The flames dancing over the ruined city, flickered in the Vampire's eyes. He saw something… Something he wasn't prepared to deal with. A force he couldn't even comprehend. The body this force belonged to had yet to appear, yet he remained frozen in place, terrified.
Suddenly the flickering of the flames turned a deeper orange-crimson hue as a plume of cindered earth erupted, and a figure emerged. A wing span bloating out the sun to the whole city. Though it was still bright as day, a testament to flames.
"You thought I'd really just let you go?" Eternia spoke infuriated at the sight she saw. Her girls were still recovering from severe wounds. It took me longer than I wanted. But now, I'm going to make this right. Hmm… He's not as strong as I was before this evolution. I could have taken him down then huh… I hope my girls learned something from that fight, otherwise no amount of apology would do for putting them through that so needlessly. "Now, tell me who it was. The whole plan." She ordered, putting her beak in his face.
"I won't say anything!" The Vampire Count managed to squeak out.
"Fool… Utterly foolish. I don't need you to tell me willingly. I can pry it out of you without you even realizing…" Eternia grumbled. "That was a last chance at a modicum of mercy. Since you've refused, don't expect a quick death." She said, bringing her neck back looking up and then, with a single motion, she brought her beak back down, open. Out from her mouth came a flurry of fire. A purposeful mix to cause the most damage possible as the Vampire burned away, keeping it up for 5 hours straight. The land beneath had been carved out so terribly so, lava plumed out of the hole to relieve the pressure. "Good riddance." Eternia said with a confident nod.
Once Eternia arrived at the protected outpost and saw the extent of damage up close and personal, she cried allowing for a tear to land on each of her children. Tears of a true phoenix possess the most extreme healing ability, complete revival and restoration. As such, having one of these tears would be worth an untold fortune. But that wasn't the thought in Eternia's mind when she shed these tears. No, she didn't want to lose another one of her babies. They were all precious to her and the thought she might lose the ones she had left, filled her with guilt for the ones she had already lost.
"Mother, we're alright, grandmother healed us enough…" Acialia started to protest but she was shut up, and it was too late anyway, the tear had already begun to take effect.
"I won't lose any of you. I'm never again losing any of my babies." Eternia, with an abundance of emotion said as she wrapped her wings around her 5 eldest. Vitaliana, not wanting to be left out, teleported over and joined the family huddle.
"Darling, the time for rest has not yet arrived. We have hundreds of thousands of people in need of homes." Solaria mentioned, half heartedly. The rest of her wanted to be a part of the hug. But that would be a step too far right now. After all, I wasn't there to stop it. Nothing would have worked in my aura… All of them would still be here. It's not right for me to be a part of the group hug this time.
It took them a while, but the family huddle had come to an end. It was time for something else. The long trek through the woods, bringing all of these faithful, innocent souls to a safe place to carry out the rest of their lives.
Eternia took her human form for the first time after evolving. It was instantly and abundantly clear for all to see, that she had grown in strength of will, beauty and raw power. Standing before such a large number of her believers, she relaxed, knowing that none of these ones here were enemies. Even so she had a thought… What if they don't want to go to the villages? It's a rather diverse group in each of those places… Let's see.
"Everyone, you've been spared my wrath today, not because of my mercy. No, it was your faithful belief in me." Eternia started, looking for any sign of displeasure before continuing. "There was a Vampire Count behind the scenes that made sure the attack that killed so many of my babies. I have killed him along with all of the people who aligned themselves with such vile intentions. It is likely that the rest of the Iron-Cent Empire will become a sea of flames. Embroiled in endless suffering as it is the center for a greater war between the darkest ideals and the gods. So you have a choice, you can stay… If you want. I won't stop you. Or you can migrate to a new land. A land beyond the forest. There, there are settlements, villages if you will. You'll live among humans, demons and other friendly monsters capable of intellect. You have an hour to decide." She announced turning when…
"Our Goddess, we will follow you into these new lands."
"Good, then begin preparations for departure. It's a long journey but you'll be safe. And you'll also get to see my youngest get some training in. You might even learn a thing or two from it." Eternia said, her lips curling into a true smile once again. "Oh, and my priestesses, I haven't forgotten about your rewards either." She said moving so fast it might as well have been teleportation.
With the battle won, the city destroyed, a war begun and hope rising from the ashes… The faithful began packing whatever supplies they could find. Whatever else they would need, would have to be found in the forest. Even so, they weren't in low spirits, after all, they had their goddess with them. One so kind that even after losing so many of her own kin due to the humans blasphemous treason… She extended a safe haven for the ones who remained faithfully loyal, even in the most desperate of times. And especially, these people supported what happened, even as terrible a sight it was… A goddess' wrath upon losing her children…