[ Day -1 ]
[ 09:05 p.m. ]
[ District: H ]
[ Location: Hunter Association's S-Rank Fortress, Lab Section. ]
* Door opens. *
Aidan enters as he sees that the lab is already empty. He looks around, seeing no one left to guard the place, and then walks further.
" Guess they left... " Aidan says, but suddenly.
" You should've thought twice! " a voice comes behind him, making him turn back and see.
" Oh, Dr. Liao Mei... " Aidan greets his fellow S-Rank and his senior as a Medic.
"You didn't sleep? " Liao Mei asks Aidan as she approaches him.
" Just some meeting with Lord Loki, Dr. "
" I'm just going to my room, but I've decided to come here as I heard from the other Researchers... "
" That there are ruins here, ruins from the Abyss Tower... "
" The ones that had paintings pained in Blood. " Aidan says which makes Liao Mei's eyes widen.
" I see it's true then? " Aidan realized it was true after Liao Mei confirmed it with her face.
" I had a theory that Lord Loki must've been the one who told you this, didn't he? " Liao Mei asks back once she hears it.
" Yes, Dr. Liao Mei... (Well..., it's also a 'no'...) " Aidan says while correcting it in his mind.
" So Doctor..., will you show me? " Aidan requests which was immediately given as Liao Mei points at a big block inside a huge glass box.
" We just moved that in, it was the last one we moved as I want to research it more even during the Tournament... "
" You can do that? " Aidan asks, wondering if an S-Rank like her wouldn't be put in the front.
" No way, even Lord Loki and the people knew I'm better in the sidelines, or in the back of things. "
" Unlike you, I had nothing to compensate for my healing-based abilities, unlike you with your flames and..., I heard you also received the power of the 'Blue Blaze'... "
" Mmm..., yes, good for you, Aidan... "
" Guess you can at least be more independent in the battle tomorrow. "
" But despite our positions..., I remember you want to see the blood paintings on the ruins, yes? "
" Well, we still managed to keep it using our efforts... " Liao Mei says as she and Aidan then see it together, seeing the paintings that Maiden stutter.
" It looks the same... "
" ... "
" ... "
" Don't tell me..., these paintings... "
" It was you..., all the time... " Aidan says beside Liao Mei which makes her curious...
...
( Meanwhile. )
[ Sanctuary, Kent Family's New Residence]
" I can see why I'm your Vessel..., Mrs. Carla. " Battle Maiden converses with Carla within here while she's sitting on the chair outside the residence's balcony, on the second floor.
" To think that we're similar to one another..., Half Blue Blood and... "
" Yes, Carla understands why Lord Athena chose Battle Maiden as her Avatar back then. " Carla speaks using Battle Maiden's mouth, possessing her when she wants to say something.
" Perhaps it's because of Battle Maiden had a great sense of justice, and caring while still working on the wisdom. Just like who Battle Maiden was in the Previous Timeline, back then, Carla was Battle Maiden's student in the Temples before the War with the Deviant..., Demonic Monarchs. "
" Battle Maiden, Mrs. Diane..., was so helpful to others..., always selfless no matter what and always bring forth justice despite not being a combat type before this Timeline happens. "
" Fun fact, Mrs. Diane should know that Mrs. Diane is the one who taught Carla how to use
" Despite one of us had a relative that happened to believe Justice is the same thing as Vengeance, not want to offend, but- "
" Carla understands, Grandpa is still angry with the gods, for various reasons... "
" The primary one is Carla no doubt..., but as Grandpa fights the gods in every Timeline, uncovering things even more... "
" Grandpa's resolve to end the gods' rule, becomes more absolute as more and more are uncovered. "
" Like the 'Horns of Corruption' for example... "
" Battle Maiden must've seen some gods releasing it from their body, didn't they? " Carla asks.
" I see one, Lord Jaegerus... " Battle Maiden mentions Jaegerus.*
" Back then, I'm still doubting on your Grandfather's way... "
" But it all changed when I saw the records of the Atlantis Ambush from the System's Memory Records shown another god who owns it..., and you know who has it? " Battle Maiden asks while Carla doesn't respond as Battle Maiden herself sighs after remembering it.
" It was 'Lord Poseidon', one of the Primary Olympian Gods and the Ruler of Atlantis. " Battle Maiden says this while laughing to herself about it.
" Carla should've expected that one. " Carla replied.
" The Olympians are the Divine Group that secretly syphon great power from it and spoiler alert... "
" The next one..., is Asgard. " Carla spoils it.
" Battle Maiden knows, who Carla is talking about? "
" The god with the 'Horned Crown'... "
" I see... " Battle Maiden agrees, she knows which god Carla is referring to.
" I always knew he would be the one who likes hiding something... "
" But what a fool of me to not realize the hideous thing had been present in everyone's eyes all this time. "
" All of it... " Battle Maiden says, feeling betrayed as she hears and thinks of it more.
" I should've not stayed here..., but. " Battle Maiden sobs.
" But, I already made a promise to Mrs. Rory back then, I... *sob* " *
" Ah the promise..., Great-Great Grandmother once mentioned that as well as Grandpa. " Carla suddenly remembers.
" Before Battle Maiden enters the Abyss Tower with Grandpa..., 'Current Timeline' Grandpa, the one who becomes 'White Demon'. "
" Battle Maiden once met Great-Great-Grandmother Rory in the Temple..., isn't that, correct? " Carla asks.
" Of course..., Carla. "
" Mrs. Rory, I mean... Grandma Rory was helping the Priestess as she used her 'Gift' to 'Heal' the people. "
" Gift? " Carla was confused.
" What's wrong? " Battle Maiden wonders.
" It's nothing. " Carla tells Battle Maiden to continue.
" Back then, Mrs. Rory was so panicked, worrying about your Grandfather. "
" I give her my word, enter the Tower and finally meet with the Grandson Mrs. Rory mentioned. "
" I fought with him, releasing him from the vixen parasite he's been infested for some time, destroying it and returning him to the path of greatness. "
" Thus, your Grandfather Ragna fought against the Villainours Adrian Waterson, it was a huge battle, and even the Tower was destroyed because of the fight. "
" At the moment, your grandfather became the White Demon, we flee from the scene and next we're arriving on Circe's Island. "
" The place where your Grandfather met her and told her his relation to the Dark Avatar, Andrew K. "
" The moment I happened to hear and witnessed inside the System Space, the moment of revelation that I never expected to happen in that instant, as it shatters my original perspective of your Grandpa's family in seconds. "
" Well, after that, I immediately told Ragna about his uncle's death, which is... "
" In the hands of the 'Horned Crown' God, Carla knows. " Carla replied.
" Carla sees in from Battle Maiden's memory... "
" Carla understood why Battle Maiden felt guilty, but Battle Maiden was only there in the flesh and not the mind as Lord Athena was the one who greatly participated there. "
" Even Grandpa understands that Grandpa knows Battle Maiden is simply a witness and not the perpetrator for the loss of his favorite Uncle of all time. "
" That's why Grandpa allowed Battle Maiden here, living with his family or should I say. "
" Accepted you to the family. " Carla says to Battle Maiden which made her chuckle.
" Speaking of 'Family'..., I also happened to remember your conversation with Ragna just recently, Carla. "
" About his 'ancestries'? "* Battle Maiden mentions.
" We had Carla's Great-Great-Grandmother to thank for that, Battle Maiden. " Carla interrupted.
" Was Carla right, Great-Great-Grandmother? " Carla says it as Grandma Rory suddenly comes out behind Battle Maiden.
" Mrs. Rory!? " Battle Maiden gets so surprised, seeing her coming without her even sensing it.
" She is right, Maiden... " Grandma Rory approaches.
" I should've known it would come to this... "
" As Ragna explained earlier..., every Privilege from this family originated from me. "
" From our lives, our funds..., it was all, from me, for I'm... "
" A 'Sanctus Sorores', Carla knows,... " Carla suddenly says it, making Battle Maiden gasp when she hears it.
" 'Sanctus... Sorores'..., Mrs. Rory? ' Battle Maiden was frightened as she heard it.
" Grandpa mentioned it during his talk with Carla, Battle Maiden. "
" Battle Maiden should've known this, or perhaps Battle Maiden didn't finish seeing Carla's memory before our conversation. "
" Speaking of conversation..., Grandpa also told Carla to ask Battle Maiden more of the 'Sanctus Sorores'... "
" Grandpa said, that despite the 'Sanctus Sorores' being part of the 'Children of the Creator' Religion, the Holy Temple and some of the gods accepted them under their wing. "
" Does Battle Maiden know about this? " Carla asks Battle Maiden while Battle Maiden could only say nothing while sweating a lot as the thinks more about this.
" Of course, she knows, Carla... " Grandma Rory tells Carla about it.
" She is the 'Battle Maiden', one of the 'Holy Priestesses' of the gods. "
" For our order once made deal with a certain god, the god one you mentioned as he took us under his protection.
" Because of it, the 'Sanctus Sorores' members are free from the Religion's persecution. "
" If..., they're still on the Order and not retired, *sigh*, like me... " Grandma Rory looks at Battle Maiden.
" So please do not be betrayed, Maiden. For I had no hidden intention for you and still was, the same woman who pleas for your help back then. "
" Then why you didn't tell me about this? " Battle Maiden asks.
" Battle Maiden, didn't I say seconds earlier that I'm 'retired'? "
" There's no way the Order will accept those who left, so thus the reason I hid it from others, is the position is no longer in my hands. "
" But, despite no longer being part of it in terms of organization, I am still part of the Sisterhood..., through Blood. "
" Since the Sisterhood had been carefully selected their breeding for years, to maintain their favor over the gods... "
" Bearing many daughters that will be given to many factions under the gods' banner..., to breed greater breeds than before. " Grandma Rory says as she approaches Battle Maiden and puts her hands on her, fixing her straight position.
" Greater breeds such as both of you..., Maiden, Carla. " Grandma Rory says it, as she sobs in joy.
" Both of you are the greatest results that our order could ever give. " Grandma Rory says it as tears of joy poured from his eyes.
" What about your grandson...? " Battle Maiden suddenly asks.
" Is he one of the Greater Breeds? " She asks Grandma Rory about it.
" From what I know, the Sisterhood values males so low for some reason. "
" Thus, those they given to the families the gods' ordered them with only produced Female Breeds that happened to be stronger than any Gifted Human Male born from any Gifted Human, especially when making things such as the 'Divine Avatar'. "
" I happened to meet one of 'em back then, as I researched her more with the help of the Tsuchimikado Clan's archives. "
" If one such example is like that, then a 'Sanctus Sorores' like you shouldn't even continue nurturing your 'grandson'... " Battle Maiden says it.
" So why? " Battle Maiden asks as Grandma Rory smiles.
" My dear..., you only knew the tip of the iceberg. " Grandma Rory tells.
" What you said there..., was a misconception for the real thing is the other way around... "
" Every Sisterhood member..., is yearning to produce a powerful Male Heir to the great families. "
" But..., as history records it, most of the Male breeds turned out to be failures while the Females strive. "
" Thus, the order lost their hope for Successful Male Heirs and instead focused on the females. "
" But still, despite the Order's lost hope..., we still had the same goal, to produce a Powerful Male Heir, the Male Divine Avatar..., to bring the one we will call..., the 'Sanct Avataris'. "
" A Man with the power of god, powerful enough to transcend space and time. " Grandma said it with full joy.
" You both knew about it, you should have? " Grandma Rory asked.
" Carla heard it, over the Timelines... " Carla mentioned.
" It seems the Sisterhood and the 'Children of the Creator' Religion still take hold of it in every Timeline, didn't they? " Carla says it while Grandma Rory sighs.
" I'm still not sure about the Timeline concept, but it reminds me... "
" Ragna told me about this 'Timeline' concept and the reason he's like this now is because his previous Timeline self appeared and guided him ever since... "
" If that's true if he met 'himself', the one who survives the event that made all the time in the world restart again. "
" If he really possessed an eye that could see through time, then... " Grandma Rory shakes her fingers in joy.
" If he, no..., he's been doing it..., he can defeat even the gods now..., ah! "
" AAHHH! "
" BY THE GREAT HEAVENS...! " Grandma Rory gets excited.
" It is..., as written. "
" The 'Prince of the Heavens'... "
" The one betrayed by the gods we knew, the one whose sacrifice is forgotten and unspoken... "
" The one who was said to return one day as promised and his promise will come forth in the form of Man. "
" A Man, powerful enough to transcend space and time. "
" A Man that has the power to fight even the gods... "
" Ahh... " Grandma Rory gets excited even more.
" Great-Great Grandmother- "
" When I was young, I always saw this prophecy as a promise that I could make with proper preparations. "
" Back then, I was so ambitious, forcing myself by disobeying the 'Sanctus Sorores' order to bring forth two sons and one daughter instead of three daughters. "
" I forced my sons, especially my firstborn son that I thought I could be raised to be the one. "
" Sadly..., he failed which immediately stroke a heavy blow to me, but... "
" One day... "
"On that particular day after Ragna was born for two years. "
" A miracle happened, hence his name. " Grandma Rory remembers the moment, witnessing little Ragna with his eye glowing touching her face.
She remembers her once old face turned into young like the face she had now. Grandma Rory tells more about it.
" Great-Great Grandmother gotta be kidding me? " Carla hears it.
" How could... "
" There's no doubt about it..., there's no way that I could achieve this current young form or like my second son Andrew who suddenly receives the Gift of Darkness despite him being born Ungifted from my body..., there's only one thing that could be the answer... "
" Ragna- "
" Enough! " Ragna comes in as he quickly catches Grandma Rory from behind, an act so quick that even both Battle Maiden and Carla can't follow.
" Grandfather...? " Carla asks.
" Your Great-Great-Grandmother has been through a lot. " Ragna says as he picks his grandma up.
" I'll be taking her to her room while also checking on Little Raquel. "
" After that, I'll take my leave, for the Tournament starts tomorrow. "
" Good night, ladies... " Ragna leaves the two with uneasy feelings on what they just seen.
_____________________
Extra:
* Jaegerus.
See in 283: White Shadow Part 2.
* " I already made a promise to Mrs. Rory back then, I... *sob* ".
Battle Maiden means about her first meeting with Grandma Rory, Chapter 64: Holy Temple Evacuation.
* " About his 'ancestries'? ".
It happened in the Previous Chapter.
* A miracle happened, hence his name.
She was referring to one of Ragna Current's names, 'Miraikuru'. The name explanation is in Chapter 13: The Unchosen One (1)