Petals on The Moon || Reyna Ramirez-Arellano x Fem!OC

XXVIII

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Hello again.

Sebastian knocked on the door of the chamber, but it only took two knocks before it pushed open like it hadn't been latched properly. We all shared uneasy glances, and Sebastian pushed the door open more fully.

The room was as beautiful as Reyna described, and I saw the faint silhouette of someone on the couch. Just being near the goddess made my bones feel less tired, and the pain in my ankle began to web away. My friends looked peppier, happier to be alive almost.

"You can set me down," I said quietly. Sebastian let my stand, though I lifted my bad foot so it didn't touch the ground, and I used him for support. "J-Juventas? We're here."

The goddess gasped. "YAY!"

She vaulted over the couch and appeared before us. The first big shock was the fact that I had to look down to see her. She was quite young, perhaps eight or nine, but most likely eight. She had round, plump cheeks and lips smeared with what appeared to be chocolate. Her eyes were alert and bright, and she had her curly black hair pinned back with several braids leading to a bun, but no jewelry. She wore a purple dress, but she'd tied it at the waist to be above her knees so she could run around more. She looked incredibly innocent and sweet, honestly.

"I've been waiting." Her voice was young, too, which I guess is a good thing. I wouldn't want to see an eight-year-old talking like a woman.

Jason looked like he might faint. "Wha- How- Huh-"

"Jason?" Reyna muttered. "Snap out of it."

"Oh, no worries." Juventas smiled and pinned her arms behind her back. "Many are shocked when they see me. Tell me, Jason, how old do I look to you?"

"I was right," I realized, staring at her. "You take on the person's personal form of youth."

"Exactly," Juventas said. "Similar to how Venus takes the appearance of someone's perception of beauty, I am a person's perception of youth. How old do I look to each of you?"

"Eleven," Reyna answered.

"About eighteen," Sebastian said. I noticed his focal point was different than mine- higher up, like the goddess's eye level was taller. Makes sense if he sees her as eighteen, or so.

"Eight, perhaps," I answered.

Jason looked parched. "Like- Like three."

Sebastian looked at Jason. "You're talking to a toddler?"

"Interesting," Juventas admitted. "That's one of the younger ages people see me as." She pointed at Reyna. "You envision youth as your most vulnerable." Reyna's jaw dropped. "Suki, you envision youth as before everything went wrong." My heart pounded. "Sebastian sees youth as one's physical prime. Jason, you see youth as a vague memory. Were you ever allowed to be young?"

Jason's eyes widened. "I... What's that suppo..." He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

"I don't want to hear this," Reyna decided, shaking her head. "Juventas, we're here to save you and the Cup of Youth from the Titans."