Chapter 68: Difficult Discussion.
(Ria’s POV)
Yona: “Ria… I am doing everything in my power to not snap at you right now…” She said with an angry tone.
Ria: “…”
Yona: “I will try to remain calm, as I respect Celia greatly, and she wouldn’t blame you for what happened. Nor would she want us to direct our anger toward you.” She said, trying to slow down her labored breathing.
Rather than just speak it, I showed them all the memories of what happened during our “fight” with Sava. The venom in the air was potent, they clearly blamed me since I got Celia to fight with us.
I didn’t mind. Not that I don’t care about their opinions and emotions. I very much do. I just agree that it was my fault for letting Celia get involved. I didn’t even ask her about it, either…
Alisa: “Everyone, I understand that you’re angry, but blaming Ria will not be productive at all.” She said with a stern tone.
Solia: “We know, Alisa. But Celia means a lot to all of us…” She replied.
The sight of this gathering was quite odd, to say the least. Most of the people here right now are very, very powerful. Crying isn’t something that they do often, but they, including me, cried for over twenty minutes.
Tia: “In my timeline, Sava never showed up.” She said with a thinking pose.
Ria: “Her showing up was pure chance. Not that I want to shift the blame, but it is time that we accept something about Celia.” I reply.
Mena: “And what is that?” She asked.
Ria: “The Will of Existence, or whatever you want to call it, is clearly interfering with Celia’s life. Her progression of power was too swift, and the things that she encounters are far too interesting.” I explain.
Yona: “Are you saying that, once again, Celia is in the palm of the hand of some being far higher than us?” She assumed.
Ria: “That is my assumption as well, yes. It would explain everything.” I agree.
Yona: “…”
Such an idea is very frustrating, I am sure. But it is most likely the true of the matter. Everything fantastical happening to Celia all of the time, only really makes sense when such a higher power is pulling the strings.
It pisses me off! Who the fuck thinks that they can just play with my wife’s life as they please!? Is this karma for me doing the same to her not that long ago? Ah, I feel sick…
Cough!
Kneeling on the ground, I spit up a large amount of blood. The pain from being erased… it wasn’t the worst that I’ve had to deal with. The existential dread is the real problem here.
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Yona: “Why… Ria, why are you spitting up blood?” She said with a very concerned tone.
Ria: “…”
Even after what I did to you, you’re still willing to care for me, Yona? I tried to remove you from Celia’s life, and I tried to have her not love you anymore… Truly, Celia’s family… our family, is the best.
God: “Due to Celia not being by her side anymore, the Will of Existence is trying to erase her.” She informed for me.
It wasn’t like I could answer, though. I kept on coughing the entire time. It was only when God got here, and healed me, that I stopped doing so. I feel like someone on their deathbed… How funny.
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:Status:
Name: Riatzia.
Sex: Female.
Race: Highest Goddess.
Domain: Loving my Wives.
Age: 8,563,987.
HP: 11,165,290,000/15,965,990,000.
MP: 6,984,898,000/6,984,898,000.
AGI: 82,783.
STR: 360,923.
DEX: 183,834.
INT: 95,926.
Hunger: 170,550/180,234.
True Level: 75,895.
Race Level: 54,751/??????.
Current EXP: 1,645,956/5,819,872.
Titles: Time Crosser. Changer of Fate.
Self Improvement Points: 584,725.
Upgrades/Skills Available: 0.
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That little coughing fit of mine took off billions of my HP? This universe seems to really want me dead and gone. It’s not like doing this to me is without cost…
If Celia saw my Status, I wonder what she would think. Would she get excited, thinking about how she could get close to my current Stats and level? Or would she give up even trying at all?
That’s just one of the reasons why I’ve never shown my Status to anyone, ever. Not Amelie nor Celia. I don’t want them to be discouraged. Yes, I am strong. But I am also ancient as can be.
In times like this, I truly wish that I had Celia save Amelie before this happened. If I did, then I wouldn’t have to be alone right now. Of course, I have my family here, but I am missing my only two wives…
Hours Later.
While I was indisposed, God took up the job of explaining everything. I didn’t cover it all, after all. And the words coming from God’s mouth, on this occasion, was what everyone would prefer. I am not exactly on my or anyone else’s good list at the moment.
Mena: “Why are you just sitting around!?” She exclaimed with an angry tone while looking at me.
Ria: “…I will go save Celia as soon as I can, Mena. I swear.” I reply with a serious tone.
It wasn’t that long ago that Mena had gotten her mother back, and we spent many years in Alisa’s dimension. I am sure that Mena is very upset and misses Celia greatly. I don’t blame Mena for directing her anger at me.
Mena: “Mom will be fine, we know this, Ria. I meant you.” She replied with her arms crossed.
Ria: “Huh?” I say with a confused head tilt.
Mena: “Why are you here, and not going to get your body back? Aren’t you in pain? Don’t think us horrible people, Ria. If Celia saw you like this, she would be distraught. And the same goes for us.” She explained.
Ria: “…”
Yona: “Mena is right, Ria. We’re angry, but you are still part of our family, and we love you dearly. That is the kind of family that Celia cultivated, after all.” She said with a warm tone.
The rest of the family all chimed in, saying similar things. I had thought that Celia would be the only one to bring me to tears, but that doesn’t seem to be the truth now.
I hadn’t accepted them, I felt them an eyesore until a few years ago. I saw them as parasites that killed my wife, Celia. I was so cruel to even think this of Amelie. To be fair to me, in the original timeline, Amelie was just slightly more than a sex friend to me.
This new timeline, and with Celia’s very early breach into everyone’s lives, that had changed. I know that, even without the emotions and memories of this timelines Ria, that Amelie is my wife, just as much as Celia is.
But I still didn’t accept them yet. Me not accepting them… was how I could put them in a silly game. All just to destroy their images in Celia’s heart. Celia foiled that plan easily, something that I should have seen being a possibility. Now I realize how much I had failed them all.
Ria: “Everyone… I will be back, and then I will search for Celia, and I will definitely find her, no matter how many years it takes for me to do so!” I swear with a serious tone while rubbing the tears from my eyes.
Yes, I have constantly failed Celia and my family. But that won’t ever happen again. With this show of affection, even in the knowledge that I let Celia get kidnapped, was enough for me to finally accept them into my heart fully. Saying goodbye to them, I teleported to the dimension where I had placed… myself. Stupidly, for fun, I made sure to not know where, or what situation I placed this timelines Ria in…