AN: So, this one is a bit short, but it definitely exists. One more part to come in this chapter. The next on deals with Ero, while this one shows a bit of what Origin is doing.

Chapter 3.2: Revisiting the Past

Origin reached up and lightly stroked her vibrant blue hair. It had seemed important to undergo all of the meetings and take a tour of the city for the sake of ARS, but she missed it already. As her brother, Silence, drove the family to their first destination the second youngest daughter of the Ardent family could not help but wonder what Scott was doing.

She sighed softly then looked out the window. Era, her mother, smiled at the melancholy expression on her daughter's face. "Do you truly miss him that badly?"

Origin's nostrils flared slightly and she lowered her head a little. "What would give you that idea?"

Era laughed gently. "My poor little girl. You'll be done with your tasks soon."

Mid, the oldest sister in attendance for the trip, spoke up. "I think she's more worried about someone else. Sarah was it?"

The blue haired goddess glared at her older sister then snorted. "I am not worried about that woman."

"You sure about that?" asked Mid sweetly. She wore a smile on her lips that would have made the Cheshire Cat nod in approval.

"Sarah?" asked Era curiously. "Should I coax your father into smiting her for you dear?"

"No, no. She doesn't deserve that..." Origin bit her lower lip then sighed. "...I suppose."

"You suppose?" Era blinked then leaned closer to her daughter. "Dear childe, do you mean to tell me that she has wronged you to the extent that you are uncertain whether to involve your father or not?"

"No... No, it's more a personal thing." said Origin gently.

Mid placed her fingers over her lips gently then said, "Come now little sister. It's alright to be angry."

Era glanced over to Mid. "Will you tell me what is wrong?"

"Mid..." whispered Origin, a hint of annoyance in her tone of voice.

The dark haired older sibling merely smiled at her sister once more then said, "Sarah is the ex-fiancé of Origin's current fiancé. She recently tried to claim that she is pregnant with his child."

Era's perfectly sculpted eyebrow rose into the air. "Such drama." She turned to Origin. "What did you do?"

Origin snorted. "I verified whether it was true or not then told Scott about the encounter."

"Dear one, you seem to be having trouble with pregnancy issues recently." Era clasped her daughter's hand gently. "Tell me, the little fairy... She is pregnant with his child too, is she not?"

"Yeah, but it's not the same... Ero's family." said Origin.

Mid grinned lightly then pulled the brim of her overly large floppy hat downward slightly. "Oh little sister..."

Origin's cheeks took on a rosy glow and her nostrils flared slightly. "Look, I have enough trouble dealing with that situation without you making fun of me Mid."

Era squeezed her Origin's hand. She was about to say something to her youngest daughter, but she noticed the strangely quiet atmosphere surrounding her only son. "Silence, is there something wrong?"

Silence did not speak for a moment, but when he did it was to say. "Do you think dad would exile me if I killed a few citizens of the Divine City?"

That brought everyone in the car up short. Era's jaw dropped a little, but she was still the first to recover. "Silence, what are you saying? You are joking, correct?"

The god of death who reigned as the supreme deity of the end over several worlds sighed lightly. "No. I am not joking. I'm strong enough to do it."

"What's the meaning of this?" asked Era. She leaned forward in the car and gave her son a stern look. "This is nothing to joke about. You know it is practically impossible to kill one of our people outside of very specific situations."

"Yes. I know." said Silence stoically. Gone was his normal goofy demeanor and gentle laughter. His eyes were narrowed and his hands gripped the wheel tightly.

"Brother dear, why are you contemplating deicide?" asked Mid.

Origin kept her own counsel, but she also wanted to know. It was certainly unlike her brother to say such things.

"The project committee for the world rebuilding project that Shara was assigned to as community service. I want to kill the project committee." said Silence matter-of-factly.

"Why? What have those fools done now?" asked Era.

"Death is the one thing they shouldn't play with, and yet they toy with it like it is nothing more than a game feature." said Silence with a hateful glare. "It requires iron clad rules so that transitions for the mortal souls can be kept to a regular and proper schedule. They become agitated and angry otherwise."

"What happened?" asked Origin.

Silence turned off the street and entered a multi-layered parking structure. "They kept fooling with the transition phase of souls. Eventually, I had to tell them that they would need to pick a method and stick with it or I would file an injunction. Even so, I am not willing to just let it go."

"So, you're serious about wanting to kill someone?" asked Mid, she lacked her customary smile. This was serious business.

The normally warm and friendly god of death slowly nodded his head as he pulled into a parking space set aside specifically for the Ardent family. "It's not just the transition phase issues. I've discovered certain discrepancies in their files that I've already turned over to father. I can't prove anything, but there is definitely something shady going on and it is hurting a lot of people."

Era wanted to discuss things further, but Silence raised his hand. "We're not here for any of that..."

"Of course." said Era with a nod of her head. "One world at a time I suppose."

Origin took a breath then opened her door. "Time to get ready."

"The outfit's already in your dressing room." said Era.

Origin groaned loudly. "I hate that stupid thing."

"You're the heir apparent of an empire dear one, you need to look divine." remarked the elder goddess with a smile.

"I get that, but why do I have to dress like I'm going to work a street corner outside an ancient Roman brothel?" muttered Origin as she left the car.

"For a heavenly time, call Origin?" asked Mid with a renewed smile.

The younger goddess groaned at her older sister loudly. She unleashed an annoyed pout then made a huffy noise before wandering away. This tour was important, but she had already acquired a foul mood on top of how much she missed her fiancé.

Her eyebrows pressed inward and her expression shifted into a slight scowl. Of course, that was the moment that several people ran out of the shadows and began taking photos.

"Origin! Is it true that you have a boyfriend?!" cried one of the paparazzi. Another called out, "This way! Look this way!"

She sighed loudly then forced herself to offer the camera-commandoes a winning smile. "Hello, one and all!"

"Origin! Origin! Over here! Can I get a smile, too?" asked another of the people hoping for a chance to take a photo of the most recent celebrity hype. "Is your boyfriend with you?"

"One at a time, please." she said, her sweetly faked smile still wide. How she hated these people sometimes. At the moment they were relatively normal, but she knew that it would not be long before less friendly questions were asked.

"Show us your tits!" called one guy with a camera. "The fans demand service!"

"Wow, that didn't take long." remarked Mid as she exited the car.

"You'll have to wait for the signing boys." said Origin in a warm, slightly strained, voice. "I'm not even dressed properly, yet."

The god who had called for fanservicing made a booing sound, but then smiled. "I better get there early then!"

The ridiculous deity turned quickly and trotted off to find a good seat. Origin fought her desire to roll her eyes. She had to remain calm and try to seem friendly, even toward idiots like that one. It was for the sake of ARS. This tour would be pointless if she started slapping people around for being hormonally challenged fools.

After meeting and greeting with the press, the four deities made their way up to their individual rooms. Origin entered her dressing room then sighed at the dress that she had to wear. It was one of her Game Goddess dresses. It had an appearance similar to mid-thigh length golden toga. That would not be so bad, but the toga was diaphanous. If she wore only that, there would be no mystery left due to its thin translucent nature. Underneath the sort-of dress, she would wear a white micro-bikini with a golden hoop clasp in the center. It was a wrap-around deal that barely covered the important parts.

Origin sighed at the so-called dress. "Am I selling a life experience or my body?" she murmured. Still, it was expected. At least the bits of jewelry were pretty and the boots at least looked like something that a divine warrior might wear. They were white with little cream colored highlighted edges. There were also feathery gold colored wings that flowed from the back.

"At least there's a cape." If nothing else she could wrap it around herself to hide her shame after leaving the stage.

She disrobed then looked at herself in the mirror. Origin twisted at the hips then leaned left and right. A soft smile came to her lips as she remembered her beach adventure. She glanced over to the supposed dress then snorted. "I ran around practically naked for weeks on end, but this is the thing that embarrasses me?"

With some reluctance, she set about dressing herself. After she finished, she placed a golden tiara upon her head then looked at herself in the mirror once more. A beautiful, sweet, girl looked back at her. Origin smiled gently then took a deep breath. Her charming and warm personality seemed to shift as her face became more stoic, icy. As much as she hated it, she had a reputation to uphold.

Over time she had developed a reputation for being an ice queen, and an untouchable goddess among goddesses. As much as she would like to correct those assumptions, it was part of her brand identity now.

She adjusted her hair and then readjusted her breasts slightly. After an experimental shimmy, she nodded then turned imperiously away from the mirror. Public relations was like a never-ending war against obscurity. The time for battle had come again. Armed with charm, grace, and mythic-tier feminine assets, Origin was ready to enter the fray once more.