Alinea

"What?"

Suzuki Aki and Chiaki stared horrified as Alinea told them of everything that had transpired in Ged. She told them about the real curse, the truth behind Czernobog's machinations, his relationship to Prun and Stribog, as well as the real Harbinger of Catastrophe and what it really meant. 

"Yes, everything was for the sake of liberating my father,"Alinea answered with a sigh. 

But her heart was no longer as heavy as it had been. She had already gotten used to the idea and it was not as if she had totally lost her parents. 

"So you mean to say that Czernobog's not a bad guy?" Aki sounded amazed, but got confused when Alinea shook her head. "No?"

"No, he's totally a bad guy. In fact, he's a real villain," she answered and the confusion on the others' faces got worse. "Brother, you might have changed how you see him and somewhat understands his purpose. But regardless of how noble his intentions are, his method of achieving it is still wrong. He hurt a lot of people, he sacrificed lives— mine, Ryuu's, my mother's and even Fanya's. So yes, he's a villain."

"But isn't it because it's the only way for him to achieve his goal?" Aki reasoned but Aliea still shook her head. 

"If the method is wrong, even if it's the only way, it's doesn't make it right," she answered steadfastly. "His sins can't be justified just because his goal was noble."

If there was something very important that she learned from everything that happened, it was how she looked at good and evil. There was no such thing as black and white. What seemed to be evil was not necessarily evil. Similarly, what appeared to be good was not necessarily good. 

Her father was the only untainted one in this world or any other world. But he too had succ.u.mbed from being pure white to gray. Since becoming a father, Perun was no longer free from making mistakes. At Czernobog's schemes, Perun had made many bad decisions which were the beginning of true catastrophe. Nonetheless, Alinea now also understood that in spite of his status, the reason why Perun so desperately fought and played in the hands of Czernobog was because deep inside he longed to be tainted. 

Aki looked thoughtful for a while, but then he nodded in agreement. Alinea was confident that she was correct in this thinking. Ryuu who sat next to her smiled at her as he reached out and patted her head, and she glanced his way with a soft smile. 

"Czernobog knew what he did is wrong. It's why he accepted his punishment," she told them. 

The fates of the Black God and Dolya would be entirely up to them. No divine intervention was allowed— not that they could find them if they searched for them. The two of them became similar to blank souls. The only difference was that if they passed this punishment, they could still redeem themselves and ascend to the Celestial Plane when the right time came. 

"I see…"Aki smiled as he reached out to take her hand. "But how are you?" he asked worriedly. 

Ah… 

Her expression softened further at his worried inquiry. Alinea never felt gladder to have an older brother. One of the reasons why she chose to stay a bit more in this world was because of Aki. But he had to know about that… 

"I'm fine. But brother," she said with hesitation, but she was clear that this was something she couldn't hide from him— not that she wanted to. "I cannot stay in the mortal plane for so long."

Her words were met with silence as Aki stared wide-eyed at her initially before his face softened into a sad smile. 

"I know," he answered softly, and it was Alinea's turn to be surprised. His smile turned wistful before letting out a sigh. "I've known since the time I learned that you're a demigod that a day will come when you have to go back there."

He pointed at the ceiling, indicating the heavens and Alinea nodded. 

"Aside from the fact that I need to help uncle up there, now that the King of Heaven is temporary unavailable, we are at the mercy of Rod's Law," she explained. "We cannot mingle too long with mortals lest we do something that's too much against fate. The maximum time we can remain here is five years."

Well, Stribog did offer to let her stay for half a century. But it would be weird for her to remain in a world where everyone aged while she and Ryuu wouldn't. 

"I understand. I'm still happy that you can stay even if just for a bit," he said and then he seemed to remember something. "What about Gin and Emi?"

Oh…

Alinea and Ryuu exchanged looks. She had no idea how to break that news to her brother. It was a good thing that Ryuu was there. He wrapped his arm around her waist as he looked at Aki. 

"Stribog is now the sovereign of the Celestial Plane in Perun's absence. He has to ascend in a few weeks' time with Emi," Ryuu explained. 

As expected, Aki and Chiaki looked surprised. But then just as they understood her circ.u.mstances, they also understood that some things were just needed to be done to maintain the balance among the existences of all the worlds. 

"Well, I'm just hoping that he and Emi can still be there when we tie the knot," Aki said with a smile and Alinea grinned. 

"Of course. He will still be here for a few weeks. The maximum is two months. Actually," Alinea's voice trailed off as she and Ryuu exchanged looks again before continuing to speak. "Ryuu and I also decided to hold our real wedding ceremony this time. 

"Really? That's good," Aki said. 

"Homura House will be announcing it soon. My parents will also return from their trip," Ryuu informed them. 

Truthfully, as soon as they arrived earlier, he had called his mortal parents and informed them of what happened. They had always known that as a Returner to Ancestry, Kresnik was bound to ascend anyway it's why they let him have his hermit-kind of existence as to not have much problems explaining his absence to the people in the future. It was why they let Kazehaya Gin handle the business. 

But Kazehaya Gin was also a Returner to Ancestry— and he had to ascend earlier than kresnik. 

When Ryuu and Alinea ascend, they could just announce that they would travel and live freely anonymously. But it's not the same for Gin. Because Gin was high profile, he would have to exit the world with a detailed explanation. 

A car accident. 

There was no other choice but to "perish" in an accident. 

The old Homura couple would have to return to handle the clan with Kazehaya Aoi, but the company now would be in Arima Shiro's hands, and Ryuu explained it to Aki.

"Homura International will of course, continue to cooperate with Suzuki Raiden Group. But Shiro will be the one in charge from now on,"Ryuu said and Aki nodded. 

"By the way, have you seen his son?" Aki asked, puzzling Alinea, and Ryuu turned to her. 

"Son?" Alinea remembered the white haired guy who was the leader of Fuuma. But she thought all the men were single dogs. She turned to Ryuu for answers. 

Ryuu cleared his throat as he looked at Aki. "I haven't told Ali about the accident yet."

Accident? 

"What accident?"