Chapter 29: Sixteenth Birthday, Part 2

After the meeting with Shiro, Kye and Alethea called Layla, James, and Astraia to the room to discuss it. Allison was in Arslade, but she received the message and planned to join them soon. Astarte was also invited and would similarly join as soon as she could.

“Shiro Shikigami?” Layla asked. “The same man behind the attack in January?”

Alethea nodded. “He’s very powerful. He could have killed us himself if he was so inclined. I expect the only reason he didn’t is that he knows if we die prematurely, we can come back to this world.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you aware of all three gods?” Kye asked.

“Three? There’s more than Goddess Eve?”

“Lady Eve has two sons. Azriel and Ezra.”

“Most of our missions are cleaning up after them,” Alethea said after an exasperated sigh. “They’re...”

“A handful. They have the bodies and maturity of children who have too much time on their hands. One of them is innocent enough most of the time, but the other is a troublemaker. You can imagine what one uses as toys when you’re the child of the one omnipotent being.”

“And you end up cleaning up their messes, usually? What about returning to a world if you die prematurely?”

“We’d re-reincarnate... re... words?” Alethea shrugged.

“I see...?”

“On that note,” Kye said. “Mother, if I happen to die, do me a favor... ahem... You and father... make me another body...”

“...make you another body... uh...”

“I should figure something out, too. It’d be an issue if I was reborn and couldn’t get in contact with nobles.”

“You could maybe... no then we’d be sisters. I don’t want us to be blood sister... we wouldn’t be allowed to be together. Maybe the Tachibana family? You could ask Kanade, Riku’s mother. We’d be blood cousins, but that’s not a big deal.”

Layla and James shared apologetic smiles listening to the two girls coming up with plans. They glanced over at Astraia. She was wearing an exasperated smile.

“You’re going to break my dear sister’s heart, Alethea.”

Alethea gave her an apologetic smile.

“Let’s just focus on keeping the two of you alive,” Astraia continued. Her expression turned serious. “We’ll call for an emergency council meeting and brief everyone. But before that, something I think we should cover much more immediately...” She held out her hand and a katana appeared out of nowhere. Its saya had yellow accents and cloth and the the tsuka was wrapped in the same yellow. “Kye, in your various past lives, have you come across soul weapons?”

“Those exist in this world?” Kye shared shocked glances with Alethea. “This is huge. This means we can have our partners come here.”

Alethea nodded. “Yes. That will help us tremendously. In some worlds, having my partner was make or break.”

“And that is a soul weapon?” Kye asked, looking at Astraia. “Who’s soul is bound to it?”

“Mine. Astarte also is one. Given the danger this Shiro person poses, I think it’s an immediate necessity to grant you one. My sisters and I have discussed it before, but we were considering offering ourselves to the two of you later on once you grew more. That was before you revealed your secret to us. They will no doubt agree that we should not wait.”

Even Layla and James were surprised.

“Given how important both of you are, I need an answer right away. I assume you know what it takes to bond a soul weapon?”

“It’s an involved process, so I agree we should do this asap,” Kye said. “But are you certain? You will learn things that mortals should not know if you bond to either of us. Things you cannot speak of no matter what.”

“I see. This is no decision to be made lightly, in that case.”

“There’s something else to consider,” Layla said. “Would you become like them if you bonded together?”

“Yes, that’s also a good question,” Kye said. “If we do this, you may not be able to remain in this world when we leave. In short, it’s not certain. It is Lady Eve’s choice, ultimately. My opinions do carry weight with her, but that doesn’t mean I can decide. If she doesn’t allow you to remain here, then you would have three choices. Service, life, and death. The first means you become what we are. Champions who enter worlds on behalf of our lady to do as she orders, usually. In your case, likely with a partner since you are a soul weapon. The second means you stay in the Nexus with her. She will give you that option if I ask her to. The last I cannot explain. You will find out what death means if you bond with me, but otherwise it’s a mystery that mortals shouldn’t know.”

The non-reincarnations in the room all looked from Kye to Alethea, who nodded and said, “It’s true.”

“Very well. Let us wait for Astarte and Allison to arrive.”

---

“That’s no different than being prepared to die,” Astarte said. “It changes nothing as far as I’m concerned. We’ve lived here for over ten million years and I will not stand idly while some miscreant from another world threatens everything. If my life is required to keep our world safe then I will give it with no hesitation.”

“I expected you’d say as much,” Astraia replied. “Kye? Alethea? What are your thoughts? Do you have any misgivings of bonding with us?”

Kye shook her head. “If you are prepared for and accept the consequences, then I have no misgivings.”

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Alethea agreed with a nod.

“Then let us begin immediately,” Astarte said. She summoned a katana adorned the same as Astraia’s katana, but with green in place of yellow. “Alethea, will you accept me?”

She held out the katana where Alethea could reach it. Astraia did the same with Kye. The two didn’t hesitate to take the blades. As soon as the weapons left Astarte and Astraia’s hands, their bodies disappeared.

“We’ll leave you to it,” Layla said.

Allison glanced between Liliana and Aliana. “Do not disturb them for any reason and do not allow anyone inside this room. I will be sealing the room with the strongest defensive spell I can cast when we leave so that none can interrupt them. The barrier will remain until you open the door or I dispel it.”

“Understood.”

“Call me when they are done,” Layla added. “I’ll remain here while Allison and James set things up for the council meeting.”

Everyone looked at Kye and Alethea, who had already laid the weapons in their laps. Their eyes were closed, and their bodies relaxed as if sleeping. Allison, James, and Layla left the room and Allison cast the defensive spell before teleporting.

---

When Alethea opened her eyes, she was met by Astarte. They were in a strange dimly lit expanse of flowers.

“Your soul is beautiful,” Astarte said. “I thank you for allowing me to see this.” Alethea smiled. “You are familiar with the process?”

“Yes. The process is the same for immortals as it is for mortals. We must go to the core of my soul. Are you absolutely certain about this? You can change your mind at any time before the bonding.”

Astarte nodded. “Lead the way.”

Alethea nodded. She raised a hand and a door formed in front of them. “I should warn you. My partner is not going to be very understanding. She is... obsessive.” Astarte raised her eyebrow.

After going through the door, it disappeared. Ahead of them stood another door, and in front of that door stood a black-haired girl with deep blue eyes and her hair tied into a side ponytail. She wore a sleeveless short black kimono with a white and light blue star pattern. An intense aura of light blue aether emanated from her and her eyes glowed with the same light blue, both refined the same as Alethea’s when she used Overdrive.

“Who is this that you’ve brought into your soul?” she asked, her eyes sharp and unforgiving.

Alethea led Astarte to the girl and introduced her. “This is Astarte Atlantis, my adopted aunt in my current world.”

“I see.” The girl bowed. “I am Kaede of the Nexus. I believe this is how introductions are done in your world.”

“Yes. I am Astarte Atlantis of Terra. I am pleased-”

“Now that we have been introduced, I ask that you leave my master’s soul. Lady Maya is too nice to decline, so I will in her stead. She has no need of a mortal soul weapon.” Kaede placed her right hand on her blade, its tsuka wrapped in light blue. “Kaeshi, Heaven’s Reversal is sufficient.”

“I refuse,” Astarte said bluntly. The moment she spoke, Kaede drew her blade and slashed at her. Alethea blocked the attack with an identical blade that she summoned out of nowhere.

“Master, please stand aside. I shall remove this woman in short order.”

“Stand down, Kaede,” Alethea ordered.

“There is no room in your soul for another! I-”

Suddenly, an overwhelming amount of pink aether erupted from Alethea. “Stand down.”

Astarte backed away. She was in awe of Alethea’s true power. “What...? How...? Your power is mindboggling. It’s like peering into a bottomless pit.”

Alethea turned around, and Astarte saw that her eyes were different. The glow was refined the same as with Overdrive. She smiled at Astarte and held her hand out, her blade gone and Kaede forced to kneel. “This is the real me. This is the result of eons of training. Millions of lives. Will you fight with me?” Astarte nodded, took Alethea’s hand, and transformed into her katana form. Alethea turned back to Kaede and asked, “Choose between two options you don’t like.”

“Why must I choose? If I do not like them, neither should exist.”

Alethea sighed. “Unfortunately, we don’t have another option. Option one: allow Shiro Shikigami-”

“That monster again?!”

“Yes. Allow him to do as he pleases next time we meet or allow Astarte through to the core so that I may have a powerful ally while you are not with me.”

“I shall join you in that world immediately!” Determination was clear in Kaede’s eyes.

Alethea shook her head. “Go to Lady Eve. I do need you, but you’ll have to follow her rules. She will not just poof you into the world. You have to reincarnate like always.” Kaede pouted. “Please, Kaede. It’s really important. Shiro is already powerful in this world. I need every advantage I can get. Go ask her to reincarnate you. Even if it takes several years to catch you up, it’ll be worth it.”

“Fine. I’ll do it, but before I go I have to test her.”

Alethea nodded and jumped back. She held her left hand behind her back and pointed her blade at Kaede. “Come then.” Kaede released a similarly expansive amount of aether and jumped forward.

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