“I swear on the dead Gods that happened,”

“So, you’re saying, the pirate lady shot you, but when you woke you had no wounds and she didn’t have any recollection of it,” Sprite’s eyes flicker in amazement as she reiterates what I just told her

“Mhmm, it was so trippy, I’m still unsure of how much I even remember is real anymore,”

“Well you have my authentic seal of authenticity of Sprite”

“That was literally the most redundant sentence I’ve ever heard,” I shake my head at the plant person,

“By the way, Sprite, I always find it weird we swear on the dead Gods but how do really know they’re dead?”

“Hmmm,” Sprite thinks introspectively at my question

The two of us have been talking for what feel a short time and forever simultaneously

“I heard the story that a long time ago the two divines fought and the outcome of that battle ended both of them dying,”

“But how do we know that for sure”

“You know what requiems are right?”

“Yeah, essentially a post mortem power or special conjuration left behind by someone with deep conviction before passing,”

“Right, well requiems wasn’t a thing when the God’s were alive, the science behind it suggests that the moment one dies, for a tiny moment you can access the power the god’s left behind,”

“Hmm, that in a weird way makes sense, since requiems usually tend to transcend the logic and laws of both magic and science,” I nod ponderingly

“Part of my creation is because of a requiem ,” Sprite assumes a proud stance

“You are requiem?”

“No, not me the forest, before they were one with the trees they were people,”

“And their requiem was to become trees?” I finish her sentence

“No, no,” Sprite rolls her eyes

“They bound their souls to the soil, overtime becoming one with nature itself,”

“So you were a human before a plant,”

Sprite rolls her eyes again

“Trees, all living things have magic, whether they use it or not

I was created by the magic of the trees, I was never a human,

Sprite is Sprite,”

“……—”

—Crrrrrr♪

Before I can reply to that the wooden door turns open and two suited figures covered in snow push through

“Really hate using that,” the first person takes off their cyberpunk-esc helmet,

“Kage!” the second exclaims, yanking off theirs as well

“Apolummff” I try to answer back but already he smothers in a warm hug,

Then two are dressed in sleek black, hi tech suits, with crimson red outlines that glow of a mysterious energy,

As Apollo rushed to me I noticed a limp in his movements,

“It’s been a year for you hasn’t it?” I finally manage to push Apollo away from me,

Himari stands a distance from us, but I can tell she is slightly pleased, either from seeing me, or from Apollo being cheerful

Sprite also stands apart from us but her face has a wide smile eager to see how this interaction goes…

“I was honestly so relieved when it was you that fell out that tree last night,” finally speaks Himari

She appears to be giving me a lot more respect than I remember…

“So, since you’re here alone,” Apollo grips my shoulder looking me dead in the eyes,

I simply shake my head,

(No need to say it)

“Hhhhh!” Sighs Apollo,

“Alexander had already told us what happened to Lyra,

I’m just confirming it with you”

“….”

I notice Himari clench her fist tightly the mention of Alexander

(I wonder what he did to them)

“So, what…” I begin but I notice a displeased glimmer in Sprite’s eyes

(She really means for me to, ‘converse’ and not just ask questions…...)

“I’m guessing a lot has happened in the year it’s been for you..” I now mumble out

“Phew♪” whistles Apollo

“A lot has happened to say the least,”

“Many things happened to me as well, but not in the six months for me,

More like within a week,” I shrug saying it as a matter of fact…

“Or yeah, speaking of that Kage,

Where were during that fight, and what have you been up to?” inquires Apollo

“I guess Lyra didn’t tell you how she froze me and left me to float endlessly in the ocean,”

“Did you upset her or something?”

“……

Lyra,

I think Lyra just wanted to keep me at distance, she anticipated her demise if I was there I would be gone with her,”

“. ……” Apollo remains quiet after hearing that, unable to agree or disagree with Lyra’s motives

….

“Have you seen or heard anything about Daniel, MF?” Himari takes the opportunity to ask

“Mhm, I saw him again, he also had a crazy few months

First his mother passed away, then his best friend, you, went missing, and in trying to investigate into it he was falsely branded a member, no, not just a member, but one of the leaders of Madvillainy,

He ended up joining up with some pirates for security”.

“Pirates!?” Gasps Himari still very much against the sea fearing crime doers,

“What is MF doing now?”

“Well….he may or may not be dead…”

“Dead!?

What do you mean?”

“I may have possibly, kind of, basically, sent him into the void sea to the third ring, Gaia,”

“You…” Himari starts but immediately catches herself

“Do you think he will survive Kage?”

“Almost definitely, I would have gone back myself but I chose to come here and ‘save’ you two,”

“Alight, if you think MF will be alright, I will trust your word Kage,”

(What’s with the sudden respect from Himari all of a sudden?)

Turning to Apollo I try giving him a questioning glance, in hopes that he will interpret the woman’s new behavior,

Apollo however stares back at me affectionately,

“You really went out of your way to make it here, to save us,

I am truly touched Kage,”

(I was already going to come here regardless)

“Well now that I’m here now, what are you two looking for now?

If it’s a way back then I might be able to help, somewhere in my mind is the schematics for a really ingenious ship,

It can travel literally anywhere”

“That sounds all well and good Kage,” interjects Himari,

“We already know what we have to do to leave Terra, we’ll get that in order when the time comes,”

“When the time comes?

What other business could you two have here?

Don’t tell me you’re fighting against the supreme leader?”

“No Kage,” Apollo rests his hand on my shoulder

“We are trying to get back something–someone they took from us,”

“Someone?”

…..

The couple stay quiet for bit exchanging glances…

“Kage,” Apollo’s voice now solemn

“They took our child from us.”