No sooner than a week later Kata returned. A slight look of exhaustion could be seen on her face. Clearly, she had been extremely busy for the past 5 years.
"Welcome back my darling wife. Have you completed the organisational restructure for the Lunar Eclipse city?"
"Yes, I can now rest in peace knowing the Moon Clan and the other two clans have been properly organised."
"Could you not have left that for others to do? I missed you."
"I'm certain Vena never neglected you."
"So, I was pawned off."
"You've known from before how much she cares for you."
"But you knew I only had eyes on you."
"Well, things change and maybe this is for the better."
"What have you really been doing for these past 5 years? Certainly, the capital city or the Moon Clan could have taken instructions while you were here."
"Don't you trust your wife?"
"Wholeheartedly I do, which is why I know you've laboured for me in secret. Each time you do these things I feel like I've not protected you. But instead, it is you, who is constantly protecting me."
"Am I not to protect you? Are we not a relationship of equals?! Why must you choose to bear the burdens alone?! We are your wives and we will always protect you!"
"... We? Wives? Can you explain your plans or more to the point, what visions have you seen? What future are you trying to create?"
"You said you trusted me wholeheartedly."
"Yes, but…"
"Dear husband, please drop this line of questioning."
Gilead knew that Kata always held the upper hand in their arguments and would naturally concede any confrontational moment. "...Just don't do anything dangerous. Okay?"
"I promise to keep us all safe. Now, come let's visit a friend."
"Who?"
"Vena, of course."
…
"Kata, you certainly are prompt. I half doubted your arrival today. Then again everything you said came to pass."
"He's quite greedy and you are certainly lovable."
"What are you two… I was sold off." Mumbling to himself, he looked at the two girls. Who seemed to be ignoring his presence or his mumblings.
"Have you made the necessary preparations Vena?"
"Yes, I have. The Elders will conform to the same system as the other three Clans."
"Good, having a council making the decision will cause some delays. But it will ensure stability."
"Stop right there! I have not inquired about the things you have been doing. But that is because I know it has been for the greater good of our people. However, the tone of this conversation indicates that… You plan, to follow me?! Listen to me now. There is a limit to devotion, loyalty and honour. Especially when it comes to weighing the greater good! Our people will need you both here!"
"There is no limit to love dear husband. This is something you have no say in."
"I, your husband, have no say in it. No say in your sacrifice to be with me! I refuse! Love for our people should also be weighed and found limitless. They need you!"
"We know this. But…"
"No buts! What you want is foolish. Reincarnation is not as simple as you make it out to be! Dying with me does not guarantee reincarnation at the same time or same era. Never mind the fact that we will not have the memories of this life or control of what we are reincarnated into."
"We have planned for all of that and today is…"
"Enough! Stop this ridiculous plan. Dying is nothing to laugh at. Your souls will be tortured clean in the wash of the recycle. I beg you both, think of our people!"
"Gilead we are, Lady Kata has seen her future and another world-ending catastrophe is pending. And only you will have the power to protect us. So we have been thinking of our people. We are simply happy to have this chance to accompany you."
Looking to Kata to confirm what Vena has just said to be true. He is greeted by a nod.
"The Zodiac will return?"
"Yes."
"..."
"Gilead, there will be a major disaster for this world and this new star system. From my vision, I saw the return of the darkness. In all possible futures, it returns, but only in one do we have a chance and we strive for that chance."
"Are we doomed to live this vicious cycle? ...Tell me about the plan."
"I can only tell you the next step."
"Why?"
"It's not time for you to know the full plan."
"...Okay, tell me how do you plan on guaranteeing your reincarnations?"
"By tying our souls to yours."
"Explain."
"By giving a part of our souls to you, it will ensure our births. It will ensure that whenever you are born it pulls the others to this plane. By so doing it will naturally affect fate and align the right people to produce the right vessels for the others."
"I see, but…"
"But how? By sharing with you the trait that makes us, unique. Vena will share her living Sapphire Ice Bones with you. Which will also serve as a shield for you. While a part of my soul will accompany the other part of your soul in planet Gilead as your Eternal Moon. This will also ensure we reincarnate on planet Gilead like you and around the same time as you."
"... Still, I just can't accept how casual you are about dying with me. Both of you! Have you both neglected my feelings in this?! Did I not stake my life on the line to ensure our people would live in peace? Why? Why must we be subjected to this?!"
"Husband, no one said you were allowed to fight alone."
"Yes, we will fight for the life we want and we are prepared to see…"
"See, what? See a life with no future, no children Vena, or a family?! Yes, I risked my life for them, our people. But I'm only willing to die, for you both."
"As would we, Gilead."
"No Vena! You're asking me to watch you die! To be the cause of it! ...Kata, I have failed you."
"You haven't…"
"Really? Dying with me? Forfeiting a life and family for me? So yes, in these aspects I have failed you, failed you both."
"..."
"..."
"But if this is the path that fate has presented us, presented me... then I'll walk along that path, for now. One day, one day I will exist outside of fate!
Vena, I cannot allow you to die before we even get married. Kata, is it too much to ask?"
"I've brought the ceremonial cloth already."
"...I surrender to you, but not to fate."
...
"Am I allowed to worry now?"
"Yes husband, you are now free to worry."
"..."
"I didn't mean you should start now."
"How can I not worry? Apart from our three here, no one else knows that you're my wife. They won't praise your name in the same breath as Kata."
"I don't mind. I didn't marry praise or worship, I married the man I love." As she spoke she moved closer while slowly extending her arms. Cupping Gilead's chin in her palms as her fingers held his cheeks. "Kiss me again." She whispered.
...