After the tragic events, Regnum is left in ruins. The once peaceful and beautiful city is nothing more than a pile of dust and stone. Rebekah opens her eyes and realizes she is in her room surrounded by boulders, wood, and glass. She summons all of her energy to get out of bed and stand up.
She looks out towards her balcony and sees a figure standing there just looking towards the horizon. She tries to walk towards him, but her legs are too weak, and she starts falling towards the ground, closing her eyes, expecting to hit the ground, but nothing happens. When she opens her eyes, she sees Victor, who has prevented her from hitting the ground.
"You need to take it easy. You are still very weak from the other day."
Rebekah looks at Victor with tearful eyes.
"What happened to my mother and father?"
Victor has to subdue his emotions before replying.
"They were killed by Freyja. She was under the control of Dolos' second in command. Fortunately, I was able to subdue her, but only after she killed your parents."
Rebekah starts to cry and buries her head into his chest. Victor feels very uncomfortable considering she is his mother but gives in and holds her tight until she finishes crying. After she has recovered, they take a walk through the palace, looking at the destruction before them. Rebekah looks at Victor, who has no emotions on his face, and she starts wondering why she feels a strange connection between the two of them.
"Excuse me, Victor. But I can't keep it in anymore. Why do I have this feeling that we're related in some taboo manner?"
Victor stops and remains silent for a long time, thinking of what to say. A voice begins talking to him.
"Fear not young Paladin. You may tell her the truth without it affecting the future."
"Was that the earth mother?"
He thinks to himself. He looks at Rebekah, who anxiously waits for an answer. He finally gives in and begins to speak.
"As you already know, my name is Victor Bloodgrave. I am the son of Riventer and Rebekah Bloodgrave, your future son. A few years from now, you will meet an adventurer named Riventer Bloodgrave who will later become your husband."
He's about to say more, but Rebekah silences him.
"You have told me more than enough, my son. I am grateful to know my son will become a powerful warrior in the future. That is all I need to know. Now, let's send you back to your time. There is unfinished business you need to attend too. Is there not?"
With a smile, he replies.
"Hmph. You really don't change much over the years. I'm glad dad chose you to be my mother. I couldn't ask for better. Although, how do I get back to my time? I did kill all the other Divine Mages."
"Fear not. You have awakened to my power that was dormant inside of you. That is all you need to get back to your time."
Victor is shocked, unable to speak.
"What? Did you think Divine Mages were only capable of advanced magic?"
Victor nods his head, which makes Rebekah laugh uncontrollably.
"Oh, my son, you still have much to learn. But fear not, for I will always be with you even after my death to guide you. Now, here is the biggest secret we keep from the world. We have the power to open up portals through time. Though it may sound like an advantage, you will only be able to travel between two points of time to previous events that transpired there. Once you return to your present, you can not return to the same point again. It's basically a one-off spell."
"Wow. I never knew they could do that. Can I use it to prevent someone from dying if they have already died in the present?"
"No. You can not. Recent events have not had time to be remembered. Therefore , it is impossible to prevent a death that has already happened. Once a person dies, that is the end of their journey. You are forbidden from saving them."
Victor starts to tear up but keeps himself composed.
"As hard as that was to hear. I understand what you are saying. Unfortunately, my life's path is going to be one of sadness, violence, and turmoil. This means I'm still going to lose a lot of people I care about."
She places a hand on his cheek.
"Their deaths and sacrifices will be your greatest weapon in the final battles you will face. That is why, no matter how difficult or heartbreaking that loss is, do not prevent it from happening."
"Thank you, Mother. You have made my resolve that much stronger, and I will make sure I see my oath fulfilled before I die."
"That's the kind of thing I'd expect my son to say."
She smiles warmly at Victor and guides him to a door that is as old as Regnum. When she opens it, torches begin to flicker and illuminate the dark space, revealing an intricately carved circle. When they approach it, Rebekah stands back and tells Victor to stand in the center.
"Now then, Victor. Close your eyes and focus on the power you have recently obtained, and call it forth in its might."
Victor focuses on his newly acquired power and starts coursing it through his body and into his hands.
"Very good. The more you train yourself to feel that power, the easier it will be to summon it at will. Now repeat the chant after me. Power of the Divine. Reveal yourself to me and grant me your blessing of time that i may go back to the present. "
"Power of the Divine. Reveal yourself to me and grant me your blessing of time that I may go back to the present."
"Now, this last part is very important. You must not get this wrong, or you will be trapped in a space where not even the gods could enter."
"I'm ready!"
"Very well. Now call upon the spells name, and shower it with as much power as you can handle. Vincula Temporis!"
"Vincula Temporis!"
The lines on the circle light up and open a portal before Victor's eyes. Before he enters, he takes one last look at his mother, and a tear runs down his eye. She smiles at him, and her last words make him smile.
"I will always love you, my son."
Victor wipes the tears from his face and enters the portal. It transports him at an unimaginable speed, but he is able to hold strong as he moves through it.
Back in the present, a year has passed since Victor was sent to the past. Gizel and Gwennith anxiously wait for his return. Meanwhile, certain that Victor is dead. The one posing as Freyja summons the two women to her court. When they arrive, she tells them about Victor.
"It has been over a year since Victor was sent to the past. The fact that he is not back can only mean he has been killed. It is unfortunate. He was the only hope we had of defeating the gods, and now all is lost. I can't begin to imagine how this news sounds to you, but my heart is broken for your loss. He had such potential, and now it is lost."
Gwennith speaks up.
"How do you know he's dead? Have you found any evidence to support this claim?"
Freyja is shocked at her response and quickly thinks of a way to make them think he is dead.
"I did not want to do this, but. Guards, bring it to me!"
Two guards walk up to the throne carrying the armor that Victor was wearing before he was sent to the past.
"Here is the proof you asked for."
She shows them the armor, but Gizel notices an unusual shape to the armor.
"Queen Freyja. If I may be so bold. That is not the type of armor Victor would wear. It looks to be a failed attempt to recreate his armor. I know every piece of his armor and how it's shaped, even down to the tiniest of scratches."
Freyja begins to grit her teeth as her plan slowly starts falling apart.
"W-wow. I'm amazed at your attention to detail. You must really care a great deal for him."
"You should know the properties and materials used to make Victor's armor. After all, it was made in the forges of Regnum, not some backwoods failed forger. So enough with the deception. Show us who you really are. Mirage Dusperse!"
Powerful magic leaves Gizels body, and it hits Freyja before she has time to react. The guards raise their weapons at the two women. As the smoke clears, a figure stands up. Bright blonde hair, with eyes darker than an abyss and a face twisted with rage and anger.
"HOW DARE YOU MERE MORTALS ATTACK A GODDESS! YOU WILL BE KILLED SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY AT MY HAND! NOW THEN, PREPARE TO FEEL THE FULL POWER OF A LOW RANKING GODDESS!
ABSOLUTA MENS IMPERIUM!!"
A powerful orb of magic gets thrown towards Gizel and Gwennith. Unable to stop it, they hold each other tight, and their last thoughts dwell on Victor as they prepare to be taken over. A bright light appears out of nowhere and returns the attack back towards the Goddess, who barely dodges it.
"WHO WOULD DARE TRY AND ATTACK ME!?"
A voice is heard coming out of the bright light as a figure steps out of it.
"You will not lay a single finger on them while I'm still alive."
When the light dissappears, Gizel and Gwennith look towards the figure, and there eye's light up with happiness.
"VICTOR!!"
Meanwhil, the goddess scowls and grits her teeth.
"How? How is this possible? You should have had no chance of returning."
A beam of light just grazes her cheek, causing it to bleed.
"You underestimated the power of true Divine Mages. Now you will pay with your life for what you did."
Victor and the goddess stand opposing each other as they power up their attacks.