8th Period: Athena’s Aunt Backstory

Athena and I had been seeking her great aunt's counsel for the past few weeks during our stay, desperately waiting and hoping to learn more about Athena's Aeonian heritage. Athena had already done extensive research on the topic and questioned many members of the Rosewood House, but none could provide the answers we sought. 

It wasn't until her mother gave her approval that we were allowed to visit her aunt and finally make some real progress. After tracking down the address, Athena was surprised to discover that her aunt lived only half an hour away from the Rosewood mansion. 

With the assistance of servants from the Nameless House, we left the mansion, and drove to Athena's aunt's house. It wasn't long before we arrived at her doorstep in the evening, flowers in hand, hoping the gesture would put her aunt at ease. To our relief, Athena's aunt greeted us warmly and invited us inside. 

Engaged in deep conversation, we quickly built an atmosphere of trust and goodwill. Soon enough, Athena shared our story with her aunt, discussing the Eliwood House, and before we knew it, we were delving into Aeonian stories passed down through generations. 

Athena's aunt began to weave tales about the ancient Aeonians, their feats echoing throughout time like resounding bell tolls. Her words painted vivid images of these eternal beings, each unique yet united in their immortal heritage. 

Her voice took on a hushed tone as she continued, "Helios wasn't just any Aeonian; he was renowned for his knowledge of all things celestial. His understanding of celestial energy was unparalleled. The day he disappeared, the Institute was bathed in a glow of pure stellar energy. It was as if a supernova had exploded inside his quarters. They tried to locate him, but all they had was his energy trail. It was deeply intertwined with the cosmic hum of the universe, a signature that only an Aeonian could leave behind. They were left with more questions than answers. What happened to Helios? Why did he leave this trail of cosmic energy? These mysteries still baffle them at the Garcinia Institute." 

She continued, her voice a hushed whisper, "The Eternal Flame was not a mere creation; it was a gift to the universe from the heart of an Aeonian. Its light, brighter than a thousand stars, never dimmed, never flickered. It did not consume; it gave. It was a beacon in the darkest nights, a star that is said to guide lost souls to their eternal resting place."

Her gaze drifted off, as if she were seeing the flame herself. "It was not just a fire; it was hope," she said, locking eyes with us. "Its embers bore the resilience of life, and in its warmth, one could find a home." 

These tales of Aeonians, each with their unique abilities, were so compelling that they seemed more like vivid memories than mere stories. Twilight was upon us when we finally said farewell, our minds brimming with tales of Aeonian heritage.

Later in the week, we received confirmation that our efforts had been successful; Athena's aunt had agreed to allow us into her home for another visit so that we could dive even deeper into her Aeonian history. This time, however, she would present us with even more details and facts than before. It was clear that Athena's aunt was willing to share what she knew about the Aeonians with us. 

"Welcome, children, please come in. I'm glad you are able to meet with me once again. Last time we spoke, you told me about the Aeonian Talent that the two of you had developed. Henry does appear to be a fine young man indeed. Please take a seat and gather around me. There is something else that I would like to discuss with you regarding Athena's Aeonian heritage," Jemima of the Rosewood House explained as she grabbed a photo album from the bookshelf behind her. 

"As I mentioned before, Aeonians are eternal beings who guard their respective planet from within the Celestial Plains, also known as the Higher Plains, while the Lowest Planes of existence are known as the Underworld Plains," Jemima explained. 

"While full-fledged Aeonians dwelled within the Celestial Plains, they must be given artificial bodies in order to inhabit the Physical Realm. This is because they don't possess physical bodies in their realm; instead, they exist as something similar to spirits. While many Aeonians throughout history have borne children with the inhabitants of the planet, those children have only a small chance of inheriting their powers, and they have become known as Semi-Aeonians. Note that not all who are born from Aeonians inherit their powers," she explained. 

"These Aeonians possess the traits and powers of the inhabitants on the planet they dwell within. If the planet were to ever go dark, then so would that part of the Celestial Plains connected to it. The Aeonians' powers shall perish with it unless they have bound themselves to one of the many sacred objects known as the Infinita Crystals. These Aeonians have been known to speak directly to the inhabitants they call the Aeonian Prophets and their children," Jemima continued. 

"Only a select few have been granted the right to enter these sacred sanctuaries. It's only by entering one of these Celestial Gateways, which connect that plane of existence to the Celestial Plains, that the main Aeonian Guardians are able to maintain the balance between the different planes of existence within their timeline," she said. 

"Aeonians have been known to form Aeonian Bonds with mortals and are charged to act as their guardians. They have also been known to form invisible chains that connect them to each other anywhere in the timeline through something known as quantum entanglement, formed from the Aeonian Lifeforce. If the Aeonians were to perish, the Aeonian Chain connecting them may become broken," she stated. 

"The connection formed between an Aeonian and another Aeonian or between an Aeonian and a mortal can take a lifetime to form properly, but when they do, it allows them to receive what we call Aeonian Talents. These Aeonian Talents vary based on the type of connection formed between the Aeonian and the mortals in question, reflecting the bond that the two share," she explained. 

"How exciting! I never knew that about my ancestors. I can't wait to hear more about my Aeonian heritage," Athena said as she moved toward her aunt, waiting for her reply. 

"Don't get too excited. I haven't told you about the bond that I formed with a mortal. This story of mine isn't a pleasant one; in fact, it doesn't have a happy ending and is filled with much pain and sorrow. When I was younger, I forged an Aeonian Bond with a young man, Jason, of the Brutus House. He was quite a fine friend. I had known him since childhood," Aunt Jemima said. 

"This tragic tale takes place after we had forged that Aeonian Bond. We caught the attention of Aeonian Hunters, who sought to claim the lives of Aeonian descendants and those they had bonded with. Through this, I learned what it truly means to love someone deeply with your very being, and the tragedy of losing that loved one was too much to bear. I have suffered great loss and learned this valuable lesson from the death of my dearest friend and soulmate. Love can be both a beautiful thing when it's cherished and, at the same time, very dangerous," she continued, wiping her tears away. 

"Love is a powerful thing that should never be taken for granted or abused, for it brings with it destruction and grief beyond mortal comprehension. When you are forced to watch as life fades away from the one who is fated to be your soulmate, only then will you really understand what it means to truly lose everything. My biggest mistake was allowing myself to become too close to him, and for that, I am just as much to blame for his death at the hands of the Aeonian Hunters. He caught the eye of the Aeonian Hunters, who were in pursuit of me, and when they realized that the two of us were connected, they acted swiftly to end his life. Thankfully, the Rosewood House dealt with them personally after what happened. The loss of someone as precious as him has been very hard on all who knew him. He was an amazing person who truly cared deeply about those around him, always putting himself last," she explained.

As Aunt Jemima's voice trailed off, she gazed into the distance, lost in her tragic memories. I took this opportunity to ask her about the Aeonian Hunters. Sensing my curiosity, Aunt Jemima sighed, her gaze still lost in the far reaches of her memories. 

"The Aeonians, according to the Aeonian Hunters," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "are never meant to exist in the physical realm, much less procreate with mortals. The Aeonians of old were celestial beings, their essence intertwined with the divine cosmos. Their descent and creation of artificial bodies enabled them to enter this Physical Realm. Soon after, they became too close to mortals, choosing to protect them and interfering in their lives, which was considered an act of rebellion, a defiance of their creator's wishes." 

She paused, shaking her head slowly as if to dispel the heavy thoughts, "Their presence caused an imbalance, a disruption in the cosmic order. Mortals were not designed to bear the essence of the Aeonians. This act of rebellion led to an unspeakable consequence - their offspring sharing in their celestial nature, which drew the attention of the Aeonian Hunters. They did something worse: they somehow found a way to banish the Aeonians of old, whose essence was said to be intertwined with the divine cosmos itself. The absence of the Aeonians of old created an imbalance that was never meant to exist and couldn't exist." 

There was a certain bitterness in her tone as she concluded, "The Aeonian Hunters see themselves as enforcers of the cosmic order, hunting down the descendants to correct the imbalance. It's a bloody, brutal task, and they carry it out without mercy. That was long ago, and those who hunted us down are no more thanks to the military force backing the Rosewood House," her voice echoed with profound sadness, a testament to her personal experience with the ruthless Aeonian Hunters. 

"What else can you tell us about them?" I asked as her eyes flickered with a spark of fear and intrigue. It was clear she knew more about this mysterious group. 

"It is because of his death that I urge everyone to protect the ones they love and never take them for granted. It is also a reminder to always be aware of our surroundings, as even seemingly safe places can hide great danger. Love should never be taken lightly and should be respected and cherished at all times. For you never know, the thing you call love could cost you more than just your life. If you desire to protect it and pursue it, then you must be ready to protect it with your entire soul," Jemima of the Rosewood House said. 

"Word of advice: if you truly love Henry as much as you say you do, then do yourself a favor and permanently put some distance between the two of you and break that bond while you still can. Please heed my warning and spare yourself the same pain of losing the one you truly love. If you don't, you may have to live with the same regret, and it shall haunt you for the rest of your eternal existence," Jemima said. 

I didn't know how to react to the news she shared with us. I was shocked by her story about the loss of her lover and dearest friend, Jason, of the Brutus House. Losing someone like that must have left deep scars, the kind that don't easily heal. 

"What are you saying, Aunt Jemima? You, of all people, should understand how precious those feelings are, and even our bond with each other is sacred to me," Athena said, standing up from her chair and stomping her foot on the ground. 

"I understand more than you will ever come to know. Jason meant the world to me. I would have died before allowing those Aeonian Hunters to kill him, but I never stood a chance against them. I still want my revenge against them for all the pain they have caused me and my fellow Aeonians over the last thousand years, but that will accomplish nothing at this point in time. The Aeonian Hunters want to wipe out all traces of our kind from the face of the planet. They believe that our kind is an abomination and that the Aeonians of old will one day return to reclaim what was rightly theirs from us. I can't pretend to understand their warnings, but what I do understand is that they are trouble and should be avoided at all costs," Jemima stated clearly. 

"Please, you must understand. I can't walk away from Henry. I love him with my entire being. There's no way I could stay away from him, and who knows, you might be wrong. We could protect each other from this dangerous threat together as a team," Athena said. 

"That's enough. You are still too young to understand what I am saying to you at this time. Henry, I need you to leave us now. I wish to discuss this matter further in detail with my niece," Aunt Jemima said, with seriousness. 

Jemima's brother escorted me out the door and closed it behind them. I wandered around the house while they chatted with Athena about her newfound responsibility. I didn't like leaving her alone with her aunt and uncle, but what else could I do? Her aunt was right about one thing: she has a responsibility to protect those with whom she has formed an Aeonian Bond. If the threat of the Aeonian Hunters is as great as she claims, then my very life and the life of my Household could be in great danger. 

While I waited outside, I could hear Athena arguing with her aunt and uncle. She passionately defended our friendship, insisting that our bond was genuine and that her faith in us was justified. The conversation grew heated as they tried desperately to convince her of the dangers of pursuing this Aeonian Bond at such a young age. They weighed the risks and the responsibilities before making their decision. 

After what felt like an eternity, the door finally opened. Athena's aunt and uncle stepped out, their expressions a mix of concern and resolve. Aunt Jemima spoke first, her voice steady but kind. "We still disapprove of the two of you strengthening your Aeonian Bond," she began, "but we are willing to help you develop your Aeonian Talents for now." 

Athena's eyes met mine, a mixture of relief and determination shining through. "My aunt agreed to assist us," she explained, "but only because she wants to understand how our Aeonian Talents work. In exchange for her assistance, Uncle Jaden will be keeping a close eye on us during the Solstice of Solara to ensure our safety. If they decide that this connection we share is too dangerous, they have been given the full authority of the Rosewood House to end this friendship of ours."

I was taken aback by her words, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. "It won't come to that," I said, my voice firm. "The feelings we have for each other are too great. It won't come to that, believe me. The two of us are meant to be together forever—I know it to be true."