A/N: Discovering that winter their union was fruitful, Kairos is forced to make a choice in order to protect Dainslief and the child she's carrying, choosing the lesser of two evils she promises Dainslief she'll return. But before she can leave to go into hiding she begins to set the ground work for the future. Oh and Merry Christmas to you all!! My trip got canceled cause well bad weather sooo....you get chapter~!
Fact: Title is lyric verse from "Dies Irae" a rather famous song/poem hymn. Translated it means, "From which the world will be judged."
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Winter had arrived once again to Teyvet, yet another year nearing its end as the Year of the Lunar Dragon drew near. Cheer, laughter, and joy filled the homes and streets of every nation near and far across the continent. Snow fell like soft petals to bring with it the first snow of winter for the temperate climates, white the hotter nations of Natlan and Sumeru enjoyed the long overdue rainy season. Once dry desert now bursting to life with greenery from the rains. Bringing with it much joy and celebration for those that called it home. Khaenri'ah was no different that cloudy, snowy afternoon.
Civilians, mages, knights, and the like all rushing to get their tasks for the day done. With the dreary weather Dainslief was again stuck at his office doing some paperwork that needed his attention. But his mind kept drifting back towards home. Inanna the last few weeks....it felt like he was walking on a bed of burning coal around her. The goddess's elemental control over the elements, particularly wind, had become....unpredictably unstable. Some could say dangerous even as just days prior an Eye of the Storm had been discovered in some fields, attracted by the heavy amount of anemo that had been coming off her each time her mood shifted. Inanna...his dear Ishtar, his Kairos, what in Yggdrasil's name was going on with her?
He was growing increasingly worried as he sighed, setting his pen back into the inkwell. Getting up he walked over as he poured himself some spiced cider Halfdan had been kind enough to give him before leaving for patrol. Walking over to the window, his mug in hand he leaned by the window, face stoic but eyes deep with worry. "I hope she's alright...she hadn't been well this morning when Alice offered to keep an eye on her for me...." Lightly he shook his head at the thought. No, his love would be fine and there was a case of the flu going around these days. It probably was just some bug going around she caught. Yes, she would be just fine.
There was no mistake.
None.
As she shakily held the edge of the kitchen sink gasping and coughing. The descender beside her, Alice looking to her in concern. Her hand rubbing her back as her inquisitive elven eyes took notice of everything in her elemental sight. The Time Goddess elemental control was like a ship cast to a stormy sea without its sails. The symptoms only begin to grow in number by the passing day.
"Ishtar, I think it's pretty safe to say you're not going to see your winter and spring cycles."Alice sighed. The petite goddess letting out a groan.
"Nooo, whatever gave you that idea, damn dark elf?"she spat, sarcasm lacing her tone as she let herself slide to the floor with a pout. The pale haired elf beside her just smiled, shaking her head with her hands to her hips. Ishtar though knew she was right and she knew why...their deeds during her autumn heat cycle had been fruitful. She couldn't feel the master gnosis anymore either she had hidden away in her chest. Somehow it had moved when the conditions had been met. This thought made a heavy realization. "The conditions...were...met?"she thought as she looked ahead to the sky outside the windows.
"You going to tell him?"Alice pressed.
"Alice what you know, do not share it with anybody. No, I will not be able to tell him straight out, I'm wanted by the heavens. For him to know would only worry and endanger him."Ishtar looked so sad and broken as she got to her feet as she locked her eyes on Alice. The look on the Time deity's face was like a cornered lion that had been cornered by hunters with cubs to protect. No way to escape, no positive options at her command. Just what was going through her friend's ancient mind? Alice did not know but she had an inkling. Ishtar now had to make a very difficult choice of which option was the lesser of two evils in this terrible hand she had been dealt in the game of chess. Frankly...it broke the young elf's heart seeing her frustrated tear stained face, small hands clenched in trembling fists.
"Alright, I won't tell. I've kept your's and Dainslief secrets this far even from Halfdan and Rhinedottir. I'm just in this world as an observer, a refugee. Nothing more nothing less. Just promise me you'll find a way to tell him before you go into hiding, won't you? Dain deserves that much."Alice conceded and requested offering her hand with a smile. Ishtar could only stare but smiled as she took it and pulled her into a grateful hug. Making haste she hurried and got dressed into her regular Celestian dress and shoes, adjusting her small bits of armor as she walked towards the door snatching her cloak, pulling up the she left the manor behind her.
She paid a visit to Dainslief at his office, telling what she could without alerting anybody tracking her. Telling him she'd have to leave for a time to deal with some matters. When he had asked how long She had told him seven years maybe ten as the matter involved a disturbance near the Light Realm once stood. However her message was more show than anything, a ruse. The hidden meaning paired by her actions had ensured he understood. His eyes had lit up in joy but also sorrow of understanding. He would have to let his dove fly free for a time if only to protect him and Khaenri'ah and the child she carried. But he assured he would wait, await her in their special place. So with a heavy heart Ishtar left Khaenri'ah, a sad melody of longing on the wind as they sang what would be their final duet for the longest time.
For this child...no these children she must not let herself be caught. As like the wind she shot through the air on her golden wings. First she visited Snezhnaya to see her little cryo niece, the dear agreeing she'd help Dainslief and protect Yggdrasil and the garden while she was away. Then came the daughters of House Ratatosk, the archons of Pyro and Dendro. To the Greater Lord she told her to do all she could to guide the children once they arrived, to which the yakshini agreed without question. To the Pyro Archon she gave the second of the most vital of tasks that if the Creator came to her she was to teach and reveal the secrets she knew, to guide and to nurture the warrior's wisdom.
To Makoto she revealed her plans, aware of the tiny kitsune child that was spying on them. Telling her to brace herself, should the worse case scenario transpire. To which the gentle, wise goddess of eternity agreed. She had tried to find her nephew in Liyue but decided to leave him...it must have been that anniversary. He needed time to grieve those he had lost, instead she sent a gentle breeze to blow over the land, bringing with it memories of joy and laughter to those that felt its motherly caress. Slowly she stopped to hover over the ruins of Old Monstandt.
"Decarabian, you were many things a tyrant included...but you treasured your wives more than your life. Too bad for you, freedom is something without restraint."she sighed as she slowly landed in what had once been his tower. However she had to stop to steady herself, having been pushing herself more than her body could handle in this state. "I-I need to rest...Where are you my little wind sprite?"she huffed taking a seat to lean back against the mossy wall. Her call had been heard as the wound of wings reached her ears. Snow white feathers cast to the wind, the soft melody of a lyre making her smile. "There you are, my trickster of a son."
"Ehe~! Been a long time since I saw you here, mother....it is good to see you again."came the delighted voice. The anemo archon relaxing not far away, sitting on the domed roof.
Ishtar smiled as in starlight she materialized a bottle of Khaenrian ale and set it aside, "I hope you haven't been causing that vishap chick any trouble." The anemo archon flies over at spotting the gift presented to him. With delight he took it, uncorking the bottle as he hopped up to sit on some rubble not far away.
"Oh Dvalin? Nah he's fine. Last I checked he's napping somewhere further north. I was just leaving. So what brings you here? The big shots upstairs have been going into a tizzy trying to find you again, so why risk leaving there?"he wondered.
Ishtar hummed a melody he knew far too well, an old lullaby of the Celestians sung before the second throne had taken and corrupted everything. Starting to nuke things left and right and even alter history within the tree of knowledge that the Greater Lord protected. A pleased and victorious grin as her hand rested against her belly. No words needed to be said for the wind spirit born of the branches and his mother's wind knew. "You don't mean...?" Ishtar nodded. "And you are...and I'm going to be...?"
"Yes my little Sylph spirit to each. However I do not know which child is the king and which is the result of just mating with my beloved snake. Can I count on you dear child? They'll be counting on you to protect and help them. Be the wind that helps them become the storm...Gabriel."There was a glint of excitement and delight as he went closer. How long had it been since he had heard his name and not the one the mad king had given him? He had not heard it since he took archonhood.
"I'll do what I can. Have you talked to her over in Fontaine?"he pressed.
"I'd like to but time grows short."she giggled, getting to her feet. "I know you're not a fan of ambrosia wine, my son but let us indulge when again the original god sits on the throne again."she hummed with a fond and nostalgic smile. Then with a burst of golden wind she rushed to the heavens above. The God of Freedom watching her vanish into the horizon. Strumming the strings of his lyre, a melody began to play and grace the twilight from his lips...
This Time unaging,
Of immortal resource, begot
Aither and a great Chasm, vast this way and that,
No limit below it, no base, no place to settle.
Then great Time fashioned from divine Aither
A bright white egg
...His eyes glowed a brilliant anemo teal a sly grin as he watched the sky light up across the starry painted sky. A chortle of laughter as he flew away. Mischief and delight in his eyes. "You aren't going to catch the Thousand Winds of Time nor my little siblings that way. Mother is furious as a lion when angry...and you have made her angry."he hummed shifting into his human form. Humming the old lullaby of the Celestians and Old Teyvet he left the ruins behind him. Now what would his new half baby siblings be like? One of them was the king reincarnate.
But which one?
To Be Continued....
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A/N: Venti's singing a hymn from the Orphic Hymns. A set of poetic verses said to be made by the hero Orpheus from Greek/Roman mythology. These particular verses are of how Phanes was born from Time x Chaos.