Chapter Ten: Yesura

“Then see your devotion, rewarded. I was just going to leave you here and let you get on with your life, but now, I am obligated to see that you can hold your own against the scum and villainy of the universe. Your daughter is the reincarnation of the first Herald of Gaia. She was taken from a dark path and shown the light. Filled with such zeal at the correction of her mistakes by the one she loved most, Yesura took to Gaia and her cause unlike any other had ever done so. Quarreled a lot with the most famous servant of Gaia, then known as The Beast. He later became known formally as The Great Hand of Gaia. Yesura’s power grew with her passion, back in the days when the might of the mortals was budding, and very few knew what to do with the powers they were manifesting, in the Twilight of the Gods. She became an incredibly potent supporter of Gaia and the very things she stood for, converting entire worlds to Gaia’s service and worship, and fighting on the frontlines of wars fought against those who would be her enemy. In the end, Yesura met with a terrible fate. An almighty Maledictum, a sort of curse for you and all who you reincarnate as, took hold of her, and everything she had fought so hard to achieve became an object of fixation, not to support, but to destroy. And so we had no choice but to stop her, permanently. She and The Great Hand clashed, and eventually Yesura was obliterated, taken from the very Universe, never to return. Or so we thought, it appeared the sentimental bastard had a softer heart than we ever gave him credit for. I do not find it a coincidence that I would meet a person who seemed very confident she can prevent the very same thing from happening to Yesura so soon after I discover her. I believe that The Great Hand kept Yesura’s soul safe until such a time that he knew he could best what had taken hold of her. The only question now, is when is Emily’s birthday?” Cancer finished. Anne stared, opened mouthed for a long time before eventually recovering and being able to think on exactly when her birthday was.

“Eighteenth of August” She replied, glad that she could still remember the date.

“So we have less than a month before she turns eighteen, and inherits not only her powers as Yesura, but also the Maledictum” Cancer muttered, looking to the still sleeping girl.

“Why her eighteenth? Why not her twenty first, or her sixteenth? What’s special about that?” Anne asked, trying to gather some more information on this magic curse thing that was about to turn her daughter into Queen Bitch, by all accounts.

“Generally, mortals of your life span have their Mana finish development at eighteen. It differs for other races with longer lives, stronger affinities, and such, but for humans and races equal to your life span, it’s eighteen. Eighteen years of development before you are best ready to utilize your magic” Cancer explained, before clapping a hand on Anne’s shoulder. “But before we do Magic, we should see to it that you can utilize your Qi to a good degree. It will smooth the transition from none magical being to magical being” Cancer told Anne, looking to Rebecca. “Fortunately, you have two of the best teachers in the universe to help you on your way, and when Emily wakes up, we will give her the same offer, so you can train alongside each other. Emily will outstrip you very quickly, however, so don’t feel bad if she masters in a day what will take you a month” Cancer finished, smiling at Anne, who nodded without any time to think or contemplate. “I love that in you, Anne. So determined to protect your daughter. Wasn’t an ounce of hesitation. The whole situation is mad beyond the imaginations of the craziest person in your home world, and yet you accepted without a second’s contemplation at the fact that you are half way across the universe being offered training in some mystical. Because she’s your daughter” Cancer’s pride was nearly palatable, and the air around her certainly seemed brighter than usual.

However, for all the airs Cancer was putting on, she lost Anne’s attention in a second after a groan came from Emily, and she slowly sat up.

“You know, if I actually went out and had fun last night, I could forgive this feeling, but it’s like I’ve got a hangover without the mad drunken antics. I feel cheated” She muttered, before looking up at her mother and smiling. Seeing her there was amazing. It was, magnificent, even.

“You helped me a lot, if that is any consolation. I hope that is a good substitute for drunken antics” Anne replied.

“Hmm, well. Maybe if there was some eggs and beans involved” Emily prompted, teasingly. Anne looked up to Cancer for guidance, unsure what this world’s ecosystem was even like, they could not have beans for all Anne knew.

“Kitchen is down the hall, to the right. And Ampyras hosts a thousand races, so I wouldn’t worry that eggs and beans constitutes an exotic dish” Cancer put in. Seeing that Cancer and Rebecca wanted to talk to Emily, she nodded and got up, heading for the kitchen to go make breakfast for everyone. Well, she assumed the two other women would like something to eat.

“Yes, please. That would be nice” Cancer replied, as if reading Anne’s mind. She looked back with a frown, and Cancer’s grin grew. “Yes, I did”. Anne’s shock was clear, but then she looked to Rebecca, who shook her head.

“I have eaten this morning. Unlike our friend here, I actually have a routine in the mornings” Rebecca’s words seemed like a taunt, and so Anne fled to the kitchen so she wasn’t anywhere near being in the middle of this. Cancer and Rebecca glared at each other before Emily appeared, in between the two of them.

“Seriously, there is nothing between either of your legs, and yet there is more testosterone between you two in that one look than I have seen out of some guys in their entire lives. Can we not, just for a bit?” Emily asked. Cancer was the first to look away, and to Emily.

“Indeed we can. There is, after all, an important subject that we need to talk to you about” Cancer informed Emily, who seemed less than impressed.

“Yesura, super powers, becoming an evil bitch, convoluted Death Note-esque plans surrounding said powers and bitchiness, culminating on my birthday. Right?” Emily asked, cracking a sarcastic grin at Cancer’s rather shocked visage. “I could hear what you were saying, just, couldn’t move” Emily explained, which allowed Cancer to recover somewhat.

“I don’t actually know what a Death Note plan is, but yes that’s the gist of it. Do you want training in your Qi as well? Unlike your mother you can master it much quicker, but training is still always good” Cancer offered. Emily was feeling, invigorated. Somewhat confident, possibly brought on by the fact that she was, or was going to be, Gaia’s Herald, and the looming inevitability of this curse had driven her the opposite end of the spectrum. Generally, with such a Sword of Damocles hanging over a person’s head, they would fret and worry and generally be bothered by it, but Emily found it something of a source of mad, almost self-destructive drive. Helped of course, by the idea that someone had a plan they really believed was going to work on how to stop it.

“Well, I brained my father with a pan, and got taken half way across the universe, so I guess I am not going to school today. Which leaves me some free hours of which I could do your training” Emily quipped, a hand on her hip and a blazing aura of confidence beaming from her.

“About the school part…” Cancer started, making Emily’s eyes narrow in suspicion. That furry, little….