"Where is this?" Eve found herself standing naked under a bright green sky that stretched like a beautiful gem. She couldn't comprehend what she was witnessing here. The light was bleeding into the sky, sinking her in the warmth of its luminosity. It had her head spinning, and her breaths caught up.
The surrounding water shimmered and glowed as she found herself swimming in a translucent ocean. Eve could feel the light above her, bathing her in a pure, heavenly shine that was permeating the space. Eve's hair flowed freely in the sea, the ends curling and flaring out. Her body felt light and effortless and she stretched her arms, her limbs unhindered by the water that swirled around.
There was a house that was sinking into the ocean made of wood that did not rot away despite the sea that was around her. It was a place to rest. She entered the house, wondering about its structure.
Everything had the aroma of a forest. Inside, she was met with the smell of the wilderness, of the greenery. It smelled fresh and invigorating. There were thick trunks of trees surrounding her in various positions, with thick foliage and an air of life to the house. There were lush vines and branches hanging from the ceiling, and she could feel a cool breeze flowing through the home from the sunlight.
In the middle was the woman with long golden hair floating like the sea, "Eve. Come here."
"Mama...?" She didn't know why, she hadn't seen the woman ever before, but those words left her mouth. It was the motherly voice, a memory, an echo of a presence that was long forgotten but never lost.
"Come to me, Eve."
"Mama..." she hastened her steps, finding herself wrapping in her arms, "You feel home now," the golden-haired woman smelled of flowers. Eve couldn't hold in her emotions. Tears were leaking out of her eyes. Her body was quivering and shuddering from the safety she was feeling, "Don't cry."
There was the sound of footsteps, making Eve's heart hammer against her chest. She clutched her tighter, "Don't let go."
"I won't."
They both saw an obsidian shadow pass by the doorway. It was tall and muscular, imposing. It had the silhouette of a man, but the voice and words didn't match a human, it sounded like it was spoken in a strange, though she remembered it, the shadow that pierced her heart in the human world, "Abyss."
The door slammed on Abyss's face, and peace returned to this realm. Eve closed her eyes, "Are you...my mother...?"
"Eve, paint with me."
The woman had her naked form sitting in front of her with a palette of colors and brushes by her side. Eve picked them up, the moment she did, a golden stroke fell on the canvas in front. She gasped, looking at the grey painting. It didn't have shape, the grey spread across the page, filled with chaos, "what are we making?"
"This is a world, Eve. You have drawn this before."
"A world...?"
"One of the world you are in."
"I don't understand..."
"Do you know why Gods hate Demons?"
"They are opposite?"
"On the contrary, they have more in common."
"Because of their Aura?"
"Are you underestimating Gods?"
Eve nibbled her red lip, wanting to be right, "Why?"
"Divine Will. Gods create the World, their Will is the Will of the World, and they carry the World, feed it, water it, nurture it, and grow it," the woman took the brush from Eve and stroked gold all around the painting, a series of broken strokes, like branches from the original line that was thicker and bolder, "Thirty-Three Heaven's, numerous Gods. Yet, his Will binds them all. It is him who they hate, him who they admire, him who they love, and him who they fear. The Progenitor of the Curse. The Human who became a God and the Demons who carry his Will."
"Why are you telling me this?" Eve didn't know what she could do about any of that, 'this all sounds like above my paygrade.'
The woman smiled, "Eve, you are the Wife of Aurelius Aurum. Nothing is above your pay grade."
"Is that admiration I hear? Mother?" Eve looked up in surprise, not expecting her to know. She did assume her mind was being read.
"Admiration for a Hero. Pity of a Man. Sorrow for a Demon," she stroked Eve's cheek, changing the topic, "You must not become a Pure Demon Eve. Anyone can. You can't."
"Am I..."
"You are."
"Does he know...?"
"What you have with him is the purest and strongest thing you can create with another person. Do not doubt it for a moment..."
"I am scared...I don't understand him...I don't know what world looks like in his eyes. I don't know if he truly loves me...I don't know why he loves me. He can have anyone. I am not good enough...not for him."
"Then become better. If anyone can. Then you can," the woman raised Eve's head by her chin, planting a gentle kiss on her lips, "You have my blessing."
Eve woke up, finding herself in Cloud's room. The dream was so vivid. Though along with the dream came the memories of the last few days, and a clarity they lacked before, "what have we been doing?"
[Re-establishing Connection.]
[Eve Caelum]
"You...are talking again," Eve muttered under her breath. She had been trying to talk to it, but it never replied.
[This World lacks any Supernatural Elements. Heaven's Mind counts as a Supernatural Element.]
"I see..." Eve got out of the bed, walking to her room so she could freely talk to it, "Why were we acting like that?"
[You are familiar with the situation.]
"Am I?" Eve racked her brain about it. She shook her head, "No, I am sure I am not."
[Only because you are thinking like a human. Think like a Demon Embryo.]
"Demon Embryo," Eve sat down on the edge of her bed. When her world was invaded by the Abyss, the humans were all but wiped out until they came into contact with the Primordial Demon, who granted them Demon Embryos. These Embryos merged with the Humans, and fed on their desires, their wishes, forming an imprint, which later bloomed into various unique abilities and physical features.
Demon Embryos were a gift that helped protect humankind from its invaders, "Demon Embryos...we are Demon Embryos?"
[Correct. Demonification process will only reach completion when a human reaches Phase 2. Until then, they are but Demon Embryos.]
"Making them prone to the wants and desire of the nearby humans," Eve lay down on the bed, her golden hair sprawled all over, "that explains so much. It wasn't Cloud's desire when he controlled others. It was Saeko's because of her admiration for Tifa's body. It wasn't our desire to hurt Saeko...I should have realised."
[You are in Embryonic Condition too]
"Are you trying to make me feel better," Eve pressed her lips together, troubled, "To remain a Demon and go back, we need Desire of Humans...but their Desires will drive us crazy...this is a lose-lose situation no matter how you look at it. Unless you have a solution."
[A Hint then. This is a Double Layered World]
"What does that mean?"
[Two Worlds folded in the Space of One. It has Two Centres of Fate.]
"Eve?"
Eve sat up on the bed, finding Aerith's worried form on the door, "Aerith...come here..."
"Eve! How do you feel? We were all messed up in our head last week!"
Aerith sleepily walked over to the bed, rubbing her eyes. Eve pulled her in a hug, pulling on the sheets. The warmth of Aerith's body against hers, they snuggled close. Aerith buried her face in Eve's neck, "everything okay?"
"You said...His Majesty used you to look at Fate?"
"Mmm," Aerith kissed her neck, "I remember telling more about what all he did while he kept me in the prison."
"Aerith...can you look at the Fate of this World?"
"Afternoon?"
Eve kissed her head, running her fingers through Aerith's hair. She kissed her again, on her temples, and eyelids, and cheeks, and lips before the two of them drifted to sleep.
.
.
.
"Thank god," Tifa breathed out in relief, lying on the couch, resting her head on Cloud's thigh. She let details from Eve sink in, "We should have been told this could happen..."
"Demonification is a new process. They probably don't know," Cloud rested his arms on the armrest, "Not only Saeko's desire are strong...they are..."
"Very kinky," Tifa finished Cloud's sentence, a little blush adoring her cheeks as the memories resurfaced, "but it worked out well at the end...I kinda had a lot of fun, you know. Also, we know now. We can be careful about it."
"I don't think we need to be that careful," Eve held the coffee cup, taking a sip, "Not everyone is as insane as Saeko. It's not just a matter of strong desire, it's a matter of will too. In both, she outclasses 99.9999999% of humans. People with a desire and will that strong could be counted on one hand even if there are 6 billion people on Earth."
"Hopefully," Tifa breathed out in relief, "Where is Aerith?"
"She is trying to connect to this Planet. Now that she has enough Aura, she should be able to in some capacity," Eve answered her, thinking.
"Guys! I found it!" Aerith came rushing in the room, excited, grinning.
Eve's eyes glistered. She wasn't told the solution, but the place Aerith likely found should be helpful, "where?"
"Racoon City! That's the Second Centre of Fate!"