Anorah gazed at the sprawling city below with a wistful smile.
The people wandered around the bustling streets. Buildings arranged in orderly clusters filled her eyes. As the God of Asterra, she could feel and hear all that was happening.
A stall owner bellowing as a flock of children sward his store, giggling as they tried to bargain for sweets with coins that barely added up.
Across the avenue, a woman's shrill voice rang out as she yanked her child away from a puddle. She scolded him for playing when there were errands to finish.
To Anorah, this peace was more than enough.
Not all the people wore smiles, but nothing had ever been entirely perfect in this world.
'Except him.'
Anorah felt her smile widen.
Two weeks had passed since that anomaly of a boy achieved Logoth. In all honesty, Anorah knew the day was coming, but still hadn't been able to hide her shock when it did.
'It took years.' Her eyes glinted with thrill. Never had she seen anything like it. It took her years, yet her father had praised her genius. She was better than him, than anyone in their family, he had claid. Though Anorah believed the man exaggerated his praises, she knew he hadn't lied.
Years, this was the normal standard for achieving the state of Logoth.
'But he broke it.'
Only three months had passed since Atticus entered Asterra, and two weeks ago, he achieved what they spent years achieving. Anorah clenched her fists.
Sohow, all the doubts and guilt she felt for teaching soone outside their family the path were slowly vanishing. It had to be a sign from the universe.
But suddenly, her wide smile settled into a frown.
'He'll soon be done consolidating the path, then it'll be all over.'
The main reason Atticus remained in Asterra was because of Logoth. Now that it was over, did it an he'd be leaving?
Anorah felt her heart ache. She didn't like the sound of that.
'It was going to happen eventually. He can't stay here forever,' Anorah reminded herself. 'I lead the alliance. I have to keep my emotions under control.'
She had long since admitted to her infatuation with Atticus. Though they recently had an ideal clash, Anorah admired the fact that Atticus was his own person. He knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid of reaching for it.
She wasn't entirely sure how he felt, but their brief relationship was dood to end before it even began. They led different worlds, after all.
Anorah let out a breath. She was tired of having this thought constantly stuck in her mind.
'I need sothing to distract myself.'
She was about to turn when she felt a familiar presence approach her.
"One." Anorah said without turning back. "You ca at the right ti."
"Is everything alright, Saint?"
One stood just behind her. No response ca for a brief mont.
As she looked toward her most trusted aide, a flicker of sadness went through her eyes.
The ambush at the will less world had truly done a number on One. A Lightbearer losing their marked arm was like a machine losing its power source. Centuries of light gathered, of power, lost in a single night.
Anorah turned away. She couldn't hide the feeling of failure anyti she looked at him. She couldn't even protect her closest companion.
'Maybe he was right.' She found herself asking recently. Maybe the ti of peaceful talks and politics was gone. Maybe it was the ti for dominance and consequence.
"It's not your faul—"
"Everything's fine… One," Anorah cut through his words. "Though I do hope you haven't co empty handed. The view alone can only hold for so long."
One gave Anorah a sad stare. How she very much resembled her father. His expression snapped back to its usual cold mask the mont he rembered the significance of the current situation.
"The captured resistance mbers have been recovered."
Anorah's gaze snapped toward One. "Is this the truth?"
It was a useless question, aningless. One never joked, she knew this well. He was the type that could be considered even stricter than her.
But she needed confirmation. And as One nodded, Anorah found her mind spinning.
"How?"
"High Synod Mathias," One said. "He claid to have received sudden intel, and acted before it was too late."
Anorah frowned. That was… odd. She had given the task of rescuing their captured resistance to High Synod Kaino.
After what occurred weeks ago, where she had punished Kaino in front of other resistance mbers, Anorah had expected retaliation. She had even planned for it.
But this situation wasn't even included in the list of scenarios she had co up with.
"Where are they now?"
"On his world. They're asking for permission to enter Asterra."
Anorah nodded, and in the next mont the air around them distorted. They vanished, reappearing in the middle of the portal room.
Anorah swept her eyes around. The portal attendants were off their feet, staring at the portal with varying expressions.
'They're excited.'
Anorah could feel the excitent in the air. The major factions had always dominated the lesser factions. Though they had banded together to form the resistance, they weren't so stupid as to forget the power the major factions held. Many had feared the worst when they heard about the captured mbers. To think they'd be able to recover them…
The excitent was at its peak.
Anorah frowned. She could see so other mbers of the High Synod already in the room.
'This is dangerous.'
She didn't like this. A glance from One silenced her thoughts and brought her to reality.
"Arm the cannons." Her words snapped the operators from their reverie. They hesitated, wondering why they would need cannons to welco their people.
Anorah's frown deepened. A wave spread out from her, engulfing the entire room. The mont the operators felt the chill, their bodies moved on instinct.
In the next mont, the incalculable number of cannons surrounding the portal ignited up with an ominous glow.
Anorah nodded.
"Open the portal."
The operators listened and scrambled to fulfill her order. The portal burst out in a bright golden glow, and the room descended into silence as everyone observed with bated breath.
Anorah's eyes lost their focus for a mont as emotions surged through her. Then they snapped into place. Her eyes beca clear, emotionless.
She entered the state of Logoth.
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