A Journey Unwanted

Chapter 520 - 508: Only respite

[Realm: Uhorus]

[Location: Verdantis]

[Capital City]

Victoria sat with one leg crossed over the other, the antique teacup balanced carefully between her fingers. The porcelain looked old enough to belong in a museum rather than a bedroom. Steam curled from the surface of the tea, she was surprised it was still hot despite the weather.

For a few moments, she simply watched the drifting steam, then she took a small sip.

Across from her, Lyra and Guinevere occupied the opposite couch; they still seemed at ease even after everything that was discussed. Victoria took a glance outside the chamber’s windows; winter light bled through the glass, though she could still spot the light storm of snow beyond.

The room felt calm, a bit too calm, especially after everything they had learned.

Victoria gently placed her cup back onto its saucer.

"I must say..." she began slowly, her voice thoughtful for a moment. "You seemed rather adamant about pushing Lucinda and your Alyssia closer together."

Fiona, seated beside her, glanced toward the two Court Mages; she had noticed the same thing: their conversation had somehow drifted back toward the two spawns of Octavia spending time together. Or more accurately, training together. Which would mean speaking together and learning from one another.

"I assume you’ve been orchestrating that since we arrived," Fiona said, folding her arms.

Lyra didn’t even attempt to deny it.

"Well, the reasoning is quite simple." She leaned back comfortably. "Being Angels, it is best they stick together. Form a bond."

Victoria studied her expression, Lyra spoke so casually. Throwing around ’Angel’ so loosely as if they weren’t such vague beings they had zero understanding about.

Fiona tilted her head slightly. "You speak in the present tense." Lyra’s eyes shifted toward her as she continued. "They are merely incarnations of Angels, are they not?" Fiona said. "Humans now."

Lyra’s smile faded slightly as she heard the Solkari’s words.

"It’s not that simple." Silence followed as her red eyes drifted toward one of the ornate windows overlooking the courtyard. For a moment she simply watched the distant garden beyond. Then after that brief moment of silence she spoke. "Incarnations they may be, but the physiology of an Angel catches up eventually."

Neither Victoria nor Fiona interrupted.

"Spawns of Octavia are already abnormalities among abnormalities." Lyra folded one leg over the other. "Even without enhancement magic, they possess physical strength far beyond what should be possible. Their senses sharpen, their endurance grows and their bodies adapt at rates that make man weep in jealously."

Victoria gave a small hum.

"So that’s the reason." She leaned back slightly. "I had theories regarding Lucinda and Mikoto’s and other spawns of Octavia’s physical capabilities, but I never had enough information to support them."

"You do now."

Victoria’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought.

"But when you say ’catches up...’" she said carefully. "Are you suggesting their bodies eventually revert into those of Angels?"

Lyra’s answer came without hesitation. "If they live long enough."

"If they live long enough?" Victoria repeated. "Meaning how long exactly?"

"It is difficult to say; Mikoto, for instance, seems a step behind Lucinda," Lyra explained.

The blonde looked thoughtful at that. "Lucinda is older, so perhaps age is a factor."

Lyra shrugged. "Perhaps, but this is merely guesswork. Mikoto was severely weakened after using Arcane Ascendance for the first time. His body could not handle the abrupt power shift."

"While Lucinda can easily handle even the Limit Breaker of her Arcane Ascendance form," Victoria finished.

"Seems that theory has merit then," Fiona noted. "But is age all that matters then?"

Lyra considered the question before answering.

"It is not something that happens overnight," the Court Mage continued. "Nor is it guaranteed to happen quickly. The process depends on numerous factors."

"Such as?" Fiona questioned.

"Usage."

The single word immediately caught Fiona’s attention.

"Usage?"

Lyra nodded.

"The more they draw upon what they are, the more they become what they were. As we established Arcane Ascendance would be an example."

Victoria immediately focused as Lyra continued.

"For them, Arcane Ascendance is not merely just some powerful form to call upon." Her voice grew more thoughtful and her gaze distant. "It is, in many ways, a temporary reversion."

Fiona’s brows furrowed. "Reversion." She echoed.

"To Angel lineage." Lyra finished, "Only enhanced."

Victoria stared; for a small moment, even she seemed momentarily at a loss.

"So every time Lucinda or Mikoto uses it..."

"They draw closer." Lyra nodded.

Fiona slowly exhaled. "I see."

"No," Lyra corrected gently. "You understand the words. Seeing it is another matter entirely."

The room fell quiet again; after a few moments, Victoria finally spoke. "But you don’t seem especially concerned."

"I am not." Lyra folded her hands in her lap. "Lucinda, for example, is progressing normally. If anything, she may simply experience more memories of the being she once was."

Victoria glanced toward the door leading outside, toward the courtyard where Lucinda and Alyssia currently walked.

"Memories? What would that entail for Lucinda?" Victoria found herself asking.

"Mere fragments, emotions, impressions and perspectives." Lyra paused for a moment. "Nothing that should erase who she is." That answer seemed to ease some tension.

Fiona was the first to notice what remained unsaid. "And Alyssia?"

Lyra’s expression softened. "She’s different."

Victoria immediately sat straighter. "How different?"

Lyra looked toward the window, toward the courtyard and somewhere beyond it. "Much further along." The words seemed quiet, yet everyone could hear them. "Alyssia’s circumstances forced her closer to what she once was. She has access to fragments of power that do not belong to Alyssia."

Victoria leaned forward. "The Angel’s power."

"Correct." Lyra nodded, almost expecting the quick uptake.

"What kind?" Victoria pressed, not bothering to even hide her curiosity.

Lyra smiled, though it was a small one, as if she was appreciating someone else’s thirst for knowledge.

"Something akin to Familial Arts," Lyra eventually answered.

Victoria immediately frowned. "Akin?"

"Similar in principle but somewhat different in execution, something unique to her," the Court Mage of Verdantis explained.

Victoria sighed. "I’m guessing the reason for that requires a lengthy explanation."

"An extraordinarily lengthy explanation." The answer came not from Lyra, but Guinevere. The Court Mage of Galadriel had remained relatively quiet until now.

Now she finally leaned forward, gloved arms folding across her chest.

"I shall be away for some time," she said. "Which means it is imperative that a lasting solution to the Abyssal tears is discovered now."

That shifted the conversation entirely; Fiona immediately focused on that instead of the confusing Angel talk. "That is quite difficult."

"A profound understatement," Victoria muttered.

Fiona nodded.

"Even with the Abyssal Wardens, the most destroying them seems to accomplish is temporarily stopping some tears from creating or summoning Abyssal Creatures."

"Not quite."

Both looked at Victoria, the blonde rested an elbow atop the couch.

"Lucinda destroyed a substantial number of tears." Interest immediately appeared in Lyra’s eyes as Victoria continued. "They had been weakened first so they could no longer properly regenerate or defend themselves."

Lyra hummed thoughtfully. "Interesting, I suppose it makes since. Attacking the Abyssal tears was always possible but they had an absurd regeneration."

"Yes, but she succeeded." Victoria’s expression grew more serious. "However." There it was, the dreaded ’however.’ "I believe new tears may have eventually formed elsewhere."

Fiona frowned. "So the victory was temporary."

"Likely." Victoria tapped a finger against the armrest. "I believe such actions can provide respite." She paused for a moment as if gathering her thoughts before continuing. "But not a permanent solution."

Guinevere’s gaze sharpened. "You have a proposal I gather."

Victoria smiled slightly as she spoke. "More so a suspicion."

Lyra rose a brow. "It merely sounds like you’ve devised half a plan."

"Closer to three-quarters," Victoria corrected.

Fiona sent her friend a very dry glance. "I hope you know how much worse that is."

Victoria ignored her. "If the tears originate from a source, then attacking symptoms endlessly is inefficient."

"You wish to target the source directly," Guinevere said.

"Precisely."

The older mage immediately shook her head. "Much easier said than done, girl."

Victoria nodded. "I know."

"The source may exist somewhere entirely inaccessible."

"I know."

"It may be protected," Guinevere pressed.

"I know."

"It may be intelligent," the Court Mage stated almost dryly.

"I know."

"It may be far stronger than anything you’ve encountered," the violet-haired woman warned.

Victoria smiled. "I assumed as much."

Guinevere stared, then sighed. "Persistent." The older woman shook her head again. "There is a difference between intelligence and wisdom."

Victoria’s smile softened slightly. "I am aware."

"Knowledge alone will not carry you through this. You cannot account for everything."

"I know."

Guinevere studied her for several seconds, then finally nodded. It was good, though not because she was convinced. Rather, because she was aware Victoria at least understood the risk, that alone separated her from most scholars.

"I’ll take whatever precautions are necessary," Victoria said quietly. "This calamity has already taken enough. If there is a path toward ending it permanently, then I intend to find it."

Nobody mocked the statement or even challenged it.

Because they understood she meant every word.

Guinevere eventually leaned back into her seat.

"Good." The single word carried approval and warning. "My expedition to the other realm will not begin until Alyssia develops at least a basic degree of control." Her eyes shifted toward the courtyard. "If you require assistance before then, be quick about it."