Interlude 2.1
Updated: Sep 17, 2023
“You want us to what?” Minerva squeaked. She took a step towards Haku, fists clenched at her sides. The younger immortal didn’t so much as flinch.
“I’m sorry,” Haku said calmly. “This is the only answer I could find.”
The Ennead exchanged uncomfortable looks.
“Okay,” Jinal said gently. “Let’s summarize. Basically, The Necromancer is planning to pull the mortals who saved us into Dimension X. We can follow—no, we must follow—but the best way out is going to involve shattering our souls.”
Haku nodded. “Yes, that is correct,” they confirmed. “The barriers around Dimension X have gotten stronger, and in our weakened state, shattering our souls is the only way to access enough power to break those barriers and force the mortals out of Dimension X.”
“What about after?” Mateen asked. “The first time our souls shattered was an accident. But if we do this on purpose… what happens next?” Haku’s expression was grim.
“That will depend on what the mortals choose to do, won’t it?” Ridwan answered, arms crossed. “We’re already permanently indebted to them, so we can’t very well ask them to clean up this mess, but considering how… stubborn some of them are, I think they’ll help regardless.”
“You’re referring to Lian. And Peter, too,” Mateen noted, a wry smile on his face. Ridwan nodded.
“That’s all well and good,” Kai said slowly, “but the last time we asked a mortal to piece our souls together, she almost died. Are we sure we’re not just leading Lian and Peter straight to their deaths?”
“They will die regardless if we do not take this course of action,” Haku pointed out. “So at the very least, we are postponing their deaths.”
A tense silence.
“What if it doesn’t work?” Ven asked quietly. “We all remember what it felt like the first time, getting our souls shattered like that…” Ven trailed off, shuddering at the thought. Minerva placed a comforting arm around his shoulders and pulled him close.
“It’ll work, Ven! We just have to have faith in the mortals, ‘kay?” Minerva said with a grin. She gave Haku a thumbs up. “At the very least, if we do this, we can die knowing that we did our best t’ protect the people we promised to protect.”
“All right, I’m in,” Mateen decided. “I don’t like it, but I’m in.”
“Me too,” Kai said firmly. Determination shone in his eyes.
“Ditto,” Minerva chirped. Haku looked around the circle of immortals.
“Is anyone not in?” they asked. Ridwan swallowed. Jinal averted her gaze. Ven buried themself deeper into Minerva’s half-hug.
There was clear discomfort in the air, but no one raised any objections.
“All right,” Haku said firmly. “In that case, here’s the plan…”
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