The foreign voice caused one twin to react, but I remained frozen, unable to digest anything.
"Shit! It can speak this time?!" Caden questioned, voice quivering as Aiden turned to the girl with them.
It can speak. What? Why wouldn't you be able to? Rem…
"That didn't happen last time," Aiden mumbled, grabbing the wolf girl beside them. "Sophie, go back to Silverant now, please."
"What? No, I can't leave you guys or her like that!" She argued back.
Aiden winced, shifting his gaze toward his mother.
"Mom, please!" He pleaded, who opened a portal before he shoved the unsuspecting wolf into it.
Even though her eyes were full of tears, Vera also showed a fire that wouldn't be quenched easily.
"Give her back!" She demanded, clenching her hands into fists.
I was slowly catching on to what was happening.
"Argh… Shit! Of course, they are here." Rem sighed, rolling her eyes before turning to Vera with a smirk on her lips.
"Oh... dear, why would I do that?" She questioned the young witch, who started to emanate an aura from her body.
It pissed Vera off even more, though. And the little luma knew it.
"Rem?" I called out, only for her to chuckle, turning to me slightly.
The white in her blue eye turned black, much like the beast I had fought in Azear.
"Oh, sweetie, she isn't here right now. It seems that the dagger sealed her soul away within her body, or it might've been her emotions. Pity, really. I thought she was thicker-skinned, but you've always been the weak point." Whoever was in front of me informed me.
"What?" I mumbles, taking a step back.
There was so much I didn't know, yet her family appeared more knowledgeable of what was happening. Even though I wanted to force them to tell me everything, this wasn't the time or place. If Rem's soul was sealed in her body, then...
How will we get you back? Just how and why did that happen? The dagger? Emotions? Shit! There isn't enough time!
It wasn't like whoever was inside Rem's body would give us time to figure it out, either. A hum came from her lips as she twirled in the same spot before smiling at us.
"Wow! It feels great to be in the flesh again, without dumb Rem trying to get back into the seat. I'll miss our cat-and-mouse game, Remi." She clasped onto her shirt where the red was glowing.
I felt no sorrow behind her words, leaving me to flare up.
Is this what you were dealing with? Why didn't you tell me? Why, Rem!?
Only she could answer those questions and wasn't there to do so.
"And who are you?" Lilith asked as Shade took a step towards her.
Rem clicked her tongue momentarily, turning to face Lilith, smirking.
A role… Yes, a role to play. A voice echoed within me, startling me where I stood.
What the fuck was that?
"Oh, it's you. You were successful in your mission to create the perfect candidate, and I'll answer your questions about that. Though the curse you failed to remove seems to make this body unstable, which is an easy fix if everything plays out correctly." Rem answered.
Successful mission? Candidate? Just what the heck is going on here?
"My name is Midna, the former goddess of death. Well, before being killed by my father. Does that answer your question? Oh, dear vessel, for the gate to our prison." She continued, shifting her eyes toward me.
Her eyes appeared void of expression as a soft frown formed on her lips.
Everything… is always about you. The voice erupted again, prompting me to avoid her gaze.
Am I going crazy? What's happening to you, Rem?
"What do you mean by candidate?" Fenris questioned, arm still extended so I wouldn't go for her.
When Rem came to rescue me, it quickly reminded me of the raiders when she wasn't fully present.
Is all this part of your curse? Or whatever is standing in front of me?
It called itself a god, though.
Wait... Were gods invading Rem's body this entire time?
I knew nothing of her struggles or why she was guarded about certain things.
"How nice of you to ask that father, but that's none of your concern!" Midna snickered again, shifting her gaze towards the old wolf before raising her arm into the sky, triggering a pulse of energy from her fingertips.
In the distance, a loud screeching sound came as Aiden, Caden, Fenris, and I could barely handle it without covering our ears. It almost felt like it would burst my eardrums, like back at the airship.
Shit!
A few moments later, the blade I had sent into the forest returned to Midna, and she quickly caught it with her hand.
"To think the witch almost destroyed us with this. It seems she's a thorn in my side and will have to be eliminated faster than I predicted. However, it's amusing for her to think that the book will truly aid her." She paused, studying the blade that had killed Rem.
"No… Will it? Does it have a will? No… I can't sense… What? Hah… Fuck, Fenrir, you always knew better, didn't you? Damned fool…" Midna muttered to herself, finally showing some emotion.
The noise stopped, allowing us to breathe while she stared at the dagger that had left my hand bleeding and stinging. My healing appeared in disarray because of it. Luckily, it was localized to the site alone.
"To answer your unasked question, puny mortals, I'm about to take the lives of everyone alive on this continent and offer their bodies to the dead gods as payback for all of the pain we've been through." She declared, snickering soon after.
However, when she suddenly stabbed the dagger into her hand, purple flames unexpectedly erupted from it. It was almost blinding before it died down as she tugged it out of her hand, converting the dagger into a sword with a singular swipe.
"Let you be reborn, sister of the stars," Rem mumbled, triggering the blade to shimmer white.
The entire event turned parts of my vision temporarily blue as the moment it dimmed. Rem was standing there with a god artifact I had never seen before.
Is it even the same thing anymore?
The blade in her hands appeared to hold the cosmos within, and her gaze found me. She smirked, noticing my awe.
Well, everyone's amazement.
The only one who snapped out of it quickly was Vera, who was ready for a fight.
"You're crazy." She quipped, holding onto Ruzgard, who shifted into a more significant form
His appearance also changed from non-threatening to that of a bloodhound, as horns sprouted from his head and spikes appeared around his body.
Shade appeared large enough to want to compete with a lion or tiger, as her fangs, claws, and strength were undeniable.
"You say I'm crazy?" Midna chuckled, slicing into her arms.
"Rem!" I went to take a step toward her, but Fenris got in the way again.
"Not yet," He warned, eyes locked on the rogue goddess.
"What?!" I growled, only for my gaze to lock on my beloved's body as blood dripped down her arm and onto the sword, prompting it to give off a red hue, much like the birthmark on her breast.
Good, it's compatible with you. A voice noted, causing me to startle.
What the fuck?!
"You think I'm crazy! What's ridiculous is how you mortals use our souls for your needs! Despicable, really!" Midna snapped at Vera, stabbing the sword onto the ground and triggering cracks to form in the soil below.
Not yet. The same voice announced within me.
I felt her stare at me momentarily before she turned to everyone again.
"For that, now, we'll rule over you!" she declared, raising her hand to the sky and turning it red.
If they win… No… that can't happen. Again, the voice echoed.
Once again, a blinding light shone as Midna chanted something in a language I had never heard before. However, her scream soon followed as the bright dimmed again, and black lightning surrounded her body.
Vera had somehow cast a spell on her, interrupting the incantation the goddess was trying to invoke. However, a sly smirk rose on her lips the moment it happened.
"I said to give back my sister!" Vera demanded, eyes illuminating a bright hue as a purple aura radiating from her.
Even though she hadn't uttered a single word out loud, a spell was active—a first for me.
How did this girl cast a spell without reciting a verse?
Her hand was bleeding, and her magic seemed to need sacrifices. Midna's brief smirk was gone, replaced by a frown.
"What the fuck did you do, girl?" The goddess questioned, feeling something off in her body, glancing at her hands that shook.
"Just a little contingency plan I had on my baby sister. I won't let you do as you please with her!" Vera declared with a smile on her lips.
Heh… I was right. You've… This is good. The voice trailed off.
Was your… No… What the fuck is going on?
Midna turned towards me, "Alijah! Help me!" she yelled, prompting all eyes to fall on me.
I still didn't understand most of what was going on, but it involved the soul cairn and the dead gods that lived there. Rem had filled me in on what was happening in the world when we traveled together.
Back in the village, I didn't know what I fought until she told me about it. In my time, the elves and witches were secretive about what the soul cairn was. However, Rem informed me that what I fought was a fallen god or one of its minions.
Though it didn't matter. At that time, I hadn't gone all out because of the bond Rem bound me with, which prevented me from doing anything that could endanger people's lives. From a simple glance, it almost seemed like her family had a plan to get my beloved back or at least stop this god from going rampant.
Even though I wanted to run and protect her from everything that could harm her, what was in front of me wasn't Rem.
"No, I don't care what you want, Midna," I answered, taking a step forward as Fenris watched me closely.
It was apparent this old wolf didn't fully trust me, nor did I trust him. None of them did, but they had to, as they would need me to get their Rem back. In the end, that was all I desired as well. After this fight, another reckoning would come, but I didn't care for it.
No, all that matters is getting you back.
"Ouch, Alijah. You should be grateful. If it weren't for me, you would've been—" Midna began, only for me not to let her continue.
"How dare you even try to take credit for that?! That wasn't you! It was Rem! So, shut up and give her back to me!" I snarled, feeling my energy overflow, prompting her eyes to narrow.
I was about to use it for the first time to save someone rather than destroy them.
Good, I like that feistiness. Even though you don't know what you are speaking about. You might reach her. The voice again radiated through my mind.
Even though I didn't understand what was happening, I couldn't fail her again.
"You are an ungrateful piece of shit. Too bad Rem will never come back. She locked herself up within herself. None of you even can reach her, at least not in your state." The goddess smirked at me.
Vera suddenly screamed in pain as weird markings appeared on her skin, even though Midna had not moved from where she was.
"Linking yourself to me was a mistake. Thank you for playing right into my hand, though." The goddess giggled, gazing at the young witch.
For later… The voice trailed off.
Midna stopped momentarily, shaking her head and gazing up at the sky.
"So be it. I was going to let you all live in slavery because of how important you were to her, but if you'll be a thorn in my side. You might as well vanish!" she declared, covering herself in darkness.
Come now, show me what you mortals who adore him can do. Please don't disappoint me, or I won't let you have him! Including you, Valdios! The voice declared, leaving my ears ringing this time.
I shook my head a bit, not knowing if I had somehow gotten exposed to the hallucinogenic mushrooms back in the forest. No one else was saying anything about hearing something. So, instead of paying attention to it, I pushed forward.
The energy surrounding Rem's body transformed into a gigantic bird, which resembled a phoenix I once saw in a ruin I went to back in Allora when I was with the pack. The tail feathers were long, with red and blue circles at the tips. Her eyes were the same as my little luma's, and the dark aura from her made me wonder if it was even the curse that made Rem want to hurt people or if it was Midna.
However, that would be another mystery that needed to be solved, but getting Rem back was all that mattered. The situation made me realize that little Luma was more complicated than I thought.
Why didn't you tell me everything that bothered you, Rem? I… I would've…
I always answered anything she asked of me straight on.
So why did you hide this from me? I have so many questions that only you can answer. Your mother says you aren't gone.
Even the goddess stated the luma was still there, locked up. So, I had that hope to cling to. I would do anything to achieve Rem's stupid smile again. First, though, we had to eliminate Midna and reclaim Rem's body.
I would give her something to bite into if she wanted a fight.
"Oh, am I supposed to fear you?" I started clenching my fist as my aura radiated out of my body while the blood pumped within me faster.
Midna continued her transformation as Rem was somewhere in all that darkness. However, I didn't know where exactly. I had to find that core at all costs.
"How dare you be rude to me, little grumpy wolf?" She snickered as her words caused a slight headache within me, yet I moved past it.
Nothing else mattered. The agony that my hand was in was secondary to what had to happen. Forcing my right hand into a fist, I glowered at the goddess before me.
Rem... I'm coming for you.
"Why shouldn't I be? You're an oversized, glorified bird! If you refuse to give Rem back, then come at me! I'll yank her right out of you!" I challenged, hesitating no longer.
I shifted into my beast form soon after as the battle of our lives was about to begin—one where everyone would push to the limit.