Forgotten

Aperio tilted her head ever-so-slightly to the side as she felt some of the mana meant for the dungeon flow into Caethya instead. It wasn't dangerous for the Demigoddess, but she had not assumed that her love would make use of the abundant mana that had been called here to further herself. Not going to complain about it.

The sooner Caethya took the next steps towards actual godhood, the better. Her love could be so much more than she was now and Aperio could not wait to see her fulfil that potential. The same could not be said for Teg. As amusing as she found the Fae, it would take them quite the while to grow to any appreciable strength; even with the help from this dungeon. But that doesn't matter.

Time was something she had plenty of and she did not mind waiting for everyone to do their best. Some might not even want to grow stronger for a lifetime, or multiple consecutive lifetimes, but eventually they'd get there. Perhaps Teg was one of the reluctant ones at the moment. Unlike the Fae seemed to think, they were very much mortal and part of the ever-going cycle of reincarnation. It just took them quite a while to die.

"You may alter the design of the core as you wish once the dungeon is complete," Aperio said, putting an end to the ramblings of Teg. "Which is now also your job. Do not try to tell me that you cannot do it, I know that you have accepted the dungeon as your own and are already looking through the menus."

"Not fair," the Fae replied, crossing all of its arms in front of its chest. "Supposed to be secret. Only seen by me."

"I made the System," the All-Mother said with a raised brow. "Of course I can see everything it does."

"She could even see what every atom of your body is doing," Caethya added with a small giggle. "Just have to get used to the fact that hiding things from her is hard."

"Indeed. I even have trouble hiding things from myself sometimes." Omniscience was certainly useful sometimes, but most of the time it was an annoyance. "Like the wall of windows you are trying to build, for example."

Teg stuck their head out from behind the many colourful System windows that surrounded them and stuck out their tongue. "Teg untouchable!"

Caethya gave a small laugh at the words while the All-Mother outright chuckled, extending a wing to poke the Fae in the head with her outermost feathers. "There, touched you."

"Disgrace!" the Fae exclaimed. "To the dungeon!"

"We are already in the dungeon," Caethya remarked.

Teg looked at her for a moment, their six eyes blinking seemingly at random as they tilted their head. "To deeper dungeon? Dungeon dungeon?"

"You are free to make a dungeon inside the dungeon if you wish," Aperio said. "But neither Caethya or myself will be in it."

"What if comfy dungeon?" the Fae inquired with a tilted head.

"If that is what you want to do, sure, we might pay a visit."

"You would also visit if they put monsters in it that you can fight," Caethya said. "Personally, I would prefer a comfortable dungeon. Maybe a few couches and a nice private room." She turned to look at Aperio and smiled lightly. "I think I would enjoy that."

"Hotel? Teg!" the Fae exclaimed, giving an enthusiastic nod. They did a small loop before settling into the air in front of the All-Mother. "Goodbye?"

"Yes," Aperio replied with a nod of her own. "I will still help you with the dungeon, but I will not be on Earth for a while." Have to remember to let Adam know that we are leaving…

Having the man be stranded here would not be nice, especially since they had already left him behind for their little trip to Point Nemo. She would simply let him know that they would be returning to Verenier and all he had to do to follow was to offer a small prayer to inform her that he wished to return.

Teg pouted for a moment before it simply offered a wave. "Will make best dungeon! Test all the mortals!"

"And annoy that Oberon," Aperio added for the Fae. "I have found them to be very annoying."

Teg's eyes shone with malice for a moment before they offered another nod and a large smile. "Free from Oberon."

Caethya offered the small being a wave before she wrapped her arm around Aperio's waist and informed the All-Mother that she was ready to go.

A moment later, reality parted to allow them to appear in Aperio's temple. As Caethya looked around the familiar location of Aperio's personal chambers, the All-Mother silently informed Adam of their change in location as well as the steps he would have to take if and when he wished to follow. Something Aperio doubted he would do soon, as he informed her that he was quite happy to be on Earth at the moment.

Caethya let out a long sigh as she leaned herself against the All-Mother. “I never knew being back on my home world would feel so good."

"Does it?" Aperio inquired, herself not feeling any different.

Sure, she could tell how the mana was a little different — seemingly… happy at her presence — but that was not a major shift from Earth. Not something she would have expected her love to feel. But then, she is more aware than most. Better.

"Yeah," her love said. "Like the world is welcoming me back. I had not expected that."

"You are on the way to proper godhood, perhaps Verenier is simply recognising you as that. I certainly would."

"I mean… You kind of are, if Verenier is?" Caethya tapped her chin. "In the end, all the mana is your mana after all, even if you don't guide it consciously."

"Then it is an affirmation of my feelings for you," Aperio replied with a small smile. "How does it feel to be admired by the universe?"

"Pretty good!" Caethya stepped in front of Aperio with the words, standing on her toes and reaching up to place her palms on her love's cheeks, gently pulling her in for a kiss.

The All-Mother allowed herself to be moved closer, wrapping her hands across Caethya's waist and her wings around the both of them. She leaned into the motion until their lips met for an eternally brief moment. Aperio let her grasp of time slip a little, stretching the moment to last a little longer than it should. At least for her.

This experience was one that was quite the rarity in her past, and not at all in the life she remembered most vividly, making it mean all that much more to her. Caethya had an interest in her that extended beyond her looks — and now her powers — and was never shy to express how she felt. Aperio herself had more than a little trouble with that, as the thought of anything more involved still caused a cold shiver to run down her spine and her mind to scream in protest.

"Would it be cheesy if I said that you are my world?" Caethya asked, her voice a bit drawn out before the All-Mother blinked and slowed her mind enough to return to a more normal perception of time.

"A little," Aperio replied, then moved her hands a little lower so she could lift her love off the ground. Being able to stand straight while not having to cease their embrace was quite nice. Caethya gave a small yelp at the movement, leaning forward and tightening her hold on the All-Mother. "But it is acceptable."

"And what are you going to do now?" her love inquired, her voice a little lower and slower than usual. She also wrapped her legs around Aperio's waist, interlocking her feet behind her back. "This isn't quite what I expected to happen. Not that I am complaining."

"I procrastinate fixing the world while I hold you?" Aperio half asked, half stated as she tilted her head. "It is quite enjoyable."

"Is it?" Caethya mirrored the head-tilt. "Well, it's not like you grow tired. Or my weight even registers to you."

"You are indeed quite light, perhaps I should take you out to a hearty dinner."

"I do like the sound of that," Caethya replied, placing another kiss on her lips. A small, mischievous smile flashed across her face for a moment. "I'll be ready when you are."

The All-Mother experienced a moment in which all she could do was give a shallow nod in reply. It was abundantly clear that Caethya would not mind taking things a little further, but as things currently stood she was the only one ready for that. Aperio's wings twitched slightly. She herself was nowhere near settled enough for such a thing. Did not trust herself to not have a violent reaction.

"Thank you," Aperio said after another moment of silence.

She wasn't quite sure what she should do now. The small moment she had wished to share with Caethya had not taken a couple of steps in a direction she had little experience with, but rather a large leap. Being accepted — loved even — for simply being herself was still a bit foreign and try as she might, Aperio was not finding many ways to express her thoughts correctly.

"You can always just show me what you think," her love said, poking the All-Mother's forehead with a finger. "I know you are trying to be considerate, but I am more than fine with you just being you. And I am happily willing to tell you that over and over until you finally get it."

Aperio did just as Caethya had suggested, the thought having crossed her mind anyway.

---

Laelia tore her eyes away from the wall and set them back on the papers on her desk. There had been nothing particularly interesting on the stones, but she had felt the unmistakable presence of the All-Mother in her chambers. She had not expected her Goddess to return anytime soon, but she wouldn't complain. The various factions in Ebenlowe alone were getting out of hand and she would be all too glad if Aperio could talk — or punch — some sense into them.

She doubted that was the reason for her return, but if she brought up the issue then Aperio might help a little. There's also Adelita… The assassin had been rather unresponsive since she had had her little talk with the All-Mother. Laelia was still not quite sure what Aperio had done, besides apparently splitting a Soul into two, but it had taken quite a bit out of the woman.

"I guess I will have to call a council meeting?"

She did not like the idea of doing that, but it would be the best way to let everyone know that their little shenanigans had attracted the attention of the All-Mother. It might be a bit of lie, but they wouldn't know that. Aperio's presence in the city — and on Verenier itself, if she was honest with herself — would not go unnoticed for long. Many of the more powerful mages that had kept a low profile for centuries had taken to the game of politics, and given that they were able to perceive the shift in the world's mana, they should also be able to put two and two together and figure out that Aperio had returned. Or at least, come to the assumption that someone extremely powerful had entered the city. It would be enough to keep them from doing more dumb shit, at least.

Laelia still had not figured out how the people could sometimes be as dumb as they were. No matter how you looked at it, Aperio was beyond any of them, so why did they think they could outsmart her?

Sure, her Goddess liked to limit herself, and sometimes present herself as a somewhat dimwitted barbarian at times, but that did not change the fact that she could take in more knowledge and process it faster than every mortal on this world combined.

"No matter," she mumbled to herself, signing yet another order for the ever-growing corps of knights that wished to serve the All-Mother. "They'll learn in time."

Her duties as the All-Mother's Scion had taught her to hate the nobles even more than she had already done before. They were utterly hung up most of the time on issues that weren't even real. Many of the isles were in chaos, and they were bickering about who got to name an All-Mother-damned bridge.

Luckily, some people had more sense and sought to stop the ever-growing number of criminals that thought they could make Ebenlowe their home. Many of these saw the Church of the All-Mother as a good choice to achieve that goal and Laelia was not about to correct that assumption.

The more people that saw the light of the All-Mother, the better. If they wished to make the city a better place as well, she would welcome them with open arms and do everything in her power to help them become a knight for her cause. A few of the more devout knights had started to receive Classes themed around the All-Mother, a fact that caused even more people to come to their doors. Luckily the temple has infinite rooms.

If Aperio's temple did not make more and more rooms for everyone that needed one, they would have run out long ago.

With a small shake of her head, Laelia got up from her chair, her armour appearing on her a moment later. She grabbed the claymore that leaned against her desk with one hand, looking for a moment at the small styled flame engraved into its base. It had noticed the All-Mother's return, the silver engraving now glowing with a subtle blue light.

"Now to greet her," Laelia said to herself, placing the large sword on her back where it was held in place by an enchantment in her armour.

She probably did not have to, but she would stay outside of Aperio's chambers until her Goddess was ready. Knowing the All-Mother, that could be anything from a few minutes to an entire week. Time meant little to a being that was older than the very universe they were in, after all.