Deep within the Cilician Marshes, in a hidden cavern.
Ana, stretching after her al, followed the secretive Samael into a concealed listone cave to discover another surprise.
On the ground, an intricate array of cuneiform runes ford a ritual circle. At its center lay a familiar item radiating a recognizable aura, making the purple-haired girl gasp in surprise and delight.
"This is Sister Ishtar's gemstone, and Sister Ereshkigal's lantern? Are you planning to summon them to Greece?"
Samael shrugged with a helpless, faintly regretful smile.
"It's not that easy. I'm only trying to construct a spirit particle communication array. That way, when I'm bored or feeling low, I can talk with them."
"Is it finished?"
"Not yet. Still experinting, but I've made so progress. Once it's complete, you'll be able to chat with them to pass the ti too."
"Mm-hmm!"
The little girl nodded hard. Though the surprise wasn't as grand as she had hoped, it was still exciting enough to look forward to.
That bright, expectant gaze made Samael feel that more than ten years of effort and waiting had all been worth it.
Of course, linking two World Eggs through the Sea of Imaginary Numbers for spirit particle communication was no simple task. Even in the future, Chaldea required a vast gathering of magi to gradually perfect cross-space spirit communication.
Samael's talent in Magecraft was limited. His courage to attempt such a complex project ca mostly thanks to the aid of the Mother Goddess Tiamat. The Life Ark currently floating in the Sea of Imaginary Numbers possessed data anchor points in both Greece and sopotamia.
Because of this, the Mother Goddess could serve as a signal tower, relaying and translating ssages between both sides.
Even so, Samael had gone through countless attempts and failures, spending more than a decade before finding any real breakthrough.
If all went well, it wouldn't be long before he and Ana could re-establish contact with those old friends.
At that thought, the two—one tall, one small—exchanged smiles, eyes full of hope.
Compared to spirit particle communication, the feast outside, which only stirred mories and pleased the tongue, was nothing more than an appetizer.
...
"Samael, if my guess is right, Tina is Mother, isn't she?"
Sitting cross-legged on a chair, Ana asked with warmth and nostalgia in her eyes.
Though they hadn't spent much ti together, Tiamat had left a profound and unforgettable impression on her. Ana was glad to acknowledge another Mother who had sacrificed herself for her children.
By blood, Echidna was her true mother. But this Serpent Mother still raised her children in the way of monsters and gods. Once her offspring reached adulthood, she would usually drive them out to protect her authority and territory, leaving them to survive on their own.
Natural selection—forcing children to fend for themselves—was the norm for divine bloodlines.
That was why Typhon's offspring had spread across Greece, becoming little more than tools for heroes to make their nas.
Even the Gorgon sisters, bearers of the purest and most significant bloodline, had not received any special affection from their mother.
For that reason, Ana, who carried more of Uruk's mories, seed to feel a deeper bond with Tina.
"Yes. The Mother Goddess was able to return in another form thanks to you," Samael said with a nod.
"But her divinity is too weak now to suppress her beastly nature, so her reason cannot be fully awakened."
"And in your plan… what should I do next?"
Ana's expression grew solemn as she asked. She knew how deeply Samael longed to awaken Tiamat's divine wisdom. Just as the ancient serpent and Tina had once favored her, the little girl was just as willing to help this [Mother] return.
Samael set both hands on her slender shoulders, his tone serious.
"Drink more milk, sleep early, eat more, grow taller, develop faster!"
"Don't treat like a child! I'm being serious!"
Hearing such an unreliable joke, Ana's face, which had just carried a sense of sacred resolve, instantly fell. She bared her little fangs in frustration.
"I'm serious too…"
Samael kept a straight face as he replied, though his sidelong glance at the girl's flat chest carried a hint of regret. She would look much better after reaching adulthood. One way or another, milk was essential.
"Tease again and I'll bite you! You jerk!"
Noticing that lingering look, Ana's face turned crimson, her cheeks hot enough to bleed. Her pearly teeth ground against each other in agitation.
"Alright, alright. Seriously now—take care of yourself first. Once you reach adulthood safely, I'll help you reclaim everything that's yours."
Seeing her about to snap, Samael raised a hand in surrender. Yet even with his explanation, Ana still looked confused.
Smack!
Samael flicked her forehead, his gaze sharp but softened with a smile.
"If you don't want to end up like before, you must grow strong enough to stand against the gods' persecution."
"For Tina to regain her wisdom quickly, the best way is to seize the divine authority of Greece, letting the entire world nourish her divinity."
"That ans our future enemies will be the gods of Olympus."
"Helping you is the sa as helping Tina."
"Why sacrifice yourself when we can achieve both?"
Rolling his eyes, the ancient serpent ruffled her hair gently. The little girl blinked, then clenched her fists before her chest and nodded hard.
"Yes! I'll grow strong as quickly as I can and be ready to help!"
Seeing Ana, who had a slight tendency toward self-destruction, finally shake off her fixation, Samael smiled in relief before speaking again.
"Also, you'd best reconcile with Athena. Build a good relationship with her."
At the ntion of that na again, Ana's face hardened, filled with resistance.
"Reconcile? Why should I! I wasn't wrong!"
"I don't like her! Not at all!"
As her suppressed resentnt flared, red-black mist seeped from her body, her expression dark and brooding.
"Ana, what you saw was only one possible future," Samael said gently.
"Right now, everything is different. None of those tragedies have happened yet. I hope you can forgive her..."
He reached out to stroke her head.
Smack!
Ana slapped his hand away and suddenly leaned forward, her face inches from his. Her blood-red eyes glared with cold madness.
"Forgive her? What if I refuse?"
Seeing the madness spilling from her gaze, Samael inhaled sharply, his heart tightening.
Gorgon! The hatred of that goddess of beasts had not disappeared.
The ancient serpent sighed.
"If you reject this path, then one day the two of you will inevitably clash. I don't want to see that worst-case future."
Her small face, twisted with resentnt and frenzy, seed to rge with Gorgon's features. A cold smile curled her lips.
She lifted Samael's chin with a finger, her motion carrying a mature, mocking cruelty. Her voice dripped with the stench of blood.
"Hmph. You don't want that outco?"
"If I insist on revenge, what will you do? Kill for your foster daughter's sake?"
Samael's expression stayed calm, his eyes shadowed as he replied slowly.
"I will… help you do it."
The words froze the cavern.
Ana, still influenced by Gorgon's lingering consciousness, could only stare in shock.
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