A painful reunion at the end of the world

Her hair was different, but there was no mistaking it. That was Helia.

It did help that Ceres was right besides her, but Arthem was confident he would have recognized those eyes anywhere, no matter what.

“Helia…?”, he muttered softly.

How was she alive? How was she here? He had so many questions, yet he knew he had no right to request answers from her. Not after the last time he had seen her.

Somehow, Arthem managed to withstand her gaze. He welcomed her anger. He deserved it.

“I know, I know”, said Helia, lowering her hand. “We have more important things to deal with right now.”

She had probably been answering to something Ceres had said. He couldn’t help but feel hurt he was not included in their conversation, but also, that she had deemed him not important.

Her eyes went through the murals, all the while dispatching straggling Shadows effortlessly. “I see”, she affirmed. Her face let him known she had reached some sort of understanding.

Just like that, a single glance, and it had all become clear to her.

The sudden jealousy that pierced through Arthem because of this injustice almost made him stand back up on his feet.

It would be pointless, though, so he didn’t.

Ceres looked up through the opening the two of them had dropped from. “Are you sure it wouldn't work?”, asked Helia, clutching her chest with a hand. She looked as if she was about to cry, which would be a problem. Arthem didn’t know if he would be able to withstand that, not right now.

Silence followed, as Ceres answered her, presumably. Arthem almost yelled out in frustration, wanting to be let in. “I don’t know! You said that last time, seeing the state He had put the world in snapped Him out of it! I don't want to give up without at least summoning Him, and trying to have a conversation!”, Helia responded, frustrated, gazing up at the sky as well.

“No!”, the sound of his own voice surprised Arthem. He had not meant to interject, but the memory of the second coming of the Sun Goddess flash through his mind. “You can't! He will kill you!”

Helia and Ceres both watched him with expressions that exposed they had forgotten he was in the room, too. Even though Helia had been protecting him from the Shadows all along, purposefully avoiding making eye contact with him.

“Why do you care?”, asked Helia, still not looking directly at him. A fair enough question, considering how they parted last time.

“Do not be mistaken, boy”, Ceres’ angry voice finally reached him. “The only reason I have let you be is because Helia would be sad if you died, for some reason. Be grateful for her generosity, and stay quiet.”

Arthem sat up straighter, fearing the Gods more than he feared Ceres. “You don't understand. Listen to me! We summoned the Sun twice, wanting to negotiate, or defeat Her, to stop all of this from happening, but She just stole power from us! And then, She killed everyone with one single strike! We are no match for Them! It's no use!”

He was used to death and corpses, even large numbers. More often than not, he participated in their creation. But this was something else. In a split second, everyone was completely gone, nothing left behind, as if they had never even existed.

Ceres looked as if he was about to tear his head off his neck, but Helia stopped him with a hand. “I have to try. Do not assume I will fail just because you have”, she told him, finally looking into his eyes.

Her words, and her glare, pierced throw him like an arrow. Honestly, he would have preferred if she had shot him down with her bow.

Ignoring the pain in his body, and in his heart, he stood up, with an idea. “If you are still the Moon Priest, just do whatever that is! The thing that puts the world back as it was before! You know, right? You have the power to save us all!”, Arthem gestured frantically to the mural where the Moon Priest was accompanied by shooting stars as the darkness enveloped the world.

He was aware he probably looked crazy. He felt crazy. Seeing Helia and Ceres had given him a sliver of hope, but if they summoned the Moon God, it would all be over.

“That”, answered Helia softly, looking deeply troubled. “That is the end of the world”, she finished.

“What?”, he fell on his knees as Helia shot the Shadow that had just appeared above him. He didn’t even notice them anymore. “That’s not possible. What are you doing here, then? What is the point of the prophecy, of the Moon Priest, of our struggle?”

Ceres and Helia shared a knowing look among themselves. “It does not matter anymore. Do as you wish”, affirmed Ceres.

Helia sighed. “As the world ends, I, as a Moon Priestess, am supposed to carry everyone’s Souls into the next one. That way, humanity will persist, instead of disappearing into the Mana. Everyone will get another chance at life, but only once they are reborn in a new world.”

Arthem looked at her with disbelief. His mouth was open, yet no words came out. “That’s why I wanted to talk with the Moon once more! Maybe I can change His mind!”, she pleaded, as if it was Arthem she had to convince.

“After how things went last time, you still think He will change His mind?”, he managed to say.

“Well, you seem like you have somewhat changed yours, so maybe, there’s a chance”, she told him, but her eyes betrayed the hurt she felt when remembering that fateful night. He couldn’t take it anymore, her sadness. 

“I…”, he took a deep breath. “I regret it, Helia. But I understand everything now. I am sorry.”

She was taken aback, as if she truly didn’t expect him to actually apologize. However, her eyes seemed a little bit less sad than before, and so, Arthem felt satisfied. For now.

“I cannot give you forgiveness, just like that”, Helia turned her head, avoiding him.

“That is fine. If you’ll allow me”, he said, standing up. “I would just like to join you once more in punching the Moon.”

Despite her best efforts, Arthem could hear the laugh that Helia had tried very hard to contain. He wished she had let it escape, though. Ceres’ expression, however, had not changed at all. 

How pretentious of the Spirit to regard him in that manner, as if he hadn't also betrayed Helia that night. Ceres, too, was undeserving of her forgiveness. He was in no position to judge Arthem.

“We only have half an hour left, at most. Probably much less”, declared the Spirit. “Helia. If you die, it’s over.”

She inhaled sharply. “I know. Once the Eclipse reflects fully in the pond, the ritual must be undertaken. But, worry not, Ceres. I will not fail.”

Arthem chose to believe she had explained it like that so he could be in the know as well. 

As she was opening her mouth to commence a prayer to her God, another voice interrupted them. “I cannot allow you to do that”, it resonated in their heads.

A flaming ball of Fire flew in Helia’s direction, which Ceres deviated by using his Wind. From its origin emerged another Spirit, a familiar phoenix clad in red and orange feathers.

“Myrena?!”, exclaimed Ceres. “What are you doing here?”

“I was searching for a suitable Priest, but then your Lord went and called for an Eclipse”, she answered nonchalantly. “I do not care about the ritual, so there was no need for me to intervene in your meaningless chatter prior to this. However, if you intend to disturb my Lady’s already too short time with Her lover, then I must ask that you refrain.”

The Spirit’s body glowed menacingly as her feathers became enshrouded with bright flames.

“A friend of yours, Ceres?”, asked Arthem.

His only answer would have been a hateful glare, if not for Helia’s curious expression. “Not really”, he replied.

“How cold, Ceres”, the flaming Spirit shook her head. “Just do your pointless ritual, and I shall leave you alone.”

Arthem looked for Helia’s gaze. It was full of resolve, just like his. He nodded.

He would really enjoy putting that bird in its place.

With a kick, Arthem retrieve the sword he had dropped earlier, and jumped off towards Myrena. The Spirit squawked loudly in a threatening manner, which Ceres reciprocated. Her body was still covered in flames, which she flung at them violently.

Ceres focused on defending Helia with his Wind and his body, dissipating anything he could and taking hits in her place when he could not. She tried to sing, to focus on her prayer, but the Sun Spirit kept breaking her concentration.

“Don’t forget about me!”, howled Arthem, sliding below the projectiles. He thrust himself upwards at Myrena with a fiery explosion below the soles of his boots, with his sword ready to slash her down.

She intended to shove him away with a smack of her blazing wing, but instead, he took it, gritting his teeth, and stabbed her by taking advantage of the momentum of her attack. Arthem held onto the red-hot handle, enduring burns while he twisted the shining sword inside of the Spirit's body.

As Myrena endeavored to shake him off, Ceres assaulted her with Wind, trying to destabilize her. Arthem used both of his legs to dislocate the sword from her wing and jumped backwards to the floor.

Seeing an opportunity, Ceres cawed again and charged at her with his talons. The two Spirits rolled around the marble floor, pecking and scratching at each other as sparkles flew. However, Ceres was at a clear disadvantage. Soon, the smell of burning feathers permeated the space.

Arthem retreated, joining Helia who was struggling on her own. Every time she prayed, her song was interrupted by either malicious Fire coming her way, Ceres’ cries, or Shadows she had to deal with. At least two of those, he could assist her with. He just hoped that his presence near her would not destabilize her further. If he allowed himself some wishful thinking, perhaps it could even serve as reassurance.

The Spirits’ brawl had somewhat stabilized, with the two of them now standing on their feet, violently pecking at each other’s necks, trying to draw blood. Arthem felt a soft breeze coming from Helia, encouraging him to assist Ceres instead. She was now singing somewhat continuously, he remarked. Without a word, he took off, aiming for Myrena’s talons.

Seeing that she was being immobilized by Ceres, the hit connected. He used his own flames to give his slash additional force, leaving a trail of embers behind his movements. He cut, and cut, ruthlessly, ignoring the burning sensation on his skin.

“Enough!”, the Fire phoenix cried out. Her body became much hotter all of a sudden, until a blazing explosion sent both Ceres and Arthem flying away.