Vesta and Athena share a sincere hug, while Hekate watches with disdain. They all look the same age, despite coming from three wildly different generations of gods.
Athena recovers her spear from the Crone's heart, pointing it instead at the Maiden's throat; it's still dripping divine blood.
Athena, Vesta and Hekate look at each other, then Athena answers Noriko's question:
Earth, New York City
Max Black and a duplicate of Kari are walking the stairs to his apartment; he's carrying two sport bags, she has four tennis rackets.
When they reach the door to the apartment, there's a woman waiting for them. Caucasian, about Kari's age, wearing glasses.
The Aegis, in orbit above Myridia
Kari and Torn have decided to stay on the planet to meet Old Man Vor and Vesta volunteered to keep an eye on Elytra, but Noriko couldn't resist the offer to visit Athena's mothership.
Compared to Demeter's ship, the Aegis is visibly more modern: the endless corridors are filled with displays at every corner, with blinking lights everywhere.
"Max would've loved this. This feels like an episode of Star Trek" Noriko thinks.
Everyone crossing them salutes Athena by placing the right fist over the heart; it looks like a military salute of some kind. The atmosphere is very cordial: they don't look intimidated by Athena.
Noriko has to admit that she is intimidating. Still wearing the armor, the goddess looks even taller than six foot five, especially next to Noriko's five feet.
Nike is also dressed in armor, with the breastplate leaving her back completely exposed to make room for her rather large angel wings. Both armors seem rather impractical, leaving a lot of flesh exposed (Noriko notices that Athena doesn't have a navel); if they're as powerful as Vesta and Demeter, the armor is probably for show. In fact, judging by Hekate's reaction and recalling the extent of her dominion, Noriko suspects that Athena is far more powerful than them.
<"The Senate"?> Noriko repeats.
As they talk, Noriko can't help by admire Athena's private quarters: they are on a spaceship, but she couldn't tell it from here. It looks like the Hall of Mirrors from the Palace of Versailles.
They have now reached the table, where a lavish meal is awaiting them.
Reluctantly, joins her...and while she doesn't want to admit it, shares the best lunch she ever had.
Noriko almost chokes on her food on the question, quickly turning red for the embarrassment.
They talk for what feel like hours. Despite her best efforts, Noriko can't help but feel a bond between them. And she has no doubts that Athena knows it too.
She retires to the guest room for the night; of course, it's far bigger and fancier than she'd imagined.
The other gods will arrive tomorrow. Since there's no chance to get anything done without Athena watching over her shoulder, she decides to indulge in her new stepmother's generosity.
She can't remember the last time she's had a relaxing bath. There's always something to build, someone to fight, the fate of the world on her shoulders. This is the first chance to unwind she's had in a long time; she just soaks in a tub the size of a pool, allowing her brain to rest.
Then someone touches her tight, and Noriko lets out a high-pitched scream.
Noriko tries to slap the boy's face before even seeing him, but ends up missing: he has teleported from her right to her left at the speed of thought.
The boy teleports on the side of the pool and bows. He looks in his very early twenties, has curly hair and is completely naked. Noriko does her best to be as discreet as possible when she looks.