Dark Crow Rising

"So where exactly are we, this is still in the Orbital-Halo, right?" I ask either of the two deities I am with. I glance to my right as we walk by some kind of food stall packed with men in black trousers and white shirts. It smells nice and the general feeling of a lunch break is present.

"This is a replica of the city Dad once lived in before he ever became a god. Before your world was ever made. It was even a long time ago before even I or Thurnmourer were born." Motrtha answers and I slowly nod with an open mouth. All of this is so ancient compared to my home yet it is so similar... This is actually amazing.

"What's this place called?" I ask as I spot a series of posters promoting what seems to be a festival. I have no idea what it is meant to be about, however as the sky has a deep bluish tint to it and is covered in white specks.

"Begins with a K and ends in a U in a country starting with J and ending in N." Motrtha answers, smiling deeply as she does so. I stare at that smile until one comes to my face as well, bringing out a giggle from her.

"Not helpful, but, it's all interesting either way." I tell her as we come across a park that otherwise strikes me as an island. A single piece of green in the otherwise endless horizon of grey stone and flashing, colourful boards of light. Getting ahead of myself, I leave the other two and head into it. Smiling as I run a hand on a bush, I think back to that little potted plant I had back in Tobaballe.

That was all the green I really had in my life for a fair bit of it. I imagine this is what it must've been like should I have stayed and gone up further in life. Yet, none of this compares to my time in the flower with Rose and the others. Despite all the problems, big and small, I was always outdoors in the open to the point it blurred together into the background.

For all her annoyances and strange claims, the one thing I did love about Rose was being out in the open with her. Maybe it was because she is a plant person, but, she knew quite a bit about everything in the views we shared. The types of trees growing, the moss smothering them and the flowers blooming in the patches of halolight. Vapooliar had the one up on her, though, what with that nighttime trip to the mountains with all the snow and the high view...

Even if I was only there because Vapooliar was terrified to the core.

I shake my head as I find a thick-branched tree and I huff bemusedly at the thought of pulling a Vadei. Getting up there and simply lounging to my heart's content as time goes on by and the bark imprints my skin. I assume such moments would be worried by my paranoia over my turned arm, but. I know it would be nice.

A moment of happiness in the otherwise terrible present as I learned more and more about the horrors of the world.

Looking over at a young, happy couple as they play around by a fountain, I smile a bit. This black-haired girl, pale of skin in her pink coat and short, black skirt is enjoying her boy in his white shirt and brown trousers. I wonder, if I ever did return the strange feelings Rose had for me, would I end up like that pair? Ignoring the world so long as I could look into the eyes of the other.

"Nin! Please don't wander off like that..." Motrtha tells me as everyone seems to vanish as the sky warps and contorts.

"What's going on?" I ask as I stare up at the swirling mass of purples, light and dark. It's starting, I suppose.

Suddenly, I am on the ground with Motrtha on top of me. A sickly yellow projectile in the ground I was once just on. Blinking slowly, me and the goddess quickly get back to our feet as the weapon turns to sparkles. Motrtha pulls me further away as her brother steps up to the fore as our assailants cackle.

"Motrtha!?" I go as I cautiously start to watch the voluptuous, mostly human creatures in thin, frilly or tight clothing. Each of them holds a glowing spear, pink, blue and yellow. A pair of black wings arch out menacingly, casting darker shadows than what the sky is already making.

Rohlandantyr's kind are the enemy...?

"Fallen creatures, speak proudly of your crimes to me." Enorcoustice wants as he holds his stone tablet in one arm. His other hand lingers in the air as its index tips out to a point.

The creatures laugh a chorus of sadism and throw their weapons in a multiplying barrage. All of the attacks halt, losing every bit of momentum, much to the shock of these creatures as they hover. Two grow resentful and add to the display of nullified attacks whilst the third sneaks about. I watch them along with Motrtha but I can't find it in me to warn the God of Law.

Why isn't Motrtha doing so either?

"If chasing our desires makes us fallen, then so be it!" the sneaking one declares as she lunges forward with her weapon.

"A traitor's death for you all." Enorcoustice utters before a resounding snap of rope fills the air. I jump back in shock as all three of them spontaneously hang from a gallow for each.

"Motrtha... What's going on?" I try to ask again as I cautiously eye the God of Law's tablet as their listed sin becomes clearly readable to me. Selfish betrayal.

"Mirages of Dad's old enemies. This place is filled with them, again, stay close." she tells me as she holds me somewhat tight and close as we start to move out of the park.

"This place is in his head?" I ask as I was never actually told if this was in the Orbital-Halo or not.

"In a way." Motrtha answers.

"No, not his memories. A spiteful recreation of them all." Enorcoustice clarifies as he seems to look off into the distance. Following his covered eyes as well as I can, I spot a lone building off on one of the mountains surrounding the city.

"What is that? I have a feeling you are looking at it for a reason."

"A church, the one the Portalmaker awoke in. Father found himself imprisoned thereafter he went on an unassuming errand with an ally." Enorcoustice explains and I nod, somewhat understanding his meaning.

"So, what is a church, specifically?" I whisper to Motrtha.

"A name for a place of worship for those of the-"

"With danger out and about, we need to head back." Enorcoustice interrupts his sister with as he tries to turn us around.

"Why exactly are we here?" I ask as I step away from the god.

"Father wishes to make amends."

"Maybe we might find something there, then? If this is all memories, spiteful recreation or not, maybe there is something we can find that is actually happy...? A reminder of the bond he once shared with these people?" I ask, hoping more so to keep away from the growing sensation of danger coming from the way we came. I can feel it blowing through my goosebumps like a vile breeze.

"He may have a point, Enorcoustice, for all of Her attempts to spite Him, joy can be found here." Motrtha comments as her brother reads through a book that has more pages than it otherwise seems. Even with its already hefty load between the binds.

"Father has explained to us what happened at that church. A friend died and a horrible power was unleashed."

"No, a friend was made there and a lifesaving ability was unleashed!"

"Whatever happened, that church is important!" I go, throwing my hands up, making the pair stop and look at me.

Enorcoustice points an accusatory finger, "You won't even know what to look for even if you do go there. How you'd even get these details to Father is even more of a flaw in this barely considered plan. First of all even, you'd need a guide and our attention is focused on helping Father."

"Help me help Him!" I say as Motrtha takes one of my hands.

"She did go there once all was said and done, Enorcoustice." Motrtha explains as she starts to pull me in the direction I am pushing for us to go.

"Her memories of that place will be finding Father a porcupine full of magic swords. She will be more than happy to exaggerate the suffering of that memory."

"She also found a new friend and was reunited with two others!"

"We will not find anything, but your stubbornness will see us immobilized otherwise." Enorcoustice remarks as he snatches me out of Motrtha's grip, slinging me over his shoulder.

"Uh, where do you think you are going with him?" Motrtha goes as she follows after us, bemused by my situation.

"We move with haste, now, come." Enorcoustice goes as he leaps into the air, and, despite my lack of a life to preserve, I still scream wildly.

"Put him down, you're frightening the poor thing." Motrtha casually remarks as she effortlessly keeps up with the god as the world becomes a blur.

"I AGREE!" I snap as I continue to flail. Not only is this embarrassing it is wholly unnecessary!

"NO! I will not risk the mortal's slowness stopping us from trying something new. If there is a chance to end this cycle of self-loathing then we must try!" Enorcoustice states with surprising passion as I start to get used to the movement in my stomach.

Sighing miserably as another building crumbles beneath the god's powerful jumps, I glance around between the shifting colours. Lot of small buildings that I am not familiar with, boxy with angle-topped roofs. They are all mostly the same design and size with a few odd exceptions. Well, except for one building which otherwise glows with unnatural light.

It's a tower, there is a random, blockish tower all the way out here, gilded and decorated with wealth. A grand and vast estate with two open-top gardens on the roof. A bright shield suddenly comes to life as Enorcoustice's feet strike it on the descent. I ponder the protective bubble as we fly away, only mild screams ruining the otherwise simple case of staring.