Revelation

The three tried to make peace that they were already dead, but Yune and Mary couldn't accept it. Jack, however, didn't feel as bad about it, but she didn't know why.

"Please try to calm down. You were dead - emphasis on 'were'. Do I have to repeat everything," Hades the owl said, "It would probably be better to show you."

He made a hoot sound and the dark room began to be covered in black smoke swirling around them. Yune, Jack, and Mary looked around and saw black smoke creating images. The universe being made. The cold darkness of the void consumed everything, but the light of the first stars began to burn the black away. More and more stars burned brightly. With their conflict, simple life began to form on once desolate rocks. But as the stars grew brighter and the light stronger, the worlds teeming with life began to burn. Flames consumed all life. The universe began to burn from the heat. But then, the darkness would return and push back the light. The constant struggle between the cold darkness and the warm light raged everywhere. The places where either one has took control are devoid of any life. But their battlegrounds are the prime location for life to begin and continue to live. As the system surrounding Earth became one of these battlegrounds, strange beings became conscious of both the light and the dark. The beings who served the light called themselves angels and granted power of the burning light to those lifeforms on Earth. The beings who served the darkness created creatures to spread fear and their cold embrace, and they subsequently created the Night Demons. These beings began to balance the dark and light forces. However, as the battle raged on this one battleground, the beings realized that young girls seemed to be able to use the power of the light more effectively, thus the servants of the light focused their attention to that demographic. The girls became known as Light Guardians. Heroes and saviors from the evil demons that lurk within the shadows. And each girl believed it so. Each one believed to be righteous. But as their power grew, the darkness began to fade. This would normally be a cause for celebration, but if this course continues, then the balance would tip too far off. The light would burn everything on Earth. No life would ever touch that world, again.

The dark clouds dispersed from the three. They were shown what they needed to see.

Hades realized that it was a lot to absorb, so he gave a few seconds of silence.

Yune and Jack didn't know how to respond to seeing that. They just fell silent.

"What the hell was that? Am I high on something?" Mary abruptly said breaking the cold silence. She broke her transformation. Her dress shattered into black glass and disappeared. Her clothes turned into black robes. Jack and Yune did the same.

"Look. I know it's a lot, but I'm giving a sign of trust. The ones who gave you the power of light. What did they tell you?"

Yune spoke first. "They told me I could protect the ones I love. I had friends. I wanted to protect them, but... well, nevermind. They didn't tell me anything like what you showed. It's very hard to believe, but that's why I'll go with it. That cat told us nothing, and it was obvious he kept secrets."

Jack said, "That's right. I have to agree with Yune. It sounds ridiculous. A universe constantly at war between two god-like entities. But it is far more information than what that white snake ever told. I don't remember why I became a Light Guardian, but I do remember not trusting that snake."

Mary shrugged. "Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice. A constant battle on top of our heads? Doesn't really seem to be something I could handle, so it doesn't matter to me anyways. As for that being. The white crow... well, we'll see if I become interested in sharing any life stories that pop up."

"You three are handling this very well. I was expecting at least one of you to faint or flat out deny," Hades replied.

"Look. I don't think any of us believe you," Yune said, "But for now, we don't have a choice. I won't speak for the others, but I'm not going to become a soldier to fight in a war."

Jack continued, "Yeah. I just plan on doing whatever I was going to do anyways."

"I don't really care, either. As long as you don't exposition dump on me, again, I won't try cutting you bird in half," Mary said angrily.

"That's fine. I don't plan on ordering you around. You will be free to do as you please," Hades said, "But I brought you three back because you three have something in common. You three died with hate still in your heart. And it wasn't just hate towards Night Demons. It was hate towards your fellow Light Guardians."

Yune's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't feel that way, now. She had nothing against the other Light Guardians. But her memories were still hazy and jumbled, so maybe she would remember what happened the moment that she died at a later time. But she did remember there being a katana. It pierce through her stomach. Was that the work of one of the Light Guardians, she wondered.

Jack didn't seem surprised. Her memories were also hazy, but even now, she felt some kind of rage overcome her whenever she would hear that word. Light Guardian. It was strange that she didn't know why, though.

Mary remembered who she saw the moment she died. There was plenty of hate in her heart towards them. She did feel like getting retribution against them. And as soon as she was allowed to go free, she would exact revenge. The memories of Mary came to her far more easily. She remembered most of her life.

"Alright. I will let you three leave into the world, but before that," Hades said.

And in a sudden burst, Mary and Yune began to scream in agony. Jack just looked at them in confusion as she didn't feel a thing. Then, she began to notice a stinging sensation on her left arm. Their left arms began to bleed. A dark smog grew out of their skin. And when it was over, a dark hieroglyph was carved where the bleeding stopped.

Yune had the cat.

Jack had the snake.

And Mary had the crow.

Each mark glowed as their eyes darkened with hate. They gnawed their teeth, but eventually the pain subsided. But they could all feel aura emenating from it.

"The mark will keep you three connected to each other and - more importantly - to me," Hades continued, "Now, I will let you three leave this room and go into the world reborn. If you need me, I will sense it and come. So, don't need me."

And with the flap of his wings, the floor disappeared. Yune, Jack, and Mary fell through the ground into the abyss screaming all the way down with fear and surprise.