The Present of the Present

  ?“That is Blade’s past. Did you like the story?”

  ?Severance said, finally ending her recounting.

  ?“Yes, but what happened afterwards?”

  ?Aisha asked, wanting to know everything else. She felt there was more to the story and would like very much to hear more about her brother’s past.

  ?“Well, with the help of Evelyn, Blade and she formed a party that began killing the gods, as they were the final piece and remainders of the corruption. Since he had ”

  ?“How did they do so? I thought they couldn’t be hurt?”

  ?“Well, Yuki made her sacrifice. Because of it, the entity became anchored to reality, but to purge the gods was not needed.”

  ?“It wasn’t?”

  ?Aisha was confused. The whole point of the sacrifice was to make the entity vulnerable. Wasn't it?

  ?“You seem to forget, Ryuma killed a god, long before Yuki’s sacrifice.”

  ?This made Aisha’s eyes widen, as she realized that the gods had always been killable, but then a new feeling arose.

  ?"But then, why was her death necessary?"

  ?Severance smiled softly as she caressed Aisha gently, saying.

  ?“The entity was split in three, remember? The entity's mind, which formed the corruption. The entity’s body, the darkness that formed the wave. And last, the entity’s soul that was split to make up all the different gods and divine figures and beasts from the different pantheons and religions. Unlike the body and soul, the mind was not anchored to any reality, and so it could not have been killed. Its plan was to come forth by combining all its parts, but that happened prematurely due to Yuki and Blade’s meddling.”

  ?Aisha looked at her before nodding, understanding the reason for the necessary sacrifice. Planning to say something else, she suddenly stopped as she looked at Blade.

  ?He had been silent through it all, simply listening to the tale that recounted his life, yet when Aisha looked at him, she saw he was crying. Something not even he was realizing, let alone noticing.

  ?“You’re… crying.”

  ?Her voice brought Blade back, having wandered through his own memories as he had listened. Taking a hand to his face, he noticed the tears but did not know why. Aisha hugged him tightly, not wanting him to be sad, and though he did not understand, he reciprocated the embrace.

  ?Severance looked at them fondly, glad she could give them this moment. As she was about to leave, she felt her arm held back by Aisha's hand. Gripping her softly, as if asking her not to leave, to stay here at this moment. And she did, not minding staying. This was partly why she had told Aisha, but it was more aimed at Blade.

  ?Though the past Blade might not have understood any of the significance at the moment, the one who was here now, despite not fully knowing, could understand. This was her carefully crafted present to him, and Severance was glad it truly brought a moment of respite to all of them.

  ?By the time the moment was over, Aisha was tucked in for bed, and Severance and Blade stepped out for a final talk. She sat in a tree, on a tree branch, while Blade found a large stone under the tree to sit on. They sat there for a while, simply taking in the refreshing wind that blew, the soft rustling of the grass and the gaping expanse that mirrored the star filled night sky.

  To fill the moment of silence, Blade finally spoke.

  ?“Thank you, Severance.”

  ?“Why are you thanking me this time?”

  ?“For everything, but I guess mostly, just that story of yours.”

  ?Severance gave him a side glance, looking at the smile he had, how for the first time he was completely relaxed, and felt the smile creep on her face. Yet she did not push it away as she responded.

  ?“It wasn’t my story. It's yours, I was simply lucky to be a part of it. At the same time, though, it is my present to you. Though it came a bit late.”

  ?The silence followed soon, washing over them again, like a retreating tide. Neither of them had ever been one to talk a lot, but in each other's presence, they found someone to confide in.

  ?“What is the plan now, master? We are hunted as criminals it seems, and we still have to save Indra and Iris, of course, as long as you still wish.”

  ?“You don’t have to ask. It is still the goal… can I ask, what do you think of me?”

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  ?“You’re my master.”

  ?Severance replied calmly, though knowing there was more to his question than he let on.

  ?“Yeah, I guess that’s on me. Then let me ask this. What does Severance think of me?”

  ?Severance thought about the new question a while, unsure exactly how much she should say, before just saying.

  ?“To me, you’re a childish and hypocritical boy, who has a lot to learn... yet you are also the one who taught me the true importance of ideals, and you will always be a source for my love.”

  ?“You love me?”

  ?“... yes. Don’t misunderstand me, though, I do not wish for a relationship between us. My love for you is twisted between my love for you as my closest family and as my master.”

  ?“So your love isn’t normal?”

  ?“Nothing is. I’m content with our relationship now, and would rather see you find true love.”

  ?“Fair enough… What is even finding true love about?”

  ?“That is for you to find out, master. I’m simply your tool that will help you on the way.”

  ?Blade thought back to all his interactions trying to find any hint that could help him pinpoint what she was talking about. Yet then suddenly the voice from the void hit him, or more so, he remembered it. He had surprisingly enough not heard it for a while now. The last time being when he was close to death after Raiden beat him.

  ?“Severance… there has been this voice, I have been hearing. From this place in the abyss.”

  ?At his words, Severance suddenly shifted her focus back to him, his words having sparked something.

  ?“The abyss you say? What have you been told?”

  ?Blade recounted what he had heard from the voice, and what they had talked about. While he recounted, he realized it wasn’t actually a lot that had been said, yet every word seemed to stick with him. By the time he was finished, Severance had an amused look on her face before commenting.

  ?“I do find it daring of you to get a lover and still ask if I loved you.”

  ?“Eh?!”

  ?Without holding back, Severance chuckled lightly at his surprised face and clueless words.

  ?“Last I checked I don't have a lover.”

  ?Blade retaliated, trying to interrupt her continued laughter at his expense, yet was shut up by her next words.

  ?“Then what do you feel about the voice?”

  ?“What I feel?...”

  ?The question made Blade fall into suspension as he thought back to their meeting, the one after Raiden. Thinking back to each word said. The voice had calmed him profoundly, a similar feeling to what he would often hear people say about those they loved. Their touch felt soothing, their lips…

  ?Blade remembered it now. They had kissed him, his first kiss. And for some reason, it made his heart churn, though not in a particularly bad way. Sensing the shift in him, Severance voiced her thoughts again.

  ?“Do you understand it now?”

  ?Blade looked up at her, feeling unsure himself, but not exactly in his feelings, more so how to word them.

  ?“I think… maybe I am in love…”

  ?He said. The words felt weird on his tongue, as if admitting a secret. A feeling completely foreign to him until this moment. He quickly looked down at the ground, finding it difficult to hold her stare as he continued to think about what he had said.

  ?Severance meanwhile, simply smiled at his words, jumping down from the tree and patting his head softly, telling him.

  ?“It's fine. One thing you should learn, before you go about whatever you want, is to take things slow. Not everything can be rushed, not everything can be figured out immediately. Right now, do it a step at a time, either that is about growing stronger, or figuring out these new feelings you find yourself in.”

  ?Severance meant every word. Blade had never experienced a normal childhood, and therefore, was plagued by challenges that would never have affected him had things gone differently. Yet she also knew that Blade wouldn't wish to change his past, and therefore she would focus on guiding him on whatever path he chose. After a while Blade asked.

  ?“How did you know? About this?”

  ?“We are one, forgotten? I might be able to separate from you, but I am still only a part of you.”

  ?She said resting her forehead with his as she continued patting his head. With her help, Blade managed to calm his mind and said.

  ?“Thank you.”

  ?“This is my present, a present from the past, to you.”

  ?The moment stretched on through the night, as they continued talking, about nothing truly. Yet to Blade, it helped anchor him and his feelings. Until he could recognize he was in love, but his goal wouldn’t change. He would free Iris and Indra firstly. He wasn’t even sure how to talk with the abyss again, and therefore it would be easier to simply focus on the goal that at least was possible.

  ?By the time the sun rose, Aisha woke from her sleep, to see Blade settled beside her, stroking her hair in his sleep. She found herself in a dilemma. On one hand, the feeling of Blade’s hand was a soothing and gentle feeling, but she couldn’t exactly stay in bed. On the other hand, though, was she afraid she would wake him up if she moved. She also noted that the chain markings on Blade’s arm were inscribed, meaning Severance was also idle. Thinking about what to do, she resigned herself to sitting by, but luckily for her, Severance noticed her problem.

  ?Materializing in front of her, she chuckled at the reason for her dilemma, before helping her get out of the bed without waking up Blade.

  ?“Good morning, sister.”

  ?Aisha says, as Severance pats her head.

  ?“Good morning.”

  ?She responds, before looking out at the sky, and commenting.

  ?“It is quite early to be awake, is it not?”

  ?“Well, I struggled a bit to sleep. It's also been a long time since I have had a relaxing sleep.”

  ?“I see, well since it's so early, let's take a bath.”

  ?“A bath? Why?”

  ?“You are right, for us, especially Origins, there is no need for most human things as we can use mora as a substitute. Still, a bath is also a way to relax and calm down. Something you seem to need.”

  ?After some contemplation, Aisha nodded and followed Severance as they took a bath together. By the time they were done and dried off, Blade had woken up.

  ?Using mora to change his clothes, he internally thanked Severance for all her knowledge.

  ?By the time he was done and stepped out, he found Aisha and Severance talking as they sat on a bench and dried their hair with towels.

  ?After exchanging greetings, Blade sat down beside them as he began discussing their plans for the future.

  ?“The goal remains in defeating Raiden and getting Indra and Iris back. There's also the fact that I want to get Aisha’s voice back.”

  ?“Very well.”

  ?Severance responded, planning to follow her master no matter his path. Aisha also nodded, being grateful Blade remembered and was willing to bring her along.

  ?“There’s just one thing, though. I find it weird how few people we have met. Especially when it comes to origins. When I first came here, I was met by 10 absolute authority holders, then Indra, Iris, and Raiden. Yet I haven’t met anyone since then.”

  ?“I agree that it is weird.”

  ?Severance said, voicing her thoughts, before turning to Aisha.

  ?“Do you know how long this ‘game’ has gone on for?”

  ?Aisha thought about it for a few seconds before saying.

  ?“I’m a bit unsure, but I believe it has been going on for about two months before Blade arrived.”