Pantheon Online

245  Another Time, Another Place (Part 3)

Moments later, skeletal hands burst from the ground to further restrain Allevia. Exile could only watch as another burst of black flames overpowered the golden ones and turned Allevia to ash. His eyes went wide as Lythara finally revealed herself.

When she stepped out of the shadows, Exile could see that she wore a black and white dress. There were black marks around her eyes, and her long white hair reached her hips. Lythara had the features of a type of elf that mixed with a human with a deathly pale complexion.

"This is it, dear sister," Lythara whispered as she approached Allevia's orb. "This is power, and nobody can tell me what to do now!"

Two black wings sprouted from Lythara's back as she took off through the hole in the ceiling. From Exile's position, he could see the three remaining titans still fighting through the hole before everything vanished!

He stood alone in the silent ruins with his thoughts as he looked at what remained of the jagged structure around him. 'What even happened after that?' Exile wondered as he entered the chamber he had been barred entry to before.

Allevia's will suddenly appeared where she had died during the vision Exile had been shown. Exile's eyes went wide as she looked directly at him with a slight frown on her face. 'She looks unhappy with me. Did I do something wrong?'

A golden orb suddenly flew out of Exile's chest to land in Allevia's palm. She studied it in silence for a few minutes before shaking her head.

"You haven't turned out as I had hoped." Allevia sighed as she beckoned for him to come closer. "Don't be afraid. I have no reason to harm you. Yet."

Exile sighed when Allevia's will said those words before he approached her. She gazed into his eyes for a while before revealing a slight smile.

"It seems not all hope is lost for you. I can tell you've been tainted by the darkness already. Yet your existence still shows balance." Allevia nodded as she walked around him. "I will only warn you this once, if you become corrupted by the dark element, then the next time we meet, it will be as enemies."

Allevia flashed a stern expression at Exile as he nodded. "As glad as I am to see you understand, I won't get my hopes up. Once you start using a divine element it's hard to change your course."

Allevia trembled slightly before she walked toward the rear of the chamber with Exile in tow. He had many questions he wanted to ask her, but he was not sure if she would. Exile wanted to know more about Lythara and the War after what he had witnessed. After all, it was a clue that could help to guide his future path.

"Tell me, have you learned about my generation and the War?" Allevia suddenly asked as two thrones made of tree roots grew out of the ground, facing each other.

"No," Exile said as he sat on one of the throne's and Allevia sat on the other. "There are stories among the mortals, but I haven't had enough time to listen to many of them."

"That's a shame," Allevia replied as mugs made from the roots of the thrones appeared with a sweet-smelling sap inside of them. "I had hoped you would have more knowledge by the time you found this place. What's been happening that could distract you?"

"Nar'Kozz," Exile replied as Allevia frowned. "He's currently laying siege to Valheim, and we've had to evacuate it."

"So, that old beast survived for all this time." Allevia groaned as she studied the changes that had occurred in that area. "This was Valheim once. We had to evacuate too, after this battle."

Allevia wore a regretful expression on her face as she sipped the sweet-smelling sap from her mug. Exile did the same and found the strange thick liquid to be surprisingly pleasant. It must have shown on his face since Allevia let out a short chuckle.

"We had sealed Lythara here until Amari and Nar'Kozz caused her seal to break. Once she joined the battle, our forces were quickly overwhelmed. Jor managed to escape with Valheim's core. Which allowed us to rebuild the city." Allevia said with a grim smile. "Of course, we could not do it right away, and we even rebuilt it as close to the old city as possible."

Allevia paused for a moment as she seemed lost in her thoughts. "It seems like the world eventually buried the old city. It's a shame, it was such a wonderful place to make new friends."

"But the new Valheim is much better than this," Exile replied with a frown. "It has high walls, and everything about it is superior. I see it as a win for you guys."

"I guess you could say that," Allevia said with a nod of her head. "However, this city had a lot of value to us who called it home. I suppose most of the old realms are buried as well now."

"Divine realms? As in, Pantheon realms?" Exile quickly asked with wide eyes.

"What else would I mean?" Allevia chuckled as she took another sip of her drink. "Anyway, you've found the second part of my inheritance, and you've seen what I wanted you to. There are no treasures here, so I'll allow you to ask me three questions before I gift another piece of the First Flame to you. Choose your questions wisely."

"Is there a cure for the Frozen Womb Curse?" Exile blurted out without thinking. His face turned slightly red as Allevia studied him with surprise.

"I see," Allevia hummed as she gave him a knowing look. "You must have intentions toward a Daughter of Jor. The answer to your question is yes."

Exile waited patiently as Allevia went quiet. However, when she remained quiet for several seconds he clenched his jaw. "Well?"

"Well, what? I answered your question." Allevia chuckled as a mischievous grin appeared on her face.

'Shit! I asked if there was a cure, not what the cure is!' Exile groaned as he realised the mistake he had made. He remained quiet as he tried to weigh the importance of each question he wanted to ask. 'Mikari might eventually find it somewhere. But how long would that take? What if it's lost knowledge and only a will can tell me the cure?'

"Tell me what the cure for the Frozen Womb Curse is," Exile said as politely as possible as he sipped on more of the sap.

"It's simple. Just sleep with her." Allevia chuckled at Exile's expression when she said that. "The curse comes from Jor due to his first element. The First Flame is its counter. The process would be quicker if you had more pieces of the First Flame, but as you are now you'll be very busy if you want to break the curse anytime soon."

Exile's complexion paled as he stared into his mug. 'I can think about that later. What should I use my last question on?' Exile pondered over his own question as he studied his memories of the vision Allevia had shown him of the battle. 'I feel like she expects something to be asked about it. It's probably something important that can help me now. But what?'

'Since Nar'Kozz survived the war, I doubt she knows a way to kill him easily. So what else can I ask? Do I ask her to do what Amari did but with the Light element? Or I could ask where her other Inheritances are. There's also the matter of Divine Paths. I'd like to know what to expect in the future with it. Then again, there are also matters regarding the war. She wouldn't have shown that battle unless there was something significant about it.'

Exile rubbed the bridge of his nose as he groaned loudly. There were too many questions, and he only had one shot left. 'I should be able to work out the Light element myself.' Exile sighed as he threw that question to the side. 'I may be able to find the Inheritances on my own, but after I collect this piece I only need one more to evolve beyond Lightning. That could help a lot in the battle with Nar'Kozz.'

"You seem to be struggling to ask a question," Allevia said with a gentle smile. "It's good that you're taking so long. It means you understand there's a lot you don't know, and you're no longer acting on impulse."

Exile groaned again as he returned to his own thoughts. 'Her other Inheritances could be dangerous. Even if I ask for their location I may be unable to complete them or even reach them.' A long sigh escaped Exile's mouth as he finally tossed that idea aside. 'That leaves any knowledge about Divine Paths and whatever the vision was about. But I need to ask the right question.'

Several more minutes passed as they sat in silence before Exile drummed his fingers on the throne. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at Allevia's expression. She watched him with a curious gaze as she continued to drink her sap. Exile closed his eyes for a moment as an idea about what to ask appeared in his mind. 'This has to be the right answer.'

"Allevia, I've decided on my final question," Exile said with a resolute expression on his face.

"Ok, let's hear it."

"I want you to tell me what it is you hoped I would learn by coming here."

Allevia revealed a surprised expression before she let out a long laugh. She wore a happy expression as she calmed down and stared into Exile's eyes.

"Ok, so be it." Allevia took a deep breath as she prepared to answer his question.