Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 974: As The Pieces Fall

As the pieces fell, Athenia was back inside her prison, and her mortal body remained in the city of Aurum. She’d reunited mothers with their children, even helped free the faeries, but unlike everyone else, her job wasn’t yet done. Trying to part the veil that had turned into a raging storm–thanks to the countless versions of Nerva flooding it–proved more than a little difficult.

Knowing exactly what was going on, they’d taken hold of the needle-fine space. Keeping it packed and with not so much as a finger’s gap between them.

’They’ll have to give up sometime...’ Athenia thought, hoping that they would give way for her to pass. But it was clear that only after the demon lord had been defeated would there even be a chance that the veil would be freed. ’I can’t talk to my other version. Tsk...I hope she’s fine. This whole thing wouldn’t have been possible without her.’

"Worried about the other?" It had been a while since Casseopiea had appeared in Athenia’s prison. The fae was resting on her shoulder after delivering news from Elenaria. "She’s your perfect version, isn’t she? I’m pretty sure if you survived, she can too."

"I suppose we would never know until Nerva’s gone at least."

"Speaking of Nerva..." Looking up at the dark ceiling, Casseopiea’s expression turned grim. "Elenaris is coming up with reports of horrors running rampant at night around dark corners. Other cities are experiencing the same thing. Is Athenia–your kingdom–the same way?"

Resting her head on the back of her hand, Athenia leaned to the side and turned her head away, blinking.

"We did poke the hornet’s nest. I wouldn’t be surprised if some demon general showed up at Aurum or another place while the heroes were gone. Monsters have already grown fiercer, breeding with kidnapped humans to accelerate their growth. Mating season shouldn’t be so close to winter, in those parts, and yet..."

"Hmm?" The fae tilted her head and tried studying the goddess’s expression. A hint of regret was as clear as day, but there was also doubt. "You’re regretting the rescue mission?"

Waving her hand dismissively, Athenia crossed her legs and finally looked at the fairy.

"No, but I have to ask myself. What makes the hero’s children and those of his companions more worthy of rescue than those still suffering?" The looking mirror appeared in her hand, and glancing at its surface, Athenia revealed a den of monstrous decadence. "Killing the children of the tribe and using the women as meals and breeding stock. The men already suffered. And yet I can’t help them."

Placing her hands over Athenia, Casseopiea narrowed her eyebrows and stared at her face.

"Every beast needs to hunt; monsters are part of Atlaris, and this is the natural course of this world, Mistress Athenia."

"I...I know," waving her hand, the goddess made the glass disappear. "But recording their names in my ledger as my father once did really makes me wonder if I’ve failed them somehow? Death is never easy, but suffering up to the point of death is where my heart wavers."

Loud rhythmic clapping cut through their private conversation. Glancing further up ahead, Athenia instantly noticed Nerva walking towards her with a twisted expression.

"I was wondering what took you so long?" She asked, squinting.

"Had to clean up the mess you made in my home," stopping near the radiant throne, the corrupt goddess glanced at the fairy. "Get out of here before I rip your feathers. Not exactly too fond of fairies these days."

Casseopiea’s body was as stiff as a board the moment she’d noticed Nerva, and even as she was sent away by Athenia’s magic, the fairy didn’t realize that a moment had passed–not that it would matter to her any longer.

"Here to kill me at last?" Athenia asked.

Scoffing at the suggestion, Nerva wiped the grimace off her face.

"My son needs his soldiers, and those soldiers need your guidance for what’s to come. I would gladly accept their faith if they would offer it to me, but until then I’ll allow you to play pretend as if you are their mother."

"Speaking of mothers," leaning back into her throne now that there wasn’t going to be a direct fight, Athenia took a deep breath and sighed. "Why did you think I would take advice about being a mother from someone who was going to be born from their own daughter’s womb? I can’t imagine having Aphrodite, that slut, as both your mom and your daughter. What kind of deranged otherworldly dumbing virus did you get infected with exactly?"

"Trying to ruffle my feathers, huh?" Shaking her head with a smirk, Nerva conjured her own looking mirror. "Let’s see how long that humor lasts when your people are slaughtered left and right. The only reason you and those around my son are still alive after what you did is because of what you must do, so don’t push your luck because as soon as he accepts his destiny–this world shall end and so will you."

Clicking her heels, Nerva quickly turned around and waved at Athenia with the back of her hand. She was fuming with rage internally, but with all pieces of her plans set into motion, the only thing she could do until the very end was wait. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t make everyone’s life hell–especially those around Raven who’d dared to go against her.

’Athenia, I wonder if I should play with her kingdom a little?’ With a smirk on her face, she disappeared into the darkness. Leaving Athenia with a trapped sense of unease, as there was no way Nerva was going to do nothing to them after what they’d just pulled off.

"Infinite library, search for anything that can help us prepare," She whispered, conjuring a clone of herself.

Nodding its head, the clone walked away in the direction of the library. Yet the sensation of unease within Athenia’s chest remained just as tight with no signs of letting go. Thus, setting her eyes on the countless cities burning and being pillaged, she decided to get back into her body and, since the war had already begun, bring down some godly justice in the flesh.

’Who knew Helga’s mistake in starting the war would work out in the end?’ While she was thinking of setting off on her own, however, the group in Aurum with her had a lot to unpack yet. And all of it began the moment the heroes and their companions finally came back to their senses from a long and restless nightmare.