Chapter 78: The Goddess Of Light And Darkness

When my eyes flew open again, I was in a space I didn't recognize—one where a familiar figure stood before me. I was sitting on what appeared to be a wooden stump while our scenery was a dead forest.

A soft sigh left my lips as I rolled my eyes, "What do you want now?"

"Oh, come now, don't frown upon seeing your goddess. You should revere me!" Serena smirked before shrugging. "You know, I was rooting for you. I really was, but it seems your game has finally ended."

"What?" I mumbled, narrowing my eyes at her.

Her golden locks flowed behind her when she moved towards me. She grabbed me by my chin and forced me to glance at her directly at her emotionless eyes.

"You think that demon loves you. Is that what love is?" She asked.

"Leave Finn out of your mouth!" I growled.

She winced, pulling away from me.

"Stupid girl, look at what that monster did. You're a walking oven for an abomination that should've never existed in the first place. Shame, you should've destroyed that crystal and lived as a hero to humanity." She placed her hands on her hips

This bitch is just leading me on!

"Fuck you! Humans aren't my people!" I snapped, standing up from my chair.

Serena's words flared me up inside more than anything else, yet the following words she said left me cold to my core.

"We'll probably have to seal it away with all the others." She announced, prompting my eyes to fly open.

I felt my heart stop as I took a step back from her.

"What?" I gasped.

Instinctively, I grabbed onto my lower abdomen, wanting to protect him from her.

"That thing in your womb is too much of a liability to let live. Don't worry, it won't die. Just be in suspended animation with those who aren't made for this realm anymore. At least that is what Xavier will do if…" She trailed off, shifting her eyes towards the side.

All the others… Do you mean the other gods that are missing?

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" I growled, taking another step back from her.

Sadly, there was nowhere to run as we were in her space, not mine.

"Ah, right, I forget you mortals know nothing about the collapse of the celestials. Xavier made sure to erase it from history." Serena shrugged, "Well, it doesn't matter. You probably won't live past tomorrow."

"Why are you making it sound like it will be a one-sided victory?!" I huffed

"Xavier gave a boost to your sister's magic. So, the humans are going to come for you and the crystal. They didn't like learning that you're holding a monster in your womb." She paused as I shook my head.

"No, he hasn't even been born yet!"

"You think they care? Humans kill for far less than simply existing. The threat he poses is too much to ignore." She scoffed, glancing towards the side.

Ah… it all makes sense now. It wasn't Vorex's loud mouth but divine intervention.

"So… they learned about my baby because of your husband?" I asked, feeling waves of heat flow through me.

The goddess gazed at me before smirking, "Yes, my dear husband grew bored of the stalemate. He usually has a short temper. If only he didn't interfere, perhaps you would've had a shot at your goal. No, though, it's but a dream for all of you to come out alive."

These fucking gods only know how to make more mayhem!

"Does Finn know they're coming?" I asked, trying to control my anger.

A soft giggle came from her, triggering a hallowing feeling to grow in my chest,

"Yes, he does. It's probably why he held you so savagely today. One last taste of his beloved saint before the war that could end everything starts. He doesn't know about your sister's increased power; no one but you." She informed, sitting on a stump she summoned.

Why didn't you trust me with the truth?! Finn?! Why?! I would've…

My heart felt heavier than before as the emotional storm collided with me. I didn't know how to think about anything anymore, and Serena quickly broke me off that self-pity party.

"I thought that boy lost his smile, but you returned it. You made these demons recover part of their humanity, which is much more than I thought you would be capable of. They actually care for you. They will die for you, their beloved Saint. Will you die for them as well?" She pointed out, making me glance back at her.

A defined smirk was fully planted on her lips as her eyes glistened, watching me intently.

"What? Of course, I—" I wouldn't finish as she cackled.

"It isn't your life anymore, which will end. Will you also take him with you?" She pointed at my abdomen, prompting me to flinch.

"I… I…" I trailed off, biting my lip.

Can I… No… I… There isn't any way I…

Rolling her eyes, Serena shrugged. "Hey, do you know how many of them will die tomorrow? All because you failed to find a way to save them."

In an instant, I broke from those emotions threatening to consume me.

"No! They can't! I won't allow it!" I snapped, grabbing onto my chest.

"Hah?! You're powerless! The miasma is still there; even without it, the humans would come for you. All because of what you hold in your womb, and it has nothing to do with the father of your baby." She declared, standing from her chair before stepping towards me.

"What?" I mumbled, feeling my body run cold.

"You're the first saint ever to get successfully pregnant. You're unique in more ways than you realize. Is it because of your duality?" She hummed, stunning me right where I stood.

The first saint?!

"What?!" I gasped.

Soren's family line was considered decent from other world wanderers, as were all the royals, yet if what she said was true...

"So many men tried to get one of their saints to give birth, but none ever carried to term. Heck, most of them lost the baby within the first weeks. It didn't matter what element they came from, either. So, proud men do what they do best and lie about the origin of their offspring." She shrugged, tapping her hands on her white dress.

A soft sigh left her lips, "It's been three months since you became a soon-to-be mother. Perhaps it has to do with Finn's family line. They are one of the few blessed by the old gods. Soren's line is the only other still alive."

This goddess was being rather talkative for a reason, which made me…

"Why are you telling me this?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes at her.

"I don't know. Maybe because I actually like you. You had a chance if my husband didn't break our pact. He never likes it when I win." She closed her eyes.

"But you said your kind aren't allowed to interfere. How did he do it when you can't?" I queried.

"It was more of a promise that we made to not interfere with mortals after sealing away the celestial plains. It was our only chance to save this world, but perhaps it only delayed the end." She answered, glancing back at me.

"Delayed the end," I mumbled.

Do you mean this world was going to be destroyed long ago?

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. All that does is you will fail, and the same end will come." She danced around the subject.

"No, I'm going to survive this, and so will my family." I declared, scowling at her.

You gods have had your fun. It needs to end now!

"Oh, are you?" She challenged, facing me.

The fact she was taller wasn't going to make me cower.

"Yes, we all are!" I didn't back down.

"Are you dumb? Even if you lift the haze, the humans won't stop until the demon race is destroyed." She waved her hand to dismiss the idea.

"I'll make them stop! My home won't be their playground!" I snapped at her thought.

"And what about the demons that want to destroy the humans?" She huffed, knowing the war wouldn't end when one side backed down.

"They'll be kept in line as their queen! They'll hear me and obey!" I answered, stepping towards her.

The pressure of being a king in ruined lands. This went past your trauma. Finn.

When the dust settled, he would need someone strong by his side who wouldn't run away from what needed to be done. Even if it meant cruelty at times, for every malevolent act, there would have to be a benevolent one.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Serena questioned my resolve.

Closing my eyes, I braced myself for what was to come. I knew a different type of war was at my doorstep after everything had settled. It didn't change that I still lacked the knowledge to do what needed to be done to save us.

Yet I have all the tools right in my hands. That's what this goddess has been trying to tell me this entire time. Ah… damn it, I can't let my doubts drown me.

It reminded me of a night Finn was trying to explain how magic was for him. In this world, it was an instinct that usually came as a second thought to the residents, yet for me, it was a concept I struggled to come to terms with.

But now…

My eyes shifted toward my slightly swollen belly as I trailed my fingertips. My heart dropped as I shook my head.

I'm sorry… If you're the key, then perhaps… I might have to… No… I will… God… I'm a terrible mother.

"By any means necessary!" I declared, feeling a surge of magic within me as more of my hair was going silver-white.

What I had to do would change me in ways I couldn't expect, yet it was a shift I would have to embrace to save those I loved. The fear had to vanish even though it was easier said than done.

"You resemble them more than your kin." She smirked.

"I am one of them. They're my family, and I won't hesitate to trample over a god for them!" I warned, locking my eyes on the goddess whose defined smile wouldn't disappear.

Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head, "Oh? Is that a threat or a promise?"

Those eyes of hers were giving off a bright hue.

"A promise. There's nothing more dangerous than a mother bear wanting to protect her family." I declared, grabbing hold of my lower abdomen.

Instead of anger in her expression, her smile grew even sharper as the heavy fog in her eyes lifted.

"Oh! I never tire of you! Show me what you're made of Sylvia, the saint that'll change the course of fates! Destruction or salvation, which will you give the people you love!" She clapped her hands, sending me falling back into my reality.

"Hey, I'm rooting for you, little saint. I hope your bright light won't dim in the next few hours of your life. You… just might be able to…" Serena tailed off as the darkness lifted, allowing me to flutter my eyes open.

I'll shine brighter than the stars if it is to save them!