***Midhold, Cygnus - Main House***

***Seria***

“Big bro, it's scary in here.” I tug at Aengus's sleeve while looking around, suspecting that something horrible might jump-scare us any moment. My old self watched enough horror movies for me to know that a setting like this one just begs for the death of some stupid side character.

And since I am quite obviously the main character of this story, it would mean that my brother has to die a horrible death for his stupidity.

Which is totally unacceptable. I like him too much for such a sad ending to his comedy slapstick routine. Every Sherlock needs her Watson.

The room is dark and many technical devices are blinking and beeping all over the place. That alone wouldn’t be scary. My parents' laboratories are just like this one in many ways.

Though, there is some sinister vibe to this room and its contents. Like the menacing drones and robots which are for the most part copied from nature. With quite realistic skeletons and all that… I am so happy that none of them seem to be finished.

“I know, Seria, but it's so exciting! How often do you have the chance to take a look at the lab of a mad scientist?” Aengus pulls me with him to explore the room.

“Mad scientist? More like a villain’s lair if you ask me,” I grumble, having no choice but to be pulled along. If Aengus is so interested in a mad scientist's lab, then he just has to enter Papa's laboratory.

If he can – and isn't stopped by one of the many traps Angrod has in place to keep us out.

We are at the Cygnus property and this is Margerie’s private space, though I think the name of her former self was Alexandria. She is an old deity from earth who was famous for her knowledge and her almost infinite library.

Our parents ‘disposed’ of us at their friend's abode to plan their first trip out of the Void Zone.

They started working really hard after I told Papa about what I remember regarding the Void, which admittedly wasn't all that much. Still, my parents had me swear on my little pinky that I would never ever share the secret with anyone else. So, I will never break that promise… because I like my little pinky… and I would totally suspect Mom to rip it off if I broke the promise.

Anyway… they have been very busy since then, just as I feared.

Mom no longer had the time to keep an eye on us and neither had our grandparents.

Seems like planning an all-out war is really time-consuming.

To keep us from causing mischief, Mom dropped us off at the Cygnus property for Margerie to take care of us.

Celes is of the opinion that we shouldn’t be left alone. Though, after seeing this place, I believe that it would have been safer at the palace. At least Mom and Papa are sealing their labs properly.

Not that it means much against someone like me, who has the memories of someone who spent centuries going to places where she shouldn’t be. Yet, their measures are enough to keep out a bonehead like Aengus.

Margerie couldn’t contain us for long. As soon as her attention was elsewhere, Aengus and I fled to inspect the big mansion. The large number of servants was a problem, but not an insurmountable one. It was really hard to evade all those people, though we quickly found a few deserted rooms which seem to function as Margerie’s private research lab.

“Look! That thing looks cool, doesn't it?” Aengus grabs something which looks like a mechanical spider from a table.

“I wouldn't touch anything in here. It could be dangerous,” I warn my brother, who seems a little too impulsive to me. I know, I lost most of my memories and my parents think that I am childish, but I still have my head together!

And from all those movies I know that touching something like that spider-drone-thing is just asking to have your hand ripped off.

“Booh. Cheapskate. I can't believe that I have such a boring a little sister.” Aengus puts the spider back.

I am just cautious, that’s all. “Who are you calling little sister? I am the BIG SIS!” It's humiliating! I am much older than this upstart youngster! At least my soul is!

Aengus just looks at me, measuring our height-difference. Even though he is just a year older, he is a whole head taller than me.

“But I am a year older than you!” Aengus answers high and mighty, wisely choosing not to point out the apparent physical difference between us. Once, I already laid him out flat on the floor for that one.

“That's just physical,” I complain. “What's important is the mental age! And from my perspective, you are looking at one of the oldest beings in the multiverse! Be honoured!” I refuse to give up an inch of my dignity!

“Oh? Being that old doesn't really count if you don't remember much of it,” Aengus makes a point.

I deflate. “I remember at least the important stuff! For example, you promised to help me if I saved you. So where is your respect to your saviour now, high and mighty hero?” I look up into my brother's eyes without flinching.

“Urgh...” He looks away. “You won that one, midget, but don't overdo it!”

We continue to inspect the room, but there is just too much stuff in here. It's more like a mountain of collected garbage.

Maybe that’s what this is? Maybe Margerie drops all the projects which didn’t work out in here? It would at least explain why there is no obvious meaning to the stuff that is stored in this room.

Suddenly, the door flies open and Margerie storms into the room. “Found you!”

“Run, Bro! Whoever gets caught is a slow turtle!” I storm up to Margerie who tries to catch me, but at the last second, I drop myself to the floor and slide over the ground – in between and past the larger woman’s legs.

Margerie tries her best to grab me, but she is too slow. Aengus uses the distraction to slip past her and the next second we are outside on the corridor and on the run.

“Hold it! No running in the corridors!” Margerie calls after us while trying to catch up.

Suddenly, a big-busted rabbit appears out of nowhere in front of me and I collide with her leg.

“Ouf!”

I am thrown backwards and land on my ass.

“So cute! It's a little version of Celes! Too bad that you don't have the horns and the tail yet.” The bunnygirl reaches out and hugs me to her chest, smothering me.

What's with that size!? Does she have a little bit of cow in her genes too!?

I try to fight myself free, but then I realize that Aengus got caught by a catgirl and is dangling in the air, held by the neck.

Tanja and Sandra… two of our parent’s friends have arrived.

“They tricked us, Sis! This was a pre-planned ambush!” Aengus complains. “Margerie cheated and called reinforcements.”

“What a smart observation, Mr. Obvious.”

Just mere moments later, Margerie arrives at the scene, panting as if she could drop dead at any moment. “Sandra... Tanja... good... that... you... caught... them!”

“Seriously, Margerie? Why did you agree to babysit for people whose children have higher physical abilities than you?” Tanja complains about Margerie’s lack of forethought. “And why are you so out of breath? I can remember you climbing mountains with us in the past. And now you are a god.”

“But… that's... why… I… invited... you… and… no… suit… this… time…” Margerie lies down on the floor to catch her breath.

“Seriously! You are relying too much on technology. The least you could learn to do is to circulate mana through your muscles.” Sandra returns her attention to me. “But it's nice to meet the offspring of our comrades. All of us were so busy recently. I would have liked it if we had seen each other more often.”

“I always wanted to meet the Goddess, Seria. That's why I came.” Tanja goes with the blunt truth. “Celes mentioned that you remember more of your past now?”

“I am not sure if I can really live up to that reputation,” I answer with a concerned voice while trying to free myself from Sandra’s grasp.

“Aw... no problem.” Sandra’s expression lights up even more. “Say? Do you want to play with my kids? They are a little younger than you two, but they are also an active bunch.” Sandra takes me under one arm and carries me off – without caring for my opinion.

Our captors walk down the corridor while talking about uninteresting stuff. After a few corners, we arrive back at the living room where our adventure originally started.

A blonde guy is waiting there on a sofa, drinking tea with Margerie’s brother, Stephen. I recognize him as Sven, Sandra’s husband.

Five kids are playing cards on the large carpet in front of them, watched over by a quite pregnant woman with silver hair and wolf features.

“Ah, I see you caught them!” Iris sits down next to her husband, Stephen, and sighs.

We are put in front of the other kids who stare at us...

Unable to cope with the silence, I try starting a conversation. “Hi, I am Seria. And that's my brother Aengus!” I introduce myself.

“I am Yondus, and those are my brothers and sisters, Gustav, Monika, Evel, and Sura.” One of the kids takes the lead.

“Wow... Quite the big family. Your parents must be hard workers!” Aengus bursts out, pointing out the obvious yet again.

Yondus drops his head while the others put on disturbed expressions. “That's what everybody thinks, but it's a trait of our mother’s bloodline to have many children. In fact, Mother got all of us in the same go. Though, normally it's just twins or triplets.”

“Holy shit! Five at the same time! That must hurt like hell!” I sputter, trying to keep the conversation going and failing miserably.

The other kids study me expectantly.

“What?” Don't look at me like that!

“Oh, it's just that we had another image of the Goddess in our heads.” Sven takes a sip from his tea.

I turn my attention to him, not remembering him paying a visit since my rebirth. “I think I last saw you at my parent's marriage. So what are you doing now?” I might not remember much, but I know at least one or two important details about the people who are worth blackmailing.

“Oh, Sven joined the army and is in the process of working his way up the ranks,” Sandra explains in short words. “Tanja is doing something like spying and other secret activities. I am taking care of the kids while I manage my family's estate.” She looks at Iris, who just shrugs.

“As you can see, I am currently taking things easy.” Iris winks at me and pats her belly.

I think hers is a valid excuse for 'taking things easy'.

Then another memory hits me and I point at Sandra and Sven. “Oh! Now I remember! I think I saw you guys together at my parents' marriage party! You were already so lovey-dovey back then. I couldn't resist and blessed Sandra with fertility.”

I hit my fist into my open palm and nod, remembering it quite clearly now.

They look at me as if I am the devil.

“What? I am the Goddess of Life and Death. Doing stuff like that is my job.” I smirk at Sven who started muttering incomprehensible stuff to himself.

Sandra only grins at me. “Oh, I have to thank you then. If it weren't for the children, he wouldn't have married me.”

I give Sandra a thumbs up and smile at the quintuples, who are staring at me with big round eyes.

Yes! Always fear a fertility goddess... because only complete celibacy might save you.

***Midhold, The Eternal Palace***

***Angrod***

“So, now we know.” I study the faces of the selected group of people who we trust enough to allow them to be privy to the most important secret on the planet. There are Ireth, Katrine, Arthur, Nicosar, Rose, and of course Celes. I am sure that we will include our friends from the Cygnus, Andros, and Morden families too, but they are currently occupied.

“I hope that everyone understands that nothing of what we are talking about can leave this room. It’s unfortunate, but we can’t share this secret with the public at this point. I am quite sure that if we did that, people would want to start exploring the multiverse right away. Even if there is no genuine traitor who will run with the knowledge to the Council, it would be only a question of time until they catch someone and pull the information out of him or her. I want to avoid having this world’s safety compromised at all costs.”

When Seria explained the nature of the Void Zones to me, I had an enlightenment.

A pathway is a stream of energy that travels through the multiverse, forking up endlessly. Mortals often call those pathways Ley Lines, but they are only able to sense them in a very rudimentary way.

Thanks to their ability to sense those pathways, gods can hop onto those streams and travel with them instantaneously through dimensions and to other worlds. This ability is what defines a god.

We thought that the Void Zones simply do not have pathways, for one reason or the other.

What Seria realized is that the Void isn't a space with no pathways at all. It is only an area of the multiverse which lacks the energy to light up the pathways. They exist, but they are dimmed to the point that it is hard to sense them.

Our senses are so used to the brightly burning pathways of the rest of the multiverse that it is hard to sense the ones which are spanning the Void. An untrained individual is unable to sense them at all.

After Seria had given me this hint, I retreated to my lab. It took me two sleepless days to complete the preparations and to instruct the palace to grow the necessary equipment.

On the third day, I fell asleep and when I woke up, the palace had completed its task. The result of my labour is the small crystal in my hand. It's similar to the ring and earrings which I gave to Celes. By connecting directly to the user’s mind, it can show me a whole new view of the world. It is a sensor which helps the user to feel even the tiniest bit of energy.

I close my eyes and concentrate. By blending out my surroundings, I slowly become aware of the pathways. They are dim and seem to flow with the speed of ice, but it's enough to prove to everyone that they are there, just hard to perceive.

The others also got their own versions of the crystal. For the time being it is a necessary crutch, but if Seria is any example, then training can overcome this hurdle, making artificial help unnecessary.

“You are right,” Ireth affirms. “We should be very careful about how to release this information. If the general public learns about a way to leave this planet there will be an uproar. I am glad that so far nobody made the connection between our little girl and the Goddess.”

“It’s not like we are stupid enough to wave her around in public...” Celes mutters, throwing me an accusing glare.

I twiddle my thumbs. It’s not like I ‘waved’ her around either. I was just taking her for a few strolls to stimulate her memory and to show her the world outside the protective bubble which we erected around our children.

Katrine clears her throat. “So… you already have an idea on what to do once we are ready to leave the Void Zone?”

“First, we need some intelligence about what’s going on outside,” I point out. “We learned quite a bit from Tjenemit, but his information should be outdated by now. Also, the Council surely assumes that we got him and learned everything he knows.”

Arthur frowns. “How should we go about this? Can’t that Sphere of Sight find us relatively quickly once we venture outside?”

“That’s a valid concern, but from everything I’ve heard about the device, I am relatively certain that we should be safe enough, given that we don’t spend weeks outside the Void Zone,” I explain. “The Sphere of Sight somehow tracks newly awakened gods. It is capable of locking onto their energy signature once they transcend. Yet, it’s unable to track us within the Void.”

I raise a finger. “Our luck is that we didn’t awaken within the artefact’s sight – so to speak. I think, judging by all of our past experiences and from what I teased out of Tjenemit, it is very likely that the device won’t be able to tell us apart from all the other gods out there in the multiverse. The Sphere of Sight wasn’t created by the Council but is something they found and utilized. They may have limited control over it, though it was quite clear that using the device has limitations. There is no typing: ‘Search Angrod;’ – and you get a full report on that specific god. The Council will suffer under information overload without knowing our exact signatures – which changed after our second awakening.”

“So we are relatively certain that a short trip outside shouldn't garner too much attention,” Celes sums up my explanation. “Which leaves the question of where to go if we want to keep the trip as short as possible. Do we know someone out there who is inclined to help us?”

I look around the table, hoping that someone has an idea. Because I am relatively certain that all of my closest affiliations ended up in the Void Zone one way or another.

Katrine furrows her brows. “What about your daughter, Nix?” She looks at Celes and then at me.

“Daughter?” I frown.

Celes clears her throat in a way which reminds me very much of Isabella, causing me to sweat buckets.

“Yours and Isabella's?” She grumbles in a condescending tone, referring to former versions of ourselves. I still haven't figured out why Myrm's and Isabella's souls aren't separating. In fact, it seems like the opposite is the case. They are becoming one.

“Oh, right!” I quickly amend. “Phew! That was so long ago. It almost feels like it was another lifetime...”

My own mother looks confused. “I think you mentioned her once or twice.” She turns to Katrine. “Isn't she a full-blooded demon who lives in the Netherrealm? Why would she know anything about what's going in the rest of the multiverse?”

Katrine shrugs. “I admit that it's a long shot, but it isn't like those to live on the Infernal Planes are completely removed from the rest of existence. Even if most gods stay away from those dimensions, the older demons always keep tabs on what's going on outside their domain. Nix is old and powerful enough to have built her own castle. If nothing happened to her, she should be a fairly established succubus queen by now. I am sure that even if she herself can't tell us much, she must have the connections which we need to get started.”