Apotheosis (2/2)

Being the first to move, Frey leaps forward with her spear outstretched. *CLANG* Haalfrin blocks the sword and steps backward.

If he had been going for the kill, he'd have instead used his physical advantage to grab her tiny wrist, twist the spear out of her grip, and behead her with the spear tip's edge. However, being unwilling to fight on the inside, he instinctually steps back and keeps blocking her strikes.

"Come on, Haalfrin!" Frey hisses aggressively, "Fight back already!" Being a strong mage but an unpracticed fighter, her spear jabs are remarkably clumsy, and she's already beginning to tire out.

"…trust me…," her spirit whispers to his. Feeling the intense NEED for him to cooperate, Haalfrin's heart groans and he makes his first strike with his spear. Subconsciously, his blade veers down towards her stomach and avoids her heart…

… but at the last moment before his spear draws blood, Frey actually stumbles over her own feet and falls forward…

Blood spurts from Freys' body, and the red splash coats the temple floor.

"F###!" Haalfrin roars as he lets go of the blade and carefully lowers Frey's weakening body onto her knees. He would've yanked the blade out directly, but with the steel embedded in her heart, he'd only make her bleed out faster if he did that. "FREY! I didn't mean to aim for your heart!"

With her head bowed, Frey turns her eyes to him and growls through the pain, "Don't be sorry… Fate…" She's interrupted by her violent coughing. "Fate… wanted me to… die… here."

As she bleeds out and her mind fades, the young woman smiles as she sees Haalfrin frantically try to slow her heart rate down and save her life. "Will I be like that in the future?" she thinks. "Will I be that frantic when I have to kill him in the end? Ugh… I don't like pain… I just want… to… fall… asleep… a…l…r…e…a…d…y…"

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While Haalfrin is staring at the ground with fury and grief in his eyes, the Crow Elders are looking at each other in confusion. They thought they were just going to give the young goddess their worship? They never heard anything about ritual combat.

The 3 visiting humans, however, are so completely shocked by what they just saw that they don't even think to whisper to each other. They… thought these two people were really close? Now… they suddenly pull out spears and fight each other to the death?

Can anyone tell these people what's going on? Will the Crows get angry at Haalfrin for killing the young goddess? (If Myra had been here, she'd have been knowledgeable enough about the Crow's culture to understand what just happened; alas, she's gone.)

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A dark silence hangs over the temple for several minutes; the Clan elders all know enough about the situation to keep quiet and wait.

Even Haalfrin is unable to move as he kneel on the ground and stares blankly at Frey's corpse. Oddly enough, her body never flops onto the ground; rather, she stays proudly on her knees with her head bowed and the blade through her heart.

Sure enough… something strange abruptly starts to happen to Frey's body. The spirit mages here see a brilliant silver and black Aura start to flare up from the deepest part of her soul. Within moments, her entire body is engulfed in black Aura… and it slowly gathers into her back.

Then, before everyone's shocked eyes, visible black tendrils of energy emerges from the two scars on her back, and two elongated wing's slowly materialize.

After her wings are finished growing back, the simple spear in her chest starts glowing with a sinister light as the entire thing – including the wooden shaft – takes on a metallic, silver luster. Before his very eyes, Haalfrin watches as the very spear that killed her transforms into the famous weapon the Crow goddess is known to carry.

If it had been anybody else, they'd never have been able to tell… but Haalfrin has seen her carry around that thing far too many times for him to ever forget.

Seeing that black mist is pouring out of her body now instead of blood, Haalfrin feels deep in his soul that it's now time… He reaches forward and pulls the spear out of her chest.

Before the Crows' fervent gazes, Frey's chest starts breathing again, and the thick smell of divine energy starts leaking out of her wounds.

"The goddess here!" one of the Elders shouts. The other Crows start squawking in excitement. Several flutter their wings and lift off their seats, and others fall to their knees.

You can understand their excitement at this; never before had Freyya ever personally shown up at their temple or visited their people before. She's always had a distaste for her cult, after all. Thus, they've never actually felt her Divine power in all its enormity before…

…And her Divine Aura IS enormous. The 3 humans – despite being trained to resist Death Aura, are quaking in terror. The Crows are going mad with bloodlust and excitement. Even the temple walls are humming with joy at feeling its mistress come home for the first time.

…The only person relatively unaffected is Haalfrin himself. Instead of being touched by her Divine Aura, he only feels a comforting warmth extend from her spirit. He can tell that she's feeling… satisfied at her ascension, yet… sad.

Then, just as abruptly as it came, the Divine Aura vanishes, and Freyya, the Crow goddess, opens her eyes. Looking up, she smiles, "Hello, Haalfrin. It hasn't been very long."

"Aiya!" Haalfrin shouts as he flicks his hand down and smacks her on the forehead. "Don't ever make me do something like that again!"

"Heh," Freyya smirks as she tries struggling to her feet. Once Haalfrin helps her back to her feet, she smiles, "Don't worry, Haalfrin. I'll get you back when it's your turn to become a Death god."

She then turns her head, and her eyes meet with Master Rinedahks'. "Well, lovely man. I'm afraid I have to leave now."

Haalfrin looks over at where the Yiirkin was standing before… but the man isn't there anymore.

The next moment, the tiny Yiirkin man appears behind Freyya and clears his throat. "Sorry, Mistress Freyya… Master Haalfrin. A Death god in their true body can't stay long in a mortal world. She has to leave with me now to travel to the past."

"Not so fast!" Haalfrin growls as he grabs Frey by the shoulders and holds her in place.

"Wait… Wha-" She doesn't get to voice her confusion before Haalfrin pulls her close to his body, leans down, and plants a big fat kiss on her lips.

"MMMMMM!" she tries screaming out as she looks at the crowd in embarrassment. With her mouth covered, she can't say anything, though… Plus, she's far too shocked to think of using telepathy.

After Haalfrin finally lets her go, she looks around at the crowd, ducks her head down, then closes her eyes shut. Seeing that the entire temple is cloaked in complete darkness except for the fighting ring does little to ease her chaotic feelings. "M-m-mister Rinedahk! J-j-j-j-j-ust-t-t-t t-t-take m-me aw-w-way n-n-now!"

Seeing her embarrassed look, Haalfrin smiles and presses his forehead against hers. "Don't look anywhere else. Look into my eyes Frey. Feel my spirit."

For some reason, Frey's heart calms down when she stares into his eyes.

"Girl, I don't want your last memory of me in this timeline to be running away in embarrassment," he says calmly. "Don't pay attention to anyone else. Just remember that I love you."

Slowly, he feels from her Spirit that the raging sea in her heart is going still. Finally, with absolutely tranquility in her eyes, she smiles back and whispers, "I love you too."

She steps away from Haalfrin and turns to the Yiirkin. As if unwilling to let anything else be her last words, she nods to the Rinedahk and holds out her arm to him.

Understanding her intention, the man with wooden antlers on his head takes her hand, and they both vanish together, leaving Haalfrin all alone on the fighter's ring.

As if to signify that the Ascendence Ritual is over, all the lights return to the temple, and the Silver light coming from the Fighter's Circle fades away.

With the lights back, the crowd of worshipers is revealed again. Unlike before the ritual, when all the Elders were clamoring and talking to each other excitedly, the Temple is wrapped in somber silence.

Then, they all stand up and file out of the temple with respectful quiet; the only sound is their footsteps echoing on the barren stone walls.

The 3 humans look behind at Haalfrin, who is still standing still in the Fighter's ring – unmoving. They consider staying behind and waiting for him, but they all end up filing out with the rest of the worshippers.

Soon enough, the great stone doors shut with an echoing bang, leaving Haalfrin alone in the Temple…