DIVINE CHAMPIONS 6: A FINAL CONFLICT

SKY: A NET FULL OF EMOTIONS

When you are in Mallorca, the beach is never far away. Rishi could feel his hands turn sweaty with the coastal weather. He took off his jacket, and stood by the beach. The sea breeze hit his face, as he breathed a little harder. Beside him, Aitri stood, her arms spread, ready to call the sea goddess Ran. When asked if she could do it, she had given him an eye of 'you have ten seconds to take it back, before I kill you'. Well, there was only one thing that Aitri hated: doubting her. Doubt her at your own peril.

Well, no idea about calling Ran, but Aitri's arm spreading marine magic had disrupted the calm waves of the Mediterranean. Finally, Rishi sat down. He kept looking at Aitri, his hand cupping his own cheek, the elbow resting on his knee. He could stare at her all day. The shiny black eyes looking expectantly, the dark brown hair that flew around, every strand of it enjoying its freedom. But she was sweating. The call was tiring her out.

And then, out of the sea rose a figure of water. The water reduced, and what remained was a salt made figure of a woman. Rishi stood up, as the salt reduced, and went back to sea. What stood, was a woman. At least twenty feet tall, Ran was only visible till her waist. So, she was at least forty feet tall. Jet black hair, stormy grey eyes full of playfulness. She wore a black dress, which was dry, much to Rishi's expectation. She was a sea goddess of nets. She didn't get wet. She looked at Rishi awkwardly, waved her hand at him, before looking at Aitri, who was down on her knees, tired. "Sorry, I took a while. It was that time of the month. I felt weird."

Aitri had told Rishi that Ran had no filter in her mouth. She would say whatever she felt, be it good or bad. Now, he saw why. The words from the net goddess's mouth made Rishi blush, who closed his eyes and smiled, pressing his lips. "Wow, gods get that too?" Aitri asked.

"Why wouldn't they?" Rishi asked her.

"They are beings of magic?"

"They are still beings with blood and organ systems, no?" Rishi's answer made Aitri look at Ran, who gave her a look of 'He's right'. Rishi felt his chest grow two inches longer. "My Lady Ran, we are here to ask you for a favour."

"Oh dear." Ran said, "What is it?"

"Its an ingredient for a rope to bind Fenrir."

"Which one?"

"The breath of a fish."

"Fish, yes. Sounds about right." She said, as she took out her net, full of a lot of weird and funny stuff. Inside were a lot of things, including a pair of torn boots, a few dead fish, few empty bottles, a few shells, some trash. "See how dirty you humans make the sea."

"My Lady, could any of these fish breathe?"

"They are dead." Aitri said from beside.

"Right."

"I will provide you the ingredient. But there is something to ask for." Ran said.

"What is it?" Aitri asked.

"You see, I'll need to get a living fish for your advantage, but I can't give things out of my net for free. Every single thing is filled with emotion. See this? This shell was something my husband had given me on our wedding day. This trash was something I found out the day my eighth daughter was born. This fish was dying when I saved its life, before it lived a full life before passing. See this little fang?"

"Yeah, who's is that?"

"Jormungand's. He got stuck in my net once, and needed to be carefully separated. In doing that, his fang broke and got stuck. Do you understand what these things stand for?"

"Kinda."

"So, you need to find me something that I'll remember forever, which will make me remember you two. Two absolute brave champions of the gods, who are doing everything to prolong the universe's life."

"Ran is so nice." Rishi felt so warm inside at her words.

"Why, thank you." Ran said, "Now, off you go. Get me something that would mean something to you, making me remember this time of great crisis."

Ran dived back in, leaving the two to relive their own memories. "What could we give her that we love?" Rishi asked, before Aitri said, "Something that she would also like."

"She would love anything that you love. All she needs is a memory." A voice said behind them, as they saw a girl of about eighteen having turned. She was shorter than them. She had a skin tone like she was created by an anime artist. She wore an orange jumpsuit. She had red hair, dark amber eyes, and wore a seashell necklace. She had nail-paints to match her jumpsuit. Barefoot, she stood very gracefully on the wet sand. She walked towards the two, and said, "I am Unn. The youngest Ran and Aegir."

"Oh, so you are Heimdall's mother." Rishi said.

"I don't look like it, do I?"

"You definitely don't." Aitri said, "Heimdall looks like he's fifty years old, in human years. And you, uh..."

"Barely an adult." Rishi helped her.

"Yep, that."

Unn laughed, before folding her arms, and walking on. "My mother is very sweet. She loves human beings, and her ask is not a big one. Remember, that she just needs to have some memories. Whatever is caught in her net, is very special to her."

"But why does she need something of our memories?"

"She is giving away a part of her emotion to you. It is only fair that she gets something in return. Ran never donates things, you know."

"So, what kind of a thing is she looking for?"

"Anything that is special to both of you. A sacrifice from our side needs a sacrifice from yours too."

"A sacrifice?"

"A fish's breath can only be an ingredient if it is its last. Otherwise, it won't work. The sea needs balance too, you know."

"So, what's our best bet?" Rishi asked.

"How do I know?" Unn said, slightly irritated, "Who's your girlfriend, champion of Thor?"

"But there are so many things that could be the one. Our relationship is around six years old now."

"Okay, here, Saptarishi." Unn sat down, "Sit. I guess I'll have to help."

Aitri looked at Rishi, who understood that she was nervous. The domineering tone of Unn was a little intimidating, no doubt. Rishi nodded in an assuring way, before sitting down in front of Unn. Aitri walked and sat beside him. Unn held Rishi's right hand with hers, and Aitri's left hand with hers. She closed her eyes, said something in Old Norse, allowing the silent sea to take a weird wavy turn. The very next second, Rishi lost his vision, as everything turned white.