AN: As per usual, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
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"So tell me again, how long was I out for?" grumbled Azazel who had long since shrunk herself into her childlike form with a pink, floral patterned dress about her body. Apparently, she felt disdain for her more adult self and desired all to see her more as a "cute and adorable" child than much of anything else. As to why she felt this way? Well, we shall be addressing this shortly.
"Almost two full moon-turns," piped in Auua, who was serving her and Sarah an amber coloured tea within a few fanciful china cups whilst they lounged upon a couple of sofas nearest the bed the God King was sleeping upon.
"Which is?"
"In terms of what Karastak called it, one moon turn equates approximately one and a half months," spoke Sarah as she sipped a small mouthful of the tea offered to her person, "Or in our case, you've been gone for three." Turning to the Undying ape, her voice became light and full of pleasure as she asked him, "Where did you get this tea, Auua? The aroma reminds me of hot cider being drunk by a fire during a cold, winter's night, but the taste is surprisingly subtle. You would think it was cider after breathing it in, but the taste... I cannot place it anywhere. What is it?"
The Goddess's eyes sparkled whilst the other explained, "The Master found the leaves upon Sol'anon, and infused them with the essences of several fruit and herb plants from Amak Duul in order to give it a more refined taste for the Kitsunes to try. However, we Undying who were still able to retain much of our senses are able to enjoy the teas prepared by our Master. This one," he held up a pouch containing the dried mixture which was used for their drinks, "is called 'The Flowers Which Bloomed In Winter', which is what you both are drinking currently."
"How is it prepared?"
"I am not at liberty to speak of this," muttered the metallic ape as he rubbed the back of his neck slowly.
"Why not?" pouted Sarah, whose eyes slowly became that of a "puppy-dog's" eyes.
It was at this point that an oblong portal of silver and sapphire coloured energies erupted in the centre of the room, startling its attendants greatly. Of course, Auua simply frowned at the intrusion whilst the Goddess of Iridescent Colours leapt behind the sofa she sat upon. Whereas Azazel mirrored the Undying's expression just as Sia appeared with a frantic look about her features.
"Auua," spoke the skeletal wolf with a frantic voice, "where is Sarah?"
"I'm right here," she piped up, peaking around from the top of the seat. Of whom was them lifted by the other as she darted around the sofa in order to assist her person.
Once she stood upon her own two feet, Sia hugged the other female tightly, "I'm glad you're still here."
"Why?" The other was curious, of course, but returned the hug nonetheless.
"The Lord High God has become something more," the skeletal wolf's tail swayed slowly which was echoed by the Goddess. Afterwards did they part whilst the former simply created another portal and stepped through with a quick wave with the promise of explaining herself later.
Which then left the original trio alone in the room, and Azazel quite confused as to what just happened. "What did she mean by 'the Lord High God has become something more'? Who's done what, where?" These inquiries were met with an awkward silence, as Sarah squirmed in her spot as she was gazed upon, whilst Auua simply hummed to himself once the attention was directed towards his person. "Well?"
"Well, what, Lady Azazel?" asked aloud the Undying ape, of whom served the pair another cup of tea.
"You know of what this one speaks of. What did Undead Karastak do?" She became slightly frustrated over the lack of response from the pair, of whom were keeping something important from her person.
"He's gained his home, Azazel, and will be coming for us soon," piped in Sarah, whose facial features were full of a smugness from both drinking the tea and from the information she had gained from the other Undying.
At this point, the God King frowned whilst rubbing her temples slowly. It was as though she tried to remember something, but was met with only pain. "What did he gain?" Her query was spoken softly in order to keep the pain from becoming too great.
"His world of Terra, of course."
"Terra? Where is that?" Yes. She was greatly confused from this, for everything about our world was stolen from her person. Hence the reason why it took nearly two full moon-turns in order to make sure it was all removed.
To this, the pair simply stared at her, wondering how it was that she could have forgotten everything so quickly. Indeed, for they were not privy to every dealing with the one they spoke of, but not for the lack of trying. "What do you mean, Azazel?" wondered aloud Sarah, of whom grew concerned over her God King, "You're the one who was helping him gain the world since the very beginning. Why is it that you do not-"
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
She stopped speaking, her eyes widening greatly as she, herself, remembered what her betrothed was capable of. In fact, the Goddess had been privy to several events in which the skeletal God had performed an ability which then stole everything he so desired from a few simple phrases. "Do you remember what you did before you found yourself within this castle?"
To which the other gripped her head just as an ice pack was given to her person by Auua. Of whom was thanked as she was bade to lie upon the sofa. "No," her voice was strained as she did her best to remember what had happened, "All this one can remember was finding Roj dead once more, becoming angry, confronting-"
Her voice stopped at this whilst her eyes widened into large saucers, "This one confronted Undead Karastak." This statement left her mouth agape as she remember what the God was capable of, and soon grew grim as she realised that he had done to her person what was performed upon others. "His energy ran rampant throughout my mind, and he stole something that this one does not remember."
The God King stood up quickly at this point, wincing at the headache which was striking at the portion of her brain nearest her temples. "Where is he?" she growled slowly whilst her eyes slowly became orbs of endarkened crimson, "Where is Undead Karastak?"
"Probably on Terra," shrugged an indifferent Undying ape, of whom poured himself a cup of tea and slowly sipped the amber liquid, "It's where Sia came from, anyways."
This then caused the girl-child-who-was-not-a-child to growl and summon up a white, oval shaped portal in front of her person. She then stepped through such a thing, and vanished completely. Thus leaving only Sarah and Auua alone in the room to sigh once the portal closed in on itself.
"Why did you tell Azazel where Karastak is at, Auua?" complained the Goddess, of whom believed her betrothed to be in great danger.
"Why, Lady Sarah?" The other raised an eyebrow at such a query as his body waddled over to offer her one of his many hands to her person. To which she did take and gasped as a translucent portal erupted behind his person. This revealed the world called Terra in all its glory, as the "Hands of God" slowly retreated after giving its approval for the creation of a new Pantheon. One that will soon rival Azzarath's, and will then outstretch it many times over as the cycles pass.
"Why?" he spoke softly as his voice repeated the query once more, "Because he is home, and desires all others within his family to come and live with his person. So come, My lady Sarah, Goddess of Iridescent Colours, lets us both go home."
After he spoke such words, did he slowly lead her person into the portal. Of which soon closed as he himself stepped through, and into the world of Terra where they met the new God King of whom was now called Ageless.
*****
Outside of the room which the pair had occupied was of a different scene. One full of revelry as the rest of those within the Black Parade soon teleported upon the grounds of the Midnight Castle. However, within a few moments after all had appeared, a massive, white spell circle erupted from the base of the castle proper. This then encompassed the entirety of the space it occupied, and froze the lower limbs of those who had appeared upon the grounds and surrounding territory of such a place. Yes. This also included the portal into the Abyss.
This then caused nearly all to panic, as another spell circle of white rose up from around their persons. One of which created a third circle to appear a few metres above their persons. It was then accompanied by yet another spell circle, but one far above their heads, and behind the lonely moon in the night's sky. Within such circles was another world, one in which many can still recall due to their young age.
For the image within was of Terra, but far different than what they remember. Nevertheless, this was what those who were still young cried out just as the energy within the circles at their feet began to pull their persons towards than which was above them.
"The Guild Leader has done it," cried out one among many with great joy.
"He's calling us all home," shouted another.
More was cried out, howled, and shouted just as something with an old and tired voice rumbled across the land in an intonement, "<
Terra.