MEMORIES OF ASSASSINS 04 THE GIRL AND THE GODDESS

"And who is this young lady?" as Aria looked up, she was struck with awe, the woman inquiring about her was no less than a goddess. She was stunningly beautiful, even though she wore an elegant hood, her eyes seemed like the sun and yet cold. Her hair the crimson red, her smile delicate yet firm her stance breathtakingly poised.

"I am Aria." She began before being cut off,

"This one, this one is just a brat," The caretaker of the orphanage dismissed her while ushering the lady, who looked at Aria and knelt down to face the child, looking at her eye to eye.

"Aria was it?" The lady inquired.

Aria could only nod as from the corner of her eyes she could see the stern gaze the caretaker was casting at her.

"My name is Lilith, young one. How would you like to be my daughter?" Lilith spoke her voice sweet as honey. The caretaker, with her expressions aghast stared wide eyed now from Lilith to Aria and back.

Aria looked around, her eyes resting on the corner of a wall behind which hid her only friend, Isis was spying on what was going on, too timid to approach herself. As their eyes met, Aria saw the unease in her's, the countless thoughts that were spiraling through her mind, what would become of her if Aria was gone. And with a hint of a nod Aria looked back at Lilith, who had also taken notice of Isis.

"Only if you take Isis as well!" Aria answered.

Lilith smiled looking at the shying figure.

"My dear, alas I can but only take one of you," Lilith answered her voice now filled with immense sorrow.

"Take Isis then, anywhere is better than here." Aria spoke without pause and Lilith only smiled,

"Isis, the name of the old goddess, come here young Tigeran"

Isis timidly approached Lilith who greeted her with a motherly look,

"Would you choose to come with me?" She asked.

"N-not without Aria...no" Isis replied.

"You both love each other quite a bit don't you?" Lilith looked at the both of them.

"Isis go with her, this might be your only chance," Aria spoke in a quick hushed voice.

"Not without Aria," Isis was more confident in her reply. Seeing the exchange Lilith nodded, coming closer to the children she whispered.

"Aria, time will present you the opportunity to do great things, but you both must stay together. Don't worry young ones," Lilith lightly kissed her cheek, Aria felt as if she had been scalded. But before she could jump back, Lilith's words were etched into her mind.

"I have taken a liking to you, children, both of you."

Lilith got up and with an expression that spoke of misfortune she continued to walk ahead, a look of relief on the caretaker's face as she led her on.

That was the first she had seen of Lilith.

Humans had this in their nature to forget how short their life spans were. But Aria after that day had always carried in her thought this feeling of running against a clock, this constant, aching that she was meant to die soon. Perhaps it had to do with Lilith, but this allowed Aria to live each day to the fullest, without regret or at least she saw it that way. It was years later after she and Isis had joined the order that she came across Lilith again.

This time it was her who found the goddess. It was on an initiation mission of hers. Right at the moment that she assassinated her target, she had heard Lilith's voice, a voice that even after all those years remained fresh in her memory, called by the song of Lilith, Aria was shown a vision, a vision of her wearing a crown, a crown that allowed her to conquer even death, as she sat atop an icy peak.

It was several more years before the vision made sense to her, when ancient scrolls, forbidden scripts, history and mysteries came together. Her entire life led her to uncovering one of the greatest secrets Illis had to offer, the Jewels of creation. Rumored to be the most powerful artifacts in existence, they were in possession of the most powerful beings that ruled. But Aria had found the location of a lost Jewel, a jewel that none remembered that one could probably acquire. Neraya was where it was.

Lilith's visions had led her to betray the order, to take her entire squad and escape, escape the Dark continent, escape the assassins.

And it were also Lilith's visions that had led the mighty wandering general, Aikoh to attack Neraya when he did. Aria had gotten what she required, the case with the Jewel, guided by Lilith. She had managed to do the unthinkable. She had managed to steal a piece of existence.

Her dreams were about to come true but then that storm. The storm of ice and snow. The howling of dragons and that ancient one. In the heavy blizzard she could only see an eye, an eye as big as her, and then as if the entire mountain had moved, she was separated from Isis. It had been quite some time since then.

...