, placing her hand on my shoulder, “I’m sure there’s a lot to go over.”

I nodded, “Yeah… So, if you’re here for a visit that means it’s about to start up again?”

Ragna nodded as she walked towards the stairs heading downward, “Yes. Walk with me, Zepherina.”

I nodded and followed.

As Ragna walked, I could see the ground under her boots light up, small cracks forming in the material of the Guardian Temple. The cracks healed slowly after each step.

“…I don’t remember that happening before,” I commented.

Ragna sighed as we walked down the steps, “I’m getting more adapted to the task The Guardians gave me… meaning my ability to exist here is quickly eroding.”

I frowned, looking ahead, “Is this the last time I’ll see you?”

“I wish I had an answer for you, Zepherina, I do,” Ragna sighed as we reached the Overlook, the many stars reaching out before us.

“You must see this all the time,” I chuckled.

Ragna’s eyes scanned the nearly infinite stars before us across the void of space and heaved a sigh, “No, I don’t, actually.”

“What is it like, then?” I asked.

“Everything is everywhere, all at once,” Ragna chuckled, “It’s a terrible way to describe it. Sifting through things takes so long… And to add to the matter, the better I get at it, the further away from time and space I become,” Ragna turned to me, “I’m not even certain how many times I’ve visited you, since I left you all to begin my service.”

“This is the fifth time, actually,” I smiled.

Ragna chuckled, “To me, it’s the 2nd. So, if I’m behind on things, I’m sorry,” she shook her head, “You’ve probably told me so much but that was, to me, something that would happen later. I came when I did today because I’m trying to prevent another catastrophic event.”

“Like a major flood?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow, “I thought the Guardian Temple Angels handled that.”

“The Guardian Temple Angels handle the works that I give to your mother. From there they prevent things from reaching catastrophic levels, at least on a universal scale,” Ragna sighed, “It’s why what I did to the Temple the first time was so detrimental.”

“The first time?” I asked.

Ragna held out her hand, a sphere appearing. At the center, was a tiny representation of the Guardian Temple, “This is the seed of all creation for this universe. The Guardian Temple remains as the linch-pin that holds it all together.”

I saw cracks form in the Guardian Temple replica within her palm.

“Damage to the Guardian Temple can have lasting repercussions, as a result,” I saw the sphere growing dark in some places, cracks forming along the surface.

“Damage?” I asked.

“When I destroyed the Guardian Temple in my mortal life, I caused this,” she showed me the sphere, “From that point onward, a tear was forming in reality. Slowly growing worse.”

More cracks formed in the Guardian Temple as it grew dark, with more cracks appearing in the sphere around it.

“Timothy did well to stop it, of course,” I watched the Temple slowly change. Growing whiter, the cracks almost vanishing. The cracks in the sphere did not. “But the damage was done… That was the first thing I had to do. Repair the cracks. It’s why I kept some Angels here and others left.”

“Who left?” I asked, “and when?”

“From here forward, Zepherina, the guard has officially changed hands,” Ragna sighed, looking out to the vast sea of stars. “Uriel has all but vanished. He did so the moment The Guardians stated They were leaving. The Underworld is now managed entirely by my Mother, Persphone. Though, of course, I know she’ll keep Sheol in good condition,” Ragna smiled, the cracks vanishing in the small sphere in her hand.

“Did anyone stay?” I asked, wondering if the ArchAngels would still be around from here on out.

“To my shock, Gabriel did,” Ragna chuckled, “Though it wasn’t for me. I believe they had someone who wanted to remain, and as such, Gabriel decided to remain here. A Reaper by the name of, Elon.”

“Really? I thought the Angels were loyal to a fault,” I forced a smile, “But, that Gabriel stayed for Elon, that makes sense.”

“Well, I was rather surprised,” Ragna said with a faraway look, “Gabriel was no fan of me, truth be told. They were disgusted with the news that I would be allowed to speak to The Guardians. They had some… chorus lyrics to sing to me as I left them for my audience with The Guardians.”

“But…?” I asked, waiting for the rest of her story.

“But, Gabirel came back to me, apologized and asked to remain in this world. I told them I had no issues and would appreciate their help,” Ragna turned to me, “As a reward, and a show of no hard feelings, Gabriel now holds Michael’s previous position as the ArchAngel.”

“Oh,” I blinked, shocked, “Wow.”

Ragna chuckled, “Yes. As you can imagine, there were some other promotions,” Ragna’s gaze remained set on the stars in the distance, “A certain Reaper now holds Gabriel’s previous position.”

I smiled, “You mean, Elon?”

Ragna nodded.

“So, the Winter Brothers are both Angels, huh?” I chuckled.

“Yes,” Ragna sighed, “It doesn’t mean everything is going to be easy for you.”

My smile faded, “I know. This is when things are going to get tougher.”

“I need you and the others to focus on redemption. The more souls who go back to The Guardians and to Heaven, the less forces Hell has,” Ragna explained.

“Right…” I sighed, “Mom, what happens when all the souls of Hell are judged?”

“Neo-Genesis,” Ragna said firmly.

“The what?” I frowned.

“A turning point, spiritually, where all new births will have fresh souls. Those new souls will be made in my image,” Ragna turned to me, “it will be subtle, but a clear shift.”

“So, you can have the new souls worshiping you directly?”  I asked.

“Well, more souls, yes,” Ragna chuckled.

I gave her a quizzical look, “The people of Penthesil respect you, but not many worship you as a Goddess, yet. Do they?” I asked.

“It’s not them… oh…” Ragna chuckled, turning to me, “Right. You’ve not met the others yet.”

“Met the others?” I asked, my curiosity peaked.

“Now, now,” Ragna placed her hands on my shoulders, “All in due time, you’ll meet them soon enough,” Ragna smiled at me, “Come on, let’s go find your mother and sister, we don’t have much time.”

We headed back up the stairs and saw my mother and Lucilia walking towards us.

“Do remember what I said, dear,” Rachel said to Lucilia, “Now, go say hello to your Mom.”

Lucilia nodded and rushed Ragna. Jumping into the air, “Mami!!” Lucilia shouted in child-like glee.

Ragna caught her and spun Lucilia around, “Oh, there’s my little one…!”

I turned my attention to Rachel, “Did Mom tell you She was coming?”

“No,” Rachel said, her eyes fixed on Ragna, “She works in mysterious ways.”

“Mmmhmm,” I shook my head, “What did you tell Lucilia?” I asked.

“Just some advice on how to best handle certain cultures and situations,” Rachel said simply.

“All that in like, a few minutes?” I chuckled.

Rachel’s icy blue eyes shifted into swirls of tiny nanties for a moment as she smiled to me, “Minutes for you, perhaps.”

A chill ran up my spine.

The nanites always gave me the creeps. How mother and Lucilia could be so comfortable with those things inside them always baffled me.

“So, advice, I guess?” I asked.

Rachel closed her eyes and sighed, turning to face the large angelic statues adorning the foyer, “My only time to escape this place. To commune with Lucilla and see what’s really out there. But yes, advice as well.”

I frowned, “Escape?”

My mother chuckled, “Zepherina… Do you think I wanted this?” She turned to me, her face falling, “My mother had a plan for me. A destiny. One I never wanted. Yet, despite my wants and desires, she foisted it upon me. Even in my death, when she took on my sins to allow me into Heaven, why do you think The Guardians allowed for such a thing?”

I frowned, “I thought because, as your mother, Saint Dinah pleaded to Them and offered to suffer your punishment in your place.”

Rachel scoffed, “I doubt she’s suffering. If she is, I have no pity for her.” She crossed her arms, her wings wilting, “The mortal realm is the last place I wanted to be. I would rather be in Heaven with Ragna, not this place. It’s nothing but a prison for me, made by my mother. I’m certain she knew of this outcome, or at least that it was a possibility.” Rachel’s tone had grown accusatory, “Oh, She had no qualms condemning me to the task of the Metatron.”

“Mami, it’s not that bad,” I tried to force a smile, “You get to talk to Mom all the time.”

Rachel rolled her eyes, “No. I hear Her edicts. Occasionally they will come with a comforting message for me, or a pet name, but they are edicts to be enacted by the slowly growing forces of the restored Guardian Temple Angels.” She shook her head, “They’re not even all here yet, by the way.”

“Who’s not all here yet?” I questioned.

“The other Nephilim who will serve as the Angels of the Guardian Temple,” Rachel clarified, moving a strand of long red hair from her face in annoyance.

“I’m still confused. You’re not a prisoner here, you’re the one in charge of the Temple!” I said happily.

“In charge?” Rachel scoffed, “Tell me, dear: Can you leave the Capitol whenever you desire?”

“Well, yes-” I tried to add before Rachel interrupted.

“That is a luxury I do not have,” Rachel growled, “Unlike you and your sister, I am bound to this place.”

“But everyone here has to do what you say,” I added, “It doesn’t seem so bad.”

“A beautiful prison is still a prison,” Rachel countered, “Yes, I can ask Vael to do anything I’d like. Make me a new bed, redesign my chair, produce whatever I desire. But I cannot leave and I cannot speak to all my children.”

That’s when it struck me, “Wait, is that why Lucilla can’t see inside the Guardian Temple?”

Rachel nodded, “Yes. That is Vael’s doing. There’s no distrust, just preventing me from speaking to anyone without officially bringing them to the Temple, under supervision and extreme scrutiny,” Rachel’s eyes locked on mine, “Why do you think an Angelic Construct as potent as Vael was allowed to exist here, despite her mere existence being a paradox?”

I frowned, “I don’t know.”

“Because I required a proper jailer,” Rachel said, her fist clenching, “One even I couldn’t circumvent. Though, I must admit,” she smiled wryly, “It is flattering that I required such a potent and elaborate prison to keep me bound.”

I shook my head, “Mami, you cannot consider this place a prison or your job a sentence.”

“But it is, my sweet daughter,” Rachel’s face fell, “I never wanted this. I wanted to be free. But your grandmother got her final wish. Here I am. Doing exactly what I did not want,” Rachel’s gaze turned to Ragna, “As I watch my lovely Ragna slowly grow further and further away.”

I frowned, glancing at my mom, Ragna.

“She’s different, newer this time, but every other time she changes,” Rachel said softly. “Her concepts of time and space are warping the more time she spends tending to the wounds she inflicted on the universe. The more time she spends remaking the universe, the farther and more distant your Mom grows. This? This is a welcome change,” Rachel sighed.

Ragna and Lucilla were speaking happily and I did notice Mom was far more open and emotional than the last time she visited.

Lucilla was so happy.

“It’s torture,” Rachel hissed.

I turned to her, frowning.

“But,” Rachel said, taking a deep breath, “I know it’s deserved.  My mother took the memories of my sins, yes. But that doesn’t make me unaccountable for them,” she glanced at me, “I’ll tell you an interesting secret, dear daughter.”

I turned to Rachel, my attention fixed on what she spoke to me.

“It’s not God, or the Angels, who reject or keep souls from Heaven,” Rachel said softly, “It’s the weight of their sin. Uriel was a cruel and harsh judge not because he is vicious or spiteful, but because he had to measure against what souls could, or could not, walk across the fields of Heaven.”

I blinked, confused, “Wait, what do you mean?”

“It means it’s sin, my daughter, that keeps us from Heaven. Sin and sin alone that drags us from the highest of places,” Rachel chuckles, “You don’t even have to praise a deity to enter the Heavens. You just need to be righteous, good and remorseful of your ill deeds. Though there was a system in place to more effectively remove sin, it was the sin alone that would damn a soul for eternity.”

“What system removes sin?” I asked.

“Forgiveness,” Rachel said softly. It was the most sincere I had ever seen her. “It’s through forgiveness you can remove sin and nothing else. True forgiveness, by the way, a deep and sincere effort to right your wrongs,” she looked to the large angelic statues, “No one is perfect, certainly. Everyone makes mistakes. But it’s the effort you go through to undo them that will actually save your soul. Not whom you pray to.”

I smiled softly at Rachel. I rarely saw this side of her. “That’s… kind of nice to know, Mami.”

Rachel heaved a sigh, “And a final truth to give you, as your Mom already imparted it to me. You and I share a lost knowledge, it would seem.”

I felt a sinking feeling as Rachel spoke, “I think I know what you mean.”

A more serious tone moved through Rachel’s voice, “One of my sins, it seems, was in raising a child with resentment. A child I do not remember. Either born of Xyphiel or another, I know I cannot, and should not recall, from either of my memories.”

“So, I do have an older sister?” Ever since I spoke to Rasper, I knew there was something off.

Rachel pulled me close, whispering softly, “Do not speak her name, should you hear it,” she glanced at Ragna and then back to me, “And should you hear that name at some point, treat it with fear and caution. Tread carefully. For whatever reason it is, Ragna has said we cannot know of her. If even your Mom is wary, I do not wish for you to cross her path.”

I nodded. An odd sort of De’ja vu came over me as I wondered, briefly, if I had fought this sister before.

I must have. But I must have won. Which would mean that she’d likely be out for vengeance, “I’ll be careful, Mami.”

Rachel nodded, “Be careful going forward, my dear.” She took a step back, “Because with your Mom making Her arrival as she has, it means that the awakening is complete.”

I smiled, “Timothy’s not going to wake up?”

Rachel shook her head, “He will wake up if he is needed,” she glanced at Ragna, “Pray we do not need Timothy or the Avatar of Samael in the future, Zepherina.”

Ragna turned to us, noticing our tone, “Enough of that. Come on, I don’t have much time and you all will have plenty to ruminate on what your tasks are going forward.” She approached me, Her hand moving to my shoulder, “How about a family dinner? I haven’t eaten in…” my Mom paused, “I can’t even quantify it.”

Lucilla smiled, “Kabob?”

“Lamb sounds nice right about now, actually,” Ragna chuckled, her smile weakening, “Oddly fitting, but nice.”

I smiled as Lucilla, my Mom Ragna and Mother Rachel walked towards the dining area. I felt a roiling mixture of emotions.

Fear for what was to come.

Joy for what I was about to have with my family.

Regret over the friends I had lost along the way to get here.

But one thing was certain in my mind: This was the start of the real work.

Restoring more than just the Guardian Temple. Rather, restoring the souls of the forsaken and the damned so they can be redeemed.

I felt the Seal of the Scribe Lord grow warm in my hand, and I sighed, as I swear I could hear a calm, soft voice speaking to me.

“The Scribe Lord is the protector of Creation. Creation’s protector must have faith, but know more than that, I placed my faith in you, little one.”

I smiled, looking at my hand, the seal hidden under my glove. I walked to join my family, looking at my Mom as the final words of my grandfather, Kriggary Misho, echoed in my ears.

“For what it’s worth, you will always have my Eternal Faith.”

I smiled, looking out at my family as I felt love and hope swell within me, “It’s worth more to me than you’d ever know,” I smiled, “Grandpa.”