CHAPTER 23: YOU’RE ELYSIA?! P5

~23.5~

*****

“<>.”

A large circular stream of white aether appeared below them with a thin transparent film-like fill. The first thing Yami noticed was countless small glowing dots of many colors.

Her eyes widened. “What is this? It’s like... looking at a rainbow of color, but... that’s the city?”

“Those little dots are souls.”

“Uh?”

Kye flew around underneath the circle. Yami saw a spherical mass of silvery white light inside her.

“Kye... that’s your soul?” She nodded. “It’s... beautiful...” Her mouth was wide open.

Kye smiled sincerely and floated back around to the other side of the circle. “Every soul has a color. Some are more distinct than others.”

“The name of that skill you used is Shared Vision? Does that mean I could see the same as you?”

“Yes. I can turn it on and off, of course. Seeing a mass of color inside everyone is annoying in the day to day.” Kye floated closer and hugged her younger sister. “Yami, your soul is light blue.” She casted an illusion below the vision circle that reflected light, effectively creating a mirror. Yami could see herself and her own soul in it.

“I see it. My soul...”

Kye nodded and casted memory magic around them. She showed Yami the memory of the very scene she had described from Elise’s life. The day they arrived at the capital city of Aristide. She saw what Kye meant for her to see right away. She could see the colors of Elise’s, Chloe’s, and Claude’s souls. Elise’s was the same silvery white as Kye’s, Claude’s was jet black, and Chloe’s was light blue. The very same light blue as Yami’s.

“What are you saying?” Yami asked, looking into Kye’s eyes with a desperation she didn’t understand. “Why is Chloe’s the same color?!”

“You know why.” Kye hugged her sister, tears in her eyes.

“You said that Eve had gathered souls from your past lives here...”

“Mhm.”

“I... I’m one of them?”

“Mhm.”

“I...” Yami struggled to hold back her own tears. “Is that why your name was so familiar? Is that why my heart stirs when I hear ‘Elise’?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“I... I don’t remember any of it!”

Kye pulled away and shook her head. “You shouldn’t even have recognized my name. I don’t know why or how you did.”

Yami threw herself back into her sister’s arms, “Kye!” and began crying in earnest.

Kye patted and rubbed her back as she held the platinum blonde close. “It’s been so long. I’ve... I’ve been doing this for so long. I’ve had to part ways with so many loved ones. When Elise’s time finally ended, and I woke up in the nexus... I cried my heart out. It was just like when I woke up after I died as Shiori. And so many others.”

Yami couldn’t stop her tears.

“I don’t know why so many of you are here. I can only think that Eve has made this happen. It’s been...” For once in her untold years of life, she couldn’t think of the words to describe how she felt. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. “I’m so happy to see you and so many others again. It’s so surreal that I would meet all of you again here in my own world. I love you, Yami. I promise I’ll keep you safe in this world. I won’t let anything hurt any of you!”

They stayed like that for a few more minutes. Yami cried herself to sleep in Kye’s arms, right there in the sky. Kye smiled at the treasure she held in her arms and teleported back to the office. She dispelled the barrier and looked at Takeshi.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“She’s okay, but I’m going to take her back to my residence in the palace. Do you want to come?”

“Yes.”

In an instant, Takeshi found himself in a different room. It was a nice bedroom. Kye was lying Yami down on the bed. “You and Yami can use this room for now. Please take good care of her. She’s very precious to me.” She smiled warmly, and Takeshi nodded.

“Of course.”

Kye turned and left the room, looking back for a moment as she closed the door.

*****

“You told her?” Alethea asked. “Are you sure that’s okay?”

Kye shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m...” She had a tear in each eye as she shook her head again. “I’m going to restore everyone’s memories. Every single soul in Elysium that any of us have met before.”

The two were alone with Adele and Michelle. All three of them were speechless.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. This is my world. I created Elysium. I will do everything for this world. I will unseal my own memories in time, then I’ll do the same for everyone else. I will heal the demon beasts, and any others that Shiro - no, Phantom - has warped. Elysium will be safe.”

“Shi-chan...”

“Kye...”

It was Michelle that hugged her and agreed to it. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, Elysia. You are the greatest and noblest among us. I believe in you.” She pulled away and looked her in the eyes. “You have to know, though, that none of that is going to be easy. Life without conflict is empty. The people will need something to overcome to grow, or they will grow complacent and digress.”

Kye nodded. “Yeah.” She smiled. “What do you guys think about just letting the system go full force? Just turning everything on. Level ups, dungeons, everything. My little brother described it like a real life video game.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Adele agreed, “Do it.”

“Do it,” Alethea added.

Kye looked around at each of them, them nodding as their eyes met. She looked back at Michelle, and she nodded her head, too. “Do it.”

Kye was completely taken aback. She expected some form of argument against it, but received none.

“Yep,” Adele said. “We’ve been waiting for that question for a while. We hashed that out a while back.”

“W-What?”

“Yeah, we already talked that out,” Alethea said. “We discussed it with Allison and mom, too. The royal council is on board.”

Kye was so surprised, her mouth fell open. Alethea smirked and pounced, taking her lover’s mouth for her own. After what seemed like hours - in reality, half a minute - she pulled away and smiled. “I love you, Elysia.” Tears streamed down her face as she lunged back in, sharing another kiss, a salty kiss, with her pink-haired lover.

Adele and Michelle smiled as they watched the exchange. Once Kye pulled away, they felt a chill go up their spines as Kye turned her eyes to them. They saw a primal look in her eyes. She turned back to Alethea. “Maya-love!”

“Huh?” She felt a chill go up her spine, too. “Elysia? I’m afraid.”

With a seductive smile, Kye walked her backward until her knees reached the bed.

“Uh...”

Kye pinned her on the bed, then flicked her left hand up toward Adele and Michelle. The two suddenly found themselves wrapped in silvery white aether and were pulled to the bed. She smiled at them, seemingly innocently, but they knew better. They felt a cold sweat down their necks as the blonde beast pulled them in.

*****

Damn you, Allison Barrett. How is a mortal so powerful? It’s like she’s an ancient. She made it look easy! To think that woman possesses Radiance. She must have been blessed by that foul woman. Just wait, Elysia, I will destroy your world no matter what.

*****

Allison felt a chill go up her spine while she was getting ready for bed.

What was that?

She looked in the mirror and saw nothing strange. She looked down at her open hand, as if trying to find something that wasn’t there.

That monster was something else. I never thought I’d have to go full tilt like that. If that man had a monster like that under his control, he’s a serious threat. The Scales of Judgement world magic is meaningless against him. He cannot be allowed to run free. Come to the next council meeting, I will bring up issuing a bounty for him.

But will they agree to it?

She shook her head.

They have to. This man is a danger to our very society. I fear he will disrupt everything if he is allowed to remain for much longer.

*****

My dear Elysia, you have surprised me yet again. You have handled everything so well. You’ve made mistakes, but no one can judge you for that, for no one is perfect. Not you, not me, not anyone. I look forward to the day when you recover your memories of the distant past.

But I know you will be upset with me.

I love you so much, my dear Elysia. I have all the faith in the world in you, yet I fear the future I cannot see. Until now, you and your peers believed me omnipotent. Now that you know there is one above me, you know that is false. And until this is done, until the end of The Almighty’s mission... my ability to see the future will remain out of reach.

But the mission is not simple.

My condition is that you win with all of my children alive. Your condition is that you keep Elysium safe. The Almighty’s condition is all of us survive... you, me, your siblings, your father, my siblings, and my father. She demands that we survive and reconcile as a family.

Your true mission, Elysia, is complete all of our conditions. Twenty-three worldlines have come and gone. This is the last chance. She will step in if this worldline fails.

Your father, especially, will be difficult to win over. They want you to give up on Elysium, but you refuse to abandon your people, even in the afterlife. You were the greatest ruler of Alexandria in your youth, and your love for everyone has only grown since then. You are the noblest of souls, my daughter. I believe in you.

On a lighter note, I am very much enjoying the time I am spending with you now. Thank you for that!

*****

Revision: 2024-8-15