[1].Prologue.

Erasia.

Lush with life, it had been the craddle of many lives and stories, a wonderful world of wonders, hopes and dreams.

Now, only half a continent was left of its vastness. Neither greenery nor sea remained: without mana flowing, the land had become a blackened and lifeless wasteland. From the jewel of all worlds, Erasia had become a glorified rock drifting through space.

Looking at the three humans sitting by her Divine Flame, several conflicting emotions wrestled in the Goddess' heart. As far as she knew, those three had abandonned their lives to secure the survival of her world, and fought to anchor what was left of her home, Erasia, in this reality.

-Mother, a composed voiced said.

Pulled out of her thoughts, Gaïa turned to her daughter.

-The tall human is angry once more.

Both mother and daughter chuckled.

-Be nice to him, Gaïa said. Rough as he seems, he means us good.

-I am aware, mother. I simply wish to have your opinion on his latest declaration, as it confuses me.

Raising an eyebrow, Gaïa studied her oldest daughter: her dignified face was starting to show adult features. She held herself with regal, her thin eyebrows knitted with worry. She was almost as tall as her mother, with long flowing hair. But while Gaïa's were a pale blond, Pandore's were a dark shade of brown. Her ears had become longer and pointy, peaking through her hair. Pandore had obtained regency over the domain of emotions and souls, and her body and mind had started to change accordingly.

-Walk with me, then.

Illustrating her words, Gaïa lifted both her attributes - a large, circular shield of gold and a long, heavy spear of silver - and took to walk away from the humans. Pandore followed quietly.

-Well, what would you like to complain about, this time?

Pandore groaned.

-I do not complain to this extent, mother.

Gaïa remained silent, her steps light and graceful.

-...Do I?

-He brings new points of view, Gaïa replied, not addressing her daughter's question. Points of view that greatly differ from ours. Questionning those is normal, maybe even expected i suppose.

The pair walked in silence for a few minutes, making sure to stay away from the smoking crater's, as well as from the dead... things. They looked like all shades and sorts of races in existence, but distorted: they all had a black chitinous skin, tortured faces and mutilated limbs. Some had missing members, others additional ones - sometimes from other species. Walking around a larger crater, both goddesses took the direction of the humans' flying machine.

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-Mother, the angry human... He says that we cannot understand mortals, is it true? If their worries and needs exist below our understanding...How can we hope to guide them? To help them?

-... A sound question. Look.

As they attained the machine, Gaïa reached out. Her thin fingers grazed the cold metal surface, trailing between burn traces and deep dents.

-These humans, these mortals... they heard our call. They flew to us through space in those metal boxes. They fight the Scourge with weapons built with their ingenuity. They protect us and our home while we have no powers. And look, Gaïa said, turning her attention towards the Divine Flame. Gods that we are, we can live without air while they need those armors to breath. But at the same time, they can stand and fight by our side thanks to those armors.

Thinking, Pandore looked at the humans: all three wore cumbersome armors and helmets. The female and the skittish human were sleeping, while the tall angry one kept the Divine Flame ire alive to lure any remaining creatures in. None of the three mortals had been surprised to see the blue fire burn without air.

-Think of what they have achieved, said Gaïa. And ask yourself: do they need guidance from us? Or our help? Because as far as I can see, I have received more guidance and help from them, than they themselves received from us.

Still watching from afar, the pair contemplated the scene in thoughtful quietness. The humans were jumping to their feet, as Pandore's siblings launched an all out giggling assault on the two sleepers. The third human had retreated to the huge machine they had set at the center of their home, pretending to work on it.

-

The last battle was the most violent by far. Litha had died, her corpse lying at the feet of Gaïa. The three youngest divine siblings, whose powers were combat oriented, were raining destruction on the chitinous creatures from behind Gaïa's dome of protection: a fifty meters half sphere of bluish light, covered in ancient golden scriptures. But the most damage was being dealt by the angry human, while the other mortal was hurrying himself around the machine. The dome weathered an explosion of black mist, draining Gaïa's energy for a few seconds.

The skittish human suddenly slapped the pannel shut on the machine, and turned.

-Launching! He yelled. One minute to anchorage!

Punching through a creature's head with ease, the fighting human rolled under a misty projectile before sprinting towards the dome, dashing between and through the creatures. He jumped into the dome without issue, covered in gutsy grime. He kneeled to pick up the body of his childhood friend, before looking at Gaïa. He spoke with a strained, exhausted voice to her. The dome weathered a few more explosions and impacts.

-Take care.

Sparing a quick glance to her and the juvenile gods, he gave them a curt nod and jumped into his flying machine. He took off right away, not wasting a glance back on the scene. Gaïa, her nine children and Iskard - the skittish human -, rustled by the brisk departure, watched him fly away from them in order to engage his Jump Drive.

-Well, it was bound to happen I suppose, Iskard said, his voice muffled by his helmet.

The divine family, exhausted and huffing, nodded before gathering around the anchoring machine. It was finally time to reclaim their home.

-We thank you again, Pandore said to Iskard. Your kind offered us a second chance and this, we can never forget.

-Sounds good to me! The mortal replied enthusiastically.

The human sat on the ground, catching up his breath. One by one, the divine family did the same and soon enough, everyone was sitted on the ground, ignoring the dome's buzzing.

-So... What is it going to look like? Life in Edrosia.

-It's Erasia, the youngest sibling, Tali, groaned hatefully.

But before she could say anymore, Pandore shushed her with a glance.

-Erasia is... well, was beautiful, the oldest sibling replied. We hope to make it as magnificent as it had been.

-Bet you're gonna feel home! Exclaimed Vultarm. The young god whiped his wrists towards Iskard, doing the pistol fingers at him. Right away, Iskard did the same at the crimson-haired god of warfare.

-Shi-...! Gaïa suddenly blurted. The next second, her dome violently blew up from outside, throwing everyone around.

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Gaïa is the greek goddess of Earth, which she personifies.

Pandore is the first human woman in the greek mythology.