Aftermath ll

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POV: Christine

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A slight breeze of shock tickled my face as I stared down at the massive body of my other self, her giant, black, bat-like wings spread across the rippling grasses. Her glowing, ghostly violet membranes seemed to pulsate as the grasses began to wave under the power of the emotion laden winds.

I then looked down at my clothes which were now untorn and fully repaired. I looked around as I saw nothing but empty plains of tall grass up to the horizon, which offered me no clues to my situation.

And then it came to me.

A whisper within a Zephyr that whirled in my ear, causing me to shiver. It was the voice of Astaros.

'Where are you' {Astaros}

My other self suddenly sat up, gasping as she inhaled.

Her eyes flaring open as her dark sclera was parted by her violet irises. Her sharp teeth seemed to lock together as her gaping maw snapped shut.

Her wings swung out as took to the skies, quickly disappearing into the sunless aether.

"Well that was interesting." {Astaros}

I whipped around to see a small hill jutting out of the empty horizon. A tall, gnarled tree swayed in the wind as light pierced it's canopy.

This light filtered down to the shadows below, soaking into the black coat of a massive wolf, who slept under the silver palm of the massive Astaros, his armour glinting as the light reflected off it.

However the shadows of his helm were deeper than any sea. It was almost as though it was hollow.

Winds of doubt blew across the flat plains as grasses grazed against me.

Higher in the tree, in one of the few branches that didn't droop. A pair of amber eyes gazed at me, wandering my body as they seemed to bore into my soul and mind.

And out from the grasses a woman strode past me heading up to the hill.

It was Fillia.

"Welcome back." {Astaros}

The winds turned back into a light breeze as elation seemed to rise like hot steam from the soft earth underfoot.

Suddenly a gasp sounded out from behind as I heard the a familiar scene play out, the sound of wings flaring out in preparation for flight causing me to sigh and turn around.

My other self was frowning as she looked at her flared wings before inspecting her hand, opening and closing her fist as she snarled, baring her sharp teeth as her pupils slitted in fear.

"Are you done?" {Astaros}

Looking back I turned back to Astaros and apologized.

"I'm sorry about her, I don't know what's going on but she is being very odd." {Dryis}

"I have done this before." {C̸̡̭͈̤̫̗͋́͋̂̀͗͑̓̕̚͝h̴̜̘͓͓̫̮͐̌̀̓̐͜͜r̸͓͊̑̈́͆̾͂͆̓͑͗͘ĩ̴̼̩̭̿̄͊̃͂̌̏͆̕͝ș̵̢͚̗͙̘͐̿͒́͆̓̾̉͜t̴̡͙̯͚͕̥͔̝̣̻̖̣̻̺̲͐̂̚i̷̡̡͙͚̠̳͙̮͉̺̺̭͗́̐n̴̡̡̢̢̞͙̟̣̮̎͝ë̵̢̛̖͎̥̗̤͓͍́͋̎̒͂͗̀̎̌̚͝?̷̢̙͉͍̯͚͈͖̯̐̈̉̑̀̂͠?̵̘͉̺͇̰͎̯̮̲̜̮̦̯̱̇͊͊͌̎̇͋͐͋͌̕ͅ?̷̤͇̫̿̐̀̋̆̅̇͐͘}

"What is your name my friend, and where is your other half?" {Astaros}

I stopped as the demonic being stood up and walked straight through me, causing me to stumble back as her shoulder passed through my head.

"W-what?" {Christine}

"I have no idea where I am let alone the other half of my consciousness." {C̸̡̭͈̤̫̗͋́͋̂̀͗͑̓̕̚͝h̴̜̘͓͓̫̮͐̌̀̓̐͜͜r̸͓͊̑̈́͆̾͂͆̓͑͗͘ĩ̴̼̩̭̿̄͊̃͂̌̏͆̕͝ș̵̢͚̗͙̘͐̿͒́͆̓̾̉͜t̴̡͙̯͚͕̥͔̝̣̻̖̣̻̺̲͐̂̚i̷̡̡͙͚̠̳͙̮͉̺̺̭͗́̐n̴̡̡̢̢̞͙̟̣̮̎͝ë̵̢̛̖͎̥̗̤͓͍́͋̎̒͂͗̀̎̌̚͝?̷̢̙͉͍̯͚͈͖̯̐̈̉̑̀̂͠?̵̘͉̺͇̰͎̯̮̲̜̮̦̯̱̇͊͊͌̎̇͋͐͋͌̕ͅ?̷̤͇̫̿̐̀̋̆̅̇͐͘}

A slight breeze of relief blew through the air before being undercut by a powerful gale of disappointment which nearly swept me up and off knees, causing my other halves wings to stretch and extend, the energy coming off of them blowing back like sparks as the space within Astaros's helm deepened.

"I am Astaros, as you likely know. However, what is your name? You is not a suitable way to continue to refer to you, but Christine is obviously different. Meaning that name is unavailable for your use. And while I can sense her, she hasn't manifested. So until she does I would like to speak with you properly." {Astaros}

So he can't see me? Is this a dream? And what are these emotions that flow in the winds?

Questions whirled as my other half kneeled and lowered her head.

"I have no name. And I do not have the arrogance to request one in the first place. Number me for your convenience if you wish to. I am at your service no matter the conditions, besides my continued survival."

{C̸̡̭͈̤̫̗͋́͋̂̀͗͑̓̕̚͝h̴̜̘͓͓̫̮͐̌̀̓̐͜͜r̸͓͊̑̈́͆̾͂͆̓͑͗͘ĩ̴̼̩̭̿̄͊̃͂̌̏͆̕͝ș̵̢͚̗͙̘͐̿͒́͆̓̾̉͜t̴̡͙̯͚͕̥͔̝̣̻̖̣̻̺̲͐̂̚i̷̡̡͙͚̠̳͙̮͉̺̺̭͗́̐n̴̡̡̢̢̞͙̟̣̮̎͝ë̵̢̛̖͎̥̗̤͓͍́͋̎̒͂͗̀̎̌̚͝?̷̢̙͉͍̯͚͈͖̯̐̈̉̑̀̂͠?̵̘͉̺͇̰͎̯̮̲̜̮̦̯̱̇͊͊͌̎̇͋͐͋͌̕ͅ?̷̤͇̫̿̐̀̋̆̅̇͐͘}

The winds stilled as Astaros reared back, tilting his head as looked at her with seeming curiosity.

"Though interesting, your attitude is slightly concerning. I did not connect with you and bring you here to kill you. To add on to that naming you is not my place. It should be Raven, who has been acting as your guardian. However should you choose one yourself there will likely be no objections. Keep that in mind as a name is for the sake of convenience. Calling you a number would be annoying at best and disturbing or problematic at worst." {Astaros}

My other half did not lift her head as she seemed to consider his words.

"Your kindness is wasted upon me, father, if I may, I shall choose my own name." {???}

Astaros nodded.

"Now then Dryis, you and Fillia have been silent so far. Have you nothing to say?" {Astaros}

Fillia shook her head while Dryis hopped down from the upper branches. It had been her who had been staring at me earlier.

"I felt something over there but it feels semi-formed." {Dryis}

Astaros nodded as he heard this, following her pointing finger to the place where I stood.

"Indeed. Though I can see a formless shadow, and it appears to be Christine, she seems to have been the weaker side of their soul. I am not even sure if she could ever manifest here." {Astaros}

He placed his fingers to his temple as a flowing breeze of dismay seemed to blow around me.

My other half without even the slightest seeming notion of raising her head spoke.

"May I speak?" {???}

Astaros sighed as his attention shifted.

"Your politeness had a charm to it but that is rapidly depleting. I am not your master. And I am unsure of what you mean when you refer to me as Father. Speak or don't." {Astaros}

She tilted her head like an owl before her pupils dilated.

"What is this realm? and why is there no sun or celestial bodies?" {???}

"I don't know and in the first place it's not my concern. Besides that this is the soul scape and in essence those who have a bond with me can appear here in their sleep." {Astaros}

'That explains a lot... but not why he can't see me!' {Christine}

My other half's wings quivered as she bowed lower, her voice almost a whisper as spoke in the face of the unfurling winds.

"Then allow me to take certain liberties in your presence." {???}

Astaros sighed as Fillia gave an inquisitive look to the both of them before turning to him as she smiled.

"Somehow you seem more bothered by this than the life and death battle you fought earlier." {Fillia}

However, that smile faded as she spoke again.

"You need to give that girl a definitive answer." {Fillia}

Again, Astaros sighed as he looked to the skies, as though the answer would fall from them. When they didn't he sighed again before he placed his fingers on his temple.

"I know, and she deserves one. I have no reason to reject her besides her inability to appear here. I bet that even though I may not be able to bring her here, all the other abilities of the soul link will work perfectly, further exasperating this." {Astaros}

His head was now fully in his palm as he tried to come up with an answer.

"No matter what you choose, I will choose to serve you. My instinct is telling me to serve, or flee from father. And due to my witch half's feelings for you I cannot flee, for she would return. Thus I choose to serve. No matter how unnatural or threatening you may be." {???}

At those last words the world around us grew still.

"I will not question your words, nor will I refuse your wish to serve. However you will explain why you continue to call me your "father"." {Astaros}

Not missing the tension in the air my other half instantly responded, out of fear or obedience. Perhaps both?

"You awakened me with power. A red light drew me from my slumber within Christine. Thus you are father, the one who brought me into the world. Mother, the one who raised my other half may have a better explanation as to my nature and lineage, should that be a concern for you. I "know" many things. Memories that are not my own swirl within me. From fears to pleasure I do not understand. I know of a place where kind reigns supreme, and my blood urges me to take flight there. However my soul plants me firmly in your presence. Even if she does not come to you I will." {???}

Astaros's thoughts seemed to whirl as he considered the words of the being before him.

"Then I concede, call me as you wish. " {Astaros}

Both Fillia and Dryis looked at Astaros in slight confusion however as they finished speaking.

"What?" {Astaros}

Fillia though slightly suprised simply shrugged her shoulders and laid down in his arms.

"I'm just thinking about how much I don't know about you, and how much I have to learn." {Fillia}

Astaros was silent for a moment before speaking in a teasing tone.

"I'm surprised you could say that with a straight face." {Astaros}

Fillia's calm mask cracked as she began to turn red.

"Well I-I am not fazed by little things like that!" {Fillia}

Amateur.

Astaros chuckled lightly as a breeze of amusement caused the grass to bend and sway, blowing my hair back as I sat in silence.

"My decision to reject Christine so many times simply because she couldn't come here was wrong. I believed things would be worse if I brought her into my fold while both you and Dryis had a soul link to me, but she didn't. However I failed to think of all of what she thought when I didn't give her a real proper answer." {Astaros}

It was obvious now that this wasn't a dream. Everything was too perfect. The motions, the voices, everything. There were no discrepancies between reality and here. I now knew why Astaros had refused me. He didn't want to create a breeding ground for jealousy. And he was right. I likely would have come into those kinds of emotions over time.

Perhaps I should…

"Father." {???}

The voice of my other half permeated the now silent space, granting those in thought a moment of respite.

"I have thought of a name for myself." {???}

A zephyr of excitement tickled my skin as Val Systin did some foreign action which I could only describe as a yawn.

"Oh? What have you chosen?" {Astaros}

She exhaled before speaking, her eyes alight as magic circles crawled upon her skin like glowing tattoos. Her sclera and iris, one swallowed in a black ink now glowed with violet energy as her pupil expanded and overtook both.

"I, Rift Systin bind myself to be the of Astaros, and shall know no other master till the day he dies." {Rift}

However as suddenly as whatever ritual my oth- I mean rift began it suddenly fell apart, the sound of hundreds of magic circles cracking like glass as they shattered and disappeared.

"Things like magic will not work here. This is my domain. My soul scape. If you would like to create a pact, wait for when I awaken." {Astaros}

Rift nodded, her eyes slowly dimming as they returned to their previous state. Astaros now turned away, looking up to the sky as the swaying tree branches cast creeping shadows across his helm as it slowly came apart, splitting a retract to reveal his silver star hair and glinting eyes revealed by its withdrawal. Dryis, who was now sitting beside him placed her hands on his shoulder.

"You're going to tell her aren't you? Then do it properly. No matter your decision be kind and gentle, and I am sure she will understand." {Dryis}

Astaros barked out a laughed as a shadow crawled over his eyes and obscured them, hiding them from sight.

"If she were to come to me I would offer her equal union the same as you, however that is up to her now. Perhaps her feelings were nothing more than admiration. They may have been fleeting and unsure." {Astaros}

My eyes widened as I wanted to yell out "NO!" I wanted to do nothing more than scream "THAT'S NOT TRUE!" and yet I couldn't, the words were caught in my throat.

Because now, I really was unsure.

My feelings had cooled from the burning passion that had ignited from when we first met. He felt far away.

In fact they all felt far away.

Fillia, Dryis, all of them far outclassed me. Even I alone wasn't sufficient. I had an entire other sipe bring me to sit on the shoulders of these titans of the age.

What right do I have to stand beside them when I was so weak?

The questions seemed to drown my spirit as they seemed ever farther away, my doubts crushing me as my faults cracked and broke me apart.

I yelled out in frustration up to the empty heavens as I cursed my own wavering feelings.

What did I want.

Power and strength like the man before me?

Is that what I had always wanted? Is that why I had sought him out? Why had I gone and confronted Fillia on that day?

For the sake of my own insecurity?

And the answer was… I don't know.

I would simply have to stand beside him and find out. Love is vexing, and it doesn't always turn out how you like.

But if I abandon him here, I know I will regret it.

If I was consumed by doubt I know I would have died without Rift ever coming to save me.

My heart burned with a passion as I re-affirmed my feelings. I stood from the tall grasses as a wind of elation blew past me, causing me to grab my witches hat as I turned to face them.

Now I just need to conv-

"Oh hello Christine." {Astaros}

My thoughts were interrupted as deep yet calm voice reached out to me. Kind warm silver eyes peered down at me from the hill as a hand beckoned me forth.

"Nice of you to join us." {Astaros}