Shimmer was already knee-deep in it long before anyone thought to check on her. She was standing at the fractured edge of Luke's broad head where the meadow thinned into nothingness.
Her sapphire zweihander was resting against her shoulder like it weighed absolutely nothing, which was funny considering it could flatten a building if she felt like swinging properly. The Voidborn kept coming and unlike Runner, Shimmer couldn't erase them permanently. She did not possess Soul Energy so every fight for her was a test of patience rather than lethality.
Her swings were heavy. The sound that followed was a strong vibration that slammed them. The front line of Voidborn buckled as their physical forms destabilized. They didn't die but the distortion was severe enough that reforming would take them much longer than usual. Shimmer exhaled slowly, spun the zweihander once, and brought it down in a vertical arc.
Shockwaves rippled outward in a vertical manner. The Voidborn caught between it began vibrating out of sync with themselves. Their bone-shaped protrusions shattered and their torsos caved inward. It wasn't Soul Energy but it might as well have been torture.
That was when Asenane appeared beside her. Her shoes touched down lightly despite the fact that she was a dragon and could have destroyed the ground if she wanted to. She watched for a moment with the halberd resting against her shoulder. Her eyes kept tracking Shimmer's movements
"You're slowing their reformation. Your Sound Divinity is really interfering with their cohesion."
Shimmer didn't look at her. She adjusted her grip, swung the blade once and sent a narrow, high-frequency frequency of sound straight through a Voidborn's chest, causing it to implode inward like it had been caused from the inside.
"Yeah. Its not that hard destroying them."
"Do you need help?"
"I really don't."
Casually, like she was commenting on the weather as she killed them, Shimmer spoke again.
"Are you going to tell Dad about Dimensium?"
Asenane froze.
A sonic scream tore out of Shimmer's throat that warped the Voidborn's half-formed bodies so badly they collapsed into fog before they could fully manifest. When the sound faded, she finally turned and looked at Asenane.
"I remember Dimensium. I was inside you sure, but that doesn't mean I was unaware. I remember the fear, the rules and the way everything felt like it was watching us."
"You… shouldn't be able to remember that."
Shimmer shrugged, resting the zweihander tip against the ground.
"Yeah well, turns out being born weird has perks. I remember a lot of things I probably shouldn't when you were pregnant with me. You're stuck in the past, Mom. And it's not helping anyone. Especially not Dad. He used Memory Implantation on us. Runner and I know about his past life on Earth. Well, not all of it. Which is why it's kind of unfair that he doesn't know all of you."
Asenane's grip on her halberd tightened. "I will tell him soon."
"You said that when we met four years ago when we were going on a world tour."
Asenane sat down on the meadow—Luke's head, technically—resting her elbows on her knees.
"Sit."
Shimmer complied, plopping down beside her. Her sword dissolved into light for now.
"I'm sorry for abandoning you. When I died and built the Obsidian Runic Spire, you weren't in my thoughts. I was obsessed with revenge. I wasn't thinking like a mother."
Shimmer didn't interrupt.
"When the Amorphous Souls found you, they put you into a deep sleep. They saved you. And when I learned you were alive, I tried everything to return and even then, when I finally did, I wasn't good at being your mother."
Shimmer leaned back on her hands, staring up at the void-warped sky.
"Yeah. I noticed."
Asenane flinched.
"But," Shimmer added, glancing sideways at her, "you're here now. That counts for something. You just need to stop pretending the past didn't happen."
"You're right. And yes… I'm still being hunted. The Krepsunas Phantasms don't forgive betrayal."
"Good thing you're not a Krepsuna anymore."
"I'm a Frost Dragon."
"That's the spirit. I'm a Sound Dragon and honestly, being a Sentient Krepsuna sucked. No offense, I like being a Richinaria. I got stronger and I've got amazing aunts. Uncle Leon is terrifying but in a fun way. And yeah, I have five mothers but let's be real, three of them are basically Dad-focused maniacs."
Asenane snorted. "And you don't mind?"
Shimmer shrugged. "Not really. You and Aunt Phae actually see us as daughters. That's enough."
"Why do you call Phaenora 'Aunt Phae' anyway?"
"Because that's what she told us to call her. She doesn't like being called Mom. Not sure why. Maybe she's scared of it. Maybe she just doesn't want the responsibility label. But, she shows up. That's what matters."
The void screamed again in the distance, signaling the next wave. Shimmer stood, summoning her zweihander back into her hands.
"So yeah. Tell Dad the truth. He deserves it. And you deserve not carrying it alone. For a four millennia plus old woman, you're really scared."
Asenane rose as well. "I will."
"Good. Now let's go break some immortal idiots who think screaming makes them scary."
The sonic boom and shockwaves got stronger as she swung.
°°°°°°°
The log cabin sat exactly where it always did. Vastarael was stretched out on the porch looking absurdly relaxed for someone whose daughters were fighting immortal void entities. Between his fingers bloomed peonies as his Soul Energy wove them into being. They released a gentle, pleasant scent. Asenane landed quietly beside the porch as she stepped up and sat next to him.
He didn't open his eyes.
"So, how did the conversation with Shimmer go?"
She glanced at him sideways. "You heard it?"
"You flew here from the direction of the battlefield. Also, you look emotionally resolved but slightly guilty. That only happens after deep conversations with our children."
She snorted and leaned back on her hands.
"They've grown. A while ago they were just kids. Now they're adults. And not the reckless kind either. They're mature."
Vastarael finally opened his eyes, watching the peonies drift lazily into a neat cluster beside the porch.
"Naturally. I raised them."
Asenane didn't argue. She didn't even pretend to.
"That's the annoying part. You're right. The reason Shimmer and Runner are like that's all because of you."
"I've been a father for more than six years now. I raised them the same way I raised the orphans back in my past life. No 'strength through suffering' nonsense like my parents did. I taught them how to live first. Combat came later."
There was pride in his voice as he said that.
"I'm glad of my achievements. Still, I'm going to be sad when they leave."
Asenane stayed silent, letting him speak.
"It will happen sooner or later. They'll want freedom. I prepared for it. I knew it was coming. Doesn't make it hurt less though."
She reached out and rested her hand over his. He added quickly, squeezing her fingers.
"There's nothing to worry about, They'll still call. Phae's system makes communication stupidly easy. Video calls, messages, real-time updates, I won't be cut out of their lives. Also, I'm getting married in a few days."
"That was abrupt."
"Back on Earth, I'd be the groom. Here? I'm the bride."
She laughed softly. "You're already married to Adelasta. Why do you say it like it was forced?"
"Because it was. Didn't you know?"
"Uh..."
"She literally forced me. I couldn't refuse. Betrothal laws are terrifying. But, I don't regret it. Not even a little. We got married through a secret method anyway. It's official and I still need to dress for the occasion. Problem is, I don't have a proper outfit for a bride."
"I do."
He turned his head toward her immediately. "How?"
She leaned closer. Her voice dropped conspiratorially.
"Secret."
"You planned this."
"I had the proposal in mind before I even came to the Hidden Citadel. And after seeing your memories of Earth, I was wondering. Are Spheraphasian weddings going to bother you?"
"I'm used to it. Honestly, I've been dreaming about marrying all of you for a long time. I'm incredibly happy to be engaged to you."
"Then don't die. Don't put yourself in danger."
He nodded without hesitation. "Already planned for it. I'm not risking my life."
"Good."
She leaned in and kissed him on the lips before she pulled back with a soft smile.
"I'm going back up. They'll need me."
Her wings unfurled as she flew. Vastarael watched her go with his fingers brushing his lips where she kissed him. A quiet laugh escaped him as he leaned back against the porch once more.
"I'm really glad I was transmigrated to Spheraphase. Who knew I would fall for a Dragon?"