Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Subject to trials, the hero’s companions were amidst numerous mental battles. The goddess Kleismeth’s hold on them was fickle, and though her illusion was proving not as effective as she had expected, there were still quite a few of them trapped in this orchestra staged between times. But Raven, he was freed of this trial. Not by Kleismeth but another goddess who wished to shield him from the future that awaits him.

And now, sitting in an ever-expanding room of bright white, Nerva smiled back at her ’Son’. Sitting across from her was the hero, and the only thing between them was a pure white table and Aurora, who was sitting in Nerva’s lap, playing with a cracked ball of shattered crystals. Raven had already tried talking to the girl, but not a word he said would fall on her ears. Devoured by the goddess’s will.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, glaring at the profane witch.

Smiling at him, the goddess stroked Aurora’s hair while responding.

“Your friends look on to an erred future. I did not want you to fall victim to her manipulation.” Moving her hand off the girl, she sighed and moved it over to her chest. “Lies and deception, what use are they when you can simply twist reality to take your desired shape. I want for you, my son, for you to meet your destiny, but for now, you’re not ready to look at the future you in the mirror.”

“Whatever you think I will become or do,” shaking his head, Raven crossed his arms and started tapping his feet out of frustration. “You’re wrong. I will prove it soon enough. But enough of that, and I’m not your son!”

“Whether you accept the truth or not,” plucking the crystal ball out of Aurora’s hands, Nerva held it before her. “It is the truth, and through this soul and my own, I created you, Raven. Umbra’s flesh to host you in a mortal shell. My soul to nurture your darkness and strength, alongside a sliver of Nightsilver to keep you human and mortal like the late hero.”

“More nonsense,” staring at the cracked orb, Raven could only wonder if it was truly the soul of Nightsilver. What led his belief astray was the darkness trapped within the crystal spiralling around a radiant star of sorts. “Nightsilver’s soul would be as pure as the night star.”

Lifting his head, he looked her straight in the eye.

“And if the stories are true, that man was purer than any angel.”

“And that…” Placing the crystal back in Aurora’s hands, Nerva heaved a disgruntled sigh. “Was his downfall. I gave him a chance at immortality, to become the god of this world in the cold clutches of oblivion. But he refused, that vile human. As if he even had the mind to comprehend why the mortals must die and that their salvation can only be found with me, in the grips of cold unbeing.”

“An excuse only a god would make,” scoffing, Raven angrily waves his hand in front of her. “You do treat us like pawns, Helga was right. By some fucking miracle, I see sense in Athenia’s words and her actions despite her mother being perhaps the worst offender of exploiting humans and gods alike.”

Through gritted teeth, he grunted–trying to sway half of his frustration. Even in this domain, despite being so close, with Aurora being there, Raven couldn’t risk attacking her, not yet. And even if he did, there was little hope for him to defeat her all on his own. Not to mention, with her gone, Athenia had to lie herself down to replace the soil under their feet and everything that made up this world–a sacrifice that had to wait a while longer.

“Athenia, Athenia…” Covering her mouth, Nerva cut through Raven’s thoughts. Lifting Aurora off her legs, the goddess let her down. Leaning forward in her chair, while the girl started playing with the crystal on her own, the goddess of calamity and rot chuckled and whispered. “I made you, my son. That goddess couldn’t tell you about your parents because it is I, Nexa Nuvia Nerva. The nexus of this world, the thread that holds it together.”

Pushing himself off the chair, the hero stood up, his hands inches from the dagger dangling from his hips.

“You’re no thread, you’re the spider that lurks, waiting for its prey to be tangled in its deceptive web!” Drawing the blade, the hero coated it in a film of darkness as well as corruption, giving it both a sharp edge and more durability than a regular weapon. “And it’s about time someone cut your sphincter of a mouth that weaves that web!”

Still seated, Nerva leaned back with a smile on her face. Crossing her legs, she folded her hands over her knees and pushed her neck forward.

“My mother, who happened to be amongst my daughter, Aphrodite–she killed me once–and now I suppose, it’s time for my son to do it again.” Pulling her head back, she lifted a finger before speaking again. “But riddle me this, my most beloved child. What of your children? What would happen to them if you killed me now? The only reason they live in what you call ’my lair’, the very place that I know you plan to raid, is because of my protection. I want them to grow and be born in the flesh, and only then can death grace them, until then they are no different than a stillborn–and I would never hope to bring such tragedy on you, my sweet baby boy~.”

“ENOUGH!” As Raven’s resolve was cut in half by the goddess’s rationale, his head turned red and his blood boiled like magma simmering in his veins. Gritting his teeth and grunting and groaning while stomping about, he threw the weapon on the ground and screamed. “ARUGHHHHH!! GODS THIS!! GODS THAT!! YOU’RE ALL THE SAME!! VAMPIRES OF FAITH LEECHING OFF OUR WORK! AND PLAYING WITH OUR LIVES!!”

Halfway through his scream, the hero’s flesh burst into dark, corrupted flames. Changing into his dark fae form without intending to, Raven continued to scream until the very world around him shattered like glass. His voice reverberated through the slit between time, forcing out the intruders, including his companions, the gods, and even Nerva.

Shattering under the weight of rage, Kleismeth’s illusion was gone, but a greater threat remained. Back in the world of the living, everyone stared at the screaming hero whose body was burning with silver flames. Even the goddess of Foresight was startled by the sight, but even with what little knowledge she had of the hero’s true origin, she knew one thing and one thing for sure. Thus, she screamed in warning.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!!”

“DAMN YOU ALL!! GRUHHHH!!!” With his screams cracking the walls of the crystal mansion, what would’ve been enemies–without saying a word–decided to work together and take him down first. “KAMELIA!!”

As Raven screamed out a name in his frenzied state, a sudden tear in reality appeared beside him. Long painted nails of a woman crawled out from within, and a familiar veiled face appeared right after, wearing a smile most profane.

“At your command, my lord,” whispered the nun, the nun in white.

“What the fuck is going on?” Amedith whispered, but it was no time to question reality, and with Evangeline and Helga stepping up, he snapped out of his head and decided to take command of the party in Raven’s absence.

’Why? Tsk…’ Nothing could’ve prepared him to step back into his leadership role from so long ago, especially not a giant Raven–a man whom he had come to respect as both a friend and family.