The Goddesses' Weakness

It was the calm before a very powerful storm. 

Itsuki's senses took a moment to adjust. The faintly lit Firefly Pond had been replaced with the glowing radiance of Evermere's central tower. The overwhelming sounds of the robotic armada had been replaced with the tranquil breeze that accompanied the topmost floor. 

Itsuki opened his eyes and raised himself up. He was safe - he was alive - and he had so many questions. 

His first order of business was Yuna. She was lying a few feet away on the ground, unconscious but uninjured. He picked her up and gently placed her on a nearby couch. She was still warm and her heart was still beating fine, so he suspected that she simply exhausted herself trying to use that much power. 

"It was risky for her to use up all her strength like that," Amane's strained voice spoke. "Had your gambit not paid off, or if I had decided to leave you there, it would've been a horrible miscalculation..."

"The whole point is trust, right?" Itsuki mused, turning towards Amane's voice. "It's only natural that I..."

His train of thought stopped when his eyes found her. She was in much worse condition than Yuna. Her skin was tinged blue and it looked as if she had lost fifty pounds all at once. Her normal divine glow had dimmed significantly, and was even flickering like a light bulb about to break. 

"Amane!"

Itsuki rushed over, kneeling beside her and examining her closer. He wasn't a doctor, but the up-close inspection certainly didn't make it better. If anything, he was more concerned. 

"You do care," Amane giggled and laughed, as she breathed heavily. 

"Of course I care! What's happening? Why are you like this?"

"I really overextended..." she explained. "My powers should not influence the Fallen Lands, even that short distance away. To remove an army and teleport you two out of there...was a gross misuse of my power."

'Misuse' felt like a strange choice of words. Itsuki thought about his own situation. His life in the Fallen Lands - and his role as the judge - was decided and overseen by Bahamut, the Dragon of Wisdom. 

It wasn't a very big leap of logic to assume that Amane also had a patron, and that said patron was the one monitoring her role as 'the Goddess' in the same manner. 

"Sylva," Amane spoke aloud, reading Itsuki's thoughts. "The Phoenix of Life, much like your 'Dragon of Wisdom'. Her power is mine to command - within the bounds of her ambitions. If I act outside the rules, there are consequences..."

"And what is that ambition?"

"Evermere's survival," Amane answered. "It is meant to serve as the final bastion of life. If all else falls apart - if the Cataclysm consumes every life in the Fallen Lands - Evermere will remain. From it, the seeds of new life would always be able to grow and expand. It is the one place untouched by the Cataclysm, and so Lady Sylva protects it with all she has..."

It made sense. In a world as chaotic and apocalyptic as this one, why wouldn't the Goddess of Life want to act in a way that ensures the continuation of life. Amane knew this, and still acted as she did to influence the Fallen Lands beyond her borders. 

"Don't worry so much about me," she insisted. "You won't be rid of me that easy. But it will take a few days for me to fully regain my strength. You are safe within this tower. Sit, rest, recuperate..."

Itsuki wasn't keen on it, but could see that Amane herself was also very tired. Her eyes were beginning to flutter as the urge to sleep grew stronger. If that was what was going to be best for her recovery, he didn't want to interfere. 

"Thank you for saving me Amane," Itsuki noted as he walked away. "Thank you for saving Yuna, as well. I know you didn't have to do that, and probably didn't want to..."

"She means a lot to you, Itsuki. Besides, it wouldn't be fair if I won your affections by allowing her to die..."

Itsuki was without words momentarily, but then chuckled. He left her to sleep, and made his way over to check on Yuna. He knelt down next to her and checked her pulse and temperature. All was still normal, so rest seemed to be the best course of action. 

As he got up to walk away, Yuna's hand grabbed his wrist. 

"I know I said I wouldn't be mad if you married her..." Yuna noted, still half-asleep. "But I hope she doesn't think...that I'm going to let her win that easily..."

Itsuki, once again, had no response. Amidst all the chaos of the last few days, he had not expected to be stuck in the middle of two different girls. He certainly didn't expect it between girls as attractive as these two. He had always been a bit of a loser back home. He's not entirely sure what changed between now and then. 

Either way, it was a small blessing in this otherwise hellish world. He found a seat somewhere that he could keep an eye on both of them. Once he was sure they had dozed off, he let himself drift into rest as well. 

***

"Things are getting interesting..."

Bahamut's world - usually calm and tranquil - had an ominous, shadowy air about it on this particular visit. Itsuki wasn't sure what to make of it. He wasn't even entirely sure if it was the dragon's doing...

"That's a foreboding choice of words," Itsuki admitted aloud.

The dragon replied to Itsuki with another terrifyingly toothy grin. 

"Indeed... the little Goddess overplayed her hand when she hastily ripped the two of you back to safety. Now, she's left herself in quite the vulnerable situation..."

"Do you think something is going to happen?"

"What I think... is that your 'Wisdom' is going to be put to the test here very soon. Whether you succeed or die trying, I am excited to see what ends up transpiring."

Before Itsuki could ask further questions, a bright light abruptly ripped him from the scene. 

***

His eyes shot open, startled, as he found himself getting shaken awake by Yuna. 

"It's not good, Itsuki..." she admitted, turning her attention behind her. 

Itsuki sat up and followed her gaze. It was still very dark out - he expected they had maybe been asleep for a handful of hours. Yuna still looked exhausted, and Amane was in no better condition than before. 

Both were awake, though, with their intense focus on the guard who had recently entered the room.. He was gasping for air and holding himself up against a wall. It seemed as if he had just run several miles in that oversized armor.

"Directive soldiers..." he warned between breaths. "Hordes of them... By the thousands... Are approaching as we speak!"