Chapter: 95
I decided that rushing off to alternate dimensions, in a 1 in 15 shot I made it back to Earth Marvel, was probably a bad idea. As a gamer, I wasn't even tired from going all day, but my companions were all tired. Sif's armor was also borderline destroyed after taking a thrashing from Grayfia. She wouldn't be fighting in it again anytime soon, not until we could get back to Asgard and have it repaired at least. Good thing for her, I knew Penemue had a few sets of armor tucked away from the Great War. She probably wouldn't mind if I lent one of them to Sif.
The pitch-black wartime armor of the Fallen Angels would look hot when matched with Sif's beautiful blond hair and golden eyes.
We were all taking a breather and were in the cafeteria getting a quick meal. I say cafeteria, but it was more like a never ending all you can eat buffet with 5 star chefs. The Grigori had money to spare and didn't skimp on luxuries.
"This is really tasty! What is it called?" Asia asked.
"That's pizza, Asia," I said. "Aren't you from Italy?" I asked with concern.
"Oh! So this is pizza! The priests who managed my life never allowed me to eat anything like this. They called it an extravagant indulgence." Asia explained.
I could understand her never having a cheeseburger since that's more of an American thing. But she never had pizza? She's Italian! That's practically blasphemy!
The more Asia talked about her life, the more I felt bad for her. She was pretty much a slave from my interpretation. Her church's head priests were raking in millions in "donation money" off her healing while giving her nothing in return. She lived in a very tiny room with no TV, internet or any real entertainment to speak of. All she was given was the Bible and orders to pray all day long when she wasn't healing people…
Her getting excommunicated as a witch was probably a good thing given the circumstances. I also marveled at the stupidity of the priests who kicked her out. How exactly were they planning on making any more money once their cash cow was gone? If they were smart, then they would have covered up her healing the devil and never spoken of it to anyone…
Sif placed her hand on Asia's shoulder comfortingly. "While slavery is still technically allowed on Asgard, it is only reserved for the most heinous of criminals as a punishment!" Sif said. "Make no mistake, young Asia. You are now under our protection, and we shall not let you be treated that way ever again."
Asia started tearing up. "Really? Is that like–is that like being family?" She asked with a hopeful look.
"Of course it is, Asia. I would love for us to be family," I said.
Raynare was sitting across the table sulking. "Tsk, what family!" She said angrily as she glared at me. "There were a dozen real Sacred Gears down there in the workshop, and you wouldn't let me have a single one!" She was still upset over me getting a second Sacred Gear when I had prevented her from taking Asia's…
"First of all, those are all Azazel's Gears that he uses for research. Secondly, they're all trash. The best Gear he had in his workshop was a fragment of Vitra, and without the complete set, those Sacred Gears are pretty much useless." I explained to her.
"I don't care about that! All I care about is getting stronger so Azazel notices me!" Raynare shouted loudly.
Ugh… Fangirls.
"Raynare… you and Azazel are never happening. You know he's currently with Penemue. They're even trying to have a child together." I said.
A look of shock overcame her as she stood up and slammed her arms on the table. "What!? No, that can't be!" She slumped back down and looked crushed.
My words did not go unnoticed by the other Fallen in the cafeteria, mostly because of how loud and cringy Raynare was currently being.
"Azazel and Penemue are having a child!"
"This is wondrous news!"
"We gotta tell everyone!"
A bunch of my eavesdropping siblings started cheering and frantically ran out of the cafeteria, presumably to go and spread the gossip.
Raynare's outburst had not seemed to bother Asia at all as she was still on cloud nine and giggling to herself about finally having a family. I figured I'd have to take her back to Earth Marvel with me anyway so none of the other Fallen got any ideas about her Sacred Gear either. Most of them wouldn't stoop low enough to steal a human's Sacred Gear, but not all of them, unfortunately. I wouldn't be able to protect her from a whole dimension away.
"You know, Asia, Michael and Gabriel are apparently very close to being able to turn humans into Angels. And unlike the Evil Pieces, the new Angels won't be slaves to their 'kings.' I think you'd make an excellent angel." I said. "Then we'd be a real family as well."
Asia looked ecstatic at the prospect as she started shaking giddily. "Really!? Oh, that would be so lovely!" Then she paused her excitement and frowned. "But wasn't I kicked out of the church for being a witch?"
"You were," I said. "But the church and Heaven are not the same thing. Does the human-led church speak for Heaven, Asia?" I asked her. I still didn't mention anything about Father… that was a can of worms that we could open later.
Asia shook her head. "Of course not! The Bible teaches humans are flawed and that we make mistakes. Are you saying it was a mistake that I was kicked out of the church?"
"No, it was done on purpose. It was all planned out." I said bluntly. 'Better to rip the band-aid off.' I supposed.
"What do you mean, Layla?" Sif asked. "Was Asia's fate some form of trickery? Oh, how I loathe trickery!" Sif declared as she pounded the table. Her eyes were burning with fury as she was probably reminiscing about all the pranks Loki had probably pulled on her over the millennia.
Asia looked saddened as well. "The priests betrayed me?"
I nodded to her sadly. I then explained to her my theory. How could Diodora Astaroth get into the heart of the Vatican itself otherwise? "And then he just happened to end up at the one church you lived in, Asia? Why didn't he just go to a hospital?" I explained to her. "No, he must have paid off your priests, and they let him inside. Once you healed him and were excommunicated, he would be able to take you into his peerage as 'thanks' for saving him," I finished explaining the "plot" to her. Asia looked sick and horrified that such a thing had happened to her.
"Those bastards!" Sif exclaimed. "We must reclaim vengeance and justice for Asia! Our newest sister!" Sif's sword materialized, and she brandished it into the air.
And we would. Starting with a certain letter I had sent out earlier to my favorite sister who lived in the clouds.
XXX
--------------------------------------------------
Read 10+ chapters in advance over on my Pat.reon.
Pat.reon.com/StarWaves (Remove the first .)