Chapter Thirty-Four: Known, Unknowns

As Yozora stepped through the portal, the familiar world behind him dissolved into nothingness, replaced by an endless surreal expanse that defied logic. He found himself standing on what felt like liquid silver, soft and malleable beneath his feet, yet somehow solid enough to hold his weight. The space around him felt strange, both vast and confined, as though the very rules of reality no longer applied.

Above him, there was no true sky—just a swirling tapestry of colors. Deep purples, azure blues, and streaks of shimmering gold danced together as though the stars themselves were melting, their glow bleeding into the atmosphere. Strange floating islands drifted lazily through the air, shrouded in wisps of glowing aether. Rivers of light snaked between them like glowing veins, carrying the essence of this otherworldly realm.

The air itself buzzed with energy, electric and alive, making Yozora's skin tingle as if it were reacting to the power around him. In the distance, a faint golden light pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat, drawing him in with an unspoken command.

Then, as though a voice reached into his very soul, he heard her.

"Yozora, follow that light to where I am," Circe's voice whispered in his ear, soft but without malice. He recognized her, the Alpha he thought he'd defeated. His mind raced with questions. How had she survived the Nova Burn? Why was she here? Yozora decided to proceed cautiously, his hand resting instinctively on the hilt of his katana, Cerulean.

After what felt like hours, Yozora came upon two colossal doors, towering above him. Standing guard were two imposing figures—one male, one female—both clad in armor, their eyes cold and calculating.

Yozora’s expression was emotionless as he approached. "I’m here to see Circe. Go tell her she shouldn’t keep a guest waiting," he said, his voice icy.

The male guard, Reder, sneered, "Oh yeah? And who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Before he could continue, the female guard, Cyna, stepped forward, her face turning pale as she caught sight of Yozora. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she immediately slapped Reder on the arm, hard.

"Shut up, you idiot!" she hissed, her voice trembling. "Do you even realize who that is?" She slapped him again, harder this time, panic rising in her voice.

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Reder’s face turned a ghostly shade of purple, his bravado evaporating. "Wait, is that—?" His eyes darted nervously to Yozora.

Cyna nodded quickly, turning back to Yozora with a forced smile, her voice softening. "My lord, how you’ve grown... It’s been ages since we last saw you. Please, forgive Reder’s ignorance—he’s new." She bowed slightly, motioning for the doors to be opened. "Go on through, my lord. Circe is expecting you."

Yozora passed through the massive doors without a word, but his mind was spinning. What did she mean ‘my lord’? And why did they act like they knew me?

As the doors shut behind him, Yozora found himself in a vast chamber, its walls adorned with strange symbols and glowing with an eerie light. He stood there for a moment, unsure of where to go next, until a figure emerged from the shadows.

"Welcome back, my lord," the figure said, bowing slightly. "It has been some time since you’ve been here. I am Kova, and I’ve been tasked with escorting you to Lady Circe’s chambers. She has been eagerly awaiting your return."

Yozora’s face twisted into a question. "Wait... what do you mean ‘return’? This isn’t my home, and Circe is my enemy. I helped kill her."

Kova’s expression remained calm, unbothered by Yozora’s words. "In time, all will be explained. For now, I am only here to guide you to her chambers. Questions will have to wait." Kova gestured for Yozora to follow.

Yozora hesitated for a moment, then nodded. What choice do I have? he thought, his unease growing with every step. They walked in silence through long, winding halls that seemed to stretch on forever, until finally, they arrived at an ornate set of doors.

Kova knocked twice, the sound echoing through the corridor. "My queen, he has arrived."

The doors creaked open, and Kova stepped aside, bowing once more. "It was a pleasure seeing you again, my lord," he said before retreating into the shadows.

Yozora entered the chamber, his body tense, ready for anything.

The air inside was thick with power, almost suffocating. The room was vast, its ceiling lost in shadow, and at the center stood Circe, her figure bathed in a soft, golden light. She glided toward him, her movements graceful and unnerving. Her hands brushed against Yozora’s face as she drew closer, her voice like silk.

"Ahhh, Yozora... my beautiful starry-eyed boy," she purred, her fingers trailing down his cheek. "It seems what Mara foresaw was true."

The mention of Mara’s name sent a jolt of anger through Yozora. He stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "You have no right to say her name. What did Mara foresee? What is all of this?"

Circe smiled, unbothered by his hostility. "Calm yourself, Yozora. I am not your enemy. Not anymore."

Yozora’s fists clenched. "You tried to kill Mara, T.LAC, and me remember and now you’re trying to play the victim? Spare me."

Circe’s expression softened, almost pitying. "You don’t remember everything yet, do you? The memories... they’re still locked away. You see, Yozora, while you defeated a part of me connected to that gate, you didn’t defeat me. That was merely an essence. You and your friends... you crossed over into a place you don’t fully understand."

Yozora’s brow furrowed. "Crossed over? Where are we? And what did Mara foresee?"

Circe’s voice was gentle, as if explaining to a child. "This is the world between worlds. Time doesn’t exist here as it does in the mortal realm. When you entered that portal in desperation, you left the rules of Earth behind. This realm exists between Earth and Elysium, the original world.