***Lada***

The multiverse kept moving on, its inhabitants entering a state of reluctant peace with each other. Of course, there were still conflicts. Even the gods couldn’t stop the bloodshed caused by human greed and hatred. Insofar, the change of administration hadn’t done anything for the small people, the mortals, and immortals who kept clawing their way through the mud of life in hope of arriving at some higher place, a better one.

But the gods had prevented the end. The story would go on, and the small folk would keep struggling in their ignorance of what had transpired, watched over by those deities who actually cared about them.

And I kept watching over all of them, just as Seria had wished me to, looking out for something that might lead this newly-won balance astray.

Nobody knew that there were two crystal globes resting next to each other in a dusty cellar, forgotten for all intents and purposes. They had been there for decades, sealed and ignored after the recreation of the multiverse.

The noise of a big party could be heard from above, its sounds informing the two prisoners of the happy festivities.

“What do you think this whole fuss above us is all about, Amaru? Do you think the Masters are preparing to free us?”

“Shut up, Tjenemit! I swear! I won't be able to endure you for much longer! Also, don't call them Masters! Those Monsters came from the depths of the Infernal Planes, a place where not even demons dare to roam! Nobody should know so many torturing methods!”

“The paths of the Masters are unfathomable… though… I wish that the first Master would take us back. His mothers are so much worse than him.”

“They truly brainwashed you. What’s up with calling them Masters all the time? But you are right. While I was in the Monster’s grasp, I still had thoughts about betrayal. His mothers taught me true obedience… I am just glad that they seem to have forgotten about us. It’s been a while since they paid a visit.”

“But I can't. They imprinted it on me. It's so deep in me! Even if I try to call the M- m- them, something else, it simply comes over my lips.”

“Whatever, I kept listening while you slept. It sounds like they are having a marriage ceremony above! A member of their breed took El Shaddai as his wife!”

“Wife?”

“Apparently, he was reborn while we were locked up in this cellar! As a woman on top of it!”

“It was wise to plug my eyes and ears. Nothing good comes of too much knowledge. But for the Masters to grant El Shaddai absolution in such a mysterious way…”

“I wouldn't call it absolution! But at least he got an opportunity to escape. I wouldn't even think about revenge. I would just hide somewhere and live a humble life.”

“Such a life would be surely a great gift by the Masters.”

Then, the opens slightly with an almost inaudible creak.

“What was that!?”

“The door! Be silent and pray! The Masters are coming! They don't even grant us peace during the marriage ceremony of their offspring. Hard and thorny are their paths…”

Three young girls enter the room in a sneaky manner and start whispering to each other.

“Come on in! They won't find us here!” Demongirl A gestures for the others to follow.

“Yes. Yes. God! This basement is dusty!” Demongirl B complains upon stepping into the room, whirling up some dust.

“At least we got away from them. For Sharid to bring her mortal family to the party, her little sisters are so annoying!” Demongirl C huffs. “And Nix is personally watching over the mortals. No fun to be had there.”

“Yeah... they ask so many obvious questions. What's this. What's that. Even I got sick of playing the escort,” Demongirl B admits.

“It can't be helped. They are mortals,” Demongirl A reminds her sisters.

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“Playing tricks on them would be seriously bad manners. Unfortunately.” Demongirl C nods to herself.

All the while, the two prisoners kept on watching, holding their breaths in silent anticipation of how this encounter might play out. For them, it was clear that this was their opportunity.

“And too easy! Ah! Look! Two glowing orbs! Cool!” Demongirl B finally notices the two soul orbs.

All three of them come closer and surround the dusty pedestal with the two glowing orbs.

“I didn't know that we had such thing down here. Oh, there are little people inside! Freaky!” Demongirl A ogles the two prisoners, not aware of the dangers the two entities pose.

“We aren't little people! We are Djinns! And if you crush our orbs, we can grant you a wish!” one of the prisoners speaks up.

“It spoke!” Demongirl C gasps.

“What are your names little Masters?” one of the prisoners asks, unable to keep his voice from sounding worshipful.

“I am Eris! And that's Enyo and Arianne,” Eris introduces herself to the supposed Djinns.

“That's so strange. Shouldn't you rub an oil lamp for a Djinn to appear and grant wishes? And why are they kept in this dark and dusty basement?” Arianne squints her eyes at the two little figures.

“Who cares!? Two wishes! Hurry up and think of something cool!” Enyo starts hopping up and down, a smile shining on her entire face.

“I really think that we should ask-” but Arianne can't complete her sentence before her sister acts.

“I wish for Sharid to have two little boys to tease them!” Eris grabs the first glowing globe and smashes it onto the ground.

The globe shatters with the sound of breaking glass.

“Are you out of your mind!? And what's with that strange wish, Eris! Sharid likes cute, little girls on top! Didn't you see how she adores her two little sisters! You are cruel!” Arianne gasps at the broken globe on the floor. It stopped shining and went dark as soon as the soul inside escaped.

“I- I don't know. It was a sudden impulse? It felt like the right thing to do?” Eris looks at the broken ball to her feet with a disturbed expression. “It was like a past self of mine suddenly took over?”

“I will correct your mistake! I wish for both boys to be lovable and cute little girls so that Sharid can shower them with love!” Enyo grabs the remaining globe and throws it to the floor.

There is another ‘crunch’ and a second soul evaporates with the fading cry of freedom.

“FREEEEEE!”

With a sigh, I decide to intervene in order to keep my dimwitted sisters from causing any more trouble.

“That was strange.” Eris scratches her cheek.

“Didn't I tell you!? What got into you to make such strange wishes? Are you a goddess of mischief, Eris?” Arianne smacks Eris.

“Like I said… Why are you tapping us, Enyo? Stop that! First, we have to think about a way to conceal this mess and blame someone else!” Eris waves at the shards on the floor.

But Enyo persistently continues to poke her sisters from behind until Eris and Arianne finally turn around.

“Aaah... Hi! Grandma Ireth! How are you doing?” Eris tries to put on her most innocent expression, hoping the two adults who sneaked up on them wouldn’t put them through the wringer.

“Strange to meet you in such a dusty cellar, granny Katrine. We surely weren't hiding if you think that...”

Such things were now normal within my family, but as I said, they were far from threatening the multiverse as a whole. And with me on watch, the damage of such little incidents would be mitigated as much as possible.

Some years later, two toddlers were sitting side to side in their cute, pink girls' room.

‘That's my baby soother!’ Anja snatches her belonging out of Amelia's mouth, using telekinesis to do so while telepathically communicating with her sister.

‘Sorry. I tend to mix them up. Yours and mine look so similar,’ Amelia apologizes and grabs the other soother which belongs to her.

‘I swear! All those years in that Cellar with you. And now this cruel fate! Your drool is on my belonging! And to be the sister of an airhead like you!’ Anja starts waving her cute little arms into the air.

‘I am not the one who came up with the Djinn story! You are at fault here! I always told you that Karma and Fate exist! And for someone like us to try to escape our righteous punishment... this had to happen!’ Amelia snaps and starts a tirade, screaming with all her might.

‘How should I know? How big was the chance for this to happen? A trillion to one!? At least they will seal our memories today. I already hid a note in my soother to never try to remember my past. Stupid airhead!’ Anja continues her rant.

‘I will cry even louder! And then she will come!’ Amelia threatens Anja.

‘Airhead!’

“UWAAAAA!”

‘Stop it!’

“WAAAHAAAHAHAAAA!”

‘I give up! Peace! Just don't call her! She is too doting and loving! I can’t stand it! If she starts to take care of us she won't stop until she falls asleep! I will never call you airhead again. We are in this together. S- Sis-’

‘Say it!’ Amelia looks deep into Anja's eyes.

Anja puffs up her cheeks. ‘Sister! Please, don't cry. We have to stand united against Mother's love. At least until they seal our memories.’

‘Note down in your soother that you love me and that we are best sisters forever! And that we absolutely never ever get back our old memories! I will do the same!’ Amelia shows a winning grin that doesn't fit her baby-face at all.

‘That's-’

Amelia starts drawing breath.

‘OK! Ok! Just be quiet!’ Anja concentrates for a short moment to scratch the message with telekinesis into her soother. ‘There? See?’

‘Hmpf... Ok!’

Then steps are heard and the door flies open. Sharid storms inside and snatches up both toddlers, pressing them to her chest.

“~Mommy is here! You don't have to cry! Are you hungry already? Or did you make a poopoo? Need some baby powder? Or a toy?~”

Such was the fate of the last two infamous Council members, thanks to my watchful self.

And on a hill, a man sat down next to a lonely goddess and took her hand.

“Took you long enough to come back,” the true saviour of the multiverse complained.

The man only nodded and the two sat there, finally reunited after a multiverse had separated them.

But that was another story.