Interstellar Age

While the Germanic Star-Empire’s naval forces had done a good job of halting the Naraku Fleets, which invaded their space at the edge of their galactic borders. The same could not be said for the other major powers of the Galaxy.

Due to their heavily automated industry, one that was fully self contained with robotic laborers and artificial intelligence. The Germanic Star-Empire was able to produce military equipment at a rate which far outpaced their rivals.

While they had spent decades building tens of thousands of warships, and hundreds of thousands of armored vehicles, each of the four major powers managed to succeed in manufacturing a fraction of such war materials.

The Svartalfheim Federation was no exception to this rule. And Daelia stood on the balcony of her palace, gazing into the darkness that was perpetually shielding her homeworld from the outside galaxy.

At this very moment, her fleets were retreating from their initial encounter with the Naraku, further back into their territory. Hoping to halt the Naraku advance not through a naval exchange, but through battle on a nearby world. Which had been thoroughly fortified for the purpose of this war.

Yet even she knew such a task was futile, and because of this she sat, and sighed, gazing up at the stars, while addressing her daughter who attended her.

“I can’t help but think we may very well be doomed….”

Sinaria, ever the calm and collected woman, did not speak a word, at least at first. But eventually she did express her own thoughts on the matter.

“That man…. He is far more devious and cunning than you think he is. No doubt, if he combined every preparation he has spent decades building, he could easily defend his entire territory, and his alone from the Naraku. Hell, I bet he would even win a war of attrition against the bugs.

No doubt he has reserves waiting for the first sign of his front lines breaking. Reserves which at this very moment could be better off aiding his allies. But his goal is already clear to us. He wants the others to break beneath the bugs and their endless devouring swarms.

But, Mother, have you ever thought to think that he wants the same to happen to us? It would be much easier to subjugate you, then to trust you truly intend to aid him in his efforts to conquer the galaxy and bend it to his will. Especially since we both know that is not your true goal….”

Daelia glared over towards her daughter. Sinaria rarely ever expressed a sentiment which contradicted her mother. Because, like her older sister, Daelia’s ego was large and fragile. She had a hard time dealing with criticism. Especially when it came to those she was close to.

Because of this, the Dark Elven Empress’s glare was piercing, and even hostile towards her own flesh and blood as she warned the girl not to speak of such things.

“Whatever you think you know… It would be wise to keep it to yourself, Sinaria.”

However, Sinaria simply scoffed and rolled her eyes. Normally, she might sigh and accept her mother’s warning for the threat that it was. But from her perspective, it was the end of the world, and if she was ever going to speak her mind, now was the time to do so.

“With all due respect, mother, you and Lunaria may have hid the past well, and though you were mostly honest with Erich… There are things you chose to keep from him. Or dare I say, even directly lied about…

I mean, let’s not kid ourselves here. You weren’t the one who got rid of the Maw. Lunaria was! There is a reason they call themselves the Light Elves, even though they are the same uncorrupted variant of our race as our ancestors were before the schism.

That’s right, I know all about what you have done. You were the one who deliberately brought the darkness out of its subspace and into the galaxy, and in doing so corrupted our homeworld. I mean, this rotten world is all that’s left of the Maw, right?

I don’t know how she did it, but Lunaria calls her race the Light Elves, because she is the one who exorcised that evil from the universe. Only, she failed to get rid of the last part of it, her home world, which you corrupted with the darkness!

Your goal isn’t to use Erich’s might to combat the Maw and its foretold return like you have misled him to believe. No… Your goal is to use Erich and his people to bring it back! They are mere weapons to be wielded against your sister, so that she can no longer resist the darkness which corrupts all living beings.

The very darkness that continues to exist in this world, and nowhere else in the universe! I dare say, even the Naraku would not dare to try and invade Svartalfheim in fear of how it may affect them! That is why you invited him here repeatedly throughout the decades, isn’t it? To plant the seeds of darkness within him.

There’s just one thing you don’t understand. Why hasn’t he already been corrupted? I mean, there should at least be some signs, no matter how dormant they are supposed to be, right? Yet, as far as I am aware, Erich remains unblemished by this god forsaken world you call our home. Have you ever wondered why that might be?”

Daelia’s blood-red eyes squinted into a murderous glare as she reached out and grabbed hold of her daughter’s neck. Lifting her into the air, while an aura of darkness surrounded her ink black skin. All the while, her voice became distorted.

“You little brat! We have waited a million years for the coming days. And we will not let you ruin our plans!”

Sinaria remained fearless. In fact, a mischievous smirk appeared on her face as she looked at her mother’s hideous expression. Leaving behind her final farewell, before severing her own consciousness.

“There you are! You have finally chosen to reveal yourself, monster!”

After saying this, Sinaria’s body went limp, her body lifeless. It would resurrect thousands of light years away on Earth’s surface. Where Tia’s robotic form was looking over her, apparently scanning the data collected from the Dark Elven Princess’s thoughts.

Sinaria looked around and sighed in relief, all while Tia spoke to her.

“Even with a galaxy’s worth of information at my command. The knowledge I have on these so-called voidweirds is limited to ancient rumors and hearsay. Still, those who did encounter such terrifying creatures, and somehow lived to tell the tale, did mention possession being one of their abilities.

I just never thought I’d ever see any evidence to suggest that their existence was anything other than the deranged ravings of madmen. You were very brave to investigate this matter on my behalf… I dare say there was no guaranteed chance I would be able to bring you back if your mother proved to be possessed by one of these entities.”

Sinaria sighed in relief upon realizing that she was safely away from Svartalfheim. And was shocked to see that her body, the body which was recreated according to her DNA, no longer showed any signs of the maw’s darkness, nor its corrupting effects. Her skin was as pale as snow, and her hair was the color of gold, much like most of the so called Light Elves.

But this was a concern for another time, instead she was quick to ask Tia about her opinions regarding her mother, and the revelation that had just been revealed to them.

“How long? How long do you think she has been possessed like this?”

Tia’s robotic lips curled into a smirk as she revealed her thoughts on the matter. One which she was thoroughly convinced of.

“I dare say, she’s been like this ever since she first was tricked into entering the Maw by Lunaria. Miraculous, isn’t it? I mean the ability, these creatures have to effortlessly merge within their host’s lives. I dare say, even your aunt has never realized the truth. And they waged a war against one another for hundreds of thousands of years.

It’s unfortunate, but at the moment we need to focus our attention on the Naraku. They are the immediate crisis the galaxy is dealing with, after all. However, it appears that we are blessed enough to endure two galaxy ending crises. One which has lied dormant for a very, very long time.

Only after the bugs are squashed can we focus our attention on your mother and the hidden darkness within her. There would be no point telling Erich now. He would not be able to focus on dealing with the Naraku if we did.

For the time being, I will hide you. We can’t let your mother know you were resurrected after all. Who knows what the consequences would be if she found out you were still alive? When the day comes that we can finally banish the darkness from your people’s home world, and your mother once and for all. Then you will be able to make your entrance. Until then, enjoy your life here on earth. It is, after all, currently the safest place in the galaxy.”

Sinaria looked out the windows of the hospital which she was resurrected in, and saw world flourishing despite the multiple crises that the Galaxy was currently facing. She simply shook her head and sighed once more. Accepting her fate for what it was.