Chapter 422 - Go

"Ali… father is sorry…" 

Perun's voice echoed his suffering and Alinea quickly shook her head as if to tell him he didn't need to apologize. 

"It's not your fault father. Please don't say sorry," she said as she placed a kiss at the back of his hand before placing it again against her cheek. 

Tears fell freely from her eyes as she was speaking. Time was precious for them. There was no need for apologies. "Your brother just wants you to be free."

Perun's eyes clouded momentarily before letting out an exhausted sigh. "I know. I know that now… Still, my little one, you got hurt a lot because of me— and you will hurt more."

Alinea swallowed hard. It was true. Because after talking to him like this, there was still one last task she had to do in order to set the cycle in motion: Return the key to lock away the Harbinger of Catastrophe. In short, her mother would have to die by her hands again. 

Yes, again. 

Shitara, the real harbinger of catastrophe was bound to die when the key was taken out and when it was returned. How? The first time was when she gave birth to Alencica. Part of the dark energy from her was the lock that attached itself onto Alencica when she was born. It was why Shitara died after childbirth. Her seal was released.

To hide Shitara's deity status, her divine powers were locked. She was nothing more than a human and was given to human parents who never told anyone they had adopted Shitara. It was why all these years they all thought she was nothing but a vessel for the Black God's spawn. Of course, the seal would be unlocked when she gave birth. This was why Czernobog had allowed Fanya to taunt the couple, to let them know of the "curse" which Perun's ex-wife believed to be true. 

The Black God had fooled Fanya, his most important chess piece in order to fool all. 

Also in order to awaken as the harbinger of catastrophe and for Perun to be misled, she was set to die after her seal was released. When she was born again as Maki Yuuka, her power remained inactive until certain conditions applied. 

Fanya was a wild card who hated Shitara a lot. She would do anything to eliminate her. As Czernobog had predicted, Perun would take note of her threat and take her with him back to Ged. As expected as well, the Black God had successfully made everyone believe that the lock was the Harbinger of Catastophe. By sending Alinea into Czernobog's lair, he was able to sense where the key was and who she was with. He was able to activate Shitara's long dormant powers. 

She now could understand why that dark energy that was supposed to be a part of her power didn't come to her when she was training. The miasma within her remained distant and locked up. It was because it was never meant for her use in the first place. It was the lock, the lock she would have to pass on to her mother so she could reincarnate again. 

Alinea smiled but more tears fell. "It's alright," she told him. "It'll be alright soon father. All the pain, all the years lost don't matter anymore. Just promise me to live as you want and be happy with mother in the next life."

Her words came out as a breathy prayer. Perun stared at her, unashamed to show his love reflect in those amethyst pools of his. The hand she held in hers tightened on hers. 

"I'm sorry. I guess father will have to make you wait this time," he apologized but this time, with a semblance of a smile. 

Alinea smiled back at him as she rubbed her cheeks on his hand again. "It's fine. What's fifty or a hundred years of waiting?"

Compared to how long her father had waited for her, this number of years was nothing. In fact, in spite of everything, she looked forward to watching over her parents this time around. 

"That's right. It's not long," he agreed and she nodded. 

"Right. You and mother will just go on a short vacation. When we see each other next time, prepare to be grandparents," she told him with a laugh but more tears spilled from her eyes and she threw herself at him for an embrace again. 

"Father, thank you so much for everything. I will miss you so much. So make sure to live in your mortal journey to the fullest to make all my waiting worth it, okay?" Alinea sobbed as she tightened her hug. 

"I will,"Perun promised. "Even if I'll be gone for a little while, do not forget that I love you. Even if your mother turned out to be like that, know that she truly looked forward to bringing you out into the world. You are our treasure. Nothing will ever change that."

She nodded as she clung to him, dreading to let go, but she knew it was inevitable that they'd part— at least for now. 

"Little one, there's little time. Could you call your uncle?" he requested, but before Ali even moved, Gin had already come. 

"Brother?" Gin called as he came and crouched next to Alinea. 

Perun turned his eyes from his daughter to his brother. "You already know why I called you, don't you?"

Gin studied his brother's pale countenance and sighed as he nodded. Alinea too looked at her uncle then at her father. She also already had an idea why he was summoned. 

"Ryuu and I will help uncle. You do not have to worry about the Celestial Plane in your absence, father,"Alinea said and Perun too did a small nod. 

The King of Heaven then lifted his hand and pointed his finger towards Gin. Light appeared at the tip and glowed as if amassing energy there before it shot towards Gin's forehead and embedded itself within him. 

Gin shivered. Perun had just transferred his energy towards him for safekeeping but it felt as if it was allowing him to use it while it stayed with him temporarily. "Brother…"

"You will need it in case of emergency. Use it wisely or you'll have an earful when I return,"Perun scolded his brother teasingly, making him pout. "Be well. Treat Emi with care."

"I will," Gin promised, his nose turning red as suspicious moisture filled his golden eyes.

Perun then turned his attention back to his daughter. "Ali," he called softly and Alinea breathed in sharply. She understood his silent plea. 

It was time. 

Alinea smiled as she stood up. "I will go and get mother now," she said softly and Perun squeezed her hand one last time before smiling weakly at her. 

"Go…"