The Crimson Tale of Conquest

She stood at attention, the sweltering hot air burning her skin and the muddy ground beneath her feet despite the fact it never rained. Just over the cliffs edge a landscape of obsidian and rivers of poison stretched far and into the distance. The only saving grace was that the wind seemed to be calm today, its usual strength that eroded one's skin was nowhere to be found.

She was focused on circulating the Celestial energy inside her body, its flow growing smoother by the day. She pushed enough energy through her body to feel it burn her, but not enough to kill her. It was like working a muscle, the more she pushed passed her limits the stronger she became.

She surveyed her surroundings despite this, even with her focus wavering slightly from the pain. She didn't want any surprise attacks hitting her while she was distracted. She's been lucky enough to only deal with those focusing mainly on close combat. With only the occasional mage showing up.

Or that's what she thought. Lucilla had learned a while ago the Archdemons guarding the gate let some of the weaker souls through. Knowing she only faced souls that they have deemed weak enough for her to handle was a blow to her confidence. She's died multiple time to these so-called weaklings.

That did explain why the enemies she faced seem to grow in proportion to her own strength. She hates to admit it, but this was great training for her. She was already skilled in combat, but her efficiency has increased by leaps and bounds for the hundred and a half years she's been down here.

With her thoughts wondering on pointless matters, she lost focused. Her left arm erupted in pain, the feeling of her flesh melting just under her skin induced her to panic. She quickly got her power under control, saving her arm and stopping it falling off. She lost the ability to move her arm, but it'll heal in time. She decided she was done training her control for the day just in case she ended up causing herself more harm than necessary.

"Probably a good idea. Though I am happy with your progress." A hand was placed atop Lucilla's shoulder as the owner spoke to them.

"Ovana!" Lucilla cried out in surprise. Though because of her dull way of speaking it wasn't very loud.

"Yes, hello my Apostal." Ovana greeted removing her large hand. The Goddess then lowered herself till she was seated next to crimsoned eyed woman, her legs folded beneath her. Yet her dress stayed impeccably clean even though she was kneeling in the mud.

"What brings you here today?" Lucilla asked the Goddess.

"My work has lightened up for a bit, so I've come to check on your progress." Ovana said kindly. Thou Lucilla didn't find her to be particularly kind. "Also, I have a surprise for you. I've worked hard to get you even this much. So, when I show you, you can't ask for more."

"Umm?"

Before Lucilla could even attempt to understand what, the immortal was trying to say, her surrounding changed. She stood in the middle of an empty street, with buildings surrounding her. Directly in front of her was a small two-story building with the bottom floor made to be a store front. The word, no, the name baker hung from a sign just above the door.

"Is thi-" Lucilla started but was shushed by the now shrunken Goddess who was only a little taller than her now.

"Follow me."

In a daze Lucilla followed the Goddess inside. It was like she stepped through a portal to the past, the only difference being the fact everything was bathed in the pale blue light of the soul realm. The familiar smell of baked bread filled her nose, alongside the scents of not just her mother but Fritz as well. There was another scent that was familiar, but its presence being in her childhood home made her pause.

"Is that... Ella?" Lucilla asked with tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Entering her old home was and realizing her mother might be here was emotional enough. Knowing her old family and her new one were possibly meeting and getting along just about pushed the young girl over the edge. She feels deep regret about both their deaths, and Fritz. Knowing they are safe here brought the silver haired girl greater relief than she could've possibly imagine.

Ignoring the Goddess Lucilla moved towards the kitchen, making her way to the staircase that led to the second floor. She climbed the aged wooden steps that creaked under her foot, emerging into the living room that doubled as a dining room. There, sitting on the couch and armchairs were her mother and sister. Fritz was there too.

With her chest swelling with emotion, she ran over to them and tried to grab hold of both, only to find herself passing through them. Thats when she realized something. She couldn't hear them, and they never reacted to her sudden intrusion. She couldn't interact with them.

"...." Frozen from the sudden realization that she was both close to and further away from her loved ones than expected the girl just silently watched her family.

Seeing her mother sharing a hot cup of tea and laughing with her older sister filled her chest with warmth. It was a much more pleasant sensation than the burning she felt from rouge divinity. A rare smile that could warm the coldest of hearts spread adorned her face. While the realization she couldn't actually interact with them was shocking, seeing them safe and happy was more than enough for Lucilla.

'I'm glad they found each other.' She thought to herself. 'I that I know where they are, I no longer need to worry about how their life after death is treating them.'

Ovana stood behind the Lucilla, who had visibly decreased in age. She now looked like a ten-year-old girl watching her favorite show. There were multiple reasons for the age decrease. One was the fact she was in the soul realm. Despite being her with her physical body, her souls' effect on her person would be amplified by just being here. On top of that she was unconscious using Celestial Energy, alongside her own ability to shapeshift. With all those aspects combined her emotions caused her to transform into a state she felt the most vulnerable in.

The fact Lucilla was unconscious using her Divinity so well didn't go unnoticed, but Ovana decided to not point it out.

Instead, the Goddess just smiled as she watched her first Apostle in nearly three millennia enjoy herself. For the first time since meeting the girl, her soul was almost at peace. The negative emotions that Lucilla had requested be locked in place still remained, but the scene before her had subdued them for now.

The young girl watched her family (and Fritz) four multiple hours until they called it a night and went to bed. Her mother Lucilla, along with Fritz entered a room together, while Morella left the building. The crimsoned eyed girl wanted to follow her older sister, but Ovana stopped her.

"I'm sorry, but that's all the time you've got." The Goddess spoke with regret.

They found themselves in the training grounds located within the outpost near the gate of Athrem. Lucilla blinked in mild surprise, before frowning once again. The young girl transformed back into her nineteen-year-old body with mild displeasure. She wanted to stay and watch some more, but she also could bring herself to complain. Instead, she turned towards her patron.

"I- I just want to say thank you." She said with a bow. She was truly grateful for the opportunity to see them again. Even Fritz. She was annoyed to be pulled away, but she also knew she had a job to do.

"You're welcome. I figured you deserved a break after working so hard." Ovana responded. "Now then, how about I release that barrier around that weapon of yours?"

"What battier?"

"Did we not tell you?" Ovana looked shocked by this. Lucilla on the other hand just sighed and wondered why her Goddess was even surprised.

"No, you didn't" was all Lucilla said.

"Well, when my precious sister transformed your blades, she put a barrier around it to contain the miasma." Explained the Celestial.

She reached out her hand holding Lucilla's weapon. The monster woman didn't even realize she had let stopped holding it at some point. She held out her own hand to receive her partner, grasping the handle. Once she was holding it firmly in her grasp, the Goddess tap the weapon.

The sound of shatter glass echoed through the training yard. Thick plums of miasma radiated off the weapon twisting itself around Lucilla like a snake. This was far more miasma than Lucilla expected. The entire area was filling with the purplish dark gray smoke. With a snap of her fingers a golden barrier surrounded the yard, stopping the miasma from escaping.

"Your next task for now is to master your control over your miasma." Ovana started. "You already showed a little talent for this, on top of that I'm also the moon Goddess."

The Goddess of the Moon had a special affinity with miasma. As her Apostle Lucilla should have her blessing, which would allow her to not only grow in strength with the rising of the moon, but she would also have finer control of the tainted mana. Only problem was that she had yet to be given a blessing from her Goddess.

"Um, I never got a blessing from you." Lucilla spoke. "You being the Moon Goddess doesn't really mean anything to me."

"I know, that's why you're getting part of the blessing now." Responded the Goddess. "With your newly strengthen body and the improved flow of Celestial Energy, you should be able to now use some of my blessing."

Taping the silver haired woman on the for head as she said this, she bestowed her charge with her blessing as the Moon Goddess. A silver light enveloped Lucilla for a few seconds before fading away. She didn't feel much different, but if she concentrated, she felt something etched into her. Not her body, but something much deeper.

"My soul?"

"Oh? So, you seem to have also accidently inherit a bit of my Soul Goddess blessing." Mused Ovana. "Hmm, doesn't seem to do anything other than sense one's soul a little. I'm sure it's fine."

Lucilla wasn't so sure. Didn't she avoid giving her blessings because she couldn't handle it? She didn't like she got something extra in case it messed up her progress. The fact she was being too carless about it irked Lucilla more than it normally would've.

"Anyway, let's get started." Ovana said returning to her full Hight.