Realm Wars

"Is this form comfortable for you now?" Tethyt asked.

Ryu took a step back. He was still on guard. "Who are you?"

Tethyt's lips tugged at the corner in a smile. "As I said. My name is Tethyt, one of the seven Gods that used to rule Septverden thousands of years ago."

"God?" Ryu didn't know of them. Ferris didn't also bring that topic before, so he was unfamiliar with them.

But one thing was for sure. .. the strength between them couldn't be compared.

Tethyt swept Ryu with her eyes as she circled him. "We've been waiting for you for years now, but it seemed that. .. you are still too early."

In Tethyt's eyes, pentagrams appeared, mirroring the pentagrams inside Ryu's body. 

"You are not ready. "Tethyt blinked, and the pentagrams disappeared from her irises. "Nonetheless, faith had brought you to me, and I will take it as a sign."

"You spoke like you know me." 

Tethyt smiled. "Much so. .. at least more than you know yourself."

A surge of happiness overcame Ryu, and he exclaimed, "Then you must know my parents? Who am I?"

".. ." Tethyt nodded. "You are the keeper of hope of Septverden."

".. ." Ryu's brows crossed in one line. "Don't speak in riddles!"

Tethyt raised a hand when Yuu was about to come forward.

Tethyt clasped her hands. "Unfortunately, it's not mine to tell. All you have to know is that. .. you must continue your journey, and eventually all will be revealed to you."

Ryu shook his head. "Why can't I know now?"

Tethyt laughed a little. "So stubborn. . ." Her eyes then dropped with a sad smile on her face. "Just like everyone else."

".. ." Ryu was frustrated. The answer was in front of him, but he couldn't do anything to get it out from her. 

Threat wouldn't work, and he definitely couldn't force her to tell him. He was not strong enough to fight her. He'd be dead before he could lift a finger. At least, that's what his instincts told him multiple times.

"What must I do for you to tell me now?" Ryu persisted.

"Patience, boy. In time you'll know."

Ryu sighed and swallowed the grumble in his throat. "Then why have you called me here?"

".. . "Tethyt captured Ryu's eyes. "Though you're a little early, this will eventually happen. I just want to expedite the events a little."

Tethyt raised her hand, and on her palm, twirles of waters hovered before it formed a transparent key with intricate details. It was shiny like metal, beautiful like a crystal, blue like the water, and breakable like glass.

"I want you to have this."

Ryu just watched the key without an ounce of accepting it. "What's that for?"

"You'll know."

Ryu's face darkened. All this 'you'll know' and 'you'll see' was getting on his nerves. "I won't accept it if you don't tell me what it is for."

Tethyt's face broke in giggles. "The resemblance is so cunning. Did you see it, Yuu? He is so much like my brothers and sisters."

There was a hint of a smile on Yuu's face, though his eyes were sad as he watched Tethyt wiped the tears on her face.

"Ah. .. I'm sorry. I tend to be emotional when I think of the past."

Ryu took his eyes from Tethyt for a moment. One second she was smiling, then the next, she was crying. Is she okay in the head?

Tethyt laughed like she read Ryu's thoughts. She beamed. "Either way, you don't have a choice in this matter."

Before Ryu could react, the key flew in his direction and became one with his body. "Wha–!"

A refreshing splash of water cleansed his body, and he felt his lungs growing to take in the minty air. His back itched, and he felt every carved of symbols on his skin. There was a faint glow of blue behind him, and he reached for his back.

"What just happened?" Ryu asked and snapped at Tethyt. "What'd you do to me?"

"Relax. It's not to your disadvantage." Tethyt went to Yuu's side and looked at Ryu one last time.

"In you holds one of the keys to the heart of Septverden."

"Huh?" Ryu was busy reaching for his back, but he didn't felt anything with his hands. Not even bumps nor scars.

"Goodbye, Ryu."

At Tethyt's goodbye, the space distorted around Ryu, and before he could utter a word, he was sucked in by a portal.

"Remember. .. what you seek lies farther ahead into the Beast Realm."

That was all Ryu heard before he disappeared.

.. . 

.. .

Tethyt looked over at Yuu and caressed his head.

Yuu's face crumpled, but he endured.

Tethyt giggled. "After all this time, you still don't like it if someone touches your head?"

Yuu didn't reply. If it were another touching his head, that creature would be gone by now. 

Yuu looked at Tethyt, and for the first time, his cold façade cracked, revealing emotions that he hid for thousands of years. "Only you can touch it." 

Tethyt was stunned for a moment before a sweet smile blossomed on her face. "You've been guarding this cave for thousands of years now. It must have felt like an eternity."

Yuu cupped her hand and basked at her scent even though he knew he could never smell her again. "Eternity is irrelevant if it meant I'll get to see you again. Even if it's just a moment."

Tethyt eyes shook and watered. "My darling Yuu. .. ever so loyal. . . ever so foolish. . ." she closed her eyes, and droplets of her tears turned to waves. 

"And I'm the same for asking you. .. once again. .. will you hear my plea?"

Yuu closed his eyes. "I am your servant. Even in death, my soul will forever follow your command."

Tethyt smiled that didn't reach her eyes. "Even after all this time. .. we can't still be together even in death. . ."

With one final tear, Tethyt and Yuu turned into particles before the waves swallowed them.

Tethyt was gone, and Yuu's soul hovered above the ocean for a moment before it disappeared and entered Ryu's unconscious body on the hard cold ground of the cave.

At the same time, the Ancient Hydra, frozen by time, cracked and burst into mana particles and flew into the sky.