strange

Lucius POV

Seven days had passed since Athena fell unconscious, her future soul bound to her past body. The process was delicate and draining, and even though she remained still, the news of her awakening had spread like wildfire. From the depths of Dei Krishna to the Northern Human Empire, rumors circulated that Athena was returning.

The council room buzzed with tension. Every duke, noble, and general of Decresh was present, their faces grim. Even the king, seated at the head of the table, watched silently. The weight of the kingdom's unrest hung heavy in the air.

"We need Athena now," Duke Albrecht began, his voice sharp. "Reports confirm the spirit of pride infiltrated our walls, using the arrogance of our own people to remain undetected. This palace, filled with prestige and power, was the perfect host."

I nodded slightly. He wasn't wrong. Pride had provided a foothold for the spirit to thrive, but the insinuation stung.

Albrecht continued, "If that spirit could enter, what's stopping others? Our families are in danger. The streets of Decresh are no longer safe. The people are afraid—and they look to us for answers."

I took a deep breath, keeping my tone measured. "Athena is not ready. She's still recovering. Pulling her future self into this timeline took a tremendous toll on her body. When she wakes, she'll need time and training to adjust. Rushing her could do more harm than good."

Count Evander rose from his seat, his frustration barely contained. "We don't have time for training, Lucius! Our children's lives are at risk. Every moment we delay puts us all in greater danger!"

I slammed my hand on the table, silencing the room. "The spirit of pride was an anomaly. No other spirits will breach our defenses. The King of Aston warned me about a rogue spirit escaping his lands before our wards were strengthened. That was the spirit we destroyed. The kingdom is secure."

"And what if you're wrong?" Evander pressed.

"I'm not," I replied coldly. "No other spirit will enter Decresh."

Despite my assurances, murmurs of doubt spread across the chamber. Their fear wasn't entirely unfounded, but I wouldn't let it spiral into chaos.

"Enough," I said firmly. "Council dismissed."

The nobles hesitated, their discontent clear, but one by one, they left the room. Only my generals remained. Gideon, ever the boldest, broke the silence.

"You know we can't hasten Athena's recovery," he said evenly, his sharp gaze meeting mine.

I nodded. "If we can't rely on Athena yet, perhaps Prophetess Kim can help. Her recovery may prove just as crucial."

Without another word, I strode out of the council chamber, Kael, Asher, and Gideon falling into step behind me. Michael and Ryder remained behind, attending to other duties.

We made our way to the healing bay where Prophetess Kim was being treated. As I entered, I saw her sitting upright, her complexion much improved since the last time I'd seen her. Relief washed over me. The gamble I had taken to bring someone as powerful as her to Decresh was paying off.

"Prophetess," I greeted, my voice softer now.

"Your Majesty," she replied, inclining her head. "You look troubled."

"The council grows restless," I admitted. "They demand Athena's return, but she's not ready. I was hoping you might help in the meantime."

Kim's gaze grew thoughtful. "The spirit of pride left a mark on this kingdom. It will take more than Athena's awakening to erase it. I can offer guidance, but the people need more than words. They need to see action."

I nodded. "Athena will wake soon, and when she does, we'll begin her training immediately. But until then, we'll rely on your strength."

Kim smiled faintly. "I'll do what I can, Your highness."

Her words lingered in my mind, echoing faintly before my thoughts drifted back to their original source. I was using every ounce of self-control not to rush to her side and stay there until she woke up. But that was something Ariel should do, and, to my frustration, she seemed to be handling this situation far better than I was.

Kiara's POV

The darkness that had surrounded me for what felt like an eternity began to fade. Slowly, golden light pierced through the void, warm and familiar. It wasn't harsh, yet it struck my senses like a forceful memory, pulling me out of the abyss.

I opened my eyes, disoriented but oddly comforted by the faintly nostalgic scent in the air. Reality settled in—a reminder that I was still in this strange timeline, a place both foreign and familiar.

And then, the memories came. They surged through me, unrelenting, like waves crashing on a fragile shore. Athena. The sword. Two timelines intertwined, their weight pulling at the edges of my mind. The sensation of holding the sword—of unsheathing it—washed over me, a jumble of emotions. Happiness, sadness, surprise. Yet, as overwhelming as it should have been, my body felt… expectant, as though it had been bracing for this moment.

Was it because this body, though mine, was also hers? My soul, tethered between two selves, struggled to comprehend the flood of sensations.

I sat up slowly, my hands gripping the bed's edge for stability. Then came a sharp, stabbing pain in my head, so intense that I doubled over. A vivid image burned into my consciousness—a memory, not mine, yet painfully clear.

"Your Highness, you're pregnant," a voice said, reverent and cautious.

Athena's face appeared, radiant and smiling, but there was a hesitation in her eyes. "Should we tell His Majesty?"

"No," she replied, her voice firm yet soft. "I'll tell him myself."

The memory faded as quickly as it came, leaving me gasping for air. My knees nearly gave out, but I caught myself on the nearby stand, trembling. What was happening? Why were these memories flooding back?

And then it hit me. The memories—the energy—were tied to who I truly was. Athena. I was Athena, the Goddess blessed with the ability to command Gayanic energy. With every memory returning, more of that power surged within me, filling the void that had once been weakness.

But just as the thought gave me a fleeting sense of clarity, the door creaked open. A small figure stepped into the room, her voice soft but piercing.

"Mom," Arios called out, her presence snapping me back to the present.

The word struck me like a blow to the chest. Another memory clawed its way to the surface, brutal and unrelenting.

Blood. So much blood. Athena's body was drenched in it, her expression wild and unrecognizable. Her trembling hands cradled a newborn baby. Her daughter.

And then, a scene so horrific it stole the breath from my lungs. Athena, still covered in blood, turned her gaze to the maid who had helped deliver the child. Her eyes were cold, almost feral. She grabbed a sword—her sword—and plunged it into the maid's chest without hesitation.

Why? Why would she do this? Athena, the benevolent Goddess, revered for her kindness and strength. Why would she commit such a monstrous act?

The memory faded, leaving me cold and trembling. My breathing quickened as I tried to reconcile what I'd seen with the woman I was supposed to be.

I stared at Arios, her presence grounding me even as the chaos in my mind threatened to pull me under. "What's happening to me?" I whispered, more to myself than to her.

She tilted her head, concern flickering in her young eyes. "Mom, are you okay?"

I wanted to answer her, But what would i say?

Nothing was fine.

---