Soul Chains

Chapter 48: Condemned

"Gabriel," Tien sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "your father entrusted me and Sion to look after you and your mother while he stayed behind, which is why he had us sent to the human realm long ago. We got adopted by a nearby family who just happened to include Ayette and eventually our families merged by coincidence. We would go back and forth on missions while also looking out for you and your mother's safety. We've been away for a few months now, which is how the others got to you first."

"Right..." Renee raises a brow and crosses her arms, "that seems a little too coincidental."

"So, we may have pulled some strings," Tien waves a hand, "but it all worked out. And now, you're here and capable of defending yourself."

"Wait," I frown, "so, you're telling me that my father who stayed behind sent you and Sion to look after me and my mother? Why didn't he do it himself?"

"He didn't want to stay behind," Tien says, his eyes sad, "Alex didn't have a choice...so, he spent the rest of his days trying to take down Coralyinn and her forces, becoming a high ranking military general."

"What do you mean he didn't have a choice?" Reine frowns, "there is always a choice."

"Alex isn't allowed to leave this realm," Tien explains, "whenever Gabriel and his mother were sent away, Alex was tethered to this realm to ensure that he wouldn't go after them. It would be like fighting against a magnet."

"And...you're telling me that he's close by?" I raise my eyebrows, "you're telling me that I could potentially meet him again?"

"Well...yes, but he's out on a mission right now," Tien says, "he won't be back for a few hours."

"Okay," I shake my head and sigh, "but there's something else that doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't you look after Vivian? And why do I have no childhood memories of her even though she's my sister?"

"Wait, you mean you don't know?" Tien frowns, his expression conflicted.

"Don't know what?" I furrow my eyebrows wearily.

"Gabriel, I don't know how to tell you this, but--" Tien starts.

"Tien!" Sion shouts and reenters the tent, pushing aside the entrance roughly as she meets her brother's eyes, "a messenger from D's mission squad returned. He said Coralyinn captured the Primordial Relic."

"What?" Tien's eyes widen as commotion stirs outside, "that's impossible."

"D is on his way," Sion says, "he's coming back early to explain what happened. I'm sure he'll know."

"This is...most troubling," Tien frowns and his gaze hardens as Sion leaves the tent swiftly.

"What does the Primordial Relic do?" Ayette asks.

"The Primordial Relic isn't a exactly thing," Tien sighs and meets Ayette's gaze, "the Primordial Relic is more of a she."

"Excuse me, come again?" Kaltrina raises her eyebrows, "I thought Ayette was the only one to ever merge with a relic."

"She is," Mikasa breathes out, "the Primordial Relic projects an illusion to keep itself hidden. Most who see the illusion believe she's a regular being, but she's just a projection made by magic. We used to think she was an entity who lived inside of the relic, but we later learned that wasn't the case. The relic is capable of anything in creation, whether that be changing time, destroying entire worlds, or creating a new realm."

"If Coralyinn has that, then we're surely all doomed," Shitau says quietly.

"Oi, watch where you're going, Rainbow," Sion snaps from outside the tent and Tien's gaze flickers over to the opening of the tent as a smile ghosts across his lips.