At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series
Chapter 19: Playing catch up

We file back into the Manor, all heading for the parlor. I still have to laugh at how this seems to be the focal point for the entire house, with nearly every major event in my life taking place here. I met Beltrok and his children, Miriam, and was told of my heritage. Just so many things have happened in here.

It feels so good to be in here again. It’s still possibly one of my favorite rooms in the entire Manor.

As we all enter the room, Silvi and Velhemina pull me aside. I look up at my sister and aunt, seeing their face forlorn.

“Sorry, Little Wing,” says my sister. “We didn’t mean to restrain you like we did.”

Velhemina nods apologetically. “Rachel told us to hold you back, to ensure you didn’t interfere. We never intended to hurt you.”

Oh Mom… My mother seems to love making sure her point gets across no matter what. She’s always been like this, and to be fair, I was struggling pretty hard with them. She must’ve done the same for my knights and wolves. Mom knew that I would want to jump in and stop her, but according to her, what happened aside had to be done in order for both her and Marron to bring a close to their affair.

She is also right that Marron and I don’t completely know the laws of our coven. It also begs the question, why was such a law implemented so long ago? Did Miriam and the other founders predict something like this would happen? I might never know and to be honest, I don’t really care.

I smile to them. The stinging pain I feel in my arms will fade. What’s more important is that Mom and Marron have reconciled and we can move on from it.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I tell them. “Mom had her reasons and besides,” looking up at Silvi and grins, “have you gotten soft since I’ve been away? I remember your grip being way stronger than that.”

My dragonic sister snorts and grins, reaching down and ruffling my hair with her clawed hand, “Cheeky little hatchling.”

I giggle.

I look to my aunt, “Please don’t feel too bad, auntie. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She smiles, hugging me close, planting a kiss on my head. I smile as they then file me into the parlor with everyone.

Inside I already see Marron and Mom sitting on the couch with my knights sitting opposite of them. At the front of the couch rest my wolves, now shrunken down to the size of large dogs. Heh, Fenris must’ve told her of that rule.

I then see Warwick near the table, no doubt here to come and pick up his children. Which…crap, are still in my room. He smiles and nods to me, holding a cup with steam billowing from it.

I then see the form of a large, old and greying sphinx. I grin, rushing over to Xiphos, hugging my tutor and grandfather. I cling tightly to his greying beard as he in turn holds me close with a massive paw.

“Missed you, Professor.”

He smiles, stroking my hair, “And I you, my little scholar. As with your mother, not a day went by when you were not in my thoughts.”

I smile looking up at him. I can still remember his fight with the younger sphinx. If it weren’t for him, Mom and I would have never stood a chance during that battle. He was so badly injured after dealing with his opponent that it really shifted the flow of the battle. I still wonder how it would have changed if he and Silvi were presently when the battle moved to the driveway.

I cling to his mane, looking into his eyes, still seeing the loving grandfather he’s been to me these past few years. Heh, he’s not the only grandfather I have now.

He smiles, looking into my own. “You seem different, little one. Your presence seems to have changed since the last time I saw you.”

I grin, “That’s part of the story I’m going to tell.” Yep, lots of changes since last July.

He smiles, letting me go as I step back and head over to the couch as the maids wheel in food for us.

I smile, smelling the fresh made food as I sit in between Mom and Marron. Both of my wolves look up at me from the floor. I grin to them, leaning over and stroking their heads, loving my wolf parents. Athena smiles, nuzzling my hand as she looks at me with a mother’s warmth. Fenris groans softly giving me his fatherly pride. I grin at them and then glance at Mom, knowing I really have a lot to talk about.

I quickly pull some hot eggs and sausages onto a plate and Abigale pours fresh-brewed tea into a cup for me. I smile to her as I pick it up and slowly inhale the rich, bitter aroma. Earl Grey¸ still my favorite tea blend. I slowly a take a sip, sighing in elation as the flavor permeates my mouth, soothing me.

I peer up at Marron, who smiles to me, wrapping an arm around me. I grin, leaning into her, happy that she and Mom reconciled. I really do hope she’ll now not feel as apprehensive if we reunite with the rest of the Coven.

“Now,” starts Mom as he places her cup into a plate, “I know of some of your journey in part thanks to your grandmother. I also know you have questions pertaining to me, however I will explain them all after you tell your story, sweetheart.”

I look to her and giggle, “I knew I heard your voice when I called Miriam back in December.”

She looks to me, then chuckles, shaking her head, “Those ears of yours.”

Marron and I both laugh. I still remember feeling my heart leaping when I heard her only saying two words. My mother’s voice is undeniable, no matter how long it’s been since I last heard it.

I smile, “Well, the day we were supposed to travel to Miriam, we were ambushed by Diana. At the end, I opened the fairy road but when I was about to step in, she blasted me from behind and I was sent flying in. I ended up being flung out of it and crashed into a tree branch.”

Mom looks to me with shock and worry only to sigh and nod. Silvi lets out a chuckle, “Hard-headed hatchling.”

I grin to her, “Where do you think I got it from?” She grins back.

I giggle as Marron holds me. I smile, “Marron found me after we were all separated. We were discovered by folks from Ashogihaga, in fact landing a few miles from it.”

“Japan?” exclaims my mother. “You wound up in Japan?”

I grin, nodding. “Yep. In fact we landed in early December.”

Mom looks to me for a moment, her eyes darting about as if she’s putting pieces to a puzzle together and smiles, nodding to me. I’m guessing whatever she was thinking will be part of her story.

Marron strokes my shoulder, “Fenris took Aria and I to her house while Orga and Kateryna were driven to it by Chinjaro-san.” She looks to Mom, “It was perfect for us, small and completely out of the way. Sometime later, both Asha and Yukari soon arrived and immediately went up to see her.” Mom nods as she listens.

I blush softly, vaguely remembering seeing them. Well I was barely conscious thanks to my concussion. I then smile, looking to her, “The first few days were spent at my house just relaxing. We had several of the villagers come by once the storm let up.”

I hear Marron chuckling, “Aria’s little boyfriend braved said storm to come see her our second morning there.” I blush deeply still feeling embarrassed that Kenji did.

Mom gasps and smiles, looking to me, “I wager he was a gentleman when he came.”

Marron rocks her head. “Well…she was a bit unconscious at the time, but we made sure he didn't do anything extreme,” she said winking to Fenris who perks up and smiles, nodding.

Mom chuckles, “I want your thoughts on the boy, Marron.”

I blush, looking to my sister. Behind her, Silvi leans in along with Velhemina, obviously eager to hear as well. Marron grins, “He’s a good boy, honest, and I think a great match for Aria.” She then looks up at Mom, “He is rather handsome, without a doubt why Aria fell in love with him.”

Mom beams as she looks to me. I on the other hand, am burning hotly in embarrassment, to which everyone laughs.

“I agree ,Your Highness,” chirps up Kateryna. “Your betrothed is a handsome young man.”

“A fine young man,” adds Orga. “The two of seem to fit quite nicely together.”

My cheeks burn even hotter as I groan. “He…he’s just my boyfriend, we’re not at the stage just yet you two,” I say looking to them. My knights merely laugh.

“Betrothed?” says my mother mischievously, “My, my Aria. You seem to have been quite busy in my absence.”

I groan, rolling my eyes, “Oh shut up.” She laughs.

I groan again, and then smiles. “I had my friends over for a bit and even had a visit from Hashibaba.” A grin rises on my face, still feeling her holding me in her arms. God I love her to death. “Hashibaba claimed me as her granddaughter.”

Mom grins, “Oh wonderful, my dear. I know you must have been surprised when she did.”

I giggle, nodding, “Yep. So I officially now have two grandmothers.” She smiles brightly.

Yep, that was most definitely a shock for me. I can still smell the inside of her house as Marron and I spent the morning with her. It was so relaxing and calming being there. I really do love my yokai grandmother. I seriously need to contact her.

I sigh, “My nightmares were really getting to me, and so Marron and I paid a visit to the shrine. There I prayed and meditated until I finally regained peace.”

Mom smiles as she hugs me close to her, stroking my arm and planting a kiss on my head. I smile into her, “I felt so calm, feeling my heart at rest for the first time in months.” I grin softly, “I was so at peace I felt my magic swirling gently. I even found water floating around me.”

She grins.

I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment. “I nearly reached out to you through the mana bond but stopped myself before I did.” Mom nods, stroking my arm more. I nod, smiling, “After that we headed back to the house.”

Marron then chuckles. “That’s when we met up with Kenji on our way out. I watched her nearly crumble at the sight of him,” she says, winking to me. I blush and pout. She laughs, and then grins, “She even went as far as asking him out on a second date.”

My mother’s face light up as her mouth drops, “She did?” then looks to me, “oh sweetheart, please say it’s true.” This causes everyone to look at me astonishment.

My cheeks burn even hotter as I nod. She beams, holding me closer, “Please tell me about it.”

I smile softly, calming down a little. “We didn’t do much, mostly walked along the beach together and talked.” I grin, “It was a great time. Of course,” glaring at Marron, Fenris, and my knights, “everyone just had to go and spy on me.”

Marron and Fenris smirk, with Athena nipping at him. He smiles, nuzzling her.

“Please, Your Highness,” says Orga, “we claim innocence.”

“Yes indeed,” adds Kateryna, “we had no idea Lady Marron and Lady Yukari had such a plan.”

I smirk, tilting my head at them. “Uh-huh, but you still watched regardless. Didn’t you?” They look away, trying not to answer. I smirk and shake my head.

Mom watches this and looks to me, “Now, how exactly did they spy on your date sweetheart? I doubt Fenris would have shadowed the both of you a second time.”

I smirk, “Marron used a watchsphere to look in on us.” I then grin, “Which I promptly confiscated. Something I’m really glad I did.” Mom nods slowly and looks to Marron who smiles.

“Aria and I then went to visit Hashibaba a week before Christmas where she not only gave Aria a kimono, but also one for Kateryna and myself to wear on New Year’s Eve.”

I grin, “Seeing Orga’s reaction to Kateryna in a kimono was priceless,” looking to my knights, again with the elf blushing terribly as her husband beams.

Mom sighs and chuckles, “Oh how I wish I could pictures of it.”

Marron and I both grin to each other with my sister looking to Abigale. “May… may I please have a laptop and my phone?” asking slowly.

The kikimora smiles, then walks over and hugs Marron for a moment before leaving. Marron smiles and turns back to me. I know that’s she thinks she’s still on thin ice with her and the combat maids. So yeah, best to go it slow. However that reaction may have other meanings.

I also look to Lyra. “Can you also go to my room and bring down my bag along with my sword.” She smiles and nods, leaving.

Mom looks to me as I fork some eggs and toast, devouring them along with downing my tea. I look up at her and smiles. She sighs, shaking her head, “Honestly, I raised you better than that.”

I grin at her. Mom then again looks at me puzzled. Silvi too glances at me queerly. Yep…major plot twist coming up. I just hope I can keep it together for a second time.

The maids soon return with our requests. Behind them I see the twins rushing towards me who fling themselves at me. I feel their hands clinging tightly to my shirt.

“When… when we woke up and didn’t replace you with us,” says Micha, “we thought you left us again.” Luna looks up at me with tears in her eyes.

I hug them tightly, “Sorry, you two,” I say. “I didn’t want to wake you up. I…had something to deal with.”

They each nod slowly as they nuzzle me while Abigale sets up the laptop, syncing it to the projector overhead. I smile as the wall in front of me goes stark white as Marie dims the lights in the parlor. Once down, she turns and hands Marron her phone.

Lyra to hands me my bag yet still holds onto my sword, now covered in a sword cloth. I smirk, thinking she knows me too well.

Marron then plugs it in and scrolls through her pictures. I rifle through my bag and pull out my phone and plugs it into the laptop as well.

Marron then starts showing off pictures of our time in Japan, mostly of the house and parts of the village. I smile softly, seeing us at the table like a family along with Yukari. I can clearly feel us still being there, even now. Oh how I wouldn’t have traded our time there for anything.

We watch a video file of Marron and I performing parts of the Winter Solstice Festival, Mom smiles proudly at the both of us. Even apart from the rest of our coven, we will still maintain our traditions.

When we come to New Year’s Eve, I see the pictures of us in our kimonos. I blush softly, seeing my tails flowing behind me with Yukari, Marron and Kateryna surrounding me. Everyone marvels as I glance over to my knights Kateryna blushes deeply as her husband smiles proudly to her. Hey, elves look amazing in damn near anything.

“Oh my,” says Mom in awe, “you all look beautiful.” She turns to Marron and I, grinning, “You both look so natural in those kimonos. Almost as if you truly were part of the village itself.” We grin to her.

She then looks to Kateryna, “Oh my lady, you truly look wonderful.” The elf blushes even more, smiling to her.

We keep the picture up with twins staring at it in wonderment. I smile, stroking them. I chuckle, “Kenji and I also had our third date while at the shrine. Again mostly just walking around together.” Mom grins, holding me close.

Marron strokes my hair. “We did start considering plans for once the new year started, with sending this little fox to school along with her friends.”

I smile softly nodding. “But I didn’t want to because it just felt like I was still in exile while everyone here would still be in danger.” A fear that was soon proven right.

Mom nods, “I would agree with you sweetheart, freedom in exile is still exile. A terrible feeling to hold.”

I sigh, “So, I talked everyone into going to the Outpost, which was what we did.”

That…wasn’t a fun couple of hours I spent talking to my friends over the phone. Yui and Miu were obviously upset with Ayame and Mayori pleading for me to stay. Saya I think was the most devastated, seeing…seeing, oh god dammit. There’s someone I really do think I need to have conversation with. Her and a certain lilith. I hope you’re ok Kerrigan.

“The day we left,” adds Marron, “our little girl finally confessed her feelings to Kenji.”

Mom smiles broadly, “Oh sweetheart, congratulations.” I blush deeply.

She then grins, “And… I caught it on video.” I quickly turn to her, cheeks flaring bright red as she grins deviously. Oh please don’t. She chuckles as she plays it. I look up and watch in abject horror as I see myself confess to Kenji.

Both pups look up to me, heads tilting in confusion. “Does this means we are getting a big brother?” asks Luna. I blush deeply and pull my legs into chest, slamming head into my knees as I transform, covering my body with my tails.

I hear everyone laughing heartily with Mom uncovering me. I blush looking up at her. She smiles, caressing my cheek. “My little girl is growing up before my eyes.”

I blush even more. She then leans in and kisses my forehead. “Now, please continue your tales.”

I nod, lowering my tails. I go on to explain our arrival to the Outpost going into detail about it. I then look to Mom, “I was pulled into a time portal the second day we were there. I’ve been to Dewloura.”

Her eyes flare wide in shock, “Dewloura?”

I nod as I detail that first day. Athena looks up and smiles at me. I smile, leaning over and stroking her head while both wolves then wrap their tails around mine. I speak of Celes and Athena rescuing me and meeting Serasfall for the first time.

“Mom, Serasfall was amazing,” I say, “she knew who I was the moment we met, nearly gave me a heart attack.”

That really was a harrowing morning when she woke me up early. It all worked out in the end, with her apologizing to me over the whole ordeal.

I then chuckle looking up at her, “I actually missed you by three weeks according to her.”

Mom looks to me in awe. I still remember her tales of being in Dewloura and Serasfall’s account of my mother.

I smile, “She was so loving as a woman, gave me a home and took me in and made me a part of her family. Celes and I even became sisters.” I talk about the numerous stories of being at the estate with her and even traveling with her. Mom smiles as I listen, stroking my hair.

I smile softly, stroking my tails. “Her brother-in-law Tyrion became my uncle along with his children becoming my cousins.” I sigh happily, “I gained so much family in one go.” I then blush and chuckle, “I actually called out to you through our mana bond”

Fenris huffs at me. I giggle, remembering him scolding me that day. I know it was stupid, but I want to hear my mother’s voice, even if she wasn’t the same woman I now today.

Mom looks to me for moment. “I…never told this to anyone,” she starts, “but when my ship was traveling through the straits of Gibraltar, I could have sworn I heard someone calling out to me. I clearly heard the word ‘Mom’ echoing in my heart.” She looks to me, “It’s been something that has vexed me for over 400 years. Now I know why.”

I giggle softly, “Is that how you found me?” That’s actually been a question I’ve asking since I first transformed. How exactly did Mom replace me?

“Partially my love,” she replies. “Somehow I felt drawn to you, a link that my heart simply could not explain. Yet I had no idea of the truth even after you were reborn.” She then leans in and presses her head to mine, “I’m glad that I do now.”

I smile and as I start showing pictures of Dewloura. I have to laugh as I pour through hundreds if not thousands of pictures of the city and its people. I really do miss my rides with Celes around the city. Everyone is in awe with each new picture and the story behind it. I even show pictures of the Shyair estate, the knights, Tyrion and his family and wolves. I even have several of Celes and me together.

I have to really blush when one of the three of us together appears. “A family portrait” as Serasfall declared. I know my room would’ve been filled with a few of my pictures if I had printer. However not even Dewloura had something like that.

I grin, “My journal is filled to the brim. I even had to add more pages to it. Even my Orkona is packed with notes I made while Serasfall taught me while there.”

“An Orkona?” my mom asks surprised. I grin, nodding. I have so much from my time there it’s unreal. It’s all cataloged and organized.

“What’s this?” asks Marron as she points to the file marked, “Candid camera”.

I grin and select it. The screen shows the Study at the Shyair estate with Serasfall coming into view. I can still remember all those days I spent in there with her as she attended to matters of state. She would attend meetings with the other heads of the Houses, but rarely attended Court. Tyrion often was the voice of Shyair. If Serasfall were to intervene, the entire city would go berserk.

“Hey Serasfall,” I shout out.

She turns and looks at me surprised, “What are you doing with that?”

“Just recording you.”

“Her Grace,” says Orga. Kateryna smiles as tears roll down her cheeks.

Serasfall appears more flustered as she stares into the camera. She groans and scowls, “And what exactly am I supposed to do?”

I giggle, “Well…you’re doing it right now.”

I blush and grin, so happy to see and hear her again. Even if it’s just a recording, I have video record of my ancestor, someone I hold very dear to my heart.

She sighs and folds her arms, “You and that infernal phone of yours. I swear, how does anyone in your era accomplish anything.”

I giggle, “We manage.”

Serasfall rolls her eyes, “Have you completed the work I gave you?”

“I did, just wanted come by and give it to you.”

She sighs, “Very well.”

“What’s going on in here?”

The camera then shifts now the Celestine coming into view. She stares at me and sighs, “Nei’shy, are you causing mischief for Mother again?”

I glance at Marron as she looks on. Her eyes open wide as she stares at her past self.

I giggle, “Maybe a little.”

She shakes her head and walks over to me, reaching for the phone. The camera then whips around, showing the Study in a blur until the video ends.

I grin softly, stroking my tails. Mom smiles in awe at me. “Incredible.”

I nod then pull out everything Serasfall sent with me. I had several books, a few notebooks, some clothing, even my school uniform. Mom smiles and notices the uniform, “You have to explain this one to me.”

I grin, “About two months into us being there, Serasfall couldn’t replace a way to send me home, so she decided to enroll me at the Acadenora. Saying she was thinking long term for me.”

Mom is astonished at this, “Oh you would have received a world-class education there.”

I grin, nodding. “I did. It really was fun, once I got through my first couple of weeks there. I won’t repeat what happened, not with the twins here.” I look down at them. Yeah, what was said to me is not for their ears.

Mom nods, stroking my hair. I go into detail about school, making friends, bringing Leto and Nelly with me, even scrolling to pictures of the school with me there along with the pups. I don’t have any of my friends. Like how I was I supposed to explain a cellphone to them. The Orkona is one thing, a piece of technology from the 21st century is another.

“I was really having fun at school. I had an amazing teacher, a dragon in fact,” I say, grinning at Silvi who smiles to me. “In fact I was looking forward to the summer plans everyone was talking about the closer to end of term we got.” I giggle, “I even nearly was about to attend the end-of-term ball.”

Mom beams as she listens. The ball was actually something I was looking forward to the closer it came. I know initially I was hesitant about going, however as time went on, the appeal of it grew. Oh how I know Jenn, Heather and Mandy would’ve gone ballistic if they saw the gowns that were being sold.

Athena groans softly, nudging me. I grin, leaning over and stroking her. “Oh, I should also tell you that I’m bonded to Athena.”

Mom looks to me and her, “How is that possible?”

Athena smiles to her, “Our hearts were connected from the moment I sensed her. However, it took time for the Bond to be forged.”

I smile, stroking her more. Athena smiles to me, nudging my face lovingly, groaning like a mother. I blush and giggle softly, loving her so much. Fenris smiles at us. His tail tightens around mine. I smile to smile him, still ever grateful he’s my father and having been there with me through it all.

I look to Mom, feeling my heart aching. “Serasfall and I grew really close and I do mean close. It got to the point where we thought of each other, albeit never openly, as mother and daughter.”

I then feeling my heart skipping a beat as I look. Serasfall became so much to me while there. I used to love being with her all the time, even being in the same with her was enough. I grew to love her so dearly that I had to fight back to urge to call her “Mother”. I can feel the worry growing within the more I think of her.

I then feel a hand cupping my cheek as my face is moved to meet my mother’s eyes. She smiles warmly as he caresses it. “I know you’re thinking my love,” she says softly. “You are worried that you were quick to change your loyalties. Believing you might have betrayed me after thinking I had died.”

I nod slowly.

She then pulls me into a tight hug. I feel her hand stroking up and down my back. “I know you my precious girl. I know you would never do such a thing. We spent months building our relationship and you still loved your birthmother while also loving me as a mother. It’s still the same my love. So don’t trouble yourself.”

I smile, nodding. Mom smiles and kisses my forehead. Mom has been everything to me and so was Serasfall. When I had to flee from here, thinking my mother was dead; I think a massive hole formed in my heart. Marron helped filled part of it, so did Yukari and Asha. However, as much as I love Yukari and I know she would have loved nothing more than to taken me in, it was Serasfall that came to closest to becoming a true mother for me. Yet I still kept my walls up, preventing me for taking that step.

I giggle, as I pull up a picture of Serasfall and her bonded. Mom smiles when she sees Rhea. I grin, it really should be that much a surprise she’d recognize her. Serasfall pretty much gave Mom the whole tour of the city and Rhea was always by her side.

“Rhea once talked to me about becoming the caretaker of a new pack,” I say, staring at the wolf. “One with Fenris and Athena at its head.” Both wolves look to me, each smile proudly and waging their tails. I grin at them, blushing softly.

I feel Mom stroking my hair. “That would have been an enormous responsibility,” she says.

I nod, holding onto the tails of my wolves, “That was part of the plan, given no one really knew how long I was going to be there.” I giggle, “Everyone started planning long term for me; school, the pack, all just thinking of my future with them.” I blush softly, “If I had stayed longer, I would’ve met Aurelian, Veylana would have pulled me onto the student council with her, everything was in the air.”

She nods, smiling.

I smirk, looking to Marron, “Seems like everyone, no matter what wanted to plan my future.” My sister then leans over and flicks my forehead causing me to giggle.

I speak the incident at Court, of my intervention there. Mom listens intently as I go in detail of causing a spectacle in order to get their attention. I still have to wonder why my mask was there in my bag.

I settle down and then look to Lyra, nodding to her. The valkyire nods, raising the light slightly, and steps over, placing my sword onto the table. Nearly everyone in the room gasps as the see it. I gently unfurl myself come the pups and scoot closer, stroking the sheath before I partially draw it, showing the new blade.

“Sweetheart,” Mom exclaims, “it’s…it’s beautiful.”

I grip the hilt and sheath tightly. “This is Astraea, forged from the broken shards of my original swords.”

Silvi quickly rounds the couch and kneels down, streaking a clawed finger over the blade. She then looks to me, “What happened? What do you mean by ‘broken’?”

I clutched the blade tightly, “Back in September, I was fighting against Diana, where she managed to break both of my swords. During my time in the past, Serasfall had her smiths reforge it into a new weapon for me.”

I look to Silvi, feeling a deep pang in my heart. Part of me still feels guilty over losing the sword she gifted me, a sword forged from one of her own fangs.

My sister merely smiles, leaning over and kissing my forehead. “Don’t worry Little Wing,” she says gently, pressing her head into mine, “I’m more grateful part of me was still able to protect you while I was gone.”

I smile as she then pulls back. I turn back to my sword, “When forging it, the smiths said I needed a binder and quencher, soil and water from where I was born.” I pan up to Velhemina, “So I used the vial you gave me.” My aunt smiles to me. I still have the vial, it’s empty of course. “However, when I imagined Tennessee, I instead found myself seeing here. I’ve never been able to figure out why.”

Marron smiles, and then leans over and strokes my hair, even lightly massaging my ears. I blush softly at her.

Mom stares at me in utter shock, and then stares at my sword. A smile then appears on her face, as if understanding what it truly represents.

I feel arms wrap around me. I look up seeing Velhemina smiling to me, stroking my hair. “I too am happy to see a gift I gave you being put to good use.” I smile to her.

I then look to Mom, “When you were filling my bag, I found a lot of things someone wouldn’t exactly deem necessary for survival, such my kitsune mask, music box, or the vial. Yet they seemed to fill a purpose while I was away.”

My mother nods softly, “To be honest my love, I was in a panic during the attack, stuffing nearly anything I could into your bag. While treasures on a journey are not truly needed during it, they can bring comfort and I wanted you have some measure.” She grins, “Yet you seemed to have found purposes for all of them.”

I smile softly and sheath my sword, gently placing it on the table in front of me. I pull back and grip my pants as I begin to tell of the Fall. I tell of the events leading up to it, dealing with Critias, me being the one to suggest we seal away the city. Mom is surprised to learn that Serasfall had a battle regalia made for me. I even summoned the mask I used. The pups stared in awe of us.

I talk of how Celes and I rode out the next morning, fighting through undead, the wolves, and the lab.

I fight back tears when I describe losing Serasfall, biting so hard on my lips I nearly draw blood. Fenris and Athena look to me, each rising from the floor and nuzzle me. I cling to them, choking up as I explain how she died with me grasping her hand. Both Marron and Mom then wrap their arms around me and hold me. I feel the pups also hugging me tightly.

I smile, settling down slightly and continue on about how Celes I fought our way through the palace, fighting the king, and setting the seal. I then go one about our return, saying goodbye to Tyrion and his family. I finish with my parting with Celes and return to the present.

Mom holds me tightly, stroking my hair. I feel her head on mine. “Four months there Mom, I was there for over four whole months.” To be honest it might as well been a year for me.

She nods, sighing into my hair. “A lifetime one might say.”

I nod. Part of me really wanted to stay there forever, that the blissful ignorance I had would never end. However, history obviously had other plans. I then smile, looking to Marron. “We often talk of how bonds can be eternal, right Mom?”

She nods, kissing the top of my head, “That’s correct my love.”

I grin, “Well, that’s the same for sisters, because Marron is Celes’ reincarnation.”

Mom then looks up at Marron, eyes bulging wide. My sister smiles and nods, “It’s true, by both Aria’s and Celes’ own words.”

Mom shakes her head in utter amazement. “Simply, incredible.”

I smile, leaning over and turning off the laptop. I really do have to compile everything on my phone onto my computer. Hell, I might as well write up a full report on Dewloura. You really can’t beat a firsthand account of a lost city and its people. It’s something I still want to share with Lana and Mistral, that’s if they can let go of their ego. We are still daughters of Dewloura, descended from great houses.

Perhaps in time. Heh, recalling my schoolwork, I still have to hand in all the assignments Mom gave me.

I then look up to her, “Ok, your turn.”

She smiles, nodding.