She had finally arrived at the place beyond time, a majestic space that made even her look average in comparison to its star-voyage-like beauty. The vast expanse shimmered with ethereal brilliance, adorned with ribbons of time that wound around the pillars of creation. These ribbons glowed in hues of blue and gold, their flowing movements creating a mesmerizing dance that seemed to narrate the history of the cosmos itself. Celestial bodies floated serenely in the background, casting a gentle, ambient light that bathed the entire area in a warm, otherworldly glow.
At the heart of this majestic space stood a grand table, an imposing centerpiece crafted from what appeared to be stardust and ancient stone. Each side of the table featured a seat or throne, two of which were currently vacant. From one of the occupied thrones, positioned to her right, came a distorted, mocking voice.
"What's this?" The voice sneered. "I thought you said you didn't need our help, and yet here you are. What a pathetic excuse of a goddess you are."
Sarandel's gaze shifted to the speaker, a man wearing a skull mask that covered his entire head, distorting his voice. His outfit screamed nobility: black lined with gold and purple accents, meticulously tailored to exude an air of arrogance. He lounged in his throne, feet casually propped up on the table, head resting on his palm. If one could see his eyes, they would be filled with mocking disdain.
Sarandel gave no reaction to his taunting, aware of her own limits and unafraid to admit them, even if it contradicted her previous boasts.
"Don't mock her, please. We're all friends here, aren't we?" asked the one seated directly opposite her at the table. This man, a half-elf, had hair of gold, with tips ending in white, and eyes that shone like stars. His outfit was the complete opposite of the man with the skull mask, favoring comfort over style, yet maintaining a regal elegance. He sat with a professional demeanor, fitting for the grandeur of their surroundings.
"I need the help of one of you," Sarandel said, her voice steady as she took her seat.
The man with the skull mask let out a low, mocking chuckle. "Of course you do. Why else would you come here? For a taste of celestial wine?" he jeered, clearly enjoying the chance to taunt her despite her stoic demeanor.
"Ercale has come back," Sarandel said, her brows furrowed as she stared at her fidgeting hands. The room fell silent at her words.
"Are you sure?" asked the man with star-like eyes, his tone seeking clarity.
She nodded firmly. "Yes, there is no mistaking it."
Skull mask straightened his posture, his earlier nonchalance replaced by a more serious demeanor. "Couldn't you just send out—" he began, but Sarandel cut him off sharply.
"No! Never again!" she exclaimed, standing abruptly and slamming her hands on the table.
"Calm down, Sarandel," advised the man with star eyes, his voice gentle but firm. She took a deep breath and sat back down, muttering, "Never ever again..."
Skull mask let out a distorted sigh. "Well, I'm out of ideas," he said, looking over at his companion. "You got anything?"
The man with star eyes put a hand to his chin, deep in thought. "Can you explain how he has come back?" he asked, his gaze steady on Sarandel.
She shook her head. "I don't know how—"
Skull mask made a dismissive gesture. "Of course you don't," he muttered.
"But he hasn't come back in his own body," she continued. Both men looked confused.
"The heck's that supposed to mean?" asked skull mask.
Sarandel brought her palm close to her mouth and blew on it. From her palm emerged an image of a blue-haired, blue-eyed boy. "This is the body his soul currently inhabits," she explained.
Star eyes looked intrigued while skull mask went motionless. "But oddly enough, he is sharing this body with another rather than just taking it over," she added.
"Interesting. That's not how the soul usually works," said star eyes, his eyes narrowing in thought. His contemplation was swiftly broken as distorted laughter filled the room. Both Sarandel and star eyes turned to skull mask, who laughed like a madman.
"What are you laughing about?" she asked, expecting another bout of mockery.
Skull mask kept laughing as he spoke. "Man, what are the freaking chances!" he exclaimed, his arms wide as he stood up from his seat. He turned to her, his tone suddenly serious. "You wanted one of our help, right? Well, you got it! I'll personally take care of this," he declared confidently.
Both Sarandel and star eyes stared at him in disbelief. "You cannot be hoping to fight Ercale yourself, right?" asked star eyes, concerned.
She nodded in agreement. "While you are undoubtedly the strongest of us, facing Ercale is still beyond you."
Skull mask chuckled again. "I agree with you two. If I fight Ercale, I'll most likely end up dead or my soul will be obliterated. But!" He pointed at the image of the boy with blue hair. "I don't need to fight Ercale. I just need to take care of him, and Ercale will be dealt with," he boasted with extreme confidence.
"How can you say that with such confidence?" asked star eyes.
Skull mask turned away, heading towards the portal Sarandel had come through. "Don't worry, I know what I'm talking about," he said, waving dismissively.
Star eyes let out a light sigh and turned to Sarandel. "Well, it looks like you have received the help you came here for. If you need my assistance as well, just ask," he offered.
She bowed her head slightly. "Thank you."
Turning towards the portal where skull mask waited, she couldn't shake the unease in her gut. "Come on, let's go. The anticipation is killing me," he said, his eagerness palpable.
As they stepped towards the portal, Sarandel wondered why he was so eager to go personally after seeing that boy. Meanwhile, skull mask thought to himself, *Let's see how well you hold up, Xain.*