Later that evening, in the Vyx home, Celeste, Reina and Yuna sat at the dining table. Reina and Yuna appeared freshly showered. Yuna retold at length her meeting with ‘Diana’ whilst admitting she likely forgot parts. Celeste and Reina didn’t interrupt, per Yuna’s request. Once she finished, Reina sat in silence and Celeste paced around the table. After a few trips around, she smacked Yuna on the back of the head.
“The hell?” Yuna rubbed her head.
“You should’ve come to us before accepting, foolish girl,” Celeste chastised.
“Did you fake pacing just to hit me?”
“Yes.” Celeste sat back down. “Otherwise you would’ve dodged.”
“That’s fair.” Yuna nodded and shrugged.
“No tantrum? Usually you’d demand we spar, even though I’ve never accepted.”
“I’m in a good mood. Woke up with a clear head, realized something. Plus, you two are reacting way better than I imagined so far.”
“And what’s that?” Celeste had a clear agitation in her tone.
Yuna quickly explained how she’d felt restless the last month or so. The ‘itch’ in her skull. “When I woke up and breathed in Reina, it hit me. I’d lost my life’s goal - to get Reina a new body. I lost it in a pretty unsatisfactory way, too, even if I couldn’t be happier I can reach out and touch her now. With good ol’ revenge in mind, though? The itch is gone.”
Celeste sighed as she placed her face in both hands. “I wish I could be happy you were being so introspective, but not when it’s stupid fucking revenge.” Both Reina and Yuna looked at Celeste in surprise. “It never works out!” She still hid her face.
“I know, and I know all the cliches about it from my shows. This’ different though. For one, I’m not consumed by it. Two, I’m sure as hell not gonna die for it. Three—.”
Celeste slammed the table with both hands before standing up. “God damnit. God fucking damnit.” Reina and Yuna watched in awe. Celeste turned her back to them. “What’s worst is…What’s worst is…Fuck. I’m a horrible mother. What’s worst is I want to see those fucking council cocksuckers buried; It’s one, or even all, of those motherfuckers. Your father, my Leon, has been cleaning up their messes for how long? And they betray him? I listen. I’m no Reina or Griff, but I’ve pieced together enough. They’re the only ones capable of giving out those orders, and none of them have turned up dead yet.” She paused, then turned around. “I’m willing to bet he could’ve escaped with you. But not only did he not want to risk your getaway, he probably realized that sick fuck was after the ‘leader’ of Vyxora. That bastard pulled the same shit on me once.” Her lip trembled, her eyes were glassy. She sat, head in hands, again. “What kind of mother endorses revenge?”
“It’s my fault, Mama,” Reina mumbled. “It’s my fault Papa…” She repeated what she had said to Yuna earlier.
“Ack, this nonsense again.” Yuna shook her head.
As soon as Reina finished, Celeste got up so fast her chair toppled over. She placed both hands on Reina’s shoulders and glared at her. Reina averted her gaze.
“Look at me, young lady,” Celeste demanded. Reina reluctantly met her gaze, her eyes glassy, suppressing tears. “Don’t you dare be so gods damned arrogant.” Reina’s eyes widened. “Hells, if anyone were to blame, it’d be this ‘Diana’ woman. But that’s not the point. You didn’t dictate your father’s actions. Nor Yuna’s. And certainly not that sick fuck’s. Everyone is responsible for their own actions; their own choices. I’ll not deny things ain’t that simple, yet it’s ultimately still the truth. To think you’re at the helm for others is hubris.” Celeste gauged Reina’s state, their eyes dancing with one another. “Am I understood?”
Reina gave a solemn nod. Her gaze satisfied Celeste. Celeste returned to her chair, setting it upright before sitting again. Yuna watched Reina as her eyes seemed to dry while she slipped into thought. She looked at Celeste, who had a somber expression.
“Nice job, Mom,” Yuna said. “Think you got through to the little punk. Thought I’d reassured her that was nonsense earlier, but nope.”
“You didn’t sign anything, right, hun?” Celeste asked. “Or something binding?”
“Like I told you, there’s not gonna be anything like that.”
“Then you can tell this ‘Diana’, no.”
“What? You just said all that junk about personal choices?”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Listen, I’m the leader of Vyxora with your father as he is. This is my decision.” Reina glanced up from thought for a moment.
“What’s Vyxora got to do with this?”
“Damnit, Yuna.” Celeste hit the table. “I can’t… I can’t endorse this. Don’t you get it? Even If I want to. Revenge never ends well. I’d be a wretched mother to allow it.”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve never felt closer to you!”
“What?” Celeste had a dumbfounded expression.
“You really were hiding that rage all this time. Hell, I’m wondering if you cheated on Pops with a Hreiwim, then abandoned me.” Yuna spoke in a jokingly accusatory manner as she pointed at Celeste. She grinned as Celeste’s demeanor relaxed.
“I think your father would’ve noticed a baby belly.” They shared a chuckle. Celeste sighed. “Hun, I hope you know, blood—.”
“Mom. It was a joke. Well, kinda. But you don’t need to say it. I know.”
Celeste smiled. “Maybe I should let the ‘old’ me leak out from time to time.”
“Ehh. I like knowing it’s there, but I think it best to keep your anger in check.”
“You smart ass.” Celeste shook her head. “I know Leon wouldn’t like this, but not gonna abandon our parenting style now. Do you really trust this woman, though, hun? It’s too good to be true.”
“I’ve been saying the same thing in my head. And it pisses me off to no end that this person I’ve never met seems to understand me so well. Thing is, I do trust her. She’s totally right that I probably would’ve turned her down without all her so-called ‘honesty’. She said so she didn’t need to.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“You just said, though, that she knows you well. So couldn’t that be viewed as her tricking you?”
“That’s when my head started hurting while I was showering. But like, not demanding some kind of contract just made me trust her more. It goes round and round, as I recall more of what she said. I’m being played, but she basically told me she was playing me. Which, again, makes me trust her more. So Irritating. I also don’t really care what her true endgame is.”
“I do,” Reina said. The others turned to her in shock. “I want to know why. So many whys. Why is she doing this at all? Why in the way she is? If she was just selling the technology, the first two assassinations would have probably been enough. She went to so much trouble to spy on us in such a way? She’s behind my recovery? So many more…” Her eyes gleamed with intense curiosity.
“Ugh,” Celeste grumbled. “I was putting off trying to process that…and ‘Alphonse’.” She shook her head.
“Sorry, Mama. There’s no way you’re okay with this. I’m sure Papa wouldn’t be either. But it’s my decision. I have to know.”
Celeste sighed. “This ‘Diana’ outright told Yuna, though. She’ll never reveal any of those things, hun.”
“Maybe she won’t, but I might be able to figure them out, being closer. I don’t know how to not sound dramatic, but she could literally change the world as we know it. Just like when A-day did.”
“Enough, you’re gonna make my brain bleed.” Yuna rubbed her temples. “Weren’t you about to cry a second ago?”
“That’s uhm…sorry. Not sure what just came over me.” Where’d all that come from?
Celeste gazed at Reina with a peculiar expression. Her eyes conveyed deep concern, yet her mouth formed a gentle, motherly smile. My Reina finally expressed desire about herself. Not Yuna. Not our family. Not Vyxora. Her. What she wants to do, for her own satisfaction. If only it weren’t so gut-wrenching.
Reina noticed Celeste. “Why’re you staring at me with that weird look, Mama? I can’t tell.”
Celeste dispersed her expression with a shake. “Was just enjoying being able to watch you talk.”
“Okay?”
“I can get behind that,” Yuna said. “Mom, have you noticed how she—.” Yuna and Celeste broke into a passionate discussion of Reina’s mannerisms and habits they’d gleaned since her recovery. Reina’s cheeks flushed more and more until she interrupted.
“Quit it! Stop talking like I’m not even here. What’s wrong with you two?” Reina then retaliated by pointing out a habit each of them had.
“I do that? Huh.” Celeste said.
“Val’s pointed that out, but it’s nice knowing you’ve watched me enough to notice,” Yuna said.
Reina deflated with a grumble.
“Anyway. That medical adviser should be here soon.”
“What ‘medical adviser’?” Celeste asked.
“Did I leave out that part? My bad.” Yuna explained about the adviser for Leon.
“Already? That’s five minutes! Foolish girl!” Celeste jumped to her feet and headed toward the door. “I’m not gonna risk your father missing out on such an opportunity, but this discussion isn’t over, ladies!” She left.
“Oh, damn. Didn’t realize it got so late.”
The next day, Yuna once again stood on the moon in ALTR, facing Artemis’ ‘Diana’ avatar.
“The adviser determined most of Elias and Sophia’s findings to be appropriate, but still conveyed some of their own opinions,” Artemis said. “They are drafting a proposal as we speak.”
“Still pretty hard to accept there isn’t more of a catch here,” Yuna said. “Like, are you going to use Pops as leverage to force us to do stuff?”
“A fair concern. No. Additional equipment will be provided to improve your facilities. However, the adviser confirmed your resident engineers’ existing infrastructure is enough. Furthermore, you’ll be able to escort your father should outside faculties be prudent and granted unfettered access.”
“Mom asked the adviser how much he was charging. They answered without hesitation. And you’re saying all that in addition? That’s a crazy amount of creds. The adviser’s fee alone was enough to make her wobble. Now, I’m pretty fuckin’ confident in my abilities, even if my pride’s pretty hurt I wasn’t able to solo that Siegfried fuck. But surely you could get some qualified merc or someone from the underworld at a fraction of the price?”
“This operation to control the Lyrsium underworld is merely a means to increase the success rate of our ends. It had actually been scrapped until Aelfric proposed you as the linchpin. As I stated prior, without you, it will be abandoned. You are the perfect candidate for this role, and we’ve no interest in anyone else, ever. Do I need to reiterate why you are, again?”
“Nah. Though, it’d be one thing if I was already doing a match like, tomorrow, and you were blowing all this cash. But you’re gonna be throwing all those creds at Pops without any guarantee I don’t back out if he suddenly makes a recovery?”
“I’m not worried.”
Yuna shook her head. “Fine. Moving on. She’ll know if I don’t say it.” She pointed at Artemis. “‘Diana. Know that if you pull some bullshit, whatever it is, you can kill me off and it won’t matter. My spirit will drag you to hell.’ - from my Mom, Celeste. Bit melodramatic. Little cringe.”
“I believe her from what Aelfric has told me. I can’t rule out the possibility of a schism forming at some point. However, it’s currently of no concern. I take it this means you’ve already told your family everything?”
“Yep. Didn’t my questions sound a bit intelligent for me? That was mostly Reina. She wanted to come along, but you’ve got it locked to one entry. She’s probably sulking right now.”
“I see. I think it best should we need to meet, it remains us. Aelfric will become your point of contact after he has sufficiently recovered, however.”
“Is that because I’m dumb, easier to manipulate?”
“Intelligence comes in many forms. It’s our foolish society that woefully misuses intellect. It would be fair to consider you a genius in the art of combat, for example.”
“Whoa. Not gonna pretend I fully understand what you mean, but sure as hell didn’t expect you to reverse it into a compliment. Reina wanted me to ask a pointed question like that.”
“Which is exactly my reasoning for you remaining my sole contact point. I’m confident your sister would attempt to pry past that which I’ve already stated.”
“Goddamn. It’s real fucking weird how well you know us.”
“My apologies. I’ve no doubt it may be unsettling. You could say it is a facet of my own intellect.”
“Right… Well, let’s move on. You got a name for this new syndicate, yet?”
“We’re not attached to anything in particular, if you have a preference. When the operation was first devised, ‘Void’ was the placeholder. Something simple.”
“Not bad. It’s a bit edgy, maybe even cringe. Could argue our suggestion is too, though. We were thinking ‘Abyss’. Pretty similar. Not like the council’s are much better anyway - Scions of Odin, Ronin, Spartans, etcetera.”
“I’ve no qualms. Accepted.”
“That quick?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve got some proposals from Reina, then.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah. She, uh, let’s just say I expected a different reaction from her. Mom surprised me too.” Thought for sure Reina would push back on it. This is kinda like allying with your enemy, after all. She spent all that time. Ah. That reminds me. “By the way, guessing you won’t let me settle the score with Aelfric?”
“If you’re referring to a physical duel, even non-lethal, no. He may allow ALTR, should he wish.”
“Figured. Damn. Where were we? Distracted myself.”
“Reina’s ‘proposals’.”
“Right. So, she had a pretty good idea. We’ll have The Legion vassalize under us, then Vyxora will submit to Abyss. This solves a bunch of junk for us. Dealing with them was gonna be a pain in the ass, whatever decision we made. Then, Vyxora will now be hidden and hopefully forgotten after some time passes. Abyss gets to start off with some manpower as vassals transfer over. It also won’t be a as big a deal if I’m found out to be Abyss’ champion. There’s some other stuff I’m forgetting, too.”
“Accepted.”
“Seriously? Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“Aelfric will handle Legion, right?”
“Yes.”
“Uh, what was I gonna say next? I thought there’d be more discussion.”
“I assumed Vyxora would remain independent, or disband. The proposal is quite a favorable alternative.”
“Cool, cool. Damn, I can’t remember the other thing, or things? Can we meet same time again tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Wew. I’ll get them as notes. Reina’ll be bummed she can’t come, but she actually predicted you might say no.” Least I remember this. “Did you get a chance to check her messages?”
“No.”
“There’ll be no hard feelings if you don’t respond. She just wants to know you read them. She also assumes this is a long shot, but she wants to talk with you again at her cafe. With one important distinction, she swears if you do, she won’t bring up anything related to our ‘shared’ history and present/future, uh, relationship?”
“Hmm.”
Huh, she usually answers so quickly, Yuna thought.
“Do you believe she will remain true to her word?”
“She might let something slip, honestly. But I’m pretty sure she genuinely just enjoyed talking to you that night. Not that I remember what you talked about.”
“I will consider it. Is that all?”
“Do I get any credit for tricking you into confirming you were that lady?”
Artemis disappeared. Yuna’s mouth fell agape.