Penumbral

Chapter 35: Divine Intervention

Alimur sloppily dodged a swipe as he drew the beast away from Aurora, his muscles burned, his lost eye was frozen shut in a sickly crimson, he couldn't die now, not when his beloved needed him most, he only dodged and occasionally threw shadow daggers to distract the creature, his movements got slower and the lack of sleep made it worse.

Agonizing minutes pass on this deadly dance, the Human falls to his knees and stares not at the beast ready to devour him but at Aurora, he closed his eyes.

-I'm sorry-

Death never came, he opened his eyes and the beast faced him with a hazy green from its, he felt an unmistakably female hand, but something was different, a delicate love and a noble presence, his mind played memories and his vision went dark as his body felt security.

Nemea removed the Human's armor and sighed at his wounds, she used the aspect of light to heal his body as much as she could, sadly his eye was truly lost, the Goddess placed her hand on the snow and formed a shirt, she clothed the Human and carried him back to Aurora, her servant was incredulous and once she placed Alimur on the snow he grabbed her shoulder.

The fox pointed at the Human, sliced the air, and pretended to struggle while pulling something.

-He's carrying a Demi-Human- She pointed at the wooden box.

Shinju held his head and shook it.

-I can't... not without killing him-

The Beastkin motioned fervently.

-If it makes you feel better, take it as an experiment, his soul is melded with the Icon- Nemea moved towards Aurora.

The Goddess uncovered the woman and gazed at her half-naked form, scale and skin melded together in a perfect synchrony, she smiled widely and pulled something from her chest, Shinju was shaken, she was removing an Icon from herself, several seconds of struggle, she was still standing though her breathing compromised, Nemea forced the light Icon into Aurora with a smile never fading from her lips, she fell to the ground and Shinju rushed to her side, he motioned erratically until the woman grabbed his hands and sweetly smiled.

-My little fox, you may not understand, but that boy and this woman... are exactly what I desire, Aurora Seles is her name and he is Alimur Gaisgeach-

Shinju's eyes widened.

-Hehe, I know, I didn't even have to awaken the Icon myself just look at her-

Aurora's body glowed softly, Nemea stood up and touched the egg she carried.

-Shame, you got me all hopeful for nothing... perhaps- Her hand emanated a soft green.

The Goddess covered her and the egg, the Queen dug through the couple's belongings and pulled out a book, she opened it to confirm and smiled, with her control over the aspects she filled a few pages with the Razorwind and the creature that now obeyed her, she couldn't think of a name so she placed the book back in its place, .

-We're going to Heytral, there's someone I want to meet-

Shinju motioned to the two lovers, Nemea waved her hand and mounted the Beast that threatened Alimur.

-Come on Shinju, he'll wake up in a few minutes-

The Beastkin scratched his head before mounting the beast in one jump, the creature took flight and flew ever higher, the Queen held an iron grip on its fur.

-I've never done this so you better hold tight!-

The fox grasped the creature's fur as tight as he could, they flew higher and higher until well above the clouds, a strong current of wind picked the creature and carried it across the sky and over the ocean.