Preparing For His Arrival

Back in Alicas, Antarctica, Dani, Faith, Charlie, and I all gathered together inside my house for another meeting regarding Eirikr's arrival. What has been apparent this entire time seemed to be the only obstacle, besides Fico and Cynthia, left. Handling Eirikr first is the safest method of taking on the other two, intimidating them out of conflict entirely. 

"Regarding what abilities we have, it's plainly obvious that I'll be the one to take on Eirikr," I said to everybody.

"Are you sure you can do it? I can fight too now, Dad." Faith followed up on my reply, leaning in while offering up her abilities. I smiled and nodded.

Although Faith was undoubtedly stronger than me, I would have to whittle away Eirikr's strength for her to stand a chance. I had been blessed, whether by chance or skill, with the infinite power of Strands, and wouldn't let them go to waste.

"You'll be my backup. Other than that, Dani is capable of using Goddess of Wrath now without Obsidia taking over, which means she's even more powerful than she was before. Charlie can use Katachi, and Faith can use the several bloodlines. I'm not saying our other friends are too weak, but we can depend on ourselves to be the first line of offense. Shike, Belle, Alexia, and Boo will have to hold up the second line, as I'm not sure how to break the limit on their powers as we have with Dani." I explained.

I sat on the forest green couch, leaning back with my arms spread out. I could tell Faith had thousands of questions about my most recent fight with Obsidia, which resulted in my direct defeat. I hated to admit it, but the only reason I lost was because it was the first time I had used Variance, and my brain couldn't keep up with Hikari's analysis skills.

Although I didn't technically lose, I couldn't perceive that Obsidia was lying, and Faith saved my life with a sacrifice of her own body. I was deeply impressed she was able to see what I wasn't. 

"Do we have news of Eirikr arriving soon?"

"Not quite. I'm just preparing for the worst. Fighting at our strongest capabilities will require training and stretching. It is how we shall begin and end every day until the battle has arrived. We will train everybody we can, but I will be at the helm, ready to conquer whatever I need to," I said to everybody. Dani, Charlie, and Faith all nodded as Lia opened the door while panting.

"Sky! Good, you're here...Lily found something you're going to want to see!" She exclaimed. I watched her jump over the couch and slide by Dani and Charlie to hand me a photograph of something I couldn't quite make out to be.

It was a picture of a luscious tree, full of leaves and bushes that surrounded it. The bark of the tree was barely visible through the leaves. Until Lia pointed out to me that a gaze was peeking through the top of the tree and the branches that were hidden in the leaves, I had no idea what was going on.

"A person? Were they hiding or something?" 

"No...that's not just a person!" Lia circled the image once more, pointing out to the left hand poking through the trees. 

A White Stone.

Something I hadn't seen in a long time, and something of a bad premonition. The White Stones on Dani, Shike, Belle, Alexia, Boo, and Faith were all turned off. They were permanently darkened. Mine, on the other hand, was lit up.

If I had to consider who else had a White Stone, I was left with Three People.

Eirikr Asterio. Illya Asterio. Genesis Asterio.

It couldn't have been Illya, since she had died long ago. Genesis was killed by Charlie...could it be...Eirikr...?

"I don't get it. That person could only be Eirikr through all that I know, but he doesn't look like that..."

"Genesis."

Charlie's short comment and frown on his face told me all that I needed to know. In the same second his expression turned sour, I began to realize that Genesis is the only one with the power to bring Eirikr back.

But, how could he have faked his death to the point of certainty that even fooled Charlie?

"I knew he wasn't dead. I killed him, I absolutely did, but Genesis didn't die. He must not have been in that body...?" 

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---The First Trial---

Lying on the floor of the final battlefield in which Ali Asterio and Providence fought to the death, Ali Asterio's body remained without life, staring at the son as the last seven minutes of brain activity came to a close.

When the last seven minutes took place in her mind, the time dilation of The First Trial sped up after Belle had gotten everybody out and broke the seal. Seven minutes from the time Ali Asterio died to the moment that Genesis's Strands entered The First Trial and then her body was all it took for Genesis to incarnate into another person.

Ali Asterio.

Genesis, laughing as Ali Asterio's body changed for the worse and seared in his mark, smiled as he stared up at the sky.

"By the power invested in me, I use my body and the powers of the Deity of Singularities to open a portal with the Strands to a land far away...to Exomechus, I summoned a method of transportation for the Supreme Being who rules over all of life! Eirikr Asterio! My brother!"

A golden portal, lined with Iridescent Strands, opened in front of Genesis. He was still piloting Ali Asterio's body just as normal as her actual person, and at the very last moment of the portal's opening, Eirikr Asterio appeared to Genesis.

"Finally, I almost lost control of that portal."

"I assume you are not Ali Asterio, but are somebody of lesser renown. My brother, aren't you?"

"Yes! It's me, Genesis! I'm surprised you could tell it was me."

Genesis and Eirikr both conversed back and forth as his plan was set into motion.

"Sooner or later, we'll make our entrance back onto Earth and to finally take down Sky Asterio. Quake failed and I had to retreat to The First Trial after a man named Charlie took out my body. Fucker."