The Conquerors Path

The atmosphere turned very awkward, as I stiffly turned my head towards my mother standing behind me, Grace too having a set of complex looks on her as her gaze met mine.

"Mother, what do you mean?"

I asked, the extreme confusion filling my face, begging to get an answer from my mother, Grace's expression only going forth to get even more complex as Aria suddenly pushed in as she spoke.

"It's a long story."

Hearing so, I turned to look at Aria, my guard still not down, and I could see that it was hurting her and at the same time making her proud. I mean how many people would be out there that would be able to stand strong in front of Aria and protect someone they love, especially knowing the power that Aria wields?

"You're certainly different."

I suddenly spoke, my expression a bit down, after all, in a way I did lose my 'daughter' which once again was a small ploy, my words making Aria blush, her gaze breaking mine for a moment after which she focused back on me as Aria spoke.

"Cough...please forget that."

"It would be easy if it weren't for the fact that my daughter has suddenly turned to my mother."

I gave a snarky reply, making both Aria and Grace flinch, seeing so I started to look between the two of them, suspicion filling my eyes as I spoke.

"Seeing as how the two of you look similar, you aren't going to say something like the two of you being twins or something? but how does that even make Aria my mother?"

My question was directed towards Grace, who would only reply with a wry smile on her face.

"It's a long story."

"Well, I got time."

I replied, and before Grace could put in any words Aria spoke with a measured tone.

"For that first let's get out of here."

And before I or Grace could react, the two of us were completely moved from our position, the whole surroundings around me flashing such that, the next moment I blinked my eyes I was above a beautiful mountain overlooking a beautiful sky from the top, Grace being beside me, while Aria took my other side.

I kept my calm throughout all this, at least I tried to keep my calm, with several of the confusing emotions, anger, and unknown falling from me at times, enough for the two to catch up.

"How does this make any sense?"

I asked out loud to which Aria spoke.

"It doesn't, the nature of powerful Gods is very erratic, they might do things just for fun."

Her words only made me frown, to which I once again asked out loud.

"I mean shouldn't there be a reason for doing such things?"

My words made the two of them silent, though through discreet eyes I could see both Aria and Grace make eye contact, the two of them definitely hiding the idea that perhaps it was all done for me to be born and that's better for me, cause that will give me more leeway when I use it for some guilt-tripping things into the future, after all, I do have a harem to bring to the light.

A moment of silence fell within this mountaintop, the winds blowing about, Grace sitting by my side holding my hands, while Aria still stood, her gaze turning down at me, whole just kept looking deep into the night sky, to which after a few moments I covered my face with both my hands.

"Sigh...this is messed up in many ways."

I simply spoke out, building the light tension, after which I turned to first look at Grace as I asked.

"Mother, what do you feel about this? are you angry? sad?"

Grace sighed softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions as she squeezed my hand gently. "Darling, to be honest, I feel a whirlwind of emotions. Confusion, certainly. But mostly, I feel grateful."

"Grateful?" I echoed, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Yes, grateful," Grace affirmed with a warm smile. "Because despite the complexities and surprises life throws at us, it led me to you, Nora, and Elda. You kids are the most precious gift I could have ever imagined, regardless of how our family tree might twist and turn."

Stopping here Grace turned to look at me, a smile blooming on her face as she spoke.

"Plus I am me as you said, I lived my life by my own choices and whatever it has led to has only made me the happiest mother and woman in the world"

The last of her words were filled with her immense love and affection for me, to which I smiled, my hand going forth to hold her right cheek, rubbing it lightly with affection as I spoke.

"True, my mother has always been true to herself, shinning beautifully than the rest and you will always be you, not a clone or copy"

Grace chuckled at the words, to which I turned to look at Aria with a lot of complex looks filling my face as I asked.

"What about you Aria, would you like to be my mother?"